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!

3.5 stars.
I had a really hard time deciding on a star rating for this book.
I was OBSESSED with The Lake of Lost Girls- I couldn’t put it down. But at the same time, I was annoyed by it because I didn’t think it was that good. Go figure.
It was a bit messy and predictable for me. A lot of dialogue and scenarios repeat unnecessarily in order to build tension, but all it does it get annoying. As someone who is an avid thriller reader, this definitely didn’t top my list, especially since I figured out all the twists before they happened.
Greene does a good job dropping hints and leading you astray down different yellow brick roads, but if you’re a seasoned reader like me, you’ll see right through it.
There is a rather disturbing aspect to this book, but I actually liked the more mature theme. I’m not sure if a lot of the social issues identified were represented correctly.
I believe this is a great book for someone looking for a thriller with dark themes and not a lot of mystery

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. As soon as I read the synopsis of this book, I knew I had to read it. I was so excited to dive in and bumped all the other books I have on my TBR pile so I could read this asap, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. I almost DNF'd it but I did find myself wanting to know how it was all going to come together in the end, so at least the suspense kept me going.

The pacing was slow and boring, and I felt a lot of the story was repetitive. The writing was flat, and all of the characters annoyed and frustrated me. I thought there would be more of the true crime podcast aspect to it but there were only little snippets of it at the end of some of the chapters and even those little parts were underwhelming. There was so much back and forth between who the potential suspect could be that I started to lose interest fast. It needed to get to the point quicker. Towards the end I was just skimming through it just to get to the conclusion. Such a bummer that this wasn't what I thought it would be!

I’m grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of “The Lake of Lost Girls” by Katherine Greene. This novel captivates with its mysterious aura, compelling readers to dive deeper into its unfolding enigma. Greene masterfully crafts suspense, leaving me eagerly turning pages, unable to predict the novel’s direction. The plot twist was genuinely surprising, a testament to Greene’s skill in narrative misdirection.

Despite its strengths, the novel falls short of a full five-star rating due to its superficial exploration of characters. The narrative, while engaging, lacks depth in character development, leaving the cast feeling somewhat ephemeral and disconnected. Although the dual narrative structure, oscillating between past and present, enriches the storytelling, the inclusion of a podcast storyline felt superfluous. This element seemed to detract from, rather than enhance, the main narrative, suggesting that a more focused approach on deepening character interactions and relationships could have benefitted the overall cohesion and impact of the story.

Moreover, while the novel’s climax is impactful, the journey to understanding the characters’ motives and their relational dynamics felt underexplored. A deeper dive into the characters’ backstories and the pivotal relationships that lead to the twist could provide the necessary substance to elevate the narrative.

In conclusion, “The Lake of Lost Girls” by Katherine Greene offers a gripping tale marked by a stunning twist, yet struggles with character depth and narrative focus. I rate this book 3.5 out of 5, recognizing its potential while acknowledging areas ripe for development.