In the Shadow of Lakecrest

by Elizabeth Blackwell

[kalventure]

"It never occurred to me that Matthew had secrets of his own, that we'd both been modeling our best selves for the other's admiration."

Madness, secrets, and the burden of marrying into a powerful family. At its core the story is a feminist one, and its setting in the Jazz Age with the cultural rebellion against society makes for an interesting tableau for an ambitious woman seeking a future beyond her station. But money doesn't buy happiness, and Kate finds out that those with money have issues of their own.

It felt like there was a lot of exposition in the last 10% of the book. Blackwell is a talented writer, but this story could have been tightened up a bit more so that there would have been some more exposition earlier in the book (which I acknowledge for a mystery is difficult to do). I am most bothered by the multiple plot points that were left unanswered, particularly the kiss. It seemed disingenuous that Kate wouldn't confront Matthew about it. It seemed that the kiss served merely as a means to get Kate into the labyrinth for a weird mystical storm...