• Author: Sara Gruen
• ISBN: 9780385523233
• Publisher: Spiegel and Grau
• Genre: Historical Fiction

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Water for Elephants, but when I started At the Water’s Edge, I thought it might end up being a DNF.  I hated Ellis, Hank, and Maddie.  They’re spoiled American rich kids without a clue about reality and they decide to make a trip to Scotland to get proof of the Loch Ness Monster during WWII.  As the story progressed though, I found myself being more and more forgiving of Maddie, who comes off as more naive than anything else, and hating Ellis with a passion.  Hank is just an arrogant idiot, but Ellis reminded me of Pete Campbell from “Mad Men”, who reminds me of a supervisor I had many years ago.  I had the urge to snarl every time Ellis came into a scene.  The story and the setting are what got me past the point of only seeing them as people to be despised, except for Ellis of course, and I was grateful that the story began to focus on Maddie more than the other two.  I won’t give away the ending, but I will say that I was happy with it, even if a couple of the events were a bit convenient.

This is another solid, quality story from Sara Gruen.  The pace, plot, ease of reading, and the development of Maddie’s character all make this book worth reading past the beginning.  If you enjoyed Water for Elephants, you love any story that takes place in Scotland or during WWII, or you’re a fan of Historical Fiction, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book.