This book dragged on I found it to be quite slow and boring. I couldn’t connect to the characters and struggled to read this book at some points. This book wansn’t for me

This book is waaayyy too long. It could be cut by about 200 pages. Repetitive and also I feel like there will be many readers that look at the page count and say “nope. Nevermind!” And not even give it a go.

2.5⭐

Why is this one so long? There are way too many pages and too many stories. The beginning kind of felt all over going between past and present. This is too much of a slow-burn with not many twists. This is not my favorite of hers!

Lisa Jackson’s It Happened on the Lake has a solid storyline with plenty of promise, but unfortunately, it’s weighed down by its length and pacing. While the premise was intriguing—a chilling mystery set around a dark lake—it took far too long to get where it was going.

The characters are compelling, and Jackson does a great job of building a creepy, atmospheric setting. You can almost feel the cold air and hear the whispers of the lake, which added to the tension. The plot has twists and turns, and there were moments where I was genuinely invested in figuring out what was going on.

But the pacing is where things falter. The story meanders for much of the book, and I found myself skimming through parts that felt repetitive or unnecessary. It could have been tightened up significantly without losing any of the suspense or character depth.

Overall, it’s a decent read with a strong premise, but it lacks the urgency and flow that I usually look for in a thriller. If you’re patient and enjoy richly detailed settings, you might like this one, but for me, it was just okay.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.
I had a hard time getting in to this story. It was really drug out, and it wasn’t until the very end that I finally became engaged.

4/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an advanced copy of this book.

Lisa Jackson’s It Happened on the Lake is a gripping, twisty thriller that pulled me in from the start and didn’t let go. With multiple well-woven plotlines and a cast of lovable, relatable characters, the story had just the right mix of mystery and emotional depth. I found myself constantly trying to unravel the deaths and disappearances, guessing at the killer’s identity — and I was completely wrong, which I loved. There’s something so satisfying about being surprised in a thriller, and Jackson nailed that feeling.

One of the standout elements for me was the clever use of foreshadowing, especially around the grandparents. Without spoiling anything, I really appreciated the subtle clues Jackson laid out — they were easy to miss if you weren’t paying attention, but deeply rewarding if you caught them. It was a great example of how well this book plays with perspective, especially since some of the most important truths were hidden from the main character.

That said, I did find the book quite long — at times, it felt a bit daunting to return to, even though I genuinely wanted to. The story kept me hooked, but the length made it harder to feel like I was making progress while reading. In my opinion, the plot could’ve been tightened just a little, as some parts stretched on longer than necessary. Still, the payoff was worth it.

All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. If you love thrillers that make you feel like a detective, keep you guessing until the end, and offer smart character work along the way, It Happened on the Lake is a great pick — just be ready to settle in for the long haul

Harper is back in her hometown after inheriting her grandmother’s estate. Reluctantly she goes back home to handle the estate, but the past she has worked so hard to leave behind live on and it seems she’s thrusted right back into it.

Unfortunately, for me, this latest Lisa Jackson novel didn’t do it for me. It felt a little too long with some of the story lines a bit unnecessary. I kept taking a break from it to read another book and then coming back to get through it. The plot moved slow and it didn’t hold my interest enough for me to care about any of the characters involved.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for this Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an honest review

I was spending a couple weeks at the lake when I decided to pick this one up cause.. duh. I like the author, cover, and idea but didn’t nail it for me unfortunately!

I could not get into this one. I didn’t connect with the plot or characters so I DNF around 20% in. I would try the author again.

This book took my quite awhile to get through. It was not my fave Lisa Jackson novel but the story help my interest. I found there were some plot holes and some far fetched parts. Overall it was a good read. 3 stars

Lisa Jackson delivers a gripping and intricately woven tale in It Happened on the Lake, a suspenseful novel packed with unexpected twists and emotional undercurrents. The story unfolds with careful precision, leading readers through a series of revelations that prove there’s far more lurking beneath the surface than anyone could have anticipated. Jackson’s trademark attention to detail brings each scene vividly to life, while the rising tension and emotional complexity keep the reader fully invested. Full of highs and lows, secrets and surprises, this is a story that refuses to be predictable—making it a standout addition to Jackson’s body of work.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. There’s a lot going on, and to be honest, there were times when it was difficulty to keep track of all the various plots points. Too many threads, too many characters to keep track of, etc. Each time I got lost, it did pull me out of the story as I had to try to backtrack in my mind and figure out what was going on.

That said, this is an entertaining read, and there were a lot of twists I didn’t see coming. I certainly didn’t correctly predict the ultimate villain of the story. Dynamic for sure.

SLOW BURN mystery. Small town setting, Harper the main character inherits her grandmothers home on the lake but they call it her own private island. Harper is at the center of many deaths, all which have been ruled out as her having any part in them.
“ The whole town has always thought Harper has something to hide, and they’re right. But she might have even more to fear…”

When I say slow burn, I mean slow burn. This is 600 something pages but it was great! There was mystery after mystery waiting to be uncovered.

Mostly found this one rather dull. Some good twists and turns, but most of the story seemed like filler and I just didn't connect at all with the characters.

This storyline was so good. However, I felt that it lacked depth in some areas. I feel this book could’ve been 1-200 pages shorter as there was a lot of information that was repeated and just dragged on. But, the story itself was good. I loved the different timelines of past and present. The suspense was always there as in any Lisa book. Harper had a lot of tragedy in her life and it didn’t end there. Now that she’s back on lake Twilight, memories flood back and so does new occurrences. Will Harper be able to u ravel the mystery? Full of tension, suspense, twists, and shocking revelations. I can’t wait for what Lisa has for us next!

I've read and enjoyed other books by this author. However, I struggled with this one. It could have perhaps benefited from a tighter edit, as it just seemed too drawn out in a few points of the story. There were details that truly had no impact on the overall story line, and it became quite repetitive. Sadly, the ending was not a shock. I struggled to stay engaged with this book. The pace was slower than I expected, and that combined with overdetailing kept pulling me out of the story. In the end, this one was a bit lackluster.

This standalone mystery will keep you guessing. As the tale unfolds you will find yourself questioning everyone, including Harper. The suspense is high. The story is full of intrigue. I was so invested that I didn't notice the hours passing as I was engrossed in the book. Highly recommend!

While this book was on the longer side, I enjoyed getting pulled into the story. Lisa Jackson is one of my favorite authors. It Happened on the Lake gave rich background details with the story jumping from past to present. The characters were well developed through these deep details. It kept me guessing as the pieces came together, and I loved how it all wrapped up in the end. Well worth the journey!

I’ve always been a fan of Lisa Jackson and will definitely continue to be. This book even though it was a bit long it definitely had me intrigued to keep on reading. She always has a way to get you wrapped up in the story. I thought I had it figured out but NOPE I was totally wrong! Great book and great read!

It Happened on the Lake is the latest novel by Lisa Jackson, and my first read from this author. The story centers on Harper Reed, who returns to her hometown after a divorce and moves into a large, inherited Victorian house by the lake. On her very first night back, a horrifying event occurs where a woman is set on fire on a boat in the lake. From there, strange and unsettling events start to unfold. The house seems shrouded in mystery, and people connected to Harper have been disappearing or dying since her childhood. The narrative shifts between two timelines: one in 1988 and the other in the 1960s.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The beginning was gripping, the atmosphere, pacing, and mystery were all very effective and pulled me in quickly. However, as the story progressed, the plot meandered. The middle section dragged, and I completely lost my interest. The book felt overly long, and at times it seemed like the author wasn’t entirely sure where the story was headed. That said, the ending was strong, with a surprising and satisfying twist that I didn’t see coming.

While this particular novel didn’t fully work for me, I would still read more from Lisa Jackson, especially some of her earlier works from the late '90s or early 2000s, which a friend of mine who is a fan of Lisa J highly recommends.