The Loch

The Loch - Steve Alten Steve Alten combines two of history's greatest mysteries in this novel: the Templar Knights and the Loch Ness monster. The Loch shows extensive research into the geography and history of Loch Ness, as well as marine biology and creatures of the deep.

Zachary Wallace left the village of Drumnadrochit, Scotland at nine years old, following the divorce of his parents. Now, at twenty-six, he returns at the prompting of this father, who is facing murder charges. Having lost his fiance and his job as a marine biologist after a near fatal run-in with a giant squid and another mysterious deep-sea creature. Unable to go near the water, Zack begins recovering memories of nearly drowning in Loch Ness as a child, leading him to remember more than he would like. Joined by childhood friends True and Brandy, Zachary must overcome his hydrophobia and uncover the mystery of what is living in Loch Ness and killing anyone too near the water, meanwhile proving his father's innocence.

This novel is incredibly smart and suspenseful. Incorporating excerpts from real Nessie sightings at the start of each chapter, Alten reminds the reader that Nessie may not be fictional at all. Along with fictional journal entries from Zack Wallace's ancestor Adam Wallace in the year 1330, the author creatively tells another story within this one- the story of how Nessie came to live in the lake.

I gave this book five out of five stars and would gladly reread it. Anyone interested in history or the legend of the Loch Ness monster will greatly enjoy this novel.