On Mystic Lake

On Mystic Lake is a work of contemporary fiction written by Kristin Hannah. It was published in 1999. Hannah is the author of well over a dozen novels of both contemporary and historical fiction, many of which address the struggles of female protagonists.

In On Mystic Lake, when Annie’s husband of 20 years leaves her on the same day that her daughter departs for a three-month trip to Europe, she must learn to move on and live her life on her own terms. Through the experiences of Annie and of other characters who are grieving a loss in the town of Mystic, Hannah explores themes of family ties, communication, and the different ways people manage to disappear from their own lives.

This guide refers to the 1999 Kindle edition of the novel.

Content Warning: This novel features discussions of death by suicide and alcohol abuse, as well as potentially insensitive portrayals of depression.

Plot Summary

The novel is told from the third-person limited perspective and most frequently follows Annie and her old high school friend, Nick. The novel opens in California as Annie and her husband, Blake, drop their only daughter, Natalie, off at the airport.