The Glass Lake

by Maeve Binchy
The Glass Lake cover
Good Books rating 3.5
Contemporary Fiction
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Paperback • £9.99
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  • ID: 9223
  • Added: 2025-12-23
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9781409106166
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2009-12-23
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Maeve Binchy's 'The Glass Lake' is a captivating tale set in the small Irish town of Lough Glass, where life seems to stand still until a sudden disappearance shakes the community to its core. Kit McMahon, the protagonist, is haunted by the memory of her mother's tears and the secrets she keeps, including a burned letter that might hold the key to the mystery. The novel explores themes of family, secrets, and the enduring power of love and loss. Binchy's signature style shines through as she weaves a spellbinding narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eager to uncover the truth behind Kit's mother's disappearance and the impact it has on her life.

Reviews
Medium · Goyal Kavya · 2022-01-01
thought-provoking 3.50

The book offers valuable lessons on love, trust, and forgiveness, urging readers to reflect on these themes.

Goyal Kavya found 'The Glass Lake' to be a thought-provoking read that delves into themes of love, trust, and forgiveness. They appreciated how the story encourages readers to question their own beliefs and values. The narrative is engaging and offers a unique perspective on relationships and personal growth. While the pacing can be slow at times, the depth of the characters and the exploration of complex emotions make it a rewarding read.

Quick quotes

    It does teach us some lessons on love, trust issues, loyalty, forgiveness and possibly destiny if we believe in it.

    It urges us to question on our own beliefs and values.

    The narrative is engaging and offers a unique perspective on relationships and personal growth.

Sarah Elsley Blog · Sarah Elsley · 2016-07-01
enjoyable 4.00

The characters are excellently portrayed, and the relationship dynamics are particularly engaging. The story is enjoyable overall.

Sarah Elsley found the characters in 'The Glass Lake' to be exceptionally well-developed and relatable. She particularly enjoyed the intricate relationships and how they evolved throughout the story. The narrative is engaging and keeps the reader invested. While she appreciated the depth of the characters, she also noted that the pacing could have been tighter in some sections. Overall, it's a heartwarming tale that showcases Maeve Binchy's talent for storytelling.

Quick quotes

    I thought the characters were excellent and well portrayed.

    I loved the relationship between London and the other characters.

    Overall I did really enjoy this book.

Kirkus Reviews · 1990-01-01
refreshing 3.00

The book is briskly written with down-to-earth characters, avoiding the contrivances found in other works.

The reviewer at Kirkus found 'The Glass Lake' to be a briskly written novel with down-to-earth characters. They appreciated the authenticity of the characters and the straightforward narrative. The story avoids the overly dramatic contrivances that can be found in other works, making it a refreshing and enjoyable read. While the plot may not be groundbreaking, the charm lies in the relatable characters and the warm, engaging storytelling.

Quick quotes

    Briskly written soap with down-to-earth types.

    Mostly without the lachrymose contrivances of Hannah's previous titles.

    A refreshing and enjoyable read.

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