The Boy and the Lake

by Adam Pelzman

“The Boy and the Lake is a poignant and haunting coming-of-age story … a multifaceted, evocative and masterfully told tale.” —Lynda Cohen Loigman, USA Today bestselling author of The Two-Family House and The Wartime Sisters

“Pelzman excels at creating an intensely atmospheric setting and revealing how it shapes his characters’ identities and worldviews … The narrative is full of rich, descriptive language … a well-developed vintage setting and classic but thought-provoking coming-of-age theme.” —Kirkus Reviews

Set against the backdrop of the Newark riots in 1967, a teenage Benjamin Baum leaves the city to spend the summer at an idyllic lake in northern New Jersey. While fishing from his grandparents’ dock, the dead body of a beloved neighbor floats to the water’s surface—a loss that shakes this Jewish community and reveals cracks in what appeared to be a perfect middle-class existence. Haunted by the sight of the woman’s corpse, Ben stubbornly searches for clues to her death, infuriating friends and family who view his unwelcome investigation as a threat to the comfortable lives they’ve built. As Ben’s suspicions mount, he’s forced to confront the terrifying possibility that his close-knit community is not what it seems to be—that, beneath a façade of prosperity and contentment, darker forces may be at work.

In The Boy and the Lake, Adam Pelzman has crafted a riveting coming-of-age story and a mystery rich in historical detail, exploring an insular world where the desperate quest for the American dream threatens to destroy both a family and a way of life.

Praise for Adam Pelzman’s Troika“Riveting drama and sensuous prose make for an unforgettable love story … [a] beautifully rendered debut.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Pelzman’s talent and vision are formidable …” —Publishers Weekly“… transcendent, magnetic, intoxicating …” —Bookreporter

Praise for Adam Pelzman’s The Papaya King“Devilishly smart social commentary … acutely observant, timely writing … another entrancing, deeply memorable offering from Pelzman.” —Kirkus Reviews

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 7, 2020

About the author

Adam Pelzman was born in Seattle, raised in northern New Jersey, and has spent most of his life in New York City. He studied Russian literature at the University of Pennsylvania and went to law school at UCLA. His first novel, Troika, was published by Penguin (Amy Einhorn Books) and later republished by Jackson Heights Press as A Cuban Russian American Love Story. He is also the author of The Papaya King (which Kirkus Reviews described as "entrancing" and "deeply memorable") and The Boy and the Lake (which is set in New Jersey during the late 1960s). His newest novel is A Plague of Mercies.

Reviews

[Jin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a wonderful read about a Jewish boy during his teenage years. I would categorize this book to family drama / coming-of-age with a dramatic twist in the end. Because the book is told from the perspective of the boy, the end kind of caught me off guard (which was positive).

I really liked the storytelling and also the side characters with glimpses of the US society at that time. Even though I couldn't really connect to Ben, the main character, I liked him and the others enough to be hooked by the story.

The story started slow and it really grew to my heart. Maybe, I liked it because it isn't too drastic or too eccentric, it really felt like looking at a part of life itself while the lake keeps on flowing. Btw, the way how the lake was incorporated into the story was excellent! And as a remarks - even though it was just a small thing -, I didn't like the diary entries of Helen, because they didn't really feel like diary entries at all.

**I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens for leaving an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.**

[MicheleReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boy and the Lake starts in the summer of 1967. While out fishing, 16 year old Benjamin (Ben) Baum shockingly discovers the body of Helen Lowenthal, a beloved member of the suburban New Jersey lake community he lives in, emerging lifeless in the water. So begins a haunting and touching coming-of-age story of a young man who is deeply impacted by this incident.

Helen held a special place in Ben’s heart. The married mother of two was the local tennis champ and had shown great kindness to his seriously ill sister Bernice. One day, after giving a lesson to Ben, Helen spent time with Bernice and helped her hit one perfect topspin forehand that brought smiles to the gravely sick girl and tears to their mother Lillian. While Bernice passed away soon after, Ben never forgot that day. Being the person who found Helen’s body created a deep sorrow as well as a desire to find out what truly caused her death as he didn’t believe it was an accident, as it was ruled.

After Bernice's death, Ben and his family make Red Meadow Lake their permanent home, leaving Newark, which was experiencing riots and racial unrest. Red Meadow Lake attracted mostly Jewish families who had been unable to live in area’s other similar and mostly restricted communities. As Ben spends more time in his new home, he starts to learn more about his own family as well as his neighbors. He is conflicted by all that he discovers. While this is Ben’s touching story, this is also a good murder mystery, which unravels in a surprising way.

Author Adam Pelzman has created a fascinating group of characters led by Ben, who is carefully analyzing everyone around him. What he observes is often quite funny as well as tragic. The sense of place is perfect. And I should know. I immediately recognized the lake community which inspired Red Meadow Lake as I had visited it as a child. And I ended up moving close by as an adult. The author’s references to the cultural nuances in a Jewish community in this time period was incredibly accurate. It brought back lots of memories.

I would like to thank the author for a copy of his poignant, memorable, well-written book. So glad I read it and I’m very happy to recommend it.

Rated 4.5 stars.

Review posted on MicheleReader.com.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprising, delightful book that enchanted me. A simple tale of a Jewish community in 1967 and a teenage boy enjoying a summer by the lake. The background Newark riots is symbolic of the tumult in life amongst this close-knit community. A story of family, friendship, love and the time before college takes you away and your adulthood begins. Clear vivid imagery and a poetic like language captures the nuances of life and the potential of its destruction in unexpected ways. Is it more literature then crime, a possible coming of age or study of a particular cultural community?? This book ensnared me and was a true pleasure to experience - a must read 5-star rating.

[Rich · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book by this author that I have read and it was not bad. I dislike this saying but it was a coming of age book in the late 60's. I thought the main character was pretty good and most of the secondary characters were good. I thought the dialogue was good and that time period was captured good. I thought the tempo and pace was a little slow and my gas tank was almost on empty by the time some drama and tension happened to the story which did not take place until well into the second half of the book. He also did something a little different which hit me as a little odd and that was the main character the son at times in the story referred to his parents by first name and then would use their title mom and dad. I kind of found it distracting. I thought the end was pretty good. I would have liked to have seen what happened to the main character after the ending but that was not to be. I think this author has some good talent and I would give this book a 3.5 mainly because of the pace of the book. I would say give it a spin.

[Lynda Loigman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boy and the Lake is a poignant and haunting coming-of-age story, capturing not only the turbulence of 1960’s America, but the raw inner turmoil of one perceptive young man as he struggles to maintain familial harmony amid increasing doubt and dysfunction. By layering raw suspense over a traditional family saga, Pelzman provides readers with a multifaceted, evocative, and masterfully told tale.

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

The boy, the lake, the dead body. It sounds like a mystery but reads like a drama, although wait until the very end and you’ll get both, plot twist and all.
The boy is the only surviving child of a well to do middle class Jewish family living in an idyllic lake community in Northern New Jersey, surrounded by other well to do middle class Jewish families. It’s insular, but comfortable and certainly more secure than the Newark and its riots they left behind. The boy goes through life comfortably, enjoying the affections of a lovely girl friend and wishing to change that arrangement into a single word descriptor, his loving grandparents, his nice kind father and his brutal, mercurial, irascible mother. I mean, the woman is straight out of a fairy tale wicked stepmother central casting, although her appeal is less witchy and more bitchy.
The lake provides a lovely setting to these families, a symbol of having made it in their generations back adapted country.
The dead body belongs to a beloved member of the community, a woman the boy was fond of, a nice and generous soul. The death appears to be a misadventure. But the boy has his own suspicions (it’s always the spouse, isn’t it), so he proceeds to try to investigate on his own.
What he uncovers will be a life changer…but until then there are all the teenage things to get into, drinking, misbehaving, romance, college, etc.
So I suppose in the end this is one of those coming of age stories where innocence is first stricken (discovery of a dead body), then slowly challenged (as the boy begins to become more aware of the dynamics of his surroundings) and then completely devastated with one final blow (which you’ll have to read to find out about). And as such it is very effective.
The story is set in 1967, the time easy to idealize with nostalgia fumes in retrospect, but actually quite turbulent in its own right. Some things were simpler, sure, but the main aspects of people as social animals…just as complex and ugly as ever. The novel gets that right also, never veering into oversentimentalism or cheap emotional manipulation.
The overall style is steady and measured, it isn’t just set in 1967, it reads like it might have been written then. A very immersive experience in a way. Slow, sedate and steady narrative with occasional flashes of brutality. More description than action, more contemplation than dialogue, but dynamic in its own way, it certainly never drags. Definitely a work of literary fiction.
It didn’t engage me to the extent of loving it, but it was an enjoyable read and I definitely liked spending time with it and would read more of this author. A sad book, elegiac, actually, is more accurate of word for it, with a sort of singular elegance to it. And that ending…that ending. So yeah, pretty good overall. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an advance copy of this book by a friend in the publishing industry. I absolutely loved it from the get go. A Jewish coming of age story set in the late sixties combined with a murder mystery that blew me away with its surprise ending. YOU WILL NOT SEE IT COMING. I can’t wait to go back and read Pelzman’s earlier works. I have a feeling people will be talking about this book all year.

[Olga Miret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this novel and I freely reviewing it as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team.
For those of you who are in a hurry and prefer not to get too much background information about a book before reading it, I’ll tell you that this is a fantastic novel, one that brought me pleasant memories of the many great novels I read as part of my degree in American (USA) Literature, especially those written in the second half of the 20th century. I had never read any novels by Adam Pelzman before, but after reading this one I’m eager to catch up.
The description of the book included above provides enough details about the plot, and I won’t elaborate too much on it. There is a mystery (or at least that’s what Ben, the young protagonist believes) at the centre of the story, and when he insists on trying to find out the truth, despite his suspicions being dismissed initially by everybody, he sets into action a chain of events that ends up unravelling what at first sight seemed to be an idyllic upper-middle-class Jewish community. Despite efforts to maintain an outward appearance of order and harmony, there are signs of problems bubbling under the surface from early on. Not only the body of the woman Ben finds, but also the relationships in his family (his mother’s mood changes; his younger sister’s death prior to the novel’s action; his uncle’s desperate comedic efforts; his grandfather’s possibly not-so-clean business ethics) and there are also issues with others in the community (the father of his friend, Missy, and his difficulty keeping any jobs; the husband of the dead woman’s eagerness to replace her and his strange behaviour…), coupled with a general agitation and unhappiness with the global situation (the race riots in Newark are important to the plot of the story, and there are mentions of the many traumatic events the USA had experienced in the 1960s, from the deaths of JFK and RFK to the ongoing Vietnam War). If the novel can be seen as a coming of age story, with its customary theme of loss of innocence, it also represents the loss of innocence at a more global level, and there is plenty of symbolism in the novel to highlight that, including two toxic leaks onto the lake, with its accompanying death and destruction. Although the novel has a mystery at its heart, and people reading the beginning might think this will be a mystery novel or a thriller of sorts, I would describe it as a coming of age story cum literary fiction, and it reminded me of Phillip Roth’s novella Goodbye Columbus (the story refers to it, although not by name). It also made me think of Brick, a 2005 film, not so much for its aesthetics and style (although most of the characters in the movie are high school students there is a definite noir/hard-boiled detective story feel to it) but for the way a seemingly implausible investigation ends up unearthing more than anybody bargained for.
Although Ben and his friend Missy are the main characters, there are quite a few others that play important parts, especially Ben’s parents (Abe and Lillian), his sister, Bernice and Helen, the dead woman, both present only through memories and recollections (more or less), his grandparents, the neighbours… Also, the lake and its community (more of a character in its own right than a setting), New York, and Newark. Ben tells the story in the first person, and he is a somewhat reluctant hero, always worried about what others might think, always analysing what he has done and feeling guilty for his misdeeds (real or imagined), articulate but anxious and lacking in self-confidence. It is evident from the narration that his older self is telling the story of that year, one that came to signify a big change in his life and in that of others around him as well. He is not a rebel wanting to challenge the status (not exactly a Holden Caulfield), but rather somebody who would like to fit in and to believe that everything is as good as it seems to be. However, a nagging worry keeps him probing at the seemingly perfect surface. I liked Ben, although at times he was a bit of a Hamlet-like character, unable to make a decision, wavering between his own intuition and what other people tell him, taking one step forward and two steps back. I loved Missy, his friend, who is determined, no-nonsense, loves reading, knows what she wants and works ceaselessly to get it. Ben’s father is a lovely character (or at least that’s how his son sees him), although perhaps his attitude towards his wife is not always helpful. Ben’s mother is one of those difficult women we are used to seeing in novels, series, and films, who appear perfect to outsiders but can turn the life of their closest family into a nightmare. She is a fascinating character, but I’ll let you read the book and make your own mind up about her.
The story is not fast-paced. The language includes beautiful descriptions, and the prose flows well, following the rhythm of the seasons, with moments of calm and contemplation and others of chaos and confusion. It recreates perfectly the nostalgia of the lost summers of our youth, and it is also very apt at showing the moment an insightful youth starts to question the behaviours of the adults around him, their motivations, and their inconsistencies. I know some readers are not fond of first-person narration, but I thought it worked well here, because it provides us with a particular perspective and point of view, one that is at once participant and outside observer (Ben’s family used to spend their summers at the lake but decide to move there permanently due to the riots).
I found the ending appropriate and satisfying, given the circumstances. The mystery is solved sometime before the actual ending of the novel, but the full dénouement doesn’t come until the end, and although not surprising at that point, it is both symbolic and fitting.
As I’ve said before, this is a great book. I’ve read many excellent stories this year, but this one is among the best of them. It is not an easy-to-classify novel, although it fits into a variety of genres, and it is not for people looking for a standard mystery read, where one can easily follow the clues and reach a conclusion. It is not a fast page-turner, and there is plenty of time spent inside the head of our young protagonist rather than moving from action scene to action scene. If you enjoy beautiful writing, psychologically complex characters, and a story full of nostalgia and a somewhat timeless feel, I recommend it. There is a background of violence and some very troubling events that take place during the narration, but these are never explicitly shown or described, and although there are plenty of disturbing moments (suicide, the death of a child, episodes of drunkenness…), in most cases we only witness the consequences of those. Readers who love literary fiction and coming of age stories and especially those interested in US Literature from the later part of the 20th century should try a sample and see how it makes them feel. I strongly recommend it.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel begins with Benjamin Baum finding a dead woman, a neighbor, floating in the lake. The events leading up to what was deemed an accident by the authorities continues to plague Ben, who believes that her husband was involved. He is further convinced when the husband moves a new woman into their home and erases all evidence of his wife's belongings.

It is also a coming-of -age book with echoes of Brighton Beach where a Jewish enclave lives together with traditional values at the their lake homes during the summer. Jake's family leaves Newark to live permanently at the lake after racial tension builds in Newark in 1967. His mother, Lillian, has a volatile personality, exacerbated by drinking and the death of their daughter. His father, a doctor, is a kind, caring man who preferred treating those in need at his Newark clinic to the more prosperous patients at the lake. Jake also begins to drink surreptitiously at an early age, leading to an accident that results in his having to attend AA meetings. Ben's growth during his teenage years is told with humor and understanding .There is unexpected humor and poignancy in Ben's teenaged awkwardness and burgeoning self confidence. This is a story told with understanding and compassion about Ben's family dynamics and his transition into manhood.

The ending is explosive and unexpected. Ben is forced to share a haunting, devastating secret with his father that marks the end of his childhood forever. This is a highly-skilled author with a deft touch at conveying emotions and events. I look forward to reading any book he writes.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindas Book Obsession Reviews “The Boy and the Lake” by Adam Pelzman, Oct. 2020. On Tour With Suzy Approved Book Tours

Adam Pelzman, the author of “The Boy and the Lake” has written an intriguing, suspenseful, and captivating novel. The genres for this novel are Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Suspense, and Mystery. The timeline for this story is around 1967 when there are Newark riots. Much of the story takes place around a New Jersey lake, which is in a Jewish community. Most family and friends live there part of the year, and some are full-time residents. The author describes his characters as quirky, dysfunctional, complex, and complicated.

Ben Baum is finishing high school and loves his summers at the lake. One summer is very traumatic when he discovers the body of a surgeon’s lifeless wife in the lake. At the time the death is ruled accidental, although the woman was an excellent athlete. Ben becomes obsessed with theories of foul play and is determined to find out what happened to his neighbor.

Ben is close to his father, but his mother has vacillating moods, especially since his sister had passed away. Ben does notice that his mother tends to get more volatile and unstable when she drinks.

I appreciate that the author brings up important topics such as prejudice, alcoholism, ecological and environmental issues, and mental health. The author discusses the importance of family, neighbors, friends, love, and hope. I would highly recommend this thought-provoking and memorable story.

Share

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 🌟 rounded up)

This book is atmospheric, steeped in history, and rich with mystery and family drama. It snares you in the first chapter and it shocks you in its closing pages.

It’s 1967 and Newark has just witnessed the ugly race riots. Sixteen-year-old Ben Baum’s family moves out of the city to a nice Jewish community on Red Meadow Lake.

As Ben fishes from his grandparent’s pier, the dead body of the neighbor lady, Helen, floats up to the surface. Ben’s world is rocked and he is frustrated with the little amount of investigation given to her death. Helen had been so kind to his sickly sister, so Ben decides to look into Helen’s death on his own.

Ben finds himself anxious and edgy; he starts sneaking alcohol to calm his nerves. The close-knit community does not take kindly to Ben’s snooping, including his best friend Missy, and many begin to think Ben is just a boozing teen. Maybe he is.

Pelzman introduces the dead body upfront and from there, there is an eerie feel throughout. Ben is struggling, his family has issues, world events are troubling, even the lake itself has problems; there is just constant tension until the startling conclusion.

Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @adampelzman for this #gifted copy.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! Once I got to Chapter 2, I was captured in my chair unable to put the book down until the last word. I am not sure how I would classify The Boy and the Lake. It contains a mystery, but is far more. It is a coming of age novel, but again it strikes me that those words don’t contain it. What I know is that I am very impressed by this book and its author Adam Pelzman. Pelzman knows his craft, but more, he seems to be a keen observer of human nature.

Enough with my inadequate gushing, I suppose. If you are looking for a book to transport you away for several hours, grab a copy of this one. If you are wondering what your book group should read next, try this one.

I am grateful that I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. My review is given freely and reflects my honest opinion.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who grew up and lives in New Jersey I found learning more about it historically was eye opening. Learning more about the riots in Newark. Woven within is a boy coming of age while dealing with a death that effects him throughout. I did enjoy the characters and the flow of Pelzman's writing. I very much felt as if I were there in this piece of work.

[Translator Monkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down, my book of the year. This was an amazing read, very simply written, with incredible imagery thrown in. Reminiscent in its first dozen pages of some of the best southern writing I've encountered, I had to remind myself time and again it takes place in New Jersey.

It's got everything a coming of age novel needs to have. I could list all the positives here and try to impress upon you that this is worth your time to read, but instead, I'm just going to soak in all the emotions that went through me as I devoured this book.

As near-perfect a book I've read in some long time.

[Roberta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book that is both a mystery and a coming of age story. It focuses on a teenage boy who moves from Newark in the late 1960's after the riots to a suburban lake community in New Jersey. The author provides terrific descriptions of middle class Jewish life at this time and the emotions of a teenage boy. Yet, it is still a mystery story told by a teenager, Benjamin. He discovers the body of a woman whom he respects and idolizes. Was it murder or an accident? This is a question he must answer while observing the behaviors of his close family and their friends.

[N.A. Granger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming of age, teenage love, adolescence in a Jewish community, the social upheavals of the 1960s, murder mystery – all of these themes are woven together in The Boy and the Lake and set against a luminously described backdrop of life on a lake.
Sixteen-year-old Benjamin Baum is fishing from a dock on his beloved New Jersey lake, feet dangling in the water and the sounds of people having fun echoing across the water, when the bloated body of his next door neighbor Helen floats to the surface. Her loss shakes his world and he stubbornly refuses to believe she died by accident, searching for clues to her death in the insular Jewish middle class community that lives around the lake.
His mother, Lillian, is a narcissistic and emotionally unpredictable woman with a punishing attitude toward both Ben and his long-patient father, Abe. Ben is detached from his mother but clearly understands what makes her tick. He loves his father, who is hardworking and caring physician, practicing in Newark, and an enabler of Lillian’s behavior. These three have all been affected differently by the early death of Ben’s younger sister. They normally come to the lake only in the summer, but with the increasing tension and fear from the Newark riots in 1967, the family decides move to there. Ben continues to infuriate both family and friends, especially one exceptional friend and budding love named Missy, with his unwelcome search to discover how Helen died.
As time passes, fractures and truths appear in the people populating Ben’s world, and he comes to realize that the prosperity and contentment he associates with the lake community is not what is seems to be. The complexity and depth of these relationships, drawn by the author in a compelling way, keeps the reader turning the pages, following as Ben grows in maturity and understanding while maneuvering through a variety of social situations that challenge the gawky teenager.
The author is a wonderful story teller. Ben comes across as a typical teenager for that time (one which I remember), with his mother alternating between a practical housekeeper and unlikeable shrew. I felt deep sorrow for the long-suffering Abe but also the love Ben’s grandparents have for him and which he reciprocates.  Even the lake develops a personality. He has created in exquisite detail the ambiance of a lake in summer that brought back some memories of my own, the push and pull and occasional pain of Ben’s family, and the darker undercurrents that Ben discovers in the surrounding community. The historical detail is spot on. The reader becomes emotionally invested in Ben, his plans for the future, and his awkward interactions with, and his growing admiration and affection for, Missy.
The twists and turns kept me reading quickly. I will warn potential readers, though, this book is more character-drive than a murder mystery – there are large sections where Helen’s death is not in play - even though a death opens the book and a tragedy ends it.
I recommend this book for what it is and will definitely read more by this author.

[Terry Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

I received an ARC from the publisher, to read this for Rosie Amber's Review Team. The fact that it was free has not affected this honest review.

From the blurb, I thought this book would be dark and plot-driven; it mentions protagonist Ben's suspicions about a body found floating in the lake, thus: As Ben’s suspicions mount, he’s forced to confront the terrifying possibility that his close-knit community is not what it seems to be—that, beneath a façade of prosperity and contentment, darker forces may be at work. I expected all sorts of sinister revelations, but the Ben's questions surrounding the death of Helen Lowenthal form the background rather than the main story—though when his answer arrives, it is shocking indeed. I love a good twist within a twist that I didn't even half-guess, and this certainly ticked that box.

Essentially, this is a coming-of-age novel. Although I think it could have done with a little more plot, the writing itself is spectacularly good, of much literary merit, making it a joy to read. The subtleties of the characters, traditions and social protocols of the Jewish community in the 1960s were acutely observed, as were the marital problems of Ben's parents, his mother's neuroses, and his own burgeoning drink problem. Later, the lake by which the community lives is contaminated, which I took to be allegorical of not only the underlying problems within the society that was Red Meadow, but the 1960s themselves—the corruption and unrest beneath the image of hope, prosperity, revolution and the Summer of Love. Or perhaps I'm reading too much into it.

It's one of those books that I didn't absolutely love because of personal preference about genre, but I can appreciate is first class of its type. Should complex family intrigue, stunningly good writing, coming-of-age dramas and the strange new world of the 1960s be totally your thing, I would recommend that you buy and start reading this immediately. And the ending is perfect.

[Barbara Barak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam Pelzman has created a wonderfully complex and creative story of the coming of age of Benjamin Baum. He describes the enchanting beauty of summers at a lake community with all the fun and conviviality of celebrating the pleasures of summer. He provides a spectrum of quirky, admirable, and disturbing characters with all the kitch of an upwardly mobile Jewish community with traditional roots.
Ben’s family contains an unpredictable, narcissistic and punishing mother who can also be loving and devoted, thus satisfying complex. Pelzman so well expresses the loyalty that silences the expression of pain and anger, leading to moments of shame, impulsiveness. And confusion.
However, this story isn’t bottom heavy with pathology. The author interweaves much humor and sly social observations against the ever changing splendor of the summer, We watch Ben struggle and grow through some very difficult and well plotted situations. His confidence and assertiveness slowly increases, and we’re on his side. As a Psychologist, I was very impressed with Pelzman’s descriptions of Ben’s conscious process as it’s affected by dramatically unfolding events.
There’s also a wonderful mystery here, with an ending that even this frequent mystery reader couldn’t predict. We root for Ben continuing to develop as his opportunities grow, and I would love another book from this author that follows him forward.
Barbara Barak, Ph.D.

[Mc Chanster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful. The Boy and the Lake is a hauntingly beautiful and heart-breaking novel that brought out all my emotions.

Benjamin Baum is only 16 when he discovers the body of Helen Lowenthal, wife of a well-respected surgeon and a loved member of the Red Meadow Lake Jewish community, floating in the water. Set in the turbulent 1960’s, the reader follows the teenager as he grapples with his temperamental mother, his growing affection for his close friend, Missy, and the uncertainty of whether Helen’s death was an accident or not. As time passes, Ben comes to realize that his ideal community may not be so ideal and secrets are much closer to home than he could ever imagine.

Damn, I enjoyed this book. It was poignant, well-crafted and beautifully written. I found I was pulled in right from the beginning and Pelzman has a gift of layering suspense with keen observation. I adored Ben and despite the mistakes he makes, I sympathized with him and rooted for his success. I was particularly impressed that even though the novel was written in a teenaged boys’ perspective, I was still able to connect with the other characters and that gave the book a sense of depth that few are able to manage. The ending came to me as a complete surprise and I absolutely devoured the plot twist. A stunning novel from an exceptionally elegant writer.

Thank you Voracious Readers and Adam Pelzman for my copy!

[Bookoholiccafe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1967 during the Newark riots, Our main character Ben, is a protagonist who is eager to find and solve a mystery. His suspicion gets dismissed by others in the community.

The story starts with Ben leaving the city to spend the summer with his grandparents at a lake in northern New Jersey. One day he finds his neighbor’s body floating over the lake while fishing.
Ben stubbornly searches for clues to his neighbor’s death, but his friends and family, are against his investigation.
It was very interesting to read about Newark Riots. I really enjoyed the author's choice of fascinating characters, especially Ben. I found the Details very well researched.
The writing is beautiful; however, it is not a fast read. The author spends a good amount of time inside Ben’s head. Psychological complex characters in this book are easy to connect with. The ending was not surprising, but it was satisfying.

Many thanks to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @Adammpelzman for my gifted copy.

[Joy| joyluck.bookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

*special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars
I’m not going to lie, what first drew me to this book was the beautiful cover.
Thankfully, the inside was just as beautiful.
This hooked me from the start.
It’s a a murder mystery in some ways, but really, it’s a coming of age story. Growing up and entering the adult world.
It was mostly character driven (which I love) and you couldn’t help but root for everyone.
I’ve seen people say nothing happened, but I think a lot actually happened. There’s so much to unpack. And just wait for the end.
I will reiterate what every other person has seemed to say in their review, which is the ending! It’s perfect.
It’s a quick read, but I enjoyed every second. I will be purchasing this book for my shelves (I only wish I came in a hardcover).

[Issababy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I had a hard time putting down. I couldn't wait for some free time in my day so that I could come back to this compelling story. The protagonist, Ben, struggles while coming to terms with a tragedy that he discovered, difficult familial situations, and the continued realization of the imperfections in his tight-knit community.

The eloquent way the writer delivers his lines leaves you wanting more and the ending is nothing short of amazing! Personally, I could do without the curse words, but at least they are few and far between. I couldn't wait to get to the end but now I'm sad that it is over. You won't be disappointed if you give this book a try!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a coming of age story about a Jewish boy whose parents move him out of Newark during the summer of 1967 as the riots are taking place, to the safety of his grandparents’ lakeside home in a Jewish community. One day, the body of a woman from the community floats to the lake’s surface and Ben can not let it go. While everyone assumes she died of natural causes, Ben is not so sure, so he investigates which upsets the people in the community.

This was a complex story about family relationships and values. It was well written, with well developed characters and a solid plot.

[Sofe · Rating 4 out of 5]

EBook Review: THE BOY AND THE LAKE by Adam Pelzman

(T) he
(H) eart
(E) xamined...

(B) rings
(O) ut
(Y) earnings...

(A) bsolution
(N) eeded...
(D) espite

(T) he
(H) ard
(E) xposure

(L) ongings
(A) re
(K) ept
(E) xtinct

THE BOY AND THE LAKE,
takes us to places not expected.

Both physically and emotionally reveals,
what is found beneath the surface.

Is keeping the peace worth,
the indignity and weakness must display?

When helping others brings down,
the hopes and dreams of tomorrow?

Pick up book and see,
by walking through story with them.

Could be any of us,
never too late to make changes.

Learn from world around us,
even small adjustments have an effect.

*************************************************
I received an advance review copy for free,
and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
*************************************************

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Might go back and bump this to four stars, seems like the kind of book that will pop into my head here and there. The writing was really great on this- the mystery takes a backseat to the characters so the reader isn't focused on it so then when the mystery is solved, the reader's jaw drops.

[Judy Samson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boy and the Lake written by. Adam Pelzman
A Fictional Mystery rich with history within the Jewish Community during the 60’s. Ben a teenager will discover whether Helen’s dead body was a tragic accident or if someone deliberately killed her. Teenagers have such creative imaginations and growing up they encounter many uncomfortable situations and how they handle them sometimes influences their decisions later on in life.
There is a lot about family, friends, social relationships and financial status, while secrets will be kept and some revealed. Many unexpected twists that brought lots of emotions while reading this well written book. I obtained a complimentary copy from the Author via Voracious Readers for an honest review. JKSlovestoread/JudyKU/LuvsKU/JudySamson

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked right from the beginning! Set in the 1960's, The Boy And The Lake is a coming of age story with plenty of twists and turns and an ending you will not see coming! Highly recommend!

[C. Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic and ultimately easy read! I had a hard time putting it down. While I could very easily start and stop, I just didn't want to. I was drawn in.

It was very well thought out in how it was put together. It flowed nicely and had great meaning.

It's powerful and inspirational, relatable on many levels.

[Cath · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts in the summer of 1967, as sixteen year old teenager Benjamin Baum discovers the bloated body of Helen Lowenthal, while out fishing from his grandparent’s dock, at their summerhouse by the lake in northern New Jersey. The dead body belongs to their next door neighbour Helen, whose husband is a surgeon. The Red Meadow area is a Jewish Community and when Ben’s maternal grandparents first wanted to buy land near a lake, this was one of the only areas they could buy in as they were Jewish and the other and better Mountain Lakes was for Gentiles only! His grandparents had told the story of them building their home there and how his grandfather’s business partner stole all their client’s money, but his wife wouldn’t allow him to call the police. They had to deal with it the Jewish way, within their community and not call in any outsiders. It put their plans back for years as they had to sell lots of things in order to pay his clients back their money!

A short time after Helen’s funeral, he witnesses some sort of argument between his father and papa which is very unusual. His mother was discussing the fact that the city, of Newark, was about to blow, as tempers continued to rise, amidst the growing racial problems in the city. Conflict between the black community and the minority in charge of the government and police force, who were white, especially after most of the Jewish community had left the area. That summer riots break out in the city and his parents make the decision to move out to the lake house permanently. Even in the weeks following Helen’s death, the investigation has been carrying on, some questions being raised as to how much alcohol she may have had that night, and now her husband’s strange behaviour. He has quickly moved onto another woman, who Ben saw in his car, passing the school bus. Months later, after a drunken trip on the family speed boat, Ben managed to crash it into the Rabbi’s garden and after being arrested, was given the chance to make recompense rather than get a criminal record.

Having to replace the Rabbi’s prized roses and also attend five AA meetings, driven to by his mother, who parked at a nearby diner rather than get anywhere close enough to the church, to avoid being seen anywhere near. When he met her after, the empty wine glass, plus a second his mother then drank in front of him, was somewhat off considering where he had just come from and that she was driving him home! Ben continued to hang out with his friend Missy, and was offered the chance to earn some money, to help pay for the replacement plants, by doing odd jobs over the next few months. One job offer came from Dr Sid Lowenthal, which he thought would help him find something about his wife’s death, especially since he has been talking about some sort of conspiracy ever since finding his wife’s body. His first jobs are on the outside of the house and in the boathouse, but he then gets a job clearing out his ex-wife’s closet, ready for Cammy to move her things in, which he shares with Missy.

Ben is growing up now in the small lake community, not the city where all his former friends were. He starts to enjoy a few secret drinks and ends up in a few situations because of his young body’s reaction to the illicit booze. A drunken first kiss with Missy does not go down well, but then an invitation from another girl to share a bottle of wine on the beach, ends up with much more. Just after having promised Missy he wouldn’t try to kiss any girl whilst drunk! Although I guess he could say, the girl kissed him, this time round. Ben is also taking more notice of the relationship between his parents and how his mother’s moods affect so much of what happens. He also sees some more odd behaviour from his papa and Sid and more strange lights like the signal he and his papa set up so many years ago, which his papa denies doing. He now has a secret stash of bottles of booze hidden in the boathouse and each time he drinks, he forgets about the hangover and pain that will follow!

At this rate, he knows he has failed at ever getting the chance to kiss Missy before they leave for college. It seems he has learnt the lesson that the girl he wants will never be available for him and that those he doesn’t put any effort into catching, will be the ones he can easily kiss. His ideas about Helen’s death have always driven a pole between him and Missy, but when she leaves for college, she leaves him a message, like their cryptic messages of old, telling him she now understands his beliefs and thinks he was maybe the saner of the two. Ben has always thought highly of Helen, especially after the time she took with Ben’s younger sister Bernice, who had progeria and died shortly after Helen helped her to knock a tennis ball one day, something she had never managed before. Bernice had always sat and watched everything going on, but knew she could never partake and was always in pain. Their family’s life changed after Bernice’s death, as they had no more huge medical bills to cover and they could finally afford a lake house, as his mother had always wanted.

Revelations come about as he has to deal with his mother’s increasing drunken and otherwise moods, as does his father and the sofa. A hidden item goes missing and brings his mother’s wrath upon him as a secret is revealed and another one raises its head. Guilty secrets are finally uncovered bringing about shock and feelings he doesn’t know how to handle. Getting away to college should have helped, but he is brought back only a week later for a funeral of someone else in the community and all hell fires up. A long story of a boy through his latter teenage years and the issues that have affected him. Finding a body dead in the lake, a place formerly for fun and holidays, and by the end a place ruined by toxic leaks and pollution, plus his drunken mistake. A somewhat dry read for the majority, of a teenager in a Jewish community, growing up in times of unrest, but also alcoholism, dementia, death, scandal and more. Not something to read for excitement, but shows the delicate state of family life and the secrets that may lie within. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Terry G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprises await the reader

Compelling read
The boy and the lake is a compelling and gripping story of a young boy coming to age within his family of secrets and disbelief of each others character. It’s very well written and I found myself reading it without putting it down. Don’t miss this exciting and well crafted mystery. The character development and writing is seem less in structure and this author is one to read again.