I have a constant struggle when selecting mystery novels. I have read so many of them at this point, and my taste in novels is pretty consistent. As a result, oftentimes i find myself perusing the mystery department at Duane Reade, or Barnes and Nobles, and selecting books that seem intriguing. After I pay and go home, I will eagerly settle in to read my new book, only to discover that I have already read this particular novel! I guess because I read at least 2 or 3 a week, sometimes more, they all meld together and I forget about some. 

The disappointment I feel when things like this happen is so intense. I was excited to read THAT particular book, but now that I read the first couple of pages the entire plot has come back to me and the story is no longer fun. I will have to put aside my desire to read for the day and revisit the bookstore another time. 

After making this mistake more times than I would care to admit, i always read the first few pages in the store to make sure I don't already own the book. However, I have to wonder if this is a larger problem within the mystery novel industry, or if it is my own personal plight. Are all the mystery novels so similar in plot that they are forgettable? Or do i simply read too much of the same genre to really appreciate it anymore?

Mystery Review-The Lake Of Dead Languages

The Lake of Dead Languages, by Carol Goodman, is one of my all time favorites. My aunt read it with her book club and passed it along, knowing I would love it. This is one of the few mysteries that I am capable of re reading. Usually the second I try to re read a mystery I instantly remember who the culprit is, and am immediately disinterested.

The story is about a Latin teacher, Jane Hudson, who returns to the elite private school where she was a scholarship student to teach. She is in the process of getting divorced, and has a young daughter. The school, which is set on a lake, has had many tragedies. While Jane was a student, her two roommates, as well as one of her roommate's brother, died in the lake.

Now that Jane is back, more students are dying, and odd things seem to be happening. It is obvious that past events are linked to the current ones. Large chunks of the book are written in the present, while other chunks of the book are written about Jane's time as a student, and how her roommates came to die.

What makes this book so intriguing is that the protagonist knows the everything about why her roommates died as she was present at the time that they were killed. As a result, she is able to fill in any holes or questions a reader may have as the story progresses. But she knows nothing of what is going on in the present, so the reader has the opportunity to figure that out with her.

By the end of the novel, a very dark, yet believable story, has unfolded. The culprit is someone that no one would ever suspect, someone who has links to both the past and the present, and who also has a motive that makes sense. The story is full of intrigue, drama, well developed characters, love affairs and growth. It is a fabulous read that anyone who enjoys fiction could easily appreciate.