Dancing Above the Waves: 07/29/08

Dancing Above the Waves by Susan Wallerstein reminds me of a mixture of Out of the Fog by Joseph C. Lincoln (1940) and The Player by Michael Tolkin (1991). The "Player" this time is Jack "Scooter" McCalister, the owner of a Boston magazine. Like Griffin Mill who has the death of a writer hanging over him, Jack McCalister has the hit and run death of Carrie Roberts haunting him.

It's the location, Clary's Cove, along the cove near Boston and being somewhat like any number of fictional spots between Boston and Cape Cod that reminds me of Lincoln's mystery (also based around a hit and run).

Set during the late fall and early winter, Dancing Above the Waves takes full advantage of Boston's weather. The angry sea and turbulent winds play such a strong role in this romantic thriller.

Although the main focus of the novel is the fall out from Jack's crime, Dancing Above the Waves also looks at how the accident affects his mistress, Erica. She is one of a number of witnesses to his hit and run but decides to protect him even though his actions puts her feelings for him into doubt.

Dancing Above the Waves is a short, 213 pages, but intricate and intelligently written book.

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