Dee Taylor – The Loch

‘The Loch’ by Dee Taylor is an atmospheric adventure thriller that is heavily laced with the ‘myth’ or even the ‘legend’ of the Loch Ness Monster and a treasure hunt to boot! It is an exciting read.

We are introduced to Ex-stripper Tina and her deep-sea diver boyfriend Jack. They are camping on the edge of Loch Ness, the plan being to have a relaxing time before moving on to Cornwall and a dream cottage for them both. As they get settled in the tent and their surroundings, Jack goes fishing to catch their breakfast but they get more than they expected.

They have a sighting of what they believe could be the Loch Ness monster. They decide to take a trip to the local Loch Ness monster museum, upon telling their tale they are taken to meet Red Angus, a man who has also seen Nessie. As they get to know one another Red tells them the tale of the missing Bonnie Prince Charlie gold. Treasure that was apparently lost after his defeat at Culloden. It is told that as he fled he passed the gold to a colleague to keep safe.

The story is that the poor man transporting the treasure was shot and killed while fleeing across Loch Ness and he went overboard, treasure and all. Jack, Tina and Red have ideas of how to find it so make a pact to find it together. The plan goes a little awry as Tina finds herself attracted to Red. The question is can these three put personal feelings aside and manage to solve the mystery of the missing gold, or will the Loch defeat them?

This is a book that had my attention as soon as I saw the cover. I fell in love with the colours used and knew I needed to discover this story for myself. I wouldn’t allow myself to say no to reading this story. The myths and legends of the story are ones that everybody have heard about and obviously there are still people who attempt to catch a glimpse of Nessie.

The three characters in ‘The Loch’ are all desperate people in one way or another and are searching for something. Something they can never find so they become almost addicted to the need to ‘sight’ Nessie or find the treasure. It becomes almost an obsession, something to focus on instead of their lacking lives. I found Tina’s story the one I could understand the most. With her background of stripping and drinking becoming a problem. All she wants is to love and be loved for being her. She craves a quiet, safe life with someone who treats her as an equal and not just the stripper they picked up last night. The chapter in which she is faced with the two locals, brothers who are very unsavoury characters, she dealt with that amazingly well and shows me her inner core of strength.

Red is a man of many layers and Dee Taylor has shown this throughout. His PTSD, his time being a mercenary and in the army. All the violence coming from this man who shows his tender side with Tina and when speaking about his family and childhood too. So real and such a damaged man. I felt for him as I read his story. The diving scenes wherein turn terrifying and tense. I am not a good swimmer and the thought of being so far underwater terrifies me! Dee Taylor played so well on my fears here.

The descriptions of the Loch and the surrounding areas were crystal clear. I have never, ever been to Scotland but I feel like I was with them. A beautiful portrayal by a man of many talents. It is a story that interested me both with Nessie and the treasure hunt too!

Thanks to Random Things Tours and The Conrad Press for my copy of this beautiful looking book.