The Water's Lovely

The Water's Lovely

Adult mystery
"Heather showed no fear, no emotion of any kind. She stood with
her arms hanging by her sides. Her dress was wet, clinging to her
breasts. No one spoke then, neither in the reality, nor in the dream.
Neither of them said a word until their mother fell on her knees and
began crying and laughing and babbling nonsense."
Normally the words "The water's lovely" or great or nice or any
other synonym are uttered under the most benign of circumstances.
You're standing near a body of water or swimming pool, unsure of
whether to enter. An already immersed friend is trying to persuade
you that you won't freeze your tush off. But in Beth Rendell's The
Water's Lovely these usually innocuous words acquire a far more
sinister meaning.
As a teen Ismay had gone school uniform shopping. She and her
mom had returned to find her sister, Heather, in a wet dress and
shoes. Upstairs stepfather, Guy, lay drowned in the bathtub. It was
agreed that when the police arrived Heather would say she had been in
the shopping group. Guy's death was ascribed to natural causes.
Ismay had serious doubts. Guy had been indulging in marginally
inappropriate behavior with her. She had actually welcomed his
advances and wanted him to go much further. But Heather had caught a
glimpse of an incident and seemed very disapproving. She could very
well have killed Guy to protect Ismay.
When we catch up with the girls as adults, Ismay still has her
doubts and nobody to discuss them with. Her mother fell apart after
Guy's death. Now she is an invalid, alternating between radio
listening and Revelations quoting, sometimes not even recognizing her
own daughters. Boyfriend Andrew is self-absorbed, domineering, and
far from faithful.
Ismay feels that she has more reason than ever before to figure
out if her sister is guilty. Heather has attracted Edmund, a very
serious suitor and decent human being. Unknowingly marrying someone
who kills to protect those she loves could land him in a living
nightmare. But if Heather is innocent it would be cruel to steal her
chance for happiness.
Ismay makes a tape of what she knows and suspects in an attempt
to arrive at a conclusion. Then her attention is diverted by a crisis
in her own life.
What if the incriminating tape gets into the wrong hands?
Mystery lovers who like their novels populated by very unique
characters with complex stories will find The Water's Lovely to be a
must read.
On a purrrsonal note, looks like we're starting our weekend. It's
been a good week for me. I received my textbook. Jodi installed zoom
on my laptop. I should be ready for statistics. I just wish it was
not online. I so miss the excitement and comaraderie of being on
campus. Drag shows, work, classes in person, protests, activities,
hanging out. I was able to make up the backpacks for the neighborhood
kids. This will be an at home weekend for me. The first in quite
awhile. Eugene is at the old house today. The weather for tomorrow
looks too unsettled for a drive. But I've got plenty to do here.
(Jules)
I will be up to my usual which, other than having my hooman home to
take care of, is amazingly similar to my prepandemic usual (Tobago).
A great big shout out goes out to the lady who donated the school
supplies for the kids, Jodi who installed zoom, and Emily who
transported my laptop as well as my library books. And Eugene of
course.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway



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