This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

Marguerite Gray is known for being the muse of a famous painter who created Marguerite by the Lake. She falls to her death in an accident ironically from the same spot where the painting was created. Phoenix had been the gardener for the grounds for years, before Marguerite's death she begins an affair with Marguerite's husband, Geoffrey After Marguerite's death Geoffrey invites Phoenix to move in. Secrets are being discovered, to the possible detriment of Phoenix.

I liked the story, the characters were well developed and I found myself talking to the characters as I was reading- always a sign of a book that made me invested. I recommend it to my friends that like mystery thrillers. I found myself arguing with myself about who I thought the culprit was!

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars for Marguerite By the Lake, written by Mary Dixie Carter! High society, twists & turns, and scandals- I loved this book!


Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

really enjoyed this book and the journey of the main character and all that they went through. It kept me on my toes and what would happen in the story.

Marguerite by the Lake is a tender and atmospheric story that brings both history and heart into beautiful focus. The novel follows Marguerite whose life revolves around her beloved cottage on the lake until circumstances force her into the wider world she’s tried to escape. Along the way she confronts friendships lost and paths never taken and reconnects with people she never stopped loving.

The writing feels intimate like a whispered memory and the setting by the water is peaceful yet quietly powerful. This book is perfect for anyone who loves emotionally rich stories about rediscovery resilience and the beauty of second chances.

This is a difficult book for me to review because though I didn’t love it personally, the reasons I didn’t are likely more about what I personally prefer. While I can appreciate the beauty of the whole “gothic poetry” like writing style, it isn’t a writing style I enjoy reading, I find it tedious, overdone, and SO SLOW. That got me from the start. The other main reason this book didn’t work for me was the character development. I disliked every main character of this book, and not in a “love to hate” kind of way. They all felt underdeveloped and so many of the things they did seemed to just come out of the blue - like the affair, there was no hint or buildup to that, it was just suddenly inserted. And their decisions were nonsense.

I was expecting a mystery/thriller vibe and instead this was more of a gothic psychological drama which I just found tedious. However huge clap for the ending, it actually made wading through the rest somewhat worth it.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for this honest review.

An affair, a murder and a famous painting. Nothing is as it seems.

This book had potential but fell flat for me.

I felt like there was a lot of repetitive internal monologue from our MC, Phoenix. I found her a little annoying. I actually didn’t really connect with any of our MCs.

The premise was good but the execution not so much. There was a point where I thought it was going to get better and then not so much.

If you like secrets in beautiful settings, this might be for you. Phoenix works as a gardener for Marguerite Gray, a lifestyle icon with a big personality and an even bigger brand. One good deed lands Phoenix in the middle of an affair, a suspicious death, and a whole lot of family tension.

The pace is on the slower side, but the mix of high society drama and buried secrets kept me curious. The whole thing kind of reminded me of Sirens, which I just watched and really enjoyed.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

I agree with the reviewers who noted that the writing style feels like a gothic fever dream. It's very specific — and probably very well done — but not for me. I was hoping for a more straightforward mystery. However, I am sure there are readers who will be drawn to this style and this unique, but timeless, take on the genre.

I really enjoyed the author's previous book so I was thrilled to get a copy of this one. I really enjoyed it. This book is one that I could have finished in one sitting. Looking forward to more from this author.

Thank you for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.
Well....what can I say about this book! What a bunch of unlikeable people. The ending left too much open imo. I prefer books that have a clearcut ending that I don't have to figure out on my own. The protagonist drove me 'nuts.' She for sure had some serious mental hang-ups and so many insecurities. I don't like that she lied so many times and always got away seems like. While I didn't hate this book, I for sure didn't really like it as the characters felt so wrong in this story. I would give it 2.5 stars.

A famous painting, a family to envy with money and power, a gardener that just wants a place in it.

This book is hard to define. It's not really a mystery - we know up front who killed who. It's not really a suspense - it's more of a fever dream. Phoenix is haunted by the previous lady of the house. Phoenix has gained access to the house and the life by having an affair and then killing the wife. So it's hard to feel bad for her, when she feels like she's being haunted and hunted.

It's not really a romance. Jeffery was an unimpressive lead male interest and the attraction and romance is instant and told to the reader. I'm surprised, with all the success I felt like Phoenix had, that she'd go for someone like Jeffery. He was a wet noodle, never standing up for anyone or anything.

It wasn't a suspense or horror. Without a firm footing for the type of story you're reading, I think it's tough to feel pulled in and enjoy it. I found Phoenix frustrating - selfish and inconsistent. Jeffery was lackluster. His daughter Taylor had the more interesting personality but we saw only glimpses of her. The grandma storyline felt injected and didn't seem to go anywhere and the brother just seemed to try to add tension and foreboding, but I don't think he managed to fully land either one.

I just think this one didn't work for me. I started as an e-book and flipped to audio on Spotify. The narrator was good, and I enjoyed the audio more.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

This book gives such a mysterious and atmospheric vibe. The writing held my attention, it vividly describes the setting and characters.
Phoenix’s slow descent into madness gives the feel of a psychological thriller book.

Some things I didn’t like- The detective seemed so novice at her job and didn’t thoroughly conduct interviews. I wanted to learn more of Phoenix’s past, as there were hints of something major throughout the story, but it felt unfinished.

There weren’t any major twists and the ending wasn’t super satisfying, but it kept me engaged and I finished it within a day!

I wanted to like this book but it just didn't work for me. I had a hard time with the unlikely, and bad decisions that almost every character in the story made.

This one opened with a bang but was a little hard to stick with and left me with several questions due to dangling plot lines. Thanks

Marguerite by the Lake is a taut, character-driven psychological thriller that gets under your skin in the best possible way. Mary Dixie Carter crafts an atmosphere of quiet unease that steadily builds into full-blown tension, all while maintaining an elegant, almost hypnotic prose style.

The novel’s power lies in its unreliable narrator and the eerie intimacy with which the story unfolds. Marguerite is a fascinating character—beautifully drawn, emotionally complex, and deeply disturbing. Her need for connection and control blurs the line between sympathy and suspicion, making for a deeply engaging and uncomfortable read.

Carter explores themes of envy, privilege, and manipulation with a sharp eye and unflinching honesty. This is not a story that screams—it whispers, and the effect is far more haunting.

4.5 stars – Perfect for fans of You, The Push, or The Talented Mr. Ripley. A gorgeously written psychological thriller that lingers long after the final page.

I was really in the mood for a thriller and the premise of this book sounded intriguing. However, this book did not work for me at all. I found the main character annoying and honestly didn't care what happened to her and it was barely a thriller. It tried for spooky gothic vibes but just fell flat.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

If you come for the queen, best not miss. Martha Stewart in a fake nose and eyeglasses turns into du Maurier's Rebecca, with the second Mrs. deWinter played by a gamine called Phoenix...horripilation!...and Maxim by a yutz called Geoffrey. I recall nothing whatever about them. I longed for Dame Judth Anderson from Hitchcock's film to make her appearance. No such luck.

I finished it, Melpomene knows why, so I owe a review. Here it is.

Marguerite by the Lake is a beautifully atmospheric thriller that blends Gothic suspense with modern psychological drama. Mary Dixie Carter’s writing shines in its vivid descriptions of Rosecliff, the opulent Connecticut estate that serves as the novel’s haunting centerpiece. The tension between the characters—especially between Marguerite and Phoenix—is compelling and layered, drawing readers into a web of secrets and emotional complexity.

The story unfolds with a slow-burn intensity that builds intrigue, and Carter’s exploration of grief, identity, and obsession adds depth to the narrative. Phoenix’s unraveling after Marguerite’s death is particularly well-drawn, offering a chilling look at how past traumas can resurface in unexpected ways.

That said, some elements didn’t fully land for me. A few character motivations felt a bit thin, and the pacing occasionally lagged. The resolution, while dramatic, left me wishing for a bit more clarity and emotional payoff. Still, these issues didn’t overshadow the novel’s strengths.

Overall, Marguerite by the Lake is a stylish and thought-provoking read that fans of domestic thrillers and Gothic fiction will likely appreciate. It’s not perfect, but it’s certainly memorable.

This wasn't a bad book, though it wasn't really a great book, somewhere in between for me. Phoenix works as a gardener at a large estate owned by Marguerite and her husband Geoffrey, Marguerite is kind of like a Martha Stewart type, she portrays she's an expert at most things, gardening, cooking, etc. She has a large following on Instagram, but is she really coming up with all that information about gardening on her own? During an event on the grounds, Phoenix notices a very large tree is swaying in the wind that had suddenly kicked up, she quickly gets everyone to get out of the tent, saving Geoffrey's life, and he is very grateful. Not long after Phoenix and Geoffrey start an affair, somewhat out of the blue I thought, and Marguerite (I believe) suspects they are. One evening while Marguerite is standing along the cliff that borders the estate, Phoenix sees her and tells her the cliff edge isn't stable and she needs to step back, she doesn't and falls. Suddenly Phoenix and Geoffrey and free to do as they please, only not everyone is happy about that, especially Geoffrey's daughter, who looks exactly like her mother. She causes friction between the couple and Phoenix doubts that Geoffrey really wants her. The police are also investigating Marguerite's fall, which Phoenix worries incessantly about. Like I mentioned, for me this is a middling type of book for me, I finished it and did find it readable. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Minotaur for the ARC.