She sat for a long time contemplating opening the envelope. After putting out her cigarette, she lit another and refilled her wine glass. She took a stress-relieving breath and opened it. Slowly, she withdrew the pictures inside. The first few were of her getting out of her Cherokee and going into her old office in Houston. Others were of her and friends having dinner in a restaurant. There were even a few of her doing such mundane things as grocery shopping and picking out a movie at the video store.

Claire felt cold chills run up her spine, making her shiver. She never knew whom the person was who took such an interest in her life. It was extremely unsettling to know that someone made it a point to follow her around capturing her on film. What she found even more disturbing were the intimate photos taken of her through her open windows while she was at home. For the first six months, she received only photos. But when one was taken of her kissing a date good night, the letters began, each one accusing her of being a slut. It made Claire ill to look at them.

She had suspected her ex-girlfriend Lisa of sending them at first. The breakup between the two had been tumultuous. When Claire confronted Lisa with the pictures and letters, Lisa begged her to take them to the police. She still remembered the shocked look on Lisa’s face and her trembling hands as she looked at each photo and letter. Her persistent pleas for her to go to the police made Claire strike her from the list of possible suspects.

She never did involve the police, leery of the scandal it would cause to have them question everyone she came in contact with. She had reasoned that the letters were really not threatening, and by moving away, she might escape her stalker. It was a decision she hoped was right.

With all the lights on in the room where Claire worked, she was unable to see the dark figure who stood across the parking lot hidden in a cluster of oak trees. The stranger watched Claire’s every move with interest through the telephoto lens of the camera, randomly clicking the shutter. Only when Claire turned off the lights and left the room did the stranger lower the camera and leave the safety of the well chosen hiding place.

Reviews

Claire Murray, her life fraught with uncertainty and trepidation, has relocated from Houston to Baton Rouge and begun her new job as the travel manager for the Valor Marine Corporation.  She realizes that she has left behind some unresolved problems but, nonetheless, she is hoping to make a fresh start.  Tristan Delacroix is the head of the Valor Marine personnel department, and although Claire and she do not hit it off well when first they meet, Claire is intrigued by the mysterious woman.  Each has secrets and each has no desire to share them any time soon.  Complicating the situation even more is the fact that Claire has unfortunately not escaped her most serious problem--a stalker has followed her to Louisiana.

Murky Waters is Robin Alexander’s second published novel, the first being Gloria’s Inn.   The latter was a somewhat short yet irreverently humorous novel which was an entertaining light read. Murky Waters is a slightly longer novel but one with a distinct difference.  The author has ventured into the darker realm of human behavior and interaction.  There is a maturity to her writing, a more stylistically developed piece of fiction.   

The characterization of both Claire and Tristan is a gradually evolved set of circumstances.  The speech and actions appear to be more precisely drawn, and the thoughts and feelings of these women are more finitely developed.  Both these women have unsettling baggage, and Alexander takes her time sharing this with the reader.  The dialogue flows freely and rings true as spoken by these young women.  With the abysmal prejudice of Mallory, Tristan’s exasperating mother, to the cavalier comments of Ellen, Claire’s friend, the reader becomes a part of the scene, and this ability to empathize with all the characters is a result of carefully crafted writing.  It is apparent to this reader that greater care was taken with the editing of this novel, and the reader benefits from this. 

Overall, Murky Waters is an engrossing reading experience.  The plotting and characters keep the reader thoroughly involved and pleasantly entertained.  There are themes here which will invariably lead to some lively discussions among those who have read this novel.  The conclusion is certainly different and may even cause some to question its validity, but that doubt in itself is something the author has successfully achieved. 

It is always encouraging to see an author apparently learn from previous work and improve in such a way as to enable her genuine talent to come forth.  Despite being a relatively new author, Robin Alexander’s latest release shows an inordinate amount of growth and promise.  This reader enthusiastically awaits her next book.

Reviewed by Arlene Germain