Imagine coveting Martha Stewart’s life, home, garden, social media, talent AND husband, and being able to just step into that lifestyle after Martha suddenly dies. That becomes somewhat true for Phoenix, a thirty-something landscape architect who was the gardening talent behind the famous Marguerite Gray’s Instagram photos.

Phoenix Sullivan is just another employee around the Gray’s fabulous Rosecliff estate until she pushes Marguerite’s unhappy husband Geoffrey out of the way when a giant spruce fell during the storm that spoiled a party for Marguerite’s new book. Both Grays suddenly notice Phoenix: Geoffrey is apparently taken with her and craves a relationship; Marguerite becomes cold and seemingly suspicious.

Marguerite is also well-known for a painting done of her in her youth — “Marguerite by the Lake.” I was definitely reminded of “Christina’s World” by Andrew Wyeth (a portrait that hides the secret that Christina is actually paralyzed and crawling towards the farmhouse). This painting portrays Marguerite on a cliff overlooking the lake below — and, sure enough, Marguerite is found dead, having fallen from her frozen-in-time perch.

The book’s POV is Phoenix’s, who finds herself in a “Rebecca” type situation after Marguerite’s suspicious death and Geoffrey’s quick invitation to have Phoenix move into Rosecliff. Phoenix is always trying to avoid that ominous portrait as well as the gossipy staff. She quickly becomes Mrs. deWinter with far less respect. The middle part of the book, although it’s all about mounting dread, does drag and it gets increasingly harder to sympathize with our girl gardener. Phoenix feels haunted and is suspicious of everyone from the Gray’s adult daughter, a housekeeper, the neighbor across the lake, and eventually Geoffrey. I was engrossed until the end, but I’m undecided about the ending. Unfortunately, this morphed into a story where I disliked every character. 3.5 stars


Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Geoffrey’s pale blue eyes and Marguerite’s large brown eyes are oft mentioned, but no green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): YES Honestly, this book with a plot involving gardening needs a gardener or horticulturalist to proofread it. There is some knowledgeable stuff (like blue hydrangeas need acidic soil and watering deeply for winter), but there are other misses:
Even though Martha Stewart suggested it once, there is no published scientific research that shows that epsom salts benefit roses. Epsom salts do not contain any of the three major components of most fertilizers—nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium—and therefore would not be a complete fertilizer for roses. It’s an old wives’ tale like coffee grounds.
PJM rhododendrons prefer partial shade over full sun.
Phoenix cuts her finger while pruning roses — who prunes roses without heavy leather gauntlet gloves?
Japanese maples along a sunny driveway? Bad idea for trees that burn easily in the sun.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/ Minotaur and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

It has been such a good season for thrillers. The latest I’ve read was Marguerite by the Lake by Mary Dixie Carter. I really enjoyed it.

this was a really really really good book!!!!!!!!! I was not expecting it to be as good as it was, I am still thinking about this book and feel that I will be thinking about it for quite a while!! It had so many deep moments, the twists and turns catch you off guard, and it is just a great story!


Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

3 stars--I liked the book. This is a character-driven literary novel, not a suspense novel (though crime is involved). There are overtones of DuMaurier's Rebecca here, though the narrator is no Mrs. DeWinter!

It's like there's a sinister aura in the background of the book--a slightly gothic, off-kilter feeling that I enjoyed. I'm being vague to avoid spoilers, but nothing is "right" in this book: not the people nor the setting. Subtly chilling.

I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!

Marguerite by the Lake by Mary Dixie Carter is a must-read book for 2025! From the very first pages it's clear that the author is an expert storyteller. Intelligently written and intriguing plot line. Kept me guessing and up all night. Loved it!

2.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 3

Marguerite by the Lake is my first read by Mary Dixie Carter. I was immediately intrigued by the plot and was really excited to dig in to this suspenseful mystery. Sadly, this book just didn’t grab me the way I thought it would. I loved the estate backdrop, the beautifully descriptive writing, and the idea of the story, however, the pacing was pretty slow.

Mary Dixie Carter does a beautiful job of fleshing out the characters in the way that I could literally see them in my mind, but I unfortunately just didn’t like them very much. I also felt as though there was this long, slow build-up, only for it to fall a little flat at the end.

Even though I didn’t enjoy the story very much, I did enjoy the Authors writing style. I’ll look forward to checking out her future books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

𝑴𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒎𝒑 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆. 𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑. 𝑨𝒏𝒚 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒓𝒊𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒆.

I've been anxiously awaiting Mary Dixie Carter's sophomore release after loving her debut THE PHOTOGRAPHER, and she did not disappoint with this Gothic-infused read.

Marguerite Gray is a lifestyle icon and influencer; she's an aloof, mysterious Martha Stewart type and mistress of Rosecliff, the famed home she shares with her husband Geoffrey. She's also the muse behind the famous Serge Kuhnert painting, 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒖𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒂𝒌𝒆. Phoenix has worked as the gardener at the home for the last few years, and she's had to swallow her pride as Marguerite carefully documents Phoenix's care of the varied plants so she can later cultivate that knowledge into carefully curated social media posts and best-selling books.

When Marguerite hosts an outdoor launch party for her newest book, she didn't anticipate a violent storm would blow through, uprooting a tree that would have killed Geoffrey if not for Phoenix's intervention. Sparks fly between the two, but Phoenix knows better. She's the hired help, not the lady of the house. But she's been living as an outsider for too long, and she finds herself entangled with Geoffrey. Later, when Marguerite is standing at the very site where she posed for the painting that would immortalize her, she falls to her death in a freak accident. But someone saw two people at the site, and when Phoenix moves into the house mere months after Marguerite's death, the suspicion is all on her.

I think it's important to note that if you go into this book expecting a high-stakes thriller, you'll be disappointed. However, if you're a fan of the atmosphere that V.C. Andrews and Edgar Allan Poe both create in their stories, you'll have a better appreciation for this book. Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the early copy. This title is expected to publish May 20, 2025.

Obsession is the key word. This novel did not resonate with me and I felt it was all over the place. Thank you for the gifted copy, but the characters did not work for me

Marguerite by the Lake by Mary Dixie Carter is a suspenseful and thrilling read that kept me on the edge of my seat. The plot is intricately woven, with twists and turns that make it hard to put the book down. The main character is easy to hate, which adds an interesting dynamic to the story and keeps the reader engaged.

However, I found the ending a bit confusing and open to interpretation. This ambiguity might be a deliberate choice by the author to spark discussions and debates among readers. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would give it four stars.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A gardeners life is haunted by the power of Marguerite. After saving Geoffrey from a fallen tree during a storm. Phoenix and Geoffrey became close. Marguerite a woman with influence by followers on her gardening platform has inspired others to find growth in landscaping.
…
Having Phoenix’s knowledge thrust Marguerites into a place of recognition eventhough she was not the inspiration behind the project. Every word was Phoenix’s and every plant and tree was chosen by Phoenix. Phoenix wanted recognition for her craft.
…
Stepping into the life of Marguerite came with its own surprises. Mary Carter Dixie showcased a story of obsession and secrets. The story centers around a painting of Marguerite by the Lake. It was like a living breathing thing. The painting was her presence. The landscape became the focal point of the story carrying with it a significant amount of information. Mary Dixie Carter writes an intriguing story about Phoenix’s relationship with Taylor and Geoffrey. The shoes she’s trying to fill were not made for her and between her guilty conscience and Taylor’s constant reminders of who they belong to; navigating a place in a life that was acquired by someone who was established takes incredible strength.
…
Mary Carter Dixie writes a fascinating story about a woman who wanted the life Marguerite had. I was captivated by the unique nature of this story. The deep presence of the trees and flowers really showcased how much they inhabited and consumed the property. A truly spectacular read from cover to cover.

I downloaded this book as the storyline looked interesting. As I started to read it, I got more frustrated with it. A young woman who works in the gardens of a famous author known for her garden photography books becomes involved with the woman's husband. What follows is a series of events involving murder, affairs, etc. I did love the descriptions of the flowers but that was the best part. I will not be recommending it.

This was such a wonderfully done novel, it had that suspenseful feel that I was looking for from the description. The overall story was everything that I was expecting and still have that tension that I was looking for. The characters overall were written well and had that element that I wanted. Mary Dixie Carter wrote this perfectly and left me wanting more.

Gothic Mystery of Wealth, Power, and Secrets

An excellent gothic-style story unfolds in Marguerite, where the lifestyle icon Marguerite Gray, known for her lavish garden parties and as the subject of the infamous painting "Marguerite by the Lake," lives a life surrounded by wealth and influence. But the perfectly curated image hides the fact that much of the work behind the scenes is done by countless others, each playing their part in maintaining her glamorous lifestyle.

When Marguerite mysteriously plummets to her death on her own estate, it is initially deemed an unfortunate accident. However, as the days pass, the layers of opulence begin to peel away, revealing a tangled web of secrets, power plays, and intrigue. Dixie Carter masterfully weaves a story that tightens its grip with every chapter, drawing readers into a claustrophobic world where appearances are deceiving, and every character harbors a dark side.

The story is narrated by Phoenix, the quiet and observant gardener who has always worked in the background, keeping the estate's grounds flawless. Through Phoenix's eyes, we are given an inside look into the investigation that ensues and how the fractured family attempts to cope with Marguerite's death. The atmosphere grows ever more stifling as Phoenix finds herself drawn deeper into the mystery, as well as into the allure of the wealth and power that surrounds the family. She becomes both a witness and a participant, swept into the very world she once viewed from a distance.

Marguerite by the Lake is a thrilling tale that keeps you guessing until the very end. With its gothic elements, atmospheric tension, and complex characters, it explores the intoxicating nature of wealth and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets. This is a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery infused with psychological depth and gothic charm. Pick up this book to find out what really happened that fateful day.

#stmartins #margueritebythelake #marydixiecarter

In the spirit of the movie All about Eve, a famed and beloved garden designer find herself at odds with her protégé, who is not only good at horticulture, but also good at seducing her teachers husband. Death and calamities abound.