Rating: 
Summary: Haunting
Review: A very, very good book that is hard to put down. Well written with an awesome ending. All of Cook's books are worth reading.
Rating: 
Summary: This book is almost as dull as Zia Summer.
Review: As a short story, the plot would be interesting. But as a long novel it repeats itself - from father to cottage to teacher, to black pond. At the end you say "who cares" and go looking for the latest Kaminsky or Kerr publication. If Cook deserved the Edgar it certainly should not been for this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Best Mystery In Years
Review: Books like this don't come along very often. Cook is a true master at plotting. His words flow as if he were using a brush on canvas. This novel is a work of art. I feel lucky to have found it.
Rating: 
Summary: The faux elegiac tone of the book grew tedious.
Review: By chapter three, author had beaten into the reader that Something Bad was Going to Happen. By chapter six I wished it had happened and that this book was a novella! This is a book full of character that are difficult to like or feel sorry for, and the constant flashbacks wore me out.
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent, wove me into its human web
Review: Cast a spell throughout and never underestimated my experience with reading mysteries. I kept believing I understood what the ending would reveal, and it still didn't change my interest in discovering every word. A novel with rich character development. This writer tells the human tale, displaying a mature, sensitive management of the male AND female experience. Now I have to read Cook's earlier works.
Rating:
Summary: Another good read from Mr. Cook
Review: Cook writes a ckassic five act trgedy with the bizarre twist in the fifth act that unravels the lives of everyone. A novel with its own rhythm, I would not recommend it to some who likes one seat readings.I compare it to Stoppard's "Rosencranz and Gildenstern Are Dead" in that a third party observes and ultimately misinterprets the actions of the main story and by doing so destroys everyone. A thoughtful piece that is worth investing aa few sittings to fully enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: A Five Act Tragedy
Review: Cook writes a ckassic five act trgedy with the bizarre twist in the fifth act that unravels the lives of everyone. A novel with its own rhythm, I would not recommend it to some who likes one seat readings. I compare it to Stoppard's "Rosencranz and Gildenstern Are Dead" in that a third party observes and ultimately misinterprets the actions of the main story and by doing so destroys everyone. A thoughtful piece that is worth investing aa few sittings to fully enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: I would like Cook to change his story line and style
Review: I have been a fan of Cook for a long time. I think he is a terrific writer--but, the type of story he has written in his last 5 or 6 books is getting a bit worn. They are the same; a person (or writer today) looks back, usually at a single event, often led up to by a series of mysterious circumstances, that occured 40, 50 or 60 years ago to try to determine why it happened, or who really is guilty of this long forgotten crime. In each story, unbelievably, ALL the people are STILL AROUND who can help the central character solve the mystery. No one seems to have moved away, or died, or whatever, that would impede the solution. And peoples memories of little insignificant (but not to the solution) events are invariably perfect to enable the crime to be solved. I don't understand Cook's "devotion" to this type of novel. It is totally unrealistic, and at times the flashbacks are confusing. Some people might even say, "who the hell cares about a 60 year old crime". We're not talking about Judge Crater here. I would like to see Cook get back to novels like "City When It Rains", where his talent showed--and he has talent.
Rating:
Summary: SUPERB! CHILLING! SLOW TORTURE!
Review: I have never read a book quite like this one. The carefully planted allusions so cleverly woven through the story were subtle but perhaps all the more powerful because of it. A very stunning story without the gore and violence of Koontz, King, etc. You don't just want to know about the deaths but also HAVE to know why the survivors turned out as they did. Note that there is a beautiful use of language...ironically lyrical for such a chilling story. A lot of the phrasing merits re-reading. I am truly glad I found this one.
Rating:
Summary: A great book!! One of the best!!
Review: I loved this novel! The story and the characters were outstanding and the pace was pretty good. The plot revolves around a mystery that happened in the 1920's (book takes place in the 90's) that is still having an affect on some people. In 1926 two teachers at Chatham were involved in a forbidden romance which lead to some very disturbing incidents in May of 1927. The writing was dark and depressing at times and the novel did slow down in the middle a bit. However, the characters were wonderful and I felt myself rooting for the various players at one point or another. When I can to the end of the book, I was left speechless and stunned. This indeed is one of the best book out there. I highly recommend this novel!!
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