Customer Reviews

Amagansett

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Amagansett", Mark Mills' first novel, is a thoughtful and intelligent, if unusual, murder mystery. Set in the post-World War south fork of Long Island, it is the tale of Conrad Labarde, a Basque immigrant fisherman who hauls a dead girl from the surf in his fishing nets. The dead girl, Lillian Wallace, is a member of the New York aristocracy who "summer" on Hampton's beaches. As Mills patiently unwinds the story, we learn that the stoic Labarde is a highly decorated war hero, having served in a secretive commando team in the European theatre. But this is but one of the secrets that gradually materialize in the rigid demarcations between Amagansett's opposing social strata's.

At times slow moving, rambling in others, "Amagansett" is nonetheless beautifully written and carefully researched. If you appreciate a bit of history as well as some education in your fiction, you'll find both in this largely overlooked period between WWII and the Cold War, and the somewhat obscure and forgotten dunes and fishing towns of Long Island. The characters, if somewhat stereotyped, have depth and hold interest, especially in the vivid portrait of the virtually extinct culture of east coast shore fishermen. The standard clichés of the evil rich and the noble poor threaten at times to overpower the story, but Mills atones with a climax that is genuinely thrilling and features a few unexpected twists. All things considered, this complex and elegant novel is an impressive debut; I suspect we'll be hearing much more of Mark Mills.

I walked into Barnes and Noble and requested a book I saw reviewed in People. It sounded fascinating, but it had a strange name I couldn't remember or pronounce. The bookseller said several people had asked for it, but nobody could remember the title, a "wierd Indian name," as she stated. Luckily, People magazine was there, and we figured it out from that.
I'm glad I persevered - it is a beautifully written debut novel. It centers around the murder of a young, beautiful high society woman, Lillian Wallace, whose body was found by shell-shocked veteran and fisherman Conrad Labarde. As detective Tom Hollis delves into the mystery, he discovers a web of deceit involving the highest society on Long island, which ensnares members of two groups at conflict with each other, the fishermen and the high society, and resurrects lies going back years before to an unsolved murder of a young girl. Each intricate discovery brings a new surprise, and the climax is chilling and satisfying. The author also skillfully weaves in the mood and events of the times; prohibition, World War II and the crumbling of the classes. The characters are wonderfully drawn, and both the detective Hollis and the fisherman Conrad are sympathetically and intriguingly portrayed as Conrad draws Hollis into the mystery and uses Hollis' skills to achieve a brilliant resolution. The lingering effects of war upon a veteran are senstively shown. Finally, the cross-class romance is believable since it contains none of the usual tired stereotypes, but instead is an honest love between two people struggling with their pasts.
This is a mystery far above the norm, and I would strongly recommend it. I look forward to Mark Mills' next book.

Amagansett is a terrific thriller/mystery. It is a well-told story that begins with a body of beautiful young woman washing up on the shore of Long Island in the town of Amagansett several years after World War II. The story intertwines the lives of the fishermen who find the body, the detective investigating the death and the woman herself. Was she murdered, or was this just an unfortunate drowning? There are many surprises in this novel that the reader will discover in various parts of the novel. This is a fun, engrossing read--one you could read in one sitting if you have a couple hours to kill. People magazine was not wrong in recommending this one. Enjoy.

1947. East Hampton, NY. Conrad Labarde, a Basque immigrant fisherman, finds a dead woman in his seine. Another drowning? But Lillian Wallace swam every day. Her room wasn't slept in, but the toilet seat's up. And why was she wearing pearl earrings? She never wore them when she swam. What's wrong here?

So begins a mystery unique, deep and textured. Conrad and Tom Hollis, Deputy Chief, are unlikely allies, but they appear to be the only ones who think the tragic drowning of Lillian Wallace may have been something more than a sad but not uncommon summer's misadventure. And they're both loners; they don't know or trust each other. So why are they being pressured to leave the death alone? Hollis hates his job and wants to split. Conrad is just surviving. He's a war hero coping with trauma: family sadness, the loss of love, and post-trauma stress disorder. What do these men have in common? Only a sense that something's wrong with the Lillian Wallace picture, and it must be made right. The smell of money pollutes the air. Blue fins run.

Mark Mills has written a stellar novel: more than a mystery, literary, but going someplace. Just don't ask me to pronounce the title. Mills' descriptions of the deceptive seas, the fine points of commercial fishing, and the struggles of local fishing families living like crabs in the bolt-holes, pockets and hard-up interiors of the developing post-war East Hampton are full and textured. East Hampton is both a sea-based rural community, where life is hard and values are simple and well-learned, and a playground for the rich and powerful, where rules bend under the weight of money. How does the murder of Lillian Wallace span this expanding culture chasm?

You won't soon be lending "Amagansett."

What a wonderful literary mystery! Mills' evocation of time and place is pitch-perfect. His descriptive passages of the Hamptons-both the fishing shantys and palacial estates-are really quite mesmerizing. In many ways this tale reminds me of David Guterson's SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS. I read it in one go!

The author, Mark Mills, has created a literary masterpiece. The reader is drawn into the pictures Mr. Mills has created with his sweeping descriptions of the places and the time. It is a mystery but ever so much more. His characters come to life slowly but you come to feel you would recognize them if you passed them on the street. I am sad that this is his first book and that means I will have to wait for the next Mark Mills book.
This book will stay on my book shelf because I am sure I will want to revisit Amagansett, again.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It's a short read with good pacing that can easily be wrapped up in a weekend. The story is mostly told following the two main characters, interspersing flashbacks from the past to develop the history of the major players. For the most part, the characters are well-crafted and believable.

While having no knowledge of fishing, I was not at all turned off by the fishing stories and jargon. In fact, I found the setting in this fishing community to be one of the most charming elements of the book.

My major complaint is one shared by an earlier reviewer that commented that the book lacked focus. It seems a number of peripheral characters and plotlines are introduced without really advancing the plot. Fortunately these bits are still interesting enough to not bog down the story, but it almost seems as if the book was meant to be a longer, more involved tale that got whittled down without adequate thought.

That being said, I still recommend the book and look forward to any further works by this author.

I read two reviews in succession here--one said the book was flat and boring, the other said it was a masterpiece. I'll definitely go with the second opinion. Not only was the prose exquisite (I feel I can take writing lessons from this author, and that is one reason I'm keeping the book), but the setting, the history, and the unusual and diverse characters made the book fascinating to me. Mills makes the main character a Basque immigrant with an interesting past instead of just a local boy. The World War II combat scenes in Italy and Germany I dont doubt are accurate, because I have heard stories like this many times from my uncle who was there. I felt I was listening to him, which is never boring. The sea and the fishing industry are of interest to many people in the New York/New England area, whether or not they sail or fish themselves, and the author again clearly knew what he was talking about. The late 1940s noir atmosphere was great for a murder mystery. The only thing I thought could have been more developed was the story of Lizzie Jencks. However, this book is a real winner and I'd like to see more from Mr. Mills.

This book is a first for me. I generally read about a book a week always giving a book about 100-150 pages before I determine "it's not my cup of tea". Once I put a book down, I never pick it back up...till this one.

This book took me a month to get through. I'd put it down deciding not to read it any longer, then find myself thinking "Gee, I wonder what happens.."..and pick it up. This same scenario occurred several times reading this book.

I decided to read this book based on good reviews on this site and was mostly swayed to read it because I am a native Long Islander (where this story takes place) and have heard the old fishing stories most of my life...so I was intrigued.

This book is about alot more than fishing. It's written beautifully and I'd have to perhaps fault myself in that being a "thriller" kind of reader, I "expect" things to move quickly.
This book does not. It kind of unravels things at its own pace.

I do not regret having read the book, nor do I feel it was a waste of my time, yet, I have a hard time screaming it's praises and say that "you HAVE to read this book".

It IS a well written story about characters who survive a war, the sea and their relationships. It IS NOT quick moving, heart wrenching, or especially surprising.

My opinion for what it's worth.

I also grew up on Long Island and found the book interesting in its local flavors,descriptions,geography,cultures,etc.-which I added a star for.I found the book entertaining with good character development.I thought the mystery plot was fair and somewhat predictable.I think anyone from Long Island will enjoy this book.