All her life, Nel Abbott has been fascinated by the Drowning Pool, the accused witches taken there to "swim" in olden days and the female victims found floating on its waters in more recent times. She's working on a book that will tell the story of these women and girls, a project that gives rise to strong reactions in her small town.
This is a suspenseful tale of "troublesome" women and the secrets around them that obstinately refuse to remain under the surface. It's told in short chapters, with the point of view switching among a host of characters (Nel's sister, her daughter, her neighbours, the investigating police officers); the use of either first- or third-person narration, I thought, made it dynamic and always interesting. The notion of fault, of who is to blame, becomes a recurring theme over the course of the novel. Plus, there's tension galore until the very last page!
This is a suspenseful tale of "troublesome" women and the secrets around them that obstinately refuse to remain under the surface. It's told in short chapters, with the point of view switching among a host of characters (Nel's sister, her daughter, her neighbours, the investigating police officers); the use of either first- or third-person narration, I thought, made it dynamic and always interesting. The notion of fault, of who is to blame, becomes a recurring theme over the course of the novel. Plus, there's tension galore until the very last page!
I borrowed this book from my local library.
Rating: ***
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