Reviews: (by author)

Littke, Lael. Lake of Secrets. New York: Henry Holt, 2002. $16.95.
ISBN 0-8050-6730-2.

Carlene and her mother move to Lake Isadora, the town where her parents grew up and lived until the disappearance of their four-year old son during a boating accident. Carlene, born after the disappearance, never knew her brother, and her mother has never given up hope that he may still be alive.

Even though Carlene has never visited Lake Isadora, she begins to have vivid memories of the town and its inhabitants. The memories begin to reveal more clues about the accident on the lake so many years ago. Are these the memories of her missing brother? Do they belong to a witness of the accident? Will they help Carlene and her mother find out what really happened to her brother that day, and whether he is still alive?

Littke uses Carlene's memories to advance the plot, but they also allow Carlene to empathize and grow closer to her mother as well as understand the past. Lake of Secrets is a suspenseful mystery that adds a supernatural element to the traditional detective work characteristic of the genre. It is recommended for fans of either genre, or anyone interested in reading an intriguing story.

Frank H. Sweeney, February 2004

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