the edge of madness
Phoenix is a gardener. After high school, she started working for a local gardener, and she found that she liked it. Even better, she was good at it. And after several years, she was good enough to lead the team on the famous Rosecliff grounds.
Marguerite Gray is a gardening influencer whose family goes back to the Astors. Although she was cut off from the family fortune, she still has a gorgeous house and a large social media following with her videos and content. She’s also famously in a world class painting by Serge Kuhnert, Marguerite by the Lake, which they occasionally loan out to museums.
Marguerite holds a big party in her garden for the launch of her latest book. Phoenix has never read any of Marguerite’s gardening books, but she was invited to the party. And it’s lucky that she was, because the rain storm pounding the tent loosened a large tree that was near the cliff’s edge. And it was Phoenix who noticed it starting to fall.
Phoenix jumped into motion, interrupting Marguerite’s speech, but getting everyone out of the tent to safety. And when Marguerite’s husband Geoffrey goes toward the tree instead of away, it’s Phoenix who again jumps in and pushes him out of the way. He ends up on the ground with Phoenix on top of him, but they are out of the way of the falling tree that could have killed them, that could have killed many of the guests.
That moment after the tree came down put ideas into Phoenix’s head about Geoffrey, and when he bandaged her hand after she dropped her clippers, it turned into a kiss. And that turned into more. And when Marguerite stands too close to the edge of the cliff to take a photo of the sunset, Phoenix notices and tries to convince her to move away from the cliff. It’s where the tree had been, and they hadn’t yet stabilized the area yet. Marguerite refuses to move, and Phoenix tries to grab her arm. But instead Marguerite pulls back, losing her footing and falling over the edge. Phoenix panics and leaves.
In the months that follow, Phoenix grows closer to Geoffrey. And when they need some help with Marguerite’s gardening videos, Phoenix steps up with content they can post. She even helps put together her latest book, sorting through hundreds of photos to finish the chapters for all of Marguerite’s fans. Phoenix even moves into the house, taking over Marguerite’s place almost entirely. But that famous painting is still over the fireplace, and Phoenix can’t help but feel her speaking to her through that painting.
The police investigate Marguerite’s death, asking questions of her family and anyone who was in the area that night. Phoenix asks her brother to lie about what time she went home, but she can feel the detective circling her. And Marguerite’s daughter, just out of law school, resents Phoenix for moving in on her mother’s life the way she has and also has a lot of questions about what happened the night Marguerite died. Phoenix stops sleeping and starts losing weight, but she’s determined to hold her ground as long as she can. But as the ground gets shakier, so does her hold on reality.
Marguerite by the Lake is the second novel from Mary Dixie Carter. It’s a haunting story of guilt and ego, and the problems that come from coming too close to the edge of hubris. It’s dark and suspenseful, weaving a story of two women who come from vastly different backgrounds but who both struggle to remain relevant. It’s artistic and atmospheric, a creepy tale of madness looking for a literary take on modern horror. I am a fan of Carter’s writing, and I enjoyed this book a lot. I thought it told a powerful story of the dark side of human nature, and while I didn’t love the ending, I did think it was appropriate for these characters. It’s not the justice I would have chosen, but it was justice all the same. Overall, very satisfying and a fascinating read.
Egalleys for Marguerite by the Lake were provided by Minotaur Books through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.
