Lisa Jackson is the queen of the thriller mystery for a reason, and she's done it again with this one. I couldn't put it down.

I loved this book! Well done as always! One click buy for me. I’m always excited when a new book is released!

I’ve been reading Lisa Jackson for years, and she never fails to pull me into a dark, twisty thriller—this one was no exception. While this one was a bit longer and slower-paced than some of her other books, I still found myself completely drawn into the eerie atmosphere and layered mystery.

The dual timelines between past and present were really well done. It was always clear what time period we were in, and I thought the jumps back to the past added necessary depth and tension to the story. Some parts did drag a little, especially in the middle, but the slow unraveling of secrets made up for it.

I loved the setting: a small lake town filled with suspicion, rumors, and long-held grudges. The Victorian house and private island on Lake Twilight were the perfect haunting backdrop for all the mysterious deaths and tragedies that haunt Harper. The sense of isolation and the feeling that Harper was constantly being watched gave the story an edge of unease I really enjoyed.

Harper herself was an interesting and sympathetic character. Coming back to a town that still whispers about her, confronting old trauma, and trying to repair her life—it all felt grounded and emotionally real. I especially liked how Lisa Jackson gradually peeled back the layers of Harper’s past, letting the tension build with each revelation. Just when I thought I had the twist figured out, she proved me wrong again!

If you enjoy character-driven thrillers with a deep sense of place, long-buried secrets, and plenty of unexpected turns, this one’s worth the read. It’s a slow burn, but the payoff is satisfying.

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Kensington for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am a huge Lisa Jackson fan and this is just another in a long line of great books.
Harper Reed Prescott owns the huge Victorian house on Lake Twilight and the private island on which it sits. Twenty years ago, Harper’s grandmother died suspiciously while in her care, and on the same night Harper’s boyfriend disappeared. His body was never found, and no charges were filed. There have been other mysterious deaths, all revolving around Harper and her family.

Now Harper’s marriage is over, her college-age daughter is living her own life, and Harper just wants to sell the property and make a fresh start. She comes home but she feels she’s being watched. This is a typical Lisa Jackson book with twists and turns but really good.

The length of this book was extremely unnecessary! So many things were repeated and like drawn out. It could’ve been good possibly but it was a very slow boring read for me.

Anything Lisa Jackson writes is amazing. I found her many years ago when I won a giveaway for 2 of her books and I never looked back. And to this day she never disappoints. The kept me guessing until the very end and then twisted my brain right up. Truly amazing.

4 stars

I absolutely enjoy this book. There were many scenes that gave me eerie feelings and I was like scared. The characters were well-done. I didn't give 5 stars because I felt there were a lot of scenes a little bit boring. If the book was little bit shorter, it could be perfect.

It Happened on the Lake, by Lisa Jackson, is a complex, twisty, standalone thriller about a woman who returns to her grandmother’s house on a small, private island, set on Lake Twilight. Tragic things have happened in this lake directly linked to Harper’s family. Harper is no stranger to loss and finally leaves after her boyfriend disappears while crossing the lake to meet her. Years later, unsettling, inexplicable things continue to happen and Harper finds herself once again drawn to this eerie place.

This story is atmospheric and suspenseful. It is also a bit slow, quite repetitive, and longer than necessary. But the reveals and secrets, though a bit predictable, are worthwhile to discover. Told in two perspectives, past and present, this novel is hefty and has a lot going on, but it’s easy to get caught up in the drama, tension and mystery.

For some reason this book was not what I was expecting but in a good way. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

An engaging and atmospheric thriller with great suspense and emotional depth. Some twists were a bit predictable, but overall, the book kept me hooked and didn’t disappoint!

Lisa Jackson is one of my favorite authors, so I was excited to read her newest book It Happened on the Lake. I was not disappointed, so when Harper was a young girl her grandmother died and her boyfriend disappeared all on the same night. Years later she returns to her house by the lake and rumors are still circulating about what happened that night so many years ago. I really enjoyed this book, it had plenty of twists to keep you guessing. Thanks to Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for my arc.

I enjoyed this book & it had a lot of tropes I’m generally drawn to in a thriller/mystery BUT it was also way too long in regards to what it eventually accomplishes. Our main character, Harper, returns to her childhood home which was also the scene of many tragedies involving her family & the neighbors. Dual timelines, nosy neighbors, and plenty of secrets held by a myriad of characters all contribute to this atmospheric tale. Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC!

At almost 600 pages, the pacing of It Happened on the Lake often drags, especially in the second half, where excessive detail slows the story and deflates the tension. It’s a very slow burn, almost frustratingly so at times.

Overall though, patience pays off in the richness and intricacy of the story. The atmosphere is moody and immersive, bordering on gothic, with a sense of unease. The decaying house, preserved as a time capsule, lets Harper’s lost relatives remain an unsettling, ghostly presence that weaves in and out of the story. There’s a creeping sense of dread in moments that initially seem innocuous, adding to the slow-build suspense.

Even though Harper is our narrator, her guarded thoughts create a sense of distrust and discomfort that amplifies the haunting tone. I really enjoyed the time jumps between the 60’s and 80’s, with both periods vividly drawn and cleverly interwoven to deepen the mystery. With so many deaths, mysteries and unreliable reporters, it was hard to see of Jackson would close this tale off, but it draws to a satisfying conclusion.

I’d recommend this to anyone wanting to sink their teeth into a lengthy, but layered, suspenseful and moody mystery.

Thank you to the publishers for an advance copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

I was really intrigued by the premise and had high hopes going in. Unfortunately, the pacing was just too slow for me, and I found myself losing interest. The alternating timelines didn’t quite work, and I struggled to connect with the characters.

Thank you so much to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington press for the early released ebook. All opinions are my own.

I saw this book described as a slow-burn and it most definitely was SLOW. It is in 3rd person, with multiple POVs. The book takes you between past and present. I will admit that there were points that I completely lost interest and wanted to give up. The novel is overly long and weighed down by repetition, grinding its pacing to a halt. Their are tangled subplots that only serve to confuse the reader and dilute the impact of the main story.

Not one of the characters in the book was likeable. Harper's constant spying on neighbors across the lake, complete with telescopes and binoculars, feels less like Rear Window“ and more unnecessary. It doesn't heighten the suspense at all but is awkward and ultimately pointless. The references to Harper’s perverted grandfather, were just too many and ultimately served no point.

Unfortunately, this book feels like an obligation without a lot of thought or creativity. I feel inclined to pass on any other books she writes in the future and this makes me sad.

This story takes place in two timelines and weaves together several murders. While the ending tied up nicely, it was much longer than needed and was quite repetitive. There were also a handful of typos. I was curious to know the ending, but was not fully engaged until maybe the last 100 pages (and it’s a long one).

This was a very slow burn mystery that weaves between past and present, with a moody atmosphere and a lot of secrets. The premise had so much promise with a secluded Victorian house, a mysterious death, and a missing boyfriend, but at nearly 600 pages, the length made it feel repetitive and drawn out. While the setting was moody and the core mystery intriguing, the pacing was draggy, and I found myself losing interest at times. I really wanted to love this, but in the end, it was just okay.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed the mystery and multiple murders of this tale, however, it did get a bit repetitive near the end when all I wanted to know was who done it. I did guess who, but I still liked the story.

I loved how atmospheric this story is, it’s told in present and past timeline which isn’t my favourite way to tell a story, it worked but I did find it a tad repetitive and long.

Ooh, I really enjoyed getting fully immersed in this book! I loved the descriptions of the old manor and quite enjoyed the 1960-1980’s time capsule. I loved the idea of a large house on an island facing little year round cabins. The twists and mystery were great. I felt it was quite a bit longer than needed, and there were many moments where information was repeated. I disliked many of the dialogue moments between Harper and Marcia, but the showdown moment felt a little over the top evil step-mothery for my liking. This is a great read for anyone who enjoys plenty of deaths to solve and a beautiful fictional environment to do it in.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the arc!