The Lake of Lost Girls is an engrossing journey into darkness, sisterhood, and the haunting weight of secrets left unresolved. Set against the eerie backdrop of Southern State University in 1998, the novel introduces Jessica Fadley, a freshman whose life is spiraling out of control—until she disappears without a trace.

Fast-forward twenty-four years: Jessica’s sister, Lindsey, seizes the momentum of a hit true crime podcast to reignite the search for Jessica and uncover the disturbing truths behind the disappearances of other missing students. When bodies begin surfacing in a nearby lake, Lindsey’s search turns into an investigation that reveals a twisted web of lies, betrayal, and buried trauma.

Greene masterfully switches between Jessica’s gradual descent into a dark fate and Lindsey’s present-day pursuit for justice, making every chapter pulse with suspense. It’s more than just a mystery—The Lake of Lost Girls dives deep into the complexities of sisterhood and the culture of true crime, questioning the ways we search for, and consume, these tragic stories.

If you’re a fan of chilling thrillers with a touch of true-crime fascination, this one’s for you!

I stayed up SO LATE reading this! I absolutely could not stop! Full of intrigue, twists and shocks, this is one that will stay with me for a long time.

Four girls from the same college all go missing around the same time. The sister of one of the girls wants to find answers years later. Dual timelines and multiple POV make this story hard to put down. Sleep will be lost as you turn the pages wondering what happens next. There are multiple suspects without alibis and plenty of motivation for wanting these girls to go missing. Can you guess who did it? I give this 4.5 stars! I really enjoyed it!

Slowly over the years I have discovered I no longer like reading true crime books where they have podcasts and its like "quirky" girls having a gossip over someone's tragedy. That instantly put me off as I felt that it was not necessary and honestly the writing was just bland to me that I really didnt care or understand what happened.

With the huge rise in the popularity of murder podcasts, it’s no surprise to see this trend reflected in novels. I also enjoy the audio production of these books, which continues to improve. The listener is really immersed in both the podcast and the murder story. "The Lake of Lost Girls" excelled in this aspect.

Set in 1998, the story revolves around four young college students who have gone missing. Are they just typical runaways, or is something more sinister at play? Unfortunately, the lack of investigative effort meant that these disappearances remained unsolved. Then, 24 years later, a body is discovered. With the help of some fortunate podcasters and the sister of one of the missing girls, this case might finally become a solvable murder investigation.

While the overall plot was solid, I didn't particularly care for the main characters, Jessica and Lindsey—their portrayal annoyed me. Additionally, the hints at something paranormal ultimately led nowhere, which felt like an unresolved plot thread.

I had so much fun discussing this one with my book club! I do wish the author had held back a little in the beginning - I guessed the killer quite early on. But I was delighted that I was only partially right, though I didn't care for the big reveal itself (sorry, trying to avoid spoilers!)

This twisted, surprising story was a compulsively readable book. I absolutely thought that I had everything figured out (and was preemptively judging characters because of that), and was still quite surprised by how this one wrapped up. Dark and disturbing, just the way I prefer my mysteries. I appreciated not just the inclusion of the podcast element, but that it wrestled with the issues in the true crime space as well.

I was able to read an early ARC ebook of The Lake of Lost Girls. The title alone was intriguing and it was on wild thriller! The whole story had me hooked and I did not expect that ending!

This book was a wild ride! I loved the podcast elements. I never knew where this book was going. A great thriller. Highly recommend!

While I didn't think the podcast elements in this book added much to the story, this past percent (1998-present day) mystery set on a North Carolina college campus really kept me guessing.

Yes, I did figure out a main part of the resolution (weirdly, I had just read a book with a very similar ending) but I enjoyed mulling over all the clues and changing my mind a few times.

Thanks so much to the publisher for providing me an advance copy of the book.

Anther excellent thriller from this pair of writers. I loved their first book and was so excited for this one! I love the structure of the book with last and present timelines. The past slowly reveling the story and mystery to readers while the present day characters figured out the puzzle. The ending was a perfectly crafted twist! Highly recommend

The Lake of Lost Girls is the kind of book that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. Katherine Greene masterfully blends past and present in a way that will have you furiously flipping pages, desperate to piece together the truth. The alternating timelines create this delicious tension, with Jessica’s slow unraveling in 1998 feeling hauntingly inevitable while Lindsey’s modern-day investigation keeps you on edge. The use of podcast clips is genius—it feels like you’re in the story, uncovering the mystery alongside the characters. This book is a gripping, atmospheric thriller that will have true crime fans buzzing and leave you questioning how far you’d go for answers.

2 Stars

Dual Timelines
Multiple POV

I went into this one with high expectations and honestly, I was let down. I am completely honest when I say, I got to 5% and already knew what happened to Jess. 5%. That is way too early to be able to figure out a book.

I did not like any of the characters. Jess used everyone around her. Lindsey was trying too hard to be not liked. Ryan was a liar. The mom was bazaar and the dad was gross and made me uncomfortable, especially with some of the things he said to Jess.

The relationship between Jessica and her dad was weird and uncomfortable. She was weirdly obsessed with him. Also, the mom admitted they only had Lindsey because she was jealous and needed someone to love her. Umm okay.

The whole thing with Dr. Daniels sleeping with his students, in a dorm, in a car down the street from a Frat party where anyone could see him, was ridiculous. Yet the school didn't care and let him get away with it.

Also at the end of chapter 5, there is an Instagram post. It is supposed to be 1998, and Instagram wasn't even out.

I was looking forward to the Podcast aspect, but it honestly added nothing to the story.

**I listened to the Audiobook while reading**

5 stars

I am so mad at myself for waiting so long to read this…. This was so good! I couldn’t stop reading. Thank you Netgalley, Libro.FM, and Crooked Lane Books for an #ARC in return for a review.

What did I enjoy/what to expect?
• alternating timelines + POVs
• fast paced
• unreliable narrators
• podcasts elements
• murder mystery
• true crime elements
• dark academia
• felt like a tv show!!

Honestly I can’t really think of many things I didn’t enjoy. ** PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS **

It took over a month to finish this story, sometimes I thought it will never end.
Book was filled with stereotypes: all men are evil, all women are damsels in distress with daddy issues, police officers are all clowns with blue uniforms and so on.
None of the characters had any distinctive features, all were made identical, just with different names, so maybe that’s one of the reasons it took me ages to finish - I was just too bored to read the same thing.
The relationship between Jessica and ger father were… unhealthy to say the least and most of the time verged upon creepy.
Also I saw the ending from the miles away, the author very blatantly revealed it in some parts of the story by some dialogues and things the characters did.
In the end I’m just glad I’m done with this book and can move on to the next.

Phew. That was heavy.

Though I finished this book feeling very depressed, I still enjoyed it a lot. Some may have been able to guess what happened to the missing girls in this story early on, but not me. I felt like there were enough clues to get an idea but just enough twists and misdirection to keep you guessing.

I really liked that a podcast was woven within the story, and that a couple characters frequently called out how true crime fanatics often act like vultures who forget that there are real families involved in the crimes they view as entertainment.

Now this book, as with any, is not without faults. I did find myself having to suspend my belief over a few things. I would have also appreciated a real epilogue with Lindsey instead of the podcast summary. Regardless, this was a great story and it kept me hooked.

Do you love true crimes, podcast premise lovers, or anyone looking for a thoroughly chilling read, The final twist will leave your mouth hanging open! What a quick read.



Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC

The lake of lost girls by Katherine Greene

When female students all going missing within weeks of each other at a university, no one seems to think much is amiss and the whole investigation is botched but 24 years later a true crime podcast brings it all to the surface and the little sister of one of the missing girls has questions especially when a body turns up…

OMG this one blew my mind!!! It was so good! I don’t normally like slower paced thrillers but this one had me in a vice-like grip. The story unfolds in such a way you have no idea who could be guilty and if anyone even is because the cards are kept close to the chest on this one. You end up questioning everything, everyone, every dang word in the book.

I did not see the ending coming!! Not even a little! I got some serious whiplash for sure!!!

Not one man was likable but I get why it was done this way. Loved the writing and the plot.

4.5 stars!

#thegirlsoflostlake #thriller #thisgirlsakiller #silencedgirls #torihunterseries #thrillerreader #thrilleraudios #audiobooks #audiobookreader #readersofig #audiobooklover #netgalley #bookouture #bookreviews

The narrative in this chilling read unfolds across two timelines: 1998 and the present day. This dual timeline sets the stage for a gripping and suspenseful read that centers around the disappearance of Jessica Fadley. Twenty-four years have passed, and her sister is relentlessly seeking answers. Driven to action by the discovery of human remains and the compelling true-crime podcast “Ten Seconds to Vanish,” it is imperative to finally unravel the events that transpired during the fateful year of 1998.

Lindsey’s anguish was palpable, as was her mother’s. She was only six when her sister Jess went missing, and the wound is just as fresh. Almost like a literal opening of a Pandora’s Box, Doll’s Eye Lake takes center stage after human remains are discovered. Not only did Jess go missing in 1998, other female students also went missing. Do any of the remains belong to Jess? If so, or really, in any case, it is time for answers.

Lindsey’s journey and Jess’s freshman year in college are intertwined in these two timelines. We get to see Jess’s life during that time, including some disturbing experiences. Along with the two perspectives, with bits of the podcast woven in, as well as newspaper clippings and even social media posts, the story becomes both a captivating and a bit unsettling read.

There’s a lot to unpack when you consider what’s going on in this sophomore read from the talented authors that are under the pen name Katherine Greene. The themes are deep, albeit rather disturbing for something that probably happens more often than not. But the book keeps you hooked from beginning to end, and then the ending! Oh, the ending!

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Thank you, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley, for the advanced copy of The Lake of Lost Girls.

This one kept me turning the pages. I loved it! This novel was told from the POVs of each sister with snippets of an ongoing true-crime podcast. I had not previously read any Katherine Greene novels, but I immediately added her to my TBR! I was pointing the finger at everyone. This is a whodunnit that is going to keep you guessing and keep you on your toes. The twists and the journey are worth the anxiety you will get from all the tension, I promise!!

Jessica Fadley seems to have it all going right for her. To her family, she's a bright young woman enjoying the sorority pledge life at Southern State University just up the road from where she grew up; however, the party life seems to be catching up with Jessica. That is until she disappears. Twenty-four years later, her sister, Lindsey, is still searching for answers. Jessica disappeared on Lindsey's sixth birthday, and their family was never the same afterward. When a podcast puts the spotlight on not only Jessica's disappearance but other female students whom Jessica knew, public interest in the case goes haywire. If the podcast weren't enough, the bodies that start appearing out of the lake turn up more questions than answers and lead Lindsey on a path that she can't turn back from.