What do you think?
Rate this book
Loch #1
El lago
¿Es el monstruo del lago Ness una mera superstición o acaso existe en realidad? De la respuesta a esta cuestión depende la vida de un hombre y su salvación está en manos de su hijo, que ha luchado toda su vida por olvidar un escabroso episodio del pasado que tuvo lugar en ese enigmático lago.
512 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
200 people are currently reading
4008 people want to read
About the author
Steve Alten
62 books1,358 followersSteve Alten grew up in Philadelphia, earning his Bachelors degree in Physical Education at Penn State University, a Masters Degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Delaware, and a Doctorate of Education at Temple University. Struggling to support his family of five, he decided to pen a novel he had been thinking about for years. Working late nights and on weekends, he eventually finished MEG; A Novel of Deep Terror. Steve sold his car to pay for editing fees. On September (Friday) the 13th, 1996, Steve lost his general manager’s job at a wholesale meat plant. Four days later his agent had a two-book, seven figure deal with Bantam Doubleday.
MEG would go on to become the book of the 1996 Frankfurt book fair, where it eventually sold to more than a twenty countries. MEG hit every major best-seller list, including #19 on the New York Times list (#7 audio), and became a popular radio series in Japan.
Steve’s second release, The TRENCH (Meg sequel) was published by Kensington/Pinnacle in 1999 where it also hit best-seller status. His next novel, DOMAIN and its sequel, RESURRECTION were published by St. Martin’s Press/Tor Books and were runaway best-sellers in Spain, Mexico, Germany, and Italy, with the rights selling to more than a dozen countries.
Steve’s fourth novel, GOLIATH, received rave reviews and was a big hit in Germany. It is being considered for a TV series. MEG: Primal Waters was published in the summer of 2004. A year later his seventh novel, The LOCH, hit stores — a modern-day thriller about the Loch Ness Monster. Steve’s eighth novel, The SHELL GAME, is about the end of oil and the next 9/11 event. The book was another NY Times best-seller, but the stress of penning this real-life story affected Steve’s health, and three months after he finished the manuscript he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Steve’s ninth novel, MEG: Hell’s Aquarium, is considered to be the best of the best-selling MEG series. Steve says his best novel is GRIM REAPER: End of Days. The story, a modern-day Dante’s Inferno, takes place in New York when a man-made plague strikes Manhattan.
Steve’s novels are action-packed and very visual. He has optioned DOMAIN, MEG and The LOCH to film producers. Steve has written six original screenplays. His comedy, HARLEM SHUFFLE was a semi-finalist in the LA screenwriting contest, his comedy MINTZ MEATS was selected as a finalist at the Philadelphia film festival as was his psychological thriller, STRANGLEHOLD. Steve’s reality series, HOUSE OF BABEL won at Scriptapalooza. He has also created a TV Drama, PAPA JOHN, based on his years coaching basketball with Hall of Fame coach John Chaney.
Over the years, Steve has been inundated with e-mail from teens who hated reading …until they read his novels. When he learned high school teachers were actually using his books in the classroom (MEG had been rated #1 book for reluctant readers) Steve launched Adopt-An-Author, a nationwide non-profit program designed to encourage students to read. Teachers who register for the program (it’s free) receive giant shark posters, free curriculum materials, student-author correspondence, an interactive website, and classroom conference calls/visits with the author. To date, over 10,000 teachers have registered, and the success rate in getting teens to read has been unprecedented. Steve now spends half his work week working with high schools. For more information click on www.AdoptAnAuthor.com
As an author, Steve has two goals. First, to continue to work hard to become a better storyteller and create exciting page turning thrillers. Second, to remain accessible to his readers. Steve reads and answers all e-mails, uses the names and descriptions of his loyal fans as characters in all his novels, and even hires readers as editors, depending on their particular expertise.
MEG would go on to become the book of the 1996 Frankfurt book fair, where it eventually sold to more than a twenty countries. MEG hit every major best-seller list, including #19 on the New York Times list (#7 audio), and became a popular radio series in Japan.
Steve’s second release, The TRENCH (Meg sequel) was published by Kensington/Pinnacle in 1999 where it also hit best-seller status. His next novel, DOMAIN and its sequel, RESURRECTION were published by St. Martin’s Press/Tor Books and were runaway best-sellers in Spain, Mexico, Germany, and Italy, with the rights selling to more than a dozen countries.
Steve’s fourth novel, GOLIATH, received rave reviews and was a big hit in Germany. It is being considered for a TV series. MEG: Primal Waters was published in the summer of 2004. A year later his seventh novel, The LOCH, hit stores — a modern-day thriller about the Loch Ness Monster. Steve’s eighth novel, The SHELL GAME, is about the end of oil and the next 9/11 event. The book was another NY Times best-seller, but the stress of penning this real-life story affected Steve’s health, and three months after he finished the manuscript he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Steve’s ninth novel, MEG: Hell’s Aquarium, is considered to be the best of the best-selling MEG series. Steve says his best novel is GRIM REAPER: End of Days. The story, a modern-day Dante’s Inferno, takes place in New York when a man-made plague strikes Manhattan.
Steve’s novels are action-packed and very visual. He has optioned DOMAIN, MEG and The LOCH to film producers. Steve has written six original screenplays. His comedy, HARLEM SHUFFLE was a semi-finalist in the LA screenwriting contest, his comedy MINTZ MEATS was selected as a finalist at the Philadelphia film festival as was his psychological thriller, STRANGLEHOLD. Steve’s reality series, HOUSE OF BABEL won at Scriptapalooza. He has also created a TV Drama, PAPA JOHN, based on his years coaching basketball with Hall of Fame coach John Chaney.
Over the years, Steve has been inundated with e-mail from teens who hated reading …until they read his novels. When he learned high school teachers were actually using his books in the classroom (MEG had been rated #1 book for reluctant readers) Steve launched Adopt-An-Author, a nationwide non-profit program designed to encourage students to read. Teachers who register for the program (it’s free) receive giant shark posters, free curriculum materials, student-author correspondence, an interactive website, and classroom conference calls/visits with the author. To date, over 10,000 teachers have registered, and the success rate in getting teens to read has been unprecedented. Steve now spends half his work week working with high schools. For more information click on www.AdoptAnAuthor.com
As an author, Steve has two goals. First, to continue to work hard to become a better storyteller and create exciting page turning thrillers. Second, to remain accessible to his readers. Steve reads and answers all e-mails, uses the names and descriptions of his loyal fans as characters in all his novels, and even hires readers as editors, depending on their particular expertise.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 607 reviews
September 12, 2018
In this book Steve Alten dives headlong into Dan Brown territory with ancient conspiracy theories involving the Loch Ness monster, Templars and goodness only knows what else! It is, quite frankly, a load of old hogwash wrapped up in pseudo-intellectual claptrap.
Unlike Dan Brown, however, Alten does it all with a huge wink to camera and never takes it at all seriously. This is late night b-movie on the SyFy channel stuff and a lot of fun if, like me, you're into that sort of thing.
One thing I couldn't nudge and wink my way past, though, was Alten's ludicrous liberties with the U.K. legal system. It was completely absurd! We haven't had the death penalty in this country for decades, for one thing, and we certainly don't lock prisoners up in castles anymore... Just... mind-blowing.
Unlike Dan Brown, however, Alten does it all with a huge wink to camera and never takes it at all seriously. This is late night b-movie on the SyFy channel stuff and a lot of fun if, like me, you're into that sort of thing.
One thing I couldn't nudge and wink my way past, though, was Alten's ludicrous liberties with the U.K. legal system. It was completely absurd! We haven't had the death penalty in this country for decades, for one thing, and we certainly don't lock prisoners up in castles anymore... Just... mind-blowing.
August 27, 2021
This story had some interesting facts surrounding Scotland - things that sounded historical and others more like folklore. I’m not a huge fan of history - I prefer to read fiction and if I do glean some factual trivia, that’s ok. In this book, I skimmed over those parts.
I enjoyed the story and characters through most of the book. This was my first Lochness monster story and I appreciated the attempt to add lots of science to the fantasy. But by the end, I just wanted to be finished…
I enjoyed the story and characters through most of the book. This was my first Lochness monster story and I appreciated the attempt to add lots of science to the fantasy. But by the end, I just wanted to be finished…
October 6, 2018
Oh my, this story was a major thrill ride. There were also parts of it that had me in stitches.
This is one book I definitely do not want to spoil. So read it and find out what happens.
This is one book I definitely do not want to spoil. So read it and find out what happens.
June 22, 2025
The pain in reading this was the accents. It took a while to get to the creature, but the author did take a lot of time with the backstory and creating the world in which it took place.
The clever thing the author did was start his chapters with documented sightings of the creature. So, every time I wanted to quit, I read another report on Nessie and submitted to what came next. When the chapter ended, I got another Loch Ness monster report until the book finally ended. Had Alten not done that, I can't imagine I would've continued on.
The climax was fun. The Scottish dialect was not. (A couple "ach"'s and "aye"'s and "lassie" tags to the dialogue is more than enough for the Scottish experience. Just ask Star Trek.) Would I recommend this to someone who wants a good creature-feature and is also interested in Nessie? No. That being said, if you gave this to a good screenwriter, they might be able to lock onto it with their sonar.
The clever thing the author did was start his chapters with documented sightings of the creature. So, every time I wanted to quit, I read another report on Nessie and submitted to what came next. When the chapter ended, I got another Loch Ness monster report until the book finally ended. Had Alten not done that, I can't imagine I would've continued on.
The climax was fun. The Scottish dialect was not. (A couple "ach"'s and "aye"'s and "lassie" tags to the dialogue is more than enough for the Scottish experience. Just ask Star Trek.) Would I recommend this to someone who wants a good creature-feature and is also interested in Nessie? No. That being said, if you gave this to a good screenwriter, they might be able to lock onto it with their sonar.
August 4, 2021
Okay Mr. Alten, you redeemed yourself! It would have been such a better read, though, if the history lessons were trimmed significantly. It was a cool take on Loch Ness and a good creature horror story, as usual.
December 2, 2010
Steve Alten takes on the legend of Nessie, blending fact with fiction in The Loch. Zach Wallace, a descendant of another legend, William Wallace of Braveheart fame, is a talented yet somewhat hapless marine biologist. His last project, locating the elusive giant squid in the depths of the Sargasso Sea, was both a success and a catastrophe, and now Zach's afraid to go back in the water. When his estranged father, Angus, summons him to Inverness, where he is standing trial for murder, Zach reluctantly obeys. Imagine his chagrin when he learns that Angus's defense hinges solely upon the Loch Ness monster. He's more than ticked off, but what can a son do but find proof that his father is telling the truth? The scientist in Zach knows that, if there is a Nessie, it's not going to be a plesiosaur, and now a couple of generations of hunters have proved that the monster will not be found using traps or radar. As he begins his quest, he also begins learning that truth can be stranger than fiction; from time to time, a vicious amphibious animal emerges from the loch to prey upon livestock, and, occasionally, upon humans.
If you enjoy stories ("story" being the operative word) that combine legend, history, science, adventure, and mystery, The Loch is for you. And, refreshingly, no religious cabals or heresies are involved here. But there are Knights Templar, there is a monster (i.e., a large amphibious predator), and Zach learns about the value of facing one's fears head on. Intelligently written, and very entertaining.
If you enjoy stories ("story" being the operative word) that combine legend, history, science, adventure, and mystery, The Loch is for you. And, refreshingly, no religious cabals or heresies are involved here. But there are Knights Templar, there is a monster (i.e., a large amphibious predator), and Zach learns about the value of facing one's fears head on. Intelligently written, and very entertaining.
January 28, 2019
Disappointing, very disappointing.
The author is not Scottish and probably has not even been to Scotland, as a Scottish guy, this put me off and even annoyed me a few times by the errors.
The story was so, so. You would have us believe that virtually everyone who lives and works around Loch Ness belongs to and swears allegiance to a clan and everyone talks as though they are in Braveheart. Nope. Could you get any more cliched characters? Big, swarthy, short tempered, hard drinking, red-haired, bearded Highlanders called Angus. In my experience they don't exist.
This put me off so much I needed up hating the book.
I have read some great books on Loch Ness, such as Archie Wilson and the Beasts of Loch Ness, even the Water Horse is better than this and that's a kids book.
The author is not Scottish and probably has not even been to Scotland, as a Scottish guy, this put me off and even annoyed me a few times by the errors.
The story was so, so. You would have us believe that virtually everyone who lives and works around Loch Ness belongs to and swears allegiance to a clan and everyone talks as though they are in Braveheart. Nope. Could you get any more cliched characters? Big, swarthy, short tempered, hard drinking, red-haired, bearded Highlanders called Angus. In my experience they don't exist.
This put me off so much I needed up hating the book.
I have read some great books on Loch Ness, such as Archie Wilson and the Beasts of Loch Ness, even the Water Horse is better than this and that's a kids book.
May 3, 2015
This fast moving novel will take you on underwater adventures in the Sargasso Sea and Loch Ness laced with romance and a murder mystery. The story is amplified with bits of marine biology, Scottish history and quotes of probable monster sightings.
It’s hard to tell where fact and fiction separate. For instance, How much about ecology of the Loch is real? Is it an accurate portrayal of how the blasts to build the highway affected the Loch? Is there a deeper cavern? I presume the Nessie sightings are fiction; but could some be real quotes? While the history of Scotland is accurate as I know it, I’m not sure about the influence of the Templars in the highlands. None of this matters since this is a story but part of me wanted it to be like good historical fiction which injects personalities and motives into the known facts.
I had trouble envisioning the look of the monster, the eels and the place of the climax. While Zach, David and Angus and their interactions are well developed, their relationships with others aren't. The dialog between Zach and Brandy does not suggest a great romance; Zach and Brandy seem like high schoolers flirting with each other. It hardly seems like Angus and Teresa are a match for either romance or friendship.
The story could be made into a TV movie. A creative screenwriter could do a lot with the story. It could be made into an adventure, mystery, thriller or horror movie; changing a bit of characters and the plot could make it fun for kids.
It’s hard to tell where fact and fiction separate. For instance, How much about ecology of the Loch is real? Is it an accurate portrayal of how the blasts to build the highway affected the Loch? Is there a deeper cavern? I presume the Nessie sightings are fiction; but could some be real quotes? While the history of Scotland is accurate as I know it, I’m not sure about the influence of the Templars in the highlands. None of this matters since this is a story but part of me wanted it to be like good historical fiction which injects personalities and motives into the known facts.
I had trouble envisioning the look of the monster, the eels and the place of the climax. While Zach, David and Angus and their interactions are well developed, their relationships with others aren't. The dialog between Zach and Brandy does not suggest a great romance; Zach and Brandy seem like high schoolers flirting with each other. It hardly seems like Angus and Teresa are a match for either romance or friendship.
The story could be made into a TV movie. A creative screenwriter could do a lot with the story. It could be made into an adventure, mystery, thriller or horror movie; changing a bit of characters and the plot could make it fun for kids.
December 17, 2016
A biological mystery/thriller set in Scotland's Loch Ness. Something in the water is attacking animals and people. Could it be Nessie? And if it is, what kind of creature is it and what's causing it to attack now?
The book has alot of quotes from real marine biology, ecology, and evolutionary scientific works interspersed within the fictional plot. The author also tells about the history of Scotland and the Loch Ness area, and quotes actual eyewitness accounts of Nessie sightings at the beginning of the chapters. All this adds to the enjoyment of the story. A fun, action-packed read.
The book has alot of quotes from real marine biology, ecology, and evolutionary scientific works interspersed within the fictional plot. The author also tells about the history of Scotland and the Loch Ness area, and quotes actual eyewitness accounts of Nessie sightings at the beginning of the chapters. All this adds to the enjoyment of the story. A fun, action-packed read.
April 24, 2012
This book is full of clichés - the dialogue, the narration, and the plethora of borrowed plot lines from "Jaws". You know the good characters from the bad. You can predict which ones will die violently (and deservedly so), and you know which bad guys will turn out to be good guys.
But you know what, I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I found myself staying up through the wee hours to get through "just one more chapter". At first I felt a little embarrassment at enjoying it so much. But ultimately I gave in and just went with it.
Now, it's a fact that I was a hardcore Loch Ness Monster fanatic growing up in the 70's. I'm pretty sure I was the only kid in my school that kept checking out the thin "Mystery of Loch Ness" from our school library, as I'd pour over those images of what couldn't be anything OTHER than a huge dinosaur that was alive and well. So maybe I’m a little bit biased towards the whole Loch Ness Monster “thing”. But be that as it may, I just enjoyed this story.
I had to overlook the melodramatic romantic interest. I flew by the stilted conversations with nary a grimace, because I wanted to find out more about the monster in the lake. I wanted to see who was going to die next and by what monster-ific means. And I was even engaged in the way that Alten integrated a Template-theme subplot in a (mostly) seamless way.
Alten writes smoothly and he keeps the story moving at a rapid pace, so that even the most modest-paced reader will have no trouble flying through its 500+ pages.
I highly recommend this fantastic thriller. It’s not literature. It’s great for the beach. And it’s just a lot of fun.
But you know what, I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I found myself staying up through the wee hours to get through "just one more chapter". At first I felt a little embarrassment at enjoying it so much. But ultimately I gave in and just went with it.
Now, it's a fact that I was a hardcore Loch Ness Monster fanatic growing up in the 70's. I'm pretty sure I was the only kid in my school that kept checking out the thin "Mystery of Loch Ness" from our school library, as I'd pour over those images of what couldn't be anything OTHER than a huge dinosaur that was alive and well. So maybe I’m a little bit biased towards the whole Loch Ness Monster “thing”. But be that as it may, I just enjoyed this story.
I had to overlook the melodramatic romantic interest. I flew by the stilted conversations with nary a grimace, because I wanted to find out more about the monster in the lake. I wanted to see who was going to die next and by what monster-ific means. And I was even engaged in the way that Alten integrated a Template-theme subplot in a (mostly) seamless way.
Alten writes smoothly and he keeps the story moving at a rapid pace, so that even the most modest-paced reader will have no trouble flying through its 500+ pages.
I highly recommend this fantastic thriller. It’s not literature. It’s great for the beach. And it’s just a lot of fun.
December 6, 2020
Libro entretenido que da otra perspectiva al monstruo del lago. En ocasiones me ha recordado a la peli de Tiburón y no digo mas, por lo demás entretenido. Ademas son curiosas las notas de avistamientos del monstruo a lo largo de los años.
July 30, 2011
History, Scotland, and a great story..what's not to like?
June 29, 2011
2 AND 1/2 STARS.
I really enjoyed Meg, author Steve Alten's breakout bestselling novel, and with my fascination regarding the mysteries behind the Loch Ness Monster, I had to pick this one up too. For me, The Loch is a mixed bag. While the main storyline is quite exciting, Alten wedges large chunks of dry historical background that seem to be copied from a middle school book report. These unnecessary facts constantly pulled me out of the story, making it difficult to come back to the main focus, our protagonist Zachary Wallace.
Another issue I had was the awkward, almost spastic responses from characters that really felt forced for dramatic sake, and not at all organic. For instance, waking up from a bad dream, a character jumps out of bed screaming and runs out to a balcony where he dives over the railing! Now how many times have you heard of that happening? It really came out of nowhere with no buildup. Another instance was a character breaking up someone in the hospital who had just had a near death experience. Doing that is fine, of course, but the blunt way in which it was handled felt very artificial, almost turning into a comedy.
Alten also sets the book up in a first person perspective and then shifts to third person when attacks around the lake happen. He should have kept with one or the other instead of being so choppy and switching back and forth. This is just another example of something that pulls you out of the story. Some facts are inaccurate, too. Alten writes about a character who is a photographer taking a 30-second exposure on a moving boat at midnight with an 300mm F4.5 lens. Besides the fact that it would be too dark, the movement over 30 seconds on a boat would give you nothing but an incredibly blurry image, especially with such a long lens.
I never try to predict the twists and turns in a book, but prefer to sit back and let the author take me on his or her journey. Unfortunately, most of the plot twists were clichéd -- David's appearance at the Loch, the chemical/oil spill, the love interest, the creature revelation, etc. You know you're not quite enjoying the book when you're looking forward to the ends of each chapter where Alten uses quotes from actual eye witnesses. That's about as interesting as it gets. However, there were some things I liked about this book. Many of the characters were quite colorful and the landscape was described enough that I got a good sense of the environment. The beginning dive with the squid was great, but then everything slows down considerably. Honestly, your best bet is to read the first 50 pages and the last 100. So, unfortunately, there wasn't enough here in this 500+ page book to recommend unless you are an Alten completist...especially now that this paperback price is $10.
I really enjoyed Meg, author Steve Alten's breakout bestselling novel, and with my fascination regarding the mysteries behind the Loch Ness Monster, I had to pick this one up too. For me, The Loch is a mixed bag. While the main storyline is quite exciting, Alten wedges large chunks of dry historical background that seem to be copied from a middle school book report. These unnecessary facts constantly pulled me out of the story, making it difficult to come back to the main focus, our protagonist Zachary Wallace.
Another issue I had was the awkward, almost spastic responses from characters that really felt forced for dramatic sake, and not at all organic. For instance, waking up from a bad dream, a character jumps out of bed screaming and runs out to a balcony where he dives over the railing! Now how many times have you heard of that happening? It really came out of nowhere with no buildup. Another instance was a character breaking up someone in the hospital who had just had a near death experience. Doing that is fine, of course, but the blunt way in which it was handled felt very artificial, almost turning into a comedy.
Alten also sets the book up in a first person perspective and then shifts to third person when attacks around the lake happen. He should have kept with one or the other instead of being so choppy and switching back and forth. This is just another example of something that pulls you out of the story. Some facts are inaccurate, too. Alten writes about a character who is a photographer taking a 30-second exposure on a moving boat at midnight with an 300mm F4.5 lens. Besides the fact that it would be too dark, the movement over 30 seconds on a boat would give you nothing but an incredibly blurry image, especially with such a long lens.
I never try to predict the twists and turns in a book, but prefer to sit back and let the author take me on his or her journey. Unfortunately, most of the plot twists were clichéd -- David's appearance at the Loch, the chemical/oil spill, the love interest, the creature revelation, etc. You know you're not quite enjoying the book when you're looking forward to the ends of each chapter where Alten uses quotes from actual eye witnesses. That's about as interesting as it gets. However, there were some things I liked about this book. Many of the characters were quite colorful and the landscape was described enough that I got a good sense of the environment. The beginning dive with the squid was great, but then everything slows down considerably. Honestly, your best bet is to read the first 50 pages and the last 100. So, unfortunately, there wasn't enough here in this 500+ page book to recommend unless you are an Alten completist...especially now that this paperback price is $10.
September 19, 2011
What is it about Alten and dark water? Doesn't matter whether its an ocean or deep lake, he manages to create a sense of menace and downright fear from being out there alone in the dark. Alten is able to pull the legend of the Loch into today's world, and blends the ancient with the modern. There was a fair bit of backgrounding and character building going on in the middle of the book, and was looking like a 3.5 rating. However it's worth hanging in there, as within a few pages it picked up speed (and gore!), and I'm finding it hard to put down.
Just finished.... The Loch is like a rollercoaster, that has a few ups and downs for the first half, and then like someone has yelled over the side of the carriage to the controller to, 'Let er rip, man', picks up speed at the end (as it should!).
Being a fan of diving, swimming and surfing, I love anything to do with deep water.
Good fun holiday reading book.
Just finished.... The Loch is like a rollercoaster, that has a few ups and downs for the first half, and then like someone has yelled over the side of the carriage to the controller to, 'Let er rip, man', picks up speed at the end (as it should!).
Being a fan of diving, swimming and surfing, I love anything to do with deep water.
Good fun holiday reading book.
July 30, 2008
One word -- STUPID!
I expect at least vaguely plausable scenarios, and the glaring error/lack of understanding of the physical principles in this book is the most egregious I have ever seen in a book in print. Made me want to throw the book against the wall. I have lost all respect for this author (and for the editor and publisher as well!)
I expect at least vaguely plausable scenarios, and the glaring error/lack of understanding of the physical principles in this book is the most egregious I have ever seen in a book in print. Made me want to throw the book against the wall. I have lost all respect for this author (and for the editor and publisher as well!)
January 9, 2010
This is not great literature but it sure was a fun read. It combines a wee bit of Scottish history, the templar mythology, the origins of nessie and her tenure in the loch all while riding a Harley. With a broken foot. Anyway, I digress. The book is a fun read and I really enjoyed it. For a quick read it intersperses two timelines well and they ties together nicely as you read through the story. The characters are fun, but none of them have much depth... they do get the story on its way though. It would have been a 5 star read if one of the characters had more depth. But I would recommend it to anyone wanting a fun romp with a bit of science and history thrown in. Also, I appreciate that it is a pulp novel that does not involve the military or the CIA (or it's equivalent across the pond).
June 17, 2022
This was a fun summer read. I could have done without the "black knights," but they moved the story along. Steve Alten did rip off the movie Lake Placid, but I will forgive him for that!
January 23, 2025
3 1/2 stars. This had some good parts in it and the storyline itself is solid but it drug a lot throughout the book. I guess I was hoping for an adventure like Jurassic Park.
September 11, 2024
Oh, Nessie! Are you really there?
Are you just a scale in someone’s hair?
Will someone lay the legend bare?
Can someone write a book that’s fair?
Okay. This book falls into the horror/thriller genre, which is a weird genre. But then, so is the Loch Ness Monster. We all want to believe there was/is some kind of swimming creature under those deep cold waters. Maybe a group of dinosaurs survived the killing asteroid millions of years ago and decided to hang out in Scotland. Because, why not. Who’s going to bother you? It’s really cold.
This book has one of those “heroes” who must overcome a childhood trauma, such as falling overboard in Loch Ness as a wee laddie and getting nipped by Nessie. I would call that trauma. This “hero” then grows up and becomes a noted American marine scientist who has a weird relationship with his Scottish father. The prodigal son must return to his land of birth in order to vanquish his ghosts and that nippy Nessie.
I thought this book was going to be one of those Spielberg-type adventures. I was wrong. It’s all over the place. The “hero” has no redeeming qualities, as he shags women and drinks to excess (because of that childhood trauma thingy). The women characters are just there to quickly disrobe and shout occasional firebrands of Scottish slang. Plus, there apparently wasn’t an editor involved in any of this blather. In one section, which gives a brief overlay of Scottish history, Charles II is said to have been the son of James I (nope) while Queen Anne was the daughter of William and Mary! Wow, such miracles. I mean, at least proofread the damn book.
Finally, I read the book for Nessie. But it’s difficult to be the star of The Loch when some drunken dude is taking up all the paragraphs. Sure, the Loch Ness Monster sightings have been hoaxes. But can anyone be 100% certain there isn’t something down there in those cold murky depths? I still believe. Just not with this book.
Book Season = Winter (peat and bubbles)
Are you just a scale in someone’s hair?
Will someone lay the legend bare?
Can someone write a book that’s fair?
Okay. This book falls into the horror/thriller genre, which is a weird genre. But then, so is the Loch Ness Monster. We all want to believe there was/is some kind of swimming creature under those deep cold waters. Maybe a group of dinosaurs survived the killing asteroid millions of years ago and decided to hang out in Scotland. Because, why not. Who’s going to bother you? It’s really cold.
This book has one of those “heroes” who must overcome a childhood trauma, such as falling overboard in Loch Ness as a wee laddie and getting nipped by Nessie. I would call that trauma. This “hero” then grows up and becomes a noted American marine scientist who has a weird relationship with his Scottish father. The prodigal son must return to his land of birth in order to vanquish his ghosts and that nippy Nessie.
I thought this book was going to be one of those Spielberg-type adventures. I was wrong. It’s all over the place. The “hero” has no redeeming qualities, as he shags women and drinks to excess (because of that childhood trauma thingy). The women characters are just there to quickly disrobe and shout occasional firebrands of Scottish slang. Plus, there apparently wasn’t an editor involved in any of this blather. In one section, which gives a brief overlay of Scottish history, Charles II is said to have been the son of James I (nope) while Queen Anne was the daughter of William and Mary! Wow, such miracles. I mean, at least proofread the damn book.
Finally, I read the book for Nessie. But it’s difficult to be the star of The Loch when some drunken dude is taking up all the paragraphs. Sure, the Loch Ness Monster sightings have been hoaxes. But can anyone be 100% certain there isn’t something down there in those cold murky depths? I still believe. Just not with this book.
Book Season = Winter (peat and bubbles)
May 31, 2021
I grabbed this audio book on sale because I love, love, love (love x 10) monster stories....and only after I bought it did I realize the story is by the author who wrote The Meg series. Then I was really excited -- I really enjoyed The Meg! Sometimes it takes me awhile to get to a new audio book (and sometimes they get lost in the shuffle of my TBR and I forget I even have them!)....not this time! I started listening to this story immediately! Steve Alten + Loch Ness = awesome story!
The basics: Following an accident during a scientific expedition, Marine Biologist Zachary Wallace finds himself battling night terrors and a fear of the water. As his career begins to implode, Zachary's life is further upended when he hears from his long estranged father in Scotland. In a strange twist of events, Zachary finds himself investigating a series of strange attacks on Loch Ness. Has Nessie decided to become a dangerous, people-eating cryptid?
Great story. Interesting characters. Lots of action and suspense. I loved it!
The audio book is just over 15 hours long and narrated by P.J. Ochlan. Ochlan gives a great voice acting performance -- even does a great job at all the Scottish accents! Very entertaining listen!
The basics: Following an accident during a scientific expedition, Marine Biologist Zachary Wallace finds himself battling night terrors and a fear of the water. As his career begins to implode, Zachary's life is further upended when he hears from his long estranged father in Scotland. In a strange twist of events, Zachary finds himself investigating a series of strange attacks on Loch Ness. Has Nessie decided to become a dangerous, people-eating cryptid?
Great story. Interesting characters. Lots of action and suspense. I loved it!
The audio book is just over 15 hours long and narrated by P.J. Ochlan. Ochlan gives a great voice acting performance -- even does a great job at all the Scottish accents! Very entertaining listen!
March 21, 2013
This book managed to be both awful and awesome all at the same time.
July 26, 2018
This was a very strange book for me in that, while I really enjoyed reading it and had a hard time putting it down, I did not really care for any of the characters throughout the book. It moves at a decent pace; it presents an interesting theory as to the creature that is said to be living in Loch Ness; it held my interest throughout most of the book. Before each chapter [or, between each chapter, depending on how you look at it] are little "historical snippets" of statements made by people who have reported seeing something in Loch Ness [they really reminded me of the various "journal entries" at the start of each chapter in Frank Peretti's The Oath, a kind of "supernatural thriller"]. While I did not care much for any of the characters, overall [they just were not very likable characters], the author did do a good job in developing some of the characters over the course of the novel.
Pretty much all of the characters came across as harsh and abrasive, in some form or another. Some were unpleasant over the course of the entire novel; some became less unpleasant as the novel progressed. Zachary Wallace was in the fifth Meg book, Nightstalkers, and I did not like his character in that book, either. However, the second book in "Zachary's" series directly ties into the fifth Meg book, so I thought I'd go ahead and read this book and Vostok. It was funny, though - despite my not liking either Brandy [the younger sister of Zachary's best friend] or Zachary very much, I did think they would make nice partners for each other. Zachary's best friend, True, was probably the "most likable" character in the book, to be honest. Him, and maybe a couple of nurses.
I did find different aspects of the book funny, in different ways. Not sure why, but I did.
It was a crazy book that involved various infodumps about the geology and history of Loch Ness as well as about the people who inhabit the land surrounding this infamous [or famous] lake. It focused on the environment and ecology of Loch Ness as well as some [adverse] affects of "industrialization" and modernization. You have "conflicts" between Clans willing to accept and embrace change to pull Loch Ness "into the modern age" versus those who wish Loch Ness and its environs to remain unchanged and untouched by the Outside World. It also involved "ancient societies" sworn to secrecy and protecting the Loch from outsiders [so to speak] as well as the citizens from the dangers of the Loch, "Black Knights" and Templars roaming around the countryside at night, "monster hunters," a murder trial, a mystery, brutal killings, giant aquatic creatures, and a giant lake that reminded me of Lake Placid [in some respects]. There is "cutting edge science" as well as explanations on why there might be more sightings in certain points in history than in other points. There is love and "war" and vengeance and jealousy and rivalry. There are the bonds of friendship renewed and strengthened as well as new friends made.
I am not saying the book is perfect; not by any means. However, I did enjoy reading it. It was a fun read; it was a crazy read. I think I also enjoyed it because it did not involve any "secret US agencies" or "military units" that have gone rogue and were behaving badly. It is about a "young" man who returns home and has to face his inner demons before coming out of his own personal crucible a "better man" [hopefully]. In the process, he has to solve not one but two mysteries before the end of the book. I have to admit, it was a better book than I expected or anticipated it to be, and I am glad I took a chance on reading it.
Pretty much all of the characters came across as harsh and abrasive, in some form or another. Some were unpleasant over the course of the entire novel; some became less unpleasant as the novel progressed. Zachary Wallace was in the fifth Meg book, Nightstalkers, and I did not like his character in that book, either. However, the second book in "Zachary's" series directly ties into the fifth Meg book, so I thought I'd go ahead and read this book and Vostok. It was funny, though - despite my not liking either Brandy [the younger sister of Zachary's best friend] or Zachary very much, I did think they would make nice partners for each other. Zachary's best friend, True, was probably the "most likable" character in the book, to be honest. Him, and maybe a couple of nurses.
I did find different aspects of the book funny, in different ways. Not sure why, but I did.
It was a crazy book that involved various infodumps about the geology and history of Loch Ness as well as about the people who inhabit the land surrounding this infamous [or famous] lake. It focused on the environment and ecology of Loch Ness as well as some [adverse] affects of "industrialization" and modernization. You have "conflicts" between Clans willing to accept and embrace change to pull Loch Ness "into the modern age" versus those who wish Loch Ness and its environs to remain unchanged and untouched by the Outside World. It also involved "ancient societies" sworn to secrecy and protecting the Loch from outsiders [so to speak] as well as the citizens from the dangers of the Loch, "Black Knights" and Templars roaming around the countryside at night, "monster hunters," a murder trial, a mystery, brutal killings, giant aquatic creatures, and a giant lake that reminded me of Lake Placid [in some respects]. There is "cutting edge science" as well as explanations on why there might be more sightings in certain points in history than in other points. There is love and "war" and vengeance and jealousy and rivalry. There are the bonds of friendship renewed and strengthened as well as new friends made.
I am not saying the book is perfect; not by any means. However, I did enjoy reading it. It was a fun read; it was a crazy read. I think I also enjoyed it because it did not involve any "secret US agencies" or "military units" that have gone rogue and were behaving badly. It is about a "young" man who returns home and has to face his inner demons before coming out of his own personal crucible a "better man" [hopefully]. In the process, he has to solve not one but two mysteries before the end of the book. I have to admit, it was a better book than I expected or anticipated it to be, and I am glad I took a chance on reading it.
June 18, 2021
I read Meg back in 1997 and enjoyed it but for some reason never picked up another Alten novel until coming across The Loch recently. In many ways, writing about the Loch Ness Monster seems to be a natural for an author who made his reputation writing about a prehistoric super shark that survives into the modern day. The Loch did not disappoint me. If you have a fascination with Loch Ness Monster, then it’s almost certain that you’ll enjoy this book.
To start out with, we have a hero, Zach Wallace, with issues—his father sucks and he’s also just gotten blamed for a terrible investigation-gone-astray in the Sargasso Sea. As if that isn’t enough, almost drowning for the second time has given this marine biologist a serious case of hydrophobia. So he’s not in the best of moods when he learns that his father is about to be tried for murder and that he wants his son to come home to Scotland to offer moral support. He almost doesn’t go—and soon enough wishes he didn’t.
While his father is manipulating him to bolster his court case which one might call “The Loch Ness Monster” defense, something begins killing visitors to the Loch. Drownings are way up and now people are being bloodily murdered on land. It appears that Nessie may be real after all and she’s angry.
The best parts of this novel are when Alten gets into various theories about what the Loch Ness Monster might be and how it might exist in the freshwater loch. That was all fun. Less fun was the very poor portrayal of the Scottish legal system. I also wish Alten had decided to steer clear of the Knights Templar as I thought they were a needless complication to the story that in my opinion distracted from the true tale. That being said, this novel is a lot of fun and if you’re willing to just run with it, you’ll be glad you read it.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
To start out with, we have a hero, Zach Wallace, with issues—his father sucks and he’s also just gotten blamed for a terrible investigation-gone-astray in the Sargasso Sea. As if that isn’t enough, almost drowning for the second time has given this marine biologist a serious case of hydrophobia. So he’s not in the best of moods when he learns that his father is about to be tried for murder and that he wants his son to come home to Scotland to offer moral support. He almost doesn’t go—and soon enough wishes he didn’t.
While his father is manipulating him to bolster his court case which one might call “The Loch Ness Monster” defense, something begins killing visitors to the Loch. Drownings are way up and now people are being bloodily murdered on land. It appears that Nessie may be real after all and she’s angry.
The best parts of this novel are when Alten gets into various theories about what the Loch Ness Monster might be and how it might exist in the freshwater loch. That was all fun. Less fun was the very poor portrayal of the Scottish legal system. I also wish Alten had decided to steer clear of the Knights Templar as I thought they were a needless complication to the story that in my opinion distracted from the true tale. That being said, this novel is a lot of fun and if you’re willing to just run with it, you’ll be glad you read it.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
July 1, 2017
Man, these books are so hard to rate. For me, this was a 4 star book because it was a blast of fun, but at the same time, on a critical level the writing was bad, the characters were hilariously hackneyed, every attempt at romance or emotional dialog was LOL funny, and it just overall is probably a 2 star book in quality.
But...
For me, Steve Alten books are like really great trash movies - You don't read them for piercing insights into the soul or thoughtful revelations on life, you read them for the GODDAMN GIANT MONSTER ATTACKS. And in between, you get flailingly clumsy dramatic scenes, cackle-worthy love interests, and all-around character acting that resembles a cast of low-paid newcomer victims in an 80's slasher film. Even the story beats are so predictable as to be funny:
Chapter: Hero does something with main characters to drive the plot.
Chapter: Wholly new family on vacation from Idaho is introduced and we follow their water-splashing play until they are all eaten.
Chapter: Hero does something with main characters to drive the plot.
Chapter: Wholly new... Well, you get the picture.
They're like fun-bad monster movies and for that, Steve Alten books are one of my go-to summer reads, and I enjoy every one. Just don't go in with literary expectations...
But...
For me, Steve Alten books are like really great trash movies - You don't read them for piercing insights into the soul or thoughtful revelations on life, you read them for the GODDAMN GIANT MONSTER ATTACKS. And in between, you get flailingly clumsy dramatic scenes, cackle-worthy love interests, and all-around character acting that resembles a cast of low-paid newcomer victims in an 80's slasher film. Even the story beats are so predictable as to be funny:
Chapter: Hero does something with main characters to drive the plot.
Chapter: Wholly new family on vacation from Idaho is introduced and we follow their water-splashing play until they are all eaten.
Chapter: Hero does something with main characters to drive the plot.
Chapter: Wholly new... Well, you get the picture.
They're like fun-bad monster movies and for that, Steve Alten books are one of my go-to summer reads, and I enjoy every one. Just don't go in with literary expectations...
March 9, 2010
Such a disappointment from Alten. Unlike Meg, or The Trench (both of which I devoured in a few days around the pool one summer), The Loch was a snooze-fest. I kept putting it down, reading other things, and picking it back up just so I could finish it.
Alten's usually good at writing about not-so-extinct mega-prehistoric-sharks making chum salads out of hapless humans - great beach stuff! Unfortunately, Alten's foray into the domain of Nessie, the Loch-Ness monster, fails miserably IMO. The characters are one dimensional, the Scots dialect is difficult to read and too "cutsey", and Alten's treatment of female characters borders on the ridiculous, as they are basically on par with the sleeziest whores. The story is over-infused with alot of technical terms that the lay reader wouldn't understand, and the ending, (while a welcome relief to the reader), is pretty lifeless and boring.
Sorry, but if you're at all interested in delving into the underwater world of Steve Alten, skip this one and try Meg instead.
Alten's usually good at writing about not-so-extinct mega-prehistoric-sharks making chum salads out of hapless humans - great beach stuff! Unfortunately, Alten's foray into the domain of Nessie, the Loch-Ness monster, fails miserably IMO. The characters are one dimensional, the Scots dialect is difficult to read and too "cutsey", and Alten's treatment of female characters borders on the ridiculous, as they are basically on par with the sleeziest whores. The story is over-infused with alot of technical terms that the lay reader wouldn't understand, and the ending, (while a welcome relief to the reader), is pretty lifeless and boring.
Sorry, but if you're at all interested in delving into the underwater world of Steve Alten, skip this one and try Meg instead.
April 20, 2015
This book was delicious. A plausible scientific explanation for the Loch Ness monster tied up in a thriller that's part mystery, part love story, and part tale of an underdog. Steve Alten is a PhD marine biologist, but don't let that fool you into thinking he can't weave a good tale. And yes, this fueled my desire to tour Scotland.
March 20, 2020
Ach.
So bad.
So bad.
June 4, 2023
Here be a rant, so buckle up!
Where do I start with this one.
Firstly, I’m a huge fan of the Meg series, so this was one that was always on my radar. From the first few chapters I knew I was going to really scrutinise this book. While I can appreciate the creature feature that this is, being a proud Scot, it gied me the rub. (I had some issues with it)
Apparently we still have the death penalty on our shores!!! Almost DNF at this early stage, but I steadied my twitching eye and ploughed onwards.
My main issues is that I detest stereotyping of ANY culture, let alone my own. And this book, is so bad, that I doubt Mr Alten has bothered to research Scottish culture, or even set foot in the country.
There is a horribly romanticised stereotypical view of the Scots and Irish, and to a similar extent the Welsh, that presents a completely unrealistic image of our cultures; and let me be clear…for the most part, we find it offensive…and it is! Some people may think its cute, but we don’t.
I see you Diane Gabaldon. But in her defence, Outlander is “historical” fiction, so there is a certain leeway when it comes to Scottish romanticism.
It’s true that Scotland has a lengthy bloody history of battles, castles and Clan infighting. However, we are now a pioneering society with a rich culture leading the world in art, engineering and science, as does many other cultures. My point is: we’re no longer hairy arsed read-headed (please note, we are not and never were. Only 13% of Scots have red hair and we love them for it) highlanders frolicking through the heather on the hills.
However, the Scottish Highlands of Alten’s world has regressed us back to the 1800s. There is the constant referencing of Clans and ongoing infighting. For the vast, vast majority of Scots…we don’t care. The clan system is no longer relevant from a societal perspective, certainly not to the point where we still hold grudges ffs!
We have the main characters clambering about the mysterious ruins of Urquart Castle, drinking and hitting gold balls over the loch…its had a massive visitor centre there since 2002, so not sure where he was rambling.
The NHS is also not a thing. As a boy our injured hero had to have a veterinarian stitch him up “cos we couldnae afford tae pay a real doctor.”
The local fauna also seems to have expanded.
“What tf was that? She crept to the edge of the trail…Maybe a bear?”
A bear…in Scotland! Just…no!!!! Bears have been extinct in Scotland for 3000 years. The most dangerous animal we have here now is a slightly agitated squirrel.
Our eels apparently grow to 10ft and 250lb, with a head the size of a football. One of the main discoveries in the book is toxins affecting the behaviour of the population of the native European eels (Anguilla Anguilla). But he then classifies those eels as conger eels. European Congers (Conger conger) are a completely different fish and are not native to our coastal waters let alone Loch Ness. It’s just poor research.
The language is jarring. I get he wanted to have the “feel” of the vernacular, but you can’t just pick and choose random Scots words that you think fit, and exclude others. That’s just not how we talk; especially around Inverness. Their accent and dialect is slightly more musical, whereas this feels more lowland. He should have avoided it completely.
Add to that we’ve got Scottish people saying “aluminum”! I mean…whit?!
We have our hero and his family. Direct descendants of William Wallace. Wallace lived 700 years ago so no clue how they could possibly know that. There is no evidence of Wallace ever having children.
There is always something…off with Alten’s romantic entanglements. Terry hates Jonas in The Meg then they just get it on because…lust I guess. Their teenage daughter Danielle is getting it on with one of the Daredevils in Primal Waters, and I believe is illegal in some states of the US.
And there is something similar here. Our love interest here is a belter. A Scottish lass named Claire MacDonald, who goes by the name Brandy, because…reasons. An utterly horrible specimen who actively shames a man with severe ptsd because he wouldn’t have sex with her. Then proceeds to inform his nemesis that he is impotent, who then shames him in front of her…and she doesn’t bat an eye. Then gaslights him as if it’s his fault! Then they get it on because…lust I guess.
Alten, like he does with most female characters, constantly objectifies her with varying descriptions of her beautiful “tanned” body in a skimpy string bikini. Drumnadrochit must have a fantastic tanning salon, because sightings of the sun in Scotland is rarer than Nessie herself.
There are so many more smaller niggles, but cba listing them all.
It’s nowhere even remotely close to being as good as The Meg and Trench. The Scottish characters are borderline offensive and the protagonist is a bit of a bawbag. The ending is daft and the Templar tie in is just a vehicle for said stereotyping.
Would I have felt differently if I wasn’t Scottish? Maybe. But I think it would only have made me round up.
But I am Scottish, so 2.5* rounded down.
Where do I start with this one.
Firstly, I’m a huge fan of the Meg series, so this was one that was always on my radar. From the first few chapters I knew I was going to really scrutinise this book. While I can appreciate the creature feature that this is, being a proud Scot, it gied me the rub. (I had some issues with it)
Apparently we still have the death penalty on our shores!!! Almost DNF at this early stage, but I steadied my twitching eye and ploughed onwards.
My main issues is that I detest stereotyping of ANY culture, let alone my own. And this book, is so bad, that I doubt Mr Alten has bothered to research Scottish culture, or even set foot in the country.
There is a horribly romanticised stereotypical view of the Scots and Irish, and to a similar extent the Welsh, that presents a completely unrealistic image of our cultures; and let me be clear…for the most part, we find it offensive…and it is! Some people may think its cute, but we don’t.
I see you Diane Gabaldon. But in her defence, Outlander is “historical” fiction, so there is a certain leeway when it comes to Scottish romanticism.
It’s true that Scotland has a lengthy bloody history of battles, castles and Clan infighting. However, we are now a pioneering society with a rich culture leading the world in art, engineering and science, as does many other cultures. My point is: we’re no longer hairy arsed read-headed (please note, we are not and never were. Only 13% of Scots have red hair and we love them for it) highlanders frolicking through the heather on the hills.
However, the Scottish Highlands of Alten’s world has regressed us back to the 1800s. There is the constant referencing of Clans and ongoing infighting. For the vast, vast majority of Scots…we don’t care. The clan system is no longer relevant from a societal perspective, certainly not to the point where we still hold grudges ffs!
We have the main characters clambering about the mysterious ruins of Urquart Castle, drinking and hitting gold balls over the loch…its had a massive visitor centre there since 2002, so not sure where he was rambling.
The NHS is also not a thing. As a boy our injured hero had to have a veterinarian stitch him up “cos we couldnae afford tae pay a real doctor.”
The local fauna also seems to have expanded.
“What tf was that? She crept to the edge of the trail…Maybe a bear?”
A bear…in Scotland! Just…no!!!! Bears have been extinct in Scotland for 3000 years. The most dangerous animal we have here now is a slightly agitated squirrel.
Our eels apparently grow to 10ft and 250lb, with a head the size of a football. One of the main discoveries in the book is toxins affecting the behaviour of the population of the native European eels (Anguilla Anguilla). But he then classifies those eels as conger eels. European Congers (Conger conger) are a completely different fish and are not native to our coastal waters let alone Loch Ness. It’s just poor research.
The language is jarring. I get he wanted to have the “feel” of the vernacular, but you can’t just pick and choose random Scots words that you think fit, and exclude others. That’s just not how we talk; especially around Inverness. Their accent and dialect is slightly more musical, whereas this feels more lowland. He should have avoided it completely.
Add to that we’ve got Scottish people saying “aluminum”! I mean…whit?!
We have our hero and his family. Direct descendants of William Wallace. Wallace lived 700 years ago so no clue how they could possibly know that. There is no evidence of Wallace ever having children.
There is always something…off with Alten’s romantic entanglements. Terry hates Jonas in The Meg then they just get it on because…lust I guess. Their teenage daughter Danielle is getting it on with one of the Daredevils in Primal Waters, and I believe is illegal in some states of the US.
And there is something similar here. Our love interest here is a belter. A Scottish lass named Claire MacDonald, who goes by the name Brandy, because…reasons. An utterly horrible specimen who actively shames a man with severe ptsd because he wouldn’t have sex with her. Then proceeds to inform his nemesis that he is impotent, who then shames him in front of her…and she doesn’t bat an eye. Then gaslights him as if it’s his fault! Then they get it on because…lust I guess.
Alten, like he does with most female characters, constantly objectifies her with varying descriptions of her beautiful “tanned” body in a skimpy string bikini. Drumnadrochit must have a fantastic tanning salon, because sightings of the sun in Scotland is rarer than Nessie herself.
There are so many more smaller niggles, but cba listing them all.
It’s nowhere even remotely close to being as good as The Meg and Trench. The Scottish characters are borderline offensive and the protagonist is a bit of a bawbag. The ending is daft and the Templar tie in is just a vehicle for said stereotyping.
Would I have felt differently if I wasn’t Scottish? Maybe. But I think it would only have made me round up.
But I am Scottish, so 2.5* rounded down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2022
Interesting science mixed with Scottish history in this thriller about the Loch Ness Monster.
March 9, 2010
This story fits the Thriller genre, specifically the Scientific Thriller genre very well. The biology behind the creature shows detailed research and possibly consultation with biologists and cryptozoologists. The pacing could have been a little faster and more exciting. The author provided a lot of Nessie sightings and evolution tidbits that broke up the flow of the story. Fortunately, the effect of the first person narration makes up for some of the pacing issues. The reader learns everything as Zack does with very few exceptions. The story does have some small branches, mostly to show how several of the people died from their point of view. Figuring out who to trust as well as what exactly is wrong with the Loch that has changed the creature’s behavior is much easier and more interesting by following Zack’s expert point of view. Zack’s life, body and reputation are at risk through most of the novel and his fears as well as his scientific mind hinder him in deciding who to trust.
First off, I want to say that I liked it and it kept me interested, but it wasn’t quite a page-turner. Any possible cliff hangers were broken up by the witness accounts. Some of them were interesting and I think the author purposely avoided the more crackpot sounding ones, but they did divert from the story. I was slightly annoyed by the sections of Adam Wallace’s journal because, in addition to a Scottish dialect that took a while to get used to, the font is hard to read. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoyed his other books like Meg or Crichton’s Jurassic Park. I would be more cautious about suggesting it to a general thriller reader because of the pacing.
A Sci-Fi reader might enjoy this because it does feature a creature that evades technology designed to search its habitat. It may not contain enough other elements for many Sci-Fi readers though. I think anyone with an interest in the paranormal, cryptozoology, or the Loch Ness Monster would enjoy this book because it does feature a search for clues about an undiscovered creature. The romance is barely there so I wouldn’t recommend it to a romance reader. Also, I think most gentle readers would be appalled by the amount of gore, talk of sex and some of the things that father and son say to each other. I wasn’t too shocked by it because I remember reading Meg, but I was actually surprised at the low level of curses flung between Zack and Angus especially with the meanness of their words.
First off, I want to say that I liked it and it kept me interested, but it wasn’t quite a page-turner. Any possible cliff hangers were broken up by the witness accounts. Some of them were interesting and I think the author purposely avoided the more crackpot sounding ones, but they did divert from the story. I was slightly annoyed by the sections of Adam Wallace’s journal because, in addition to a Scottish dialect that took a while to get used to, the font is hard to read. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoyed his other books like Meg or Crichton’s Jurassic Park. I would be more cautious about suggesting it to a general thriller reader because of the pacing.
A Sci-Fi reader might enjoy this because it does feature a creature that evades technology designed to search its habitat. It may not contain enough other elements for many Sci-Fi readers though. I think anyone with an interest in the paranormal, cryptozoology, or the Loch Ness Monster would enjoy this book because it does feature a search for clues about an undiscovered creature. The romance is barely there so I wouldn’t recommend it to a romance reader. Also, I think most gentle readers would be appalled by the amount of gore, talk of sex and some of the things that father and son say to each other. I wasn’t too shocked by it because I remember reading Meg, but I was actually surprised at the low level of curses flung between Zack and Angus especially with the meanness of their words.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 607 reviews