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 Review: This is my first book by Maggie James and certainly won’t be my last. I decided to read Blackwater Lake this month because I am on a quest to read as many books as possible and with only 94 pages I knew I could read this within a couple of hours. I am not a fan of novellas normally because sometimes they feel rushed or leave you wanting more. Blackwater Lake is, in my opinion, a perfect example of a novella which leaves the reader totally satisfied with the story and conclusion. This is a great little psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns and a gripping story line.
About The Author: Maggie James is a British author who lives in Bristol. She writes psychological suspense novels.
Before turning her hand to writing, Maggie worked mainly as an accountant, with a diversion into practising as a nutritional therapist. Diet and health remain high on her list of interests, along with travel. Accountancy does not, but then it never did. The urge to pack a bag and go off travelling is always lurking in the background! When not writing, going to the gym, practising yoga or travelling, Maggie can be found seeking new four-legged friends to pet; animals are a lifelong love!
