True to Christina McDonald's established style, What Lies in Darkness is another compelling mystery with heart and mental health all intertwined, and an ending that doesn't disappoint.

This one took me a tad longer to get into than the first, but I never once considered DNFing. Readers get just enough information to piece everything together themselves, yet the focus is drawn to other aspects of the case in a way that makes for a stunning final reveal at the end. Aspects of family, grief, friendship, economic hardship, manipulation, and a touch of the supernatural all combine in a way that had me itching to read more every time I had to put the book down. The research that went into developing each character - some with substance dependencies, others with grief, some even who experience grief hallucinations, and other medical topics - is obvious, and presented in a way in which no prior medical knowledge is required of readers.

The story is presented as somewhat of a dual timeline story, with three major points of view, which come together to reveal a full picture of incident, precursor, aftermath, and investigation. All round just a fantastic, enjoyable read, and an excellent installment in the Jess Lambert series.

I absolutely loved this book! Hands-down, it was one of the most gripping and engaging books I’ve read by Christina McDonald! Dare I even said this might be my favorite of her novels. Jess Lambert has quickly become one of my newest favorite characters, and I was so intrigued by this book it is definitely cannot-put-down- kind of novel. I loved it!

What Lies in Darkness is the second book in the Detective Jess Lambert novels. While some sequels can be read as standalone, I’d recommend reading These Still Black Waters prior to this book. Although the author is good about detailing out events, you’ll enjoy this book so much more by having the backstory first.

Honestly, I didn’t love These Still Black Waters so I was hesitant but hopefully optimistic going into this one. It was nice to kinda know what to expect. I do enjoy the way the author writes for the most part, but there are some flaws. Like I mentioned in my review for the 1st book, the author often constantly uses over descriptive text. Everything and everyone was described in excessive detail. The way she sprinkles in enough mystery to keep you interested and wanting to keep reading is perfect though.

One thing that helped me like this book a lot more than the first book is I really related to Alice as a character. I never had that with Neve or honestly Jess. The multi-POV & alternating timelines is not unique in the thriller genre, but even within the same chapter the timelines would jump around which got confusing.

The Jess Lambert books are an interesting mash-up of genres. While the crime thriller is at the forefront, there’s also paranormal elements and a bit of horror. It kind of reminds me of Simone St. James style of thrillers.

This book had a lot more twists and turns than the previous, and while some I figured out. I was definitely surprised as well. There are twists that require you to suspend reality a bit. Overall, the story came together nicely. There’s nothing more unsatisfying than when a book leaves you with more questions than answers. This one however wrapped everything up perfectly. 👌

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Well written mystery full of depth and psychological insights. Likeable characters and an unpredictable storyline. A detective, aided by her sensitivity and the ghost of her daughter solve the case of a missing family. Think my students will like this one a lot.

Starts strong and keeps going. This author has a way of weaving deep insightful truths about grief, secrets, relationships into a complex but accessible story. It follows three people, Jess, the detective , grieving the loss of her daughter from a car accident she caused, Alice whose family mysteriously disappeared a year before and Laura, her mother who in the past tense fills us in on what happened. Absorbing and thought provoking. 4.5

I totally got the creeps reading What Lies in Darkness, but somehow that was in a good way? The breadcrumbs and anticipation of solving the case had me on edge and made it tough to put the book down! Definitely did not anticipate the ending! This is a fantastic psychological thriller, absolutely recommend to all thriller/suspense lovers.

This book is a WILD ride and I loved every minute of it! I was kept guessing until the very end. I had absolutely no idea what was coming, and then when I thought I knew everything, there was a MIND BLOWING twist. This book is so much more than an average thriller, touching on themes such as neurodivergence, mental health, and the lasting impacts of grief. There are many characters in this book with their own stories and personalities, and that can become so convoluted if not well executed and I thought it was so well done here. I am completely blown away by this book, and I hope there are many more Jess Lambert novels to come in the future.

Thank you SO much to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this advance copy!

I loved this arc!!!!

Only problem I ran into was that it wasn’t a book that had me completely hooked and not want to put the book down.

BUT it had me thinking all throughout the book! What happened.
Who could’ve done it.

AND THEN YOU GET BODY SLAMMED AT THE END! LIKE EXCUSE ME!

My jaw completely DROPPED!

Definitely can see myself reading this again! I regret waiting as long as I did to read this book!

Thanks NetGally for the ARC.

I have not read the first book in the series so I am not sure if this one could be read as a stand alone... Anyhow I will grab book #1 sometime soon.

I mentioned it before but I really want to dive into thrillers more this year. So far I enjoyed each book I read and this one was no exception he blurb was interesting ! Like whole family goes missing without a trace leaving only 16 yrs old Alice. I mean you want to know what happened right? It was fast read and it kept me guessing who did it?!

Ill give it a 4 Stars. There are few question I have but I don't want to ask and spoil for people who did not read it.

What Lies in Darkness was the perfect mix of mystery and thriller! The book intertwines the past and present of Alice and Jess' lives in order to find answers to what happened to the Harper's. I would recommend this to any mystery/ thriller lover!

This was a great followup to the first Jess novel. I love the Black Lake scenery, and McDonald's writing just keeps getting better. I hope to see lots more Jess Lambert novels!

Once again, Christina McDonald has written a great book!

Loss, deadly secrets, and betrayal follow Alice like a second skin.

Someone eliminated her entire family, will see be next? Is there anyone that she can trust?

The characters really grab you in Christina’s latest book. I enjoyed watching the characters looking for the answers to all the questions they have about that awful night.

I liked how you can see Alice and Jess begin to heal and grow through each others mutual tragedies.

This was the second book in the Jess Lambert series but it was quite easy to pick up, even if you've not read the first one. 
A missing family. A traumatized detective. The past and present colliding. 

Late Christmas Eve, the Harper family’s car crashed on a desolate stretch outside Black Lake. Sixteen-year-old Alice was found injured by the side of the road—alone. It was as if her parents and younger sister, Ella, had simply disappeared. A year on and Alice is still dealing with the trauma and then they find her sister's backpack. Detective Lambert investigates and unravels new leads and secrets in the case, ones that may be connected to her own past.  I have to admit, I did guess a part of the twist in this one but still absolutely loved this novel! I was riveted and honestly could not put it down. The tension was high throughout and it was just so cleverly written. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for this gifted review copy.

A family has gone missing on Christmas Eve after a car accident. There is one survivor, and she doesn't remember much at all. A beeping noise, a child in a Hello Kitty headband speaking to her, a glimpse of her father - nothing that can explain why she was left behind.



I do not like supernatural novels, but this one is an exception. The 'ghosts' are not scary, threatening, or malevolvent. That is fine with me.

I read the first Jess Lambert book, and felt I had to read this one as well. I wanted to know if she found closure from the death of her daughter, Isla. Not that it would end her grief, I don't believe a parent ever gets over the death of their child, but Jess was carrying so much guilt, as she was driving the car and blamed herself.

This book really gripped me, the whole disappearing of Alice's family had me turning pages like a mad woman, I really needed to know what had really happened to them.
With solid police work, the puzzle pieces fell into place, albeit slowly. Alice's utter grief was heartbreaking, and was extremely emotional.


The final chapter floored me. Pulled the whole story together, and the reader realises that a Mother's love is powerful and the purest form of love.

I recommend this book, and cannot wait for the next in the series.

There is a trigger, though. School bullying. Name calling. Exclusion.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you #ThomasAndMercer and #Netgalley for letting me read this early.What Lies In Darkness is the second book in the Jess Lambert series by Christina McDonald.I love this series by McDonald.Make sure you read the first one These Still Black Waters it is not to be missed as well.

#WhatLiesInDarkness by @Christinamac79 was an absolute delight. I loved the intertwined characters and POVs and how that brought every possibility to the surface. A truly wild thriller with breakneck speed that picks up and never quits. The core mystery left me dumbfounded for longer than I expected -- and there were even more twists ahead.

So, this is the second book in the Jess Lambert series and I will say that I am already wanting more!! I’m not typically a big fan of series (it’s just too big of a commitment to get started on), but I love Jess Lambert’s detective character. I’m also starting to love author Christina McDonald more and more with each book that she writes. This book kept me glued to the pages from the first chapter, and made my head spin a little at the last chapter (I totally did not see that coming)!

In this story we have the main character of Alice Harper. Alice lost her parents and younger sister, Ella nearly a year ago late Christmas Eve during a terrible car crash. It was a snowy night, and the family vehicle slid on some ice, flipped over and all family members were presumed dead except Alice. Alice awoke from the crash bloodied, bruised up, and with a broken arm. However, her parents and sister were nowhere to be found. How could her other family members have just disappeared into thin air? They obviously must be dead, or they would have come for her. Right?

Now enter Jess Lambert, my favorite book detective (yes, I can totally relate to her bad leg). Jess is in search of the missing Harper’s. Jess becomes close to Alice, as she knows they can both see and feel things that others cannot. Can Jess protect Alice and help her find her family? Also, can Jess heal from her own personal trauma and problems while trying to solve this case and move forward with her life?

This book was easy to read as it was told in alternating chapters of Alice, Jess, and Laura’s (Harper), POV’s. This book can easily be read as a standalone, although I do recommend reading “These Still Black Waters” beforehand- just to get a clearer understanding of Jess Lambert’s life (Oh, and there’s also a prequel too 😁).

I highly recommend reading this book (and this series), as there were many twists and turns along the way and the ending gave me a surprise that I did not see coming!! I cannot wait for the next book!! Hurry up Jess Lambert #3!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: July 16, 2024.
Genre~ General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers

📚 Book Review 📚

This is my first experience of reading anything by Christina MacDonald and I was impressed.

Alice Harper lost her entire family in a horrific car accident almost one year ago. She is haunted by her grief and as the first anniversary approaches, she is decidedly affected by events around her.

One day, a backpack is found in an empty house in her neighbourhood. The backpack is covered in blood. Her sister’s blood. There is a suitcase next to the backpack containing something that will blow everyone’s world apart. Where is her family? Are they alive or dead? Who is the young child that Alice sees?

Jess Lambert has a hell of a job on her hands, whilst in the depths of her own grief and loss.

I was a bit worried at first that this is the second book in a series and I hadn’t read the first, but it really didn’t matter. It was easy to make links with the detective Jess and despite her flaws and demons as a character, I really liked her. She drew me in.

The other characters were intriguing and the events which unfolded, were exciting and gripping. People are not what they seem! I also loved the supernatural elements within the book; the shadows of the victims which still envelope the characters were compelling.

I loved it and I am am very interested in reading more from this author. I can’t wait to read another!

I’d like to thank Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley and Christina MacDonald for this fantastic opportunity 😊

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What Lies inI Darkness is Christina McDonald’s second in the suspenseful Jess Lambert’s series. Having not read the first in the series, I can definitely say you can read this as a standalone.
On Christmas Eve, sixteen year old Alice is in a car accident with her parents and younger sister Ella. When Alice is rescued, the rest of her family is no where to be found.
Forward to a year later, Jess a grief stricken, disabled police detective becomes active in the case of Alice’s missing family when Ella’s bloody backpack and a body stuffed in a suitcase are found.
Both Alice and Jess in their grief are seeing ghosts, helping them in the investigation.
This novel keeps your attention in hoping to find out what happened to the family. What an unexpected ending! Definitely a book to enjoy!

I read book one in the Jess Lambert series (These Still Black Waters) last year and loved it so much that I could not wait for book two! It did not disappoint, and I would venture to say that it is just as good, if not better, than the first one!

I love Jess, and it was great to see how she's working through her personal issues while at the same time trying to solve the case of Alice's missing family. The storyline was so good, and it kept me guessing as to what really happened the night of the accident. I was suspicious of so many of the characters and loved all the twists and turns! I did not see that shocking ending coming from a mile away!

This is now one of my favorite series, and I can't wait for more!! @christinamac79, please don't make me wait too long! 🤞😃

Thank you, @netgalley, for the #gifted e-book!