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Paradox Lake

Review

Paradox Lake

PARADOX LAKE serves as a display case for yet another facet of author Vincent Zandri’s multiple talents. It is somewhat of a slow-boil tale with multiple twists and turns that merrily and in some ways violently yank readers to unexpected places with nary a narrative misstep.

Zandri’s latest thriller begins with an unnerving and memorable prologue before settling into what appears to be a somewhat domestic vibe. The balance of the novel is narrated in the first person present tense by Rose Conley, a sculptor and teacher who is also the single mother of 12-year-old Anna. We meet Rose as she is packing up her car for a three-month cabin stay at Paradox Lake, a remote location in the Adirondacks, with Anna. We learn in short order that Rose lost both her oldest daughter, Allison, and her husband, Charlie, in separate incidents.

"[PARADOX LAKE] is somewhat of a slow-boil tale with multiple twists and turns that merrily and in some cases violently yank readers to unexpected places with nary a narrative misstep."

It is also inferred that Tony, Rose’s loving boyfriend of several years, is perhaps a bit clingy. He seems to spend a little too much time bending his elbow at a local tavern to ease his disappointment over the fact that his writing career isn’t the success that he feels it should be. While the purpose of Rose’s trip is ostensibly to connect with Anna before those dreaded teenage years hit and to work on her sculpting, a need to perhaps take a break from Tony’s somewhat overbearing mannerisms is also subtly noted.

The cabin at Paradox Lake appears to be just what Rose needs, and the surrounding environs provide her with an interesting situation when she meets Tim, the older, quietly competent proprietor of a local market and general store. Tim is helpful without being intrusive or obtrusive, and Rose finds herself attracted to him. They move around each other in more frequent and ever-shrinking circles while Rose deals with her feelings of guilt over what she regards as her emotional betrayal of Tony, who senses that something is up even though he is miles away.

Readers of Zandri’s work should be assured that one of their favorite authors isn’t going all warmly and fuzzily romantic on them. The normal dangers that Rose and Anna might encounter in the woods aren’t limited to the four-legged variety. They are being observed with bad intent by a presence that manifests itself in steps and stages, going from odd and strange to flat-out dangerous. Rose is anything but a shrinking violet, while Anna is not exactly defenseless either. However, they are all but outgunned, and their hunter has the advantage of years of experience and planning. If mother and daughter are going to survive their stay at Paradox Lake, they will have to rely on surprises from both within and without.

Zandri has a grisly way with words that manifests itself fully in the book's descriptive narrative. For those who are perhaps new to his work, the wonderful folks at Oceanview Publishing suggest a place to start catching up. That said, longtime fans will find in PARADOX LAKE yet another reason to seek him out as once again he exceeds the expectations he has created.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub on May 22, 2021

Paradox Lake
by Vincent Zandri