The Drowning People

Interesting premise. The story is told in flashback by an elderly James Mason. Right from the outset, we know that he has killed his wife Sarah, and the story builds up slowly to explain why.

Richard Mason writes elegantly, but I felt that he had a tendancy to use far more words than necessary. Also, most of the characters in the book were deeply unlikeable, and Ella, one of the main characters, came across as a self-absorbed, spoilt brat, whereas I suspect the intention of the author was for her to come across as some kind of tortured soul. Also some of the plot just didn't seem credible.

Nonetheless, this book does have some good points, and I did enjoy it, despite myself. I liked how although this is a murder mystery of sorts, it show more turned the genre on it's head, by identifying the murderer on the very first page - the question then becomes why did her murder her, rather than who murdered her?

Considering the young age of the author when he wrote this book, it is a real achievement, but rather than being a brilliant book in itself, it suggests promising future works from Richard Mason. show less

Astonishing lush gothic novel of love, betrayal, and murder told by an elderly narrator recalling events in the 1990s that drove him to murder in the mid 21st century. None of the main characters are particularly appealing but they have kind friends who show that this distaste is a deliberate authorial construct. My only complaints are that the ambience is interwar 20th century and that the complex cusp of the narrator's motive for murder seemed too abrupt.

Another example of a fine book which would have been so much better with fewer pages. Mason has a tendency to want to hold your hand and explain everything to the reader. I'm not spoiling anything my saying that the narrator has killed his wife so the entire book is spent explaining what led up to that event. However there is a big twist near the end that I did not see coming at all and I did enjoy the story.

Another example of a fine book which would have been so much better with fewer pages. Mason has a tendency to want to hold your hand and explain everything to the reader. I'm not spoiling anything my saying that the narrator has killed his wife so the entire book is spent explaining what led up to that event. However there is a big twist near the end that I did not see coming at all and I did enjoy the story.

A news item upon its first publication (when the author was only 17 and still at Eton), this novel has polarized opinion among readers. Some have called its story of romance, passion and deadly revenge shallow and contrived; others find in its tight plotting, overblown atmosphere and Gothic elements a satisfying escapist brew for a winter's evening.

On the whole I admire THE DROWNING PEOPLE as a tremendous feat for one so young. However, I have to say that Mason erred in setting the action in the present day: he'd have made the prevalent snobbery, the gay themes, and the denouement far more convincing had he set the majority of the action in the 1930s, when parties were scintillating and one's social class really mattered. Nonetheless, show more a promising start and, despite the disappointment of his second novel US, I'd like to see more from this writer. show less

Title: The Drowning People:A fatal web these people weave.

The Setup (Overview):

James Farrell sits in the house that he shared with his wife for the last forty years. In the next room his wife lies dead, the gun she put to her head still in her hand. To anyone walking in it looks like a obvious case of suicide. In the coming days there will be questions of why. James will play the grieving husband tell the police and his family that he has no idea why his loving wife would take her life and that everything seemed fine. No one will doubt him. No one will ever think that a murder took place.

The real story though is much more complicated. The events that created this night started nearly 50 years earlier. In James's own words he tells his show more story of young love, jealously, betrayal and tragedy.

The Story(Some Story Details):

The story starts in London during the late 1980's early 1990's. James Farrel is ready to begin his life. He's just graduated from college and is looking forward to pursuing his passion for classical music. Of course his parents have a different idea and think that this is a waste of time and that he will never be anything in life with this choice.

After one of the regular arguments with his parents James goes on what has become his usual cool off routine, a long walk in the park. On this particular night though James notices a woman sitting on a bench wearing a black party dress, smoking a cigarette and staring off into to nothing. Eventually the woman notices him, he jogged by ten or so times, and starts up a conversation. The woman's name is Ella Harcourt. They talk for a little while longer and soon the woman walks off into the night.

James can't get her out of his mind though. When he thinks all hope is lost and he will never see Ella again he is invited to a party where he glimpses her again. The two soon sneak away to have another conversation. It turns out that Ella is engaged to be married but is unhappy with her life and feels that she is bound by traditions to behave in a certain way. James urges her to reconsider and reveals that he has feelings for her. Ella refuses to listen and storms away, telling James to forget her and move on.

Yet he doesn't. Soon events start to fall into place and it seems that the two may be able to have the happy future that James foresees. He doesn't know though that he has entered into a web of jealously, secrets and lies. He doesn't know that one small choice will alter his life forever and cause a tragedy that he spends fifty years trying to forget. He doesn't know that he is merely a pawn in his wife's long and deadly game.

Conclusion(My Overall Opinion on the Story):

The Drowning People was one of those books that I picked up on a whim. It's not the usual type of book I read but I figured I would give it a try as the description sounded interesting. I'm glad I did as I was surprised by how the story presents it's main twist as the opportunity for another character to carry out their plan, which results in another story twist, even though that one is kinda of predictable. The book is kind of slow until all the characters are presented and the stage is set, a little less than halfway through the book, but after that point the story picks up speed and you can feel the characters are getting caught up in events that they are quickly losing control over. In any case the ending is definitely worth getting too.

All in all I recommend this to anyone who likes murder mysteries that are complicated or those that like murder / romance mysteries. m.a.c show less

This was an amazing book to read. I often during reading reflect on the choice of front cover and on this occasion it added to the overall experience. I found the book very moving and one of the few over the years that I would contemplate reading again at some point. I was touched by how sad some of the characters' stories were and how they seemed to have a relevance to moments of my own life and others I know. Not to the extent where I know people who have been in this exact situation but that the emotions experienced echoed other incidents.

At times the prose became a challenge to follow and I lost the thread of the plot - but this did not happen often. I instantly warmed to the characters and found myself forgetting about Sarah, his show more wife mentioned in the prologue. It was a plot full of twists and turns, designed to fool the reader like a good thriller should. The characters are easy to relate to. I can't say I warmed to all of them but each was unique and brought something special to this tale.

During the novel there were moments where I wanted something pacey to happen (this was the times where I lost my thread) and Richard Mason would simply 'drop' something into the plot that made me sit up and think had I missed something? I hadn't but it was great for refocusing me on what was happening.

Towards the end it became clear who was responsible for what had happened but I still needed to know 'how'. I was captivated right to the very last full stop and I genuinely did not want my reading to end. I found it very difficult to put down and in fact read long into the night to finish it.

A beautiful piece of writing with a poignant title reflecting on each of the characters. A moving front cover that even raises a sad smile as I type this. show less