The drowning tree (edition 2005)

Really liked this one. Skimmed a few art descriptions, but it was a good mystery and story-line. Will read more of hers.

Carol Goodman is an author I always expect to like, due to her style and subject matters, but I have found myself a bit disappointed on a couple of occasions. Unfortunately, reading The Drowning Tree is one such occasion.

The story is about Juno McKay, a glass restorer undertaking work on the Lady Window at the college which she had attended 15 years previously. The book starts with her best friend, Christine, giving a lecture on the window and some new information she has found about its origins. When Christine is found dead in the local waters, Juno wonders if there is more to the story than she at first thought.

The story is certainly appealing, but for some reason I found it to be slow and long-winded. It never picked up pace enough for me to become engrossed in it. A bit of a disappointment for me personally, but I am coming to realise that Carol Goodman may not quite be an author for me. ( )

This novel contains all the elements that reverberate through Goodman's work: single mother and teenage daughter, historical mystery, academic institution with a potentially dark secret, and mysterious works of art. Carol Goodman can write a cracking good mystery, and she's done it again here. Reading Goodman means that I can be sure I'm getting a good page-turner, that I'll be taken in with suspense, and that I'll be rushing to get to the end to find the solution to the mystery.

Those praises accounted for, I must also mention that this is my third Goodman novel, and the formula is getting a bit worn. The plots are always well-constructed, but the cast of characters and the love story are always so very similar. The main character is always a single mother, an artist or academic interested in the arts. I'll keep reading Goodman's books, but it's starting to seem like an exercise in diminishing returns. I first read The Lake of Dead Languages, and thought it was brilliant. I'm not sure that The Drowning Tree (or Arcadia Falls, which I've also read) are lesser books, it's just that they're starting to seem repetitive.

This particular story relied on the descriptions of some rather complicated architecture, including a sunken garden. I sometimes found it quite difficult to visualize these features, and they are integral to the plot. Goodman has the ability to visualize complicated and dramatic landscapes, but they're not always easy for the reader to recreate.

All of this said, I will continue to read Goodman's books, but I'm hoping that some of her other works will offer some new elements. ( )

This is the second book by this author I have read and enjoyed. (The first was Arcadia Falls) The descriptions are beautiful, the characters fully realized. The main character is sympathetic without being annoying and her personal history draws the reader in. Goodman delves into what could be a touchy subject for some - mental illness - without judgement and with an appropriate mix of understanding and detachment. I enjoyed the format as well - heroine falls into mystery without really wanting to be there and solves it.

The best part of Goodman's stories however is the history. In The Drowning Tree the reader not only enjoys a well-paced plot but also an education in Pre-Raphaelite art and stain glass restoration. Goodman's description not only of the art but of the surrounding area (Hudson Valley) makes me yearn for a trip to paddle down the river. Her descriptions are vivid and breathtaking without being overwhelming.

The one problem I had with the book is that in basic format, and plot and characterizations, it is very similar to Arcadia Falls. Though I thoroughly enjoyed both works, I was hoping for some variety. Goodman's writing is so good however, that I am overlooking this to read another work by her with the hope that something shakes up. I would, and have, recommend her as an author, regardless of which book you pick. ( )

When I started this book, I was looking forward to a good mystery - something that really pulled me in from Page 1. I will say that this book captured my attention with the Hudson River backdrop. Goodman did an excellent job with the setting; she truly made me smell the water and see some of the old buildings and statues in my mind's eye. There was a good mystery to this story as well. I confess that I'm generally always interested when family secrets and mental institutes are involved, and this book was no different!

But... I wish there didn't have to be a 'but.' First of all, there were a few typos that were fairly obvious. Typos in books annoy me especially because one of the major themes was literature (poetry and mythology). This leads me to my next point. The obsession with literature and art was overwhelming and gave the mostly lyrical and lovely prose this heavy, forced feeling. I thought that area was simply overdone. Maybe those that can truly appreciate Greek mythology and individuals like Dante would enjoy this theme more than I did.

Overall, if you are looking for a mystery with strong romance ties maybe you should grab The Drowning Tree. You also might like this one if you are a fan of classical literature and poetry as well as this genre of art. I really liked the style that Goodman employed, and I definitely plan to get my hands on more of her work. As for The Drowning Tree: it was good but not great. ( )