This is the story of John and Kathy Wade, and what may or may not
have happened to them at a summer cottage in Minnesota. All we know
for certain by the end of the book is that Kathy has disappeared
(dead? lost? runaway?) and that John has driven off into the lake
to find her. This is one of the better-structured books I've ever
read. John is a Vietnam vet, a failed politician, a practitioner of
magic. Through evidence and flashbacks, O'Brien unveils him to be a
complex man, with many dark secrets in his past. O'Brien uses these
techniques well, and makes every hypothosis he presents seem
plausible. This book is a very satisfying read and it will keep you
guessing for years to come.