Sonne über Lake Evelyn: Roman

by Averil Kenny, Sylvia Strasser (translator)

Große Gefühle vor der traumhaften Kulisse Australiens!

Queensland 1958: Um ihrer arrangierten Ehe zu entgehen, flüchtet die quirlige Vivienne in die Lodge ihres Onkels im tropischen Regenwald. Dort schwimmt sie jeden Tag im idyllischen Lake Evelyn. Bis der gutaussehende Farmersohn Owen auftaucht und ihr genau das untersagt. Denn seit eine berühmte Schauspielerin im See tragisch ums Leben kam, soll dieser mit einem Fluch belegt sein. Doch Vivienne lässt sich nichts verbieten, schon gar nicht von einem Mann. Zusammen mit Owens Schwester Josie will sie das Geheimnis um den Lake Evelyn lüften. Doch dabei kommt ihr Owen immer wieder in die Quere ...

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Book Club, Audiobook

578 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 28, 2022

Reviews

[Averil Kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a long time, I worried I wouldn’t love my second book as much as my debut. But this novel, written during the pandemic, has my whole heart in it too.

x Averil

[Sally Hetherington OAM · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully written book! It’s set in the 1950’s, and the details are exquisite. I have only ever read one other book set in the 1950’s, so it provided me with some great insights into what the Australian culture was like back then.

I loved the two main characters, who were brave and resilient females. The story had a mystery intertwined into it, and I was left surprised.

This is a very satisfying read from a talented Australian author. Now to go and read Averil’s first book.

Thank you to Echo Publishing for my gifted copy of The Girls of Lake Evelyn.

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4.5 Stars ⭐️
The Girls of Lake Evelyn by Averil Kenny is mysterious, dark and entertaining, I adored it!

I was thoroughly swept up in this tale of a runaway bride who hides out at ‘Sylvan Mist’, a mysterious and secluded lodge near a volcanic emerald green lake in the steamy tropical location of Northern Queensland.

It’s the year 1958 and Vivienne (Viv) George is determined not to go through with marrying Howard Woolcott III. Their upcoming wedding which is billed as the society wedding of the year will be an occasion of utter shame for her socialite mother if the bride is a no show.

Staying at Sylvan Mist private Lodge alone is somewhat creepy, it’s a mysterious place that playboy Uncle Felix secretly organised and although Viv tries to hideout there and keep to herself she finds herself swimming in the nearby lake and getting to know her neighbour a farmer, Owen Monash and his sister Josie.

Josie tells Viv the story of Celeste Starr, the beautiful film star that drowned in the lake, and of the curse that has haunted the town for over a decade.

The story is beautifully written, charming in detail and I loved the characters. My favourite character is Josie head of the Barrington Downs theatre company and whose quest it is to bury the curse of Lake Evelyn and the young women who died there.

Publication Date 29 March 2022

Publisher Echo Publishing


Thank you so much Echo Publishing for sending me a copy of the book

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Echo Publishing for sending us a copy to read and review.
A historical fiction that is written well illuminates my reading experience.
A story set in the 50’s showcasing a socialite and a dairy farmer’s daughter, a mysterious lake and a town that has secrets was destined to make me happy.
Vivienne cannot go through with her wedding, an event billed as the society wedding of the year.
Escaping to her uncles secluded lodge in the country she rebuilds and immerses herself into life that is the complete opposite to what she is accustomed.
Josie has a theatrical flair and talent and wants theatre back in the town.
A legacy of drownings and a curse have plagued the town and she is determined to put on a play that erodes the power of this curse.
As the production gains momentum and a friendship strikes between the two ladies, revelations will influence lives and correct the path of history.
Predatory actions threaten to repeat and lurk in the shadows.
The setting, the contrast of glamour and down to earth and a bouquet of secrets made this a riveting read.
The passion and colour of the theatre and more importantly the lifeline it provided for small towns was a winning catalyst for the backdrop as with a lake that holds the truth.
This is my second read by this talented author.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just brilliant. This book had Everything I like, a beautiful & captivating setting, the author takes you there at every turn of the page, delightful entertaining characters, humour and intrigue. Knowing the lakes in this region where the book is set, the author had me on the edge of my seat more then a few times which was awesome. And a very satisfying ending
Well done Averil Kenny . I am now going to buy the audio book and sit back and enjoy having someone read your wonderful book to me again.

[Donna Houston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, this was just ok.

It was slow to start while the two main characters' stories were separate, a bit better when the two stories merged, and a bit better still as the truth finally comes out to break the Curse that forced the town to close the Lake after the drowning of Celeste Starr was followed by several other town girls drowning.

I liked the friendship and camaraderie that developed between Viv, Josie, and Laura, and was satisfied with their end games. The male love interests, Owen and Miles, were steady and supportive.

But I just wasn't invested?

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was great, but too many grammar mistakes which was only emphasised by the big words that were used when simpler ones would have sufficed. The grammar errors and missing words in places, which were too many, hampered the reading experience for me.

[Thebooktrail · Rating 4 out of 5]

:
Discover the locations in the novel

What a great mystery! A woman flees her wedding and heads up to a remote lake to hide out. She meets a woman and the two become friends and swim in the lake. However the lake has secrets.....

Who knew Northern Queensland could be so tropical yet dark at the same time? Great atmospheric setting with lovely descriptive writing. The lodge and lake are creepy despite this being a novel where the sun always shines. Several women have drowned in that lake and one in particular was a famous actress. When the women decide to put on a play about this actress, well, it conjures up all kinds of darkness.

There's something very chillingly good about a lake with a curse. I haven't read anything like this in a while.  A great premise for a novel and the lovely writing just made it for me.

[Karen Trenorden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love loved this book! It caught me up in the intrigue and I fell in love with the characters!

[Treacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvellous, I adored Averil Kenny's second book. The Girls of Lake Evelyn is beautifully written. I felt everything Vivienne felt, including the iciness of the lake. I love how Averil writes her female characters, they're so strong, intelligent, creative, resourceful and feminine. Owen made me think of the lovely Matthew Cuthbert. I spent too many nights going to sleep late just to find out what would happen next. Well done.

[Anna Loder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot believe I didn’t read it as soon as I bought this beauty home. It’s completely my jam; a great story about a haunted gothic house and cursed lake, friendship, family and freedom! I loved it SO much. The rainforest was just incredibly well done, I could see ‘through a thicket of ferns, lurid lit in a shaft of light a Phantom of the Opera bird, shrunk to a doll..’ as well as the ‘little scarlet honeyeater that had been caught in the web…’ What a novel. Vivienne and Josie were just the best; so resilient and fun. Loved absolutely everything about The Girls of Lake Evelyn

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this for too many reasons to name, but here are a few:
* The writing is stunning - the language reminiscent of days gone by, vast in vocabulary without ever seeming pretentious.
* Kenny has once again written characters that are individual, bright and utterly refreshing.
* The story itself is so magnetic. An heiress who leaves her life behind, a country girl determined to prove herself, the joys of amateur theatre, family born and found, and a generous helping of mystery that never feels heavy or cumbersome.
Highly recommend.

[Jessica Fealy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m biased because this is a book set in my hometown, about a dairy farming family (I grew up on a dairy farm) and inspired by our crater lakes which I believe to be magical so nothing but a five star review from me. A beautiful read by awesome FNQ Author - add it to your list!

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read.

[Anne Forrest · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 xxxx

[Anto64 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tre stelline e mezzo.

[Kristín Matthildur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bara solid bók fínt að lesa en ekkert of klikkað. Gaman að sagan gerist í Ástralíu og alveg svoldið klikkað plot twist í endann. 3.5⭐️(er að verða strangari með bóka einkunnirnar Hehe😊)

[Pearl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A interesting read.

[Kate DiGiuseppe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot of The Girls of Lake Evelyn is enthralling, the setting beautifully drawn and the writing lyrical, but it is the characters of this novel who I fell in love with. In particular Josie Monash, the bold, daring & quick witted leader of the Barrington Down’s theatre company who sets out to lay to rest the curse of Lake Evelyn and discover why so many young ladies have died in the Lake’s clutches.

As Josie, the town’s mysterious new arrival Vivienne George and a cast of locals join forces to unravel this mystery I laughed, cheered, crossed my fingers and cried.

Averil Kenny has completed a remarkable feat writing a novel that really covers all bases… a serious mystery, a story of friendship & love and a rollicking good time!

Five stars

[Maia S · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down.

This was a very slow read for me. The premice was just interesting enough that I didn't wanna dnf it, yet I wasn't really intrigued enough to wanna read more than a few pages each day. Might have just been the translation, perhaps I'd like it better if I'd read it in English.

I really liked the ending though, it had some interesting twists and turns that I didn't see coming, but still made sense in hinsight.

[Leanne Lovegrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this novel. The author weaves a masterful historical tale, a wonderful North Qld setting, there’s secrets, family obligations, a dash of romance and a cast of delightful characters, highly recommend

[Gretchen Bernet-Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

This plot is absorbing, laced with clever, humorous actions from excellent characters who pulled me straight into the narrative. I loved the great location and the uniqueness of the story, a mixture of romance, country life, cultural pursuits and dark secrets. This is not my usual type of reading and I don’t think socialite Vivienne George executed the right move on her wedding eve, but with help from her Uncle Felix she escapes to Sylvan Mist, a neglected, isolated rainforest lodge beside Lake Evelyn. Her actions collide with the township of Barrington and playwright Josie Monash, a strong character, who strides through the pages.

Solidarity abounds in the cloistered town but exposure is needed to combat the creepy old lodge and its shocking secrets. Josie decides to uncover Lake Evelyn myths by resurrecting its outdoor theatre and writing a retrospective play about well-known WWII actress Celeste Starr who vanished in the waters of the lake. Over a period of time, several young women also drowned. Could the legend of a curse be true? The townsfolk are up in arms about the outrageous suggestion to re-open the lake. The hurt and loss is still keenly felt but Josie has strong support from her immediate circle and childhood friend Miles, now a famous actor.

Italics are distracting, I say let the words speak for themselves, and I noticed a typo or two, but I enjoyed author Averil Kenny’s writing, the descriptive passages, the small things observed in passing, the family niggles of everyday life. And who doesn’t like reading about a city girl’s first meeting with a herd of cows, softened by handsome dairy farmer Owen Monash. This primeval Tablelands rainforest location where Vivienne takes refuge from her intimidating mother reminds me of rainforest hinterland in south-east Queensland, the shopkeepers, farmers and their families ring true. Good and evil characters shine representing the ubiquitous Australian rural community.

There is a lot going on but it does not detract from the essence of the story. Native wildlife abound and perhaps a crocodile lurks in the lake where Vivienne swims every day. Between writing and farm chores, Josie inhabits a book bunker she created, and mention is made to literature and movies of the era. Despite the obstacles of threat and sabotage, I desperately wanted the premiere of Josie’s play to be a rousing success, if only to get back at a snobby theatre critic. Perhaps rehearsals and revelations are overly long leading up to the resolution but shocks occur, the truth emerges and showtime begins for real. A great weekend read!

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

La storia è ambientata in Australia nel 1958.Vivienne George sta per sposare Howard Woollcott III, ma la giovane donna non vuole sposarsi e con l’aiuto dello zio scappa e si rifugia in un paesino nel Queensland Settentrionale. Qui, in mezzo alla natura e al silenzio, si gode la tranquillità di una vita lontanissima da quella a cui era abituata, nuotando nelle meravigliose acque del lago Evelyn e facendo la conoscenza del vicino Owen Monash e di sua sorella Josie. Fino a qui pensavo fosse un romance, ma inizialmente, attraverso piccoli dettagli il libro inizia a cambiare si percepisce un aria strana nel villino e attorno al villino in cui è vissuta una famosa pin up della guerra: Celeste Starr, morta tragicamente anni prima in quello stesso lago . Una morte che si dice abbia dato vita a una maledizione che grava sulle giovani della zona. Quando Josie decide di mettere in scena una rappresentazione teatrale su Celeste Starr, Vivienne ottiene il ruolo da protagonista. Una scelta che scatenerà una serie di eventi inquietanti. Da qui il libro da rosa si tinge di giallo. Come è morta realmente Celeste e le altre ragazze? Mentre Josie cerca di ricostruire la vera storia di Celeste incontra versioni diverse su di lei e scoprirà qualcosa che riguarda la sua stessa vita ed avrà un'altra amica Laura anche lei vittima della vita. Il racconto diventa inquietante. Scritto magistralmente, non si riesce a smettere di leggerlo.

Una sposa in fuga,
un bellissimo lago, e un passato pieno di segreti.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

CHIMICA OLTRE LE DIFFERENZE

Primo degli infiniti romanzi che leggerò nella tratta da casa a scuola e viceversa - welcome to my new life! Sto cercando di continuare la mia reading challenge in questa maniera barbara, alternando le letture sul bus all'ascolto tramite sintesi vocale. Me lo sono comunque goduto, assaporandone gli ultimi istanti con l'aria fresca di prima mattina.
Questo perché la trama, scritta divinamente e dotata di personaggi magnifici, mi aveva messo addosso una curiosità incredibile, che andava placata immediatamente - lavoro o no. Certo, avevo intuito che il predatore sessuale fosse Felix, lo zio di Vivienne, ma non avrei mai immaginato quello che era realmente accaduto a Celeste, accolta in casa dal padre di Josie (Gabe) dopo aver tentato il suicidio. Scegliere di far rivelare tale verità dall'opera teatrale di Josie è stato molto azzeccato, un perfetto momento culminante per questa storia.
Come accennato, però, è stata la narrazione nella sua interezza, e non solo gli ultimi capitoli, ad avermi coinvolta e impressionata positivamente. Merito soprattutto della chimica tra i protagonisti, che formano legami indissolubili pur provenendo da contesti sociali diversi (Josie e Owen, che coppia!), riproponendo in tal modo proprio quanto accaduto tra Celeste e Gabe.
Elegante e delicato, fresco e ironico, ma anche capace di affrontare tematiche più crude che coinvolgono violenza e morte. E, in ciò, risulta anche commovente e profondo. Consigliatissimo.

[Hannah Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite historical fiction books of the year so far, although calling it historical fiction is a rather loose term. The book’s genre was one of the main things I enjoyed about it — often historical fiction books try to encapsulate too many historical events at once, leaving them both inaccurate and fairly unsatisfying.

This book got the balance right, however. It was clearly set in the 50s and referenced the Second World War, but didn’t use its time period as a plot point in itself.

I also enjoyed the setting of the book — it was distinct and described so vividly. I could imagine it clearly in my mind.

The characters felt familiar in the best way. They had their own personalities and character arcs, but also reminded me of people I’ve met before which I liked. I was genuinely cheering on the characters and wanted them to succeed. There was just the right balance of intrigue and romance, too.

Very glad I actually bought this book instead of borrowing it from the library — one to re-read for sure.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!
I bought it as a spontaneous 'true Ozzy buy' when visiting Melbourne. The moment the air plane took off from Melbourne Airport I started reading, when I landed in Hamburg I was 2/3 finished, because there was no putting down of this book. Two nights after landing I finished it (great way to relax out of jet lag).

Though from the beginning the main character seemed to be Vivienne (the runaway bride), that shifted towards Josie (the local farmers daughter / community theatre group leader) regularly. Both have there own type of amazing and charming girl power, despite them being polar opposites. In the end, it is these two ladies that make everything happen. The ending did have some surprises, though some of it I could guess in the chapters prior.

When reading the first chapters I was afraid it might be to much scary 'horror' like scenes for my liking, but that was not the case at all. So I just mention that for those who might need to hear it.

I for sure recommend this book.:D

[Maree Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Averil's books out of order! First I read Those Hamilton Sisters, which I absolutely adored. Then I was fortunate enough to read an advance copy of The Mistress Of Dara Island, which was also fantastic. That was also where I discovered that I had somehow missed out on her second book.
So I have now rectified the matter and have finished reading this book in 2 days, because I was unable to tear myself away from it!

What wonderful characters Averil has created. I've actually been to the Atherton Tablelands a few years ago with my husband so I could absolutely imagine myself there with Vivienne and Josie.

All the characters became like family to me. I was so invested in their lives, laughing and crying with them, holding my breath at the scary bits and feeling like a detective alongside them while uncovering a mystery.

I can't wait to see what Averil comes up with next. It's sure to be amazing.

[Vicki Robe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivienne George flees town and away from her mother when she realises that she can't marry a man she doesn't love. With the help of her uncle she goes to a small town in North Queensland in a secluded lodge near a beautiful lake.

As Vivienne meets her nearest neighbours she realises that things are not as they seem which puts her on edge.

When she befriends Josie Monash, Vivienne helps her unravel the mystery (or curse as the locals believe) that has ended in several young ladies found dead in the local lake, which has been abandoned for years.

Finally on the same day as the play about this mystery, the truth is revealed and doesn't quite turn out as they all would have thought.

A very solid story line with a surprise ending.

[Sharon Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow . I started this book today and loved it from the first page , I honestly couldnt put it down what a journey this book takes you on with Vivienne George who is due to get married , but can she go threw with it or will Uncle Felix come to her rescue , there is so much in this book especially when she meets Josie Monash , and her family in a lovely small town in North Queensland , not many books I can say that I started and finished in one day ,,,,,,,so enjoyable it does have a mystery but I cant say anymore .....you will have to read for yourself ....

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed 'The Girls of Lake Evelyn' by Averil Kenny with its luscious backdrop of tropical Northern Queensland, interesting and realistic characters, and an intriguing mystery of seemingly suicide drownings in a volcanic lake. Set in 1958 and beginning with a runaway bride, the plot unfolds rather slowly but has enough twists to keep you reading. The feel of a close-knit country town seems real and I loved the artistic endeavours of the drama society. And the nasty people get their comeuppance very nicely!