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ARC for review.

This is my second book my Koch (after last year's very popular The Dinner) and as with that book I found the premise far more promising than the execution - here Marc is a doctor in Holland with a clientele made up of celebrity types (he brings them in with his very liberal prescription policy). Marc is married and has two daughters, thirteen and eleven.

Ralph, a famous stage actor (I assume this means famous for the Netherlands, although he's ready to break through) becomes Marc's patient and then, in one of the best portions of the book, meets Ralph's wife and becomes enthralled (mirrored by Ralph's seeming interest in Caroline, Marc's wife). All this results in an invitation for Marc and his family to visit the summer house of the title.

Naturally something goes terribly wrong (there's no question of this - the book begins with Ralph's funeral), but to say much more would be spoiling everything. It's the denouement that got me - the final chapter isn't at all clear to me - (view spoiler)[What, exactly, is Marc's plan for after this break in California? And what does Julia know? What is the understanding between she and her father? That she lied? That they BOTH lied? Perhaps I'm totally obtuse, but I didn't get it. (hide spoiler)]

One very interesting aspect of the story is the offhandedness with with the medical field views euthanasia and assisted suicide. It's all presented very matter-of-factly and it's quite refreshing. Unfortunately that minor plot point wasn't enough to make this book one that I loved - I certainly enjoyed reading it, but wanted more. I will say this, though. I felt the very same way about Gillian Flynn's first two books - the descriptions sounded wonderful but the books themselves left me rather cold. But then, the magical third book! I would certainly be willing to give Koch another chance.