For Iris Greenfeder—all but published, all but a professor, and all but married to her boyfriend of ten years—the sudden impulse to write a story about her mother, Katherine, leads to a shot at literary success. The piece recounts an eerie Irish fairy tale her mother used to tell her at bedtime—and nestled inside is the sad story of her mother's death, a strange, untimely end in a fire thirty years ago. When Iris returns to the remote Hotel Equinox in the Catskills, the place where she grew up, to write her mother's biography and search for her mother's missing manuscript, she unravels a haunting mystery that threatens to envelop her.
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"I loved the interweaving of the selkie fairy tale with main story line. It's whetted my appetite for other ethnic fairy tales like that one and others briefly told during the course of the book. I also wish I could read the fantasy novels written by the heroine's mother." — Gwenne (4 out of 5 stars)
"I loved the interweaving of the selkie fairy tale with main story line. It's whetted my appetite for other ethnic fairy tales like that one and others briefly told during the course of the book. I also wish I could read the fantasy novels written by the heroine's mother."
“Seduction enchants with its fairy-tale motif and sensuous atmospherics.”
“Truly a seductive reading experience…Grabs the reader on the first page and holds on for the entire journey.”
“An atmospheric thriller, but a smart one with a racing story line.”
“Like the best mysteries, The Seduction of Water offers puzzles and twists galore but still tells a human story.”
“[A] taut thriller…another home run for Carol Goodman…The Seduction of Water combines folk tales and gothic horror with a thoroughly modern story…Though this is the kind of book you’ll stay up late reading, don’t go so fast you miss the beautiful lyrical writing.
“Mystery, folklore, a thoroughly modern romance, a strong sense of place, and a winning combination of erudition and accessibility make this second novel a treat.”
“Goodman establishes herself as a writer to watch in the field of literary thrillers. Sure to be in demand in most public libraries.”
“Gripping…Entrancing…A completely involving mystery cleverly tied in with several fairy tales.”
" another great story...i hadve also read this one a few times. "
" This had a WAY weirder plot then I was expecting, which kept me reading, but in the end I totally felt I could have led my whole life without reading this and been THAT MUCH BETTER for it. "
" Excellent author and good story. Good quotes. Setting-NY retreat area. Mysterious. Love story in it too.. "
" Good mystery/ thriller.... definately a page turner.. i really enjoyed it. "
" wasn't as good the second time around -- the protagonist seemed like an idiot. Still, I love the fairy tales and how Goodman weaves them into the story. "
" I did like this book once I got into it. I struggled in the beginning - I think most of her books give a lot of info to digest. I did like the parallel story. I would definitely pick up another Goodman book if I was in the mood for a mystery. "
" I definitely identified with the "ABD" status of the protagonist. The story is engaging and has a nice twist at the end, although the variations in tone (sometimes almost gothic; other times reminiscent of young adult fiction) were vaguely distracting. "
" wasn't very interesting until about halfway through, story wasn't going anywhere before that point. didn't care much about the characters but did want to see what happened to them - mainly out of curiousity not concern. "
" Carol Goodman","0345450914","review","Not seduced!!! All the twists & turns lead to loopholes and loose ends. Still looking for a thrill "
" Well I enjoyed what I heard but the audiobook was defective and all the paper copies have been withdrawn. Not sure it was good enough to warrant waiting for an ILL copy, but we'll see if it is available. "
" I loved this book. It's use of fairy tales, the mystery, the language... It seemed to have such an abrupt ending after the long build up. The rest of the book, however,was very enjoyable. "
" This one had some fine moments, but I found it just a little too unbelievable. Entertaining, though. "
" Okay, maybe being a mermaid in another life contributed to my love of this book. I couldn't put it down and as a writer it sparked so many ideas and alternate stories in my head that I loved it! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book. REad it! "
" I loved this story. I enjoyed all the fairy tales how they mirrored the life of the characters. "
" Quite enjoyable and the story picked up speed as it went along, but not a must read. "
" Just an okay story. A bit much at the end of the story! "
" Good book. I enjoyed the fairy tales and the hotel setting. Made you feel like you were right there looking at the views. It's a mystery with a love story. "
" I LOVE Carol Goodman. All of her books are hard to put down and leave you wanting more. "
" Enjoyable book with good characters. The "mystery" part was a little obvious, but it's so well written that you don't really mind. "
" I loved this book. The language Goodman uses is amazing, and the characters are interesting and complex. I enjoyed the back story, and seeing the main character learn of her families history. "
" I love this author and I'm reading this book again to refresh my memory on her beautiful storyline and wonderful writing. "
" A well-crafted thriller with a beautiful use of language. "
" Love this author. She does a great job creating a unique story. "
" Loved this book. Great mystery and great story. Goodman writes so vividly you can see the beautiful dress and jewelry that become the centerpiece of this mystery. "
" To date, this is my favorite book by Goodman, but I like all of her books! "
" A really good book. It has been awhile since I have read a book I didn't want to put down. This one is one of those. Great mix of fairytales intertwined within the story line. Glad have found this author, now reading one of her other books. "
" carol goodman writes another great mystery. what can i say, i am truly a fan! "
" An entertaining and fast-reading mystery. I liked that it was set in beautiful Hudson Valley, New York. "
" Don't usually like a "mystery" type thing but this is an wonderful read... "
" Good--Hotel in NY, writer's mother dies mysteriously years ago "
" I go back to this book every couple of years just to revel in the grace and vividness of her language. Plus, it's got romance, mystery, menace, and Celtic folklore. I loved it. "
" I thoroughly enjoyed this book and wish I could remember where I got the suggestion. Anyone? "
Carol Goodman (a.k.a. Juliet Dark) is a critically acclaimed literary suspense writer. Her novels have won the Hammett Prize and the Mary Higgins Clark Award and have been nominated for the Dublin/IMPAC Award and the Nero Wolfe Award. After graduating from Vassar College, where she majored in Latin, she taught Latin for several years in Austin, Texas. She then received an MFA degree in fiction from the New School University, where she teaches writing.
Christine Marshall is an actress, director, and designer living in Portland, Maine. She teaches for the Maine State Ballet and produces plays with her theater company, Mad Horse. In addition to audiobooks, she records the online version of the New Yorker.
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