Down There by the Train

Susan Merskey is freelance writer in London, Ontario.

When Levon Hawke is released from prison, the first thing he does is to
head to his old friend Sweeney’s diner. There he learns about the
unnamed and unnameable island where his cousin has offered him a job in
his bakery. After missing the only ferry, he sets off alone across the
frozen lake. Stumbling ashore at the wrong end of the island, he finds a
ruined house deep in a dark forest. From under the door comes a glimmer
of light. Behind the door awaits either his nemesis or his destiny:
tall, redhaired Obdulia Lamb, who is still grieving for her mother 10
years after her death. Obdulia’s father and her stepmother, still a
femme fatale at over 80 years old, try to involve Levon in a conspiracy
to cure Obdulia of her grief. But Levon has other plans.

Down There By the Train is filled with comic misunderstandings, magic,
and wistful romance. It moves at a good pace, while the many
misunderstandings add to the atmosphere without tipping over into the
world of pure farce. The quotations at the head of each chapter
emphasize the importance of magical potions in the story (it would be
interesting to know whether they come from an existing work or are the
creations of the author).

Kate Sterns’s first novel, Thinking About Magritte, received high
praise. This second book will be most appreciated by those who enjoy
gothic humor (which is somewhat lost on this reviewer) or a romance with
a difference.