24 years ago, a college student from Mt Randall, North Carolina, went missing and her case was closed without any solution. Lindsay, the then 6year old younger sister of the missing girl, Jess, had spent the better part of her life blaming herself for the 10 seconds that she looked away from Jess before she went missing. Now that human remains were found from the Doll's Eye lake, will she be able to uncover the truth of her sister's fate?

The beginning was quite good but as the story proceeded it became a bit too descriptive and repetitive. While I appreciate that it is yet to undergo editing, some parts were honestly gonna put me into a reading slump. Nevertheless, I'm glad I chose to complete it rather than DNFING because the last half of the book was great. The overall plot is brilliantly imagined and the jumping timelines made it better. The ending was definitely unexpected and to all those who are currently reading this, I would advise them not to give up on the book. The climax is worth the time.

Recommended to everyone who likes crime thrillers and dark mystery novels/serial killer crime thrillers.

Right off the bat with the cover I was really excited to read this book. There was always something happening and it never lingered long enough to get stale. It was a relatively quick read which i really appreciate. Towards the end I had to stop doing to podcasters accents in my head because I wanted to read faster.
I had a handful of endings in my mind that I was anticipating and only one of my many many predictions was kind of right, by no means the biggest one and I did not guess the motive or means so this kept me guessing until literally the very last page.
At the beginning I was a little off put because I felt like the characters were flat and the interactions were based more off of what the authors thought would be convenient rather than actions that a 3 dimensional character would take. After about 25% I didn’t feel like that as much and once we got deeper I was fully invested in the story. It felt nice to feel like I was making quick progress so I really enjoy this length and type of book.
I still think the character development left some things to be desired but it wasn’t totally necessary. I think I just would have liked their motivations in the beginning particularly to feel more natural.

I think a 5 star would develop the characters in some subtle ways that the reader can infer towards the beginning, spend a bit more time showing us Lindsey’s relationship with her parents rather than her telling us about it (although it was shown in a couple places) and give us just one or two more subtle hints to the twist.

I know I don’t always need to understand a characters motivations, some people make decisions that are incomprehensible, especially in a scenario like this where there are incredibly high stakes and emotions, but I needed a little bit more development of the main dynamic to understand why the guy did what he did and for me to empathize as much as I could have.

Most of what I didn’t like was towards the beginning and I don’t know if that’s just because I didn’t know the characters well or what but I had a lot of negatives notes and lack of characterization and some flat feeling writing before I got too enthralled to keep taking notes.

Overall I really enjoyed it and I can definitely say this was a page turner.

This was a pretty good mystery. Between chapters were podcast snippets and posts. The timeline alternates between the vanished girl in the last and her sister in present day.

I thought it was pretty good and kept me guessing for a good while. I figured it out at a certain point, but I always see a mystery through to see the true tale. I prefer to not figure it out until maybe like 75% rather than as early as I did, but I thought this was a fairly good mystery.

I did wish that the main character was more developed. I know mysteries are all about pacing but we seemed to just get thrown in without even learning too much about her

WOWWWW!! What a crazy adventure!! By utilizing multiple different storytelling methods such as podcast transcripts, social media posts, newspaper clippings, press releases, alternating timelines/POVs, this book really brought a unique spin to the classic cold case serial killer trope.

There was no shortage of suspects with this one, and at times it almost gave me whiplash going back and forth with my theories as more and more info was revealed. By about half way through, I felt I had it figured out and was so excited to see it unfold that I could not put the book down until I had all my answers!

While I was about 75% correct in my theory, I still thoroughly enjoyed watching this one play out. It was like peeling back the layers of an onion… the beautifully crafted complexities of each character and the way the story was so masterfully written that it leapt off the page into vivid illustrations in my mind - absolute chef’s kiss! 👌

4.25 ⭐️ I’m calling it now - this thriller will be a huge hit!

Thank you to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions are 100% my own.

This was my first experience with Katherine Greene, and it definitely won’t be my last! This was a really enjoyable fast paced, page turning thriller with substance - my favorite kind of book. I like well thought out, developed characters, not the ones that make you roll your eyes at all the stupid things they do. I’d been in a book slump for a few months, and I’m finally out!

Told through alternate timelines and multiple POVs, the story was uniquely presented through podcast transcripts, news articles, social media posts, etc.
I was able to figure out most of the whodunnit at about 50%, but it was still an enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley, author, and publisher for the original to review The Lake of Lost Girls.

✨Alternate Timelines
✨Multiple POV
✨Podcasts
✨Fast Paced Thrillers
✨Gorgeous North Carolina Setting

This book had me hooked from the get go! I Love Katherine Greene’s writing. I sat down with this book and did not emerge from my reading nook until the last page. I have not stopped talking to my book besties about this book already hyping them up about it!

I love the multiple POV, different timelines, the setting/storyline…I loved everything honestly. This book was so fast paced, so thrilling (it’s a thriller haha…see what I did there…), with it’s transcripts, media posts etc…this book was like you were following right along with all of the characters and it kept your attention the entire time.

What else is the best—even though you will try and figure out what is going on and how this is going to end…you will never figure it out until that very last page and then it will leave you soaking it in for another hour or so. Hands down the easiest 5 stars! Must read…Must have…slap this on your TBR because that will be the best decision you’ve ever made—thank me later.

I have mixed feelings on The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene. It was a definitel page turner as I was so curious to see how it would end. I didn't love it, but I did like and enjoy the story. As soon as I read in the synopsis that a true crime podcast was involved in solving a murder over 20 years ago, as s true crime podcast listener, I was in. That's where the mixed feelings come in. The podcast really was not involved in the story line too much. The podcast and its hosts dialogue was more of an after thought or intro to a new chapter, and was rarely mentioned in the story line. Again, I enjoyed the book, but it has so much more potential to be a 5 star read. I gave it 4 stars, because it was a good storyline and it definitely gave you the twist and turns of whodunnit, but the fell a little flat for me the more I read. I'm interested look for other books by this author, because I do like her writing style. Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. It will definitely be on our library shelf.

When Lindsey was 6, her 18 year old sister went outside to grab her birthday cake, and disappeared. Jessica was never seen again. Three other girls from the local college Jessica was attending also went missing. 25 years later, one of the bodies is found in a lake. So what happened to Jessica and all those girls? Lindsey isn’t sure she wants to know. When a reporter from Chicago tracks her down in North Carolina, she has to face her past. I loved this book. Cold case mysteries are my favorite, plus with a podcast mixed in, this book was made for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

First, I would like to thank NetGalley for the ARC. It’s always difficult for me to leave less than stellar reviews especially when I’ve been gifted a copy of a book. It’s also difficult because goodness nerves I could never write anything! I wanted to love this book. I was obsessed with the cover, the excerpts, the premise. Unfortunately, the book didn’t work for me. It’s hard to give a review of what didn’t work without sharing multiple spoilers and I don’t want to do that. Clearly based on the ratings, I am in the minority having not been a fan. So I will just say that I was disappointed in the execution of what could have been a really amazing read.

This book was the best thriller!! It really kept me turning pages till the very end. It's the type of book where everyone is a suspect and you can't make up your mind who you believe. The multiple POVs and the podcast dialogue interlaced throughout really sets this book up for being such a great read. 10/10

It's been a while since I've been able to find a good thriller that I couldn't put down, and I really enjoyed this one! I was immediately hooked, and I probably would have read it all in one sitting if I hadn't started it late at night. If you're a fan of true crime documentaries/podcasts, or "whodunnit" mysteries, I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an e-arc copy of this book.

Calling all True Crime fans!! This is the book for you. I really thought the switch between podcasts, articles and even snippets from social media were unique and neat! The book really grabs your attention quickly and the change of POV keeps it extra interesting. I was a little disappointed that I was able to guess the ending (minus a little twist that snuck in) but all in all, I thought it was a great story that really kept me wanting to keep going.

I will definitely be recommending this to all my true crime fanatics.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this pre release copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! This one hits shelves in November :)

I'm on the fence of giving this one 3 or 4 stars. I really need a 3.5 rating option!! I figured out the ending about 55% the way through, but it did keep me reading. It's my first Katherine Green book, and now I'm tempted to read her first. I'm going to settle on 4 because I loved the interjection of the podcast and social media posts. Happy reading if you like mystery/thriller books!

✨Spoiler Free Review✨

Title- The lake of lost girls by @katherinegreeneauthor
Rating-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As you all know I love me a podcast thriller book 👏🏽 this fast paced thriller had alternate timelines, podcast transcripts , social media posts, different pov’s and police transcripts creating the perfect thriller.

In 1998, a series of chilling disappearances of female students from a North Carolina college rocked the community, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and shattered lives. Decades later, the discovery of a girl’s corpse sparks a chain of events that entwines a true crime podcast and the sibling of one of the vanished victims into an intricate web of secrets and lies rooted at the ominous Doll’s Eye Lake.

This was a well done thriller that kept me guessing right up to the end. I did not guess the plot twist at the end at all.

Add this one to your tbr book besties.✨😮‍💨

This will be available November 5, 2024.

Thank you @netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

The novel follows a podcast based on true crime as they investigate the disappearance of four students over 20 years ago from the same area. As they dig deeper into the old investigations, they uncover a web of secrets, lies, and long-buried traumas.
The pacing is methodical but relentless, drawing the reader ever deeper into the mystery with each twist and turn. Greene expertly ratchets up the suspense, keeping readers guessing until the final, shocking reveal.

The Lake of Lost Girls combines two of my favorite things: Books and True Crime Podcasts. I really enjoyed reading this book and could not put it down! I loved all of the characters but I often doubted if they were being honest or telling the whole truth. I was able to figure out the twist, but I loved the wild ride it took me on. Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

It's 1998, and female students are going missing at Southern State University in North Carolina. But freshman Jessica Fadley, once a bright and responsible student, is going through her own struggles. Just as her life seems to be careening dangerously out of control, she suddenly disappears.

Twenty-four years later, Jessica's sister Lindsey is desperately searching for answers and uses the momentum of a new chart-topping true crime podcast, Ten Seconds to Vanish, that focuses on the cold cases, to guide her own investigation. Soon, interest reaches fever pitch when the bodies of the long-missing women begin turning up at a local lake, which leads Lindsey down a disturbing road of discovery.

This story was riveting and absolutely consumed me! I will be reading more of Katherine Greene’s books after this! I completely loved it and cannot wait to read more.
This story was full of twists and turns and lovable characters.
I highly reccomend!
thanks to netgalley, the author and publisher for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review 🎉

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read an e-arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! This book releases in November 5, 2024 and is an adult mystery/thriller fiction.
Overall, I give this book a basic middle-of-the-road 3/5 stars. It was okay, nothing great, nothing terrible. I had figured out the “plot twist” about 50-60% of the way through so that was disappointing. The FMC felt under developed for me. She was pathetic in a lot of ways and not very smart. The entire story was completely unrealistic as well.
With that said, I wasn’t bored while reading it and it did keep my attention fairly well. I also enjoyed the social media posts included. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the podcast aspect of it, but it was more unique which I appreciated.
All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery’s and aren’t good at guessing the ending too soon!

My first time reading a Katherine Greene novel and she did not disappoint.

The Lake of Lost Girls is an engaging read that will keep you guessing. Even when I was sure I knew whodunnit I was questioning myself.

The story takes place in a sleepy college town with a horrific past. In the late 90s several college girls vanished never to be seen again. Lindsey was 6 years old when her sister disappeared and the POV varies between her quest to find answers in the present day, and her sister, Jessica's, POV in the past. There has been a renewed interest in the the case thanks to a hokey podcast, so there are also podcast snippets, blog posts, and social media post sprinkled in.

Personally, I'm getting tired of the podcast trope and could do without author's adding in the shallow and obnoxious dialogue in their stories. We get it, a lot of true crime podcasts are exploitative and make light of murder. Luckily Greene didn't include too many excerpts and she kept them short.

Pacing of the novel was good and there was enough suspense to keep me turning pages. I finished this book in less that 24hrs.

I did find some of the characters a bit shallow and 2 dimensional, none of them are that likeable and I find the college characters to be over the top and somewhat obnoxious.

There was a good twist at the end but I saw a large portion of it coming early on and then figured out the rest near the end. This caused me to feel like the ending was a bit drawn out; however, I was still questioning my instincts until the final reveal.

Overall, a good page turner!
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the free digital copy in exchange for a fair review.

Moving back to and fro in the narrative timelines, you can feel the addition of layers to this suspense. You doubt every character, you doubt every action but then you are driven mad to know how it ends, so you read it despite needing to sleep. Highly exciting, thrilling and a bit disturbing. Highly recommend if you are into mysteries and thrillers.