Jamie Day knows how to write a good suspense and The Lake Escape is no different. This would be a great suspense to add to your summer reading list!

This took me a bit to get into. The first few chapters laid the foundation and really explained who everyone at the start of the book was. I found this helpful to get to know the three families that had homes on the lake.

This is definitely a slow burn suspense. It really picked up to me around the 60% mark. The twists and turns coming at you were great and I didn't see them all coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of The Lake Escape by Jamie Day for an honest review.

While the premise of this book was super intriguing to me, I found that by 40% in, there was too much dragging on. The setting, the characters, the plot, all had the potential for a great story. That being said, the execution of it just didn't fall right for me. I lost interest and I kept finding myself being bored.

Julia, Erika and David were three best friends growing up and they all had houses on Lake Timmeny, in Vermont. Erika was a lawyer and her husband was a professional hunting and fishing guide. David had twins and was dating someone younger and he needed a nanny because the other one just up and quit. David also built a fancy huge glass house blocking Julia and Erika’s views of the lake. They all three had problems and secrets. Lucas is Erika and Rick’s son, Taylor is Julia and Rick’s son. They had a past and a secret as well. Izzy was the nanny but she was really there to find answers. This book has so many twists that you won’t want to put it down!

I received this ARC from Netgalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is all about the question of how well we really know our friends. David, Julia, and Erika grew up spending time at the lake every summer and now, as adults they continue that tradition but everything is different because, notably, David has built a glass house (really?) that obstructs the lake view for the others and because he's got a girlfriend. A girlfriend who disappears, bringing up old memories of other women who vanished. Each one of them offers their perspective as old secrets and lies surface. It's clever in spots but familiar in others. There are a few too many characters to keep track but the story does flow. Thanks to Netgalley for the ArC. A popcorn thriller.

Jamie Day, the master of suspense, returns following The Block Party and One Big Happy Family (both 5 stars) with her latest summer sizzler, THE LAKE ESCAPE. When three friends reunite at the lake, past dark secrets rise to the surface, turning their relaxing vacation into a nail-biting, page-turning mystery.

WILL THIS BE THE BEST WEEK OF THEIR LIVES... OR THE LAST?

About...

Julia, David, and Erika, each with their own unique and complex personalities, grew up together, spending fun summers at their idyllic Vermont lake homes. Even though they have not always stayed in touch and (possibly ex-friends), they are reuniting for a week at the lake. Now, older, they each have families and lots of drama.

Julia had been eagerly anticipating her annual summer vacation to the lake house, but once she pulled into the driveway, everything was ruined.

David (newfound wealth) has remodeled and built a house (or a monstrosity), modern, sleek, three stories, made of glass, blocking her lake view. An eyesore! A stark contrast to the two charming rustic neighboring homes belong to Julia and Erika, the third musketeer in their lakeshore trio.

She had always enjoyed sunsets with her chilled wine and dinners, and now this had changed. She is beyond furious. She can only imagine how upset Erika would be (hotheaded defense attorney).

David is now dating a younger woman and has brought his nanny, Izzy, to take care of his twins. Izzy has her hidden agenda. When David’s girlfriend mysteriously vanishes after a fight, Julia and Erika wonder how well they know their lifelong friend. The lake and its residents also harbor secrets of the past. Could the missing woman be connected to the women who vanished thirty years ago?

Get ready for lies, scandal, suspense, and much more in this cozy lake neighborhood, which hides more than you can imagine.

Let the games begin...

My thoughts...

Who doesn't love summers at the lake?

THE LAKE ESCAPE is a fun, twisty, gripping, and unpredictable whodunnit! There are plenty of fireworks and chaos for your summer entertainment. Packed with sharp characters, psychological suspense, and gasp-worthy plot twists.

You can always count on Jamie Day to keep you hooked with summer scandals, complex relationships, dark secrets, and vanishings at Lake Timmeny! There are three missing women, both past and present, that build suspense leading up to the final explosive reveal.

Told from the POVs of Julia and Izzy (the nanny) with her hidden agenda. Shocking secrets can lurk beneath that will not stay buried. With a cast of supporting characters, we learn about what the three main characters have been up to in the first half, and then it heats up wth non-stop action in the second half.

A full investigation begins, and all the complex layers are unraveled in this twisty mystery. Expertly paced, this domestic suspense tale about the consequences of one’s choices will not only keep you guessing, but also explore how those actions are carried over into adulthood.

My third book by the author, and I always enjoy her fun and engaging style, set against atmospheric settings. The Lake Escape's plot is full of drama, and the well-developed characters have plenty of secrets (and the mob and family were unexpected twists).

The story concludes with an Epilogue/podcast episode, featuring Meredith, Erika, Izzy, Detective Baker, Julia, Rick, Debbie, and an excerpt from the newspaper, providing a satisfying conclusion.

Audiobook...

Highly entertaining! For an even more immersive experience, I had the honor of reading an e-book and listening to the audiobook, which Lisa Larsen and Phoebe Strole expertly performed. The characters come, adding to the intensity, mystery, and intrigue for a fun and engaging listening experience. I highly recommend the audio for your summer beach bag.

Recs...

THE LAKE ESCAPE is for fans of the author and those who enjoy scandal and drama. Also for fans of authors, Kaira Rouda, Emma Rosenblum, Riley Sager, Megan Goldin, Jenova Rose, Lisa Jewell, and Seraphina Nova Glass

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press and Minatour Books for providing an advanced review copy, and to Macmillan Audio (#MacAudio2025) for an advanced listening copy.

Blog review posted @
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@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub date: July 15, 2025
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The initial plot and vibes of the book had me excited, but my god, there were SO MANY THINGS happening that it was all just a bit too much towards the end. I did enjoy Julia and Izzy’s POVs and the mystery was certainly interesting. The men, on the other hand, felt really underdeveloped and a bit cartoonish at times, especially David. The story also relied on a lot of little things happening exactly right and that felt a bit unrealistic at times. It did hold my interest and I was excited to see where the story would go. I did call a few of the twists, but there were a few that surprised me which is always fun. I think it would definitely be a good one to read on vacation or binge during a long weekend. I’d say this one ranks right in the middle for me with her other books.
CW: mentions of rape, parent death, violence, alcoholism, infidelity, revenge porn

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the digital reader’s copy!

Jamie Day is quickly becoming one of my favorite suspense/thriller authors! The Lake Escape is the perfect summer mystery and the author has written a setting that not only felt nostalgic but was also very immersive to the readers. Another fantastic book! I'm always anxious for the next one.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the opportunity to read and review this eARC.

One of the things I enjoyed about The Lake Escape was the summer thriller vibe. Most summery stories I read are based around romance, so this was a nice change of pace.

The connectedness of the characters was well done with several sprinklings of interesting thoughts dotted throughout. About 70% of the way through was when things started to get interesting and light bulbs started going off in my head. Though the ending was a bit wild, I wasn’t expecting it and it definitely kept me on my toes.

Though it wasn’t my favorite thriller, it’s definitely worth a shot if you want a summer thriller that will hold your attention.

Jamie Day's The Lake Escape masterfully weaves an intricate murder mystery that spans decades, revealing layers of hidden truths and deeply buried secrets. The story unfolds through multiple narrators, each providing unique perspectives that add depth and intrigue to the plot.

Day's ability to craft a slow, deliberate unraveling keeps readers engaged, as each revelation leads to new questions. The shifting narratives create a dynamic rhythm, allowing the tension to build steadily and maintaining an air of suspense throughout.

While the pacing may feel leisurely for some, it serves to enhance the complexity of the story, giving ample space to develop characters and their intertwined histories. The myriad secrets that surface are both shocking and thought-provoking, making the journey through the novel a rewarding experience.

Overall, The Lake Escape is a compelling read for fans of layered mysteries and character-driven stories. It earns a solid four stars for its intricate plotting, engaging narrators, and the palpable undercurrent of suspense that runs from start to finish.

The plot, although silly at times held my interest well enough to give this an average rating. There was a lot going on here, but some of it was quite interesting.

The prose for me fell a little flat. I wasn’t expecting a fancy literary thriller or anything but the sentences seemed choppy and this stuck out when I used the read aloud function on the NetGalley app. Could have used a little more line editing.

Had high hopes for this one but it turned out to be very predictable. Has a very slow slow start that kind of bragged out a bit until about 40% in when the incident happens. It surrounds a group of friends that have their yearly vacation at the lake that they grow up going to as children. Stories were told and things happened but this time it’s close to home and those there on a fun vacation are in for a blast of the past.

Julia, David, and Erika have been lifelong friends, spending summers at their lake houses in Vermont since they were kids. Now grown with their own struggles, they reunite at the lake, but things aren’t as carefree as they once were. David shows off his flashy home renovation that ruins his friends’ views and introduces his much younger girlfriend and a mysterious nanny. When the girlfriend vanishes after a heated fight, old secrets start bubbling up, including a dark past of two women who disappeared from the lake decades ago. This book was just okay for me but I really enjoyed the setting and the whole idea of the story. The backstory about the past disappearances added a cool layer and gave it some eerie vibes. It had a summery feel even though it didn’t totally blow me away.

4/5 stars

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the advanced reading copy!

I was expecting this book to be a bit of a lackluster suspense novel (not sure where I got that idea) but I was so wrong! From the start, things were taking off differently than I expected, and picked up even more in the second half of the book, leaving me totally shocked and entertained.

I love a summer/lake thriller, and this as just that. Rich people doing terrible things to each other for reasons I couldn't even understand -- heck yes. This one had a great mystery, too, and some really unexpected turns!

There were a lot of characters/dynamics to keep track of, which I found to be a bit confusing at the start. However, as the book went on, I was able to keep track of them enough to make predictions — albeit incorrectly. It was super fun to see the ways these characters were intertwined in ways I didn't expect.

Overall, this one was a solid and entertaining great summer thriller!

The Lake Escape is a captivating atmospheric thriller that blends nostalgia and suspense. I couldn’t put it down.

The story setting is of a serene Vermont lake with a haunting past where Julia, Erika, and David—longtime friends—return to their lakeside homes each summer. But this year is different. David has built a monstrous glass house. Julia’s personal finances are imploding, and Erika is just off. Their romanticized retreat takes a dark turn when David’s younger girlfriend vanishes without a trace. As suspicions mount and secrets surface, the quiet setting changes to one of mystery and danger.

Ms. Day skillfully uses multiple perspectives to build intrigue and deception. By shifting between characters, the story unfolds like a puzzle, with each piece adding depth to the eerie suspense and shedding light on the complex relationships and hidden motives. The story is fraught with tension from the start and continues to build resulting in a crescendo packed with jaw-dropping twists.

The cast of characters is interesting. Their backstories are peeled away like the skins of onions. The slow reveal of the characters’ entwined pasts adds to the foreboding feel of the story. I had wrongly guessed at the murderer, and all the details that were exposed upon revealing the murderer were absolutely delicious!

The Lake Escape kept me reading well past my bedtime!

For Julia, David, and Erika, their Vermont lake houses are a source of relaxation and positive memories. These houses also hold many secrets, most of which will be revealed this summer. However, this year, David has altered the dynamics of their annual lake trip with his new, massive glass house. A house that also blocks the majority of the lake views and is out of place amongst the quaint homes of Erika and Julia. David also brings along his much younger girlfriend and their new nanny, Izzy. Izzy isn't an actual nanny and is there for other reasons - investigating the true crime events that have taken place over the last 60 years at the lake. After David's girlfriend goes missing, 30 years to the date of the last disappearance, everyone becomes a suspect. As the truth comes out about the lake crew, the more complicated this case becomes. Is the lake really taking these women or is there something more sinister going on in this idyllic area?
This is the third book I've read by Jamie Day and it certainly won't be the last! Every thriller of hers has been unpredictable and so enjoyable. The action in The Lake Escape picked up early in the book and didn't stop until the very end. I did not see any of the twists coming, despite telling myself it was very obvious. This is the perfect summer read! Maybe not while you're at the lake, though. I will say that at some points it was a bit slow and there are a few background characters to keep track of. But overall, this was another great addition to my thriller list for the year! If you're looking for a twisty summer book, please give this one a chance!

This book was as explosive as the fireworks shot of for the 4th of July.
Through the shifting points of view of mainly Julia and Izzy, the novel tracks the summer happening and disappearence of yet another young woman. Julia, Ericka, and David grew up at the lake. Their friendships and lake houses seem to have survived the test of time as all 3, and their families, return. What begins as a normal-ish vacation, ends in a deadly turn on events. Who is the real victim here? The real killer? This one will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Julia is going for her annual getaway at her lake house. This year isn't as mellow though. Her long time bestie, David, who also owns a home neighboring hers, has decided to remodel and make a boondoggle of an eyesore home, basically blocking her waterfront view altogether.

So begins a summer of misery and woe. David is making a splash these days and not in a good way. After a mysterious disappearance casts suspicion on David, the old friends have to decide whether they can trust him or if he's gone off the rails entirely.

I love this author's books. I just wish they were a little shorter.

A multi-family summer get together takes a turn for the worse when someone goes missing. Set on a Vermont lake, this includes quite an array of unsavory characters bringing a huge variety of multifaceted issues to the table. In addition, this is not the first disappearance at this lake. I liked this at the beginning but I felt like there were too many primary characters and just so many things going on. My focus was pulled in so many different directions, that it was a little exhausting by the end.For those who like more of a complex plot with a lot of characters, this will be a hit.

I was drawn to this book initially for the promise of dark secrets surfacing among lifelong friends. The setting sounded so good, a lake with a past and then another disappearance once everyone got together, yes please!
In the end, it was okay to me. I did find that there were parts in the book that dragged, and there was a lot more focus on their internal and personal issues than there was with what was going on during the time with the disappearance itself. I do feel like there were parts of the book that could’ve gone deeper as more of the story unfolded.
I did like how everything came together in the end and there were times I was invested in the mystery.

Julia, David, and Erika- lifelong friends- return with their families to neighboring cottages on Vermont's Lake Timmeny. Their annual retreat turns ominous when David's much younger girlfriend vanishes after a heated night. Her disappearance resurrects the lake's haunted lore: two young women went missing there 30 years apart. As buried secrets emerge and suspicions swell, the group realizes they might not just be contending with nature's cruelty, but something far more sinister unfolding among them.

The final stretch of this story is gripping with suspense. Izzy and Julia are both charming and liable, they teamed up to solve the mystery and I was cheering for both of them!

Abrupt Confessions, Fast-Paced Thriller and Atmospheric Setting! 3 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book will be released 7/15/25.