Detective Carly Greene was only eleven when she learned Lake Superior was a brutal beast, capable of bringing up long forgotten memories of pain and death, by occasionally releasing the bodies of those trapped beneath her waves.As an adult, Carly still despises the bodies occasionally coughed up, and the high water eroding the edge of the graveyard this year gave “floaters” a new meaning. But she … meaning. But she could never have prepared for what else broke free to swim with those long dead.
Part myth. Part monster. Older than time.
Carly, along with the medical examiner and a local reporter, must find and destroy a forgotten legend in the waters at the edge of Lake Superior. Before it decides it’s time to feed. And breed…
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Floaters by Kelli Owen is an original tale that dives right in and totally captivates the reader from the very first page and doesn’t let up until the very last! From the amazing characters to the terrifying creature, and even the spooky setting, this tale had it all!
I had SO much fun reading this creature feature and police procedural mash-up!
This tale dives right in on page one when the main character, Detective Carly Greene, was called to the scene of the first two floaters. The town on Lake Superior is used to the lake claiming many victims and “floater” is the term given to bodies that wash up on shore.
From that initial discovery, more and more floaters appear. But where are they coming from? Why are they suddenly washing up on shore? And what else is out there, living in the river, claiming more lives?
My goodness. I went into this one pretty dark, only knowing that there was some type of creature involved…and what a creature it was! Let me tell you, I didn’t swim in rivers or lakes before now, and I certainly won’t seek out those water spots after reading this. No thank you!
This story was high-paced, wonderfully organized, and wicked engaging. I loved each of the characters so much and wanted to seem them all make it out of this crazy situation alive.
I have never really been a creature book fan. This book captivated me after the first 3 chapters. It kept me wanting to find out what happens next. The characters are well developed and I found myself rooting for the main female character, Carly. The author does a great job of integrating Native American myth and lore into the story. If you like creature stories, this is a must read!
Floaters is an incredibly well-written creature (monster) horror novel that dips into the subgenre of mythic (aka dark urban fantasy). How can it be all these things and be good? Because Kelli Owen is that good of a storyteller. She has taken a real place, real events, and real lore and woven a dark and terrifying story that plays out with far too much realism for comfort.
Owen’s characters are very believable and engaging. The writer uses subplots and vivid character interaction to bring her characters to life without overwriting. I really enjoy the way the regional dialects and mannerisms come across without being overpowering. Alas, as with all well-written horror stories, the excellent characterization makes the horror that much more horrifying. You know these people. You empathize and sympathize with them. You experience the terror.
In addition to the fantastic characterization is, of course, the fantastic story itself. The story is engrossing, engaging, entertaining, well-paced, and almost too suspenseful for my poor middle-aged heart. The tension was exquisite. And while Owen does not venture into extreme horror with this tale, she easily could have by using different verbiage. The story is intense and has its share of just beyond-mainstream gore.