This book 🤌🏻

You’ve got alternate timelines, podcasts, Instagram posts, police transcripts anddddddd it takes place in NC, basically this book was made for me.

I enjoyed every bit of this book, but I really enjoyed Jessica’s POV I mean, it was the 90s immediately hooked. There were so many sleazy characters, so it was hard to pin point who did it, which made it fun. Definitely mark your calendars I have a feeling this book is going to be everywhere this fall!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

Thank you @netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for the arc in exchange for my honest review. Pub date: 11/5

My first book I’ve read of this authors but I think she could become one of the popular thriller writers. This story was a twisted tale of one girls family and how they formed her and her freshmen year of college. It contains love, lies, destruction and murder. Jessica and her story is complicated not unlike many teens her age. The story offers so many plot hints but does a great job withholding the most important plot facts. The actual twist was included in my guesses but not at the top of the list. I’m impressed with how well the author kept twisting the story to keep me guessing. A reread for sure for me.

This book was so good. It kept me on my toes consistently questioning everyone involved, not knowing who it was. The author did a wonderful job of not giving away who it really was until the end. I love the fact that it was well written, wasn’t hard to understand and easy to follow who was speaking.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

I have recently started to feel burnt out with true crime/mystery/thriller books. They are either poorly thought out, predictable, or just silly. This book was really good, and I was pleasantly surprised. It's about a girl who went missing and follows along with her sister years later as she tries to find out what happened. It jumps back and forth between the missing girls POV and present day with the sister. The authors did a really good job with this, and it wasn't confusing. My only complaint is that they made a comment super early in the book about the bad smell from the garage, essentially making part of the ending very predictable.

 
Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

𝘼𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙅𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖 𝙁𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙙 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨. 𝙏𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮-𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙚𝙮'𝙨 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩, 𝙪𝙣𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙬𝙚𝙗 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.

This whole book ended up being just a little too simple for me. I really enjoyed the beginning, but after the first 5-8 chapters it all started to feel a bit repetitive.
We had multiple points of view that included past and present tense. We had Lindsey's POV which was present, and then everything that followed was a follow up to what we already knew from the previous chapter.
I liked the social media elements. Those always add a little extra fun in a book and give us more visual.
I felt like there were plenty of times in the book where I had some stuff figured out. The author included many details and points that gave away one part of the ending or the "twist". I did not expect the overall twist we ended up getting.

I feel this book kept dragging on. I feel like a lot of things could have been skipped and felt like filler. I don't think the ending was shocking enough to endure all of the detail I read.
I ended up being consistently frustrated with the characters. I think the relationship between Jess and her dad was a bit strange... I didn't quite get their infatuation with each other. I also think there were too many characters added to give the reader "suspicions" on a suspect. The characters were kind of bland and I feel they didn't have any personality.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with this Arc. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

I read this in a day. I have to say, I didn't really like any of the characters but I keep turning pages to find out what happened. The ending was better than I expected but not that surprising. This book was just ok for me but I probably would read another by this author.

This book was a slog to get through. The writing was plodding. The characters unlikable. The addition of the podcasts/blog did not add anything to the story. The two podcasters were so annoying …. And this plot device was used in a lazy way to move the story along. This is used in other books I’ve read in a much more creative way.
The male characters are quick to anger and grab women’s arms… just very one dimensional.
I will say the big revelation near the end was unexpected…too bad getting there was such a mess. I found myself skimming over many passages.
Thanks net galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

“The Lake of Lost Girls” by Katherine Greene is a mystery novel set in small-town North Carolina where girls are missing and men are…well…acting like gross men. I am always afraid going into mystery novels because I fear of predicting the whole mystery within just a few chapters, but I didn’t have that problem with this book. Jumping from podcast clips, to blog posts, to college life in the 90’s and to the modern day, we follow the story of what REALLY happened to the ‘Lost Girls’ is Southern State University.

Thank you for the ARC!
This book was amazing ! I couldn’t put it down. Loved the characters and the story. It definitely flowed and I had to keep reading to find out the end. When you think you know who did it , it changes up ! Definitely 5 stars !

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this early copy!!

I liked the multiple timeline and POV. I also really enjoyed the use of podcast clips and twitter excerpts. I thought that was fun!

I honestly wan not a fan of the “insta love” the main character had with the reporter, and I disliked how she was very against talking to him but she did anyway. I didn’t find the characters likable honestly, however, I was interested in solving the mystery… which I will say I didn’t expect the reveal. So I enjoyed it nonetheless.

I think I liked this more in the first half than the second. It's told via multiple POVs, mostly in modern time through the eyes of a 30 year old woman whose big sister went missing when she was 7 and through the eyes of big sister back in 1998. There are also some blog posts, IG posts and transcripts of a cringey true crime podcast about the disappearances by two horrible women who make it into something cutesy and titillating to drink wine to.

There are definite feminist threads throughout but it felt a little heavy handed and like they missed a lot of opportunities to make it more realistic and darker. The romance angle was also just creepy and unhealthy, and I did not care for it in either timeline. Can we stop romanticizing relationships with good looking men who have anger issues, act controlling, lie, obsess over women and can't take no for an answer?

I did guess at almost everything, but I also guessed at some darker stuff that I think would have made it more believable.

This author is apparently two different authors who work together under this pen name, though "they" answer questions on goodreads as a singular person. I'm a little confused by every aspect of that.

Overall, I read this in just over a day and I did think it was written well in terms of easy to read and get caught up in, but I'm less satisfied with the ending and how G rated the whole thing felt for such a dark premise.

I read a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley.

4.5 stars! I read this one so quickly, it kept me hooked! I really enjoyed the two timelines getting both sisters' perspectives. The ending was incredible, not the same old ending a lot of thrillers have. I could have easily done without the podcast portions of the story, especially because the hosts had nothing to do with the story other than being a podcast that talked about the case. I did have one unanswered question as well about a certain relationship in the story. Still such a great thriller and I will be recommending!

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this early copy!!

This was such a page turner I couldn’t put it down! All of the twists had me second guessing every time I thought I knew who the killer was, and let me tell you I never would have thought that it was who it was. I loved the added multimedia aspects, I can’t wait for the audiobook to experience the podcast part.

I will say there are some trigger warnings (trauma, sexual assault, stalking, violence…) so if those bother you then maybe check into it and see. They were mild in my eyes.

Definitely check this book out if you’re into true crime, podcasts, small town/college campus mystery settings. Highly recommend it was great!

Step into the world of Southern State University in Mt. Randall, North Carolina, circa 1998, where a sinister mystery unfolds. Female students are vanishing without a trace, and Jessica Fadley is about to become the fourth victim. But what led to her disappearance? And will her sister, Lindsey, uncover the truth twenty-four years later?

Katherine Greene's "The Lake of Lost Girls" is an absolute gem of a thriller. From the moment I started the first chapter, I was captivated by the gripping storyline. This may be my first encounter with Greene's work, but it certainly won't be my last. Her storytelling prowess is unmatched, keeping readers glued to the pages until the very end.

What sets this book apart is its unique format. With podcast episodes, flashback chapters from alternating perspectives, and even social media posts scattered throughout, the narrative feels fresh and dynamic. Each chapter seamlessly flows into the next, making it impossible to put the book down until every last mystery is unraveled.

As the story hurtles towards its climax, I found myself on the edge of my seat, getting chills with each twist and turn. Greene expertly surpassed my already high expectations, delivering a finale that left me reeling. "The Lake of Lost Girls" is a thrilling rollercoaster ride that will keep you guessing until the very end.

If you're a fan of thrillers with a unique format and unexpected twists, look no further than "The Lake of Lost Girls." Greene's masterful storytelling will leave you breathless and eager for more. This book is an absolute must-read that will linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the final page.

Go ahead and clear your calendar for November 5th because you will not want to put this one down. A book written about a true crime podcast, two of my favorite things - all in! An unsolved string of disappearances in a small college town in North Carolina is still an unsolved case twenty four years later…human remains found in the lake brings new hope that the mystery can be solved. For Lindsey and her family, the pain of losing their Jess is still raw and the writing in this novel is both gripping and beautifully heart-wrenching. The story is told in multiple perspectives and timelines, adding to the unfathomable depth of the mystery. The Lake of Lost Girls is a powerful read that will leave you reflecting on the power of just ten seconds, an impact that resounds through decades and twists and turns you could not imagine.

Review is on Goodreads and will be posted to Instagram 4/6!

Rounded up from a 2.5 on The StoryGraph.

I have a somewhat complicated relationship with The Lake of Lost Girls. While I wouldn't say that I disliked it, there was a lot that I, in fact, did not like.

The biggest issue for me was the pacing. The Lake of Lost Girls is a fairly short novel with some very interesting formatting, yet it dragged. The story is told in past and present timelines through each sister's POV and there are mixed media additions sprinkled throughout. This could have made for an immersive and fun reading experience but instead prolonged the story. Neither Jessica's POV, the podcast, or the other additional media pieces added anything to the story that we didn't already know from Lindsey's POV. Then there were the last few chapters where the ending felt both rushed and way too drawn out. The truth unraveled all at once and, at the same time, there was so much fluff thrown in that it made the last chunk difficult to wade through.

The plot was a bit simplistic for my taste. While there were twists, and a "surprise" ending, it felt to me that in pursuit of the core reveal(s) the rest of the story fell to the sidelines. These pieces weren't developed to a point that they added to the mystery. I also feel it's worth mentioning that I had the plot figured out 20% into the book.

The characters and their relationships to one another felt shallow. There wasn't much distinction between Lindsey, Jessica, and even their dad when we get his POV briefly. Their language structure and way of thinking are all very similar. There was also so much reference to relationships between the characters but we didn't get much opportunity to see them play out and explore them. This made the plot reveal feel a lot less believable. Lindsey, our main character, made constant reference to the fact that she despised being seen only as a missing woman's sister, but not once did she seem to define herself as any different. Lastly, I felt that the way Jessica and her dad (Ben) - and even other family members - spoke about their relationship made it feel very incestuous and uncomfortable. This is something that could have been remedied by us seeing their relationship more than hearing about it.

The one outright ick I got from this novel had to do with the marketing of it in comparison to its contents. Full disclosure, this is a personal take. I picked up this book because it was marketed to fans of All Good People Here. I am most definitely from that category as I am a huge fan of Ashley Flowers, listen to Crime Junkie weekly, and loved All Good People Here. My issue with this is that the book contains an underlying social commentary on the true crime community. In itself, this was not the problem. For me, it was the execution of it. While there was a lot of truth to the points made, it did feel biased against the community as a whole when it's a small portion of the community that contributes to these problems. The podcast in the book also felt like a direct parody of Crime Junkie that I didn't enjoy or agree with.

As I said, I didn't outright dislike the book, despite all that I took issue with. I did love the concept of adding mixed media and using the alternate timelines, though I very much would have liked to see these utilized better. I also found that Katherine Greene's writing, overall, was a breeze to read and I didn't find myself being pulled out of the story. I read this novel fairly quickly, consuming large chunks of it each time that I sat down with it and not noticing the time going by. This, to me, is the true mark of a good reading experience.

It is my opinion that this duo has so much talent and potential. This book lacked some technique and development that I typically look for when I read, but I believe it had great bones.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I devoured this quick paced mystery/thriller and was pleasantly surprised by the twist ending that I didn't quite have figured out.

Jessica Fadlay disappeared 24 years ago, right around the time that 3 other girls from her college campus also went MIA. While the police work seemed shotty and the girls were thought of as runaways and not murder victims, Jess's sister Lindsey (6 at the time of her disappearance) has to grow up in the shadow of the mystery---literally because how can a family ever be the same after that and figuratively because the college is a mere 3 miles away from Lindsey's home.

The story was so engaging, with a bunch of twist and turns, 3 main male suspects (if you believe that any of them actually did it), and a dual timeline where the author jumps between Jessica's POV and Lindsey's POV. It's hard to tell who to trust and who to blame, especially when it seems like everyone is hiding something from all those years ago.

Weakest parts for me a) the podcast; didn't feel like it really added anything to the story and the plot could've been easily reworked without it and b) not much depth to MC Lindsey; she seemed more to take the readers along than to add much to the story on her own.

Still DEFINITELY worth the read, and can't wait to recommend it!

Overall: 4.5 stars (I REALLY liked it)

I'll tell my students about: language, alcohol, sex, drugs, violence/gore/murder, trauma, sexual assault, stalking

**Thank you to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for the free ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

The Lake of Lost Girls is a classic mystery thriller with a twist. The book starts out with the transcript of a podcast covering the disappearance of four young women from the same university. It looks at sloppy police work and no real answers even 24 years or so after the girls vanished. The lake in the book, "Doll's Eye Lake" is probably one of the main characters along with the family of the missing women Jess. The podcast in the book is called "Ten Seconds to Vanish" which is what Lindsey, Jess's younger sister, said was the time it took for her sister to vanish. There were several men of interest in the case but no real leads. Lindsey, along with others from Jess's past help the past come to the light. The relationship between Jess and her father was a little... creepy. Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC of this book. It was face paced and kept me engaged the entire book.

Wow! It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book with so many plot twists! I truly could not put it down and the author(s) really kept me on my toes. Just when I thought I knew everything, I would get to the next chapter and have a whole new theory.

Very well written and I definitely would recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and the author(s) for allowing me access to this book.

Wow! The ending left me speechless, I was not expecting that! This was my first Katherine Greene book, and it was amazing. I thought I had it all figured it, but I should have known it couldn't be that easy. I loved the alternating time lines between the sisters, I thought it flowed together and just added to the story. When I wasn't reading I was thinking of this book. I'm honestly debating going for a second read it was so good!

Thank you to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Katherine Greene for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date for The Lake of Lost Girls is November 5, 2024