Book Review: Boy in the Water

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Boy in the Water     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Stephen Dobyns
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Psychological Suspense   Thriller
Metropolitan, Jun 1999, $25.00, 320 pp.

The match seemed like a natural when the board hired him. Bishop’s Hill Academy, a prep school for troubled children, appears close to losing its accreditation and the faculty seems unqualified for the tasks the teachers face. A year has passed since the tragedy that killed Jim Hawthorne’s family. He needs to return to work and this run-down school near nothing seems perfect. The semester already has started when Jim heads to New Hampshire as the new headmaster of the troubled school.

Rumors about Jim abound, especially that he came here to hide from an unsavory past. Jim tries to ignore them, but the staff expects him to start firing people. As he struggles with the fear and loathing aimed at him, a murder occurs that spins the school on a path of destruction that threatens everyone, including the school.

Stephen Dobyns is highly regarded by fans of non-stop thrillers and his latest novel, BOY IN THE WATER, is an enjoyable addition to his list of superb novels. Though entertaining and similar in plot design to the masterful THE CHURCH OF DEAD GIRLS, the tale does not capture the foreboding excitement of the latter story. The culprit is obvious from almost the start, taking away much of the suspense. Jim is a warm character who uses work to overcome his grief and guilt (mostly for being alive), but his new problems seem contrived. The school staff and students provide intriguing insight into a remote prep school. Overall Mr. Dobyns has written an exciting thriller that will please fans, but may disappoint others because the previous tale raised the bar of expectation to incredible levels.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner