this book kept me on my TOES!!!!! when I tell you I felt so incredibly uneasy during this entire book, front to back. everyone made me suspicious and everyone invoked insane amounts of doubt and I still didn’t see the actual twists coming!!!!! this was so incredibly fun to read and was very intriguing in regards to true crime podcasts/sources and their effect on cases old and new.

Wow, I’m speechless. I’ve been in a reading slump lately, but this book snapped me right out of it! I absolutely loved it. Although missing teenager narratives aren’t new, this one is extraordinary, vividly brought to life through the diverse perspectives of its characters. The pacing was spot-on, and the ending was remarkable. Typically, I can predict endings, but this one kept me guessing until the very last moment, packed with twists, turns, and red herrings. At just under 300 pages, it’s the perfect length for a single sitting, and with such a gripping plot, it’s nearly impossible to put down. I haven’t read anything by this author before, but this was a fantastic introduction, and I’m definitely eager to explore more of their work.

Great read. I was surprised until the very last word. I read it in one day and thought for sure I knew the ending of the story three different times! Well written and delivered to perfection, easy to follow with the flashbacks.

Jessica has gone missing, a few years ago. What is going on in this story? Jessica wasn't the only girl to disappear. Her older sister Lindsey is trying to put the puzzle pieces together.

While this novel kept me guessing till the end, I did find some problems with the writing. While it wasn't bad by any means it was just every character seemed to be and or sad. Things were a bit too literal for me and took me out of the novel just a bit.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this novel

Enjoyed the mystery/thriller plot but had a few issues with pacing. Characters could have been more fully formed.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/207571151

A good time- that is how I sum up this book. A quick easy read that kept me engaged. Yes, I guessed who did it pretty early on, but isn’t that half the fun of the “who did it” books?

I really enjoyed reading about Jessica, I wish there was more in depth development of what she was experiencing.

When I read the summary for the book, I thought it would lean more into the podcast. However I’m glad it didn’t because I personally didn’t like those parts in the books (or the random photos of posts). I feel like the book needed to lean into the podcast aspect and the commentary on true crime or follow the family.


content warning:
-murder
-mental health/addiction
-dysfunctional relationships

True crime has been a popular subject in pretty much all things for a long time. Lately, thriller books have been taking advantage of that craze and changing up the genre by writing books that feel like true cases. Books like Murder in the Family and Listen for the Lie include podcast episodes, tv episodes, social media posts and more. The Lake of Lost Girls also uses these to tell the story of 4 missing girls in a small town.

I was able to read the book in a matter of a few hours so obviously I enjoyed it. Not everyone likes books with additional formats mentioned above but I think it helps break up a story and make it more unique. I like getting the bigger picture. Sometimes it can come off as purely gimmick but I think the authors did a good job making it feel more organic. It feels real.

If you enjoy thriller and true crime, check out The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene. Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Greene, and Crooked Lane Books. I have written this review voluntarily.

Thanks NetGalley for the free Advanced Reader’s Copy of “The Lake of Lost Girls” . I leave this review voluntarily. I loved this book and whole heartedly recommend. The case of missing Jessica and 3 other girls from Southern State University in Mt. Randall North Carolina is reopened due to a true crime podcast shedding light on the inept investigation by police. There is a dual timeline so we can learn more about the missing girl and her time at University. There is a cast of students, a faculty member and Jessica’s dysfunctional family. The present timeline focuses on Lindsey (Jess’ sister) and what she is able to find out. There are twist and turns as more information is revealed and the reader tries to determine who is responsible. I was able to figure out much of the climax but still encountered one wrinkle in my theory. I did find there was a lot of grabbing of arms and fingers digging in - seemed to be a phrase used too much. It also felt a little more lengthy than necessary. These are minor and did not stop me from liking this one.

Four college students went missing at the same university in the 90s, and the case has never been solved. Now 24 years later, the bodies are slowly being uncovered and the case is opened again. Who killed these girls and why?

I really enjoyed how this story was told in the past from the perspective of one of the missing girls, in the present from that girl’s sister, and then in a true crime podcast. It made the book a lot more enjoyable since it had different timelines.
I felt like the story revealed the main culprits too early. I also found the similarities between the suspects to be a little unrealistic.
Overall, I liked the way the book ended up. I was hoping it was going to go in that direction. I didn't have any questions left over. Part of me wanted Jessica to be a deeper, more fleshed out character, but I did enjoy this academic thriller.

I posted my review on my Instagram August 30th. https://www.instagram.com/p/C_S0x8DAT9U/

Lindsey Fadley wants to know what happened to her sister. Over two decades ago, Jessica vanished from outside their family's home. Along with three other female, college students, Jessica has long since left the minds of the small town. When a podcast brings her case back to the light, Lindsey gets pulled into a hunt for the truth. Who was Jessica really? What happened that night? As bodies begin to be found, old information is twisted into something new. The question left for Lindsey is who was Jessica?

The Lake of Lost Girls takes the podcast trope and spins it with college students. I didn't feel that this was a fresh perspective. I enjoyed how the main characters were interlaced and small breadcrumbs left you guessing. The end felt rushed and just left something to be desired. Did I read it super quick yes, but I definitely could have had more. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

I loved the premise of this book; I also love the mystery/thrillers that take place in the 90's. I also really enjoy a solid missing persons plot. This one had me pulled in early and held me there until the last few chapters. Based on nuggets dropped earlier in the book, I had a feeling I knew how it was going to end, and it did end that way. Unfortunately, something just did not sit well with me and the ending. That's ok, I actually appreciate a book that unnerves me a bit. I would absolutely still choose to read this knowing that going into it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Katherine Greene, and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Lake of Lost Girls follows Lindsey Fadley as she investigates the cold case of her sister and three other missing girls. The case has long gone overlooked by police, but it suddenly brought to national attention when a podcast begins to cover it just as an unidentified body is discovered in the town where the girls were last seen. With the new coverage and police attention, Lindsey finally believes the case can finally be solved. The readers follow along with the case through three perspectives as we hear from the podcast, Lindsey, and flashbacks from Jessica’s freshman year of college.

First, the good. I really loved the premise of this novel. A group of missing girls from a sleepy college town? Sign me up. I’m a big fan of small town dynamics, and this didn’t disappoint. Second, I appreciated the way Lindsey was portrayed. She was genuinely very torn in her grief for her sister and her grief for the life she could have had - she has some resentment about the cards she was dealt, and she doesn’t really pretend otherwise. It’s refreshing. Finally, I LOVED the ambience of the novel. I couldn’t trust anyone, and that’s all I want from a thriller,

Now, the not so good. Unfortunately, a lot of the suspense was sort of ruined by the flashbacks from Jessica. There were a few key reveals that would have ultimately been better had we only experienced them through Lindsey’s eyes - hearing about them first from Jessica as she experienced them really removed the reader from Lindsey’s shock as she discovered them. The rotating perspectives also led to me guessing the ending about 1/3 of the way through the book. It’s not a fatal flaw for a book, but it took a lot of the enjoyment out of it for me.

Overall, this wasn’t a bad read. I was very intrigued by the story, and while I did guess the ending, I did want to keep going to make sure I was right. The small town vibes were amazing, and Lindsey is a great lead character - just a little bitter, but still refreshingly reliable. This was a solid 3.5/5 for me.

A very good mystery book, lots of twists and a good plot. Well written.

The characters were great and I read this book very quickly as I couldn’t wait to see what happened!!

I had a slow start to this one. Likely a me issue and not necessarily a book issue.

I absolutely love the multiple POV’s, alternating timelines and use of “mixed media” to tell the story.

Classic thriller. Four young women go missing from a NC University. 24 years later a body shows up in a lake. Who did it? Why?

You’ll have to read to find out.

24 years ago Jessica Fadley and other female students at Southern University were coming up missing. In present day Lindsey Fadley is looking into her sister’s disappearance with Journalist Ryan McKay. Bodies start showing up in the river. Family lies and dark secrets come to light.
This was a jaw dropping read with many twists and turns.
Thanks NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eARC that will be released November 5, 2024!

This book was so intense with mystery and with so many red herrings, readers will be hard pressed to guess the twist! Males are portrayed horribly in this book; be prepared for a few disturbing descriptions. While I felt the title gave the book away initially, I now realize that was not the important part of the book. The podcasts and different viewpoints throughout really made the story come together in a unique way. I really enjoyed this book! Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first time reading this author and I can not wait to read more. This book was very well written and full of surprises and twists that kept me hooked. I couldn't put it down.

I like small-town murder mysteries, multiple POVs, alternating timelines and the use of mixed media. I thought this read was entertaining. My downside for this book is that I am not sure the mixed media added to the story, or provided insight for the story/mystery, so sometimes I just skimmed them and while there were some twists I wanted some more detail because I am not sure I felt connected to the story, the mystery or the characters. Having said that, when I picked it up, I wanted to keep reading it, and I think there were definitely parts which built up the suspense.

In 1998/99, four young women disappeared from a college in a small North Carolina town. Twenty four years later, the body of one of them is discovered in a secluded lake. Which one? Lindsey is the younger sister of one of those girls; her family has never recovered from their loss. When a journalist wanting to write the story appears, he approaches Lindsey for assistance solving the mystery. As she digs down into the case, secrets are revealed and suspects identified, but does Lindsey really want to find out the truth?

Set in dual timelines and different POVs, the story is interspersed with podcast transcripts, interview notes, and newspaper articles. I have seen this technique used in other novels. It works successfully here. There is the danger of male predators as well as the effects of their behaviors on their many victims, including their families. Twists, turns, and red herrings lead the reader on a suspenseful journey in this engrossing, fast read.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the arc!

What a fantastic who dunnit!!

Jessica is a college freshman home for her little sister's 6th birthday party when she vanishes into thin air. She had went outside to get the birthday cake from her trunk. Her sister was the last person to see her, and when she turned her head, she was gone.

Lindsay, Jessica's little sister, has been thrown back in to the mystery when a podcast launches call Ten Seconds to Vanish, the Jessica Fadley story and reopens the hurt and questions residing around Jessica's disappearance.

Told is dual timelines, and multiple POV, this thriller kept me on my toes. I literally couldn't figure out who the killer was because nothing added up.

4 stars!