#BlogTour The Loch by Dee Taylor

 It's my turn on the BlogTour The Loch by Dee Taylor.

About the Author

Dee Taylor is now a professional artist, after spending most of his career in the advertising profession as art buyer at two of London's top ad agencies. 

His many artistic achievements include designing a now famous flag for the Romney Marsh area of Kent in south-east England. Dee’s other passions are angling and Loch Ness.

About the book

‘The Loch’ is set on the shores of Loch Ness. It’s a harrowing, unforgettable tale of courage and romance, unfolding between the backdrop of the Scottish Highlands and in the murky depths of the loch itself. 

With drama escalating in suspense, this entertaining and thrilling novel is the story of a former stripper from the Aberdeen clubs emotionally torn between two men: a deep sea diver from the oil rigs and a highlander with a violent and tragic past. There is greed and horror in a search for Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite gold within the ever-present menace of the fabled creature of the Loch.

Review

Tina and Jack take a trip to give their relationship another chance. It's rocky, it's complicated and it's abusive. Tina believes she isn't worthy, ergo doesn't recognise the abuse she is subjected to. However that element doesn't play into the premise, because it's romanticised in the story.

They accidentally encounter something at the Loch that captivates and it is the beginning of a hunt for a myth. To prove its existence or to gain notoriety and money - that is the question. They cross the path of treasure hunters, who aren't interested in playing fair, but are invested in finding out what Jack and Tina know.

I absolutely get the fascination of The Loch Ness Monster and the mystery surrounding it. I think it's something the majority of people wonder about. Is it all speculation, a tourist gimmick, an observation or event blown completely out of proportion. Or is it a myth based on true experiences? 

Taylor has captured the way people are drawn into the mystery, myth and speculation, then added the mystery of a Jacobite gold hoard to this mystery come thriller. I wasn't keen on the way Tina was depicted though. She becomes the punching bag, the hole to violate and all her interactions with the many male characters are of a sexual, abusive, intimidating and non-healthy nature. Being a stripper doesn't equal whore, being a stripper doesn't equal worthless and being a woman doesn't equal constantly being the shit at the bottom of a man's shoe.

It's a fast paced often brutal and graphic read, with some great scenes when it comes to describing and interacting with the myth. It could do with a little less toxic stereotyping, but aside from that it is an interesting read.

Buy The Loch at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: The Conrad Press pub date 6 Jan. 2021. Buy at Amazon com. Hive uk.