3.5 Stars for Marguerite By the Lake, written by Mary Dixie Carter! High society, twists & turns, and scandals- I loved this book! The narration was superb!!


Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I just binged Sirens on Netflix and Marguerite by the Lake had v similar vibes (sketchy rich people, secrets, jealousy, and a creeping sense of danger). Phoenix is the gardener at the glamorous Rosecliff estate, but saving Geoffrey Gray from a falling tree pulls her into the Gray family drama fast. Marguerite’s sudden death makes things even messier, and Phoenix has more than one thing to hide.

Helen Laser’s narration really made the characters come alive and kept me listening, even when the story slowed down a bit.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for letting me listen early!

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

A bit more slow than suspenseful at times but still an enjoyable read. Wasn't totally expecting the ending either!

I was really in the mood for a thriller and the premise of this book sounded intriguing. However, this book did not work for me at all. I found the main character annoying and honestly didn't care what happened to her and it was barely a thriller. It tried for spooky gothic vibes but just fell flat.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and although the book itself wasn't to my liking the narration was fine.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The audiobook version of Marguerite by the Lake adds a compelling layer to Mary Dixie Carter’s atmospheric thriller. The story, steeped in Gothic suspense and psychological tension, is brought vividly to life through the narrator’s excellent performance. Her voice work adds nuance to the characters—especially Phoenix and Marguerite—and enhances the eerie, emotionally charged tone of the novel.

The narration helps smooth over some of the story’s slower moments, making it easier to stay immersed even when the plot pacing dips. While a few character arcs and motivations felt a bit underdeveloped, the narrator’s delivery adds emotional depth that might not come through as strongly in print.

The mystery at the heart of the story is intriguing, and the audiobook format makes the twists and turns feel more immediate and dramatic. Though the ending left me with a few lingering questions, the overall experience was enjoyable—thanks in large part to the narrator’s skillful storytelling.

If you’re a fan of domestic thrillers or Gothic fiction, the audiobook is a great way to experience Marguerite by the Lake. It’s not flawless, but the narration elevates the material and makes for a memorable listen.

ALC 🎧&📖 Review: Marguerite by the Lake by Mary Dixie Carter
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)
Pub Date: May 20, 2025. (Out now!!)

I really enjoyed this one. It was such a suspenseful mystery. I loved the estate setting and the family drama. The pacing was just a tad slow for me, but the overall story was so much fun!

Thank you @tlcbooktours and @marydixiecarter for the gifted physical copy!

Thank you to @netgalley and @Macmillan.Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

👩🏼‍🌾🌹🌊

Phoenix, a gardener at the luxurious Rosecliff estate, finds herself entangled in the glamorous yet dangerous world of lifestyle icon Marguerite Gray. After saving Marguerite’s husband Geoffrey during a storm, Phoenix is drawn into an affair with him, sparking Marguerite’s jealousy. When Marguerite mysteriously falls to her death from the very spot where she once posed for her iconic portrait, Phoenix is left with a haunting secret. As suspicions rise and a detective and Marguerite’s daughter close in, Phoenix must confront the truth… because at Rosecliff, secrets never stay buried.

#MargueriteByTheLake #MaryDixieCarter #booktour #books #bookworm #bookish #booklover #bookrecs #bookreview #booknerd #thrillerbooks #reading

Great story!! Love the vivid details of the setting. The ending felt a bit rushed, but I enjoyed how everything was wrapped up in the end.

Thank you to Mary Dixie Carter, TLC Book Tours and Macmillan Audio for the ARC/ALC!

Marguerite Gray is a lifestyle icon, known for her lavish garden parties, business ventures and most importantly, being the inspiration for a famous painting, Marguerite by the Lake. For the past few years, Phoenix has served as gardener on Marguerite and her husband Geoffrey’s estate. When a storm hits one of Marguerite’s parties, it’s Phoneix who pulls Geoffrey away from danger. Geoffrey is grateful, but Marguerite seems jealous. Phoenix just can’t help but be drawn into their fancy lifestyle, and is particularly enamored by Geoffrey. Shortly after they begin an affair, Marguerite falls to her death at the very cliff she posed for her famous painting.

The setting of this story - Marguerite’s estate - was SO rich and set quite the atmosphere for the book. Set alone from everything else, the grounds were practically their own character. Speaking of characters, I found it hard to like any of them lol - but I really enjoyed that for a change of pace. Phoenix was easy to root for initially, but soon her behavior had me shaking my head. Deeply layered and unsettling, this story is far from your typical thriller but I still really enjoyed it.

“Marguerite by the Lake” is out NOW! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

Phoenix is the expert landscaper employed at the estate of  Marguerite Gray who writes about gardening and the good life, but actually uses many of Phoenix's ideas as her own. 

A bizarre accident involving the husband and a rescue by Phoenix starts the path of a relationship between the two that leads to Phoenix wondering  what it would be like to be the lady of the manor.

A slip (was it a slip?) off the edge of a rocky wet cliff set those possibilities in motion especially when she did nothing to alert anyone of the accident she witnessed. It was in a remote section but there were homes across the lake with lights on. Could anyone have seen her try to catch Marguerite and assume it was a push?  

Too quickly she gets her dream life but not without Marguerite's daughter's disdain and a police department that is thorough, making her constantly on edge. 

Then there is the painting over the massive fireplace of the former lady of the house. It haunts Phoenix with a constant stare and she feels watched at every turn. Not to be removed it's a constant reminder of who really still own this house.

An eerie thriller by an exceptional narrator.

The first chapter of this pulled me in with excitement and suspense. Phoenix managed to save Geoffrey from a falling tree at his wife, Marguerite's, book launch party. Geoffrey is very grateful, and Marguerite is jealous, which sets the premise for this story. When Marguerite mysteriously falls to her death, Phoenix moves in on her life. But she can't shake the feeling that Marguerite is haunting her, and Marguerite's daughter is determined to undermine her place in the house and the heart of her father. All of this is a recipe for a 5-star book. However, the pacing felt slow and the writing a little cumbersome. The ending was also a little strange.

Note about the narration: Helen Laser does a great job with the narration. As Phoenix experiences her insecure episodes, the tension really comes through.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the copies to review.

Goodness. I had secondhand awk while reading most of this book, and it just kept getting worse as Phoenix kept making bad choices in ingraining herself in this family. In some ways, this reminded me a bit of Rebecca; there were hints of it throughout. This was definitely an atmospheric and eerie read that was very well written. I loved the narrator; Helen Laser is always fantastic, and she did a great job with this story. It is not a thriller as you would expect, more domestic suspense, but I enjoyed this one especially given how it made me feel throughout.

What a fun read! I could not put this one down. I was compelled to keep reading. Each time I thought I could stop, something else would happen, and I had to continue.

Get ready for some twists and turns, with characters that you will not forget!

The best thing about this book to me was the narration. The narrator did a fantastic job. She was able to sound different for all of the characters and keep them individualized so the listener did not get confused. Well done....

This is the second book I've read by this author. I believe this is her second book. Though it was fairly good, it was also a bit of a let down for me. Not bad, but not one that wowed me either. It kept me turning the pages and guessing what was coming though. That was a good thing.

I totally disliked the main character, Phoenix. She may have known flowers and other plants but was sorely lacking when it came to people. I didn't care for Marguerite either. She was to self-centered and came across as the "I'm better than you", type. She could be so condescending and obnoxious. Especially towards Phoenix. I understand why partly but not when Phoenix saved Marguerite's husbands life. Was she not grateful to the young lady? I didn't like him, Geoffrey, either. He seemed like the type that just used people to get what he wanted. I guess the only one I really liked was Taylor, the Gray's daughter. She at least seemed to care about people. She didn't much care for Phoenix though and I fully understand that.

This book was well written though it left a few things unanswered. For me at least. If I say what though it will give away some things that are important to the story. I did not like the ending. To me it did not sum up anything to well. I wanted some answers. I also wanted to see someone pay for what happened to Marguerite.

This book had some horror overtures going on. Maybe a little gothic in the living picture. lol It didn't make me cringe though. It was just part of the story. Phoenix was losing her ever loving mind. What she stayed for is beyond me. But stay she did. And at the end I was just a bit confused. Did she burn the trees or herself. Or maybe herself and the trees.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC.

What a journey this book was! Phoenix, the main character, is not a likable character, which makes this novel even more compelling as we’re seeing the whole book from Phoenix’s point of view as she essentially descends into madness. Part Rebecca, part Tell-Tale Heart, this is a psychological suspense novel that will keep you hooked until the very end! The narration by Helen Laser was excellent!

I gave this one 4 ⭐️ A seductive, slow-burn suspense where a young gardener gets tangled in a deadly web of jealousy, secrets, and privilege at a glamorous estate. I really enjoyed this one (audio book format). Tension built up as the story progressed. Who's responsible for Marguerite's death?
I felt super engaged and really into the story.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio for these #gifted audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book didn't really make sense to me. We already knew what happened to Marguerite so there was no mystery or suspense to this. It more so felt like a book about a Phoenix's obsession with Marguerite's husband and how that spiraled.

First I would like to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the early audiobook.

I was really looking forward to this book but unfortunately it didn’t work for me. I found the main character very unlikable and for most of the book I couldn’t understand any of her actions.

I also wish we had at least one other storyline going on. It just felt a little too one dimensional for my liking.

I did like the MCs descent into madness and felt that was the main highlight of the book.

I am a fan of Helen Laser and thought the narration was well done.

2.5/5 rounded down to 2 for this review.

I really enjoyed Mary Dixie Carters book the Photographer, so I was excited to receive the audio for Marguerite By The Lake, but the story just did not resonate with me.

Carter's writing and the characters were still engaging, but the plot and story line just did not catch my attention.

The narrator had a good voice and an even tone of reading without being monotone, which did make the book a bit more enjoyable.

But as always, I would recommend this book for thriller readers, because we are all different and writing is subjective and many people
with come out with this being their favorite book. Also, a one off book that I didn't enjoy will not keep me from picking up Carter's next book.

I listened to MARGUERITE BY THE LAKE on audio and enjoyed it. It had a great narrator to tell this wild story. I found this book to be enjoyable. It was almost like a cozy mystery. It had a plot that kept me interested, and characters that while mostly unlikable were entertaining. I’d say this was on the lighter side and was a quick read/listen. It could easily be read in one sitting. I will definitely read another book by this author!

This was a miss for me. I thought I'd enjoy it more based off the premise, but it just didn't hit. It moved too slowly for me, and none of the characters were likeable enough for me to root for. Which is not a requirement, but doesn't bother me when the plot and rest of the story are entertaining enough.