Twelve days of Christmas commendations: “The Lake of Dead Languages”

Language, in this case Latin, is not the only thing that is dead in Carol Goodman’s The Lake of Dead Languages (2002). Jane Hudson, a former student of the elite Heart Lake School for Girls and still haunted by the mysterious deaths of several of her classmates, returns to the school twenty years later as the school’s new Latin teacher. Soon events from the past seem to be repeating themselves in this generation of new students, with Jane desperately trying to prevent further mayhem and death. Part mystery, part boarding school story, this novel evocatively mixes typical school story themes of charismatic teachers, captivated students, deep friendships, and devastating betrayals with mysterious legends and rituals connected to the bottomless, ice-cold lake that gives the school its name.

The mysterious lake that has a strange pull on the students, fits well into the remote area of the Adirondacks that forms the setting of the novel. Goodman’s vivid description of the ice scape makes it not only a perfect backdrop for this story of mystery and suspense but also a perfect read for a chilly winter day. In the press, this book had mixed reviews, with some reviewers finding it too contrived and hackneyed and others acclaiming it to be an accomplished Gothic tale. The Denver Post called it a book that “needs the roar of a fire to ward off its psychic chill.” We enjoyed it when it first came out and found that it even held up to a re-reading. So, get your favourite blanket and something hot to drink and snuggle up for a fun read.