It Happened on the Lake takes readers to a small town with a haunting past and a chilling present, where mysterious deaths loom large, and secrets are buried deeper than the lake itself.

The story toggles between past and present, following Harper, who returns to her eerie childhood home on an isolated island after her marriage falls apart. The setting—moody, mist-shrouded, and both beautiful and ominous—adds an extra dose of tension as strange occurrences escalate and bodies begin to surface.

Jackson excels at atmosphere. The lakeside town feels alive with whispers and unease, and the writing draws readers into a story where no one is quite what they seem. However, while the premise is undeniably compelling and the slow unraveling of the mystery is intriguing, the pacing sometimes falters. A few twists lean more toward convenient than shocking, and some characters could have benefited from deeper emotional development.

Still, for fans of slow-burn mysteries with a healthy dose of family secrets and eerie settings, It Happened on the Lake delivers a satisfying read. The ending ties most threads together, with a well-handled epilogue that brings closure—though one character's arc feels left slightly unresolved.

This was my first foray into Lisa Jackson’s work, and while I can’t compare it to her earlier books, I found her storytelling strong enough to make me curious about her more popular titles.

Final Verdict: A moody, mysterious read that may not hit every mark perfectly but still offers enough suspense and intrigue to keep readers turning the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. 3 stars

What drew me to Lisa Jackson’s It Happened on the Lake was the promise of a Hitchcockian mystery—complete with a creepy house and unexplained deaths. Harper Prescott inherits the island and mansion where she once lived with her grandmother. It’s been 20 years since she left, following the tragic events of one fateful night: her grandmother Olivia’s death and the disappearance of her boyfriend, Chase.

Tragedy seems to haunt Harper. At age nine, she witnessed what appeared to be her mother’s suicide, and her brother also died by suicide—on the island. Now, on the very night Harper returns, she sees Chase’s mother on a boat in the middle of the lake, setting fire to both her belongings and herself. Harper valiantly tries to save her, but to no avail. Thus begins the island’s newest mystery.

The cast of characters—each cloaked in suspicion—includes Harper’s childhood friend Beth and her husband Craig, Chase’s brother Levi Hunt, Harper’s father and stepmother, and several others tied to the lake. The story alternates between the 1960s, when Chase disappeared, and the 1980s, when Harper returns. It’s a slow burn—perhaps too slow. Near the end, I was tempted to skip ahead just to uncover the truth, though I resisted.

Overall, the story is intriguing and well-written, but it would have benefitted from tighter editing; some plotlines felt unnecessary and didn’t impact the outcome. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I look forward to reading more from Lisa Jackson.

#ItHappenedOnTheLake #NetGalley
Lisa Jackson, the queen of atmospheric suspense, returns with It Happened on the Lake, a haunting and gripping thriller set against the eerie backdrop of a secluded Victorian estate on Lake Twilight. Harper Reed Prescott has tried to outrun her past for two decades. Her grandmother's mysterious death and her boyfriend’s sudden disappearance still cast a long, dark shadow over her life. Now, freshly divorced and emotionally estranged from her daughter, Harper returns to the lake house she’s always tried to forget—hoping to sell it and finally move on. But the moment she steps back onto the property, buried secrets start to rise. Locals still whisper, the house seems to hum with memories, and Harper can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching her. As old mysteries resurface and strange happenings occur, Harper is forced to confront a terrifying truth: the past never stays buried—and someone wants to make sure hers stays deadly.
What I Like :-
1 Creepy, Slow-Burn Suspense: The isolated lake setting is perfectly moody, steeped in dread and claustrophobia.
2 Family Secrets and Twisted Truths: Jackson explores how guilt, trauma, and unresolved mysteries can ripple through generations.
3 A Strong Yet Vulnerable Protagonist: Harper is flawed, haunted, and painfully real—making her journey both compelling and heartbreaking.
Overall, It Happened on the Lake is a masterfully written psychological thriller that weaves together past and present, grief and guilt, mystery and menace. Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Megan Miranda, this novel will keep you on edge until the final, chilling twist.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for giving me an advance copy.

This was a really awesome thriller. It was spooky and engaging. I couldn't put it down!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Lisa Jackson delivers another masterclass in atmospheric suspense with It Happened on the Lake, a haunting tale that blends mystery, family secrets, and long-buried trauma into a gripping, emotionally charged read.
Lake Twilight is the kind of place that seems cursed by tragedy. For Harper, it's the site of nearly every heartbreak in her life: her brother’s suicide, her mother’s drowning, her grandmother’s overdose, and the disappearance of her first love, Chase—all shrouded in mystery, all happening in eerie proximity to one another. The lake, once a backdrop for teenage memories and friendships, has become a symbol of unresolved grief and dark secrets.
Now in her 30s and newly divorced, Harper returns to her childhood home after inheriting the family estate. But her homecoming is far from peaceful. On her very first night back, another suspicious death shakes the already-fragile peace of the lake community. It's a chilling reminder that the past is not done with her yet.
Jackson’s narrative unravels slowly, layer by layer, with just enough twists to keep you guessing. Rand, now a police officer and once a close friend of Harper’s lost brother and boyfriend, finds himself pulled back into a decades-old promise to protect Harper—one he failed to keep after going off to Vietnam. Levi, Chase’s surviving brother, adds even more tension with his brooding presence and mysterious PI work.
The pacing is deliberate, letting the reader sink into the haunting atmosphere of the lake and its residents. The dynamic between Harper, Rand, and Levi is rich with history, regret, and unspoken truths. As the plot twists tighten like a noose, the questions mount: What really happened to Chase? What secret was Rand protecting Harper from? And why do the deaths always lead back to the lake?
It Happened on the Lake is a moody, compelling read that sinks its hooks in early and doesn’t let go. If you love mysteries with complex characters and long-buried secrets, you’ll want to spend some time on Lake Twilight—just don’t expect to come away unscathed.

A thrilling book that keeps you turning the pages until the shocking ending. Full of twists and turns and shocks. Brilliant! I highly recommend reading this book! 📖

It Happened on the Lake is a stand-alone read. The story alternates between the past and the present.

The small town has had several mysterious deaths, all of which are not considered cold cases, but definitely are not cut and dry. Harper returns home after her marriage has ended. Her family home sits on an island connected by a bridge. For the locals that live there it is either a place of envy or the creepiest place ever. Soon after she arrives strange things begin to happen, and the bodies begin to multiply.

I have been a huge fan of Lisa Jackson and have been following her for years. The stories are always wonderfully written. They can be a little lengthy, (592 pages print version) but with all the characters, it takes time to weave them all together for a satisfying ending. This book was no different. Harper appears to be at the heart of all the mysterious deaths which escalate once she returns home. Nothing is as it seems, which allows the book to have the shocking ending we have come to love.

Lisa Jackson does it again. SO GOOD. Thrilling, exciting. Fast paced. I couldn't stop reading this and wanting to know what happened next. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

This was my first Lisa Jackson book. And now I'm a huge fan and must read everything she has to offer. So amazing. Can't stop telling all my friends about it.

I love a good mystery! Especially a whodunit that has you questioning each character until the very end. The twist at the end….so unexpected!! It Happened on the Lake is a solid 4 star read!

This book will keep you reading way past bedtime! Never a dull moment and enough flashbacks to make the story come to life. Clever character development and unexpected twists and turns keep you glued to the pages.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the egalley of this book.

The huge Victorian house on Lake Twilight belongs to Harper Reed Prescott, as does the private island on which it sits. Harper wants little to do with either. Twenty years ago, Harper’s grandmother died suspiciously while in her care, on the same night that Harper’s boyfriend disappeared. His body was never found, and no charges were filed. But the rumors haven’t faded. There have been other deaths, other accidents. All revolving around Harper and her family.

Now Harper’s marriage is over, her college-age daughter is estranged, and Harper just wants to sell the property and make a fresh start. Except returning to the lake has stirred everything up again. Whispers. Memories. And the persistent feeling that, as she gazes out at the houses across the water, she’s being watched in turn.
The whole town has always thought Harper has something to hide, and they’re right. But she might have even more to fear . . .

This is the first book I've read by this author. It was told alternating between the 1960s and the late 1980s. That being said, I found it fast paced and a quick read. LOTS of twists and unexpected occurrences. I had the majority of the twists figured out , with really only one exception. A good, solid read. 3.5 out of 5 ⭐️

Thank you to both #NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me an advance copy of Lisa Jackson's latest #thriller, It Happened on the Lake, in exchange for an honest review.

#ItHappenedontheLake is a slow-burn, #mystery about a series of interconnected tragedies that strike the residents of a lake community in Oregon. When the infamous Harper Reed Prescott returns to claim the Victorian mansion she inherited from her grandmother, the past catches up with the present and awakens old demons supposedly laid to rest after her family left town twenty years ago.

The story alternates between the 1960s past and the 1980s present, and is narrated by several characters who were affected by the events that occurred on Lake Twilight. Although atmospheric and suspenseful at times, the novel is better categorized as general fiction or family drama, rather than a straightforward mystery thriller since it focuses more on the characters than the plot.

Oddly, it is easier for the reader to connect with every character except for the protagonist who is either underdeveloped or comes across as a blend of two separate characters. The personality switch is oftentimes jarring. Regardless, there are enough threads to maintain a compelling story, even when Harper is the one controlling the narrative.

Despite her soaring popularity, this is my first time reading a novel written by this author. Thus, while I'm unable to critique how the book compares to her previous releases, I will say that the storytelling was strong enough to prompt me to check out one of her fan favorites. I was also happily surprised that the novel wraps-up nicely (mostly--save for one character) in the epilogue, which is not always a given. Overall, 3.5 stars rounded up.

Lisa Jackson will always be a MUST READ !! An auto-buy every release! Thank you for the opportunity to read an ARC copy of it happened on the lake! MUST READ! UNPUTDOWNABLE! I lost sleep over this book, in a great way! Couldn’t stop reading I just had to keep going!

This one had lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing right up until the end! Loved the setting, the time frame, and the characters. The only thing I didn't like, was the ending. Literally the last couple of sentences. It seemed abrupt.

Thank you #netgalley and #kensington for the eARC.

Lisa writes it, I read it.

Another incredible thriller from her, just the right amount of suspense but also hints dropped throughout that you don't quite understand until the very end!

Harper Prescott returns to the Victorian mansion where she spent so much time with her grandmother. It doesn't bring back good memories because of the disappearance of her boyfriend and the death of her grandmother. And now, twenty years later, it seems that more people connected with her and the house are beginning to die.
The truth is that everything happens in that lake, murders, betrayals, conspiracies... and the mansion, on her island, is at the centre of it all.
The novel has a good story and at a slow but sure pace, it creates the perfect atmosphere for all the surprises that await our protagonist.
The characters are also interesting and with backgrounds that help to involve you in the story.
The only downside is that it has too many pages, not because I care how long the book is if it brings me something, but in this case it seems to lengthen it unnecessarily. That said, it is an enjoyable read, with a good plot that will delight fans of the genre.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington publishing for the arc of this book. This book is a suspenseful psychological thriller. The main character Harper returns to her hometown twenty years after multiple tragedies had happened. This book was longer than most thrillers I read making it a little slower pace but I enjoyed it. There are some time jumps to the past that add to the story. This book has many twists and turns and an ending that is very surprising.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of It Happened on the Lake by Lisa Jackson due to be published June 24, 2025.

Harper Reed Prescott has inherited an old Victorian home as well as an island. Twenty years ago, Harper’s grandmother, mother, and boyfriend all died mysteriously, and Harper has been under suspicion. Harper wants to make a fresh start, but someone is sabotaging her. Will she die trying to save her property?

I have read over 15 books by Lisa Jackson – she is one of my favorite authors. This one had lots of mysteries to uncover and lots of twist, turns, and “reveals”. My only complaint is was almost 600 pages and, in my opinion, could have been a little shorter. I loved the revealing of all the secrets, though, and still enjoyed it!

#NetGalley #LisaJackson #KensingtonPublishing #ItHappenedOnTheLake

Rating: 3/5

Lisa Jackson's It Happened by the Lake is a suspenseful tale with her signature blend of mystery and family drama. Set against the eerie backdrop of a lakeside town, the novel follows a cast of characters with deep secrets, slowly unraveling a chilling mystery that ties past and present together.

While the premise is intriguing and the atmosphere is effectively moody, the pacing occasionally drags, and some of the plot twists feel more convenient than compelling. The characters, though well-developed in parts, didn’t always feel fully fleshed out, making it harder to connect with their emotional journeys.

That said, Jackson’s writing is strong, and she does a good job of building tension. Fans of her work or readers who enjoy slow-burn mysteries with family secrets at the core may still find it a worthwhile read.

It wasn’t my favorite from her, but it held my interest enough to see it through.