The ghosts of the past come calling in a spellbinding heart-stopper from the “Queen of the Northern Gothic.”After the end of her marriage, Kate Granger has retreated to her parents’ home on Lake Superior to pull herself together—only to discover the body of a murdered woman washed into the shallows. Tucked in the folds of the woman’s curiously vintage gown is an infant, as cold and at peace as … and at peace as its mother. No one can identify the woman. Except for Kate. She’s seen her before. In her dreams…
One hundred years ago, a love story ended in tragedy, its mysteries left unsolved. It’s time for the lake to give up its secrets. As each mystery unravels, it pulls Kate deeper into the eddy of a haunting folktale that has been handed down in whispers over generations. Now, it’s Kate’s turn to listen.
As the drowned woman reaches out from the grave, Kate reaches back. They must come together, if only in dreams, to right the sinister wrongs of the past.
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Well written with solid characters, but I didn’t find the story line compelling. I did finish it though.
Easy to read but the plot was pretty obvious early. Quick read for a rainy day.
I loved the historical aspects of this story and how everything was woven together. The feelings evoked by the characters were very real, and it was easy to like Addy, despite knowing her fate. If the ending had been different and a bit more believable, I would’ve given it five stars, but I still enjoyed the book and recommend it to others who like historical fiction woven into the present through the use of ghosts and dreams.
The tentacles of the past reach out to threaten Kate Granger in this atmospheric tale, set on the shores of Lake Superior. Filled with all the intrigue of old houses and their long-buried secrets, this gothic tale will make you shiver.
This was another excellent read by Wendy Webb. I love how she uses the Great Lakes as not only a setting but a character in her stories. As a fellow lover of “Gitchee Gummee,” I love that whimsy and magic of this most compelling spot for myself, and I like how the author is introducing others to the fickle mistress of the North as well.
Yes, I kinda figured things out before the end, and so there wasn’t too much that surprised me, but I enjoyed the journey and found the storytelling most excellent.
A dark, evocative novel full of allure and hints of the supernatural. Webb’s narrative is captivating. She leads the reader on an exploration of folk lore, hauntings, love, and murder. It is a novel to be read slow, taken in, and absorbed. It is a remarkable piece of literary work with intoxicating, eloquent writing and bold, dynamic characterization. Highly recommended. 5 stars.
An intriguing ghost story told in a unique way.
This is a wonderful read, which I had trouble putting down. The fantastic story and characters drew me in, with the author weaving the past into the present.
This is really a good read. It has alot of twists and turns. It has good character build up and good transitions.
Once again I got sucked in by a Kindle first book. Of all of this months choices, this one seems the most likely to be of interest. Supernatural and Gothic caught my attention so I figured I’d give it a go.
Cloying is the word that most comes to my mind as the adjective that describes this book. The writing is competent, the setting (both historical and contemporary) well rendered but the story itself did not appeal. I’ll remember to avoid the gothic genre in the years ahead as it seems to be just another way to describe A romance with a little bit of a ghost to liven things up a bit.
Great Gothic Ghost Story
PG-13
No sex (Loving relationships, tastefully presented)
No memorable strong language
Creepy
Plot – no spoilers
Kate returns to her childhood home after discovering her husband’s infidelity. Shortly thereafter, she discovers the body of a beautiful woman who has washed ashore, a woman whose face she recognizes from her own dreams.
Authorities are called, and an investigation is started, but Kate knows this is neither an ordinary murder nor an ordinary victim.
As the story progresses events from circa 1905 intermingle with today to give us the surprising answer to the mystery.
I really thought I had it all figured out. I didn’t.
If you’ve ever read and enjoyed a Barbara Michaels novel, you will enjoy this one. It goes without saying that if you read and enjoy this one you ought to try Ms. Michaels, otherwise known as Elizabeth Peters.
Recommended!
Note: Another reader referred to this as something like, “just a bodice ripper.” Nothing NOTHING could be further from the truth.
Hated for this book to end.
Mesmerizing Gothic novel.
Daughters of the Lake is well-written and deftly hits a range of emotional notes.
No spoilers, so I’ll only say that although implausible details in the beginning sparked skepticism, the book captivated me.
Webb wove the history of towns in the vicinity of Lake Superior into a rich, present-time adventure. The heroine and her loved ones are smart, fully-realized, and engaging. I finished it in two days.
Along with her interweaving of area lore, nature, 19th century life, and making the lakes and towns forces within the novel, Webb includes diversity in her cast without friction. Refreshing and wonderful.
Readers who enjoy the supernatural, don’t hesitate to read Daughters of the Lake.
This a very atmospheric, ethereal read. This book goes between the past and present nicely. You feel the fog, the sound of the water lapping at the shore and the legends still told from times long ago.
Kate is divorcing her hubby after finding he cheated on her and is with her folks trying to put her life back together. But she has these dreams that seem so real and drain her of energy. And then she sees a body of a woman with a baby given up by the water, and the woman is from her dreams.
Kate moves into a B and B that her cousin Simon is renovating that belonged to their families from years past. But the dreams continue and you meet Addie and Jess…a love story from the past.
The author makes Addie so real and yet part water nymph as she lives/loves water. You watch her grow up and her relationship with Jess. You meet their friends and a couple of people from Jess’s time in university. They move to Wharton and live close to what is now the B and B.
As Kate tries to investigate the couple from her dreams, ghostly things go bump in the night and even threaten to kill her. She finds notes, pictures, party planners from time gone by and learns the connection to Addie and this house that her great grandparents owned.
I was so into the love story that I found it hard to believe Jess would ever betray her!
The book ties it up nicely, the past and the present connecting, interwoven and believable. Good read if you love the idea of love ever after, ghosts, legends and books full of great atmosphere as Karen White and other authors use well.
Read this on a dark night, wrapped up.in a blanket, maybe a glass of wine and just savor the idea of the past carrying over into today and love living on.
This lush gothic is part ghost story, part mystery, part romance. It evokes the old Barbara Michaels gothic novels I grew up reading, and the prose is delicious!