At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen
Maddie, a well-heeled, naïve, recently married woman from Philadelphia, is dragged by her husband Ellis and his best friend across the Atlantic to save the family name.  Too bad there is a war going on and travel is restricted, but by greasing the right palms they arrive in Drumnadrochit.  Yes, Ellis is on the search for the monster of Loch Ness, his father took a famous picture years before which has been ridiculed as a forgery.  Ellis is going to prove the world wrong and find the monster. 
Many reviews said that they didn’t like Maddie and had a hard time enjoying the tale because of it.  I don’t understand.  Yes, Maddie starts off an entitled snob but she grows into an independent minded woman and her character growth is extremely apparent when contrasted with her husband who seems to be growing younger and brattier as time goes on.  The place is a character itself.  The rationing, the scarcity and the little joys are all described in detail so the reader feels like they are in wartime Scotland.  I am ashamed to admit that I didn’t know Inverness and areas surrounding it were bombed by the Germans, I wasn’t aware they traveled that far north. 

I didn’t think I would enjoy this book even though I am fond of the idea of a sea monster living in Loch Ness.  However I really enjoyed it and I think those who enjoy watching a woman grow into her own will enjoy it as well.