This week’s Friday Fiction Feature is from Charlie Tyler talking about The Cry of the Lake.
Have you ever
pressed ‘post’ on social media and then realised, even though you’ve checked it
several times, you’ve still managed to spell something wrong? That
sinking feeling is how I want you to feel when you read this psychological
thriller brimming with misunderstandings and unfixable mistakes.
Writing and editing
during Covid-19 has meant that, at times, it has been hard to keep focused and,
although The Cry of the Lake was finished before this period of
isolation, I think it reflects the unrest we’ve all, at times, been struggling
with. All of my characters are trapped in their own little worlds; one of
the characters, Lily, has an embedded memory as well as having locked-in
speech. The language I use evokes that same panicky feeling of being
caught inside a vivid, but surreal time warp – like being on the inside of a
snow globe looking out at the world. What you see on the surface; the
cosy English pubs, the summer fetes, the quaint lakeside cafés and the sunshine
will draw you in, though you won’t be able to leave until you’ve discovered
what made Grace the monster that she is. In a time where people of
authority are saying one thing but doing another; this a thriller just right
for 2020 and beyond; where you should no longer assume that what people in
power tell you has a shred of truth to it.
A murder is
committed and, though you know exactly who is responsible from the first paragraph,
I have three strong, distinct, female voices all taking it in turns to tell you
their side of events before you pass judgement on their actions. And,
although my anti-hero Grace presents herself to you as a completed jigsaw
puzzle, throughout the story I dismantle her until you are left with the one
solitary piece which explains her motives. There is an all-important
twist, but it’s up to you to decide whether it’s enough for you to sympathise
with her behaviour. I hope you’ll read it and share with me your views
and, despite the trail of mayhem and murder, I would like to reassure you that
it is also a tale of love, friendship and ultimately hope.
A gruesome discovery unravels a dark trail of murder and
madness…
The Cry of the Lake is a psychological thriller set in an
idyllic English village, where, despite tranquil appearances, the relationship
between two families is about to turn toxic.
A six-year-old girl sneaks out of bed to capture a mermaid
but instead discovers a dead body. Terrified and unable to make sense of what
she sees, she locks the vision deep inside her mind.
Ten years later, Lily is introduced to the charismatic Flo
and they become best friends. But Lily is guilt-ridden – she is hiding a
terrible secret which has the power to destroy both their lives.
When Flo’s father is accused of killing a schoolgirl, the
horrors of Lily’s past come bubbling to the surface. Lily knows that, whatever
the consequences, she has to make things right. She must go back to the events
of her childhood and face what happened at the boat house all those years
ago.
Can Lily and Flo discover what is hiding in the murky waters
of the lake before the killer strikes again?
Author bio:
Charlie signed with Darkstroke in May 2020 and The Cry of
the Lake is her debut novel.
Charlie is very much a morning person and likes nothing more
than committing a fictional murder before her first coffee of the day.
She studied Theology at Worcester College, Oxford and now lives in a
Leicestershire village with her husband, three teenagers, golden retriever and
tortoise.
FB: @Charlietylerauthor
Twitter: @CharlieTyler17
Insta: @charlietylerauthor
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