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The Shimmer on the Water
A gripping and emotional story of family and the secrets we keep from the ones we love. For fans of Kristin Hannah and Delia Owens.
When you're lost sometimes the only way to look forward is to look back...
Three women. Two generations apart. One secret they share.
Maine, 1997. As the people of Fort Meadow Beach celebrate the Fourth of July, four-year-old Daisy Wright disappears and is never seen again.
Maine, 2022. Fired from her job and heart-broken, Peyton Winchester moves back home for the summer. Bored and aimless, she finds a renewed sense of purpose when an ad for a journalism course reminds her of a path not taken. Returning to life in her home town brings back all kind of memories – including Daisy's disappearance when she was a young girl herself.
As Peyton begins to search for answers about Daisy's disappearance, she finds that they might be closer to home than she thinks – and their lives become intertwined with irreversible consequences.
When you're lost sometimes the only way to look forward is to look back...
Three women. Two generations apart. One secret they share.
Maine, 1997. As the people of Fort Meadow Beach celebrate the Fourth of July, four-year-old Daisy Wright disappears and is never seen again.
Maine, 2022. Fired from her job and heart-broken, Peyton Winchester moves back home for the summer. Bored and aimless, she finds a renewed sense of purpose when an ad for a journalism course reminds her of a path not taken. Returning to life in her home town brings back all kind of memories – including Daisy's disappearance when she was a young girl herself.
As Peyton begins to search for answers about Daisy's disappearance, she finds that they might be closer to home than she thinks – and their lives become intertwined with irreversible consequences.
464 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2022
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5114 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
August 2, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up
Maine, 1997. As the people of fort Meadow Beach celebrate the forth of July. four year old Daisy Wright disappears and is never seen again.
Maine, 2022. fired from her job and heart-broken, Peyton Winchester moves back home for the summer. Bored and aimless, she find a renewed sense of purpose when an ad for a journalism course reminds her of a path not taken. Returning to life in her hometown brings back all kinds of memories - including Daisy's disappearance when she was a young girl herself.
The story focuses on the lives of Peyton, Eualla and the missing four year old Daisy Wright whose story is lightly woven in. The pace is slow throughout. A story of family, hardships, loyalty and mistakes, that we all can make, along the way. I liked the authors writing style, it's an easy books to read. But there were a few questions I still felt were left unanswered at the end, so I took off half a star for this.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HeadOfZeus and the author #MarinaMcCarron for my ARC of #TheShimmerOnTheWater in exchange for an honest review.
Maine, 1997. As the people of fort Meadow Beach celebrate the forth of July. four year old Daisy Wright disappears and is never seen again.
Maine, 2022. fired from her job and heart-broken, Peyton Winchester moves back home for the summer. Bored and aimless, she find a renewed sense of purpose when an ad for a journalism course reminds her of a path not taken. Returning to life in her hometown brings back all kinds of memories - including Daisy's disappearance when she was a young girl herself.
The story focuses on the lives of Peyton, Eualla and the missing four year old Daisy Wright whose story is lightly woven in. The pace is slow throughout. A story of family, hardships, loyalty and mistakes, that we all can make, along the way. I liked the authors writing style, it's an easy books to read. But there were a few questions I still felt were left unanswered at the end, so I took off half a star for this.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HeadOfZeus and the author #MarinaMcCarron for my ARC of #TheShimmerOnTheWater in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2022
“When you're lost sometimes the only way to look forward is to look back.”
Canadian Marina McCarron has written a compelling story that takes readers to a time and place in the past where a little girl went missing. Her dual timelines, set in 1960s Tennessee and 1997/2021 Maine, are rich with both location and era specific attitudes, events and influences. I was held captive wondering how Eualla Tompkins and Peyton Winchester’s timelines would merge and was in awe of the multi-layers McCarron has added to her brilliant narrative. She explores secrets we keep and how the past influences what we choose to portray to others.
The gorgeous cover attracted me at first, the title intrigued me and the compelling narrative kept my attention from cover to cover. You’ll have to read to find out what answers are held in the shimmer on the water.
If you love a good family drama with a touch of mystery, this tale, involving three women, two generations apart and sharing one secret, is one to put on your summer reading list!
I was gifted this advance copy by Marina McCarron, Head of Zeus, Aria, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Canadian Marina McCarron has written a compelling story that takes readers to a time and place in the past where a little girl went missing. Her dual timelines, set in 1960s Tennessee and 1997/2021 Maine, are rich with both location and era specific attitudes, events and influences. I was held captive wondering how Eualla Tompkins and Peyton Winchester’s timelines would merge and was in awe of the multi-layers McCarron has added to her brilliant narrative. She explores secrets we keep and how the past influences what we choose to portray to others.
The gorgeous cover attracted me at first, the title intrigued me and the compelling narrative kept my attention from cover to cover. You’ll have to read to find out what answers are held in the shimmer on the water.
If you love a good family drama with a touch of mystery, this tale, involving three women, two generations apart and sharing one secret, is one to put on your summer reading list!
I was gifted this advance copy by Marina McCarron, Head of Zeus, Aria, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
August 8, 2022
The Shimmer on the Water alternates between two storylines, one in the present day and one starting in 1966.
The book is not so much about solving the mystery of Daisy Wright’s disappearance, although it does provide a number of connections between the two storylines, as about family secrets and the impact they have when they are finally revealed. For Peyton, trying to discover the person responsible for Daisy’s disappearance allows her to focus on something other than recent events in her life. ‘Getting dumped. Getting fired. Losing friends. The embarrassment of all her failures.’ Having to return to her parents’ home feels like the final humilation. Peyton feels there is a story to be told about Daisy’s disappearance, one which might help in her ambition to become a journalist. It’s not a plan that finds much favour with Peyton’s mother whose attitude to her daughter is one of disappointment and often cool indifference.
A separate storyline follows the early life of Euella and her younger sister, Minnie, in 1960s Tennessee. It’s a powerful and moving story which was the standout element of the book for me. Euella’s father and brother are both drunks prone to violent outbursts as a result of which her mother has become absent emotionally, and later literally absent. It is left to Euella to care for and protect her young sister. It’s a struggle to put food on the table and to keep them warm through the harsh winters. The family’s poverty and increasingly dysfunctional nature mean they are ostracised by the local community. Fuelled by anger and an innate fortitude, Euella is determined to make a better life for herself and her sister. ‘A plan is forming. New ideas are coming. She can feel herself changing, becoming something different. Someone different.’
The connections between the two storylines become apparent fairly early on but this doesn’t stop Eualla’s story continuing to be utterly compelling as we see her literally reinvent herself. That’s not to say she doesn’t make mistakes along the way, quite costly ones as it turns out that will have repercussions in the future. Gradually Peyton discovers more about her family, and in particular her mother. It will result in her seeing things in a completely new light and bring about a fundamental change in her relationship with her mother. It also triggers memories of events on the day Daisy Wright went missing. But after so many years can those memories be relied upon?
And the ‘shimmer on the water’ of the title? This early description of what Peyton observes as she gazes out to sea made me think it is the prospect of calm returning after a period of turmoil. ‘The sound of a boat grows louder and she turns to watch as it speeds by, the frothy white wake it leaves disturbing the shimmer on the water before it is absorbed again into the waves and the water is once again flat.’
If The Shimmer on the Water is less of a mystery novel than the book description might suggest, it is still a skilfully crafted dual time novel that explores the impact of fractured family relationships.
The book is not so much about solving the mystery of Daisy Wright’s disappearance, although it does provide a number of connections between the two storylines, as about family secrets and the impact they have when they are finally revealed. For Peyton, trying to discover the person responsible for Daisy’s disappearance allows her to focus on something other than recent events in her life. ‘Getting dumped. Getting fired. Losing friends. The embarrassment of all her failures.’ Having to return to her parents’ home feels like the final humilation. Peyton feels there is a story to be told about Daisy’s disappearance, one which might help in her ambition to become a journalist. It’s not a plan that finds much favour with Peyton’s mother whose attitude to her daughter is one of disappointment and often cool indifference.
A separate storyline follows the early life of Euella and her younger sister, Minnie, in 1960s Tennessee. It’s a powerful and moving story which was the standout element of the book for me. Euella’s father and brother are both drunks prone to violent outbursts as a result of which her mother has become absent emotionally, and later literally absent. It is left to Euella to care for and protect her young sister. It’s a struggle to put food on the table and to keep them warm through the harsh winters. The family’s poverty and increasingly dysfunctional nature mean they are ostracised by the local community. Fuelled by anger and an innate fortitude, Euella is determined to make a better life for herself and her sister. ‘A plan is forming. New ideas are coming. She can feel herself changing, becoming something different. Someone different.’
The connections between the two storylines become apparent fairly early on but this doesn’t stop Eualla’s story continuing to be utterly compelling as we see her literally reinvent herself. That’s not to say she doesn’t make mistakes along the way, quite costly ones as it turns out that will have repercussions in the future. Gradually Peyton discovers more about her family, and in particular her mother. It will result in her seeing things in a completely new light and bring about a fundamental change in her relationship with her mother. It also triggers memories of events on the day Daisy Wright went missing. But after so many years can those memories be relied upon?
And the ‘shimmer on the water’ of the title? This early description of what Peyton observes as she gazes out to sea made me think it is the prospect of calm returning after a period of turmoil. ‘The sound of a boat grows louder and she turns to watch as it speeds by, the frothy white wake it leaves disturbing the shimmer on the water before it is absorbed again into the waves and the water is once again flat.’
If The Shimmer on the Water is less of a mystery novel than the book description might suggest, it is still a skilfully crafted dual time novel that explores the impact of fractured family relationships.
August 4, 2022
Wow! What a read!
In 1997 Daisy Wright disappears she’s never seen or heard from ever again. It is a long unsolved mystery.
In present day Peyton has broken up with a boyfriend, lost her job, has no direction for her life, is depressed and returns to her childhood home and to her parents, While there she remembers fragments about the day Daisy disappeared.
Meanwhile we also get to travel back in time as we have the story of Eualla , Who is telling her story going forward.
The reader is taking on a journey from the past forward, and from the present backwards… And as you read you begin to see everything click in place.
More secrets, more mysteries, and do we really know the people we live with.
I so enjoyed this book and couldn’t believe how the stories were tied together.
In 1997 Daisy Wright disappears she’s never seen or heard from ever again. It is a long unsolved mystery.
In present day Peyton has broken up with a boyfriend, lost her job, has no direction for her life, is depressed and returns to her childhood home and to her parents, While there she remembers fragments about the day Daisy disappeared.
Meanwhile we also get to travel back in time as we have the story of Eualla , Who is telling her story going forward.
The reader is taking on a journey from the past forward, and from the present backwards… And as you read you begin to see everything click in place.
More secrets, more mysteries, and do we really know the people we live with.
I so enjoyed this book and couldn’t believe how the stories were tied together.
August 12, 2022
It’s time for real talk, peeps! Make sure you carve out some time when you start this story. Coz, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be mesmerised by the story and will be loath to put it down.
I love a good mystery. Some may call it nosiness (I say it’s natural inquisitiveness. *shrugs* Potato potahto!), but I always want to know everything. Just the same as Peyton…
Peyton Winchester’s life is at an impasse given recent events. With both her job and current relationship imploding its little wonder she wants to return to her childhood home to regroup.
Ha! Is all I’m going to say to that! *folds arms*
In deciding to try and solve the twenty-five-year-old disappearance of six-year-old, Daisy Wright, in her hometown, Peyton uncovers more than she bargained for. *whispers* Understatement!
This was another of what I’m calling ‘Laura’s Whiteboard Reads’. (I don’t care if The Mommy thinks I’ve finally lost the plot but I’m getting myself one. Trying to keep a mental track of all the clues is not easy!) I can admit to being a tad vocal as the story developed. Put it this way, it would be the perfect book pick for a buddy read or book club as I wanted to discuss and dissect every little thing as I was reading.
Told via dual timelines and multiple POV, The Shimmer on the Water will keep you on the edge of your seat right to the end. Speaking of endings, I’m still digesting this one days later. I’m not sure how I feel about it!
I will say this one thing; the rot may have set in a long time ago, but Peyton won’t let it define her.
I love a good mystery. Some may call it nosiness (I say it’s natural inquisitiveness. *shrugs* Potato potahto!), but I always want to know everything. Just the same as Peyton…
Peyton Winchester’s life is at an impasse given recent events. With both her job and current relationship imploding its little wonder she wants to return to her childhood home to regroup.
Ha! Is all I’m going to say to that! *folds arms*
In deciding to try and solve the twenty-five-year-old disappearance of six-year-old, Daisy Wright, in her hometown, Peyton uncovers more than she bargained for. *whispers* Understatement!
This was another of what I’m calling ‘Laura’s Whiteboard Reads’. (I don’t care if The Mommy thinks I’ve finally lost the plot but I’m getting myself one. Trying to keep a mental track of all the clues is not easy!) I can admit to being a tad vocal as the story developed. Put it this way, it would be the perfect book pick for a buddy read or book club as I wanted to discuss and dissect every little thing as I was reading.
Told via dual timelines and multiple POV, The Shimmer on the Water will keep you on the edge of your seat right to the end. Speaking of endings, I’m still digesting this one days later. I’m not sure how I feel about it!
I will say this one thing; the rot may have set in a long time ago, but Peyton won’t let it define her.
July 31, 2022
I didn’t really get this book. I understand Lydia’s background and wanting to create an entire new persona for,herself but she was so cold and aloof. Peyton was just sort of drifting through life, trying to find a purpose. There are a few peripheral,characters, but their role is marginal.
I also didn’t understand the ending.
Thanks to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the early read.
I also didn’t understand the ending.
Thanks to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the early read.
March 20, 2023
Whilst THE SHIMMER ON THE WATER features the disappearance of a little girl as a central mystery element, this was more a story about family and the legacy of poverty, abuse and trauma on future generations. Set in 1960s Tennessee and current day Maine, we learn about the lives of two women who are born decades apart but whose lives are connected by events of the past. Both Eualla and Peyton are engaging characters who swiftly recruited my empathy, intrigued how these characters would come to be linked. The author’s writing style was warm and engaging, and I soon found myself immersed in the story, happy to go wherever it would take me.
A slow burn from beginning to end, this story will appeal to readers who enjoy character driven stories about family dynamics rather than focus on the mystery that is mentioned in the blurb but features only on the periphery of this rich and emotional narrative.
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
A slow burn from beginning to end, this story will appeal to readers who enjoy character driven stories about family dynamics rather than focus on the mystery that is mentioned in the blurb but features only on the periphery of this rich and emotional narrative.
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
June 22, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for a copy of this book.
Maine 1997: Small town, Fort Meadow Beach is celebrating the 4th of July when 6 year old Daisy Wright disappears.
Maine 2021: After being fired Peyton Winchester returns to her hometown of Fort Meadow Beach. Being back in Fort Meadow Beach makes Peyton eager to know what happened to Daisy, who was the same age as her.
Tennesse 1960s: Eualla Tompkins' life is changed forever when her mother leaves the family. She's left to raise herself and her younger sister, Minnie as her father and brother aren't much use.
The mystery of Daisy's disappearance is not a major part of this book. It's mainly focused on the life of Peyton and Eualla and how the ultimately entwine. This is an incredible, dual timeline family saga. It kept me gripped the whole time as I was eager to find out how the timelines came together. Eualla's story really pulled at my heart.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My main critique is that the ending felt too rushed.
Maine 1997: Small town, Fort Meadow Beach is celebrating the 4th of July when 6 year old Daisy Wright disappears.
Maine 2021: After being fired Peyton Winchester returns to her hometown of Fort Meadow Beach. Being back in Fort Meadow Beach makes Peyton eager to know what happened to Daisy, who was the same age as her.
Tennesse 1960s: Eualla Tompkins' life is changed forever when her mother leaves the family. She's left to raise herself and her younger sister, Minnie as her father and brother aren't much use.
The mystery of Daisy's disappearance is not a major part of this book. It's mainly focused on the life of Peyton and Eualla and how the ultimately entwine. This is an incredible, dual timeline family saga. It kept me gripped the whole time as I was eager to find out how the timelines came together. Eualla's story really pulled at my heart.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My main critique is that the ending felt too rushed.
July 25, 2022
This story of a woman, Peyton, returning back home to her parents after her life implodes was very interesting. There are multiple stories going on. You have the story of Peyton and her failures/losses, you have the story of her mother's harsh, almost tragic beginning and why it has made her so stiff in her dealings with her daughter. You also have the mystery of a little girl who went missing when Peyton was young.
Peyton is researching the disappearance because it appeals to her desire to be a journalist. Her digging into the past upsets her mother, especially when it leads her to question her own early life.
I'll have to admit I liked the writing style and most of the story, but I was left with questions at the end that weren't answered. I felt like the author left me hanging.
Thanks to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
Peyton is researching the disappearance because it appeals to her desire to be a journalist. Her digging into the past upsets her mother, especially when it leads her to question her own early life.
I'll have to admit I liked the writing style and most of the story, but I was left with questions at the end that weren't answered. I felt like the author left me hanging.
Thanks to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
November 2, 2022
This book was really, really good! I binge read it and was finished in two days!
July 26, 2025
Enjoyed this tangled web of family drama
February 17, 2025
3.5
Was all set for this to be a solid 4 star but the ending was a bit naff.
Was all set for this to be a solid 4 star but the ending was a bit naff.
August 4, 2022
The Shimmer on the Water is a suspenseful family drama. It is a complex story of coping, resilience and family secrets with the occasional unexpected twist.
The plot is divided between the 1960s and 2022 through interspersed chapters that are so well written that the time shift causes no confusion to the reader.
It delves deeply into feelings and the management of emotions. How our childhood experiences can shape us as people and influence our personality. It is an intense read with many ups and downs.
Reseña completa en: https://libroshappy.org/the-shimmer-o...
The plot is divided between the 1960s and 2022 through interspersed chapters that are so well written that the time shift causes no confusion to the reader.
It delves deeply into feelings and the management of emotions. How our childhood experiences can shape us as people and influence our personality. It is an intense read with many ups and downs.
Reseña completa en: https://libroshappy.org/the-shimmer-o...
August 10, 2022
Maine, 2021. Peyton Winchester, at a low ebb after being fired and having the stuffing kicked out of her by a disastrous romance, returns to her small Maine hometown of Fort Meadow Beach for the summer. Back under her parents' roof, in her stifling childhood bedroom, she is bored and frustrated with the direction her life has taken. The cool relationship she has with her mother is not helping, and her lack of purpose only seems to be making things more awkward between them.
Reflecting on her past dream to become a journalist, Peyton starts to ponder on the unsolved case of six-year-old Daisy Wright, who went missing from the town's beach on 4th July 1997. She cannot shift the feeling that she might know something that would help to solve the mystery, even though she too was only a small child at the time. As spending time in town brings the memories flooding back, she begins to put together the pieces of what happened that day, and her conviction that she holds the key to solving the case becomes overwhelming.
Tennessee, 1965. Eualla Tompkins is growing up in poverty with a down-trodden mother, a drunk for a father, a violent older brother, and a frail younger sister called Minnie. She is starting to realise that their poverty marks them as different to many of the other people in town. When Eualla and Minnie return home from school one day to find that their mother has abandoned them, Eualla and Minnie's lives take a turn for the worse. Euallla knows that their only chance for survival is for her to work as hard as she can to get them out of this place once and for all.
The story flows back and forth between the thread of Peyton's search for the truth about Daisy's disappearance in the present, and Eualla's coming of age tale from 1965 onwards, with flashbacks to the time around Daisy's disappearance in 1997. It takes some time to understand quite how Peyton and Eualla's sides of the story relate to each other, which adds a delicious layer of extra mystery on top of the slow-burn build-up into what happened to Daisy, but after a while you see where McCarron is going with this. The threads gradually weave together and cleverly collide in a way that allows you to not only fill in all the gaps about the difficult family relationships that flood this novel, but also serves to ramp up the tension around Peyton's search for the truth.
There is so much here about dysfunctional relationships that perpetuate through time, of the push and pull of love, and yearning to cast off the things that we feel hold us back, and McCarron uses these themes to beautifully examine how we cannot move forward until we acknowledge how the past has shaped us. There are very painful depictions of mother-daughter and sibling relationships that rip your heart out, but as the story progresses you learn that it is not always quite that easy to paint anyone in shades of black and white even if you do not agree with their actions. These characters are complex, and as McCarron slowly peels back the layers, the chance for reconciliation does present itself as she reveals the truth we have been grasping for on more than one level.
The story caught me from the very first page, and I loved how McCarron manages to create a really compelling, genre-busting novel that combines a cracking mystery about the unsolved case of a child's disappearance, with a delicious exploration of complicated family dynamics. I was so impressed by her ability to combine the poignancy of an incisive dissection of what motivates people to do the things they do, with a riveting story full of suspense. This is not an easy task, and yet McCarron achieves it seamlessly, keeping you firmly on the edge of your seat in all areas of the story. She also uses water, and the tug of hidden depths nicely throughout.
This book really took me by surprise in the way it blends so many themes and intriguing elements together in one perfect package. I read the whole brilliant novel in one fell swoop, unable to look away for a minute. Marina McCarron is a class act, and I cannot wait to read more from her.
Reflecting on her past dream to become a journalist, Peyton starts to ponder on the unsolved case of six-year-old Daisy Wright, who went missing from the town's beach on 4th July 1997. She cannot shift the feeling that she might know something that would help to solve the mystery, even though she too was only a small child at the time. As spending time in town brings the memories flooding back, she begins to put together the pieces of what happened that day, and her conviction that she holds the key to solving the case becomes overwhelming.
Tennessee, 1965. Eualla Tompkins is growing up in poverty with a down-trodden mother, a drunk for a father, a violent older brother, and a frail younger sister called Minnie. She is starting to realise that their poverty marks them as different to many of the other people in town. When Eualla and Minnie return home from school one day to find that their mother has abandoned them, Eualla and Minnie's lives take a turn for the worse. Euallla knows that their only chance for survival is for her to work as hard as she can to get them out of this place once and for all.
The story flows back and forth between the thread of Peyton's search for the truth about Daisy's disappearance in the present, and Eualla's coming of age tale from 1965 onwards, with flashbacks to the time around Daisy's disappearance in 1997. It takes some time to understand quite how Peyton and Eualla's sides of the story relate to each other, which adds a delicious layer of extra mystery on top of the slow-burn build-up into what happened to Daisy, but after a while you see where McCarron is going with this. The threads gradually weave together and cleverly collide in a way that allows you to not only fill in all the gaps about the difficult family relationships that flood this novel, but also serves to ramp up the tension around Peyton's search for the truth.
There is so much here about dysfunctional relationships that perpetuate through time, of the push and pull of love, and yearning to cast off the things that we feel hold us back, and McCarron uses these themes to beautifully examine how we cannot move forward until we acknowledge how the past has shaped us. There are very painful depictions of mother-daughter and sibling relationships that rip your heart out, but as the story progresses you learn that it is not always quite that easy to paint anyone in shades of black and white even if you do not agree with their actions. These characters are complex, and as McCarron slowly peels back the layers, the chance for reconciliation does present itself as she reveals the truth we have been grasping for on more than one level.
The story caught me from the very first page, and I loved how McCarron manages to create a really compelling, genre-busting novel that combines a cracking mystery about the unsolved case of a child's disappearance, with a delicious exploration of complicated family dynamics. I was so impressed by her ability to combine the poignancy of an incisive dissection of what motivates people to do the things they do, with a riveting story full of suspense. This is not an easy task, and yet McCarron achieves it seamlessly, keeping you firmly on the edge of your seat in all areas of the story. She also uses water, and the tug of hidden depths nicely throughout.
This book really took me by surprise in the way it blends so many themes and intriguing elements together in one perfect package. I read the whole brilliant novel in one fell swoop, unable to look away for a minute. Marina McCarron is a class act, and I cannot wait to read more from her.
December 12, 2023
The Shimmer on the Water is a beautiful book about two women Peyton and Eualla, a the disapperance of a young girl, Daisy in 1997. In the present Peyton has left her life in Seattle and come to the family home in Maine for the summer. She has never forgotton about Daisy, a young girl who disappeared on the fourth of July when she was younger. In Tennessee 1965 Euella leads a very different childhood to the one Peyton led. With little money, she and her sister are left to live in difficult conditions, that will shape them both, but especially Euella. This is a story of secrets, love, loss, family and hope.
I do love a split timeline plot, following two different plot lines and waiting to see how their different threads weave together by the end of the book. Peyton was a character I felt I could relate to on a few levels. She is at a crossroads in her life, she had lost her job, her boyfriend has left and she doesn’t know what to do next. Going back to Maine is not an easy decision for Peyton, her family dynamics are strained especially with her mother who doesn’t agree with her investigation into Daisy’s disappearance, or anything Peyton does. I felt empathy for Peyton with this situation and was intrigued to follow her investigation into Daisy and into her mother’s family and the secrets she is keeping.
Of both women it was Euella’s story that I found the most intriguing. Eualla had a difficult childhood, with not much money, food or love. She had to grow up quickly, look after her sister whilst studying hard knowing that a good education was her way of Tennessee and to have a better life. Her childhood was the impetus to have a better life, to put her past behind her and forge forward with her career. I loved her determination, her confidence and her work ethic, but there was also the vulnerability lying inside.
The Shimmer on the Water is a multi faceted read, weaving different stories, characters and many secrets together that made it such a compelling and addictive read. Peyton’s investigation into Daisy’s disappearance when she was also a child was intriguing, especially as there were never any suspects and after twenty years was still a mystery. It is through this investigation that Marina McCarron looks at how memories can be distorted over time, how recollections vary and can be influenced by what we want to remember. Marina McCarron’s writing is beautiful, slowly leading the reader through the different threads of the plot, keeping the reader guessing as to how it would play out.
I am so glad I read The Shimmer on the Water, it is a fascinating read that had me gripped from start to finish. Both the leading characters of Peyton and Euella were beautifully imagined, and both their stories touched me in different ways. The plot was engaging and full of emotion and drama that kept me turning the page late into the night. This is a stunning read, and one i highly recommended.
I do love a split timeline plot, following two different plot lines and waiting to see how their different threads weave together by the end of the book. Peyton was a character I felt I could relate to on a few levels. She is at a crossroads in her life, she had lost her job, her boyfriend has left and she doesn’t know what to do next. Going back to Maine is not an easy decision for Peyton, her family dynamics are strained especially with her mother who doesn’t agree with her investigation into Daisy’s disappearance, or anything Peyton does. I felt empathy for Peyton with this situation and was intrigued to follow her investigation into Daisy and into her mother’s family and the secrets she is keeping.
Of both women it was Euella’s story that I found the most intriguing. Eualla had a difficult childhood, with not much money, food or love. She had to grow up quickly, look after her sister whilst studying hard knowing that a good education was her way of Tennessee and to have a better life. Her childhood was the impetus to have a better life, to put her past behind her and forge forward with her career. I loved her determination, her confidence and her work ethic, but there was also the vulnerability lying inside.
The Shimmer on the Water is a multi faceted read, weaving different stories, characters and many secrets together that made it such a compelling and addictive read. Peyton’s investigation into Daisy’s disappearance when she was also a child was intriguing, especially as there were never any suspects and after twenty years was still a mystery. It is through this investigation that Marina McCarron looks at how memories can be distorted over time, how recollections vary and can be influenced by what we want to remember. Marina McCarron’s writing is beautiful, slowly leading the reader through the different threads of the plot, keeping the reader guessing as to how it would play out.
I am so glad I read The Shimmer on the Water, it is a fascinating read that had me gripped from start to finish. Both the leading characters of Peyton and Euella were beautifully imagined, and both their stories touched me in different ways. The plot was engaging and full of emotion and drama that kept me turning the page late into the night. This is a stunning read, and one i highly recommended.
October 24, 2022
Marina McCarron’s The Shimmer on the Water is a deftly written tale of love, lies and secrets that is so compulsively readable readers will struggle to put it down.
Maine, 1997 and the inhabitants of Port Meadow Beach have all gathered to celebrate the Fourth of July. There is great joy and excitement in the air, but all this jubilation is about to come to a sudden and startling end when four year old Daisy Wright vanishes off the face of the earth. Although the entire community searches high and low for the missing child, she is nowhere to be found. Daisy is never seen again and the mystery of her disappearance continues to haunt Port Meadow Beach for many more years to come…
Maine, Present Day and Peyton Winchester is at her lowest ebb. Everything that could wrong has gone wrong and Peyton is now single, unemployed and aimless. With nowhere to go and nobody to turn to, Peyton decides to return back home for the summer until she figures out the next chapter of her life. Desperate to fill in the time, Peyton enrolls in a journalism course, however, what started out as a mere hobby quickly becomes a compulsion as she starts looking into the disappearance of Daisy Wright all those decades ago.
As long-suppressed memories come to light, a determined Peyton vows to uncover the truth about Daisy’s whereabouts. But when the past and present begin to intertwine, Peyton begins to wonder whether some things should have been stayed dead and buried.
Clever, intense and emotional, The Shimmer on the Water is an intricately written tale that will keep readers turning the pages. Marina McCarron writes so well about women’s inner lives and the challenges they face that her characters come instantly to life and will ensure that readers find themselves completely invested in their lives.
Marina McCarron’s The Shimmer on the Water is a gripping and powerful tale written with style, heart and intelligence that will get under readers’ skins and keep them engrossed until the very last page.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Maine, 1997 and the inhabitants of Port Meadow Beach have all gathered to celebrate the Fourth of July. There is great joy and excitement in the air, but all this jubilation is about to come to a sudden and startling end when four year old Daisy Wright vanishes off the face of the earth. Although the entire community searches high and low for the missing child, she is nowhere to be found. Daisy is never seen again and the mystery of her disappearance continues to haunt Port Meadow Beach for many more years to come…
Maine, Present Day and Peyton Winchester is at her lowest ebb. Everything that could wrong has gone wrong and Peyton is now single, unemployed and aimless. With nowhere to go and nobody to turn to, Peyton decides to return back home for the summer until she figures out the next chapter of her life. Desperate to fill in the time, Peyton enrolls in a journalism course, however, what started out as a mere hobby quickly becomes a compulsion as she starts looking into the disappearance of Daisy Wright all those decades ago.
As long-suppressed memories come to light, a determined Peyton vows to uncover the truth about Daisy’s whereabouts. But when the past and present begin to intertwine, Peyton begins to wonder whether some things should have been stayed dead and buried.
Clever, intense and emotional, The Shimmer on the Water is an intricately written tale that will keep readers turning the pages. Marina McCarron writes so well about women’s inner lives and the challenges they face that her characters come instantly to life and will ensure that readers find themselves completely invested in their lives.
Marina McCarron’s The Shimmer on the Water is a gripping and powerful tale written with style, heart and intelligence that will get under readers’ skins and keep them engrossed until the very last page.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 13, 2022
Well, this wasn’t at all what I expected, I wasn’t expecting the two two timelines or the thriller aspect of the story. What was I expecting? Well, I thought it would be a bit of a family drama with a little mystery mixed in, yes there is an emotional side to it where lives are entangled, but this is definitely more thriller.
Surprising this is a bit of a time-slip story split between 1997 and the present, which I wasn’t expecting, the story opens in 1997 in Fort Meadow Beach, Maine, where the town is rocked to its core by the disappearance of four-year-old Daisy. Fast forward to the present day, Payton has left Seattle after heartbreak and being fired from her job and made the tough choice but to go back home, back to Fort Meadow Beach. A place which brings far too many old memories back to her of her childhood and of her own life. But she is bored, she is tired of feeling like an extra part in her family home so she decides to do something while she figures out what to do with her life which leads her down a path she had forgotten about all those years ago and starts to investigate the disappearance of young Daisy Wright in an attempt to become a journalist, but throughout her investigating she starts to unearth more questions then answers and the answers may not be exactly what he wanted.
I have to admit that I did become a little confused as thought this was about Payton discovering the truth about the disappearance of Daisy, but that part of the story is incredibly overshadowed by other storylines which I thought dragged on far too long and slowed down the pacing which made reading a bit of a chore, but I persevered wanting to know what happened to daisy, but it was a little disappointing.
Overall this is an interesting thriller one which I think those who love the genre will thoroughly enjoy, but I hate to say it despite there being some really compelling parts which had me hooked this one wasn’t entirely for me, what I will say is don’t just take my word for it try this book for yourself!
Surprising this is a bit of a time-slip story split between 1997 and the present, which I wasn’t expecting, the story opens in 1997 in Fort Meadow Beach, Maine, where the town is rocked to its core by the disappearance of four-year-old Daisy. Fast forward to the present day, Payton has left Seattle after heartbreak and being fired from her job and made the tough choice but to go back home, back to Fort Meadow Beach. A place which brings far too many old memories back to her of her childhood and of her own life. But she is bored, she is tired of feeling like an extra part in her family home so she decides to do something while she figures out what to do with her life which leads her down a path she had forgotten about all those years ago and starts to investigate the disappearance of young Daisy Wright in an attempt to become a journalist, but throughout her investigating she starts to unearth more questions then answers and the answers may not be exactly what he wanted.
I have to admit that I did become a little confused as thought this was about Payton discovering the truth about the disappearance of Daisy, but that part of the story is incredibly overshadowed by other storylines which I thought dragged on far too long and slowed down the pacing which made reading a bit of a chore, but I persevered wanting to know what happened to daisy, but it was a little disappointing.
Overall this is an interesting thriller one which I think those who love the genre will thoroughly enjoy, but I hate to say it despite there being some really compelling parts which had me hooked this one wasn’t entirely for me, what I will say is don’t just take my word for it try this book for yourself!
July 1, 2023
Well, this wasn’t at all what I expected, I wasn’t expecting the two two timelines or the thriller aspect of the story. What was I expecting? Well, I thought it would be a bit of a family drama with a little mystery mixed in, yes there is an emotional side to it where lives are entangled, but this is definitely more thriller.
Surprising this is a bit of a time-slip story split between 1997 and the present, which I wasn’t expecting, the story opens in 1997 in Fort Meadow Beach, Maine, where the town is rocked to its core by the disappearance of four-year-old Daisy. Fast forward to the present day, Payton has left Seattle after heartbreak and being fired from her job and made the tough choice but to go back home, back to Fort Meadow Beach. A place which brings far too many old memories back to her of her childhood and of her own life. But she is bored, she is tired of feeling like an extra part in her family home so she decides to do something while she figures out what to do with her life which leads her down a path she had forgotten about all those years ago and starts to investigate the disappearance of young Daisy Wright in an attempt to become a journalist, but throughout her investigating she starts to unearth more questions then answers and the answers may not be exactly what he wanted.
I have to admit that I did become a little confused as thought this was about Payton discovering the truth about the disappearance of Daisy, but that part of the story is incredibly overshadowed by other storylines which I thought dragged on far too long and slowed down the pacing which made reading a bit of a chore, but I persevered wanting to know what happened to daisy, but it was a little disappointing.
Overall this is an interesting thriller one which I think those who love the genre will thoroughly enjoy, but I hate to say it despite there being some really compelling parts which had me hooked this one wasn’t entirely for me, what I will say is don’t just take my word for it try this book for yourself!
Surprising this is a bit of a time-slip story split between 1997 and the present, which I wasn’t expecting, the story opens in 1997 in Fort Meadow Beach, Maine, where the town is rocked to its core by the disappearance of four-year-old Daisy. Fast forward to the present day, Payton has left Seattle after heartbreak and being fired from her job and made the tough choice but to go back home, back to Fort Meadow Beach. A place which brings far too many old memories back to her of her childhood and of her own life. But she is bored, she is tired of feeling like an extra part in her family home so she decides to do something while she figures out what to do with her life which leads her down a path she had forgotten about all those years ago and starts to investigate the disappearance of young Daisy Wright in an attempt to become a journalist, but throughout her investigating she starts to unearth more questions then answers and the answers may not be exactly what he wanted.
I have to admit that I did become a little confused as thought this was about Payton discovering the truth about the disappearance of Daisy, but that part of the story is incredibly overshadowed by other storylines which I thought dragged on far too long and slowed down the pacing which made reading a bit of a chore, but I persevered wanting to know what happened to daisy, but it was a little disappointing.
Overall this is an interesting thriller one which I think those who love the genre will thoroughly enjoy, but I hate to say it despite there being some really compelling parts which had me hooked this one wasn’t entirely for me, what I will say is don’t just take my word for it try this book for yourself!
July 25, 2022
Thank you, Head of Zeus, and NetGalley for a copy of “The Shimmer on the water” by Marina McCarron.
Set in several timelines, first one is July 4th, 1997, Daisy Wright goes missing to be never seen again. Although there was an investigation, without any evidence it slowly and the hunt for her stops.
We then learn of Eula living in a house with her mother and sister Minnie and her drunk father and brother. Her mother leaves and Eula and her sister Minnie fends for themselves. Without food as her father disappears weeks at a time. Eula does what she can to look after her sister Minnie. The story tells us how she grows up and the determination to get out of poverty
Maine 2021 Peyton comes back to her hometown in Maine and lives with her parents until she decides what she wants to do with her life. While she is at her parents, she decides to investigate the cold case of Daisy wright and found out what happened to her. She thinks it will help her in becoming a journalist.
I was really looking forward to reading this as I read the authors previous novel “The time between us” which I really enjoyed.
This is an interesting thriller, and I was engaged throughout the first part of this book. I enjoyed the story of Eula and her determination to get out of poverty. But I was a bit confused as I thought this story was about a missing girl and there was hardly anything in it story not until near the end.
The second half of this story I found slow and started losing interest that I started skipping pages until the end just to see what happened to Daisy Wright, but I found it disappointing. 3 stars from me.
Set in several timelines, first one is July 4th, 1997, Daisy Wright goes missing to be never seen again. Although there was an investigation, without any evidence it slowly and the hunt for her stops.
We then learn of Eula living in a house with her mother and sister Minnie and her drunk father and brother. Her mother leaves and Eula and her sister Minnie fends for themselves. Without food as her father disappears weeks at a time. Eula does what she can to look after her sister Minnie. The story tells us how she grows up and the determination to get out of poverty
Maine 2021 Peyton comes back to her hometown in Maine and lives with her parents until she decides what she wants to do with her life. While she is at her parents, she decides to investigate the cold case of Daisy wright and found out what happened to her. She thinks it will help her in becoming a journalist.
I was really looking forward to reading this as I read the authors previous novel “The time between us” which I really enjoyed.
This is an interesting thriller, and I was engaged throughout the first part of this book. I enjoyed the story of Eula and her determination to get out of poverty. But I was a bit confused as I thought this story was about a missing girl and there was hardly anything in it story not until near the end.
The second half of this story I found slow and started losing interest that I started skipping pages until the end just to see what happened to Daisy Wright, but I found it disappointing. 3 stars from me.
August 9, 2022
In typical Angelnet Reviews fashion I signed up for the blog tour for The Shimmer on the Water after skimming through the synopsis of the book and assuming that it was going to be a detective story about the disappearance of a small child on a crowded beach. I'm very pleased to report that Marina McCarron's book is so much more than a crime investigation. It is a multi generational tale of family and the lies that we tell to those that we love the most.
Peyton Winchester moves back to the family home in Maine for the summer. Her life is a mess with no job - she got fired - and no boyfriend - he turned out to be an idiot who ghosted her. Admitting that her life in Seattle was a disaster is tough because her mother makes Big Bang Theory's Leonard Hofstadter's mother seem pretty touchy feely. It has always been a difficult relationship and Peyton is sure that her mother really doesn't like her.
Needing something to keep herself occupied over the summer Peyton begins to investigate the disappearance of four year old Daisy Wright who went missing in 1997. As she digs deeper into what happened twenty five years earlier it looks like the answers might be found a little too close to home for comfort.
There is a real depth and pathos to The Shimmer on the Water that takes you unawares. I’m not normally hugely keen on books that weave inter generational threads together but this really works. The contrast between the two is quite stark and helps to explain the present day issues and events. If you are looking for a beach book with a bit more bite then look no further.
Supplied by Net Galley and Aria, Head of Zeus in exchange for an honest review.
Peyton Winchester moves back to the family home in Maine for the summer. Her life is a mess with no job - she got fired - and no boyfriend - he turned out to be an idiot who ghosted her. Admitting that her life in Seattle was a disaster is tough because her mother makes Big Bang Theory's Leonard Hofstadter's mother seem pretty touchy feely. It has always been a difficult relationship and Peyton is sure that her mother really doesn't like her.
Needing something to keep herself occupied over the summer Peyton begins to investigate the disappearance of four year old Daisy Wright who went missing in 1997. As she digs deeper into what happened twenty five years earlier it looks like the answers might be found a little too close to home for comfort.
There is a real depth and pathos to The Shimmer on the Water that takes you unawares. I’m not normally hugely keen on books that weave inter generational threads together but this really works. The contrast between the two is quite stark and helps to explain the present day issues and events. If you are looking for a beach book with a bit more bite then look no further.
Supplied by Net Galley and Aria, Head of Zeus in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2022
The riveting mostly dual timeline novel The Shimmer on the Water is not your typical domestic thriller; it has that je ne sais quois which elevates it. When done well, dual and multi timelines are such a pleasure to read. This one is magic. Though several characters are not likeable I was absolutely invested and engrossed the entire time as bits of what makes people tick and make the decisions they do were introduced.
In 1997 Maine Daisy Wright's unusual disappearance goes unsolved. In 2022 Peyton returns to her loveless family home after having an unsuccessful go on her own. Discouraged, she becomes intrigued by Daisy's story and starts unraveling the layers. Her cold mother constantly has her on edge but she has nowhere else to go. Her father is kind but often defaults to her mother. Very interesting dynamic...the angst could be sliced with a knife.
Eualla and Minnie grow up in 1960s Tennessee in a terribly abusive home. They are deserted and must fend for themselves. After going their separate ways, their past re-enters their lives. Their stories beautifully intertwine with those of the current day, intelligently and cleverly written. Not only is there a mystery but loads of family tension.
Mystery/Thriller readers seeking originality ought to prioritize this. I felt like gnawing on my arm to get to the end! And what an ending it was. Loved it.
My sincere thank you to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this arresting book. Marina McCarron's writing has me absolutely hooked!
In 1997 Maine Daisy Wright's unusual disappearance goes unsolved. In 2022 Peyton returns to her loveless family home after having an unsuccessful go on her own. Discouraged, she becomes intrigued by Daisy's story and starts unraveling the layers. Her cold mother constantly has her on edge but she has nowhere else to go. Her father is kind but often defaults to her mother. Very interesting dynamic...the angst could be sliced with a knife.
Eualla and Minnie grow up in 1960s Tennessee in a terribly abusive home. They are deserted and must fend for themselves. After going their separate ways, their past re-enters their lives. Their stories beautifully intertwine with those of the current day, intelligently and cleverly written. Not only is there a mystery but loads of family tension.
Mystery/Thriller readers seeking originality ought to prioritize this. I felt like gnawing on my arm to get to the end! And what an ending it was. Loved it.
My sincere thank you to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this arresting book. Marina McCarron's writing has me absolutely hooked!
August 9, 2022
Family; you can’t choose it but it marks your life forever.
This is a bitter story about family and love; difficult and dark, intriguing and tense; it will make you see your life in a different perspective.
This is a story told between two different timelines; the past with the young Eula and the present with Peyton. Eula had a poor and difficult childhood, but one day she decides that her future will be better and fights with all her strength to leave her past behind and have a successful future. But, is she better than her parents?
On the other side we have Peyton, the missing girl in 1997 that marked her life; she never met the girl, but that day something weird happened with her family… Did any of them have something to do with her disappearance? Returning home makes her try to discover the truth of what happened that day. But what will happen if what she discovers is something much worse? Of course you’ll have to read the book if you want to discover the truth!
This is a very interesting read; it is not easy to like Eula but you understand her as you discover her story. Also, I felt so sorry for Peyton and her family situation, she is a nice and brave woman that only needs a little bit of love and support in her life.
I have to say that I liked this book; the twists and different characters in the story makes this book a surprise.
Are you ready for “The Shimmer on the Water”?
This is a bitter story about family and love; difficult and dark, intriguing and tense; it will make you see your life in a different perspective.
This is a story told between two different timelines; the past with the young Eula and the present with Peyton. Eula had a poor and difficult childhood, but one day she decides that her future will be better and fights with all her strength to leave her past behind and have a successful future. But, is she better than her parents?
On the other side we have Peyton, the missing girl in 1997 that marked her life; she never met the girl, but that day something weird happened with her family… Did any of them have something to do with her disappearance? Returning home makes her try to discover the truth of what happened that day. But what will happen if what she discovers is something much worse? Of course you’ll have to read the book if you want to discover the truth!
This is a very interesting read; it is not easy to like Eula but you understand her as you discover her story. Also, I felt so sorry for Peyton and her family situation, she is a nice and brave woman that only needs a little bit of love and support in her life.
I have to say that I liked this book; the twists and different characters in the story makes this book a surprise.
Are you ready for “The Shimmer on the Water”?
July 21, 2025
I didn't expect The Shimmer on the Water to keep me that tightly, but I was up much too late, glued to each final page.
When Peyton Winchester returns to her Maine hometown, fired and heartbroken, I felt her agitation in my own bones, standing beside her, looking out at the very same glistening water that shimmered between past and present. Her investigation into Daisy Wright's vanishing—a young girl who vanished on a Fourth of July many years before—had me holding my breath, hoping each secret she discovered was still scarring
The two timelines with Euella's story in 1965 Tennessee hit me the hardest. Euella's life as a child—plagued with struggles, love, and grit—broke my heart and rebuilt it all at once. I rooted for her resilience and mourned with every ache when her past collided with Peyton's present.
What held me was Marina McCarron's writing—it's chilly and measured, but imbued with feeling, so that each disclosure lands with a satisfying thud. The suspense hinges not on a cold case, but on family, on memory, and how secrets propagate ripples across generations. And by the time I reached the end, I was raw, introspective, and queerly hopeful.
Shimmer on the Water is not just a thriller—it's a meditation on loss, legacy, and the fragile way in which the past shapes the individual we become. I loved how it left me feeling observed, unsettled, and ultimately, healed.
When Peyton Winchester returns to her Maine hometown, fired and heartbroken, I felt her agitation in my own bones, standing beside her, looking out at the very same glistening water that shimmered between past and present. Her investigation into Daisy Wright's vanishing—a young girl who vanished on a Fourth of July many years before—had me holding my breath, hoping each secret she discovered was still scarring
The two timelines with Euella's story in 1965 Tennessee hit me the hardest. Euella's life as a child—plagued with struggles, love, and grit—broke my heart and rebuilt it all at once. I rooted for her resilience and mourned with every ache when her past collided with Peyton's present.
What held me was Marina McCarron's writing—it's chilly and measured, but imbued with feeling, so that each disclosure lands with a satisfying thud. The suspense hinges not on a cold case, but on family, on memory, and how secrets propagate ripples across generations. And by the time I reached the end, I was raw, introspective, and queerly hopeful.
Shimmer on the Water is not just a thriller—it's a meditation on loss, legacy, and the fragile way in which the past shapes the individual we become. I loved how it left me feeling observed, unsettled, and ultimately, healed.
April 16, 2023
I thought this was wonderful - one of my favourite reads for 2022.
Marina McCarron tells her shimmering story through a dual timeline. In 1960s Tennessee, Eualla battles abuse and abandonment yet survives to face down yet more challenges. I found this strand especially striking, reminding me at times of Where the Crawdads Sing: the detailed, compassionately painted thread of stoicism, of a child fending alone and emerging as a woman to be reckoned with.
The other strand brings us to modern day, when a young woman, Peyton, reluctantly runs home to Maine after life has left her in a mess. The family dynamics back home are tense with all kinds of angry echoes and jagged edges. There is love, and Peyton shares moments of touching connection with her father, but her mother sets everything on edge: uncompromising and cold, with a constant desperation to keep up appearances.
The timelines complement each other as the narrative flows back and forth, until they merge. I listened on Audible (Jessica Preddy did a great job) and was swept up in the unhurried, insightful storytelling. When the strands begin to knit together, the whole picture suddenly comes into focus, an aha moment for me. Though there is a haunting mystery – the disappearance of a child back in 1997 - I found the power of this book lay its evocative, often exquisite writing and multi-layered characters. Carefully crafted. Beautifully done.
Marina McCarron tells her shimmering story through a dual timeline. In 1960s Tennessee, Eualla battles abuse and abandonment yet survives to face down yet more challenges. I found this strand especially striking, reminding me at times of Where the Crawdads Sing: the detailed, compassionately painted thread of stoicism, of a child fending alone and emerging as a woman to be reckoned with.
The other strand brings us to modern day, when a young woman, Peyton, reluctantly runs home to Maine after life has left her in a mess. The family dynamics back home are tense with all kinds of angry echoes and jagged edges. There is love, and Peyton shares moments of touching connection with her father, but her mother sets everything on edge: uncompromising and cold, with a constant desperation to keep up appearances.
The timelines complement each other as the narrative flows back and forth, until they merge. I listened on Audible (Jessica Preddy did a great job) and was swept up in the unhurried, insightful storytelling. When the strands begin to knit together, the whole picture suddenly comes into focus, an aha moment for me. Though there is a haunting mystery – the disappearance of a child back in 1997 - I found the power of this book lay its evocative, often exquisite writing and multi-layered characters. Carefully crafted. Beautifully done.
June 14, 2022
I received an e-ARC version of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.
“The Shimmer on the Water” is a novel by Marina McCarron. This book begins with a mystery - what happened to young Daisy Wright? A woman, Peyton, returns home - where Daisy disappeared 20+ years before, and decides to solve the mystery. There’s also another woman’s story told from the 1960s, which eventually entwines with Peyton’s story. I’d call this book more a family drama than a mystery or historical fiction. I found the writing to be enjoyable. I cannot say that I really liked any of the characters though for the most part I could see what motivated them to make the choices that they did (though I questioned a few of Minnie’s acts). This book was mostly tied up at the end, though I would’ve preferred it to be a bit more open-ended. This is a book of many layers and many masks - what do you show or tell others, what do you keep hidden, how has life shaped you into being who you are and what do you do to hide those things from those you proclaim to care about. I could see this being a well done TV special, as it held my attention and I found the overall story interesting. I would read another book by Ms. McCarron. A solid 3.5, rounded up to 4.
“The Shimmer on the Water” is a novel by Marina McCarron. This book begins with a mystery - what happened to young Daisy Wright? A woman, Peyton, returns home - where Daisy disappeared 20+ years before, and decides to solve the mystery. There’s also another woman’s story told from the 1960s, which eventually entwines with Peyton’s story. I’d call this book more a family drama than a mystery or historical fiction. I found the writing to be enjoyable. I cannot say that I really liked any of the characters though for the most part I could see what motivated them to make the choices that they did (though I questioned a few of Minnie’s acts). This book was mostly tied up at the end, though I would’ve preferred it to be a bit more open-ended. This is a book of many layers and many masks - what do you show or tell others, what do you keep hidden, how has life shaped you into being who you are and what do you do to hide those things from those you proclaim to care about. I could see this being a well done TV special, as it held my attention and I found the overall story interesting. I would read another book by Ms. McCarron. A solid 3.5, rounded up to 4.
July 16, 2022
I want to start by thanking Netgalley for a copy of this Ebook.
The Shimmer on the Water is an enthralling mystery that takes place during a sequence of timelines by two different point of views.
July 4th 1997 little Daisy Wright goes missing during a town celebration.
Twenty five years later and back visiting home, Peyton begins to investigate this long ago cold case while also discovering some deep hidden secrets within her own family.
Starting in 1965 our second POV is told by Eualla. Eualla’s story is captivating and absolutely heartbreaking. We join Eualla as she grows up from poverty and sets out to make a better life for herself.
Things I liked:
* I absolutely loved Euallas story and how she changed through out each life challenge
* Loved Peytons news piece. It gave me chills!
* Loved that it kept me captivated and guessing what was going to happen and how it would come together
Things I did not like
Overall I really enjoyed this story but, because I feel there wasn’t enough closure I am giving this book 3.5 stars (rounding to 4)
The Shimmer on the Water is an enthralling mystery that takes place during a sequence of timelines by two different point of views.
July 4th 1997 little Daisy Wright goes missing during a town celebration.
Twenty five years later and back visiting home, Peyton begins to investigate this long ago cold case while also discovering some deep hidden secrets within her own family.
Starting in 1965 our second POV is told by Eualla. Eualla’s story is captivating and absolutely heartbreaking. We join Eualla as she grows up from poverty and sets out to make a better life for herself.
Things I liked:
* I absolutely loved Euallas story and how she changed through out each life challenge
* Loved Peytons news piece. It gave me chills!
* Loved that it kept me captivated and guessing what was going to happen and how it would come together
Things I did not like
Overall I really enjoyed this story but, because I feel there wasn’t enough closure I am giving this book 3.5 stars (rounding to 4)
July 26, 2022
Loved it! This was the first book I read by the author and I can't wait to read more. From the first chapter I was hooked and I couldn't wait to see what happened. I enjoyed how the book alternated between Peyton and Eualla. I knew Eualla and Peyton had to be connected somehow, but it wasn't until Eualla declares her college major when I finally put two and two together. Where did Minnie and Eualla's mom go for all those years? Why did she finally return? I hated the relationship Peyton and her mom had with each other. Lydia never had anything nice to say about her daughter. Did she love her? Lydia sure knew how to hold a grudge. Her sister helped her raise Scott and then she just cuts her off. For being a psychologist, she wasn't very good with her children or even herself. She should have talked to someone. There were so many hidden family secrets.
Definitely recommend the book. Loved the characters, story and writing style. I was so glad that the truth was finally revealed about what actually happened to Daisy. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Loved the cover of the book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Head of Zeus through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Definitely recommend the book. Loved the characters, story and writing style. I was so glad that the truth was finally revealed about what actually happened to Daisy. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Loved the cover of the book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Head of Zeus through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 3, 2022
A beautifully written dual timeline story. Set in Tennessee in the 1960s and Maine in the late nineties/present day, central to the story is the disappearance of four-year-old Daisy Wright on Independence Day over twenty years ago. Peyton Winchester, returning home to Maine for the summer finds herself remembering the incident and wondering what actually happened to Daisy. Woven around this present-day story is another, of Eualla Tompkins and the hardship she experiences growing up in poverty in Tennessee. At first I wondered how the two were linked, but eventually all becomes clear. It’s a cleverly written multi-layered novel, about family dynamics, and how the past shapes who we eventually become.
The kind of read that pulls you in and makes you want to stay there until the story has finished. With family drama and secrets as well as the on-going question of what happened to Daisy, it’s an excellent novel, and one I would thoroughly recommend.
My thanks to Marina McCarron, Head of Zeus, Aria, and NetGalley for an
ARC of The Shimmer on the Water in exchange for an honest review.
The kind of read that pulls you in and makes you want to stay there until the story has finished. With family drama and secrets as well as the on-going question of what happened to Daisy, it’s an excellent novel, and one I would thoroughly recommend.
My thanks to Marina McCarron, Head of Zeus, Aria, and NetGalley for an
ARC of The Shimmer on the Water in exchange for an honest review.
January 12, 2026
Enjoyed reading this book, couldn't put it down at times- kept you guessing but then the ending came which I found was a bit confusing. I had finished it late at night and had to check up again on the ending. A good read
When you're lost sometimes the only way to look forward is to look back...
Three women. Two generations apart. One secret they share.
Maine, 1997. As the people of Fort Meadow Beach celebrate the Fourth of July, four-year-old Daisy Wright disappears and is never seen again.
Maine, 2022. Fired from her job and heart-broken, Peyton Winchester moves back home for the summer. Bored and aimless, she finds a renewed sense of purpose when an ad for a journalism course reminds her of a path not taken. Returning to life in her home town brings back all kind of memories – including Daisy's disappearance when she was a young girl herself.
As Peyton begins to search for answers about Daisy's disappearance, she finds that they might be closer to home than she thinks – and their lives become intertwined with irreversible consequences.
When you're lost sometimes the only way to look forward is to look back...
Three women. Two generations apart. One secret they share.
Maine, 1997. As the people of Fort Meadow Beach celebrate the Fourth of July, four-year-old Daisy Wright disappears and is never seen again.
Maine, 2022. Fired from her job and heart-broken, Peyton Winchester moves back home for the summer. Bored and aimless, she finds a renewed sense of purpose when an ad for a journalism course reminds her of a path not taken. Returning to life in her home town brings back all kind of memories – including Daisy's disappearance when she was a young girl herself.
As Peyton begins to search for answers about Daisy's disappearance, she finds that they might be closer to home than she thinks – and their lives become intertwined with irreversible consequences.
July 25, 2022
The Shimmer on the Water is a totally engaging novel that grabs your attention and does not let go.
It is told in dual time line: 1977 and 2021.
Its 1960 and Eualla Thompson and her sister have been abandoned and Eualla vows to herself never to be poor again or let her children grow up the way she did.
Its 1977 and Daisy Wright disappears on the the 4th of July.
The town of Fort Meadow Beach is never the same.
It is 2021 when Peyton returns home for various reasons and as she tries to figure out life she is also tries to solve the disappearance of Daisy.
Her parents tell her to let sleeping dogs lie.
This book is not just a great mystery but it is also the story of family, loyalty, hardship, perseverance and the mistakes we make along the way.
I got totally lost in the story of The Shimmer on The Water and did not want the book to end.
I look forward to checking out Marina McCarron's books.
Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus , Aria for a intriguing read.
It is told in dual time line: 1977 and 2021.
Its 1960 and Eualla Thompson and her sister have been abandoned and Eualla vows to herself never to be poor again or let her children grow up the way she did.
Its 1977 and Daisy Wright disappears on the the 4th of July.
The town of Fort Meadow Beach is never the same.
It is 2021 when Peyton returns home for various reasons and as she tries to figure out life she is also tries to solve the disappearance of Daisy.
Her parents tell her to let sleeping dogs lie.
This book is not just a great mystery but it is also the story of family, loyalty, hardship, perseverance and the mistakes we make along the way.
I got totally lost in the story of The Shimmer on The Water and did not want the book to end.
I look forward to checking out Marina McCarron's books.
Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus , Aria for a intriguing read.
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