3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. I found Whispers of the Lake by Shanora Williams to be an engaging psychological thriller that pulled me in from the first chapter. The book maintained a steady, compelling pace throughout. The main character is complex and well-developed, though her decision-making at times gave me pause. While the plausibility of the story occasionally stretched believability, it wasn’t enough to require a full suspension of disbelief. Overall, it’s an entertaining and tense read that balances character and plot with just enough twists to keep readers guessing. I would definitely read another Shanora Williams book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC digital copy. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

Extremely fast-paced book. I read it in two days while camping at the lake. I tend to appreciate settings similar to the one I’m visiting :)

Although I like action, I don’t truly enjoy a book unless I believe the characters. This one fell short for me in that area. I was still planning to rate it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. But that changed when I picked up my kindle to continue reading… completely forgetting that I’d already finished the book.

3 out of 5 stars and my respect to the author.

I loved this book.

The story of Rose, an investigative reporter, looking for her ex-best-friend Eve, is a twisty, edge of your seat thriller with all the page turning excitement.

You see, it’s more complicated than finding a friend- Eve slept with her best friend’s husband, and when she goes missing, it takes everything Rose has to go find her after her betrayal.

When she gets to the little cottage in a town with little cell service she starts finding signs of Eve, and things get weird- and as rose leans on her instinct, she doesn’t just find Eve, but unravels an entire community full of lies.

This is one of my favorite reads of the year with beautiful writing and descriptions of characters that make you want to know more about them. I was fully invested in the story and I couldn’t put it down.

I love all of her books. This one keep me guessing from start to finish. I will definitely be purchasing the paperback version once it comes out.

To start, I found the book to be pretty fast-paced, which I really enjoyed. The backstory was clear enough to understand the context without slowing down the beginning. Overall, I thought it was really well written and interesting tale.

Thank you to NetGalley, publishing & Shanora for this ARC.

I was overly excited to get into this one. It fell a little flat for me in the first half. It was more mystery than thriller. The last 25% saved it — I loved it that part. Although I didn’t really connect with the story, it was as always very well written. Eve was a character.. I can’t say what I would’ve done e if she were my friend but ….

Pub date: 6/24/35

If your best friend betrayed your trust in an unimaginable way and ended up missing, what would you do?

Whispers of the lake follows Rose, who POV the story is told in. Rose is an investigative reporter who is going through a lot of changes in her life. She is separated from her husband and has cut off her best friend Eve (you will find out why early on in the story). Eve goes missing, and Rose, despite her feelings and hurt caused by Eve, decide to go looking for her in a small lake town ALONE (this decision had me shaking my head several times throughout lol)

This was definitely a tense and page turning thriller. About 60 % in, I still didn't know who had a part in Eve's disappearance. This was a story where everyone at some point seemed like they were guilty and a suspect. I loved the progression in the storyline and the little glimpses of the past that helped make sense of what was happening in the present. Another thing I really liked was Eve's journal entries. I feel like they helped the story, and you get to see her thoughts and why she did the things she did.

I wanna say so much more, but I don't want to give anything away. Shanora tied everything up perfectly in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it was one that had me on the edge of how it would all end.

Thank you, Shanora, for giving me the opportunity to be a part of your ARC team and also Netgalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

I rate this book a 3.5. This book took me so much time to finish because of how much details were being laid out in the beginning for us reads which I’m okay with because I love details. I enjoyed the story but some parts just felt unnecessary and slow paced. A lot of characters to keep track of. I loved how descriptive the story was because I was able to picture the different settings so clearly. I even got emotional at certain parts during the ending of the story. Overall the story was enjoyable. I did wish for a different outcome but overall it was good.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I enjoyed the book. I read it in one day and honestly didn’t figure out who killed Eve, but i also don’t have anything that stands out for me.
The book was written well and the story was complete, no complaints.

I wish i had more to offer but the book was just ok for me. I’ll definitely be reading more of Shanora Williams books to see if maybe it was just this one for me.

Not my favorite book by this repeat author. The story didn't flow as well as her previous thrillers.

The story is quite interesting, but not thrilling. The writing quite good, but not excellent. So a quite nice reading.

From the very first page, this book draws you into its world with engaging prose, well-developed characters, and a compelling narrative. The author's storytelling is confident and immersive, weaving together themes that resonate long after the final chapter.

take this book to your bedroom, shut the door and be prepared for more thrill rides even when you think you know it all.
there is so much to unpack here both with the story and the people involved in it. its messy and real and the way the characters are portrayed only adds a juicier layer to the book.
the strength of our female main character was stunning to read. she was clever and smart and totally dedicated. even her life is falling apart. even when the reason for this is linked to the person she goes to find. she is determined to get this right. if the only reason for this is to have something within her control again then so be it. but she is certainly the friend youd all want to step up and fight for you.
Shanora has set the tone for summer thrillers. its perfection in everything it throws at you and keeps you guessing both of the storyline and the characters within it. not only are the main characters filled with secrets but so too are the side characters.

we are taken in by Rose who feels everything is falling apart both at work and home. then she learns her friend Eve is missing. and when we learn more about Eve the pressure is on to find out just whats happened to her and why. and along the way who is the bad guys, why are the local community keeping secrets and does that makes them one and the same?
you'll want your friends to read this book too just so you can talk excitedly over eachother about it.

Whispers of the Lake is a beautifully written, heart-thumping blend of domestic suspense, small-town secrets, and a woman’s reckoning with her past—and it delivers on every level. From the moment investigative reporter Rose Howard steps into the seemingly peaceful town of Sage Hill, you know this won’t be just a story about a missing friend—it’s about deception, danger, and the unspoken truths we bury deep beneath calm waters.

Rose is a heroine you root for immediately. Worn thin from a crumbling marriage and the pressure to perform at work, she’s not out for adventure—she just wants one thing in her life to make sense. But when Eve Castillo, her ex-best friend and wildly popular travel vlogger, goes silent during a stay at a picturesque North Carolina cottage, Rose’s instincts kick in. The fact that their friendship ended in betrayal makes the emotional tension all the more compelling—this isn’t just a search, it’s personal.

The setting of Sage Hill is gorgeously eerie. What starts as a postcard-perfect lakeside town soon turns cold and claustrophobic, with too many friendly smiles hiding something rotten. Everyone knows something… and no one wants Rose asking questions. The tension builds like ripples on still water—quiet at first, but steadily rising until you realize you’re in way over your head.

The mystery is masterfully paced. Every twist is earned, every revelation feels like peeling back another layer of paint on a long-forgotten wall. Rose uncovers more than just clues—she stumbles into the haunting consequences of Eve’s choices, the town’s buried past, and the chilling realization that someone wants her gone. The danger is real. The stakes are personal. And just when you think you’ve figured it out—bam. The story hits you with a revelation you never saw coming.

Whispers of the Lake is an emotional, edge-of-your-seat mystery that explores trust, betrayal, and the dark currents that run beneath still waters.

3 ⭐️
Expected publication date - June 24, 2025

WHAT I LOVED - This was a very quick read. The chapters were short, and each ended with just enough of a cliffhanger to make you want to read the next one.

WHAT I LIKED - The journal entries interspersed in between some of the chapters.

WHAT I DISLIKED - I felt like some details were boring and unnecessary.

WOULD I RECOMMEND? To a certain audience. Yes, if you want a quick, straightforward thriller. No, if you want something more complex.

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing, for this eARC for review. All opinions are my own.

man shanora can really write a thriller book! my first thriller I've read by her and I was tuned the f*cked innnn! MAN this book was too damn good!! let me just say that eve was a hot mess but I loved every second of it because I love when I read books they have that one messy character!! shanora had me thinking it was so many different people everytime a new clue was revealed! and I loved how the journal entries were added into the book! a page turner for sure!! rose made sure to not give up on her friend no matter what and Iloved how quick she was and how she caught people playing in her face! the plot twists were there the whole entire storyline was *chefs kiss* definitely ready for everyone to get this book in june!!

This book had me hooked right from the start—missing friends, messy relationships, and a whole lot of drama! But let me ask you this… was that even really your friend? Rose is in the middle of chaos—she’s reeling from her marriage falling apart and the person responsible for that? Oh yeah, her best friend Eve, who’s now missing. Talk about layers.

Eve’s backstory is heartbreaking—terrible, abusive parents and a string of bad relationships left her searching for love in all the wrong places. She’s also an influencer (because of course she is) and one day, she just up and vanishes. Enter Zoey, Eve’s little sister, who reaches out to Rose for help—even though they weren’t on speaking terms. But being the investigative reporter she is, Rose feels like she has to step up and find Eve, no matter their rocky past.

The story takes us to a lakefront cottage, Eve’s last known location, and let me tell you, the suspense is real. Will Rose find her ex-bestie, or will she end up just as missing?

This book kept me flipping pages like crazy. It’s packed with tension, messy relationships, and the lingering question of whether the people in your life are who they seem. A fantastic read—I loved every moment of it!

I enjoyed reading Whispers of the Lake. I thought it was a pretty well paced story and new clues developed as the story progressed. I enjoyed the journal entries. Eve was a very complicated character and she truly was heavily flawed. Rose was loving and forgiving to a detriment to herself. I really hated their friendship. I would recommend this book.

This book is a page turner for sure! Shanora knows what she’s doing! I couldn’t put this down! Very fast paced!

Man this book was so good, I mean I couldn’t put it down. I got this book as an ARC and I am so happy that I was given the opportunity to read this book. Even though I didn’t want to feel sorry for Eve. After fully understanding her backstory. You kind of can’t help but have empathy for her. While reading this book, I just knew I knew who her killer was. But when it was revealed, baaaaby I was shookith. This book had me like 😳🤯😮