Summer House with Swimming Pool
by Herman Koch
Hogarth, 2014
387 pages
source: ebook borrowed from library
Summary (from Goodreads):
When a medical procedure goes horribly wrong and famous actor Ralph Meier winds up dead, Dr. Marc Schlosser needs to come up with some answers. After all, reputation is everything in this business. Personally, he's not exactly upset that Ralph is gone, but as a high profile doctor to the stars, Marc can't hide from the truth forever.
It all started the previous summer. Marc, his wife, and their two beautiful teenage daughters agreed to spend a week at the Meiers' extravagant summer home on the Mediterranean. Joined by Ralph and his striking wife Judith, her mother, and film director Stanley Forbes and his much younger girlfriend, the large group settles in for days of sunshine, wine tasting, and trips to the beach. But when a violent incident disrupts the idyll, darker motivations are revealed, and suddenly no one can be trusted. As the ultimate holiday soon turns into a nightmare, the circumstances surrounding Ralph's later death begin to reveal the disturbing reality behind that summer's tragedy.
My thoughts:
So dark and full of tension, Herman Koch knows how to make his readers squirm! This novel features a creepy, unreliable narrator, many unlikable characters with questionable moral values, and a gripping, twisted story. I was pulled in right away and read the book in two sittings.
I'm looking forward to his new book, Dear Mr. M: A Novel coming in September.
My rating:
I am positive that I read this book but I see it nowhere in my reviews. Hmmm. Maybe I gave up on it? I don't think so. Maybe I just forgot to write the darn post!
ReplyDeleteTi - This doesn't seem like the type of book you'd give up on. I'm guessing you forgot to write a post ;-)
DeleteThought the name Herman Koch was familiar. Enjoyed reading The Dinner in 2013. Will have to put this one on my list and watch for the new one in the fall. Current stack to read from library is knee high to a giraffe, 😆
ReplyDeleteJudyMac - This book brief was a little too brief (I'm trying to write a few sentences about several books before leaving for a couple of weeks)... I enjoyed The Dinner, too, and remember reading it on the train to NYC. We sure got there quickly! ;-)
Delete2 sittings! I wouldn't mind a book that pulls me in and won't let go and I've been wanting to pick up The Dinner for awhile. This sounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteKatherine - The Dinner was wonderful, too, and I read that in just a sitting or two. Koch writes such dark stories!
DeleteSounds like my kind of book!
ReplyDeleteKathy - Yes, this pulled me right in... almost against my will, lol!
DeleteSounds fun and I was trying to think why the author was familiar - THE DINNER - which is on my Kindle and which I haven't read. He's good at divisive, tension fraught circumstances, isn't he? Putting this one on the list.
ReplyDeleteKay - I meant to mention The Dinner (flew through that one, too)... this book brief was a little too brief ;-)
DeleteLooking forward to his newest too
ReplyDeleteNise' - I imagine it will be just as creepy!
DeleteLoved this one and The Dinner, yes both books made me squirm😬
ReplyDeleteDiane - I can't think of another author that makes me squirm like that.
DeleteVicki - Definitely good, but in a creepy sort of way.
ReplyDeleteWow...interesting!
ReplyDeletePatty - And also a little creepy... these people are awful!
Delete