House by the lake

June 1933. The Edevane family's ancestral estate in Cornwall sparkles, ready for the long-awaited Midsummer's Eve party. Alice Edevane, a sixteen-year-old aspiring writer, is particularly excited. Not only has she come up with the perfect plot twist for her novel, but she's also fallen deeply in love. However, as the clock strikes midnight and fireworks light up the night sky, her younger brother vanishes without a trace, and soon after, the police find a close family friend dead. Unable to withstand such a crushing blow, the Edevanes leave their ancestral home forever. 2003. Detective Sadie Sparrow, after being forced to leave the London police, arrives at her grandfather's cottage in Cornwall. Accidentally discovering an abandoned house surrounded by thick woods and an overgrown garden, she decides to uncover the history of this house and conduct her own investigation. She is told about the missing boy. Meanwhile, Alice Edevane, now the author of popular detective novels, lives a reclusive life in her Victorian home in Hampstead, a life as meticulously crafted as her mysteries. But all this lasts only until Sadie begins to ask questions about the Edevane family's past, trying to untangle a complex web of secrets... "The Lake House" is a captivating novel about love, betrayal, and the mysteries that intertwine the destinies of two women, separated by time and family secrets. Azbuka Publishing House has released the novel in paperback, a convenient format that you can take with you. "Very interesting... Morton's plot is flawless, and her beautifully crafted characters... are no less surprised than readers by the unexpected denouement," — Publisher's Weekly. "Brilliant... All her books, starting with her debut novel "The House at Riverton," bring pleasure... An ideal read for almost everyone," — Library Journal. "A stunning story that must be read..." — Time Out. "Morton knows how to create dramas seasoned with tantalizing secrets," — Sunday Telegraph (UK).