The Loch by Fran Dorricott (eARC Review)

Format Read: eBook

Source: NetGalley

Publisher: Avon Books UK

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction

Publication Date: 16th March 2023

Synopsis/Blurb (Taken from Goodreads):

“Twenty years ago, three young women disappeared, never to be found. The rumour to this day is that their bodies are still hidden deep within the murky Loch Aven.

When Eleanor, Clio and Michaela find themselves rained out of a camping trip in the Scottish countryside, they have no option but to book the mysterious house nestled on the banks of the lake. But little do they know that history has a way of repeating itself.

As secrets in the tightknit community begin to surface, and Michaela suddenly disappears, it becomes clear that something sinister is at play. And now it’s a race against time to unravel the mystery before the dark waters claim their next victim.”

My Thoughts

The Loch follows three friends who find themselves at a remote house on the edge of a Scottish loch, after they are washed out during a weekend camping trip. The play is perfect with a stunning view, however, when booking they weren’t aware of what happened at the loch over 20 years, when three people disappeared.

The first half of the book sucked me in with its atmospheric and well described eerie setting and details, however the second half was a little slower and I felt it lost its steam. The story jumps back and forwards between three disappearances that occurred in the past to present day. At first I wasn’t a fan of this but it helped to build a picture and help understand some of the folk lore’s that are interwind into the story.

There are plenty of twists even though I did work out a few quite early on. As I mentioned the second half was slow in terms of the plot but it’s the main characters in the present that made me carry on to the end, as I really wanted to find out what happened to them.

Overall this was a meh read for me but I definitely haven’t been put off by reading more from this author in fact I already have a couple of this authors previous books on my TBR shelf.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers Avon Books UK for my eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts.

My Rating