Blackwater Lake by Maggie James

About the book:

Matthew Stanyer fears the worst when he reports his parents missing. His father, Joseph Stanyer, has been struggling to cope with his wife Evie, whose dementia is rapidly worsening. When their bodies are found close to Blackwater Lake, a local beauty spot, the inquest rules the deaths as a murder-suicide. A conclusion that’s supported by the note Joseph leaves for his son.

Grief-stricken, Matthew begins to clear his parents’ house of decades of compulsive hoarding, only to discover the dark enigmas hidden within its walls. Ones that lead Matthew to ask: why did his father choose Blackwater Lake to end his life? What other secrets do its waters conceal?

My thoughts:

Blackwater Lake is a super speedy novella. I read it in one sitting last week! I had read The Second Captive by Maggie James last year (review – The Second Captive by Maggie James ) and I had been on Amazon and Blackwater Lake was free so I downloaded it and got stuck in.

For such a short book, it certainly packs a lot into the narrative. I wasn’t expecting there to be so much depth in such a short story so that was a pleasant surprise.

The characters are quite well fleshed out too and you get a good glimpse into all of them as the family saga unfolds between the pages.

I really enjoyed the way the story played out. I can’t go into much detail without giving anything away but I will say that it was unexpected. For a novella, Maggie James has done a really good job of packing in plenty of mystery and intrigue.

If you’re looking for a quick read, with a meaty plot, then I would definitely recommend Blackwater Lake.

BUY THE BOOK: Blackwater Lake by Maggie James