The Lake of Dead Languages: A Novel

Carol Goodman

Dec 2005 · Sold by Ballantine Books

About this ebook

“A gothic and elegant page-turner.”—The Boston Globe

Twenty years ago, Jane Hudson fled the Heart Lake School for Girls in the Adirondacks after a terrible tragedy. The week before her graduation, in that sheltered wonderland, three lives were taken, all victims of suicide. Only Jane was left to carry the burden of a mystery that has stayed hidden in the depths of Heart Lake for more than two decades. Now Jane has returned to the school as a Latin teacher, recently separated and hoping to make a fresh start with her young daughter. But ominous messages from the past dredge up forgotten memories. And young, troubled girls are beginning to die again–as piece by piece the shattering truth slowly floats to the surface. . . .

Ratings and reviews

This is a beautifully crafted story with descriptions of scenery and people so well done, they do come to life for the reader. It moves at a nice pace filling in blanks from the past and in the present. I did not give it 5 stars only because it becomes obvious who is the villain of the present day mystery too early in the book.

A difficult book to visualize, but we enjoyed the suspenseful nature and the intrigue. We spent some time discussing the inconsistencies, though.

This book has always been one of my favorites

About the author

Carol Goodman’s work has appeared in such journals as The Greensboro Review, Literal Latté, The Midwest Quarterly, and Other Voices. After graduation from Vassar College, where she majored in Latin, she taught Latin for several years in Austin, Texas. She then received an M.F.A. in fiction from the New School University, studying under Rick Moody, Francine Prose, David Gates, Amy Hempel, and Peter Carey. Goodman currently teaches writing and works as a writer-in-residence for Teachers & Writers. She lives in Long Island.