Hello everyone! You all know how much I love books and reading. I am pleased, therefore, to share a book review with you periodically through TLC Book Tours. (I am provided with a copy of the book but am not compensated in any way for my honest review.)
Today I will be reviewing a mystery: Ashes to Water by Irene Ziegler.
• Hardcover: 394 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (June 16, 2010)
From the publisher:
Ashes to Water is a mystery/thriller, and Irene Ziegler’s first novel.
Set in the 1980s, Ashes to Water is an atmospheric story of a small-town Florida murder and one young woman’s reluctant involvement in its resolution.
When Annie Bartlett returns home to bury her murdered father, she confronts the woman arrested for the crime, only to discover reasons to fight for the woman’s acquittal. This pits her against her erratic and unwell sister, Leigh, whose very survival may depend on a guilty verdict.
Annie soon becomes snarled in the social and political dynamics of the town, a wrenching attraction to her old boyfriend, and the emotionally difficult business of sorting out her estranged father’s tangled past. Obstructing Annie further are “visits” from her mother, who drowned in Widow Lake when Annie was nine. As her attempts to solve her father’s murder lead to more bloodshed, Annie finds herself a suspect in a plot not of her making, and a threat to the town’s movers and shakers, suddenly very anxious to see her gone. When Annie’s father is finally laid to rest in the lake that claimed her mother, Annie glimpses in his sinking ashes the flashing glints of hope and healing.
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My review: I love nothing better than a good mystery. This story is beautifully written with an intricate plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. Ziegler grew up in Central Florida and her intimate knowledge of the area, the terrain and the climate is felt on every page. Her vivid descriptions of the small town and the house on Widow Lake are beautifully written. I felt as if I was smack dab in the middle of humid, sultry Florida.
The characters are richly drawn with hidden and not-so-hidden agendas. Each of them is an integral part of the plot and nothing is as it seems. The visits by Annie’s deceased mother are a wonderful plot device; through them we learn a great deal about her death and its effect on Annie and Leigh as well as how it shaped the sisters’ relationship with their father. As Annie gets more deeply involved with solving the mystery of her father’s murder, the tension escalates with the stakes becoming dangerously high. Ziegler deftly reveals each character’s darker side to us as the novel progresses. No one is good or bad; everyone is multi-layered in shades of gray.
I would have like to have seen a bit more text explaining Annie’s choices as to her conflicting romantic relationships that have already been made by the time we read about them in the epilogue. I was left wondering what had happened in the interim that brought her to those conclusions.
Though the murderer is found, Annie still has unresolved issues which gives me hope there might be a sequel. I was engrossed in this intricate mystery from beginning to end. This is a most impressive debut.
Some information about Irene Ziegler:
Irene Ziegler is the author of Rules of the Lake (stories) and Ashes to Water, both set in central Florida, where Irene grew up. An actor, she has had recurring roles or guest starred in many notable TV series and films. She is also the voice on your cell phone’s GPS, so kindly stop yelling at her. She lives in Virginia with her husband and a wolf-dog.
Giveaway: I have a hardcover copy of Irene Ziegler’s previous book, Rules of the Lake, to giveaway. The book is a collection of stories about the protagonist of Ashes to Water, Annie Bartlett. They take place during Annie’s childhood in 1960’s Central Florida. Just leave a comment to be entered and I will draw a name on August 16th.
Hi Claudia,
That’s great you liked the book. A love a good mystery myself, but must admit it’s along the lines of PBS Mystery/Masterpiece Theatre (I know, shame on me for not reading). Thank you for the review, I would definitely pick up the book after your review.
xo~Tracie
I’m always looking for a great book to read. Thanks. This one sounds good.
Sounds like a wonderful Summer read!
Pick me!
Chanticlear1@gmail.com
I absolutely LOVE a good mystery.
Always looking for authors.
Hugs,
Gerry
This sounds awesome, I’ve been looking for a good read. Going to order it from Amazon today!…
Karen.. wait! Don’t order it, you might win it!
Di
Such a well-written review!! The book sounds like a good one. Oh! I love that line about the author being the GPS voice– that cracked me up!
Have a wonderful day– hope you are doing well today.
Hugs,
Jill
Thanks bunches for the review. I read an entire novel yesterday which I do not normally do but I could not stop. I love a good mystery. hugs♥olive
GREAT BOOK REPORT, YOU GET AN “A”, GOOD BOOK TO TAKE TO THE BEACH, I JUST FINISHED DR. FRAU, BY GRACE H KAISER. IT’S ABOUT A WOMAN DR. WHO TAKES CARE OF THE AMISH PEOPLE. IT WAS A GREAT STORY, WILL PUT IT ON MY BLOG. TAKE CARE, RIZZI
Claudia, so sorry to have been a bad commenter recently – think the heat fried my already addled brain. I’d read posts and then be remiss in commenting as I went searching for ice or lemonade…or a satisfying cup of tea to keep me going through the murky humidity!
Anyway dear – I’m hoping Riley continues to stay well and I’m praying that your mother is doing better now that you are there to comfort her.
I’m not certain I even left a comment on the Romantic Homes article – if not sorry again – I have a sub. to the mag. and was so thrilled to see you there – lovely!
Off to Calif. myself tomorrow – last summer fling!
Take care dear – Mary X
What a wonderful review! Sounds like a fabulous book. Maybe I’ll be the lucky winner of this treasure!
Blessings,
Patty
Well look at you Claudia….you’ve been hanging out in all the best places! *grins* Congrats on being featured in Romantic Homes…what an honor! I too have been feeling overwhelmed & haven’t done much bloghopping so it was such a pleasant surprise to find you in this month’s issue.
Glad your mom & Riley are feeling better!
“No one is good or bad; everyone is multi-layered in shades of gray.” For me, those are the best kinds of characters – they are the ones that reflect what people are truly like in the real world.
I’m glad you enjoyed this one so much – thanks for being a part of the tour!
(no need to enter me)
Seriously? She is ‘the voice’? Oh I never yell at her, maybe poke fun a little, but never yell.
Thank you so much for review. It sounds like a great read.
I was so excited to see the feature of you in RH. So excited to say I KNOW HER!!!!
hugs to you from here
Hi Claudia~Thanks for the great book review. Sounds like a good book. Thanks for the generous give-away. Hugs, cory/dogwood
This sounds like a great read, with lots of plot twists and interesting characters. Good job on the review!
OMGosh! I have to read her books. I grew up in central Florida. I expect I’ll love her work.
Thank you for your insights and review of this intriguing book. I am interested in reading it because I live in Central Florida right now amidst the heat and humidity. How fun to read something set here and in a different era.
I’m a book lover and have a suggestion for you, A Reliable Wife, if you haven’t read it. I’m reading it right now for my book club and it is entrancing.
Thanks, I will be looking this one up!
Hi Claudia! Thanks for this awesome review of my book, Ashes to Water, and for sharing the prequel, Rules of the Lake via a giveaway! Betty Jo, I’m from DeLand. Where did you grow up? June, thanks for not yelling at my GPS voice. I’m told lots of people call me names, too. Sigh. And Karen, ATW is available from Amazon, so I hope you do order! Thanks, all of you, for your great comments and support of Claudia’s blog. Best wishes, Irene Ziegler
Thank you for this opportunity, Claudia.
This sounds great, and I will always be a Florida girl at heart. And, please don’t hold it against me, but I am a long time Yankee fan.♥
I hope you’re having a wonderful time with your family. Try to stay cool.
Sounds great Claudia, love a good mystery!
Thanks for the great review..sounds like a good book!
As a lover of books, please enter me.
sounds like my kind of book! What a wonderful review Claudia- I look forward to more!
Hello Sweet Claudia,
What a wonderful review and the Author came to visit to! How eciting!
I hope you are doing better Claudia. These bumps in the road are no fun. It’s our turn in life to worry about our parents. I wish I was there to give you a big hug!
I miss you…
Love,
Maryjane