So this one I was back and forth on. I had a hard time staying interested because at times it was very much a slow burn. But then the pace would sometimes pick up a bit. The characters all seem to have something to hide and secrets to keep. And then there is the lake that everyone seems to die on. So many deaths and almost no answers. I like this authors novels and this one is worth sticking with to the end. Also liked the setting of the small town and the island as well with its cottage and big house full of secrets and history.

When Harper returns to the small town where she grew up, she expects nothing more than to clear out her grandmother's estate and possibly make it into a home for herself. It is, after all, her childhood home. But it’s also the place where so many bad things happened-her mother's death, the disappearance of her high school love, the death of her beloved grandmother. Still, she never imagined she’d find herself the target of harassment and possibly even danger. It seems that someone doesn’t want her to discover the truth about what happened all those years ago. She’s determined, however, to clear up the mysteries and to move on with her life. Will she be able to? And what secrets will she uncover? This is a very long story, so much so that I was expecting more out of it. It’s good in your basic twisty mystery way. But be prepared for a lot of details in the writing.

There are so many ways this book feels like its going.....is it horror? A thriller? An unreliable narrator? That just makes it more interesting to read. I enjoyed it in so many ways. The ending felt a bit rushed to me but that's just because it was so well written and so good that I wanted it to last forever.

Lisa Jackson delivers a chilling, slow-burn thriller set against the eerie backdrop of Lake Twilight. The story follows Harper Reed Prescott as she returns to her family’s remote estate, only to confront dark secrets from her past and a new mystery that threatens to unravel everything.

With a moody atmosphere, haunting flashbacks, and plenty of twists, Jackson weaves a suspenseful tale of trauma, family dysfunction, and long-buried truths. While the pacing lags at times and the romance feels a bit forced, the rich setting and emotional depth keep the story engaging!!

Harper Reed Prescott owns Lake Twilight as well as.the island it sits on but hasn't wanted anything to do with either. Twenty years ago her grandmother and her boyfriend disappeared. Her grandmother died while she was caring for her and to the cops her death was.suspicious. Even though she was never arrested rumors ran rampant making living on the island hard so she left. Harper is now divorcing and has a daughter who wants nothing to do with her so she wants to make some changes selling the property will help her start anew. What she didn't realize was how much her return would stir up things from the past. Can Harper do want she needs to do so she can get started on a new life or will the past come back to haunt her keeping her from moving forward?

This was a slow-paced, lengthy read that while the overall story was good, it took me a while to really submerge myself into the story. I often enjoy novels on the larger side as it makes it more memorable and helps to fully connect with the characters. This, however, didn't succeed in doing that. I felt that it could have been much shorter in length. That being said, the writing itself was immaculate, and the dual timeline is what kept the pace from stalling at times. This was entertaining and intriguing and robust with many twists and turns. Three stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Kensington Publishing, for this ARC.

Lisa Jackson’s It Happened on the Lake is an intriguing thriller very reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock. The book had an interesting storyline; however, there was often issues with pacing throughout the book with the feeling that the story could have been condensed. Overall, it was an entertaining mystery and story.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

DNF at 20% (star review is NOT acccurate)

I wanted to enjoy this book- the premise sounds interesting enough and definitely grabbed my attention. However the book itself just wasn’t for me, as it is a VERY slow burn. The duel timeline was confusing and I honestly didn’t really care about the characters.

Thank you to Kensington publishers, Lisa Jackson and Netgally for an ARC copy.

This book was a good read. I liked the connection of past and present and the story being told from both sides. This book did seem long though and I felt like it some parts could have been condensed.

Lisa Jackson might be the most all over the place thriller author – some books are hands down 5/5 stars, and others are snooze fest. Unfortunately this one was in the boring category for me.

Harper’s hometown comes with some serious baggage – and unfortunately, she’s at the center of it. First, her mother is found dead on the lake when Harper is a child. Then, when she’s a teenager, her grandmother dies and her boyfriend disappears on the same night. Now, Harper’s father is sick, her marriage is over, and she’s headed back home to take some skeletons (literally) out of the closet.

As the story starts to unwind, truths will be revealed about what truly has happened on the lake.

I thought this book was trying to do too much. The entire time I found myself asking, “Wait, which plot line am I supposed to care about?” There were too many deaths/murders/disappearances to keep up with.

I was somewhat surprised by the ending, which just SLIGHTLY redeemed this book, but I know Lisa Jewell is capable of significantly more, so this was a bummer for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the advanced review of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first Lisa Jackson boon and it won’t be my last! IT HAPPENED ON THE LAKE was an atmospheric thriller with a dose of domestic suspense. It had a story that kept me intrigued and I wouldn’t waiting to see where this ride would take me. I loved it!

Lisa Jackson knows how to stir the drama pot, and this one simmers with secrets, guilt, and lakeside creepiness. Harper’s return to that island? Big mistake. Huge. The family’s shady, the vibes are off, and the past ain’t staying buried.

It’s got just enough twists to keep you flipping pages, even if it takes a minute to heat up. Think Lifetime movie with a darker bite. I’d give it a low 4—not life-changing, but juicy enough to finish with wine in hand and suspicion in your heart.

Book Review

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I’ve had a slow reading start this summer, but I’m back!

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for this advanced readers copy. I enjoyed this. It had a slow start for me, but once it picked up speed, I was really into it.

The story is told back and forth between the past and present. Harper is back at her grandmothers after receiving her island inheritance. From the moment she arrives, odd things begin to happen. Is Chase, her teenage love that has been missing for decades, alive? Will she sell the island and the mansion? Is she somehow responsible for the deaths and bad luck that surrounds her family? I just love a story that takes place at the lake!

You’ll have to read to find out! It’s out!

#thelake

Following the ending of her marriage and the estrangement to her daughter, Harper Reed Prescott is looking for a fresh start. Lucky for her, Harper has just inherited a huge Victorian House on Lake Twilight. But this house and land houses so many horrific things that have happened in Harper's life - her grandmothers suspicious death in her care, her mothers death, her brothers suicide, and the disappearance of her boyfriend.

As she contemplates selling the property and house, so many memories begin to stir from her past. While many people have questioned her involvement in all of the tragic events in her family, Harper knows she hasn't done anything wrong. Shortly after arriving, Harper begins to fear for herself as odd things begin to happen around her.

The overall book and ending was a great read, but the length of the book knocked my rating more to 3.5 stars. It really felt like 100 or so pages could have been removed throughout the book and it would still have maintained the integrity and development of the story. The first 30-40% took the longest to get through, but I couldn't put it down in the second half of the book.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing, NetGalley, and Lisa Jackson for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Atmospheric, twisty, suspenseful read. A slow burn and the middle dragged a bit but overall a good thriller. I would recommend reading this book.

Harper Reed Prescott has inherited her grandmothers house on lake Twilight which stands on an island that also belongs to Harper. Harpers grandmother died while Harper was taking care of her 20 years ago. Harper put grandma to bed and then snuck of to meet her boyfriend on the beach. He was supposed to boat across the lake, but he never made it. the boat was found in the middle of the lake but his body was never found. Is this just an other death occurring on lake twilight or is this something different, and is it the last one?
Everyone blamed Harper for her grandmothers death and even though it happened 20 years ago. Now that Harper is back the rumors are still swirling around town that she killed her grandmother.
thanks netgalley for an enjoyable Lisa Jackson novel.

As a child, Harper Reed faced more heartache than imaginable. Her mother drowned. Her brother commits suicide and her grandmother dies on her watch. Also, her boyfriend disappeared never to be found . Now 20 years later, a newly divorced Harper Reed Prescott returns to the home that she has now inherited. With her estranged daughter in college, Harper just wants to start awnew and sell the home that haunts her memories. Will this happen or will she be drawn in with the history she has in this town?
You will be dra2n into this story from page one I guarantee. Another fantastic read from Lisa Jackson!

This book is told in past and present timelines. We follow Harper as she inherits her grandma's huge old house at a lake, where many deaths occurred.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I liked the spooky atmosphere of the old house and the creepy dolls, and I was excited to find out who was behind all the terror. However, I would have enjoyed it even more if it wasn't so long. I think it could definitely have been shortened by 150 pages. That's why I'm giving it 3.75 stars.

This book was SO SLOW. It dragged on for a million years, had five hundred unnecessary subplots and it really just lost me. I was SO bored reading this one and it honestly didn’t keep me engaged at all. I also felt like the sentences were super choppy at times and that the romance subplots didn’t add anything to the story. It also felt really repetitive and I just wasn’t a fan of the overall story :(. Two stars because I didn’t totally hate every second but it wasn’t a fave

This book had a good collection of plots, but it was just so much to follow! It was about like a 10 hour miniseries that should’ve been a 2 hour movie…entertaining, but entirely too drawn out! All in all, a good thriller, though.