Caragh Reviews // Enchantment Lake by Margi Preus

Published - 11th March 2015
Publisher - Minnesota Press
Format - Kindle
Synopsis - A disturbing call from her great aunts Astrid and Jeannette sends seventeen-year-old Francie far from her new home in New York into a tangle of mysteries. Ditching an audition in a Manhattan theater, Francie travels to a remote lake in the northwoods where her aunts’ neighbors are “dropping like flies” from strange accidents. But are they accidents?
On the shores of Enchantment Lake in the woods of northern Minnesota, something ominous is afoot, and as Francie begins to investigate, the mysteries multiply: a poisoned hot dish, a puzzling confession, eerie noises in the bog, and a legendary treasure that is said to be under enchantment—or is that under Enchantment, as in under the lake? At the center of everything is a suddenly booming business in cabin sales and a road not everyone wants built.
To a somewhat reluctant northwoods Nancy Drew, the intrigue proves irresistible, especially when it draws her closer to the mysteries at the heart of her own life: What happened to her father? Who and where is her mother? Who is she, and where does her heart lie—in the bustle of New York City or the deep woods of Minnesota? With its gripping story, romantic spirit, and a sly dash of modern-day trouble (evil realtors and other invasive species), Enchantment Lake will fascinate readers, providing precisely the charm that Margi Preus’s readers have come to expect.

Like most people I think, what attracted me the most to this book was the absolutely GORGEOUS cover! You can't deny that this cover doesn't immediately grab your attention and shout 'read me'. I hadn't heard of Preus before and so i'm totally unfamiliar with her writing style and whether this is her preferred writing genre etc so I have nothing to compare it to.

In total honesty, this book had what I like to call 'Darren Shan Syndrome'. By that I mean that as I was reading it, I really wasn't that impressed but by the end of the book I had been caught hook, line and sinker. I don't get through many books these days but I actually finished this in just 2 sittings.

When I requested it for review, I didn't even read the blurb so I went in completely unaware of what to expect. What I found was a cute little mystery novel with an appealing main character. Francie is young, yet sassy and I love that. She takes it upon herself to go out to the lake where her Aunts live and see if she can uncover the mystery going on there. Enchantment Lake is full of mysteries and secrets. If you can imagine a picturesque little island with weird and wonderful residents then you're already 70% familiar with this book.

It wasn't a particular surprise when the answer was revealed at the end but strangely that didn't seem to take anything away. It definitely wouldn't surprise me if this is part of a series as a lot of the book seemed taken up with getting to know Francie and the people around the lake. Plus after the events of Enchantment Lake, I would really like to know what happened next with the bones, the lake, the Aunts etc. It was just a little cute read really and i'm glad I got the chance to read it.