I just really couldn’t get into this one. Maybe I’ll try again at another time. I tried 4 times to get into it and just wasn’t clicking.

I received a free ARC in exchange for honest feedback.

The story revolves around Pheonix, a talented gardener working for Marguerite who is a successful novelist and gardening influencer, and her husband Geoffrey. Marguerite suspects something is going on between Pheonix and Geoffrey, but before anything can come to light, she falls to her death. Pheonix flees the scene, fearing blame.

I was initially hooked by this book's premise, but I started to lose interest after the main character's death. Within months of Marguerite's death. Pheonix moves in with Geoffrey despite an ongoing police investigation. The fact they thought this was okay was not okay with me lol

Pheonix's character was unlikeable, odd, and inconsistent. There was zero chemistry between her and Geoffrey and her attempts to assert herself as the lady of the house felt forced and awkward. Things like never having read any of Marguerite's books before because "they are too expensive" is just odd. Surely there is a library, the internet or other apps she could have explored. I would imagine most people who work for an author would look up the author they work for.

Subplots involving Pheonix's family and Geoffrey's daughter lacked depth and substance. The ending had some thrilling moments but left questions unanswered and didn't provide enough closure. Overall, the book had potential, but execution fell short.

The novel centers on Phoenix, a gardener at the Rosecliff estate, who becomes entangled in an affair with Geoffrey, the husband of the estate's owner, Marguerite Gray. Following a tragic incident, Marguerite falls from the cliff, leading to a suspenseful unraveling of events. Carter's prose is both hypnotic and lyrical, painting vivid scenes that linger in the reader's mind.

Phoenix's character is particularly compelling; her descent into uncertainty blurs the lines between reality and delusion, prompting readers to question her reliability as a narrator. From the outset, there was an unsettling aura about her, suggesting a concealed past and casting doubt on the authenticity of her account. As the plot progressed, Phoenix's descent into potential madness made it increasingly challenging to discern reality from her perceptions. While the narrative builds tension effectively, some aspects of Phoenix's backstory remain underexplored, leaving a desire for deeper insight.

I found myself harboring a profound dislike for Phoenix—a testament to the author's skill in character development. Creating a protagonist who evokes such strong negative emotions is no small feat, and it speaks to the depth and complexity infused into her characterization.

Overall, Marguerite by the Lake is a quick and engaging read, offering a solid addition to the mystery/thriller genre. Carter's storytelling prowess ensures that readers remain captivated until the final page.​


Thanks to Netgalley and St, Martins Press for this ARC. This is my honest review.

Phoenix is a talented gardener working for Marguerite Gray—the epitome of elegance and a true icon when it comes to garden and household style. But things take a dramatic turn after Phoenix is invited to one of her swanky parties and ends up saving Marguerite’s husband, Geoffrey, from being crushed by a falling tree. From that moment on, tensions rise, jealousy flares, and the stakes only get higher.

This story was a wild ride. The tension throughout kept me hooked and eager to see what would happen next. That said, the characters felt a bit rushed and underdeveloped—I was craving more depth, especially given how intense the plot gets. I also found the ending a little disappointing, with a few loose ends left dangling that I hoped would be tied up.

Still, it was an entertaining read packed with drama and intrigue. Just be prepared for a bit of a whirlwind.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I started this on kindle and then switched to the audio version about 40%. I thought the audio version was so well done and gripped me more than reading it on kindle. the book is like a modern Rebecca..she had Manderly and Marguerite has Roseville. Both dedicated staff, both have delicate and haunted main characters along with dismissive men. more modern though is our character Pheonix, she for one has a name:)
If you can grab the audio version, do so!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A bit difficult to follow at first-relationship developed incredibly quickly. However once the story settled in, it was a slow decent into madness. Loved how one mistake snowballed out of control, and the protagonist ended up being her own antagonist.

Marguerite by the Lake slowly messes with your head, in the tradition of gothic horror. It’s more about a creeping sense of dread and the main character, Phoenix, going mad than a detailed plot; save it for when you’re in the mood for ominousness rather than fast-paced action.

The description of this book was a suspenseful mystery which is something I like. It started well with lovely descriptions but the main character was so unlikable I almost didn't finish. It's a quick read and might be a not right now book for me but for now I didn't enjoy it.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my review copy of this book.

I regret saying that I was not as thrilled with Mary Dixie Carter’s latest thriller, MARGUERITE OF THE LAKE, as I had hoped to be.

Phoenix is the gardener behind gardening-lifestyle guru, Marguerite Gray, for whom roses are named and whose museum-worthy portrait dominates her stately mansion. Phoenix becomes romantically involved with Marguerite’s husband Geoffrey, even before Marguerite’s tragic fall from a cliff on their property. Phoenix was there at the time. Shortly after, she moves into the mansion as Geoffrey’s lover, but she wants to keep her earlier involvement with him and her presence on the property at the time of the fall secret, lest suspicions be aroused. Not so easy, with suspicions growing and Marguerite’s daughter Taylor so opposed to Phoenix stepping into her mother’s role.

Everything is told in the first person, from Phoenix’ point of view. There were two big problems for me: I found her character unrelatable and unsympathetic, and I was never seduced by her rationalizations. So her mounting craziness was just plain creepy, lacking that necessary mix of “maybe; perhaps.”

The second problem was the plot. The climax was easily guessed, from the first time the picture was mentioned. Or maybe the second. There were other problems, but other strong points as well. Everyone has different tastes, and this is just my opinion.

With thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Publishing Company for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished this book and wanted to write my review right away, before I could forget just how peculiar it was. The blurb for the book sounded intriguing and described it as mystery/thriller. Sadly, it was neither. It might be better described as campy gothic horror. None of the characters were particularly like-able, though many were introduced only briefly. Many questions were never answered. If I had begun this book expecting a campy gothic horror story, my rating might be different. But, I’m sorry to give this one only 3 stars. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

Marguerite by the Lake was difficult to read because of the complete unraveling of the main character. Her moves throughout the story are unpredictable and bizarre. The flowing to choppy prose reflects her changes as she moves from coherent to erratic thought as the story plays out. An intense, emotional drama!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

3 stars

The protagonist is named Phoenix, which may suggest she'll be rising from some ashes, but she's more the type to burn it all down, if her early decisions in the novel are any indication.

Phoenix is a gardener to the wealthy, and this allows her an entry point into a society that is extremely dissimilar to her beginnings. She becomes fascinated with the titular Marguerite and Marguerite's husband, Geoffrey. In fact, right at the start of the novel, it's clear that there is more to her relationship with Geoffrey when she performs a life saving feat. This is strange, but Phoenix's experience - and really Phoenix - only get stranger from here.

This is a speedy read, and it is relatively engaging, but there are a few extreme conveniences, along with some abrupt shifts, that left me wanting more suspense, more intrigue, and less predictability in some ways. I enjoyed the concept more than the execution, but I would absolutely give this writer another shot.

This was, quite possibly, the worst book I've ever read.

I don't even know where to start: the cardboard characters, the uninspired plot (with absolutely no subplots), the poor quality writing. It was just a big stinker.

And so, so, SO much telling instead of showing. Practically every scene was summarized (i.e. told). It was so boring. It's like the (possibly apocryphal) Anton Chekhov quote: "Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." This author really needed to keep such advice in mind.

If I could give this NEGATIVE stars, I would.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free review copy.

Mary Dixie Carter’s second novel, Marguerite by the Lake—which is scheduled for release on May 20—is a brilliant thriller that will remind readers of Daphne du Maurier’s gothic masterpiece, Rebecca. Marguerite Gray is as successful as she is beautiful. A gardening and lifestyle influencer, Marguerite lives with her husband, Geoffrey, at their Rosecliff mansion overlooking “the spiral-shaped” Lake Spiro in rural Connecticut. Marguerite’s brand is built around Rosecliff, which she writes about and photographs exhaustively for her millions of followers.

While Margeurite takes credit for Rosecliff’s glory, it is Phoenix Sullivan that designs the grounds and keeps the roses blooming. But this admittedly unequal relationship works because Phoenix would rather have her hands in the soil than anywhere else; however, their relationship begins changing when Phoenix saves Geoffrey from being crushed by a falling tree. Margeurite becomes more circumspect, even suspicious, with Phoenix. And things escalate when Geoffrey begins paying more attention to Phoenix—seeking her out on the grounds, inviting her into the house for drinks—before ultimately coaxing her into his bed. Then Marguerite plummets to her death and Phoenix moves into Rosecliff with Geoffrey.

A move that seems wonderful to Phoenix at first, but she quickly begins hearing whispers from the staff. A detective, an old high school classmate of Phoenix’s, won’t stop pestering her about Marguerite’s death, and Geoffrey and Margeurite’s adult daughter, Taylor, moves back to Rosecliff. Taylor is a younger version of Margeurite and her hostility makes Phoenix feel small. And Margeurite seems to be haunting Rosecliff, speaking to Phoenix in hushed tones, and trying to destroy the younger woman.

Marguerite by the Lake is a claustrophobic gem littered with paranoia, betrayal (both real and imagined), and a beating soul as terrifying as Poe’s “Tell-Tale Heart.” Phoenix’s unreliable narration—made so by her own paranoia and guilt—is taut with suspense and infused with a teetering madness that makes it both terrifying and fascinating. The plot twists are small and act less to surprise the reader than to push Phoenix closer to her own demise. Marguerite by the Lake is a splendid and inventive thriller, and it is hands down the best book I’ve read so far this year.

This review will be posted at www.darkcityunderground.blogspot.com and gravetapping.blogspot.com on May 19, 2025

2.5 stars- This book started out strong but lost me at the halfway point. While the novel creates an atmosphere dripping with tension and intrigue, it ultimately delivers less than it promises.

Phoenix, a gardener, becomes dangerously entangled with her employers. The relationship between Phoenix and Geoffrey develops with a slow-burning intensity that effectively communicates both the attraction and the danger. Their affair unfolds against the backdrop of Marguerite's jealousy, creating a powder keg of emotions that explodes predictably with Marguerite's fatal fall. This was the best part of the book in my opinion.

The story needed more about Phoenix's background. We get glimpses here and there of what her life was like. There are also suggestions about her grandmother and what really happened to her. I wanted to know more because I felt like it would help me understand her better. I ended up not liking her as her actions just seemed erratic. Phoenix just got worse as the book went on and I truly felt sorry for Geoffrey in a way even though he was not a likable character either. Unfortunately this book just did not live up to my expectations.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

I was excited to receive a copy of this book. It sounded interesting and I was immediately pulled in. At first I appreciated that the book got right to the action without chapters of backstory and buildup. Unfortunately, the entire book was that way. It didn't feel like a completed novel. It felt like it was a layout of choppy notes that would then be turned into a novel. The start was strong, but everything after about 20% was underdeveloped.

Phoenix is the woman behind Marguerite’s success as a lifestyle guru with a focus on her beautiful property that Phoenix curates and grows, but after saving the life of Marguerite’s husband, she quickly wants more as she begins an affair with Geoffrey. But how far did she go to get what she wants?

Maybe because I don’t have a garden but this one got bogged down a bit much in the gardening aspects and messed with the pacing for me. We have this descent into madness as Phoenix lives Marguerite’s life as she moves in with Geoffrey not long after the ‘incident’ (and who knows what she sees in him other than wanting the house/lifestyle because he is no winner either here). Passing by the portrait set where Marguerite plunged to her death. Having Marguerite’s daughter who looks just like her investigating. But then suddenly we are talking about the gardens.

This has so much potential but missed the mark a bit for me. Maybe it is the early copy but it felt like chapters were missing. Her brother is worried about her but we don’t see a lead up to that. I was left with too many unanswered questions, Phoenix is just unlikeable no matter how much I would usually sympathise with someone on a mental health spiral.

Still very readable and hopefully the finished product is tidied a bit with more details. If you enjoy gardening, maybe those scenes are less distracting too?

What initially drew me to this book was the mystery and suspense that I felt when I read the blurb. However, I was disappointed. The writing, while descriptive and beautiful, fell flat when building the suspense of the mystery as the book went on. The overall pacing was also too slow for me to fully get into reading this book. The ending was underwhelming after such a long build-up.

I never would have picked this up if not for the opportunity to be an ARC reader, so thank you! Lots of gardening, which I know nothing about, so I did enjoy learning new things. I feel like everything happened all at once at the beginning and then it was slow moving. Lots of intrigue. This felt more like a drama than a mystery to me. Thank you to Mary Dixie Carter, NetGalley, and Minotaur Books for the ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the kind of book that has a setting you can feel through the pages. The gorgeous home atop the high cliff overlooking the majestic lake; The gardens full of vibrant flowers, vines, trees, and shrubs. It made me want to go outside and get to work on my own yard. But I do not have Phoenix's gift for designing and cultivating outdoor spaces. The author does make it clear- Phoenix is a gifted gardener. Phoenix also seems envious of her boss (Marguerite), delusional, and manipulative.

So many of the characters in this book are unlikable. It makes it hard to really root for them or invest in their outcome. It is also hard to trust in the narrative coming from someone so unreliable (Phoenix). Overall, I felt like the book was going for a slow build in intensity but only really managed to be slow-paced. Many things were left unresolved (for me).

Thanks to Net Galley for the book to review.