True crime podcast aside, which this book could have left out without losing anything, this book was pretty gripping. I read it in one afternoon. There were a lot of red herrings thrown in. Some were extremely obvious and who-dun-it was also easy to guess. I had kind of wished it wasn't those it turned out to be. Still, a nice book to read on a cold day.

This was a great read. The character development was brilliant and the story kept you guessing and wanting to keep reading late into the night! I will be looking for more books from this author.

3.5/5 stars

Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy for thrillers by the book MKE!

I wanted to love this book so much and, in some ways, I really did. I was super enticed start to finish -- from the very first page to the end. There were a few great surprises and shocks throughout that kept me interested and some well-done red herrings. You're really going to suspect everyone by the time the book is over! Unfortunately, though, I predicted something major almost immediately, which was a huge let down. There's a balance between fun foreshadowing and it being too obvious, and, for me, this was the latter. The red herrings were redemptive in this way, because they at least had me questioning myself at times, but still not enough in the end. My only other real complaint is that the time jumps could be confusing and, at times, the pacing felt chaotic. Overall, I really enjoyed my time reading this book, but feel the execution could have been done a little bit better. I would still definitely recommend it, though, and I look forward to discussing at book club this week!

Review of The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene

4 Stars

The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene is a chilling, dual-timeline thriller that skillfully combines the mystery of a true crime podcast with the haunting tale of a missing college student. The story follows Lindsey, who is desperate to uncover the truth about her sister Jessica’s disappearance 24 years ago. As bodies start turning up near a lake connected to Jessica’s last known whereabouts, Lindsey dives deeper into the secrets of Southern State University, guided by clues from a popular true crime podcast. Meanwhile, in the late 90s, we see Jessica’s own descent as her life spirals out of control, leading to her ultimate fate.

Greene does an excellent job of weaving suspenseful podcast excerpts with the alternating perspectives of the sisters, creating a layered and haunting atmosphere. The twists and the realism of Jessica’s struggles on campus make this story both engaging and unsettling. The exploration of true crime culture and its impact on families searching for closure adds depth to the plot. Though it slows at points, the buildup to the conclusion is well worth the wait. Fans of academia mysteries and true crime will find The Lake of Lost Girls an unforgettable read.

Thank you @netgalley for my e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

WOW was this good. I thought I had it all figured out and wow was I wrong. This book was gripping and kept my on my toes. I loved the podcast and social media element. If you love a missing woman thriller, grab this.

first book by this author and had a great time, will pick up future work. thankyou all for the early copy

The Lake of Lost Girls is a fast-paced story that starts with a skeleton being found near a lake in a small town where girls attending university have disappeared in the past. That find is just the beginning of the mystery as two more skeletons were found at the bottom of the same lake. There are the podcasters divulging details of the case, there's the sister who barely remembers the one long gone, there's a family that tries to be perfect but is far from it, there are three probable culprits, but definitely more than one is responsible for those murders. This book is a roller coaster of emotions and very entertaining!
I thank the authors, their publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

First of all I would like to thank Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a copy of The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene in exchange for my honest review. This book is now available for purchase where ever books are sold or can be find at your local lending library.

Lindsey has always lived in the shadow of her older sister, Jessica. Not only was Jessica smart and beautiful, but she went missing without a trace on the night of Lindsey's sixth birthday party. For 24 years, Lindsey has lived with the ghost of her sisters and the disappearance dictating every moment of her life. Until a podcast starts digging into the details and new information is found in their small town.

Jessica is attending college only a few miles away from her small town. She wants to break free from who she has always been but there are things she is hiding that are eating away at her. The endless nights of partying and skipping class are doing nothing to help her feel numb, until she decides things need to change.

If you love a good twisty thriller then I recommend The Lake of Lost Girls. The ending will leave you speechless.

Katherine Greene’s The Lake of Lost Girls is a twisty thriller that hits all the right notes for fans of true crime and mysteries with complex family ties. Set in both 1998 and the present day, it follows Lindsey as she digs into her sister Jessica’s disappearance from Southern State University decades earlier. This isn’t just a cold case—Lindsey’s investigation is sparked by a viral podcast and a shocking new discovery near a lake in their hometown. The way the story weaves in podcast transcripts, old news clippings, and social media posts makes it feel like you’re right there, piecing together clues.

What really stands out are the characters. Lindsey and Jessica are both flawed, real, and relatable, each with their own vulnerabilities and raw edges. Greene pulls no punches in exploring the unsettling themes of family trauma, secrets, and the darker side of small-town dynamics. I found myself completely immersed in the alternating perspectives, especially as the suspense ramped up and new twists unfolded.

If you love thrillers that keep you guessing and are packed with suspenseful, page-turning moments, The Lake of Lost Girls is a must-read. Greene manages to balance emotional depth with a chilling plot that’s hard to put down. This book kept me reading way past bedtime, and I’m still thinking about the ending!

I really was interested in the story-young woman trying to live her life when the story of her teen sister's disappearance becomes news again, 24 years later. The characters were not well developed in my opinion--they kept changing and doing things out of characters, and I felt like I didn't get to them that well. Lindsay, the main character, made me roll my eyes a few times as she tries not to fall for the creepy reporter who knows quote a lot about her sister. Satisfying ending, though a bit predictable. Liked the mixed media additions (podcast, newspaper article, etc.).

I’m a little late to give a review as this took me a little time to get through. While the story was enjoyable I found the podcast part to be a complete waste and not necessary. I also felt it was obvious that it wasn’t the boyfriend or the teacher. It was pushed too hard in my opinion. I figured out who it was about half way. It was such a slow read.

Oh.my.ever.thriller.loving.goodness.
This was a good one.
Loved everything about this book.
The podcast views.
The way you just don’t see it coming.
5 solid stars.
Will recommend.
Obsessed.

Set in a small town marked by tragedy and mystery, the story revolves around the disappearance of four young girls who have been lost for 24 years, and the lake at the town played an important role in both the plot and the chilling mood of the story. The place amplifies an eerie and suspenseful vibe.

What I liked about this book was that, as the protagonist unearthed the secrets revolving around her older sister and the connections to the missing girls, it felt like we're also part of the investigation team and also wanted to unveil what really happened to the lost girls. I didn't expect the conclusion of the book, and it literally blew my mind, like, how is that possible, and why didn't I think about that?

Overall, "The Lake of Lost Girls" is a compelling read for fans of thrillers and character-driven mysteries, which offers a blend of suspense, emotional depth, and psychological insight.

Katherine Greene (pen name) for bestselling authors, A. Meredith Walters and Claire C. Riley. returns following their debut, The Woods are Waiting, with an enthralling haunting mystery, THE LAKE OF LOST GIRLS. A cold case is reopened that threatens to unearth long-buried secrets, told in alternating timelines infused brilliantly with podcast clips and more for a superb, twisty, thrilling whodunit!

About...

1998: Female students are going missing at Southern State University in North Carolina. Jessica Fadley suddenly disappears.

Twenty-four years later, Jessica's sister Lindsey is desperately seeking answers. She turns to Ten Seconds to Vanish, a new crime podcast that brings cold cases to life again.

Bodies begin turning up in the local lake, which spikes everyone's interest. What happens behind closed doors?

Told in alternating timelines, readers will be glued to the pages to see how this mystery will turn out. When no one is as they appear, this leads to a shocking conclusion.

My thoughts...

THE LAKE OF LOST GIRLS is psychologically rich and unsettling, with a twisty plot and chilling suspense, sure to keep you on the edge of your seat with its suspenseful plot!

Richly layered, dark, and intense, with a cleverly crafted narrative that will keep you engaged and turning the pages, thanks to its strong character development.

Spellbinding! Equal parts shocking, unnerving, and thrilling with strong emotional themes of family dynamics, sisterhood bonds, and a fascinating twisty cold case with a jaw-dropping twist.

Audiobook...

I enjoyed reading the book and listening to the outstanding audiobook! Absorbing and atmospheric, with a superb cast of stars taking the story to new heights narrated by Helen Laser, Frankie Corzo, Sara Young, Haley Taylor and David Bendena. I highly recommend the audio!

Recs...

This is for fans of the author and those who enjoy well-crafted thrillers. Also for fans of The Girl Who Was Taken (Charlie Donlea), We Are All the Same in the Dark (Julie Heaberlin), Dark Corners (Megan Goldin), All Good People Here (Ashley Flowers), and I Have Some Questions for You (Rebecca Makkai)—all favorites!

Thanks...

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books (ARC) and Dreamscape Media (ALC) for gifted early copies via NetGalley for an honest opinion.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Nov 5, 2024
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I really enjoyed this story told mostly from the perspective of Jess, a missing woman in the past, and her sister Lindsay in the present who was an only child when her big sister disappeared. The secondary cast also played a vital role in how everything played out in this disturbing tale of four missing women. The author did a fabulous job providing red herrings to keep the reader guessing at who was responsible. The audiobook narrated by a full cast was also very well done. I think fans of thrillers will love this one.

I ended up listening to this on audio once it came out, and I'm glad I did! I thought the audiobook was really well done with a full cast of narrators and it was produced really well with the podcast episodes and different multimedia elements. Overall, the story kept me entertained the entire time and I finished it really quickly. I liked the fact that it jumped between present day and past tense to tell the story. I didn't see the twist at the end coming, but it did unfortunately let me down a tiny bit. I still would recommend this to anyone who wants a fun thriller, it just wasn't my all time favorite.

This is like a Frieda McFadden but with good writing.
I really liked the podcast aspect, the varying perspectives and it kept me hooked trying to find out what happened to those girls. I found the writing well done and the red herrings well placed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the e-ARC. I didn't enjoy the writing and the chapters were far too long. DNF.

The lake of lost girls is a thriller in the vein of Megan Miranda. The novel opens up with transcripts of a true crime podcast where the hosts are recounting the fascinating case of four young missing women from the same college campus in the late 90s. A body is discovered in the present day at the lake and, fearing it’s her sister, Jess, Lindsay tries to solve what happened to Jess and the missing girls. Cut between the podcast hosts, almost serving as narrators-the late 1990s right before Jess goes missing, and the present day, the thrilling story starts to unfold. The ending is a twist and a twisted one at that.

Great pacing-great use of narrative techniques and the multiple timelines. Recommended for all thriller and mystery readers!

Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Lake of Lost Girls is a thriller about a series of college co-ed disappearances in 1998 that remain unsolved—until a popular true crime podcast reignites interest in the case.

Lindsey Fadley was six years old when her older sister, Jessica, disappeared from in front of their family home. Jessica was the fourth female college student from “Southern State University” to go missing, yet the police never investigate obvious suspects, like the married professor and frat boy connected to all the women. Lindsey begins to question the few details she’s been told over the past twenty-four years and uncovers the truth about her sister and the other missing girls.

This book is primarily told through alternating first-person POVs between Jessica and Lindsey, along with transcripts from the podcast. Unfortunately, neither Jessica nor Lindsey comes across as a smart, relatable, or enjoyable character to follow. They make terrible decisions regarding the men in their lives, and every single male character is awful. Lindsey has no friends, and the last twenty-four years of her life are entirely absent from the page. We know nothing about her except that she lives with her parents and works at a hotel—she’s a complete blank slate. Jessica, on the other hand, is a mess, lacking any backbone until she becomes petulant and bratty, only to revert to being a miserable sap again. The rest of the characters feel like cardboard cutouts, existing just to fill space and cast suspicion on various suspects. The dialogue is unnatural, and there is no atmosphere or world-building around this small North Carolina college town.

Overall, this was an unsatisfying thriller. The clues about the “whodunnit” weren’t breadcrumbs but giant loaves, and I figured it out right away.