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A review by kbranfield
The Lakehouse by Joe Clifford
4.0
The Lakehouse by Joe Clifford is an intriguing small town mystery.
Tracy Somerset is divorced and raising her two year old son on her own. With generous support payments from her ex-husband Brett, she does not have to work. But she is a little bored and lonely since her only outside interactions are with her best friend Diana. After meeting and chatting with Todd Norman late one night, Tracy is hopeful for her dating prospects. But when Sheriff Duane Sobczak checks with her on Todd's alibi after a dead body washes ashore, she learns the truth about her new acquaintance. But Tracy cannot let go of her confidence that Todd is not capable of the crime for which he was acquitted. Will she follow her instincts and take a chance on love?
Sobczak is a long serving sheriff who surprisingly views the town through rose-colored glasses. So his certainty that Todd is a killer is a little unexpected. That is until the realization that Sobczak's daughter Amanda and Todd's murdered wife April Abbott were childhood friends. Add in the fact that Todd is an outsider and the sheriff's animosity is a little easier to understand. Even when it turns out there is nothing suspicious about the death of Wendy Mortensen, Sobsczak remains convinced Todd is somehow involved.
Narrated from multiple points of view, The Lakehouse is an interesting mystery that takes a while to come full circle. The characters are well-developed and the small town setting is atmospheric. Despite a bit of uneven pacing, the storyline is engaging with clever red herrings and misdirects. Unexpected connections, teenage friendships and long ago events eventually provide a more complete picture that remains a little murky. Joe Clifford brings the mystery to an exciting, but frustratingly ambiguous, conclusion.
Tracy Somerset is divorced and raising her two year old son on her own. With generous support payments from her ex-husband Brett, she does not have to work. But she is a little bored and lonely since her only outside interactions are with her best friend Diana. After meeting and chatting with Todd Norman late one night, Tracy is hopeful for her dating prospects. But when Sheriff Duane Sobczak checks with her on Todd's alibi after a dead body washes ashore, she learns the truth about her new acquaintance. But Tracy cannot let go of her confidence that Todd is not capable of the crime for which he was acquitted. Will she follow her instincts and take a chance on love?
Sobczak is a long serving sheriff who surprisingly views the town through rose-colored glasses. So his certainty that Todd is a killer is a little unexpected. That is until the realization that Sobczak's daughter Amanda and Todd's murdered wife April Abbott were childhood friends. Add in the fact that Todd is an outsider and the sheriff's animosity is a little easier to understand. Even when it turns out there is nothing suspicious about the death of Wendy Mortensen, Sobsczak remains convinced Todd is somehow involved.
Narrated from multiple points of view, The Lakehouse is an interesting mystery that takes a while to come full circle. The characters are well-developed and the small town setting is atmospheric. Despite a bit of uneven pacing, the storyline is engaging with clever red herrings and misdirects. Unexpected connections, teenage friendships and long ago events eventually provide a more complete picture that remains a little murky. Joe Clifford brings the mystery to an exciting, but frustratingly ambiguous, conclusion.