Dear Phil,

I have read all your books, and with all due respect, I have been losing interest ever since I first read Gone, But Not Forgotten.  An incredible book, I must say.  The only one that literally kept me in suspense.

This book was the worst.  It had an interesting plot early on, and then I got bored to tears.  What's more, it was becoming very predictable.  The end felt too much like a "they lived happily everafter" type of a closing.  Just a horrible last chapter.

What I can't seem to reconcile is how Kirkpatrick is portrayed as being sorry for grilling Vanessa on the stand:

"The prosecutor was feeling a little down when he walked into the Multnomah County district attorney's office on the sixth floor of the courthouse.  He usually felt elated after a great cross-examination, but his demolition of Vanessa Kohler had been too easy."

I know that we are not supposed to know at this point of the fact that Kirkpatrick was in on everything.  But this third person explanation seems ... just not right.  Almost misleading.  I don't mind not knowing, but I hate being misled.

Phil, what happened to the thrill and the mystery that *seemed* to have distinguished you in your early writings?  Would you consider letting your fans read a manuscript before publishing (if you don't already do)?

Thanks.

Geocaos

Dear Geocaos: I'm sorry you didn't enjoy "Lost Lake." Over the years I have discovered that evrone brings his or her opinion to any book. I always have certain readers who think a particular book is brilliant and another group that thinks the same book is awful. Then there is the majority which seems to have a good time. I have the same reaction to the books I read. I've loved books others didn't and I've disliked books that were bestsellers and received terrific reviews. I do try hard to write a good book every time I start one and I work hard with my editors to produce the best book I'm capable of writing, but I know I won't please everyone.

    As to letting fans read my manuscripts, I don't because of the very thing I just talked baout. With ficition, everyone's opinion is 100% correct because there is no objective way of grading it. I would go crazy from all the contradictory advise if I had a lot of readers critique my unpublished work. So I stick with my editor. Thanks for taking the time to let me know what you think about my books, even if it's negative. I do listen to criticism and it helps me write a better book if a fan points out a problem I haven't seen. Phil

Hello Phil,

I have to apologize for my earlier note.  I think that my reaction was inappropriate.  I can imagine the painstaking process in writing a book and I am certain that you listen to all sorts of criticism.  Please accept my apologies for the "manner" in which I expressed my displeasure.  As always, I do look forward to your next book.  When can we expect it?

Regards,

Geocaos

I have just finished reading Lost Lake in a short period of time.  This is the first time I have sent an e-mail to anyone regarding a book but I found Lost Lake to be excellent.  One of the thing I enjoyed the most is reading a mystery that is not full of foul language.  This made the book must more enjoyable.

 I did note that there was one missed edit and that came on page 274 of the paperback.  In the comments of the response of Kirkpatrick to Ami was the comment "Rice and the woman locked everyone in an empty room and disappeared."  At this point Kirkpatrick did not know his name was Rice.  

Am looking forward to reading all of Margolin's books.  Thanks for your style of writing.

Mystery Enjoyment