The Stranger At Black Lake, is the prequel to These Still Black Waters, in the Jess Lambert Series. I enjoyed book 1 in this series, however, this nolleva made me love this series even more!!! Christina McDonald packed so much into this short story and did not disappoint. As it is a prequel, it is about a younger Jess Lambert and added so much character development. I recommend this series and the prequel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Intrigue Ink Publishing for the arc of The Stranger at Black Lake!

This felt like a super quick read to me and it was enjoyable. The main character and her husband left Ny for a simpler life. She’s new and wants to make friends in her new town. She meets Annie and as the story progresses she notices something is off with her and the mysteries of the gingerbread house.

I loved this so much. Everything Christina writes is a winner in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

I don’t read a lot of novellas, but since I enjoyed the first and second Jess Lambert books so much, I gave it a try. It was fantastic. This is a prequel to These Silent Black Waters and What Lies in Darkness.

This book is set in Jess’ past, it is when her and Mac first got married and how she transitioned from a paramedic to a police officer. I enjoyed reading a little more about her past and what lead up to the two current reads. The book starts when her and Mac move to Black Lake where Mac grew up. Jess has no friends and no career. She meets a young woman, Annie, in a coffee shop, they become fast friends and things are looking up. A few hours later, she finds Annie naked in the streets, helps her home and finds a gruesome scene. Annie disappears and Jess is thrown into trying to solve this mystery. Who is the stranger at Black Lake?

I really enjoyed this novella and it was a fast read. It definitely puts the character of Jess into perspective. I love the depth and maturity changes in Jess in the three books! I cannot wait to see what’s next for her?

Thank you to Intrigue Ink Publishing for the digital copy to review!

I am a huge fan of Christina McDonald, and I loved her prior book These Still Black Waters. This little novella is a prequel to that book and it was just excellent. We got a little more insight into Jess Lambert with this one, and I loved it so much. In addition, there was a creepy case to dig into and solve as well. This did not feel like a novella and true to form, I did not want it to end. Good thing we don’t have to wait long, as the second book in this fabulous series is out soon.

Loved this pre-novella to the Black Lake series. It was nice to see Jess before the tragedy that comes later and how she got her start in detective work. Just the right amount of creep and thrill factor, just wish it was a full length book!

This book introduces the reader to Jess Lambert, Mac, and several other key characters as well as the quiet town of Black Lake. Dynamic characters and a well-built plot create for a suspenseful read. This is my first book by Ms. McDonald, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I highly recommend this book be added to your "to be read" pile.

This book was a bit of a slow burn and took me a while to get into.
The setting at Black Lake was both serene and eerie and was the perfect backdrop for the spooky mystery.
The characters were well written, I hadn’t read any other books by this author but found that it didn’t matter as Jess was described perfectly.
That said, I was never fully invested in this book, I’m not sure why, but it’s definitely worth a read.

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!

I was really excited to dive into this one and looking forward to reading the rest of the series after finishing this gripping novella sequel.
I loved getting to know Jess and a glimpse into her past, tackling the reason why she decides to become a detective.
The other characters and dual POV had me on the edge of my seat the whole way.
Things got a little confusing trying to figure out who was who and I was nervous this would take a paranormal turn, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Can't wait to dive into the next!

First of all, I love this author and have read all of her books so far! This one is a short story prequel to These Still Black Waters. We learn how jess went from being a paramedic to a detective and how she ended up at Black Lake. Black Lake is almost a character in its own right. Very moody and atmospherically written. And yes, there is a dead body. I really enjoyed this one and it is just gearing me up for What Lies in Darkness which will be Number 2 in the Jess Lambert series! Coming soon!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Christina McDonald and Intrigue Ink Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Christina is back with a novella surrounding Jess Lambert. I absolutely loved Jess Lambert in These Still Black Waters but absolutely love that Christina wrote this novella and gave us a chance to meet Mac and meet Jess before all her trauma and heartaches. This novella focuses on Jess and Mac’s life. We finally get to see the man who is anxiously awaiting his wife to heal I can not recommend this series enough. I absolutely love everyone and everything about it.

Jess an ex paramedic and her husband move to black lake for a new start. There’s a man who’s just getting released from prison. He keeps referring to finding “her”. Jess hasn’t secured a new job yet. She somehow is always stumbling on sketchy situations. Yet she is always eager to help people. This was a short fun read. It is unclear what’s really going on. How Jess this mysterious man and the past all line up. It comes together very neatly at the end. Everything then makes perfect sense. This story could have been more intricate if the author wanted it to but I enjoyed it being a short easy read.

These Still Black Waters was one of my favorite and 5 star read last year so I was so excited to see the Jess Lambert world again. The Stranger At Black Lake is a prequel to the series. It is a short story gives us background on why Jess and Mac moved to Black Lake and her decision to become a detective. This story is very fast paced with plenty of twists to keep you engaged. Excited for the next installment this summer!

'The Stranger At Black Lake' by Christina McDonald is a fast paced, twist thriller that is the epitome of unputdownable!

Such a good book!!! Loved it from start to finish, could not put it down!!!!! 5 stars!!! This author was new to me, will be looking for more from her!!

Thank you NetGalley, Christina McDonald and Intrigue Ink Publishing for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book may be short but it packed the twists. I was glued from the first chapter. It had essence of paranormal with small town ghost stories intertwining with cold cases and present day. I know this a prequel to Jess's story and I am looking forward to reading more of this character and her pursuit as a detective and how much her history of being a paramedic will come into play.

I loved getting to know some of Jess's background in this prequel novella to "These Still Black Waters". It has mystery, suspense and a creepy atmosphere that kept me on the edge of my seat. I know it's a novella therefore short by definition but I couldn't help wanting more! I highly recommend this new series and I can't wait to read the next one.

Thank you for a copy of The Stranger At Black Lake.

Looking forward to reading the sequel What Lies in Darkness!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In the shadowed depths of Black Lake, secrets old grudges fester like forgotten wounds. Christina McDonald's gripping prequel novella, "The Stranger At Black Lake" plunges readers into a chilling cat-and-mouse game where the stakes are life and death.

Jess Lambert and her husband, Mac, seek solace in the tranquil embrace of Black Lake—a place where the water's dark secrets whisper through the rustling pines. Their quest for peace takes an unexpected turn when Jess befriends the enigmatic Annie Parker, a woman with a past as murky as the lake itself. But within hours, Annie vanishes, leaving behind only a trail of shock and mystery.

Annie Parker is no ordinary stranger. Her beauty conceals a labyrinth of secrets, and her arrival in Black Lake sets off a chain of events that will haunt Jess forever. Was Annie a witness, a victim, or something far more sinister? As Jess delves deeper, she uncovers the chilling history of Annie's house—a place where violence once stained the walls and echoes of tragedy still resonate.

McDonald masterfully weaves the threads of past and present, revealing the house's dark legacy. Ghosts of old grudges emerge, their spectral fingers pointing toward Annie. Jess becomes both hunter and prey, chasing shadows through mist-shrouded woods. But in this deadly game, the line between vengeance and survival blurs, and Jess wonders if she's unraveling the truth or merely tangling herself in the web of Annie's secrets.

The mist-laden setting of Black Lake seeps into every page, enveloping readers in an eerie embrace. McDonald's prose drips with tension, and each chapter unfurls like a raven's wing across moonlit waters. The air crackles with anticipation, and the scent of pine needles mingles with the metallic tang of fear.

"The Stranger At Black Lake" is a tantalizing prelude to the bestselling thriller series, "These Still Black Waters". Christina McDonald's writing is a siren's call, luring readers into a world where darkness and secrets lie buried in the lake's murky depths.