Emerald Lake, by Nita Prose

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Jane Weber, an elderly woman, lives in a cottage on Emerald Lake and is keeping secrets from her youth that would have died with her, had it not been for her visiting granddaughters discovering those human bones on her property.  

This is a story with mysteries that start to unfold in the late 1970s in a picturesque lake resort area in Canada. There are the locals and the "summer people," who swoop in for a couple months every year and begin to believe, or assume, ownership. Of course, this leads to some fiery tensions that turn tragic. The events that slowly unfold in this novel happen in the summer of 1955 and have grave, lasting effects on many lives.

The author tells this story with alternating timelines, which I found to be very effective in keeping me curious and motivated to read more, though things do get off to a slow start. There are lots of moving parts and characters in this story that need to be introduced, which is slightly challenging.

Emerald Lake is written in a pleasing, effective style. I feel that there are palpable undercurrents of danger and that the reader can feel the dread of revisiting these events that so affect Jane Weber. 

This novel was a memorable experience, and I recommend it! Many thanks to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the excellent experience of reading this story in exchange for an honest review. 


 

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