Bookseller Reviews
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Lake’s Eleven
Listed for the 2024 Booker Prize (and deservedly so), Creation Lake is equal part-espionage thriller and part-meditation on humanity.
This is Kushner’s ... READ MORE
A Philosophical mediation on human existence masquerading as an espionage thriller.
Entering this book I was slightly skeptical. Historically, I've not always been the biggest fan of thrillers, I've never been a reader who was heavily driv... READ MORE
A strong contender for the Booker Prize
At once a satire of the spy genre and a scintillating novel of ideas, Kushner’s Booker-shortlisted volume follows a mercenary called Sadie Smith as she inf... READ MORE
Perfect blend of satire and humour
Thank you to the Publisher for an advance copy of this novel.
I have to admit I was dubious to read this after falling into the hole of Brandon Taylor's... READ MORE
Female lead, page turner.
Sophie, not her real name, is paid to entrap people by an unknown party. The latest is to help kill a French politician that nobody cared for by joining a ... READ MORE
Fantastic!
Rachel Kushner's writing is absolutely beautiful, and this is an intelligent, well plotted, slow burn of a novel.
This follows Sadie (not her real name)... READ MORE
A propulsive page-turner of glittering insights and dark humour. Kushner has produced a work of high art, high comedy, and unforgettable pleasure.
Fiction Book of the Month July 2025
Synopsis
Sadie Smith – a 34-year-old American undercover agent of ruthless tactics and bold opinions – is sent by her mysterious but powerful employers to a remote corner of France.
Her mission: to infiltrate a commune of radical activists influenced by the beliefs of an enigmatic elder, Bruno Lacombe. But just as she is certain she’s the seductress and puppet master of those she surveils, Sadie becomes caught in the crossfire between the past and the future…
Publisher information
- Publisher: Vintage Publishing
- ISBN: 9781529933383
- Number of pages: 416
- Dimensions: 197 x 129 x 27 mm
- Weight: 293g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allJean-Patrick Manchette meets David Reich with a backdrop of post Marxist radicalism and to a soundtrack of Daft Punk.
Jean-Patrick Manchette (French crime novelist) meets David Reich (ancient human population geneticist) with a backdrop of post Marxist radicalism and to a ... READ MORE
Thank you to the Booker longlist for getting me to read this one!
Sadie Smith (not her real name) is an American freelance agent, who is being paid to infiltrate a commune of eco-activists in rural France, to report on th... READ MORE
Booker Shortlisted 2024
Booker shortlisted in 2024 and I had heard great things about it... many people suggesting it was a strong contender to win.
My opinion, loved the writing... READ MORE
A disjointed journey that falls short of promises
Rachel Kushner’s Creation Lake is a strange, intellectually stimulating but ultimately disappointing read. The novel’s description promises a seductive pro... READ MORE
A challenging read - a literary spy tale with a tough protagonist
Creation Lake is an intriguing read- a mix of spy novel , an exploration of an extinct human species ( Neanderthals) and a dive into the world of eco act... READ MORE
my pick for the booker winner
I loved this book! It blends the squeals of delight from the truly literary aesthetic with gasps of breath in an exciting thriller. Highly satisfying detou... READ MORE
Disappointed
Despite looking forward to reading Creation Lake, I found it quite disappointing. The writing is good, but I found the story quite tedious. Judging by ot... READ MORE
Verified Purchase