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  • At the Water's Edge

  • By: Sara Gruen
  • Narrated by: Justine Eyre
  • Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (24 ratings)

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At the Water's Edge

By: Sara Gruen
Narrated by: Justine Eyre
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Publisher's Summary

The new novel from the best-selling author of Water for Elephants.

A gripping and poignant love story set in a remote village in the Scottish Highlands at the end of the Second World War.

After embarrassing themselves at the social event of the year in high society Philadelphia on New Year's Eve of 1944, Maddie and Ellis Hyde are cut off financially by Ellis' father, a former army colonel who is already ashamed of his colour-blind son's inability to serve in WWII.

To Maddie's horror, Ellis decides that the only way to regain his father's favour (and generosity) is to succeed in a venture his father attempted and very publicly failed at: he will hunt the famous Loch Ness monster, and when he finds it he will restore his father's name and return to his father's good graces.

In January 1945 they hitch a ride on a ship across the Atlantic while the war is still raging all around them. And Maddie, now alone and virtually abandoned in a foreign country, must begin to work out who she is and what she wants - the vacuous life she left behind or something more real?

What she discovers - about the larger world and about herself - opens her eyes not only to the dark forces that exist around her but to the beauty and surprising possibilities of life.

©2015 Sara Gruen (P)2015 Random House Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic Reviews

"I devoured this book. Sara Gruen has proven herself, once again, to be one of America's most compelling storytellers... You might be tempted to rush to get to the answers at the end - but don't - or you'll miss the delectable journey that is Gruen's prose." (Kathryn Stockett, bestselling author of The Help)
"If I needed a reminder why I am such a fan of Sara Gruen's books, her latest novel provides plenty. Unique in its setting and scope, this impeccably researched historical fiction is full of the gorgeous prose I've come to expect from this author. And even after finishing, its message still resonates with me: the monsters we seek may be right in front of us. In fact, the only fault I can find with this book is that I've already finished it." (Jodi Picoult)

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An absolute favourite.

Masterful writing. I read the paperback a few years ago before giving to friends so they could enjoy its magic. I never re-read books but I had to re-read this one!

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Great story

The narration of Justine Eyre took a bit of getting used to, the quivering of her voice Got on my nerves a bit. Putting that aside the story developed well and I enjoyed the building of characters. Madeleine was brought through the book with honesty and I felt true to someone of her background unable to push back against her world of bullies.

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