The Lake House (Patterson novel)
| Company type | Publication |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | James Patterson |
| Products | Novel |
The Lake House is a 2003 publication by James Patterson, acting as a continuation of When the Wind Blows. Themes from this narrative also intersect with Patterson's Maximum Ride series, which targets a younger demographic.
Plot
The Lake House centers on six children engineered for flight who must escape from scientists determined to eliminate them. Their allies include Dr. Frannie O'Neil and Thomas "Kit" Brennan, a former FBI agent currently suspended.
Synopsis
Following the events of When the Wind Blows, the avian children—Max, Matthew, Ozymandias, Wendy, Peter, and Icarus—face challenges adapting to ordinary lives while striving to reunite with Frannie and Kit. A legal dispute over their custody arises, resulting in a judge's decision to keep them with their birth parents pending an appeal. Concurrently, Dr. Ethan Kane schemes to capture the children for a malevolent hospital that harvests organs to "revive" wealthy clients.
Under intense media attention and threats, Max hints at knowledge regarding the hospital but remains silent out of fear. She develops a romantic connection with Oz. After Kane's attempt to abduct them fails, the group regroups at Frannie's residence, which they set on fire to fend off attackers before fleeing with Kit’s assistance.
In Washington D.C., professional assassins seize the group; Oz sacrifices himself shielding Max. Frannie and Kit are drugged and subjected to artificial realities while their organs are extracted, but Max and the others manage to break free. Despite efforts to reveal the hospital's existence, proof stays hidden.
During the appeal hearing, custody is awarded to Frannie and Kit, allowing the family to return to the Lake House. Max lays two eggs—her offspring with Oz—and nurtures them until Kane attempts their theft. She defends her eggs, honoring a vow made to Oz. The eggs hatch into winged twins named Ozymandias and Frances Jane, marking the beginning of their flight training journey.