Something strange is going on in the town of Soap Lake, Washington. On the lake of the same name, miniscule life forms are not behaving like other water microbes, and that's why Abigail's husband Eli was sent to study them. He was given a grant to continue the work of his predecessor, who suddenly packed up her twin toddlers and bolted out of town, leaving her husband to try and connect some dots.
Eli and Abigail married and landed in the tiny desert town after selling their homes in Denver. She expected small, but was shocked to realize how small-no creature comforts, not even the world's largest lava lamp, as promised in the town's promo materials. They bought a house with an extensive basement where Eli could test his water samples against those taken 17 years ago from the lake. Something in the water promoted healing, and after World War I, many vets flocked to the town to heal their wounds, But the effects of the lake seem to be changing now-could it have something to do with the apple orchard outside of town?
After three months, Eli was given the six-month grant of a lifetime, unfortunately the site was in Poland. Sure that he could work both grants if Abigail would stay in Soap Lake and feed him information, he left her to her own devices in a town where she knew no one and had nothing to do but walk the lonely desert each day. One day she saw an animal in the distance running straight towards her. As it got closer, she saw that it was a little boy in blood-soaked pajamas who hurled himself toward her and wrapped his arms around her knees. Thus begins the story of Treetop, the town bogeyman, and the various murders, coverups, and mayhem committed in his name. Abigail soon finds herself in the middle of a small town drama even weirder than Washington State's famous Twin Peaks. But this one's for real.
This book was a quirky unexpected treat, absolutely the cure for those tired of rehashed genre lit. As we follow Abigail's interactions with the locals, we become wrapped up in their hopes and dreams, and realize that just because a town is small, doesn't mean its problems are necessarily also small. A well-written, original story, with a satisfying ending...watch for the obligatory Netflix series!
Reviewed by Donna Ballard
April 15, 2025
Reserve a physical copy - Coming soon
No comments:
Post a Comment