Hopatcong Vision Quest by Steve Lindahl is an adult fiction book that takes place on the shores of Lake Hopatcong in New Jersey. Within only days of each other, two women drown on the shores of Lake Hopatcong and both are ruled accidents. But Diane, the grown daughter of one of the women, and Ryan, the husband of the other, aren’t convinced.
So begins a journey that will lead Diane and Ryan on a hunt for the killer and back in time to a Lenape village and a history neither of them knew they shared. With the help of friend, Martha and hypnotist, Glen, Diane and Ryan will journey through their past lives and follow a trail to justice. Together they will seek answers, uncover hidden truths and learn more about themselves.
Will Diane and Ryan succeed in finding the killer? And what if their past lives reveal truths they aren’t prepared to accept?
I was given a copy of this book for an honest review.
Lake Hopatcong is a real and beautiful place only a few miles from where I grew up, which is one of the reasons I agreed to review this book even though I very rarely accept unsolicited reviews. Ultimately, I was glad I did. Although, I was hesitant at first, I became intrigued with this idea of using a past life to uncover a murder in the present. It was neat to see how lives intersect and what traits are carried forward. I also loved this idea that certain events repeat in one life to the next. A very interesting concept and I think a good setting for it as well.
The story itself was great. I enjoyed the setting of the story and really enjoyed glimpsing the life of Oota Dabun and the small tidbits of how life was lived in a Lenape village. The story flowed really well and was a quick read. I didn’t feel like there were any loose ends and I was satisfied with where the story went.
That being said, there were times, mostly in the beginning and some parts in the middle, where I felt like I was being told what to feel and see, rather then being allowed to come to these feelings and ideas myself. That old writer’s adage of show don’t tell kind of applies here.
Overall, this was a good read that I am sure many will love, especially those familiar with the area. This one gets 3.5 stars from me.
That’s all for now!
-M-