By Pam Records
1932. Natalia is 16 and a bootlegger's daughter, playing the mermaid mascot on a rundown paddlewheel used to entertain brewers and distributors.
A sequined costume hides her scarred and misshaped legs, but it can't cover up the painful memories and suspicions that haunt her. An eccentric healer, who treats patients with Old Country tonics, tries to patch wounds, but only adds to the heartache. A fierce storm threatens to destroy everything, including a stash of stolen jewels.
1941. Prohibition is over, but the same henchmen still run the show. Nattie's new mermaid act is more revealing, with more at risk. When the dry-docked paddlewheel is bought by the US Navy for training exercises, the pressure escalates further. Can Nattie entice a cocky US Navy officer to help her gain access to the ship for one last chance to confront her past, settle scores, and retrieve the hidden loot? Is there a new course ahead?
A mysterious mermaid once washed up on the shores of Lake Michigan, and now she is bound to a tank, entertaining guests on the Lake Maiden. The truth of her situation is just as tragic. Nattie, who has just turned 16, is determined to one day leave the Lake Maiden and create a new life for herself. However, with her disabilities, she wonders if she will ever be able to leave her mermaid tail behind and stand on her own two feet.
Pam Records has crafted a captivating book that reflects a deep understanding of her audience. “Tangled in Water” is not only meticulously researched but also features an utterly engaging narrative. With dynamic characters and a fast-paced plot, this book takes readers on an enthralling journey back in time.
This book features a cast of colourful characters, some of whom are deceased but whose ghosts still linger. Each character carries the weight of a dark past that casts shadows over their present lives. Although often light-hearted and witty, the narrative also features profound moments of vulnerability, especially in the poignant flashbacks of some characters.
Natalia “Nattie” Wiśniewski is the unlikely heroine of this tale. As the captain’s daughter, Nattie is thrust into the limelight at a very young age. With her deformed legs, she becomes one of the main attractions—a real-life mermaid that people pay to see. The Lake Maiden serves as Nattie’s home, although it is a corrupting environment in which to grow up. Nattie is a well-developed character, embodying a complex mix of cynicism, vulnerability, and resilience despite her youth. Nattie longs for a different life from the one she is living, but she cannot seem to escape the mermaid persona, even when she is off stage. Although she is the captain’s daughter, Nattie is accorded no privileges. She sleeps alone in her dressing room and survives on a diet of pilfered oranges from nearly empty glasses and sardines. There is little structure to her life, except for the strict schedule surrounding her performances. Her mother, Queenie, is dead, not that she was much of a mother to Nattie when she was alive. Queenie’s ghost is judgmental and filled with resentment, and offers no comfort to her only daughter. As the story progresses and Nattie matures, she remains unable to shake the mermaid's identity, continuing to dress as one and perform. It appears there is no escape for Nattie, no matter what she tries.
Halina is depicted as a strong, pragmatic, and resourceful woman. She takes charge in medical situations; however, her no-nonsense attitude often works against her, especially when dealing with concerned family members and friends of the patient. Although she wears a nursing uniform, she is not a trained nurse but a nurse aide; however, she is a trained healer in the old sense of the word. Unfortunately, she sometimes lacks the skills necessary to save lives, and her actions can leave lasting scars on her patients, even leading to death. Like Nattie, she often interacts with the dead—in her case, Baba, the last healer of Hegewisch. Unlike Queenie, Baba provides helpful advice. Halina has a good heart and tries to help people whenever possible, forming a particularly close bond with Nattie. However, she can also be quite judgmental, and once someone crosses her, she is not quick to forgive.
Margret, the indomitable Miss Theatre, serves as a formidable stage director, earning the title of “dictator” from Nattie due to her uncompromising nature. With her clipboard in hand, Margret navigates a myriad of challenges, not only from her disobedient dancers but also from a mermaid, who adds an extra layer of chaos to the production. Undeterred by these obstacles, Margret embodies the mantra that “the show must go on,” determined to uphold the spirit of the performance regardless of the hurdles she faces. Her relentless passion for theatre drives her to maintain order and creativity amidst the turmoil, showcasing her resilience and dedication to the craft. However, she is a complicated character; her relationship with the Captain and her somewhat bullying behaviour initially detract from her merits. In the latter half of this book, however, Margret elicits a profound sense of sympathy from the reader.
The novel’s mood is a captivating blend of humour, tension, and subtle darkness, with an eerie touch of the paranormal. Records skilfully interweave moments of playful banter, creating a light-hearted atmosphere that sharply contrasts with the haunting echoes of past trauma and the looming threat of impending disaster. Amidst the allure of the Lake Maiden, a majestic vaudeville paddle steamer gliding through the vast expanse of the Great Lakes, lies a veil of palpable dread. Shadows dance across its timeworn deck, shrouding it in a sense of history, mystery, murder, and mayhem. As the story unfolds, the atmosphere aboard the ship vibrates with the excitement of the passengers, who are unaware of what is happening backstage. The captain, adorned in glimmering yet counterfeit medals, stands at the helm, exuding an air of misplaced authority. The dancers’ façade of glamour is only skin deep. In the centre of it all, a mermaid with shimmering scales and a tail that has seen better days reveals her artificial nature. In her tank lie pilfered jewels from unsuspecting passengers. This tense and evocative mood keeps both the characters and readers in suspense, captivated by the unfolding drama and the dark, sinister undercurrents that seem poised to surface at any moment.
While the first half of the book captures a moment on board the Lake Maiden. The second half of the book takes place on land, but it continues to follow the lives of some of the characters that the reader first met on the ship. The Anchors Away tavern, which features several members of the Lake Maiden’s staff, is vividly described, creating a rich and immersive setting. The details about the costumes, the bar, and the clientele paint a picture of a gritty, somewhat seedy, yet vibrant and lively environment. However, there is still an underlying air of violence that permeates the atmosphere, mirroring the complexities of the characters and their lives.
The meticulous attention to historical detail in this narrative is truly commendable. The author has masterfully brought to life this captivating era. “The Lake Maiden” is inspired by a real paddle steamer named Seeandbee, but the author adds her own magical twist to the story of life aboard this cruise ship. In the wake of the shocking bombing of Pearl Harbor, visionary Richard F. Whitehead, who is wonderfully portrayed in the novel, proposed an extraordinary transformation of the Seeandbee: to convert it into a freshwater aircraft carrier, a bold initiative aimed at training pilots. This remarkable transformation is vividly depicted in the book, showcasing the resilience and ingenuity of that time. Ultimately, the Seeandbee was renamed and became known as the USS Wolverine.
“Tangled in Water” by Pam Records is, in every sense, a triumph of historical fiction and a must-read for fans of the genre.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde
Yarde Book Reviews & Book Promotion
Congratulations on such a fabulous review.
ReplyDeleteI have added your book to my to-read list.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations - your book sounds fabulous.
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