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Blackwater Lake
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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?
A short (25,000-words) novella, Blackwater Lake examines one man's determination to uncover his family's troubled past.
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?
A short (25,000-words) novella, Blackwater Lake examines one man's determination to uncover his family's troubled past.
93 pages, ebook
First published September 28, 2015
About the author
Maggie James
13 books294 followersMaggie James is a British author who lives near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 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!
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!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews
October 5, 2015
What a nice surprise this read was! This little novella is jam-packed with a fabulous story that left me thinking I had just read a whole novel.
Though I really liked Ms. James’ Sister Psychopath, I was even more impressed with this novella. The basic premise involves a very realistic protagonist (Matt Stanyer) who loses his parents and subsequently makes some startling discoveries about them as he cleans out their house. At the same time, Matt is struggling with his conflicted feelings for his deceased mom and dad, and we are treated to a very engrossing tale of complex family dynamics. The cast is of a stripped down nature; despite this, I had a hard time figuring out (and never did, to be honest) exactly who was involved in the wrongdoing and why. The setup is compelling. When the twists and turns start, the novella becomes unputdownable. I had mandatory errands and sneaked reads in the parking lots before going into my destinations. My wonderful book buddy (God bless her) was even worse. She finished the story in less than half we time we had settled on. I found myself shuddering with chills and yelling “whoa, good one!” as the surprises kept coming.
The author wraps up the loose ends in a great way. Not only is there satisfaction in seeing how the mystery all works out, but there is a very touching feel good bit to the ending as well. I still can’t believe so much quality content is packed into this novella. Gripping. Shocking. Emotional. All these words apply.
I highly recommend Blackwater Lake to all lovers of thrillers, suspense and crime. An excellent pick for a rainy afternoon. Oh, and it’s FREE on Amazon! Ms. James, you have a new fan.
Though I really liked Ms. James’ Sister Psychopath, I was even more impressed with this novella. The basic premise involves a very realistic protagonist (Matt Stanyer) who loses his parents and subsequently makes some startling discoveries about them as he cleans out their house. At the same time, Matt is struggling with his conflicted feelings for his deceased mom and dad, and we are treated to a very engrossing tale of complex family dynamics. The cast is of a stripped down nature; despite this, I had a hard time figuring out (and never did, to be honest) exactly who was involved in the wrongdoing and why. The setup is compelling. When the twists and turns start, the novella becomes unputdownable. I had mandatory errands and sneaked reads in the parking lots before going into my destinations. My wonderful book buddy (God bless her) was even worse. She finished the story in less than half we time we had settled on. I found myself shuddering with chills and yelling “whoa, good one!” as the surprises kept coming.
The author wraps up the loose ends in a great way. Not only is there satisfaction in seeing how the mystery all works out, but there is a very touching feel good bit to the ending as well. I still can’t believe so much quality content is packed into this novella. Gripping. Shocking. Emotional. All these words apply.
I highly recommend Blackwater Lake to all lovers of thrillers, suspense and crime. An excellent pick for a rainy afternoon. Oh, and it’s FREE on Amazon! Ms. James, you have a new fan.
July 15, 2016
This little novella had more dance steps within it than a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers Marathon.
Anxious and a bit distraught, Matthew Stanyer has notified the police when he is unable to locate his parents. Joe and Evie live a reclusive life near Blackwater Lake where his father, Joe, has been a caretaker and maintenance man. His mother, Evie, suffers from early onset dementia.
And then there's a note.....
Matthew finds a note laying on his father's pillow asking for forgiveness. To Matthew's dismay, he has no clue as to what his father is referring to.
And then the penny drops.....
You'll have to read to find out what Matthew unearths in the giant clutterland that his parents called home. The uncanny act of hording often blankets the very dark secrets that lie beneath the chaos of rumble.
A very quick read that may give you a bit of whiplash in the process.
Anxious and a bit distraught, Matthew Stanyer has notified the police when he is unable to locate his parents. Joe and Evie live a reclusive life near Blackwater Lake where his father, Joe, has been a caretaker and maintenance man. His mother, Evie, suffers from early onset dementia.
And then there's a note.....
Matthew finds a note laying on his father's pillow asking for forgiveness. To Matthew's dismay, he has no clue as to what his father is referring to.
And then the penny drops.....
You'll have to read to find out what Matthew unearths in the giant clutterland that his parents called home. The uncanny act of hording often blankets the very dark secrets that lie beneath the chaos of rumble.
A very quick read that may give you a bit of whiplash in the process.
August 2, 2018
An ok mystery. Quick to read and enjoyable.
July 16, 2016
Fast-paced novella that will make you think long and hard about things you might have in your house that you don't want discovered after you are gone.
January 1, 2018
I was very impressed with this novella. Though short in length, the book's characters and plot were well developed. Great mystery/suspense, and a freebie from B&N too. Would love to read more from Maggie James.
October 6, 2015
Hoarding. The word conjures up graphic images of homes stuffed to the gills with newspapers, dirty dishes, and trash. Matthew Stanyer is the son of a hoarder, and when his parents go missing, his heart is in his throat. His mother has early-onset Alzheimer’s, and his father, a groundskeeper at Blackwater Lake, has left a note.
In her novella Blackwater Lake, author Maggie James shows us through Matt’s eyes what Evie and Joe Stanyer’s home looks like. With his parents gone, Matt experiences guilt and remorse for what he feels are his failings as a son. As he sorts through decades of materials, separating salvageable stuff from junk, he comes across clippings and photos that raise unexpected questions about his mother’s past.
The answers are surprising, even shocking, considering the background of the characters. What starts out feeling like a very grim, depressing story quickly seized my full attention, as I could not wait to learn the whole story. I had not read anything by Maggie James prior to this, but she is definitely on my radar now!
5 stars
In her novella Blackwater Lake, author Maggie James shows us through Matt’s eyes what Evie and Joe Stanyer’s home looks like. With his parents gone, Matt experiences guilt and remorse for what he feels are his failings as a son. As he sorts through decades of materials, separating salvageable stuff from junk, he comes across clippings and photos that raise unexpected questions about his mother’s past.
The answers are surprising, even shocking, considering the background of the characters. What starts out feeling like a very grim, depressing story quickly seized my full attention, as I could not wait to learn the whole story. I had not read anything by Maggie James prior to this, but she is definitely on my radar now!
5 stars
October 8, 2015
Go get this exceptional novella for free on Amazon…right now! :)
When looking for some potential books to read with my favorite GR buddy I discovered this little gem, which has been sitting on my Kindle for close to a year now. (Makes me wonder just how many other great reads I am sitting on!)
This is a novella, coming in under 100 pages. For day one we agreed to read through to 50%, but this dang book drew me in so fiercely that I just kept going…all the way to the end in a matter of hours. :)
I am completely amazed at how James is able to thread together such a complex, mysterious, and yet compelling story in so few words. This read like a 300 page novel that hosts a strong protagonist, a plot with many twists and turns, and many old, dark secrets to be discovered.
What a treat this was…go discover it for yourself!
When looking for some potential books to read with my favorite GR buddy I discovered this little gem, which has been sitting on my Kindle for close to a year now. (Makes me wonder just how many other great reads I am sitting on!)
This is a novella, coming in under 100 pages. For day one we agreed to read through to 50%, but this dang book drew me in so fiercely that I just kept going…all the way to the end in a matter of hours. :)
I am completely amazed at how James is able to thread together such a complex, mysterious, and yet compelling story in so few words. This read like a 300 page novel that hosts a strong protagonist, a plot with many twists and turns, and many old, dark secrets to be discovered.
What a treat this was…go discover it for yourself!
October 21, 2015
This was about a son, Matthew, discovering his parents with fresh eyes after their deaths. Matthew's mother was a hoarder, much to his dismay and embarrassment throughout his life. But buried within that hoard was a history and a resolution that came to light as Matthew cleaned out the house.
At just 93 pages, this had a quick pace and no fluff. Don't expect deep characterization with this. Easily read in less than two hours.
At just 93 pages, this had a quick pace and no fluff. Don't expect deep characterization with this. Easily read in less than two hours.
October 19, 2015
Matthew Stanyer hasn't been the perfect son, although he's tried. He came home from Greece when his mother fell ill, but he can't bring himself to embrace his childhood home with comfort since it's miserable existence has been taken over with strange hoarding and shame. When he finds out his parents are missing and what's happened them, the hoarding takes on a whole new level of meaning.
It's not often I've read about hoarding, and I dug how the author tied this into a psychological secret the characters try to cover up with physical stuff. Interesting concept. I thought it was interesting how the author focuses so much on the character's embarrassment of his parent's condition. Digging through the hoard reveals secrets that turns this thriller type into a full blown mystery.
The pool of suspects isn't huge, so it's possible to guess the culprit, although I didn't guess the motive. Characters are likable but the dialogue interchanges between Matthew and his girlfriend were rather annoying, especially the overuse of "babe."
A short novella, it's worth a read when in the mood for a small town with an aged crime story that has now been uncovered and brought to light.
October 7, 2015
Why haven't i read Maggie James before i really don't know she is a wonderful Story teller of this genre it was beautifully written & deals with health issues Hoarding & dementia a book i could not stop reading till the end
Matthew Denyer is worried as his Parents Joseph & Evie who has Dementia suddenly disappear his fears are yet realised when his parents house is found deserted so he calls Detective Hutton to report their disappearance on returning to his parents home he discovers boxes full of photos & newspaper articles on the Murder of Karensa Price her mother Hannah has wanted to find out who murdered her daughter 35 years ago & he wonders why Evie & Joseph kept the articles.
Meanwhile Matthew hears back from Detective Hutton as the Police dept had found Evie & Joseph Stanyer in a river at Blackwater Lake Joseph had murdered Evie through suffocation & then kills himself by putting bricks in his clothes & drowning as he could not be without her.
He then Goes to his Aunt Izzy for answers & she tells him a bunch of lies about his parents which he does not believe he also finds Karensa's Bag in their home which makes things looks suspicious he still thinks Izzy knows a lot more than she lets on so grills her more eventually all the truth comes out. If you do one thing before the year is out you have to read this Bravo Maggie James 5+
Matthew Denyer is worried as his Parents Joseph & Evie who has Dementia suddenly disappear his fears are yet realised when his parents house is found deserted so he calls Detective Hutton to report their disappearance on returning to his parents home he discovers boxes full of photos & newspaper articles on the Murder of Karensa Price her mother Hannah has wanted to find out who murdered her daughter 35 years ago & he wonders why Evie & Joseph kept the articles.
Meanwhile Matthew hears back from Detective Hutton as the Police dept had found Evie & Joseph Stanyer in a river at Blackwater Lake Joseph had murdered Evie through suffocation & then kills himself by putting bricks in his clothes & drowning as he could not be without her.
He then Goes to his Aunt Izzy for answers & she tells him a bunch of lies about his parents which he does not believe he also finds Karensa's Bag in their home which makes things looks suspicious he still thinks Izzy knows a lot more than she lets on so grills her more eventually all the truth comes out. If you do one thing before the year is out you have to read this Bravo Maggie James 5+
July 26, 2016
Got this book free off Amazon and what a pleasant surprise. I was skimming through the books available and something in the write up appealed to me and when I saw it was actually free decided to go for it. The book is only 93 pages long but some how manages to cram so much into it, the characters are well developed and the plot is fast but well paced.
The story begins when Matthew Stanyer loses both parents in a tragic murder-suicide and decides to go through their belongings to clear his childhood home. His mother was a compulsive hoarder who has filled all the rooms in the house with lots of different things. Whilst Matthew is cleaning he discovers old photo albums containing photos of his parents that show a different side to their normal side that he was used to. This leads to the discovery of hidden secrets that were meant to be buried forever.
I read the book in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it, I realised virtually from the start that it was going to be a good read and with the added advantage of been free I highly recommend it.
The story begins when Matthew Stanyer loses both parents in a tragic murder-suicide and decides to go through their belongings to clear his childhood home. His mother was a compulsive hoarder who has filled all the rooms in the house with lots of different things. Whilst Matthew is cleaning he discovers old photo albums containing photos of his parents that show a different side to their normal side that he was used to. This leads to the discovery of hidden secrets that were meant to be buried forever.
I read the book in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it, I realised virtually from the start that it was going to be a good read and with the added advantage of been free I highly recommend it.
October 9, 2015
Hoarding is more than just a mess ... it's a common problem difficult to treat. A hoarder has the compulsion to save anything and everything. They cannot bear to do without what they have.
This is one of the illnesses that affects Matthew's mother. When he lived at home, he never had friends .. he was too embarrassed to let anyone see how his family lived.
He has moved closer to home, now, because of his mother's early onset dementia. His father can't do it all himself anymore. He fears the worst when his parents go missing ..and then later are found as victims of a murder / suicide.
As he works to clean out the house, he discovers there are secrets buried beneath the piles of boxes and food and clutter .... secrets that are 30 years old. Matthew feels a need to discover what his family has always hidden from him.
You know the saying .... be careful of what you wish for, you might get it.
The author has tackled this social problem at its basic core. What causes that urge one day to start collecting? How does the family exist in that kind of environment?
This is a novella .. longer than a short story, shorter than a novel...but it reads as a full novel. She has really done her homework on the psychology of hoarding. The characters come to life under her expert writing. The suspense is there ... the reader not quite certain where it's all leading.
An excellent read. Highly recommend. 5 Stars!
My thanks to the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
This is one of the illnesses that affects Matthew's mother. When he lived at home, he never had friends .. he was too embarrassed to let anyone see how his family lived.
He has moved closer to home, now, because of his mother's early onset dementia. His father can't do it all himself anymore. He fears the worst when his parents go missing ..and then later are found as victims of a murder / suicide.
As he works to clean out the house, he discovers there are secrets buried beneath the piles of boxes and food and clutter .... secrets that are 30 years old. Matthew feels a need to discover what his family has always hidden from him.
You know the saying .... be careful of what you wish for, you might get it.
The author has tackled this social problem at its basic core. What causes that urge one day to start collecting? How does the family exist in that kind of environment?
This is a novella .. longer than a short story, shorter than a novel...but it reads as a full novel. She has really done her homework on the psychology of hoarding. The characters come to life under her expert writing. The suspense is there ... the reader not quite certain where it's all leading.
An excellent read. Highly recommend. 5 Stars!
My thanks to the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
December 29, 2017
This novella was an intense mystery that also tackles the topic of hoarding with sensitivity. I cannot remember which review I saw recently that recommended this FREE story to me, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
November 28, 2016
How did these books get onto my Kindle? Did I download them as freebies, did someone recommend them, did I mistake them for another book I was trying to get, did I buy them? I don't know. So, I am trying to clear my Kindle and reading all those books that I can't explain. I might serve myself better by just deleting the ones I can't explain.
This was not a bad book. It had what was supposed to be a surprise ending, but I hate to say it was cliche and therefore no surprise. I didn't find it difficult to think one step ahead of the author on this one. At least it was short.
This was not a bad book. It had what was supposed to be a surprise ending, but I hate to say it was cliche and therefore no surprise. I didn't find it difficult to think one step ahead of the author on this one. At least it was short.
October 24, 2015
After years of avoiding his childhood home, Matthew Stanyer returns to find his parents missing. A note left for him by his father leads Matthew to the police for assistance. Matthew's parents are subsequently found dead at nearby Blackwater Lake. Mr. Stanyer had smothered his wife and then drowned himself.
The novella focuses on Matthew's quest to uncover his family's history. As a child, he was embarrassed by his mother's hoarding addiction, to the point where he would not bring friends home. The Stanyers had never discussed their past with their son, a past which Matthew must now unearth in order to put it to rest.
With a murder, further plot twists and new characters, this quickly-paced novella keeps the reader engaged throughout. While I enjoyed the story, I felt that the pieces fell together a bit too easily.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity in return for a fair and honest review. Many thanks.
The novella focuses on Matthew's quest to uncover his family's history. As a child, he was embarrassed by his mother's hoarding addiction, to the point where he would not bring friends home. The Stanyers had never discussed their past with their son, a past which Matthew must now unearth in order to put it to rest.
With a murder, further plot twists and new characters, this quickly-paced novella keeps the reader engaged throughout. While I enjoyed the story, I felt that the pieces fell together a bit too easily.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity in return for a fair and honest review. Many thanks.
November 6, 2015
So many things to talk about!!
I loved the twists, I wasn't expecting the ending at all, and I couldn't put the book down, I wanted so badly to find out who did what!
I didn't like the main character too much, don't ask me why... but it was so great and different reading about issues like dementia and hoarding! It was really sad but I enjoyed how the author made us understand what hoarding is about from the inside, the psychological repercussions and the impact they have not only on the hoarder but on his/her family as well.
I loved the twists, I wasn't expecting the ending at all, and I couldn't put the book down, I wanted so badly to find out who did what!
I didn't like the main character too much, don't ask me why... but it was so great and different reading about issues like dementia and hoarding! It was really sad but I enjoyed how the author made us understand what hoarding is about from the inside, the psychological repercussions and the impact they have not only on the hoarder but on his/her family as well.
October 21, 2015
A good novella. Matthew Stanyer is faced with a nightmare. His parents have gone missing and soon their bodies are discovered as a murder-suicide case. A tragic time as Matthew is also faced with cleaning out the family home - knowing his mother has always been a hoarder. What he finds among the hoard is what causes him to question whether he really knew his parents at all.
October 19, 2015
In BLACKWATER LAKE, author Maggie James brings to us some excellent psychological insight into what it's like for a family to deal with life--emotionally and physically--when one of them is a hoarder. Matthew Stanyer lived such a way with his parents, both ashamed and confused as to why his family was so different than others. As soon as he was able to, he moved on. When his father finally tells him of his mother's rapidly declining mental state, Matthew's guilt propels him to move back into the vicinity.
Everything changes for him the day he discovers them gone--an enigmatic letter from his father the only clue left behind.
This is the true beginning of Matthew's search into the past of his parent' lives--a past they never spoke of--and insight into what may have caused his mother's hoarding behavior.
This part of the novella I found truly intriguing and thought-provoking. The raw emotions Matthew showed at every new revelation were artfully portrayed. If the story had been left at that, I think I may have been much more satisfied.
Unfortunately, a few editorial errors caught my attention, disrupting my journey into Matthew's discoveries. There was one word of endearment, in particular, that was used so many times--twice on a single (kindle) page--that I almost began to tally them up. Then, there were the revelations that were simply too coincidental and telling--I was able to guess the majority of the mystery long before it was over.
These issues aside, the story definitely had some good moments--particularly in regards t the emotional upheaval, and search for answers that Matthew over-went in coming to know his parents through their past. Although this particular tale wasn't a favorite for me, I would still be interested in reading another of this author's books in the future.
*I received a copy of this novella through the publicist in exchange for an honest review.*
Everything changes for him the day he discovers them gone--an enigmatic letter from his father the only clue left behind.
This is the true beginning of Matthew's search into the past of his parent' lives--a past they never spoke of--and insight into what may have caused his mother's hoarding behavior.
This part of the novella I found truly intriguing and thought-provoking. The raw emotions Matthew showed at every new revelation were artfully portrayed. If the story had been left at that, I think I may have been much more satisfied.
Unfortunately, a few editorial errors caught my attention, disrupting my journey into Matthew's discoveries. There was one word of endearment, in particular, that was used so many times--twice on a single (kindle) page--that I almost began to tally them up. Then, there were the revelations that were simply too coincidental and telling--I was able to guess the majority of the mystery long before it was over.
These issues aside, the story definitely had some good moments--particularly in regards t the emotional upheaval, and search for answers that Matthew over-went in coming to know his parents through their past. Although this particular tale wasn't a favorite for me, I would still be interested in reading another of this author's books in the future.
*I received a copy of this novella through the publicist in exchange for an honest review.*
August 4, 2018
4,25 stars - English ebook - I have dyslexia - Review follows later. We enjoying the Summer eeather right now! 🍀🍀🍀
October 4, 2015
This is another great book from Maggie James!
Very suspenseful, got me from the page 1! The plot is very well written, and I limed tbe writers and their personality, which was very important to the plot. It is a fast read, a real page turner, if you like mysteries you've found an awesome read!
Maggie James is without a doubt one of today's best suspense authors!
Very suspenseful, got me from the page 1! The plot is very well written, and I limed tbe writers and their personality, which was very important to the plot. It is a fast read, a real page turner, if you like mysteries you've found an awesome read!
Maggie James is without a doubt one of today's best suspense authors!
February 17, 2016
Matthew's mother, in her 50s, has early onset dementia and his father is struggling. Matthew's always been reluctant to visit the parental home as his mother is a compulsive hoarder. Then his parents go missing and he finds, after pushing through stacks of boxes and heaps of rubbish, a note from his father saying that he can't go on. Shortly afterwards their bodies are found.
This novella is a great little read and packs a punch. It explores the parents' backgrounds and the potential reason for his mother's condition. Matthew goes through various beliefs about his parents which he can't reconcile with the mum and dad he knew. I enjoyed it a lot, though I felt it all fell together a little quickly at the end, which is probably because of the novella length. A great, quick read.
This novella is a great little read and packs a punch. It explores the parents' backgrounds and the potential reason for his mother's condition. Matthew goes through various beliefs about his parents which he can't reconcile with the mum and dad he knew. I enjoyed it a lot, though I felt it all fell together a little quickly at the end, which is probably because of the novella length. A great, quick read.
February 11, 2018
3.5 stars
Great little shortie with a real kick at the end. The author does an amazing job of delivering a complete & complex story in just 90+ pages. And FYI: currently free on a bunch of amazon sites.
Great little shortie with a real kick at the end. The author does an amazing job of delivering a complete & complex story in just 90+ pages. And FYI: currently free on a bunch of amazon sites.
March 19, 2021
A short novella that I found for free on my kindle years and years ago. It ended up being different than I thought, but I still found it to be right smack dab in the middle of my enjoyment scale.
Matthew hasn't always been the best son to his reclusive and odd parents. He left his childhood home the first chance he got and never looked back. That is until his mother's failing health brought him back to his hometown after livin la vida loca in Greece as a deep sea diver. His mother suffers from dementia, and his aging father is having an increasingly difficult time taking care of her himself. Though Matthew tries to lend support, he is hesitant about being too involved, and definitely hesitant about spending too much time in their house, a house he spent way too much energy trying to leave to get sucked back in its clutches again. When his dad fails to check in one day, Matthew heads to the house and finds a note indicating his parents double suicide while also hinting at some dark things afoot. When his parents' bodies are discovered in Blackwater Lake, a local tourist spot which also served as his father's place of employment for decades, Matthew thinks that it is an open and shut case: His father, crushed by the burden of caring for his demented wife, is desperate for an escape, and that desperation leads him to drown both of them in the lake so as not to be a burden anymore. However, this is a mystery novella, and the owls are not what they seem.
As it turns out, Matthew's mother had more problems than just dementia. She was a hoarder for all of Matthew's life. And the only thing that might be worse than losing his parents is having to go through their house afterwards. However, he finds things from his parents' past buried deep beneath years of junk. Things he never knew about, and things that are beginning to piece a sinister piece of the puzzle together.
This novella had things I liked and things I didn't so much. I loved the mental health aspect of it. Hoarding is a big symptom of real mental illness and isn't an issue that is really written much about. I found all of the behaviors to be very consistent with deep seeded trauma and well-written. The mystery was also interesting to unravel. It wasn't completely obvious and had decent pacing the whole way through.
My issues lay mostly with the writing itself which really needed an editor. I understand that this is an independent pub, but some of the writing really lacked finesse. There wasn't a ton of depth or nuance, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and there were certain conveniences in the storytelling that needed some more crafting. I also loathed the relationship between Matthew and his girlfriend and found it unrealistic. Their constant use of the word "babe" grated my nerves to the point where I felt like I couldn't use the word in my own relationship without shuddering. I dropped half a star just for that word alone.
All in all this wasn't a terrible read for a freebie. It was an interesting twist to a mystery/thriller genre read. It was also quite short, coming in at less than 100 pages which certainly earned it points. Which is probably a good thing since I don't think I could have handled many more pages of
2.5 stars
Matthew hasn't always been the best son to his reclusive and odd parents. He left his childhood home the first chance he got and never looked back. That is until his mother's failing health brought him back to his hometown after livin la vida loca in Greece as a deep sea diver. His mother suffers from dementia, and his aging father is having an increasingly difficult time taking care of her himself. Though Matthew tries to lend support, he is hesitant about being too involved, and definitely hesitant about spending too much time in their house, a house he spent way too much energy trying to leave to get sucked back in its clutches again. When his dad fails to check in one day, Matthew heads to the house and finds a note indicating his parents double suicide while also hinting at some dark things afoot. When his parents' bodies are discovered in Blackwater Lake, a local tourist spot which also served as his father's place of employment for decades, Matthew thinks that it is an open and shut case: His father, crushed by the burden of caring for his demented wife, is desperate for an escape, and that desperation leads him to drown both of them in the lake so as not to be a burden anymore. However, this is a mystery novella, and the owls are not what they seem.
As it turns out, Matthew's mother had more problems than just dementia. She was a hoarder for all of Matthew's life. And the only thing that might be worse than losing his parents is having to go through their house afterwards. However, he finds things from his parents' past buried deep beneath years of junk. Things he never knew about, and things that are beginning to piece a sinister piece of the puzzle together.
This novella had things I liked and things I didn't so much. I loved the mental health aspect of it. Hoarding is a big symptom of real mental illness and isn't an issue that is really written much about. I found all of the behaviors to be very consistent with deep seeded trauma and well-written. The mystery was also interesting to unravel. It wasn't completely obvious and had decent pacing the whole way through.
My issues lay mostly with the writing itself which really needed an editor. I understand that this is an independent pub, but some of the writing really lacked finesse. There wasn't a ton of depth or nuance, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and there were certain conveniences in the storytelling that needed some more crafting. I also loathed the relationship between Matthew and his girlfriend and found it unrealistic. Their constant use of the word "babe" grated my nerves to the point where I felt like I couldn't use the word in my own relationship without shuddering. I dropped half a star just for that word alone.
All in all this wasn't a terrible read for a freebie. It was an interesting twist to a mystery/thriller genre read. It was also quite short, coming in at less than 100 pages which certainly earned it points. Which is probably a good thing since I don't think I could have handled many more pages of
2.5 stars
June 5, 2017
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.
July 16, 2016
Twists, Turns, Riveting, Realistic, Intense & Gripping! An Awesome Read! I Loved It!
October 17, 2016
This is one of the few stories I've read that's tackled the difficult subject of hoarding. I must say I felt that Maggie James handled the psychological root of hoarding with such great compassion. And she did this while weaving the subject of hoarding so well with the plot. I'm sure that was no easy task, either.
I point that out because not many authors are able to provide the actual psychology within a psych thriller story. But if you like psych thrillers, then I'm sure you get all excited like I do when you discover a writer that not only knows what they're talking about, but gives their characters the respect they deserve.
Overall this was a good mystery, and it left me wanting more. I look forward to reading more of Maggie James.
I point that out because not many authors are able to provide the actual psychology within a psych thriller story. But if you like psych thrillers, then I'm sure you get all excited like I do when you discover a writer that not only knows what they're talking about, but gives their characters the respect they deserve.
Overall this was a good mystery, and it left me wanting more. I look forward to reading more of Maggie James.
January 8, 2017
Matthew Stanyer left his family home as soon as he could: His mother Evie was a hoarder. But when she came down with rapidly progressing early-onset Alzheimer’s, son Matthew returns home to help his father Joe. But, even with Matthew’s help, Joe decides to take action: He strangles his wife at Blackwater Lake before drowning himself.
Grief-stricken, Matthew begins clearing out decades of detritus, he begins to discover letters, photos — and secrets — that date back 35 years. Readers will enjoy finding out the secrets and the many twists and turns in author Maggie James’ suspenseful novella.
Special thanks to Lisa, my Great Escape Sister, for leading me to this unique novella.
Grief-stricken, Matthew begins clearing out decades of detritus, he begins to discover letters, photos — and secrets — that date back 35 years. Readers will enjoy finding out the secrets and the many twists and turns in author Maggie James’ suspenseful novella.
Special thanks to Lisa, my Great Escape Sister, for leading me to this unique novella.
July 28, 2016
I can't express enough how much I appreciated this book. I have had a run of books that I either couldn't finish or forced myself to finish. This book was just under 100 pages but there were no useless fillers in this book. I love this style of writing. No long descriptions of the weather or things that just really didn't matter. This book had an interesting story with the perfect amount of detail that kept you wanting to know more. I would definitely read more by this author.
July 22, 2016
Enjoyable story with a little bit of mystery and intrigue
June 2, 2022
4 stars - English ebook
For someone who has repeatedly stated that shorter fiction is really not my cup of tea, I have had a short burst of reading quite a few examples of this craft lately, not at all in a bid to meet certain challenges, I hasten to add!
Quote : “It may not have been a lifestyle she chose, remember. Choice and compulsion don’t always go .
I found the whole story of Blackwater Lake well and truly gripping all of which goes to show that a good story doesn’t need to be long to be satisfying. The plotting was also complex to fit into what amounts to a little under one hundred pages, and yet nothing felt rushed, the story easy to follow and I was on the roller-coaster ride to find out what happened in the past as well as the truth of what led to the disappearance of Matthew’s parents. I think it is often harder for a writer to give emotional depth to a story, particularly when the subject is male without moving towards the extremes yet although I never doubted the turmoil the chief protagonist was dealing with, the author didn’t allow those feelings to run out of control.
For someone who has repeatedly stated that shorter fiction is really not my cup of tea, I have had a short burst of reading quite a few examples of this craft lately, not at all in a bid to meet certain challenges, I hasten to add!
Quote : “It may not have been a lifestyle she chose, remember. Choice and compulsion don’t always go .
I found the whole story of Blackwater Lake well and truly gripping all of which goes to show that a good story doesn’t need to be long to be satisfying. The plotting was also complex to fit into what amounts to a little under one hundred pages, and yet nothing felt rushed, the story easy to follow and I was on the roller-coaster ride to find out what happened in the past as well as the truth of what led to the disappearance of Matthew’s parents. I think it is often harder for a writer to give emotional depth to a story, particularly when the subject is male without moving towards the extremes yet although I never doubted the turmoil the chief protagonist was dealing with, the author didn’t allow those feelings to run out of control.
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