It’s 1958 and Vivienne George is due to marry Howard Woollcott III in the finest society wedding of the year. But when she realises she can’t marry a man she doesn’t love, she flees, with the help of her Uncle Felix, to Barrington Downs, a small town in tropical North Queensland.
Hidden away in a secluded lodge, Vivienne spends her days swimming in the beautiful lake nearby and getting to know kind Owen Monash, her only neighbour for miles. It may seem like the perfect place to escape her troubles, but there’s something about this mysterious lodge and the lake outside which put Vivienne on edge.
When she meets Josie Monash, Owen’s sister, she learns of Celeste Starr, a beautiful movie star who tragically died in the lake and spawned a curse that has plagued the girls of the town ever since. When Josie decides to stage a play about Celeste, with Vivienne in the lead role, it sets off a chain of dark events… Is there any truth in the legend of the girls of Lake Evelyn? And how will Vivienne find the life she’s always wanted when her past comes back to haunt her?
Last year Averil Kenny released her critically acclaimed debut Those Hamilton Sisters, an irresistible story of family secrets, love and sisterhood. It was a big hit with BR readers, who simply could not get enough of the fabulous Hamilton sisters and the gorgeous Far North Queensland setting.
After the success of her first book, I had high expectations going into Kenny’s second, and I was definitely not disappointed – no sign of the dreaded second novel syndrome here! The Girls of Lake Evelyn is a gripping story about a runaway bride who escapes to tropical North Queensland, where she finds herself in a town with a mysterious past of its own. It’s a richly imagined work of historical fiction, perfect for readers who enjoyed Those Hamilton Sisters as well as fans of Fiona McIntosh, Judy Nunn and Natasha Lester.
The novel follows the perspectives of two very different, yet equally impressive heroines. There’s the fabulous Vivienne George, a society bride who seeks refuge in the town after jilting her husband-to-be. Then there’s local farmgirl and aspiring actress Josie who plans to bring the theatre back to town and lay to rest the curse of Lake Evelyn. When their paths cross, both women become fast friends, and a warm story of female friendship soon ensues.
Like Those Hamilton Sisters, The Girls of Lake Evelyn is also set in lush, tropical Far North Queensland, which is brought to life in exquisite detail, informed by Kenny’s own experiences of living in the area. Lake Evelyn itself plays a central role in the novel, and Kenny does an excellent job of capturing its beauty while also examining the mysterious secrets lurking beneath its surface. Woven throughout the novel is the mystery of Celeste’s death and what really happened to the girls of Lake Evelyn.
Filled with drama, romance and intrigue, The Girls of Lake Evelyn is an enthralling read that is sure to win Kenny a slew of new readers. If you’re looking for the perfect book to escape with, this is it.
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