Today dear readers I am on the blog tour for The Loch (Published Jan 2021) By Dee Taylor. A big thank you to the publisher Conrad Press for sending me a copy to read and review, always appreciated. Also to the lovely Anne for the invite, you make being a part of this wonderful community magical.
The Loch
The Loch is set on the shores of Loch Ness. It’s a harrowing, unforgettable tale of courage and romance, unfolding between the backdrop of the Scottish Highlands and in the murky depths of the loch itself.
With drama escalating in suspense, this entertaining and thrilling novel is the story of a former stripper from the Aberdeen clubs emotionally torn between two men: a deep sea diver from the oil rigs and a highlander with a violent and tragic past.
There is greed and horror in a search for Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite gold within the ever-present menace of the fabled creature of the Loch.
About The Author
Dee Taylor is now a professional artist, after spending most of his career in the advertising profession as art buyer at two of London’s top ad agencies. His many artistic achievements include designing a now famous flag for the Romney Marsh area of Kent in south-east England. Dee’s other passions are angling and Loch Ness.
My Review
Pack your bags dear reader because we are going on a trip that will change everything you thought you believed about the mythical legend that is the Loch Ness Monster.
The story takes place in the Scottish Highlands mid summer of 1967. Told in third person we follow former Stripper Tina and her deep sea diver boyfriend Jack Armstrong as they escape to Loch Ness for a 3 week camping holiday. Their relationship lately has become frail and they hope that getting away together for a while will save it. They plan to travel to Cornwall after, get married and start a life together. However things don’t exactly go to plan and soon talks of monsters and gold begin to challenge just how much they are willing to risk.
Taylor has created some interesting characters with dark, disturbing backgrounds. The three main characters Tina, Jack and Red Angus have all had their fair share of pain. The more you learn about them, the more you wish them to succeed.
Tina is reminded frequently of her past life, the men she slept with and how she would drink to block out the memories. She is used to being pestered and pursued by every kind of riff-raff and dirty old man while she was working in Aberdeen. She hated the thought of ending up like so many other strippers trapped in that way of life which would eventually lead to prostitution. She had to stop drinking as it began to have an effect on her mind, struggling to sort out truth from fiction in her everyday life. She dreamed of settling down with the right sort of man. When Jack told her his feelings she grabbed at the chance. He was her way out, her escape but was unsure if she really loved him. She feels conflicted as she starts to have feelings towards Red Angus and starts to question everything.
Jack has been diving professionally for 10 years and dreams of settling down far away from the North Sea and its oil boom. He wants to settle in Cornwall with Tina and start up a small freelance diving business. He gets jealous about her past and the amount of men she’s slept with but pushes it to the back of his mind. His hopes and dreams of a happy married life drastically change when he and Tina witness something unnatural while fishing on Loch Ness. With a new sudden desire to learn more and possibly catch the monster Jack wishes to stay, which leads them both down a dangerous path that changes everything for the couple.
Red Angus is a striking character that towers over you from the moment you meet him. A gentle giant when happy he can become dangerous when angered or drunk. He has lived by the Loch for seven years camping on the bank, surviving on fishing, hunting and growing his own vegetables. He is the best expert on the Loch Ness phenomenon and has his own theories on the creature. He has a secret past with whispers of once having a family and drinks to forget. Upon meeting Jack and Tina it becomes clear that it’s not just the Loch that will get between the unsuspecting couple.
Taylor surrounds the reader with the towering mountains, high moors and the Loch. The depths of the murky water are never-ending as you feel a sense of foreshadowing doom the further you dive into this tale. The sheer size of Loch Ness is enormous, giving off a feeling of isolation and danger. I found that Taylor took an intelligent approach to including the Loch as its own entity, showing the reader that the Loch has many moods and that you have to learn to know them. There were scenes when the sun would be shining on its mirrored surface and the smell of delicious outdoor cooking filled the air. Then it would drastically change to the dead of night when the cold and darkness would surround you, sending shivers down your spine. Figures crept about and watched the characters from the shadows. It was a drastic change and one that kept you in suspense. Fantastic writing!
I give The Loch By Dee Taylor a Five out of Five paw rating.
You will be left gasping for air, scared for your life and wondering just what does live in the famous Loch Ness?
There are many, many heart stopping moments throughout this book. Moments when you are terrified for all three characters, willing them to fight, survive and find what they are all so desperately looking for. It’s an intense, chilling read that will keep you hooked from start to finish. You may also find yourself tempted to do your own little bit of digging and discover the mysteries of the Loch Ness Monster and Charlie’s Gold.
Don’t forget to follow the rest of the blog tour, dates below, enjoy!
Links
Buy a copy
@TheConradPress
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Bunny’s Pause 
Hugest thanks for the blog tour support xx