Dreaming of Water by A J Banner

 

My thoughts

Another mystery thriller by one of my favorite authors. Dreaming of Water is very intriguing and will keep you guessing. I did not guess this one correctly. I usually do but not this time. 

When a child dies it can destroy a family. It can put a wedge between the parents. Unfortunately. In this story you get to know about a little girl who drowned in a shallow pool. Her young life ended tragically and no one knows exactly what happened. Nina was only three years old. Her older sister Astrid was babysitting her while their parents were at another party. Seems their mother loved going so their dad always took her. This night was a bit different though. Tragedy hit.

When one child is left behind and blamed for the younger child's death it's heartbreaking. That is how Astrid always felt. Her mother blamed her. But was her mother innocent? Was their dad innocent. Were the neighbors who had the fancy party innocent? Somewhere in this one of the people was or possibly was responsible for a young child's death. One of these people did not do the right thing resulting in a child drowning. Was it murder or neglect? 

This is a story of a loss so horrible that it affected two families. A whole group of people. A young teen who always felt responsible for her little sister. Her sister, Nina, was a runner though. She would get away from any one of them and off she would go. Astrid lived most of her life feeling responsible. Even losing her own marriage because of her fear of not being a good mother. 

Astrid came back to see her Aunt Maud per her request. She had told her she had evidence of something sinister happening the night Nina died. But when Astrid got there her Aunt was unconscious on the floor in her office/library. The story takes off from there and you learn quite a bit about each character. You try to piece together what could have happened that night. What you think may have happened. I'm betting you won't guess though. It was a bit of a surprise to me. Not that it didn't enter my mind but I just didn't dwell on that scenario at all. 

I like some of the characters in this story but have to be honest. I despised Rose. Rose was Astrid and Nina's mother. I know she lost a child and was grieving but she still had a child left who she really didn't treat right before the accident. She was not that great of a mother to Nina. Yes she loved Nina but she put herself first always. I didn't like her. I also didn't much care for their dad. He should have been there for his oldest daughter too. He wasn't. I absolutely adored Astrid's Aunt Maude. She was such a sweet person. I think she tried to see the good in everyone. She reminded me of my own grandmother when I was growing up. Always there. Yeah I liked her very much. I also liked Connor. He seemed like a winner. Trent... No so much. 

Thank you #NetGalley, #AJBanner, #LakeUnionPublishing for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book. 

Four huge stars. Grab it and enjoy.

Synopsis

A woman’s investigation into her past reveals family secrets and lies in this novel of discovery, redemption, and the mutability of memory by the bestselling author of The Good Neighbor and In Another Light.

Astrid Johansen swore she would never return to Heron Bay, Washington. In that idyllic coastal town, her little sister, Nina, drowned in a reflecting pool under Astrid’s watch seventeen years ago. Though guilt has kept her away, Astrid can’t ignore her aunt Maude’s urgent plea to come back. Maude claims to have found a letter that will change everything about the past.

When Astrid arrives in Heron Bay, she finds Maude unconscious, perhaps the victim of an attack. As Maude lingers in a coma, Astrid uncovers alarming evidence that Nina’s drowning that tragic night was no accident. But in a town rife with secrets, and in a family still fractured by grief, who knows the truth?

Astrid’s investigation leads her down a trail of dark memories, lies, and betrayals that will shatter her perception of everyone she thought she knew—even herself.