David V

This was an interesting blend of mystery and a love story. Although the fate of one of the main characters was evident from the begining, the author used some clever flashback techniques to keep the reader in suspense and involved in the plot. A key element was the English manor which the protagonist had recently acquired. I could almost feel the drafts, mysterious noises and long-dead inhabitants of the huge, isolated mansion. The characters were interesting and realistic, some quite intriguing and eccentric. I recommend this book for fans of interesting plots, WWII history and English landscapes.

This book started out with a bang, literally. Based on the beginning I thought it would be an interesting read, but something seemed to be missing. It gave a good depiction of life in rural Arkansas and focused on a somewhat dysfunctional family. Some of the characters were interesting buy many seemed to be part of the plot just to fill gaps in the narrative. One of the characters was particularly well-drawn. He was a truly evil person who another character described as "Satan's stepson". The story moved along but became somewhat boring and predictable. I also felt the title is misleading since, for me, Samuel Lake is a rather minor, under-developed character. The story never really seemed to reach it's potential as an interesting novel.

This is a good read for anyone who enjoys mysteries, political intrigue and historical fiction. Set in Elizabethan England, it draws a very good portrait of the ambiance and architecture of London at that time. Most of the buildings in the story are located along the River Thames, which is portrayed as one of the principal avenues of transportation through the city. The characters are very well drawn and emphasize the international flavor of the novel, representing Britain, France, Italy, Scotland and Spain. Plot elements include religious and political conspiracy, black magic and visions of the future (thus the title). Although this is a work of fiction I feel that I learned many things about the period that I hadn't previously known. The plot is very interesting - just when you think you've figured what is going to happen next, it doesn't.