Ms. Williams has done it again. She had me acting like I was Olivia Benson on the case. Between the world building, such a relatable protagonist, the complicated Eve, and the skillful depiction of resentment and grief, Williams has created another five star read.

This was the first thriller that I’ve read by Shanora Williams so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But just WOW!! I’m still speechless! The twists and turns of this fast-paced thriller had my mind in tangles and my heart jumping as I turned the pages. It was certainly a well-written thriller with characters that possessed the depth and layers necessary for a good read.

I loved getting to know Rose, the lead character and investigative journalist who went searching for her former best friend, Eve. Rose irked my entire being! Her every decision seemed unhinged and irresponsible, and I couldn’t help but think that she was ridiculously visceral. However, as her story developed, I began to understand her behavior and appreciated the character development that Williams presented. I began to have compassion and empathy for her as I learned about her upbringing. Likewise with Eve. However, I despised her for 90% of the book (maybe 99%) until the very end when her full story was revealed and she became a real being with real human flaws.

This book kept me intrigued and left me SHOCKED to say the least. Everything I thought I knew was wrong. I felt bamboozled by the plot twists and loved it immensely! Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the e-ARC.

“Fuck happiness.” This was the first line of the book and instantly won me over. Rose is a few months out from her life turning upside down in an instant. Now she’s newly single and no longer speaking to her best friend, Eve. Rose gets pulled back into Eve’s world when her little sister asks Rose for help when Eve stops responding to calls and texts. Rose’s investigative reporter skills lead her to Sage Hill, Eve’s last known location. Rose is determined to find answers.

I loved reading from Rose’s 1st person POV. My brain naturally narrates my thoughts the same way Rose talks/thinks which made it an easy read. She’s a character who loves deeply but also sets boundaries based on her self-respect. This complicates things for her, but I appreciated she wasn’t a pushover friend/wife. I liked the build up of the book more than the ending. The ending was fine: action packed and no loose ends, definitely over-the-top. I think part of me was just sad that my time with Rose came to an end.

Today I received Shanora Williams’s ‘The Wife Before’ in the mail from a Goodreads Giveaway win. I’m excited to read more of her work!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Jun 24 2025

A thoroughly entertaining dark and twisty thriller.

I absolutely tore through this book in a day, could not put it down. The tension slowly started to build and it did not let up til the end…. and the final twist, I did not see coming at all.

This is my first book by this author and it will not be my last.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

A marriage on the rocks.
A missing friend.
A tangled web of lies.

Rose, an investigative reporter, was trying to manage her ‘so called’ perfect life. With the collapse of her marriage, Rose was desperate for one thing to go right. While working towards a promotion at work, Rose learned that her former best friend, Eve, went missing. Despite Eve breaking the ultimate ethical friendship code, Rose wanted nothing to do with her. Still, Rose headed to Sage Hill in search of answers. As she sought out to find her old best friend, Rose stumbled upon shocking truths that could make or break her.

Unbeknownst to me, Shanora Williams has been writing novels for the past thirteen years. Whispers of the Lake was the first book I’ve read by Williams and I had no idea what I was missing out on. I now see how she is known for her diverse characters, high stakes mystery & love stories, and how her stories explore connection and chaos. I was immediately drawn in to her writing style, the flow, the intricate details, and the characterization set the tone for this immersive mystery thriller.

I was completely engaged in this captivating mystery thriller. I loved the short chapters and unexpected twists as much as the alternating timelines. This story was primarily told through Rose’s perspective (present) and Eve’s short journal entries (past). Williams fabricated a variety of well developed characters by drawing on their unique personality traits making them real and relatable. Of all the characters, I admired Rose the most. Rose’s determination to find her ex-friend despite the growing realization that Eve was an even worse person than Rose was willing to admit. Aside from finding Rose’s dialogue intriguing, I appreciated how Williams incorporated Eve’s journal entries into the narrative. This made it easier to build a connection with Eve and her backstory and the secrets she kept, despite her being a missing person from the beginning.

Overall, having read Whispers of the Lake, I am officially a follower of Shanora Williams. As stated previously, this was my first read by Williams and it was a captivating blend of mystery and romance. There’s no question I’ll be reading more by Shanora Williams soon.

Thanks Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first Shanora Williams book and I loved her writing! The story was so captivating and well-paced. I truly didn’t know where the story was going and enjoyed the ride.

Whispers of the Lake by Shanita Williams is exactly the kind of book you crack open thinking, I’ll just read a few chapters, and suddenly it’s 2 a.m., you’re side-eyeing every shadow, and you need to know what’s lurking beneath the surface—literally and emotionally. From page one, the atmosphere is immaculate. The lake isn’t just a setting—it’s basically a character: moody, mysterious, and dripping with secrets. Williams knows how to craft tension that creeps up your spine, while also grounding the story in characters that feel raw and real. The protagonist is smart, gutsy, and carrying just enough emotional baggage to make every decision feel layered. And the supporting cast? Full of side-eye-worthy charm and just enough suspicion to keep you guessing who’s trustworthy. This is a thriller with heart. Yes, the mystery is juicy and eerie, but there are also themes of grief, healing, and self-discovery that hit surprisingly hard. Williams balances the spooky with the soulful in a way that’s super satisfying. So why 4 stars and not the full 5? A couple of plot threads felt slightly undercooked—like we needed just one more chapter to tie it all up perfectly—but that didn’t stop me from flying through the last few pages with my heart in my throat. Bottom line? Whispers of the Lake is a haunting, emotional ride that will stick with you long after the last ripple fades. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself side-eyeing every body of water for a while…

Whispers of the Lake
Where is Eve?

This fast-paced thriller kicks off with betrayal at its core. Rose, an investigative journalist, is still reeling after discovering her husband, Cole, in bed with her best friend of 16 years, Eve Castillo. But when Eve suddenly goes silent while vacationing at a remote lakeside cottage, Rose receives a call from Eve’s younger sister, Zoey, who’s desperate for answers.

Despite the pain of betrayal, Rose sets out to find Eve, driven by loyalty to the friendship they once shared. Her search takes her to the last place Eve was seen: a secluded rental cottage owned by Alex Reed.

As Rose digs deeper, navigating a tangle of lies, old wounds, and dark secrets, she’s forced to confront not only what happened to Eve, but also what their friendship truly meant.

If you’re looking for a quick, emotionally charged thriller packed with twists, this book is worth the read.

Rating 4/5⭐️

Thanks for the free eARC @kensingtonbooks @netgalley @reallyshanora

Would you risk everything to help someone who once betrayed you? Why or why not?

If you're looking for a mystery that isn't scary but has an ending you weren't expecting, check out Shanora Williams! This is my second book by her and neither time did I figure out what really happened before the big reveal.
I think this book did a good job with dealing with a broad spectrum of emotions. For example: loosing a friendship over a bad decision, but then also regret of lost chances after loosing a friend; how decisions and actions are affected by traumatic events in our life.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I always enjoy Shanora's work. I really enjoyed this read. I love a whodunit and this was deff giving that. I had my pick of who it was but I turned out to be very wrong! I really enjoyed the plot twist and the pacing of the book. A part of me was annoyed with the FMC because what do you me you are still worried about your friend who slept with your husband?!? I guess im not there yet. HA. However this book was paced well and a very good read.

This book was a page-turner. The author does an amazing job creating complicated victims with dark pasts. It might be because I read a lot of mysteries, but I did guess who the killer was in the beginning which made the reveal a little less enjoyable. I wish there was a mystery with the main character’s mother’s death that tied into the present-day mystery, buy I think the mother’s death was mentioned to build upon emotions. If you’re looking for a thriller with diverse characters and small town vibes, then this book needs to be on your fall tbr. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Good for fans of Get Out! This one is really atmospheric and cinematic. Perfect of a summer read. Some parts were a little slow and I wish the pacing kept steady throughout.

Wow… this was tense!
From the beginning this story will keep you on the edge of your seat.

This was my first book by Shanora Williams and I really loved her writing style. Whispers Of The Lake is packed with tension, and jaw dropping moments that was completely unexpected.

It was suspenseful and fast paced, definitely recommend.

Thank you so much Kensington Publishing, Shanora Williams, and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rose Howard is an investigative reporter. Her best friend Eve goes missing. Which sends Rose on a journey. To find out what exactly happened to Eve.
Adding to the situation Eve and Rose's husband had an affair. Which causes Eve to still have ill feelings. On the journey to find Eve Rose battles with a bottle of emotions. Having a sense of betrayal from a friend. Can Rose put these emotions aside? And work on trying to find where her ex-best friend is at.

Whispers of the Lake by Shanora Williams is a twisty, fast-paced thriller centred around Rose Howard, an investigative reporter who heads to the small town of Sage Hill when her estranged best friend, Eve Costello, goes missing. Despite their strained relationship, Rose is determined to uncover what happened—and of course, secrets start bubbling to the surface.


This is the first book I have read by this author - I was really drawn in because it's on a couple of anticipated thrillers of 2025 lists I have seen.
This one definitely has that “propulsive read” quality. The plot moves quickly, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you flipping pages. That said, some of it felt a little exaggerated to me—like it asked for just a bit too much suspension of disbelief. If you’re after a thriller that’s more about the ride than realism, though, this might be your jam.

It’s the kind of book I’d take to the beach: engaging enough to hold your attention, but not something I’d be raving about afterwards. The writing is solid—nothing spectacular, but it gets the job done.

Overall, a decent way to pass the time if you’re in the mood for a high-drama, high-speed mystery. Three stars from me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC—opinions are all my own.

Whispers of the Lake is a tense, atmospheric thriller that kept me turning pages late into the night. Rose Howard is a compelling protagonist—smart, flawed, and determined—as she investigates the sudden disappearance of her estranged friend, Eve Castillo, in a seemingly quiet North Carolina town.

The mystery unravels slowly but effectively, with suspicious locals, buried secrets, and twists I didn’t see coming. The setting of Sage Hill adds a haunting backdrop, and the emotional layers between Rose and Eve deepen the suspense.

Fast-paced and full of surprises, this book is perfect for fans of psychological thrillers with strong female leads.

I’ve read previous books by this author and loved them so was excited to jump into this new one. Well it exceeded my expectations.. read in one sitting apart from stopping to order a take away lol I absolutely loved the storyline. The characters felt real and believable. Couldn’t determine how this story was going to go no matter how hard I tried. An excellent read that I’ll definitely be recommending to others. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

There was at no point in time that I knew what was going to happen or what had happened. I think a lot of times when we read thrillers we like to come up with theories as we inch closer to the end, NONE OF MY THEORIES WERE CORRECT! My emotions were riding high from 15% of this book until the end. We get taken on emotional roller coaster of should our FMC be trying look for her best friend or shouldn't she. After reading the entire book I still don't know lol. I loved this book and read it one sitting, it kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time.

Whispers of the Lake was so good. I was completely invested in Rose's quest to discover what happened to her missing friend, Eve. The pace of the story was just right to keep it captivating without giving too much away. The multiple characters kept me suspicious about everyone and I was really surprised by the ending! I truly recomment this novel.

Finished this in one sitting! I love that Shanora can write any genre but when she's in her thriller bag? PERFECTION because it's not a genre I usually read but I keep coming back for more!

Rose is an investigative reporter working on a big case but when her ex best friend's sister tells her Eve has been missing her interest is peeked. Eve and Rose have been besties for years but Eve has betrayed her in the worst possible way and they haven't spoken in 3 months (it's complicated)

What unfolds is a web of lies, deceit, mystery and twists and turns! Is it the cabin owner? His brother? The town's sheriff? Or is it Eve's violent ex Lincoln? No one would blame Rose if she completely turned her back on the situation especially while going through a divorce but when she starts finding clues, hearing twigs snap and feels like she's being watched is she closer to the truth than she thinks and how much danger is she in?

Whispers of the Lake will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat. Heart pounding, suspenseful and thrilling!