Lake Silence - Review

Title: Lake Silence

Author:  Anne Bishop

Series:  The World of the Others

Synopsis:  “Human laws do not apply in the territory controlled by the Others - vampires, shape-shifters, and even deadlier paranormal beings.  And this is a fact that humans should never, ever forget.

     “After her divorce, Vicki DeVine took over a rustic resort near Lake Silence, in a human town that is not human controlled.  Towns such as Vicki’s don’t have any distance from the Others, the dominant predators who rule most of the land and all of the water throughout the world.  And when a place has no boundaries, you never really know what is out there watching you.

     “Vicki was hoping to find a new career and anew life.  But when her lodger, Aggie Crowe - one of the shape-shifting Others  - discovers a murdered man, Vicki finds trouble instead.  The detectives want to pin the death on her, despite the evidence that nothing human could have killed the victim.  As Vicki and her friends search for answers, ancient forces are roused by the disturbance in their domain. They have rules that must not be broken - and all the destructive powers of nature at their command.”

Review:  Before I read this book I thought I couldn’t enjoy a story set in the world of the Others more than I enjoyed Written in Red (the first Novel of the Others).  I was wrong.  They are all great novels.  But Lake Silence is my favorite novel set in this world.  I think it’s because I identified with Vickie.  She is a woman who escaped an abusive marriage and is looking for a new, quiet life.  She loves books and solitude almost as much as I do. 

     Lake Silence is the perfect combination of mystery, fantasy and thriller.  It starts with a dead body on Vicki’s property.  The detectives working the case are trying to pin the case on her, but the Others realize what is happening and take it upon themselves to protect her. I love the interactions between Vickie and her boarders.  Her love of books and stories is an important bonding point when she becomes the Reader for the terra indigene in The Jumble.   Vicki’s friendly and caring nature helps her to make friends with most of the beings she comes into contact with, including the Lady of the Lake. 

     I couldn’t  believe that after all that has happened in this world anyone could be stupid enough to believe they stand a chance against  The Elders, but  Yorick and his associates are that stupid.  When Vicki’s ex husband arrives to attempt to steal the property out from under her, the friendships that she has developed become very important as she fights to retain her rights to The Jumble.  I loved Lake Silence, and if Sproing were a real place I would move there, open a shop and feed the Sproingers carrots. 

Publisher:  ACE

If you like this book you may want to read:

Sunshine by Robin McKinley

Wild Country (The World of the Others) by Anne Bishop