The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff (February 01,2008)

Trigger warning: The book contains murder, perverse sex (only 1 or 2 chapters), violence and slavery.

Willie Upton is an archaeology student who shamefully returns to her hometown of Templeton, fearing that her academic career is over because she's pregnant and attacked someone. Back at home for her mother's help, Vi confesses that she lied to her about her father. He's is someone in Templeton. With one clue, Willie distracts herself from her collapsing world by doing what she does best: researching.

I loved that the author kept the genealogical hunt interesting by delivering the information through different media, such as letters, hidden documents and with the help of a librarian who was in the know about some of the gossip.

At the same time Willie returns home, the rumored lake monster of Templeton is found dead, its body floating on the lake's surface. The monster adds a lot of peculiarity to the atmosphere of this book along with the founding families of the town. We learn a great deal about Templetown and its characters then and now. The multiple perspectives allow us to see the town from all angles. The author, Lauren Groff, did an exceptional job in worldbuilding, and I love that there's a map included.

However, there are various times where I don't understand the logic and other times when Willie doesn't provide the reader with information when she does so most of the time. For that reason, I was not happy with the book. For another reason, the ending fell flat for me. The final reason I didn't like the book is because Willie is a rude, spoilt and snobbish character. It is only once I had finished the novel that I discovered that it is categorized as a domestic novel. Essentially, the latter focuses on young women who return home and feel that their support system (i.e. family members) should continue to care for them when they have problems.

The story has a few good points, but it is not a story that I will ever want to reread.

For a more in-depth review, check out my blog, Red Wolf's Room, on Blogger.