This was a solid suspense sorry. Set in both present day and in the 1990s, the flashbacks were pretty seamless and added to the story. Lots of twists and turns, with just enough withheld to keep you turning the pages. Definitely recommend.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

The Lake Of Lost Girls is a thriller with the backdrop of a small town college and the missing girls that attended it. Through multiple POVs in alternating timelines, the story follows 30y/o Lindsey, sister to one of the missing girls from 24 years before. Through her narration, it’s discovered that Lindsey was the last to see her sister alive- on her 6th birthday, and highlights some of the trauma she endured by not living up to her sisters legacy.

The flashbacks are told from the POV of Jess as she starts her freshman year of college, experiences freedom for the first time, and learns how to navigate life on her own. As girls from campus start going missing, Jess’ narration starts dropping bit of information for you to play detective. As the book goes on, this information becomes so crossed- it’s hard to stay focused.

Overall, I enjoyed this read- my first from this author. I felt the character development could use a little help and the attempts to build up a great twist fell flat and muddied the water. I really enjoyed the podcast scripts to break up the chapters, but I also felt they could’ve been better developed, provided better clues versus recapping what was previously read. I anticipate this book making a big splash on booktok when released this summer.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced copy. As always, this review is my own unbiased opinion.

"The Lake of Lost Girls" is a psychological thriller that explores the complexities of family dynamics, trauma, and the search for truth amidst a haunting mystery. I enjoyed the flashbacks and multiple narratives throughout the story and was pleasently surprised by the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC! Loved this book and could not put it down. Spanning several decades this book explores 4 missing girls from a small college. They have several things in common but which one lead to their disappearances?

Whatever happened to Jessica Fadley and how does this affect her baby (now adult) sister, Lindsay? After decades, the body of one of the girls who went missing around the time she did, is finally retrieved by Doll’s Eye Lake and it awakens a flood of memories. We take turns with chapters from Jessica’s POV in 1998/9 to Lindsay’s in the present day, and how they each add details to the mystery. The story moves fast and there is enough mystery to keep you intrigued until the (unexpected) end. I quite liked how the quite recent True Crime obsession was treated, with many people getting sucked into stories without realising that it’s not just entertainment.

“The problem was that in the excitement to hash out every detail, everyone seemed to forget that there were real people impacted by it. … It was easy to lose sight of the humanity of those involved in an effort to feel part of a community that seemed, on the surface, to have good intentions—to solve a decades-old unsolved case.”

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this ARC for review.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat, guessing til the end!
With podcast features, multiple timelines and character POVs, the story unfolds seamlessly!
I kept thinking I had it figured out, then changing my mind! The end was not what I predicted!
Don't want to say too much and spoil anything because it's an exciting ride to take trying to figure this mystery out along with the main characters!
Highly recommend!

Lindsay has spent her whole life in the shadow of her older sister Jess, who went missing 24 years ago. The investigation was handled terribly, and as such there has been no updates on what happened to Jess. Enter the new true crime podcast that is focusing entirely on Jess' case, as well as the other 3 girls that had gone missing that year (and from the same school!). With the additional eyes on the case, and the impending popularity of the podcast, new information begins to come to light. Flipping between Lindsay in the present day, and Jess in the past, you get to know both sisters in a way they never knew each other.

I am always skeptical of the "missing girls" trope. Because it can SO be overplayed. But this was a good one. I had literally nothing figured until until the truth came to light, and it all made sense! I just hadn't gotten there on my own. Lindsay was likable enough, maybe too trusting. Jess was ... complicated. I spent the entire book trying to figure out what was up with her. I found myself thinking about this book even when I wasn't reading and trying to put the pieces together. I couldn't wait to finish and see how it played out!

I really enjoyed this book, I don't think I've ever come across a read that's made me change my mind on the killer about 275 times. I really couldn't pin down who it was going to be as there were so many clever additions to the writing that literally could have made it any one of them.

The writing overall was great and I feel this book is such a step up compared to The Woods Are Waiting, which I loved anyway. I can't wait to see what else comes from this duo.

The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene plunges readers into the chilling depths of a cold case mystery, promising a blend of suspense, intrigue, and the unbreakable bond of sisterhood. Yet, as the murky waters of the narrative ebb and flow, the novel struggles to keep its head above water, particularly in the execution of its plot and the development of its characters.

Set against the haunting backdrop of Southern State University in 1998, a series of student disappearances casts a long shadow over the campus. Among the vanished is Jessica Fadley, whose life’s downward spiral becomes the vortex of the story. Fast-forward two decades, and we find Jessica’s sister, Lindsey, desperately searching for answers, with a true crime podcast providing her with a new lead.

The novel’s suspense is its lifeline, with true crime podcast snippets lending a modern edge to the tale, even though their presence more irksome than insightful. The most jarring misstep is the handling of Jessica’s corpse’s whereabouts and how it remained hidden for so long.

In its essence, “The Lake of Lost Girls” is a narrative that yearns to captivate with its fresh take on the thriller genre, weaving in the allure of true crime podcast. Yet, the tapestry it weaves is frayed, the execution of key plot points needing a more meticulous hand to render a story that resonates with authenticity. For those who can navigate past the shoals of unlikable two-dimensional characters and particular plot inconsistencies, there may still be treasures to be found in the suspenseful undercurrents of Greene’s creation.

A cold case "resurfaces" when a body appears near the local lake. Sister Lindsey desperately wants to know what happened to her sister and three other girls that shaped her life.

A popular podcast and media put pressure on the new wave of detectives to solve the 20 year old crime, bringing the truth right around the corner.

The question is, would it have been better to stay buried?

It might be slightly unfair reading The Lake of Lost Girls right after reading Listen for the Lie. Both thrillers weave along a true crime podcast to give additional details as the characters work through their own discovery.

Yet as they say, life is unfair so let's dive in to a quick comparison. In Listen for the Lie, the podcast is weaved into the story line and adds to the storyline. The podcaster is part of the story, what he says and reveals matters to the MC. In The Lake of Lost Girls, the podcasters are useless, gossiping girls. Who are drinking more wine then they are breaking any news. I have some personal annoyances about how one is from US, one from UK ... yet they both seem from the UK. It's not adding anything to the story other than noise. They also are only revealing to the readers what has already been revealed in the main plot line.

Speaking of the plot line, it's a mess. How badly the plot is weaved, loose ends not tied up and overall messiness is the large factor of my low rating. The execution of this 'who dun it' needs massaging, a lot of massaging. All the other annoyances I can look past, but open ended plot arcs I cannot.

Katherine Greene is a pen name of 2 'best selling' authors. Sadly, this seems rougher than other's debut novels. I expected more. A miss for me. Let me know what you think in the comments below!

***Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for a  copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Publishing on Nov 05, 2024.

Amazon Link The Lake of Lost Girls By: Katherine Greene

4.25 stars
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If true crime podcasts are your thing, this one is for you! In The Lake of Lost Girls, we're introduced to the cold case of the missing girls at Southern State University in Mt. Randall, North Carolina. Told in multiple timelines (and POVs) we flip between 1998 with Jessica Fadley one of the missing girls, and the present day with her sister Lindsey. Chapters are broken up with an audio log of a cold case true crime podcast Ten Seconds to Vanish: The Unsolved Disappearance of Jessica Fadley hosted by Stella and Rachel. As the podcast gains popularity and bodies are being found, Lindsey starts to dive deeper into the disappearance of Jessica.

Lindsey feels connected to the case of her sister as she had been the last person to see her, Lindsey looked away for 10 seconds on her birthday. 10 seconds was all it took for her sister Jessica to disappear. I've always been a fan of multiple timelines as it helps us get a deeper look into what happened, it was interesting to see Jessica back in the day and ultimately led to her disappearance. Just when you think you've figured this entire book out - it throws you for a loop! I didn't see the end twist at all!

I would have liked to see a bit of Lindsey after she discovers what truly happened to her sister, just because we spend a good chunk of time with her in the book. Our last chapter is a final recap/podcast episode hosted by Rachel and Stella who recap what happens after an arrest is made - Lindsey is briefly mentioned. I think the authors did a great job at setting up captivating podcast hosts, and it would even be nice to see more of our hosts in other books.
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I would like to thank NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Katherine Greene for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book's publication date is: November 5th 2024, make sure to pre-order your copy!

For whatever reason, my last three reads have been similar to this one. I thin this was my favorite. I like the integration of the podcast that moved the plot forward, I liked the dual timelines...and it is all twisty, twisty! Recommended for mystery/ crime readers. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital ARC for review.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane for the opportunity to read and review this book early!

The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene immediately captured my attention the moment I opened my eReader. I am decent at figuring out WHODUNNIT, but this story had me constantly changing my mind and wondering what was coming next. I don't like duo timelines, unless it is done properly, and let me tell you- Katherine got it right. You really needed the POV from the present day and past and she pulls off the transitions and general story telling very well. The Lake of Lost Girls is intriguing, disturbing, mysterious and keeps you guessing to the end!

A true crime thriller with such great twists. I absolutely loved the podcast aspect of this story, it was such a unique way to advance the story. This story follows Lindsey, whose sister disappeared. And Ryan, Lindsey’s long termed boyfriend who’s been looking for answers for last few years. What was once a cold case, soon becomes open again. Didn’t predict this one! I was hooked from chapter one.

This mystery had so many twists and turns, it felt like I was reading a Riley Sager book at times. I loved the jumping POV, but found some of the characters to just be so unlikeable. And while I *did* end up figuring out the case, I will admit that it did take me a while to get there. I can't wait to read more by this author.

This was a really good book. I loved the past and present point of views between Lindsey and Jessica. This is one of those stories where you think you know how it’s going to end and then you are completely wrong! I was very shocked at the ending! I would definitely recommend it!

After what felt like a slow start, the story of Jessica's disappearance begins to unfold. I loved the mix of past and present and the swap between Jessica and Lindsey's points of view. The added social media posts added to the drama, making it feel more real life. A book that keeps you guessing

Although the premise for this book was an extremely promising one, it fell short for me. I found it very predictable, I did not connect with any of the characters, and I was never immersed in the story.
I was able to read through it fairly quickly, so I'm sure it has it has an audience who will enjoy it. Maybe my expectations were too high?

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Release date is Nov 05, 2024.

The secrets consume both your past and your present, what are you going to do to stop them?

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

⭐⭐⭐.75/5

First of all, thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this story!

The story is about Lindsey, who in the present tries to uncover what happened to her missing sister in 1999. The police did a terrible job at the time, and the discovery of bones in the local lake and a viral podcast help reopen the investigation.

First of all, I want to start with the positives of this book:

1. It's addictive.
2. I loved Lindsey's character and how she struggles to find the truth about a sister she idealized; she both loved and hated her because her disappearance twisted her destiny completely.
3. I loved with all my heart that there comes a point where one doubts EVERYONE.

While I could see the plot twist coming, there were several things that didn't sit right with me:

1. There is a point where the relationship between Jess and Ben, her father, is discussed as typical of intrafamilial abuse. A heavy topic, but one that would have justified the ending immensely. However, the authors didn't dare to go there, which made the ending unjustified and insipid.
2. There were parts of the beginning that, for the sake of creating tension, later contradict themselves with the plot twist.
3. The authors make me love Jessica with her insecurities, fears, and so on in the past, but by the end of the novel, she becomes a hateful, capricious, and unjustified character.

Still, I was left with a positive feeling about the book. Because although there are some minimal contradictions at the beginning and the authors didn't dare to go as far as they should have, it is still a well-planned novel whose ending fits quite well on its own. Not like "An Unwanted Guest" by Shari Lapena or "The Silent Patient," which were very bad experiences I had as a suspense reader.

In general, it was a read that kept me constantly on edge, eagerly anticipating how events would unfold, and I couldn't put it down!

I would definitely read more from these two authors!

Awesome thriller about a woman looking for answers about her sister's disappearance. That ending was insane!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!