What a read, loved it! The whole experience was beautifully chaotic. It really drives home how little we sometimes know about the people around us, even when we think we’ve got them figured out.

As for pacing, it was mostly solid. Sure, there were a few sections that dragged a bit, maybe could’ve been trimmed, but nothing that derailed the story for me. I love when authors can completely throw me off track, and this one did just that. It was a brilliant read, and my mind is officially bent for the week. I can’t wait for more people to pick this up—it’s one wild ride.

The Lake of Lost Girls is a mystery thriller centered around the disappearance of several coeds at a North Carolina college in 1998. Twenty-four years later, the body of a girl is found, a true crime podcast is started, and the sister of one of the missing girls is drawn into a decades old mystery that started, and ended, at Doll's Eye Lake.

This story was filled with jaw dropping twists and turns; definitely a must read! Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC !

This book was SO GOOD. I was immediately drawn in. Give me murder in the 99s and I am IN! The twists and turns in this book were so addicting I did not want to put this one down! I’m so glad I randomly picked this one to read and I just sped right through it! I really enjoyed all the character’s struggles and realizations there was just so much going on with this story! An absolute binge-worthy thriller!

The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene is a suspenseful and timely thriller that explores the fallout from decades-old disappearances at a North Carolina college. In 1998, freshman Jessica Fadley goes missing during a wave of student vanishings, leaving her younger sister Lindsey searching for answers. Twenty-four years later, Lindsey, now an adult, is drawn into the renewed investigation when bodies start turning up in Doll’s Eye Lake, spurred on by a popular true crime podcast that reopens cold cases.

The novel uses alternating timelines—delving into Jessica’s struggles in the late 1990s and Lindsey’s relentless pursuit of the truth in the present—to sustain tension and unravel a complicated web of secrets and lies. The inclusion of podcast transcripts and news reports gives the narrative a modern edge and highlights the sometimes exploitative nature of true crime media. Themes of sisterhood, trauma, and the societal response to missing women are woven throughout, making the story resonate beyond its mystery plot.

While the suspense and pacing are frequently praised, with plenty of twists to keep readers invested, critiques point to some underdeveloped or unlikable characters and a few predictable reveals for seasoned thriller fans. Still, the atmosphere and construction of the mystery, alongside the impact of grief and obsession, make this a haunting read for anyone drawn to cold cases and the darker side of campus life.

Recommended for fans of twisty cold-case thrillers and contemporary crime fiction with emotional undercurrents and a sharp critique of true crime culture.

I was definitely hooked from the start, and enjoyed the ride overall. The alternating timelines and POVs were a great way to tell the story, even if some of the characters were quite predictable. I usually love a podcast, but I'm not sure that it was necessary to tell this story. It didn't really add anything except for the vulture-like effect that true crime can have on victim's families. I caught on to a lot of the clues early on to guess some of the twists, but I still enjoyed how it all played out. I kind of wish there was more accountability for those who wronged/killed others in the end. Overall, this was an entertaining and twisted read that I'd recommend!

ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || THE LAKE OF LOST GIRLS [thank you to @crookedlanebooks and @netgalley for my #gifted copy!]

I’m so glad that @ put this book on my radar this month! It had the perfect spooky, eerie atmosphere to round out spooky season before diving into more classic holiday fare.

Title: The Lake of Lost Girls
Author: Katherine Green
Genre: Suspense/Mystery
Format: 🎧 Audio
Star Rating: ★★★☆☆
Narrator: Full Cast (Helen Laser, Frankie Corzo, et. al)
Narration: ★★★★★

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ:
In 1998, female students at Southern State University in North Carolina begin disappearing, including freshman Jessica Fadley, whose life had already been spiraling out of control. Twenty-four years later, her sister Lindsey is determined to find out what happened, spurred by the popular true crime podcast Ten Seconds to Vanish that highlights Jessica’s cold case. When the bodies of the missing women start appearing at a nearby lake, Lindsey's pursuit of the truth uncovers a disturbing path of secrets.

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
I always find it so hard to write reviews for thriller books without giving too much away, so here’s what I’ll say: this duo did a GREAT JOB of making you question everything you knew as far who was guilty. At some point in the novel, I suspected three different people and they were all SOLID suspects.

What I didn’t love was the ending. I felt like it fell a little flat and that there hadn’t been enough build-up to come to the conclusion that it did. It would have been great if there had been a little more legwork.

And that’s all I’ll say.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Multiple Timelines
Multi-Media Format
Unreliable Narrators
Mulitple Red Herrings
True Crime
All Good People Here
The Night Swim
Listen For The Lie

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 3.86 ⭐️
# of Hours: 10 hours, 15 minutes
Pub Date: November 5, 2024 (Out Now!)

"The Lake of Lost Girls" delivers a solid, if somewhat familiar, mystery/thriller that fans of the genre will likely enjoy. Katherine Greene creates an atmospheric small-town setting filled with secrets, strained relationships, and the lingering shadows of the past- a recipe that works well for this kind of story.

While the plot keeps a steady pace and offers a few decent twists, it doesn’t break much new ground. The characters and conflicts feel a bit pedestrian at times, echoing themes and dynamics we’ve seen before in similar novels. That said, Greene’s writing is engaging, and she builds enough suspense to keep the pages turning.

This book may not be a standout in the crowded thriller category, but it’s a reliable, well-structured mystery that delivers on what it promises: intrigue, drama, and a satisfying, if somewhat predictable, conclusion. I give it 3.5 stars.

Title: The Lake of Lost Girls
Author: Katherine Greene
Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.75/5)

Review:
From the beginning, there’s this heavy, almost claustrophobic atmosphere that never really lets up. The small-town lake setting feels both beautiful and dangerous, like something terrible is always just out of sight. The main character is complicated and flawed, and I liked that she wasn’t always easy to trust. It kept me on my toes the entire time trying to figure out who was lying, what really happened, and how her past tied into everything.

This isn’t a fast paced thriller, it’s slower, more psychological, and really leans into the emotional weight of guilt, memory, and trauma. There were a few times where I wanted things to move a bit faster, but I also appreciated that the story gave space to the characters’ inner lives. The ending hit hard and made me rethink a few earlier scenes.

If you like moody, character-driven mysteries with lots of secrets and a slightly eerie vibe, definitely check this one out. This book is perfect for fans of Megan Miranda and Riley Sager.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A thriller that feels like stepping into a foggy, eerie dream—Greene’s novel is atmospheric, gripping, and deeply unsettling. The story centers around a small town where a local woman vanishes without a trace, setting off an investigation that reveals unsettling truths. With its richly developed characters and chilling mystery, *The Lake of Lost Girls* keeps you questioning *who to trust* at every turn. Greene masterfully blends psychological tension with slow-building dread, making this a haunting read that lingers long after the

This was very good and the twist was EVERYTHING. Honestly, one of the best twists I've read in a long time.

I loved this one. I loved the podcast ladies giving us their point of view. The ending wasn't a big surprise but yet I was shocked. Overall, it was a great read full of mystery and suspense.

I struggle to find books in this genre that I can genuinely enjoy. This one was good. I bought a copy for my friend to have when it was released.

A gripping atmospheric thriller that weaves past and present with an incredible amount of suspense. The setting of Doll’s Eye Lake is haunting and eerie. I loved the True Crime Podcast element and thought it brought another layer to the story.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion

This was a really good thriller for summer! Ive seen nothing but good reviews for it as well. I was hooked the whole time and really enjoyed the read

WOW!!! PHENOMENAL!!! Thank you NetGalley, Katherine Greene, and Crooked Lane Books for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

A scream in the dark. A secret buried beneath layers of time. This story begins in tragedy that is both chilling and laced with dread. A cold case that unravels through dual timelines and split perspectives, each voice echoing with secrets and sorrow.

One sister searches for truth in the present, carefully untangling a web of lies. The other, in the past, descends into a darkness that slowly, inevitably, seals her fate. Tension crackles on every page, as each new detail is revealed. Just when you think you've figured it out, the ground shifts and so does your suspect.

The characters are deeply flawed, fractured, and unsettlingly real. Red herrings haunt the pages, trust is a slippery thing, and the atmosphere is thick with unease. The podcast elements are brilliantly woven in, adding a modern twist to the mystery and pulling you even deeper.

And that ending is heartbreaking, shocking, and unforgettable!! A final twist that left me reeling, breathless, and broken.

This unputdownable book is so much more than a cold case mystery thriller! It's a haunting and emotional journey that lingers long after the final pages. It will chill you, move you, and leave you questioning everything! I highly recommend it and It deserves ALL the stars!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this ARC!

So… yeah this is an interesting one because I felt like I should’ve been really into this one. I just couldn’t get over the fact that there were many unlikeable characters. The men were HUGE red flags, but apparently everyone’s favorite color in this book is red. The father-daughter relationship was also just kinda weird for me. It just really frustrated me and had me rolling my eyes. The mystery part did keep me reading. To have a body discovered in a lake that’s known as Doll’s Eye Lake is so eerie and creepy! Honestly, with a name like that, I’d never visit that lake 😂 I wanted to find out what happened, and I will say I wasn’t able to fully guess that ending! So points for that.

Even though this didn’t wow me, I would be curious to hear other opinions should you decide to give this a read!

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book is a mystery that follows the case of a college girl that went missing. We follow the perspective of her little sister and the podcast of the cold case. We also have flashbacks throughout.

I thought this book was pretty good but not my favorite. I liked the different POVs and time lines. I think the mystery unfolded nicely and it was easy to read.

However, I don’t think this book did anything special. I feel like I’ve read this type of story so many times. I also feel like the podcast element is a bit overdone nowadays.

Overall, a decent mystery but nothing I will remember in the future probably.

On Lindsey’s 6th birthday her 19-year-old sister, Jessica disappeared from their driveway. 24 years later, this tragedy has colored every part of Lindsey’s life. As a body is pulled from the nearby lake, interest in the case resurfaces. Lindsey strives learn who her sister was and finally get answers. But Jessica wasn’t the only college girl to disappear in 1999. How are these girls connected and what led them to this watery grave?
The story is told from multiple viewpoints and mediums including a true crime podcast and social media posts. The timeline alternates between modern day and 1999.
If you love Frieda McFadden and are looking for something new, I highly recommend this book. The Lake of Lost Girls delivers a big twist I didn’t see coming!

Such a great psychological thriller! This book had me gripped from very early on in the book! I enjoyed the two timelines which helped unravel this mystery.

A book made for true crime aficionados, podcast premise lovers, or anyone looking for a thoroughly chilling read, The Lake of Lost Girls had me spellbound from the very first page. From the evocatively drawn small town setting to the true-to-life characters, the well-rounded feel of this thrilling tale of dark academia mixed with domestic suspense left me utterly breathless. After all, between the dual POVs and the mixed media format, I was easily sucked into the rising tension and eerie feel that managed to permeate the novel.