The Loch by Steve Alten Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Loch
Book Review: Don't Go Near the Water; For God's Sake Don't Take a Sheep
Summary: 4 Stars
A fast-paced summer read with an intriguing "science fiction based in fact" tone. If you are a cryptozoology buff or simply an Alten groupie, you won't be disappointed with "The Loch," as the author moves seamlessly from action scene to Scotland's historical foundations to actual eye witness reports.
This would be a great book for that long vacation car ride, airport wait, or lounging by the pool. Still, you might want to rethink taking it on a boatride. One thing I found annoying was the author's insistence on using phonetic spellings to imitate the characters' Scottish burr, causing this reader to slow up to decipher character conversations. It did, however, lend a tone of authenticity to the writing.
The author clearly has done his homework, incorporating the latest theories of the illusive monster's pedigree. The story line has screenplay written all over it, and I found myself casting the characters as I went. Don't really care who plays Zack, but will someone please get ahold of Sean Connery to play the wily Angus?
All in all, a satisfying page turner that sheds new light on one of the world's most famous denizens of the deep.
Book Review: Excellant Book!! Ten out of Five Stars!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was absolutely marvelous! It reminded me of Jurassic Park with the scientific information, although the information wasn't thrown at me like I was some scientist. In other words, I was written so that a semi-intelligent reader could grasp the concepts without having to do some in depth research other his or her own to fully understand what was being addressed.
Additionally, this book heightened my interest in Loch Ness. I look forward to reading it again.
Book Review: Excellent Story - pulled you in and kept you there...
Summary: 4 Stars
As I always enjoy Steve Alten's books, I looked forward to his newest adventure. Having been to Inverness and been to Loch Ness, I was excited to read about it. He did not disappoint. This was an excellent novel, full of twists and turns. I was pulled in from the beginning and couldn't put it down. One of the things I like best about Steve's characters is his ability to make the hero/heroine flawed. These are people with problems, issues, sometimes very serious ones. It makes the characters believeable.
Once again, a terrific read by Steve Alten!
Book Review: Excellent blend of fact with fiction...
Summary: 5 Stars
A quick and excellent read. I will give nothing away here, but you must read this book. Like Domain, I had spent countless hours researching fact on the internet as well as reading the book at the same time. This is another excellent piece of work from Steve Alten. The lead character Zach Wallace does seem to have distant relationship to Jonas Taylor from the Meg series. Read those books also!Book Review: Fast Paced Thriller
Summary: 4 Stars
The author of "Meg" does it again.
The book combines real science (look up "Navy bloop" in Google...chilling), with a fervent imagination. Throw in a love story, a sub-plot about a murder trial and a father-son relationship that needs some serious mending and you've got "The Loch."
The book crackles from the very beginning where marine biologist Zachary Wallace has a near death experience at the hands of a giant squid. The incident leads him to lose his job at Florida Atlantic University. He turns to the bottle until a half brother he never knew shows up to inform him that his estranged father is up on murder charges in Scotland. Despite his misgivings, Zachary goes to show support until he finds out the whole "support" thing was a ploy; they need him to provide evidence that the Loch Ness monster was behind the killing.
What's interesting about the book is the real life investigation the author, Steve Alten, undertook to write the story. His analysis is so in-depth, that the author claims he has figured out what the actual creature in Loch Ness lake really is. Whether that is true or not or publicity to sell his book, well, you decide.
Overall, a great read. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is at times the murder trial slowed the pace down and I know it was meant to lend authenticity, but the Scottish accents were at times a pain to read. Generally speaking, though, if you like Micheal Crichton, you'll like Steve Alten.