Completely blown away by this book. I was riveted by this story. It draws you in and does not let go. Christina McDonald did an amazing job weaving this spellbinding tale of revenge and forgiveness. The characters are really well fleshed out and the interactions between them is so thought provoking. I wanted to jump straight to the next book book in the Jess Lambert series. Unfortunately, I have to wait as this is book one. I will be patient as I am sure the next entry will be well worth the wait.

Thank you so very much NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc.

Christina McDonald has done it again! I wasn't sure I would like this book, since was so different from her other novels, and I generally don't care too much for books that are from multiple perspectives.

This book is well written and the characters just draw you into their lives.

Neve is a woman who is struggling to put the past behind her, especially after the violent home invasion that she just experienced. Together with her daughter Ash they embark on a journey of recovery and forgiveness.

Jess is a woman who is also struggling with putting her past behind her and finding forgiveness from her daughter Isla, but herself. She finds comfort in the bottom if glass, or even better a bottle.

When their two women meet, they find that they can help each other solve the murder of Neve's old friend Bee.

With the past coming back to haunt those responsible for a tragic accident from years ago, will Neve and Jess be able to overcome their own shortcomings to save Neve's daughter Ash from a killer obsessed with revenge.

I starting piecing things together just before Christina brought them together for us. I wasn't expecting all of the twists that Christina threw at us. And the ending was magnificent, even though it had me in tears.

Both Neve and Jess finally find the peace that they are looking for as Jess and Neve stop the killer just moments before she tries to kill Ash. Neve goes on to her destiny and has the opportunity to tell her comatose daughter and grieving husband that she lives them.

Jess.finds the help she needs and goes home to her estranged husband, just before her daughter Isla comes back to her and she gets a call that she has another case to help solve for the dead.

This one was a surprise! I got sucked into the story and stayed up way too late finishing it. The end I did not see coming and the twists had me shook!

Neve returns with her daughter to her childhood summer home after a home invasion. Black Lake is supposed to be their fresh start. However, when a body appears in the lake behind their home, Neve begins to panic. Detective Jess Lambert can tell Neve has secrets and when a second body appears both are forced to confront their pasts.

The Still Black Waters is available August 8,2023.

Thank you netgalley and thomas&mercer for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

These Still Black Waters is a thriller told from three main perspectives; DetectiveJess Lambert, Neve Maguire and our killer. The story deals with the past and how it always comes back to haunt us. Black Lake is holding secrets that come to the surface in this haunting novel.

My feelings on this novel aren’t great if I am being honest. I want to preface this by saying hats off to anyone that creates these worlds that ensnare us readings. I know that it isn’t easy and I hate to bash anyone’s hard work but I feel like there are certain supernatural elements that come to light that feel forced or predictable. Overall the twist and revelations were a little obvious for someone who reads a lot from this genre. The good news is this is written like it will become a series and I am more than willing to give Detective Lambert another try.
#netgalley #thesestillblackwaters

One long ago summer night which changed lives forever. Neve, Sandra and Bailey were friends as teens. One night of drunken misbehaviour changed everything. Now Neve has returned with her daughter Ashley to her childhood summer home to recover from the trauma of a violent home invasion that left them both physically and mentally exhausted. Then a woman's body is found in the lake next to their house, and Neve begins to question whether they escaped the danger at all.

This thriller had me in its grip! The story jumps between flashbacks and present day, and is told from multiple POV including the shadowy figure behind the violence. I loved the overlay of the supernatural element in the novel, and Detective Lambert's personal history which added richness to the story. I found the conclusion a little drawn out, but overall this was a page turner! Thanks to NetGalley for this copy to read.

I’ve felt that These Still Black Waters by Christina McDonald was slow and repetitive and the « I should’ve » « but I didn’t » were really annoying. Glad I’ve kept reading, because once I got over these bits, the book is interesting, with a good plot, real characters that grows with the story, and the twists and turns and the haunting makes it interesting and engaging.

Sentí lento y tedioso el principio de These Still Black Waters by Christina McDonald y casi dejo de leerlo. Qué bueno que seguí leyendo, porque el ritmo del libro cambia, la historia se vuelve interesante, tiene una buena trama, los personajes son reales y crecen con la historia, y los giros y las apariciones lo mantienen a uno en suspenso.

I found this very interesting from the start and it captivated my attention. I found the character development to be great. However, there was a plat twist that I did not expect and I am a bit unsure how I felt about it. I would recommend reading it.

Another sensational novel by the author. Eerie, haunting and immersive, the characters really drew me into this novel.

After a traumatic home invitation, Neve needs to escape with her daughter, to escape the horror back to her hometown, leaving her husband behind.But shortly after their arrival, a body is found in the lake near the home she is staying in and it stirs up old memories for Neve. She isn't the only one haunted by her past. Detective Jess Lambert is tasked with the murder investigation, only having just returned to work after suffering a great loss herself, the trauma still close by.

In the the author's true style, there were lots of questions looming as the story went along, keeping the suspense high. While I usually like some clue as to the basic elements involved in a novel in the blurb, this was still thoroughly enjoyable and I could not put it down.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this gifted review copy.

I wanted to like this book but it was a DNF for me. The twist really didn't work for me- I'm not a fan of supernatural elements in books. It took me out of the whole story.

These Still Black Waters is the first book in a new series by Christina McDonald. I have read all of this author’s book and love them all, so I was excited to read this one but it was not what I expected but in a good way. It is different from her other books, you think you know what is happening but something else entirely is going on. I loved this book and can’t wait for the second book in the series. Thank you Netgalley for my arc.

I really enjoyed this book. A woman and her daughter take a vacation and things go awry. There are different POVs that kept me guessing and wanting more. I enjoyed the short chapters and found it easy to say “just one more chapter” until it was way past my bedtime.

Thank you Christina McDonald and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I did not realize this book was going to be a ghost / paranormal read. This book was a little far fetched and not what I usually read.

Christina McDonald is highly skilled in the art of teeth-gritting, goosebump-giving suspense. Fans of domestic thrillers - you will like this one!

I just finished this ARC and holy smokes was it such a good way to end 2022. The suspense, grief, twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat the entire way through. I loved seeing different views throughout the story. I fell in love with Jess, the detective, and found myself really sympathizing with her. I’m extremely pumped that it sounds like her journey will not be done. I loved all the detail in the story and it really helped me picture it all so easily. This is a must read when it releases in August 2023!

5/5 ⭐️

A huge thank you to Net Galley, Thomas and Mercer and Christina McDonald for the opportunity to read this awesome novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

The writing was great- I felt like I could very easily visualize everything the author was writing. I can very easily see this book as a movie! That being said, I was a little disappointed with the ultimate twist. The build up was great, but finding out the “who” of what actually was going on left little to be desired. But all in all, it’s a great book that kept me on the edge of my seat & I couldn’t put it down. I will definitely read other books in this detective series should the be

I really enjoyed this, giving it an overall rating of 4 stars. It was suspenseful and fast-paced, touching on grief, revenge, and a little of the supernatural. This story follows a mother who moves back to her home town with her daughter after a violent home invasion, hoping that it will keep them from being found by the intruder who was never caught. However, when they arrive, more tragedy awaits. Our main character Neve soon begins to question if something more sinister is at play. We also get the point of view of Detective Jess Lambert, who is dealing with her own past and present issues and becomes a bit of an unreliable narrator. There were a few scenes that seemed to be a little overly descriptive and took away from the suspense and main plot in the story, but overall I highly recommend this book!

Being a fan of Christina McDonald I was excited to jump into this one. Interesting story, but without giving any spoilers I'll just say that it had elements that I'm not a fan of. That being said it was still intriguing and enjoyable. Not my favorite of hers but still a great read.

Thanks to Netgalley for my first ARC of "These Still Black Waters" by Christina McDonald. This was my first book by this author and won't be my last! Neve Maguire and her daughter Ash return to Neve's Summer childhood home after a brutal home invasion. Neve hopes to get away from the dangers of home but quickly realizes she made a mistake when a body is found. Lead investigator Jessica Lambert is on the hunt for the killer but how reliable are her witnesses?
This book was easy to read although I felt it was a bit repetitive in parts. Full of twists and parts that made you go hmmm? I would definitely put this on your tbr list for 2023!
Publication Date- August 8, 2023

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. So as to not leave spoilers, I will simply say I really enjoyed this book and although it isn't what I would normally pick, I am glad I got a free copy. A solid 4 star read. Writing was good. Story line maybe a bit quirky, but a solid mystery.

Loved it! The suspense in this book is incredible! Someone is killing women. How are they connected, and who is next? This book kept me turning pages like crazy!