Mike Latta can’t forgive himself for the death of his daughter. It was a freak accident, but fathers should protect little girls from the bad things that can hurt them. He didn’t, and a descent into divorce and the bottle has gotten rid of every happy ending he ever hoped for.A year of solitude on an island in northern Hollow Lake, away from the booze and the reminders of grief, may be the last … and the reminders of grief, may be the last chance he has. There’s more than peace and quiet on the lake though, because the ghosts of a long-ago murder haunt Echo Island. If Mike can’t figure out what the ghosts want from him, it may cost another little girl her life.
more
I read Deadly Kiss, the sequel, twice, and was just as pulled in the second time. This story takes place before Deadly Kiss, but both can be read alone or in any order you prefer. Mike Latta gets his ex-wife’s family’s small Canadian island in their divorce settlement, and he goes there to rebuild the cabin—and his life. As he’s still grieving the drowning of his young daughter, he encounters several entities—tortured spirits that haven’t moved on—and barely escapes death at the hand of an even more dangerous adversary—not a ghost, but his realtor, Ron Baptiste, who’s a disturbed individual at best—but is he also a murderer? Mike believes so, from the visions he’s had. The prose is polished to a sheen, the characters are well developed, and the setting is described in vivid detail but not sounding like a travel brochure. The suspense builds to the crescendo in this well-thought-out plot. If you’re a fan of ghost stories, or just suspense, don’t pass this one up—and I also highly recommend the sequel DEADLY KISS.
If you enjoy supernatural elements woven with mystery, you’re certain to enjoy Caves in the Rain. Mike Latta is barely managing after the death of his young daughter, a tragedy that leads to the end of his marriage. In the divorce settlement he’s given ownership of Echo Island, a small island tucked among others on Hollow Lake. Reachable only by boat and inhospitable during the winter months, it bears a small cottage and a boathouse, both in derelict condition.
Mike spends the spring and summer repairing and adding on to the cottage. He gets to know several locals and starts to settle into life. He also learns about a tragedy that involved the drowning of a young mother and her daughter, their bodies never found. There is talk about a mammoth hole in the lake that may have swallowed them, but also whispers that maybe their drowning wasn’t accidental.
Soon after Mike’s arrival on Echo Island, he begins to see ghosts and finds himself caught up in a cold case that may have amounted to murder. In the process he makes an enemy of a violent and wealthy man and finds his own life in the crosshairs.
I loved the setting of this book and how vividly the author brought island living to life. The scents, the sounds, even the faded history of Echo Island. Latta is an excellent character, tortured by his past, trying to start over, but also willing to stand up for a mother and daughter who no longer have a voice. Parts of the book are beautiful¬—I loved the scene in the blueberry patch—and certain sections will make your hair stand on end. There was also something that happened toward the end that really distressed me, but the author sorted it out and stitched it together in such a way that left me satisfied. The writing is polished and vibrant, and the story line slots wonderfully into place. This was my first time reading Bob Bickford, but I will certainly look for more of his work. A tense and enjoyable read!