If you like:
🐌 Slower Burn Thrillers
⏳ Past and Present Timelines
#️⃣ Couple POV
🎙️ True Crime Podcasts
⛓️‍💥 Interconnected Missing Persons Cases
🏫 Freshman College Experiences
🍻Lots of Partying

This book is told in two timelines, one in the past when responsible Jessica turns party girl during her freshman year of college in 1998 and then present day from her sister’s POV, Lindsay who is now in her 30’s, who was only 6 when Jessica mysteriously disappeared from their family home and was never seen again and her famous words about her sister’s disappearance is now the title of a brand new true crime podcast that is trying to figure out what happened to Jessica all those years ago and several of her classmates who also went missing around the same time.

And in comes a boyfriend Lindsay never knew Jessica had, who also is trying to get to the bottom of what happened to his lost girlfriend.

Between the podcast excerpts, the past from Jessica, present from Lindsay and a few other one off POV’s this book truly was so immersive especially on audio and I just had to know what was happening!

If you like thrillers with podcast aspects and lots of pointing fingers and misdirection you will definitely enjoy this one!

Thank you so much to Crooked Lane Books for my ALC and ARC in exchange for my review! I will definitely be reading more from the writing duo that is Katherine Greene!

I came for the alluring premise, regarding a newly reopened cold-case about missing college girls from the nineties, but soon upon starting, I wanted it to be over quickly, because of the odious one-dimensional characters and their awkwardly stilted dialogue, among other things.

Firstly, I should acknowledge that I called the “mystery” of it all VERY early into the story. To me, it was GLARINGLY OBVIOUS who the unhinged character was by the things they were saying/not saying, literally from their first presence on page, and because of this, the wow factor of what actually happened to the missing girls (and why) was never quite there for me.

Lack of surprise aside, I also struggled with the portrayals of practically every character in this story. I always have a very hard time reading (any kind of fiction story) when I don’t like or care for the characters involved, and that quickly became apparent in my experience here.

It was one of those stories where each sub-set of characters were exactly the same as each other, and extremely so. By that I mean: ALL the men were predatory creeps that gave major ick vibes with every word spoken, ALL the women were emotionally stunted child-adults, seeking out/partaking in extremely unhealthy relationships with the men in their lives, and ALL the cops investigating the case were inept buffoons who couldn’t tell a CLEARLY CONNECTED string of disappearances from the freckles on their arses.

That is to say, the author’s personal sentiments felt like they came across hard and fast, especially regarding the untrustworthy, lecherous nature of (apparently all!?) men, the failings of law enforcement at the most basic levels of competency, and even, the small-minds of small-town folk who hate outsiders, and so on. For me, it was a lot of negative archetypes and a lot of preach, and it was damn distracting—again, this struck me very early into the story (literally from the first random podcast rant onward).

Don’t get me wrong, it was an extremely easy book to read, so points for that, but the story, the characters, and even the conclusion of the mystery at hand left a lot to be desired, at least for me personally. I love thriller-suspense stories and I love whodunnit-mysteries, but this just didn’t hit for me on either count. If you don’t read much in this genre, this may have a bigger, more positive impact—perhaps it could even read as intriguing in its telling and reveals—but if you’ve got a mind for this kind of thing, I highly doubt much will shock or excite you here.

I’ve said this before. I’m not an expert in mysteries or thrillers, and I’m quite often taken by surprise when the answers are revealed or there's twisty turns that come out of nowhere. Regardless, I’m always curious to find out what really happened and worried about the protagonist's fate but here, that was not the case.

Overall, the main issue for me was that there’s a consistently huge ICK factor that coated everything - the victims and their predators, not to mention the incompetence of law enforcement, and the toxic nature of social media and the journalists who are so very eager to discover the truth no matter what. I was appalled and disgusted by pretty much every person in this story, and perhaps that was the goal of the author.

I’m obviously not in agreement with the majority who have read this which goes to show just how personal a book can resonate. Admittedly, this was a quick, easy, page turner of a read. In broad strokes, the bones of this whodunnit were quite bold but again, I came away from this not feeling good about any aspect of this story - the execution, the characters, or the unsatisfying ending. I don’t know if that’s a testament to the writing or a testament to the writing.

Ultimately, I wish readers of this all the best and hope my dislikes are what make them love it instead!

Thank you to the author and Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review posted to Goodreads.

I love thrillers. I enjoy the tension they can build around a gripping plot; however, *The Lake of Lost Girls* left me disappointed.
While the storyline had the potential to engage readers with its adrenaline-pumping setting, the truth is that everything else fell flat. I really appreciated the tension it was able to generate, even though there are major flaws in the main aspects of the story. First of all, I found the characters dull, cliché, and two-dimensional. They act without any real logic, are lifeless, make nonsensical decisions, and, to be honest, are so full of anger that they come across as downright unlikeable. Moreover, if the idea was to write a different kind of thriller… well, it didn’t succeed; the writing still feels very immature.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. The premise sounded interesting, but it was beyond predictable. I knew it was the dad the moment he appeared in the book and then knew the other “twist” the moment an ID card kept getting mentioned over and over again. I won’t be recommending this one.

Dual timelines? Multiple POVs? Podcast transcripts? Say no more! This book had some of my favorite elements to frame a story. My first book by this writing duo and hopefully not my last!

I find the combination of books with podcasts absolutely captivating, especially when they're diving into unsolved mysteries and chilling old murders.

Take "The Lake of Lost Girls," for instance—it's a thriller that checks all the boxes for me! I was beyond thrilled to get my hands on both the ebook and the audiobook. Following along with the audio really adds a rich layer to the story. It unfolds through dual timelines and multiple perspectives, which is my jam! And with multiple narrators bringing the characters to life, this audiobook truly hit the mark for me.

The plot centers on a cold case involving several missing college girls, which gets reignited when one of their bodies turns up near Doll's Eye Lake—the place initially suspected to be the dumping ground. Intrigued by the lake's eerie name, I couldn't resist looking up the Doll's Eye plant, and wow, it's real! Its strange appearance would make a perfect spooky decoration for Halloween!

What I loved most about this story were the red herrings that kept my mind racing, weaving an intricate web of suspense. The characters are richly developed and interlinked, and I was completely hooked from the first moments of listening. While I managed to piece together some clues, the final twist left me utterly stunned—it was like a punch to the gut! Seriously, it's one of the best plot twists I've encountered.

Katherine Greene, the collaborative genius behind this delightful pen name, has truly knocked it out of the park with this latest novel! Having thoroughly enjoyed their first collaboration, I was absolutely blown away by how they raised the bar this time. I'm eagerly counting the days until their next spectacular story hits the shelves! The two dazzling women hosting the podcast in the book are absolutely captivating—I'd love to hear more from them and dive deeper into their world!

Thanks to the author, Dreamscape Media, and Crooked Lane Books for these gifted ARCs! All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

#TheLakeofLostGirls #KatherineGreene #NetGalley #DreamscapeMedia #CrookedLaneBooks #giftedARC #honestreview #audiobook #capcut #sBOOKtober2024
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This twist filled and suspenseful read that kept my eyes glued to the page. Dual timelines kept the story from losing momentum. I was shocked by all that was revealed at the end of the story. Katherine Greene never disappoints.

his is one of those books that you will either love or hate. Told on alternating timelines and from different viewpoints it centers around one woman who lost her sister 24 years ago. I honestly had one of the characters pegged as the killer and I was partially right. I did not see the other part of the ending coming….and I’m not sure if I liked it or not. But I will say that it kept my attention and I was intrigued enough to say 3.5/4 stars for me. Rounded up to 4 here.
I received an ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

This was my first book by this author. I really enjoyed the mixed media aspect, especially the podcast. I also liked the alternating POVs and dual timelines. I wish we had spent a little more time in Jess’ POV. At different times I suspected everyone and liked the twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This novel by @katherinegreeneauthor will be published on 05 November 2024. I recommend adding it to your TBR list if you love true crime fiction focused on missing girls and serial killers.

What I loved about this book:
💚 the setting - a fictional North Carolina small town
💚 the twists - it will keep you guessing who the killer is
💚 the dual timelines
💚 the different POVs
💚 the character, Lindsey Fadley - she is flawed, sympathetic, and strong all rolled together for fantastic character depth

Thank you @crookedlanebooks for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review. I have added this same review to the Barnes & Noble website.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene. This atmospheric thriller pulls you into a small town filled with secrets and suspense. Greene’s writing style creates a haunting setting around the mysterious disappearance of a girl, keeping the tension high throughout. The pacing is steady, though some twists were a bit predictable, and I found myself wanting more depth from a few characters. However, the protagonist’s emotional journey and the eerie lake setting added layers of intrigue that kept me reading. Overall, The Lake of Lost Girls is a compelling read for those who enjoy dark, small-town mysteries.

Jess has lead a sheltered, charmed life and has a close bond with her father. She heads to college and gets a taste of freedom and the party life. After learning of a dark secret, she starts changing and unraveling a bit. After three female college students go missing, Jess too is missing. Years later a podcast airs that’s determined to find the truth. This unlocks a lot of information and secrets that are shocking. A great read!

I really enjoyed this one!! We have a perfectly paced, captivating whodunnit. This story gives us a cast of unreliable characters. It was really hard to figure out who you could trust. I read this one so fast! I would definitely recommend.

Wow, this was quite the messed up “true crime” story.

The Lake of Lost Girls recounts the story of college girls who go missing and the podcast that details their story 24 years later. We follow the sister of one of the missing girls as well, on her hunt for the truth.

It has the feel of a small town mystery with multiple, very sketchy persons of interest. There’s a lot of us vs them mentality with the college and town, which also adds a fun layer of intrigue.

Katherine Greene really knows how to string along a reader without you feeling like she’s doing it to extend the plot. Truly a fun mystery to follow.

Stick around for the ending - I was kept guessing the whole time!

Pᴏᴅᴄᴀsᴛs, Iɴsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ ᴘᴏsᴛs, ᴀʟᴛᴇʀɴᴀᴛᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇʟɪɴᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴏʟɪᴄᴇ ᴛʀᴀɴsᴄʀɪᴘᴛs. Eᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ's ᴍᴀᴋᴇs ᴀ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ.

I ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ɪs sᴇᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ 90s ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴏɴᴇ sɪsᴛᴇʀ ( Jᴇssɪᴄᴀ) ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀsᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ sɪsᴛᴇʀ Lɪɴᴅsᴇʏ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛ.

Tʜɪs ᴄᴏʟᴅ ᴄᴀsᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ sᴜsᴘᴇᴄᴛɪɴɢ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ. Tʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ ᴅʀᴏᴘs ɴᴜᴍᴇʀᴏᴜs ʙʀᴇᴀᴅᴄʀᴜᴍʙs ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ "ᴀʜᴀ! " ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ. I ɢᴜᴇssᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟ ᴇᴀʀʟʏ ᴏɴ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ, ᴀɴᴅ I sᴛɪʟʟ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴ.

I ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴛʀᴇɴᴅ ᴏғ ʙᴏᴏᴋs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴘᴏᴅᴄᴀsᴛs ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ ғᴇᴇʟ ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛ.
Iғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ Lɪsᴛᴇɴ Fᴏʀ Tʜᴇ Lɪᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ ᴛʜɪs sᴛʀᴏɴɢ, ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀɪᴄ, ᴀɴᴅ sᴜsᴘᴇɴsᴇғᴜʟ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀɴ ᴜɴᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴡɪsᴛ.

I'ᴠᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ɪs ᴍᴜᴄʜ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʜʏsɪᴄᴀʟ ʙᴏᴏᴋ. Tʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ɪs ᴇxᴄᴇᴘᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ, ᴀᴄᴄᴏʀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀɴʏ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴᴇʀs.

Tʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ Nᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ Cʀᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ Lᴀɴᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋs ғᴏʀ ᴍʏ ɢɪғᴛᴇᴅ ᴄᴏᴘʏ. Mʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ɪs ᴠᴏʟᴜɴᴛᴀʀʏ.

Reviewed on Instagram as well
/sheilasenchantedbookshelf

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This book takes you on a bit of a rollercoaster ride, letting you believe you have the mystery figured out, but then throwing in a twist that no one was expecting. I enjoyed this book, and thought that the inclusion of the podcast transcript was very clever and relevant. While there were a few aspects of the plot I found completely unrealistic, it still kept me engaged and invested enough to make it worthwhile.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a mostly fun, semi-twisty mystery that kept me guessing. I had it partially figured out by the end, but there were enough red herrings to hold my attention. I liked the podcast element, even though I didn't think it was really necessary to the story. The dual timelines were also fun and equally interesting, which is always a good thing. It was the kind of book that was entertaining while I was reading it, but keeps giving me the squinty eye-head tilt feeling when I think about it now.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

The Lake of Lost Girls lacks depth. The idea of a cold case involving four missing girls being investigated by the younger sister of one of the victims is intriguing. However, the book is littered with too many tired tropes of the bumbling police force, a local college administration that obstructs justice, dysfunctional families, and inappropriate relationships with young women and older men. If I listed much more it would be a spoiler. I did like the resolution and the twists at the end, but it wasn't a very fun journey to get there. Thankyou to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Such a fast read! The past and present perspectives made it even more fast paced and kept you wanting to read the next chapter. I also liked the multimedia aspect with the social media posts, podcast transcripts, etc. This book gave you just enough evidence to keep you guessing which suspect is the killer. I’ll say that it was a bit predictable at some of the twists. The ending was not what I expected, but it totally made sense in the overall plot.

Overall, this was a solid thriller that ya’ll should definitely check out next month!