Under the Lake

UNDER THE LAKE may be Stuart Wood's all time best. All the elements of mystery fiction are present with the mystery, crooked cops, people with power and plenty to hid. The impounded waters of a private electrical generating facility cover many secrets. John Howell's retreat to write a biography of a minor businessman and escape from his floundering career and crumbling marriage turns to disaster as the bottle claims his life. But Howell is haunted by a ghost and the image of a house buried under the lake.
Read and enjoy, this one will make the Stone Barrington series seem like formula writing. It puts Stuart Woods in the ranks of Barbara Kingsolver, Phillip DePoy and others who write of the Appalachian hills and Corp of Engineers flood control projects.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS and QUALIFYING LAPS.

I recently finished Under the Lake by Stuart Woods. I was so disappointed. I knew that this is one of his older books, so I am willing to give him some leeway...but oh my...what a disappointment. The story line was somewhat interesting, but he characters were so unbelievable. Running from a drug dealing crooked cop and you take a nap??? Seeing ghosts in your house and you aren't even concerned??? Every woman you meet ends in a sexual conquest??? Researching a possible mass murder, complete with incest and dirty cops and you are torn by your responsibility to write about a Chicken Franchise owner??? Please...was this a mystery or a comedy. I recently bought three other books by Stuart Woods but I'm afraid to even start them.

This was another great novel by Stuart Woods. I started out listening to the Stone Barrington novels on disc and finished them all with enjoyment. Then I started on Woods' other novels and was delighted to find they're excellent...every one of them has been a wonderful ride. This particular novel is quite good with well-developed characters and great settings. From an interview with Woods, the novel was developed from a friend's true experience with a seance...that gives you an idea of the type of story this involves. Excellent...I'd recommend it...a mixture of mystery and Stephen King thriller. You'll love it!

I do not know how in the world this novel was on the New York Times bestseller list at one time. Somebody must have been paid off, gotten a kickback, or was simply bribed. The writing & plot was simply childish. The story was contrived and boring. I've read better Nancy Drew books! Save your time. Save your money. Pick something alse....Anything else to read!

Stephen King has some comments on the back of this book and he does as good a job of describing it as I ever could - he calls it "Part detective story, part ghost story, part Southern gothic." That pretty much describes it.