Murder at the Lake (Amanda Christie Mystery)
by Bren Gaudet
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Book Summary Information
Author: Bren GaudetEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-08-01
ISBN: 0982160194
Number of pages: 192
Publisher: Synergy Books
Book Reviews of Murder at the Lake (Amanda Christie Mystery)
Book Review: A good first effort from a budding author
Summary: 5 Stars
Bren Gaudet holds a bachelor's degree in literature and creative writing from Vermont College and is working on her MFA in fiction, specializing in young adults and children at Spalding University. She presently lives in San Antonio, Texas and is a member of the Mystery Writers of America and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Amanda Christie is an east coast debutante whose parents have agreed to let her fly out to her recently widowed aunt's estate in Austin, Texas. Her young cousins are also there, with the idea of bonding through an enjoyable weekend together. But right off the bat Amanda can see that there is evil afoot, and when her close cousin, Jack, disappears in a boating accident, all hell breaks loose:
"Beth stood up with her arms high over her head, hoping to catch her phone before it fell into the water. Instead, she pitched backwards, hitting Jack and throwing him onto the control panel and the glass windshield. The boat lurched forward. Beth screamed. Chelsea stood up and made a grab for the phone. Reggie made a grab for Beth, and Jack went overboard, the little boat making a loud, crunching noise as it hit the wooden platform, throwing me forward onto my knees."
It's difficult writing about teenage angst, but Bren Gaudet handles the issue with sophistication and insight into the wonder years. Both the plot, a dangerously rainy weekend with a group of teens stuck in a potentially haunted house together, and the character development are excellent. Amanda Christie is the teen with the level head, and the agendas of the other selfish cousins emerge in a sinister montage.
Lest we forget, teen love figures into the story in a huge way. One can't imagine an ingenue from a solidly middle to upper class family not having experienced that first kiss by the age of seventeen, but if the reader is amenable to suspending suspicion, the love story is sweet and fresh.
All in all, MURDER ON THE LAKE is a good first effort from a budding author. We'll look forward to the second effort of the Amanda Christie mysteries.
Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer
Summary of Murder at the Lake (Amanda Christie Mystery)
When 17-year-old Amanda Christie is invited to a cousins-only weekend retreat at her aunt's Austin, Texas, estate, she doesn't know what to expect. She soon finds though, that the weekend will be anything but boring. One of the guests is responsible for the death of Amanda's uncle and when a dangerous storm traps the teens inside the secluded mansion, Amanda becomes determined to uncover the killer. But when their cell phones go missing and guests begin to disappear, Amanda realizes that the killer isn't finished. With time running out and no way of knowing who to trust, she must either uncover the murderer or risk being the next victim.An author tour is planned for the following cities: San Antonio, TX; Austin, TX; Houston, TX; Dallas, TX; Lubbock, TX; Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY; & South Glastonbury, CT (Near Hartford).Mysteries, Espionage, & Detectives Books
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