Under the Lake by Stuart Woods

Under the Lake is a stand alone novel written by Stuart Woods early in his career... before his popular Stone Barrington and Holly Barker series.

John Howell is an unhappy middle aged man.  His career as an investigative reporter has ended and as an author he has lost his inspiration.  His marriage is on the rocks.  Defeated, he reluctantly accepts an offer to ghost write an autobiography for chicken entrepreneur, Lurton Pitts.  John’s brother-in-law loans him a cabin on a man-made lake in Sutherland, GA and off he goes to churn out the book in solitude.  But the locals take notice of him.  Gruff founding father, Eric Sutherland warns him to mind his own business and Sheriff Bo Scully befriends him but appears too interested in John’s business.  John’s closest neighbor, the Kelly’s consist of a psychic older woman with healing powers and four children all with genetic abnormalities.  She tells him he is there to avenge a wrong to her family and John begins to have dreams and see visions of a ghost from under the lake.  When John tries to find out more about the history of how Eric Sutherland bought up the land in the valley, flooded the farms, and developed the town, doors are closed in his face.  No one is willing to talk about the family who disappeared under the lake 35 years ago.

Meanwhile, Heather McDonald, a young reporter from Atlanta has infiltrated the sheriff’s office as secretary, Scotty Miller.  John knew her as a reporter from the Atlanta newspaper where they both worked but manages not to expose her identity.  She is in Sutherland incognito to follow a rumored tip that Sheriff Scully is into drug trafficking.  So the picture perfect town of Sutherland is not what it appears to be.

 

John and Scotty team up romantically and professionally to unearth Bo Scully’s indiscretions and to reveal secrets buried under the lake.  Together their investigation unveils conspiracy, paranormal activities, drug smuggling, interbreeding and incest and cover-ups to protect the secrets of the town of Sutherland’s sketchy origin.  John’s search for the truth puts his life in danger but at the end of the day, saves his life by giving him new purpose.

I’ve read a lot of Stuart Woods and have come to know him as a fluff writer... something light to read when none of my favorites are available.  I rarely bother to critique him.  The Stone Barrington series with it’s conversational style is entertaining but every book is the same with no intellectual stimulation.  Woods’ stand alone books, however, are more interesting and less predictable... like he actually did some research and put some thought into them.  Under the Lake is like that.  It demonstrates that Woods has a true story telling talent... developing likable characters and somewhat believable scenarios then peeling the onion one layer at time.... building the suspense... revealing the mystery.  A fun read.  I’m glad I ventured into his earlier stuff.