First thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC, it was an entertaining read.

The pace was a little slow in the first third of the book however this did allow time to get to know they characters properly. The ending was a little predictable but that didn’t remove from any enjoyment. A solid debut mystery ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Well that was worth a read. Kate became pregnant at 15 and had a son, Michael. The family were Plymouth Brethren and because of her situation they were excommunicated. Due to being Plymouth Brethren Kate and her sister did not have a hold on the real world so had a lot to learn. Bringing up Michael with her mother part of the time was very difficult as her mother blamed her for all the hurt being heaped on the family. Kate marries a successful surgeon who does not get on well with Michael and they also have the added problem of not having children of their own. Michael was sent away to boarding school to do his GSCE exams. Then comes the trauma. Michael drowns and, of course, Kate cannot come to terms with this. It causes problems in her marriage as she cannot let the feeling go that there was something more sinister that happened. She does her detective work and ends up on a poetry retreat in Scotland which is run by the person she things is responsible for Michael’s death.

The week at the poetry retreat opens up and she finds out things to help her along the way which has not been easy. Eventually all things slot into place with help from unexpected people and she can finally lay Michael to rest. A lovely book the pace is slow and steady so you can understand all the characters who all come into their own. Lovely ending which made me smile

This book was a great debut thriller. I think it could definitely have been a little tighter with the plot, and the pacing could have been a little quicker, however for a first full length novel it was excellent. I was interested in the story and felt connected to the main character. I think the book was a little long winded in sections and could have benefited from some editing and the introduction of a side plot to break up the story a little. Overall I liked this book and would read from the author again. I would recommend this book to people who haven't read many thrillers and want to get into the genre.

Kate suffers a tragic loss when her son Michael drowns in the swimming lakes by his school, though she is convinced it was no accident.

Six years later, she unearths his lost diary and desperately searches for clues amongst the pages about what really happened that night.

This story follows a heartbroken mother desperately trying to fit together the mismatched pieces of a puzzle she never knew existed.

You really feel for Kate as she delves deeper into Michael's past, all the while keeping her investigation a secret from her concerned husband and sister.

I found this a really interesting read - a good combination of thrilling, emotional and thought-provoking. I felt invested in the story and was always excited to return to the book. I finished this one quite quickly!

The ending felt a tad rushed to me, and seemed like quite a sudden stop, although we do get an epilogue to help explain some things a little further. I did also find that parts of the story seemed a bit disjointed.

Overall I did enjoy this book and think it was a great debut novel for the author!

Rating: 3.5/5

The truth lies just beneath the surface…

The Lake is a story about Kate, who is desperately searching for the truth about her son Michael's death six years ago when he was fifteen years old, Michael drowned in the lake by his boarding school, Kate doesn't believe that it was an accident because Michael was a strong swimmer, who took part in many competitions, but nobody will listen to her. When Kate's mother has a stroke, she goes to stay at the family home to look after her mom's cat, while she's there she discovers Michael's laptop and a diary, and what the diary reveals makes Kate even more determined that her sons death was certainly no accident and sets out to uncover the truth.

This is a tense read, covering subjects such as grief, grooming and sexual abuse of minors, which the author wrote with integrity and compassion. I loved the relationship Kate had with her sister Grace and their mom's neighbour, Doris, but didn't take to Kate's husband, Adam at all, he was very controlling and demanding. It's an intriguing plot, which kept me hooked and apart from a rather abrupt ending, was an enjoyable read.

I'd like to thank Avon Books and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon.

Six years prior Kate's son Michael drowned at a lake whilst away at boarding school. As he was drunk and had taken some tablets it appears to be a freak accident or even suicide but that ruling has always been left open. But Kate is convinced her competitive swimmer son wouldn't of drowned and wouldn't have gone for a swim alone intoxicated she has always suspected he was killed. So when she returns to her mothers home and finds a diary that belonged to Michael she finds herself investigating further, 6 years may had passed but she is still certain there's more to the story. But her search for the might reveal secrets that put others and herself at risk.

I really enjoyed the lake it has to be said. As a debut novel by Louise Sharland, it's a great introduction into the world of the mystery genre. I wouldn't categorise this as a psychological thriller by any means but it definately holds some psychological elements.

I loved how this book illustrated the different types of abuse relationships can hold with a focus to financial, mental and power. Kate's relationships with hdr husband is written so well when demonstrating how toxic a relationship can be little things like she has to ring him at a certain time everyday, there seems to be no logical reason for this. Although the book is meant to be about her search for the truth regarding her son the relationship with her husband unravels before us. I found myself screaming at the book just leave him leave him now. Yet I know that Its easier said than done as let's be honest if it was that easy domestic violence wouldn't be a thing. Before things escalate with her husband it is so clear that she is trapped and has been for years. I found myself questioning what his role was in Michael's death, just like (I believe) the author had wanted me to.

Kate's relationship with her family esp her mother and sister Grace is an interesting one. I felt as a reader I got mixed vibes on how she feels about her mother. I also had so many unanswered questions I needed and still nerd her mother to answer.
Yet her relationship with sister Grace is so multilayered but is clearly underpinned with complete love.. yet it Is clear Kate hold resentment towards Grace for having a good husband job and daughter (however naughty). It plays out really well and really realistically aswell which isn't always something I look or even want in s book, however it felt like a nice addition.

The book is almost divided into two sections Cornwall and Scotland. I enjoyed the latter part of the book mote than the first half it has to be said. I felt more connected to the character and her growth throughout the story. The first half almost feels like it's setting the scene for the last half of the book with an almost, but not quite, obvious comical ending.

This is where the book for me drops from 4 stars to 3, the ending. Oh gosh I hated it!!! All that build up and this was the ending we got. Well it just fixed the nail in the 3 star coffin so to speak.

Would I recommend the lake?

Yes and no. To fellow die hard psychological thriller lovers out there keep on your shelves and wait for a day you fancy an easy read. Prose wise the writing is very descriptive and not at all over complicated if you are new to this genre highly recommend this book. It's such a good book with great concepts and is so easy to read!!! .
The ending of this book is predictable and a let down. But up until then I was enjoying the mystery around "what happened and why,," and actually felt some of the cross cutting theme's were played our subtlety and extremely well. For this reason I would have score the novel 4 stars but then it ended and I felt robbed of the 8 hours I committed to this book, so unfortunately I score it 3 stars 🌟


Thank you to netgalley, Avon books and Louise Sharland for the digital ARC in exchange for my fair and honest opinions

A very addictive page turner!! I loved the pace of the writing and found it really hard to put this book down. The characters were so well written and the twists just kept on coming! Perfect lockdown read.

The Lake
By Louise Sharland
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Michael died six years ago.. He was a brilliant swimmer training at professional level, he wouldn't drown.

Kate world falls apart when Micheal dies, a teenager all his life ahead of him... his death accidental? Kate could never come to terms with this.

When her mother has a stroke Kate finds items in her house that throw open years of doubt.. what happened to Michael that night?

Review ✍️

What a great read.. absolutely flew through this book read in I few hours.

When Kate finds Michael's diary she sets out to finally put her suspicion around his death to rest.

At first the book focuses on Kate headstrong on finding the truth.. you're taking back to Kate's past from her cult like religion.. on to her present day controlling abuse from her husband.
The last few chapters focus on exposure, trying to join the dots and finally finding closure.

I absolutely detested Kate's husband.. constantly trying to stand in the way, demanding she hands over Michael's things making out its for her own good. Something never sat right, always making sure she was 'medicated' on edge when she wasn't under his watch, very strange. On the other hand absolutely loved Doris she's a great reminder why it's sometimes handy to have a nosey neighbour.

It's definitely a slow burning thriller however it's got so much going on it keeps you engaged.

I felt like the last few chapters didn't have the same build as the rest of the book however great read all the same.

If you're a fan of Linda Green this is a must read for you.

Thank you @avonbooks and @netgally for my advanced copy in return for my honest review.

Huge fan of this author and this is another absolutely great read. I have nothing negative I can say about this book. It has been a great read filled with interesting characters and a unique plot.

This book started out as an amazing thriller, full of potential. It had those factors which could have been developed to create an awesome read. The book addresses issues like sexual harrasment in young children, which might seem oblivious to them. They change according to their toxic relationships, which they do not realise. This is not just a thriller, but is also the quest for truth by a determined mother.

Now here's why this book missed the mark for me. As I already mentioned, this book had so much potential, with its first half filled with excitement to know the truth, but the over-described sub-plots and a large number of insignificant characters by the second half made the reading experience tiresome. Also, I feel like the ultimate twist was revealed early, and there wasn't much to look forward to.

The connection between a mother and her son, no matter how distant it seems, is strong. Kate is an epitome of determination. Her motherly intuition did not fail her. For me, Kate is the big plus in this story.

Overall, it was a nice read. A ⭐⭐⭐.5 for me!

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange of an honest review!

Kate`s teenage son Michael died in what has been recorded as an accident, he drowned in a lake near his school.
Kate has never believed this to be the case, so when she finds Michael`s diary years later she is convinced that now she will finally be able to prove exactly what happened to Michael.
The more she reads his diary she discovers that she really didn`t know Michael or the people in his life very well at all.
Perhaps it would have been better to let her sons secrets stay buried in the past?
Kate`s emotional journey to reach the truth makes for compelling reading.
Thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon books for the ARC .

This took me a while to get into and I did struggle a bit especially in the beginning. I did want to shake some of the people involved, but it was very well written and the author really got you involved in the story. There were lots of twists and turns.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

This book has plenty of emotions, and some scenes where you just need to continue quickly as it's an edge of the seat thing.
I did feel for Kate very much and the author conveyed this well.
All in all a good emotional drama which I would recommend.

It was okay. Some bits were excellent and some bits were woeful so overall it was okay.

I had worked out the main story within the first 20% of the book and then spent the next 40% being irritated and frustrated waiting for the main character to catch up. When she did catch up and started making active choices the book got interesting.

There were a couple of moments that had me rolling my eyes - the newspaper clue and when Desra said she couldn't swim and not one character picked up on this, she's a coach of elite swimmers I think people, especially Kate would have picked up on this weird statement.

The characters were mostly well defined with the exception of the husband, he was a total caricature and felt like an afterthought shoe horned in. The later characters had more personality and this lifted the later part of the book.

I have major issues with the ending because none of the victims get a chance to be believed never mind get justice. Another thing that bugged me is that there are always rumours, always. There is no way that this was going on for so long and at so many places without there being lots and lots of rumours.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a full book in one sitting until I started reading The Lake! I couldn’t put it down and I was absolutely hooked from page one!

Once Kate finds Michael’s diary that’s when everything starts to unravel. We follow Kate on this hunt to find out the truth which she faces alone as everyone closest to her continues to doubt her and worry for her mental health. I really connected to Kate, she was such a strong character with this overwhelming love for her son and I adored that.

I did feel like the story had two parts. The first half is Kate trying to find answers which lead her to numerous different people who were involved in Michael’s life. We also learn more about Kate’s childhood and the psychological abuse she suffers from her husband who I disliked immensely! The second half (which I will try to avoid any spoilers) sees no more mention of her family or husband and feels like a story within itself as she finally starts to learn the truth about what happened to Michael and begins her ‘mission’ to get justice for him.

You will have your suspicions as soon as Michael’s diary entries are detailed but I didn’t think it was obvious and there were many times I changed my mind over what I thought might have happened to him. Throughout the second half of the book it will become clear as to what happened to him yet this didn’t take away any suspense, in fact it created more as you desperately wanted Kate to prove what she had found.

Overall this was a gripping thriller that was a complete page turner and a book you won’t be able to put down!

The Lake is the captivating yet heartbreaking tale of a mother who loses her son to a tragedy but believes that foul play was somehow involved and will go to the ends of the earth to prove it. But is she right? A&E nurse Kate Hardy is a grieving mother who is still struggling to come to terms with the death of her teenage son, Michael David Penrose, six years ago. He was only fifteen when was found drowned, despite being a strong and competitive swimmer, at Argal Lake in 2015. Despite her husband, and Michael's stepfather, Adam, a doctor and a controlling manipulator, her mum and her sister having tried their best to be there for her it's problematic as none of them will listen to her pleas about his death and the possibility that someone else was involved and has, up until, now gotten off scot free. The police ruled it to be a tragic accident, but Kate believes it was something much more sinister than that and is hellbent on finding out the truth. Kate had been visiting the lake to lay flowers and sit on Michael's memorial bench and was seated by the lake watching a young boy paddle board yet when he falls and starts struggling to keep his head above the water her feet are planted like two concrete blocks and she's unable to move to help him; I guess in some ways this is about her regret that she was not there to help her son when he needed, her but she is already struggling to hold it together given it's the anniversary of his death. She also has a phobia of water that she didn't have before the drowning. Luckily, the boy’s mother is close by and jumps into action. Kate tends to the boy when he's out of the water by doing CPR and forcing air into his waterlogged lungs. She has been used to the looks of judgement she had received from people after questioning the police's version of events leading up to Michael’s death; it was normal to her now.

Those who surround her much to her chagrin often treat her as though she's crazy and question everything from her judgement to her mental state. So far Kate hasn't pursued her own investigation into her son, those around him and the circumstances surrounding the incident, but she feels like she's at the stage where this is essential for her health and wellbeing. Even if no one will have her back, she will carry this out alone if she has to. It's the least her son deserves and she can't quite believe that her family and friends are all okay with just accepting the police’s haphazard determination even if they also have qualms about the tragedy themselves; was it laziness or did they simply not care? When Kate finds Michael’s diary at her mother’s house it gives her the break she was looking for. There seems to be a lot about her son’s life she didn't know and figures it was a secret he had that may have gotten him killed. There are also countless references to ’Diving Fish’, whoever that may be. With a renewed sense of perspective, she vows not to stop until she uncovers the truth. This is a captivating and compulsive mystery packed with heart, emotion and the unbreakable bond between mother and son. Kate is a character who is likeable and relatable and her dogged determination even in the face of her family not showing her any support made her a hero and a strong woman in my eyes. The villain of the story is revealed about halfway through the book and then the rest is dedicated to the search for enough evidence to prove wrongdoing in a court of law. Full of emotion, compassion and a quiet resilience, Kate is a formidable protagonist in a gritty, palpably tense and thoroughly compelling tale. Highly recommended.

The Lake
By Louise Sharland
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Michael, Kate’s Son drowned in a lake 6 years ago. Kate still lives the nightmare to this day, it’s on her mind constantly. She needs to know what really happened the night of Michaels death and goes to great lengths to investigate this.
It’s not until the illness of her mother that Kate discovers as diary and a burner phone in her Mums house that used to belong to Michael. This leads Kate on a path to discovery and unearthing the past.

I absolutely loved this slow burning thriller by Louise she really developed each character well and depicted an epic story line. It took me a mere 3 days to read and if I didn’t have to work or look after kids I’d probably of finished a lot sooner.

Thanks NetGalley and Avon Books for an Advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A story of loss and determination to get to the truth. This one had be totally absorbed in the life of Kate.

Kate is devastated after the loss of her son, Michael, who drowned in a lake near his school. Despite an investigation the death is recorded as a tragic accident but Kate doesn’t believe this and is sure there is more to her son’s death.

Six years after Michael’s death, Kate discovers his diary and suddenly she realises with the help of her sons words she may be able to discover the truth behind his death. But how far will Kate go to find the truth ?

This is a great emotional thriller that will have you turning the pages to discover the truth along with Kate. I really warmed to Kates character, which is always a must for me to get hooked by a book.

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

I made a terrible mistake starting this book at 10 PM, thinking I would read a chapter or two and then go to sleep.

Instead I stayed up all night finishing! I could not put this away!

Highly recommended

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC copy.

This one was a difficult one for me. The blurb and the premise of the story had me pressing request at high speed. Although the storyline did live up to most of my expectations I didn't feel anything for any of the characters. I can't put my finger on why but I could not connect with any of them and it made it a difficult long read as I wasn't wanting to rush to the end.

BUT please don't let my personal opinion put you off giving it a try as it was a good story and you may feel differently. The climax at the boathouse was not the ending I was expecting.