Change of perspective is so nice. This is done very well. I really liked it alot.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

When Rose’s best friend Eve goes missing, she sets out to find her. This story had me hooked right from the beginning. I love how the author went between the perspective of Rose in real time and Eve via her journal entries. I could not put this one down!

WHISPERS OF THE LAKE is a fast-paced thriller that I had a hard time putting down. I liked learning about Rose and Eve’s friendship and all they had been through together. Eve went through a lot growing up, so her journal entries at the end of each chapter gave me a look into why she did the things she did. I never would have guessed the ending and for me that makes this a winner!

Many thanks to Shanora Williams, Kensington and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to publication day.

Make sure to check out the trigger warnings that the author mentions at the beginning of the book.

This was my first time reading a psycho-thriller book. I went in scared with my flashlight and it wasn't even needed.

We followed investigative reporter Rose in this story as she looked for her former friend Eve. She had her Bernadette moment when the book began because her husband was up to no good.

Although looking for Eve was the last thing she wanted to do, she did it for Eve's sister Zoey. As Eve did her investigation, she encountered multiple people that I questioned if they were involved.

This was a fast-paced story that had me second-guessing everything. Most of the characters in this story are flawed. Eve, especially, was a complex character. I was even wondering if I would look for someone like Eve after her betrayal. I know how horrible that sounds. There were so many twists and turns in this story. I can honestly say that I did not see them coming.

If you are into small-town mysteries, shady characters, and a whodunit plotline, this one is for you.

Thank you to Shanora, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Whispers of the Lake opens with a punch—and from that moment, the pacing never lets up. Shanora Williams delivers a fast-moving mystery layered with emotional tension and complicated relationships. I appreciated the journal entries from Eve—they added depth and insight to a character I initially felt little sympathy for. By the end, I saw her in a much more nuanced light.

Rose is a compelling lead, though some of her choices stretched belief for me personally. I found myself questioning her logic, but her determination kept me engaged. The mystery itself was well-plotted, with a few misdirections that genuinely surprised me.

My only critique is that a few plot threads and character motivations could’ve been explored further. Some questions lingered after the final page. That said, the emotional arc and resolution made for a satisfying read overall. A great pick for readers who enjoy domestic thrillers with high tension and complex women at the center.

If your best friend betrays you unforgivably and unforgettably, would you still search for her if she were to go missing? This thought-provoking question is explored in Whispers of the Lake.

The story follows Rose as she searches for her friend Eve in a small town filled with secrets and corruption. Despite Eve's past betrayal, Rose feels a strong sense of duty to find out what happened to her former best friend.

This was my first experience with this author, and I found it quite engaging. The narrative is filled with unexpected twists and turns, the characters are well-developed, and the plot is refreshingly imaginative.

One of the standout elements for me was Eve's journal entries, which provide valuable insight into her character. These entries help readers understand her motivations and struggles, allowing for a deeper comprehension of her actions, even if they are not entirely forgivable.

Rose is portrayed as a compelling main protagonist. Her strengths and vulnerabilities are skillfully depicted, making it easy for readers to connect with her and root for her safety throughout the story.

With its brisk pacing and gripping plot, Whispers of the Lake deserves a spot on every reader's TBR list this year. It’s a captivating read that will keep you hooked until the very end.

Much thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, “Whispers of the lake” written by Shanora Williams.

This is the second ARC I’ve read by Shanora and I wasn’t disappointed!
Quick and fast paced like the first one I read, “The Bitter Truth.”
Unexpected twists and turns; a friendship that to some degree, many people can relate to and the pressure to “fix, rescue & save” whether we’re asked to or not.
As a therapist, I appreciate the inclusion of therapy into this story and the connections made as well as encouragement of growth at the end.
This was GOOD!

This was a crazy thriller for sure, hands down. Rose is a journalist that is having marital issues at home & then also a fall out with her childhood best friend. This same friend goes missing while at a lake house on a solo getaway & although Rose is furious at Eve she goes out to that same house to find her. So many creepy secrets in this sleepy town but the plot twist was one I hadn’t seen coming. I do suggest that other readers check their triggers (abuse) & check out this suspenseful read. Very flawed characters in this book that you really feel for but also so much curiosity to see where all the mess leads up too. I loved that even though some things that Rose did wasn’t very realistic it still wasn’t too predictable. I enjoy this authors work & continue to check out her catalog. Thankful for a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

Whispers of the Lake is my first thriller by Shanora Williams and boy was I hooked!

On this story, we follow Rose who is recently single and no longer talking to her best friend, Eve. As Rose continues with her life, she learns from her ex-best friend’s sister that Eve is missing. Being the good person she is, Rose goes and searches for Eve at her house since she thinks Eve might just be seeking attention. However when she doesn’t find her we follow her journey as she tries to investigate where Eve is.

Rose being a journalist makes her good at searching for answers. She loves deeply and cares for the people in her life, even once that hurt her like Eve. As Rose continues her search, we find the truth behind everything that led to their distancing.

The story has all the tension, mystery and unexpected twists that a good thriller should have. Overall I enjoyed the book so much I couldn’t put my kindle down from the moment I started!

Thank you NetGalley, Kengsinton Publishing and Shanora Williams for proving me with this ARC.

Rose walked out of her marriage and her best friend's life when she caught Eve being intimate with her husband. But when Eve's younger sister calls her telling her Eve seems to be missing, Rose sets out to find her, despite her anger and misgivings. Eve's last known movements are when she rented a cabin in North Carolina so Rose heads there, renting the same cabin in the hope to find clues to Eve's whereabouts. The mystery deepens when Rose finds Eve's bag containing her purse and passport, despite evidence that Eve booked an overseas flight recently. Rose starts asking questions around the small town which upsets some of the locals, including the local sheriff, related to the young men who own the cabin she and Eve have rented. Rose believes something terrible may have happened to her impetuous ex-best friend and it's up to find out what happened.

This story, written in from both Rose and Eve's POV was a solid thriller read, with a number of twists to keep you interested and reading. Eve's character is quite unlikeable, terribly selfish and hard to develop any empathy for. I felt the ending didn't come together well in a realistic way for me - it was just a little too over the top and this is why I rated it ⭐⭐.5 rather than 3.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A wild ride indeed. This was my first time reading a Shanora Williams book and I enjoyed the thrill. There were definitely a few plot twists. I would recommend this book to others and will likely read more from the author.

This was a good, well paced book. I liked how it changed POV's and we got some journal entries. I was entertained, and read this fast. I just was left wanting a bit more.

Shanora has a way of writing a domestic thriller that should truly be studied. It gives Lifetime movie every time and I love that for me as a lover of her work. Whispers of the Lake kept me so engaged! My mind was constantly going trying to figure out who did it bc let's be real.. EVERYONE is a suspect until they aren't LOL. And it wouldn't be proper if there wasn't a diabolical twist at the end to snatch your edges away. All around great read!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC!

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…