Mary Dixie Carter’s Marguerite by the Lake is a haunting psychological thriller that delves into themes of obsession, identity, and the lingering presence of the past. Set against the backdrop of the opulent Rosecliff estate, the novel follows Phoenix Sullivan, a young gardener who becomes entangled in the lives of her employers, Marguerite and Geoffrey Gray.  

Marguerite Gray, a lifestyle icon renowned for her garden parties and the muse behind the famous painting Marguerite by the Lake, exerts a powerful influence over those around her. When Phoenix saves Geoffrey from a falling tree during a storm, she is drawn deeper into the Grays’ world, leading to an affair that culminates in Marguerite’s mysterious death. As Phoenix moves into Rosecliff, she is haunted by secrets and the inescapable shadow of Marguerite.  

2.5 stars, rounded up

I had both the digital and audio copies of this book, and enjoyed following along with the digital copy while listening to the audio version. This review encompasses both.

I knew I wanted to listen to this book because anything narrated by Helen Laser goes on my TBR immediately! Helen never fails to bring the drama and this book is no exception. In this story, our main character Phoenix is haunted by a secret, and she is ANXIOUS. You can feel the stress coming off of her in the way Helen voices her inner monologues and her interactions with others. And the ending! The rage was real!

I would have liked more background on the characters. We hardly know anything about Phoenix and why she made the decisions she did, or about Geoffrey and his motivations. This is less of a mystery and more of a psychological suspense without much substance to move the plot forward. There are some dramatic moments and interesting symbolism through natural elements, but I wanted more character development, more understanding of the characters' actions, and more action to the plot.

I went in to this book with zero expectations. I was hooked in the beginning when the narrator, Phoenix, killed her boss, Marguerite, then started sleeping, then subsequently moving in with her husband. As the story progressed it seemed as if Phoenix was going crazy. But the story just, ended. With no proper ending.

Helen Laser was an amazing narrator, but this novel did not wow me unfortunately. All of the characters were unlikeable and the supernatural elements seemed out of place and forced.

I was excited to read Marguerite by the Lake but sadly I struggled to finish it. I didn’t understand why Phoenix & Geoffrey were together and I needed that to be engaged with the overall plot. Additionally, backstory into the characters might have helped. I hoped the ending would save the book but it was quite abrupt and I was happy to have finished the book.

I enjoyed Mary Dixie Carter writing style. I l love the setting and how she described the location and plants. Helen Laser did an excellent job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for letting me read this ARC.

Do you like to yell at fictional characters making bad decisions? Get your voice warmed up for Marguerite at the Lake by Mary Dixie Carter.

"Marguerite is famous for being the muse for the painting - Marguerite by the Lake - using the family estate, Rosecliff, as the setting. Her family comes from money and she stays involved in all of the society events.
Phoenix has been the gardener at Rosecliff for many years. She becomes involved in an affair with Marguerite's husband, Geoffrey. There's a terrible accident - but Phoenix told Marguerite that the cliff edge was dangerous. She even tried to pull her back. Now Phoenix has another secret to keep.
Why is the detective still asking questions?"

This is a story watching a character unravel. Phoenix knows what she wants but there are consequences. Geoffrey is unlikable and a little spineless. And there are multiple hints of other secrets in Phoenix's past. At times there is a clash of classes. And lots of bad decisions.

Good performance from Helen Laser on the audio. She gets you on the edge between liking Phoenix and wanting to get as far from her as possible.

Wild ending to this one. Good second book from Carter.

This is good. It is really good. I loved the narration. I loved listening ot this while pulling weeds and gardening my own yard. I did not like the protagonist but that is kind of the point by the end.
That ending!
UGH it was so good.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I am not sure why but this book did not work for me. However, as I always say when I don't like a book, just because I did not like the book, it doesn't mean that someone else won't like it. It also doesn't necessarily mean that I may not like another book by the same author. Or even that I may not like the book if I try it again in the future.

this book by Mary Dixie Carter is a slow-burning, suspense-filled novel that intertwines ambition, jealousy, and dark secrets. Set against the opulent backdrop of a glamorous garden designer’s world, the story follows Phoenix, a young gardener who becomes entangled in the complicated lives of the Gray family after a dangerous accident. Phoenix’s affair with Geoffrey Gray and her role in Marguerite's mysterious death lead her down a path filled with tension and moral dilemmas. As the story unfolds, Phoenix must confront the consequences of her actions and the dark secrets that threaten to unravel everything. With its atmospheric writing and haunting exploration of power, obsession, and guilt, the novel keeps readers on edge until the very end.

3 1/2 stars rounded up

**Audiobook Review: *Marguerite by the Lake***

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy of *Marguerite by the Lake*. Helen Laser’s narration is excellent, with distinct voices and accents that effectively differentiate the characters, making it easy to follow the story. I was quite intrigued with this book after seeing the synopsis and might I add that cover art is stunning.

This is my second book by Mary Dixie Carter. While I enjoyed it, I found the pacing slower than expected. The main character, Phoenix, isn’t particularly likeable, but Carter does a great job of developing her, allowing readers to understand her thoughts and motivations.

The plot, involving an affair and the suspicious death of Marguerite, a lifestyle influencer, is intriguing. However, I was a bit confused by the ending and may need to grab a physical copy and re-read that last chapter or two to see if I might have missed some details listening.

Overall, *Marguerite by the Lake* is a well-crafted audiobook with strong character development. I recommend it for those who enjoy a thoughtful mystery, even if the pacing might not suit everyone.

thank you SMP and MacMillan audio for review copies. My review is complicated, this promises a plot of interest, a murder, themes on bad rich people, the behind the scenes writing world... and the audiobook is well acted and thoughtfully executed. However, I couldn't quite get into this one, the pacing dragged for me from the start and I never found my footing in terms of finding a character to connect with, to at least cheer on, and the plot didn't draw me in.

Audiobook: this is a thoughtfully produced, and authentically acted, audiobook. Marguerite by the Lake, despite the strong performance by Helen Laser (a favorite of mine), misses the mark.

🎧 Book Review 🎧 Marguerite Gray is the epitome of style and grace, building an empire around her beautifully manicured gardens at Rosecliff. But even after she meets her unfortunate demise off the cliffs of this home, her presence lives on everywhere - even down to her iconic painting that hangs in the living room. Marguerite’s longtime gardener, Phoenix, is not only the last to see her alive, she also has been having an affair with her husband Geoffrey. As Phoenix moves into Rosecliff eclipsing Marguerite’s life, she is haunted by the spirit of her larger than life prescience that still very much feels alive on the grounds of the manor. Mary Dixie Carter creates an atmospheric read narrated by Helen Laser, creating a perfectly chilling ambience that leaves just the right amount of unease that builds as the plot develops.

MARGUERITE BY THE LAKE was a really good story! I liked how the book started off with a fast pace. I also enjoyed the gardening aspect and how it intertwined with the family. It had some paranormal aspects as well, but nothing crazy or completely unbelievable. It was definitely different from the author's first book and I can say I think her books just keep getting better. I hope she writes some more!

Many thanks to NetGalley Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for my gifted copies.

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

Big thanks to my besties at Macmillan Audio for approval to read Marguerite by the Lake ahead of pub! Those that tried the latest Minotaur sampler got a taste of this story there.

Audio production notes: this was a FANTASTIC narration! I loved the narrator's voice. Very pleasant to listen to. I feel like she was absolutely perfect for Phoenix! The different voices for each character were on point! I never questioned who was speaking in a scene due to the characters having unique voices from the narrator. The emotions were there, the pacing was good, this was overall a wonderful audiobook!

I'm struggling to put in words how I feel about this so let's just start with what I said about the chapters in the sampler and after that I'll ramble for a while:

"The beginning of this one started with a strong scene of a woman saving many people from a massive tree falling on a tent where an event is taking place. I didn't get enough in these two chapters to get any idea of who Phoenix is as a person. Hopefully there will be lots more substance given to her character throughout the book as I couldn't connect in just this short preview. I love the descriptions of the plants and feel that will play a large part in this story. It drew me in with the premise that Marguerite is not a character to be trusted."

That opening scene was indeed strong, thrilling, and the catalyst for how the main characters end up on the path that leads to the rest of the story. That strong scene was one of few that really made a big impact. The hope that Phoenix's character would be given substance-- not really something I got. I still couldn't connect after 300-some-odd pages of her perspective. The plants do indeed take a front seat in the story as it's a big part of Marguerite and Phoenix and how they connect. Marguerite not being a character to be trusted? Well, found out that no one in this story seemed like they could be trusted.

Overall, I really struggled with this one. I finished and immediately screwed up my face like ".....that's it?" Honestly, I think I might be too dumb for this story because I don't really get it. I get the mental health playing a part but her psychopathy didn't really go anywhere??? Again, I'm probably too dumb. Side note: sister LOVES a list. Every few pages this character/ author was making a list. Lots of words, separated by commas, I think it might have something to do with the characters mindset but honestly it got distracting for me at a point.

I liked some stuff about this though. The writing was enjoyable! THAT COVER is gorgeous! There are some thrilling moments. Phoenix's mental mindset was FASCINATING to read (although it did seem incomplete, like why was she declining like that? Is she dealing with some sort of issue, did she stop taking meds, is this just guilt manifesting physically? I needed more substance to that).

I think my main problems and reasoning for not rating this higher are the plot holes and unfinished story lines, slow pacing, low characterization and that terribly ambiguous ending. Ya girl needs things wrapped up pretty and I'm not ashamed to admit that (let's go back to that dumb thing). Like,who doesn't love to see the baddies get what they deserve at the end of a book? This did not give those vibes. I know lots of readers will love the ending so take my opinion with a grain :-D

Thank you to Macaudio for the free alc. All opinions are my own.
3.5 rounded up to 4

A lifestyle guru and her husband, Marguerite and Geoffrey Gray have formed a brand around their spectacular life to include their beautiful home and grounds, Rosecliff. Those grounds are meticulously maintained by a crew lead by a young woman named Phoenix. The problem is Phoenix never gets any credit.
Things unravel during a major storm and book launch party resulting in an accidental death. This is where I like the book the best. Phoenix is torn between chilling guilt and ambition. While she grabs on to the recent widower, her mind begins to spin with haunting thoughts, visions, and even a painting that seemingly talks to her.

There are a few missteps throughout but overall, the mental pressures of guilt and greed kept me hanging on to the end.

Narrator Helen Laser did a fine job with clarity of character.

The story follows Phoenix as she navigates the sudden death of her employer. The character is both frustrating and empathetic as she attempts to work through the emotions of guilt while evading the questioning authorities. She slowly devolves as what appears to be the ghost of Marguerite begins to haunt her. Or is she imagining the whole thing. A mysterious and suspenseful drama. I really liked the narrator for this one and made this an even more interesting listen. Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC.

This book supposedly falls into the “mystery” genre but I’m not sure why since how Marguerite dies is clear from the beginning. It seemed to be headed in more of a “horror” or maybe a magical realism direction with some possible ghost sightings but those became more of an overactive imagination on the part of Phoenix, the protagonist. Unfortunately, I felt like this vague genre identity didn’t do this book any favors. The plot really seemed all over the place and the characters were ALL very unlikable. If there were any thriller qualities, the vagueness made the whole story so obscure. I really couldn’t identify any clear plot twists. I’m rounding my rating up just for the aspect of keeping me wondering what was going to happen so I was able to stay somewhat engaged. But I am having a hard time getting past how unrealistic and ridiculous the plot, characters and relationships were. Overall, I felt like the book was poorly written, definitely not the writing style for me.
I listened to the audio version of the book and the narrator was fine. She did a decent job of portraying suspenseful scenes and the thoughts and emotions of the characters.

Helen Laser’s narration made this pleasant (as always) to listen to, although the story itself seemed to be lacking. I hope I wasn’t supposed to like Phoenix. She felt unhinged with no redeeming qualities. I wish there was more character development before the immediate storm in the first chapter and the rush to Marguerite’s death. That was the most action and I didn’t know the characters well enough to care or truly get invested. The other main aspect was the affair, which was also rushed and lacked passion. There was nothing to make me want them together or even care that Phoenix was spiraling and making bad decision after bad decision. I think this would have been a better story from Taylor’s POV (Marguerite’s daughter). That would have provided more suspense and mystery. Because the reader knows what happens right from the start, there isn’t any mystery, but it might be better received by readers who like more focus on the psychological fallout throughout a book.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date May 20 2025

This book is like watching a train wreck, seeing someone unravel and knowing their destruction is coming but not knowing how much more destruction it will do on the way. They're unlikable characters, deeply flawed, and you have no idea why they're making such horrible choices, but you cannot look away. There's a Tell Tale Heart situation as well. I read this book with a constant furrowed brow, so uncomfortable, not sure what to hope for and wanting to get through it as fast as possible. This is a story I didn't enjoy, but will remember.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "Marguerite by the Lake" and all opinions expressed are my own. I have both the kindle book and audiobook. I listened to the audiobook. Ugh, I didn't like the story or the characters. I was hard to get through.