ARC Received: NetGalley
Publication Date: June 24, 2025

I just finished Whispers of the Lake by Shanora Williams, and wow…it’s twisty, dramatic, and completely unhinged in the best way.
We follow Rose, an investigative reporter whose life is already falling apart when her ex-best friend suddenly disappears at a lakefront cottage. The kicker? That friend seriously betrayed her in the past, like, unforgivably.
Still, Rose can’t ignore her gut instinct, and the more she digs into the small town her friend vanished in… the weirder and more dangerous things get.
There’s corruption, secrets, shady locals, and some serious “don’t trust anyone” energy, and I was hooked.
But I’m also torn, because some of the choices made by these characters?? Wild. Messy. Morally gray. And I couldn’t stop reading.

Author: Shanora Williams

Genres: Romance/Thriller/Psychological Thriller/Horror

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary: Rose is an investigative reporter hoping to gain a promotion as senior reporter. However, after Rose finds out that her best friend, Eve, slept with her now ex-husband, she has abandoned their relationship for the last three months. The avoidance finally halts when Eve's sister reaches out to Rose with suspicions that something may have happened. Rose then begins to investigate the disappearance of Eve in this creepy town of Sage Hill. Is she really missing or is she just being attention-seeking like she always has?

Tropes and Themes: mental health, self-care, confidence, self-love, infidelity, true friendships, deception, secrets.

Character: I enjoyed the development of Rose. Although, she endured some challenging moments within her life such as infidelity, confidence and work/life balance, she began to really see her worth through all of her trials. She hadn't realized that she mimicked the strength of her mother that had passes away.

Thoughts: This is my fifth psychological thriller by Shanora, and she never ceases to amaze me at how well she writes. The book was written really well with a clear plot, strong character development when it comes to Rose. I watched Rose evolve in such a short time-from bitterness to empathetic-because at the end of the day, she knew that she was responsible for personal healing and growth. The characters were diverse in which her descriptive language allowed the reader to identify this element within the book. The book was medium paced, and Shanora knew exactly how to provide that thrilling and chilling factor within the book. She always provides historical context so that the readers are able to follow the plot.

There were some parts of the book that I enjoyed. My favorite part was when she was in the belly of the beast. She went into the killer's home before she discovered that he was the perpetrator. I was so heightened. I kept thinking "girl, get out of there." When she first arrived at the home, the wife asked that she put the gun outside, I knew something wasn't right!! At first, I thought his wife was his copilot, but I was sadly mistaken. Shanora knows exactly how to make her readers think that everyone is the killer. Again, another fantastic read.

That plot twist—wow! Rose is the kind of friend you never want to lose. Despite everything Eve put Rose through, she refused to give up until she got the truth. Honestly, I don’t know if I could’ve put my own hurt aside the way Rose did for someone who didn’t treat her like a true friend.

There was something deeply unsettling about the entire community hidden in the woods. This book was just the right amount of suspense to keep you turning pages. Another excellent read, packed with all the suspense, emotion, and dark twists that Shanora Williams always deliver.

“Take a breather in this cozy cottage on Lake Aquilla”

Thoughts:
This book was engaging and emotional!

I love how Shonara gave us a shocking revelation from the beginning because it had me invested! How do you even move on and navigate your life? How do you trust again?

Rose was resilient and wanted to solve this mystery to the very end, despite her strained friendship with Eve. The most emotional part for me was definitely the act of forgiveness. Forgiveness is such a huge thing and it was the most important part in Rose and Eve’s friendship. I really liked the journal entries throughout this story as it gave us more of an insight into Eve’s thought process and it brought more to this mystery.

Whilst reading I didn’t trust a single person. Everyone was a suspect and the town was just eerie inside out. When Rose was trying to get signal it was just stressing me out. I just wanted her to leave that place asap.

I was a little surprised by the twist, though it didn’t make me gasp out loud I thought it was good. I found the ending chaotic because it definitely had me sitting up.

Overall, I thought it was a good suspenseful mystery.

Thank you to Kensington publishing and NetGalley for this digital arc.

Whispers of the Lake by Shanora Williams Okay, let me just say, Whispers of the Lake is straight fire! It’s definitely in my top five favorites from Shanora Williams. Like, I was literally on the edge of my seat the entire time—heart racing and all. You know those moments in horror movies where you want to scream at the characters not to do something? Yeah, that had me shouting, “No, girl, don’t open that door!” I mean, our main character just didn’t seem to get the memo, and I was practically pulling my hair out. Listening to folks ask questions and dig deeper into the mystery had me thinking, “Friend, just go home already! Get out!” It’s wild how for 98% of the book, you’re convinced you know exactly who’s guilty, and then there’s that last little twist that makes you rethink everything. Williams really knows how to keep you guessing! If you’re into suspenseful reads that’ll have you gripping the book tightly and yelling at the characters, e you’ve got to pick this one up. Just be ready to lose some sleep because you won’t want to put it down! Thanks for the ARC Shanora, Kensington Publishing and NetGalley.

Whispers Of The Lake is another spine chilling thriller from Shanora Williams that i was engrossed in from the beginning.

Rose is on a mission to find her erratic best friend Eve, even though they had a fall out Rose feels obligated to track her down.

Rose heads to the small town of Sage Hill with its peculiar residents and their secrets.
To find her friend she needs to befriend some of the locals to ask for their help.

I loved the suspense throughout the story, it kept me guessing. The characters were mysterious, secretive and intriguing. I wasn't sure who to trust or who to believe. It was thrilling trying to work out exactly what happened to Eve.
The twist was so good too, I didn't expect it.

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Whispers of the Lake by Shanora Williams? 5 stars, no question.
This book is absolutely unputdownable. It’s the perfect blend of suspense, mystery, and romance, with a hauntingly beautiful setting that’ll have you turning pages late into the night. The lake, the small-town secrets, and the dark history—it all pulls you in so deep.

The characters are complex and layered, and the way the story unravels kept me on the edge of my seat. There are twists that genuinely shocked me, and moments that hit you right in the feels. I loved how it mixed tension and emotion so effortlessly.

5/5 stars. If you’re looking for a gripping, atmospheric thriller with romance and jaw-dropping twists, this is the one to pick up.




❤️shaye.readss

This had me at single POV!

I love a mystery/thriller with a single POV, and they aren't easy to come by. Following one character, Rose, for the duration of the story really allowed me to get into her head, her feelings, and her relationships. Fully knowing the characters always makes me much more invested in the mystery. The book has a heavy focus on female friendships and how those bonds can stretch, twist, bend and fray, but never fully break. Some of the drama was a little messy for my taste, and some of the sexual content a little reckless, but that's more of a me thing. If you like a mess, all the more reason to pick this up.

Overall, I think this is a great choice for those looking for something fun, fast and summery. It's not reinventing the wheel, but it does what it does well.

If Shanora can’t do anything else she can write. This was such a great page turner. The mystery and details were all there. This fast paced thriller will definitely keep you engaged. I couldn’t put the book down. Rose needs to put PI in her title as well. With all the negative that came from her bff she put the hurt to the side to find out the truth. Can’t say I would have done the same. Loved the twist at the end Eddie played his part. With all the commotion at the end I am not sure if he was alive or dead, but much like everything he deserved what’s happened to him. Even I was about ready to jump in and help. If you haven’t tried one of her book idk what you’re waiting one.

This was such an interesting suspense book to read!

There were so many unlikable characters and yet I NEEEEEDED to know what happened to who and where and why.

I did not see the twist (I thought it was gonna be someone else LOL) and the complexity of emotions that all the characters go through? Intense.

There’s so many things that trauma victims and abuse victims go through and this book shows that… sometimes they don’t make it out on the other side. It shows the rawness and the realness of it.

I enjoyed that this tackled some heavy subjects and tackled them in depth! I enjoyed this overall!

One thing about Shanora is she’s going to have her readers HOOKED. Well written and a page turner. If you like mystery/thrillers, read it! Also check out her other books!

rose howard's life is falling apart. her marriage has just ended, and she’s been deeply betrayed by her best friend, eve. a few months ago, she cut ties with her, but when eve goes missing, rose feels the need to search for her.
arriving in the small town of sage hill, rose learns that eve disappeared without her purse or passport, even though she had apparently planned a trip abroad. the townspeople seem strange, and rose can't shake the feeling that they're hiding something. as she digs deeper, rose stumbles upon eve's journal, uncovering some shocking truths.

i think i was expecting something creepier and more twisty, and ultimately, i was left disappointed. the premise was really good - i love thrillers about missing people, but this one kind of fell flat to me. i still enjoyed diving into the mystery of what happened to eve, though. it was a really quick read.
i particularly liked the writing style and how fast-paced it was.

the main character - rose really pissed me off at times, as the decisions she kept making were terrible. she could've avoided many of the situations she got herself into. basically, she had the potential to be the main character in a horror movie. she was like, "oh my god, it's so dangerous, i probably shouldn't go there... but you know what? i WILL lol."  #yolo
all the clichés were there - no phone signal, almost getting caught while hiding, tripping while running.
i do appreciate her determination though, despite the shitty things eve has done to her. i guess 13 years of friendship will do that.

i couldn't really connect to eve either. i found her unlikeable and annoying. i'm not sure how to feel about her journal entries. even with the context of her past, which kinda made me want to sympathize with her since she had no control over her life but still, i didn't. she didn't care who she hurt along the way and was really self-absorbed.

to sum up - it was a super quick and enjoyable read - just don't expect anything spectacular. the mc-in-a-horror-movie cliché made it super bingeable for me. even though it was frustrating at times - i didn't really take it seriously, so that was just a fun, popcorn thriller.
i liked the ending of this book and i'm hoping to read more of shanora's work. i believe her other thrillers might be better than this one.



*thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

This was a good read. I did feel it was a little slow getting started.

I was a little hesitant about some of the characters because I felt like there wasn't a sense of urgency on some of the characters. But, all in all I enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC for my honest review!

#NetGalley #WhispersOfTheLake #ShanoraWilliams

"Oh My Godfrey"!!!

One look at the cover and the fact that my fave author wrote it, my heart pounded & pulse raced when I started it, and it was EVERYTHING!!
What. A. Ride this complex story took me on. Vast spectrum of emotions scattered like clues on the pages. My task to piece them together, like investigative reporter for Premier Daily, Rose Gibson. Her EX best friend, eve castillo has gone missing. We're both now on the case.

"All I know is no matter how hard Karma hits me, I’m ready for her.
Whatever she gives me, I’ll probably deserve it. "

Here's the conundrum. Her one time bestie is now her sworn enemy...for good reason. Succumbing to the compassionate heart, she traces Eve's footsteps back to Sage Hill, North Carolina in lake Aquila Cottage- Twilight Oaks.
I loved Rose, but was super intrigued and fascinated by warped morality owner Eve. Her layers upon layers were incredible, not completely evil or vixen, she has dark grey shaded personality. Almost shallow and selfish, she emerges as a girl drowning with hands up to call for help or clutch a lifeline.

"The sad thing is, I’m not afraid of Lincoln. Yes, he hits me. Yes, he’s abusive. But I’m not afraid. Maybe that’s why I keep going back. No one can protect and hurt me like he can. The pain and pleasure are a powerful combination. "

Being a social media influencer, her abused psyche hunts for likes, & followers just to fill the empty hole hole in her soul forever craving for love. comparing herself to Rose, she wants Rose's life, career, family. It's a slippery mental slope, playing with danger comes on its heels. Anything for the climbing popularity
Side characters lend a helping hand in darkening the swirling cloud of mystery. Reed Brothers, sheriff uncle, neighbours of aging couple and a wholesome family...all are suspect at one point or the other.

"This was bigger than me. A monster with so many heads that just kept growing more. "

The buildup to the vanished mystery is Amazing. shanora's tight grip on the plot, slick narrative keeps the story taut lije a tightly wound string. You can feel the tension, heart jumping at every tiny noise of twig breaking, footsteps following and silhouettes running past windows.
I swear my hair stood on end in every chapter. I could even hear the ominous music playing in the background. To say my heart was in my mouth, is an understement. It pounded hard at every twist and turn, almost ready to jump out of my chest. All my predictions and deciphers were WRONG!
Did. Not. See. The. Villain. Coming!!!!

As far as psychological, crime thrillers go..this one is Top Notch
If you like heart hammering, racy crime dramas, this book is a Must Read
5 ominous stars for Poser Girl
Follow me on:

I was hooked from beginning to end! Whispers of the Lake had me fully invested—every character had me side-eyeing and second-guessing, and Shanora really kept me on my toes the entire time. The suspense was perfectly paced, and the twist? Wild! What’s even crazier is that with how well this was written, she still could’ve taken the ending even further, and I would’ve followed her there without question. This was such a satisfying read. Easy 5 stars from me!

Investigative reporter, Rose Howard, is exhausted and her marriage is on the rocks. Her former best friend, Eve, seems to have vanished and now she is drawn into the mystery of where she has gone.
This was a reasonably fast paced mystery with some very unlikeable characters. It was interesting and twisty and while it was my first by the author, I would definitely read more in the future.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. WOW ! This book was amazing from start to finish. I am not much of a thriller reader but baby this book was a 10/10. I didn’t want to put the book down at all to the point I had to stop because I didn’t want it to finish lol. The plot twist had my jaw on the floor!!!! The writing was easy to read and follow along. I will definitely be reading this authors backlist!!

How is this the first Shanora Williams book I’ve read? It certainly won’t be the last ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This story was phenomenal. Williams’ writing and characters absolutely drew me in from the first page. Rose, the MC and investigative reporter trying to find her missing childhood friend is strong, capable, and a force to be reckoned with. I could practically feel the eerie suspense throughout and despite the conflicting feelings that Rose had towards her friend, the drive to find answers was admirable. I wish that some of the side characters had been more developed and felt that the final reveal could have had a bit more substance behind it.

Will highly recommend for readers looking for a domestic thriller while you’re at the lake…but I can confirm, lake or no lake this is a must read.

Huge thank you for the ARC!

I love a good thriller that keeps me guessing. Rose, found herself entangled in deceit from her best friend, Eve. But when Eve goes missing, Rose can’t resist the urge to step up and search for her. Despite the betrayal, Rose’s unwavering friendship for Eve drives her to confront the truth.

Rose is a formidable character, unapologetically tough and determined to face any challenge head-on. Eve, on the other hand, is self-absorbed and selfish, but beneath her surface lies a deep sense of vulnerability and inner turmoil. This thriller delivers a perfect blend of mystery, action, and unconditional love. Every character in the book contributes to the compelling storyline, making it a captivating read.

I couldn’t resist finishing this book in just two nights. I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn’t wait to discover what happened next. The ending was satisfying and left me feeling fulfilled. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good thriller.

I want to express my gratitude to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing this ARC. My opinions are my own.

A psychological thriller that had me locked in from page 1 to the epilogue. Lust, betrayal, suspense and emotional depth. Everybody was on my suspect list until proven innocent. This is a great book to pull you out of a reading slump.