Thank you to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the copies to review.

Goodness. I had secondhand awk while reading most of this book, and it just kept getting worse as Phoenix kept making bad choices in ingraining herself in this family. In some ways, this reminded me a bit of Rebecca; there were hints of it throughout. This was definitely an atmospheric and eerie read that was very well written. I loved the narrator; Helen Laser is always fantastic, and she did a great job with this story. It is not a thriller as you would expect, more domestic suspense, but I enjoyed this one especially given how it made me feel throughout.

Set against the lush backdrop of Rosecliff Estate, this psychological thriller centers on Phoenix, a young gardener who has long tended the spectacular grounds of lifestyle icon Marguerite Gray. When Phoenix saves Marguerite’s husband Geoffrey from a falling tree at a high-profile book launch, tensions flare—jealousy and attraction entangle the pair. Soon, Marguerite falls to her death from the same cliff where she posed for her iconic portrait, Marguerite by the Lake, and Phoenix becomes ensnared in secrets that threaten to surface. Detective Hanna (and Marguerite’s daughter) close in, and Phoenix must navigate guilt, suspicion, and her place within the Gray legacy.

Carter’s vivid, lyrical prose bathes Rosecliff in eerie beauty—storm ridden estates, opulent garden parties, and fragile façades of perfection craft a modern, female-driven Gothic mood. The stark divide between Phoenix’s humble origins and Marguerite’s elite veneer fuels envy, desire, and manipulation.

I have felt the haunted-estate, glamour-versus-grit trope is well-worn territory, but Carter’s fresh prose gives it new life for me.

Marguerite by the Lake is a haunting, emotionally rich thriller that will grip fans of dark domestic suspense and psychological mystery. I would recommend it for readers who enjoy atmospheric, modern gothic mysteries and fans of character-driven psychological thrillers with emotional depth

Did not read. Have way too many books on my shelf - need to cut back. Hoping to get to it in the future though.

3.5 stars rounded to 4

This was a difficult book to rate.

I liked the slow burn of it, My attention was kept wanting to know what was happening and there was a whole Tell Tale Heart thing going which I loved as you read about the main character basically devolving into madness.

However, I felt like the overall writing was stilted and lacked fluidity so that I was at times confused and scenes seemed to jump or end abruptly and you’d be later in the day or days later with no real closure to the previous scene.

The bottom line though is I enjoyed this on the whole so if you can get past the above issues, this might be a good, slow burn descent into madness type of book for you.

Mary Dixie Carter’s Marguerite by the Lake is a richly atmospheric and emotionally charged novel that blends mystery, romance, and psychological tension against the evocative backdrop of the storied Rosecliff estate. The story centers on Phoenix, a young gardener whose humble beginnings contrast sharply with the glamorous world of Marguerite Gray—a lifestyle icon whose influence looms large even after her tragic death.

Carter masterfully weaves layers of secrets, jealousy, and forbidden attraction as Phoenix becomes entangled in the complex and dangerous relationships within the Gray family. The vivid descriptions of the gardens and estate not only ground the story but also symbolize the carefully tended facades and buried truths each character hides.

With compelling characters, a slow-burning mystery, and a haunting exploration of power and vulnerability, Marguerite by the Lake is a gripping read that reminds us: no secret stays buried forever. Perfect for fans of atmospheric domestic thrillers with a touch of dark elegance.

I can't recommend it enough! I really enjoyed this book, I couldn't put it down, I finished it in a couple of days!

This was a DNF for me at 30%. I might try to pick it up again at a later time but it just wasn’t it for me. The FMC is incredibly frustrating and just annoyed me for much of the beginning of the book. Even when things started to happen she still made me crazy. Will probably come back and try again but was just disappointed.

A serious psychological thriller with constant tension.
This book is a slow burn, but even with a slower pace it offers tension and aggression at every turn. There is a wide cast of unique characters who all play important roles in the plot and leave you scratching your head.
FMC is a down-to-earth gardener who absolutely loves the plants she cares for and gardens she designs. Suddenly, accidental tragedy strikes shortly after shes begun making questionable life choices (*ahem* famous, wealthy married man *ahem*).
As her life unfolds, continuing her relationship with the widower of one of the famous wealthy family homes she gardened for and also the ex-husband of a woman who's death she witnessed - FMC begins to spiral. Her innocent spirit can't contain the secrets she's been forced to carry and more continue to arrive in her life. With the pressure of the deceased's family and friends and the homicide detective closing in, FMC's golden new life cracks - as does her hold on her sanity.

Out now and SO worth the read, if you enjoy something that covers all the detail of the novel and draws you on into their world.

you know going into this, I was very intrigued. I really felt like this was well written. It was slow paced but fast enough where I didn't get bored. The audiobook was probably part of that. It's not a very long story so it was easy to get through. I didn't really like any of the characters. I was very shocked by Phoenix's behavior after Marguerite's death. I truly had no idea where the ending was going and to be honest it went nowhere. I wish it had a definitive ending. I still enjoyed my time reading this though.

Links to come

I loved this novel! Well written with a lot of unexpected twists and turns. Great characters, scenery along with a primo plot. Full review to come

This story was so well done and I really enjoyed it. I enjoy reading from this author and I'm looking forward to the next book. The plot was really well explored and I enjoyed the overall story. The characters were great and I was able to dive myself into this book. It was well done and I highly recommend. This book was so good.

Chilling and mysterious. I listened to the audiobook after reading the eARC and I enjoyed the narration very much. The audiobook was definitely worth the listen. I was thoroughly engrossed with how the story unfolds as the main female character takes over the life of her deceased employer. She slowly devolves and begins to believe Marguerite's spirit is haunting her. The story only got better for me after reading it for a second time and having processed the book again. Awesome!

Thank you St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the eARC.

Thank you to the publisher for this e-arc, this wasn't entirely my cup of tea, I found it overly written, too florid and I struggled to engage with the characters but it's got a certain panache and if stories set in the world of the insanely (in both senses of the word) super-rich appeal with murderous red herrings circling is your bag, then this is the book.

Phoenix has carved out a simple but satisfying life for herself following a difficult childhood and adolescence. Her mother abandoned the family when she was a baby, and her father died of a heart attack, leaving Phoenix and her brother, Curtis, to be raised by their judgmental grandmother until she dies in a car accident. Now, more than a decade later, Phoenix is a skilled gardener working on the estates of the local elite, though her lack of a landscape architecture degree hampers her career prospects. Phoenix's most impressive client is Marguerite Gray, a posh Martha Stewart-esque lifestyle guru who has built her brand around an iconic painting of herself called Marguerite by the Lake by the artist Serge Kuhnert. But Phoenix and Marguerite's cordial professional relationship turns frosty when Phoenix saves Marguerite's husband, Geoffrey, from a tragic accident during a garden party, leading to an affair between the rescuer and the rescued. Then Marguerite dies in a tragic accident that many close to her including her law student daughter, Taylor, and local detective Rachel Hanna suspect might not have been so accidental. Was Marguerite’s fill a accident or murder? Phoenix alone saw Marguerite fall from the cliff and there’s no conclusive evidence of foul play. After Marguerite’s death, Phoenix insinuates herself into life at Marguerite’s estate, Rosecliff. Yet the more involved Phoenix becomes in the day-to-day running of Rosecliff, the less stable she becomes.

The author excels at conjuring an unsettling scene as Phoenix becomes increasingly convinced that the late Marguerite is haunting her. The famous painting itself seems to shift and move, and there are constant hints of the formidable woman’s presence in her former home. “The sound of her breath followed me…. Marguerite wanted to silence, suffocate, smother me,” Phoenix thinks as her sanity starts to fray. There are many secrets in this gothic novel. I was disappointed with the novel’s ending.

3.5 stars that I'm rounding down because Holy Guacamole, did the main character annoy the heck out of me. I wanted to push her off a cliff myself because she was so wishy washy. If she had just put it all out there, then she could have saved herself a whole heck of a lot of dreadful business. This definitely has a gothic vibe, so if you like that (which I'm not certain I do), you will very much enjoy this.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would! It was definitely very entertaining and kept me deep in the story. While there was a bit of a mystery I felt it was more of a family drama and boy was it full of drama!

This was my first read by this author and it won’t be the last. I look forward to more books like this.

This is the second book I've read by this author. I believe this is her second book. Though it was fairly good, it was also a bit of a let down for me. Not bad, but not one that wowed me either. It kept me turning the pages and guessing what was coming though. That was a good thing.

I totally disliked the main character, Phoenix. She may have known flowers and other plants but was sorely lacking when it came to people. I didn't care for Marguerite either. She was to self-centered and came across as the "I'm better than you", type. She could be so condescending and obnoxious. Especially towards Phoenix. I understand why partly but not when Phoenix saved Marguerite's husbands life. Was she not grateful to the young lady? I didn't like him, Geoffrey, either. He seemed like the type that just used people to get what he wanted. I guess the only one I really liked was Taylor, the Gray's daughter. She at least seemed to care about people. She didn't much care for Phoenix though and I fully understand that.

This book was well written though it left a few things unanswered. For me at least. If I say what though it will give away some things that are important to the story. I did not like the ending. To me it did not sum up anything to well. I wanted some answers. I also wanted to see someone pay for what happened to Marguerite.

This book had some horror overtures going on. Maybe a little gothic in the living picture. lol It didn't make me cringe though. It was just part of the story. Phoenix was losing her ever loving mind. What she stayed for is beyond me. But stay she did. And at the end I was just a bit confused. Did she burn the trees or herself. Or maybe herself and the trees.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC.

✨Thriller Thursday✨ Out now ✨

Thanks so much for the gifted copy @minotaur_books & @marydixiecarter

✨ Marguerite Gray is a lifestyle icon known for her garden parties, high-end business ventures, and the muse behind a famous painting.
Phoenix has been the gardener on the famed Rosecliff grounds, home of the Grays, for the last few years and she works hard on the grounds to keep them perfect.
there’s a storm coming threatening to ruin Marguerite’s latest books launch party. Phoenix comes to Marguerite’s husband’s aid and saves him from a falling tree. He becomes a little too grateful to Phoenix and in turn causes Marguerite to become jealous. Phoenix senses the danger yet can’t resist the attention and the allure of the affair, even though it could ruin her career. Soon after the affair starts Marguerite falls to her death. Now Phoenix has another secret to bare. Jeffrey invites her to move in with him, but Phoenix is scared. Her secret will be discovered by his daughter or the detective investigating Marguerite death. Phoenix continually tries to find her place, and put everything behind her, but as any good gardener knows, nothing stays buried forever.

✨My thoughts: I rounded up to 4 for this one. I was struggling in the beginning for this one to hold my attention. A little too slow for me. However the suspense was intense. It was a simple story with few characters and you pretty much know what to expect if you read the blurb first. There was a lot to like with this one though once it got going. I really enjoyed Phoenix slowly losing it. She became so unhinged in her paranoia. I also enjoyed reading about all the secrets and bad decisions going on. I also really liked the paranormal elements. They weren’t too over-the-top or unbelievable. The writing was well done and once it picked up, it was easy to fly thru the pages and the ending was pretty darn good! Overall, I would recommend this to psychological thriller lovers.

❓Do you garden? ~ I have a black thumb unfortunately so my garden is all fake flowers!

#margueritebythelake #marydixiecarter #arc #thriller #thrillerthursday #bookreview #booksaremyescape #bookrecommendations

This is a novel of obsession that brings a master gardener to the brink of madness. Phoenix has been working on the gardens of Rosecliff for several years, offering Marguerite Gray information on the various plants and their care. Marguerite has used this information in her blog, on her show and in her latest book. They have always had a cordial relationship, but that changes after the book launch party at the estate. A storm moves in, knocking down a large tree. Phoenix's quick response saves Geoffrey Gray’s life. While she has always dealt with his wife, Geoffrey is grateful and asks her to join him for a drink. He complains of being neglected by Marguerite and begins spending more time with Phoenix. She feels a strong attraction to him and can’t say no. On an evening with a beautiful sunset, Marguerite stands on the edge of the cliff to take photos. When Phoenix tries to get her to step back, Marguerite falls to her death. Phoenix quickly moves into Rosecliff, but there are reminders of Marguerite everywhere, including the painting Marguerite by the Lake. It dominates the living room and looking at it makes Phoenix uncomfortable. Taylor, the Gray’s daughter, soon arrives. While the death was originally thought to be an accident, Taylor demands that the investigation continue. She is upset that Phoenix has taken over her mother’s blog and is working on the photos for the book. Taylor looks like her mother and has many of the same mannerisms. She is also edging Phoenix out as she takes over her mother’s business. Phoenix begins making demands that Geoffrey make his daughter leave. She has begun hearing Marguerite’s voice and seeing the portrait’s facial expression change to looks of hatred. As Taylor extends her stay, Phoenix begins to question Geoffrey's commitment to her and feels uneasy around the staff that was loyal to Marguerite. Searching the house, she finds letters and pictures that have her questioning everything she knew about Geoffrey.

Phoenix is not an easy character to like. She is afraid that someone saw her on the cliff with Marguerite. She knows that the police suspect her and they are also taking a close look into her background. She had also been involved in the accident that led to her grandmother’s death. She turns to alcohol to cope as the investigator demands additional interviews. Her demands, her growing paranoia and Marguerite’s voice lead to a dark ending that will have you questioning her version of what actually happened on the cliff. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press - Minotaur for providing this book.

This one started out soooo good then it fell apart! :(

Too many plots that didn't get tied up. Messy... Too many questions too few answers. I am not a fan of that. really wanted to love it

3 stars