Review of 'At the Water's Edge'

At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Full marks for handling a difficult theme in a clear readable manner and for telling a darn good story. Who is the monster? Loch Ness nessie? Hitler -the novel is set during WWII - or two men who hide their real selves and trap a naive wealthy girl into a marriage which is all for them and nothing for her?

American Maddie is brought by her husband from the high life in Philadelphia to hunt the Loch Ness monster, an act of madness during the war. From living in a country at a distance from the war, rationing, black outs and going without, Maddie finds she is now facing the reality of war. Life unravels and Maddie has to sort out who she is and what she wants.

Well written in plain English, Sara Gruen avoids the trap of writing about Scotland and the Scottish is mock-Scottish English or in her own American vernacular. Gottens and likely thats do rather break the feeling of 1940s, rural conservative Scotland. The author avoids that trap. The research seems spot on. Most important the characters are 3D and 'real'.

This novel is a good read and well worth rereading. it's a book for anyone who enjoys an entertaining read and something to think about.





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