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

I enjoyed this book very much! You think you have it all figured out and then there’s another twist! Absolutely amazing!

In "The Lake of Lost Girls" by Katherine Greene, readers are treated to a haunting and suspenseful narrative that will captivate fans of All Good People Here and We Are All the Same in the Dark. With alternating timelines and spine-tingling podcast clips, this novel offers a twisty tale of mystery and intrigue that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Set in 1998 at Southern State University in North Carolina, the novel follows the disappearance of Jessica Fadley, a once bright and responsible student who vanishes without a trace. Twenty-four years later, her sister Lindsey embarks on a desperate search for answers, fueled by a chart-topping true crime podcast that delves into cold cases like Jessica's.

As Lindsey delves deeper into the investigation, bodies of long-missing women begin to surface at a local lake, leading her down a dark and disturbing path of discovery. In alternating timelines, one sister searches for the truth while the other descends into darkness, ultimately leading to a shocking revelation.

"The Lake of Lost Girls" by Katherine Greene is a propulsive and chilling suspense novel that examines the bonds of sisterhood and the allure of true crime culture. With its sharp examination of secrets and lies, this gripping tale is sure to leave readers breathless until the very end.

What I liked
- The twist of who the killer was, I guessed before it came but it was a pleasant surprise either way
- Jessica’s voice. I felt like she was the only character with true emotion and depth to them
- The inside look on how the true crime ‘movement’ online could negatively impact the lives of the people actively living in to situation where a loved one has been missing for years.
- The different news articles and such put in between chapters, made the missing person case feel more real.
- Finding out the impact on Lindsay of being a sibling to a missing person. Not getting anymore birthdays after her sister disappeared on her birthday. Not understanding why her dad loved her sister more.

What I disliked
- The writing was really clunky in the beginning, almost like the author wasn’t sure of how to write it first person past tense.
- I really didn’t think the transcripts for the podcasts were necessary. They didn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know. Just repeat information. Could still show the impact it was having on Lindsay without it.
- The flashbacks, I struggle anytime a book relies on flashbacks.
- Lindsay, I really didn’t feel any connection to her. She was just kind of there for other characters to dump info at most of the time.

3 out of 5 stars. I did read the whole book is one sitting so that’s got to count for something but I still have some gripes with it. I might have to read the authors other book too.

This was really fun, I liked the author's previous book too but this one was definitely better. I really enjoyed the connections to true crime as well as the switching formats with the podcasts and the articles. The alternating timelines also worked really well and both of them were suspenseful enough on their own, although I liked Jess' POV a lot more. The writing was good and the pacing was fast, so I finished this in one sitting.

What I wanted was a little more detail in some regards, everything felt pretty surface-level, especially regarding Jess' POV and what happened to her there. I wanted a little more action and gore. I also think towards the end things got a little messy, there could have been less time spent explaining things in the beginning and more time spent on making the ending feel really neat. However, I only saw half of the plot twist coming and not all of it which definitely positively surprised me. I will definitely be reading more books by this author in the future.

Lindsey’s older sister Jessica was one of four female college students to go missing 24 years ago. Ever since Jessica's disappearance, Lindsey has felt the weight of all the unanswered questions. Now two podcasters are focusing on the missing girls, which leads to the discovery of one of their bodies. Will Lindsey's family finally get the answers they've always craved?

Told in alternating timelines and perspectives, the reader is given insight into present-day Lindsey's world as she searches for answers, and Jessica's life leading up to her disappearance. The reader is taken through various twists and turns as secrets are unearthed.

While a couple of parts of the plot are a little predictable, the author does a great job of building suspense and keeping the reader invested in the story. Jess starts off as a seemingly perfect daughter, but soon her self-destructive behavior sends her down a bad path, whereas Lindsey is stuck in a somewhat adolescent state due to not having a true childhood. They are equal parts likable and frustrating, and how their stories are woven together for the big reveal is ultimately satisfying.

This is an incredibly fast read, so it would make a great choice for a vacation read. Any mystery/thriller book group should consider it for a selection, as it is sure to engage and encourage lively discussions.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

This book gripped me right from the beginning! I found myself sneaking away at work to read the next chapter. I think this book also does a really good job of how problematic true crime podcasts can be in this day and age. Even though I did guess 1/2 of the ending I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves a whodunit.

This book was so damn gripping, I woke up in the middle of the night wanting to read it…the book called me that much. This book was a treasure of podcast excerpts, current day, flashbacks, social media posts, news articles. Anyone who loves a true crime podcast MUST listen to this book!

The ending of the book could have used a slightly longer epilogue or a few more threads wound together but the fact that it sucked me in so hard was more than enough to warrant it 5 stars (and I can’t remember the last thriller I’ve given 5 stars since The Silent Patient and Verity).

A big thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Publication day is set for November 4, 2024. Cheers to adding it to your TBR!

Read this in a day! So good! Hadn't read this author before but will be adding her to my TBR. I really enjoyed then intensity of this book. The development was spot on.

I was captivated by the story unfolding in the first chapter and couldn't wait to see where the book would take me next. If you're a fan of thrilling mysteries involving college-age characters, then this book is a must-read. It begins with a podcast investigating the disappearance of four girls from a small college town in the UK, switching between the perspective of one of the missing girls during her time in college and her younger sister in the present. I was on the edge of my seat, trying to predict the book's direction, and I was genuinely surprised by the twist at the end. I'm grateful for the opportunity to read this book in advance and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a gripping thriller.

scary!!!! missing college students and a whirlwind to unveil what is happening. this was a quick paced page turner thriller. excellent plot!

I strongly recommend reading this book when you get the chance! I found this book extremely captivating and engaging. I could not put this book down for the life of me! I definitely need to get my hands on a physical copy when it’s released into the wild!

I loved most of this book, it kept me guessing right until the end! I have to say I didn’t totally love the ending but I’d still recommend the book.