With its eerie lakeside setting and a promising missing-person mystery, Whispers of the Lake delivers a compelling premise that fans of small-town suspense will appreciate. Rose is a relatable lead, juggling personal turmoil while digging for answers. However, the plot sometimes leans on familiar thriller tropes, and the pacing lags in places. While there are a few well-executed twists, the payoff doesn't quite match the buildup. Still, it’s an enjoyable read for those who like atmospheric mysteries with layered female protagonists.

This book had me on my toes! It gave perfect eerie suspenseful vibes. Perfect for a summer thriller read. The narrators did a great job.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

This book was hard to get into. The first 3/4 I feel like dragged but the ending was good. Also was not a fan of the narrator.

Audiobook- Narration is absolutely perfect! Great tone, pace, volume, and intensity throughout the entire book. Enjoyed the story even though the complex relationships were far-fetched, not relatable.

I already knew this was going to be good when I started it, just from reading the first chapter lol Let me tell you how wild this was lol She caught some women talking shit about her in the first chapter and went off on them with such a professional read lmao I knew I was going to love this.

This thinking was a bit premature tho, as this ended up being a slow burn. And y’all know how I feel about those. I thought it was a bit weird. The bestie did what she did and then people were making her feel bad for not wanting to help? Yeah I still don’t know what made her decide to do it. Because I would not have. And as we know, the slow burns are not my favorite, so this part of it didn’t work for me. It’s mainly because it seems like nothing is happening so you start thinking, “Do I stay or do I DNF?” I stayed but it turned out to just be ok.

The mystery itself was ok. I liked the way they had those journal entries throughout the story. I do wish there was more that was happening in those beginner pages tho. For the most part it doesn’t start getting to where I could put it down until the ending pages. I also didn’t get why the author had to make this girl an addict. It made me uncomfortable because there was no real reason and y’all know I don’t like that to begin with.

The whodunit is kinda obvious, but the reasoning behind it? Yeah you’ll never guess that. It was a slow burn, but around the time when shit started hitting the fan, it all started moving so fast. I just wish it was spread out more evenly throughout the story.

I don’t want to say too much because of spoilers, but this was ok. A little basic if you ask me. I think I wanted more and a more creative take on the she’s an addict type story and that’s how and why she got got.

This was a messy thriller.
Drama drama drama.
Rose tries not to care when her best friend goes missing, since they aren’t speaking. But she eventually gets thrown into her disappearance anyway.
This feels like a lifetime movie or a show on CW. I enjoyed it. Super entertaining.

I was recently introduced to Shanora Williams and really love the writing style she uses. This book was admittedly not my favorite, but not my least favorite either. It was fast paced and twisty. My problem lied within the characters. I truly just didn't connect with them and found it a little more difficult to really get into the book.

☆ALC REVIEW☆
Publication date: Available now!

Honestly if it weren't for the narrator, I would have DNF'd. For me, the narrator definitely saved it because it was far too slow moving and did not keep my attention.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and RB Media for advanced copies in exchange for a review.

3.5 stars

Rose's ex-best friend, Eve goes missing and even though she hasn't spoken to her in three months, she's concerned and starts searching. The search leads her to a lake house outside of a small town where Eve had been staying when she was last heard from. During her investigation, Rose encounters a host of characters that might be suspects and who definitely know something, but no one is talking. Rose is determined to find out where Eve is or what happened to her - even if it means putting herself in danger.

This was a fast paced mystery with some twists and turns I didn't see coming. While I didn't love the characters, the plot and overall story were solid. The audio narration was excellent, making it a quick and enjoyable listen.

What would you do?

Your best friend—and I mean best friend in the entire world—crosses the line. I’m talking unforgivable. She tiptoed around boundaries in the past, but this time? She bulldozed right through them. So you cut her off. Washed your hands of her. Stood ten toes down in your decision.

But then... she goes missing.

No calls. No texts. No social media. Just gone.

Do you put your feelings to the side and help look for her? Or do you stick to your guns, knowing how deeply she hurt you?

That’s Rose’s dilemma—and Whispers of the Lake pulls you into it from page one.

This thriller is layered with tension, past secrets, and sisterhood that feels too close for comfort. As Rose gets drawn back into the mystery of her friend’s disappearance, she has to confront their shared past, her own regrets, and the real question: can you care about someone and still protect yourself?

If you like twisty thrillers with a strong emotional core, this one will have you flipping pages and questioning what you’d do in her shoes.

Okay so this one pulled me in quick—I love a messy small-town setup with secrets, a missing friend, and a main character who’s barely keeping it together. It had drama, tension, and that eerie “something’s off” feeling the whole way through.

But… the twist I was waiting for never fully landed. I thought we were building up to something huge and jaw-dropping, and then it just kinda… didn’t. The ending felt rushed and didn’t deliver the payoff I was hoping for.

Also, I am, I'm not going to lie, the diary-entry narration felt super monotone and flat to me. It didn’t give the emotion or urgency I wanted—it lowkey pulled me out of the story.

Still, it was a decent listen with a strong start, just not one that totally delivered in the end.

Shanora Williams demonstrates her expertise in psychological suspense with *Whispers of the Lake*, crafting a gripping thriller that balances emotional complexity with steadily mounting tension. The narrative centers on investigative reporter Rose Howard, who finds herself reluctantly drawn into searching for her estranged best friend Eve in what appears to be a peaceful North Carolina lakeside community. What begins as a simple investigation soon reveals a dangerous network of lies and hidden truths.

This thriller distinguishes itself through Williams' creation of Rose, a fully realized woman of color whose perspective brings a welcome freshness to the genre. As a protagonist, Rose stands out for her professional competence as an investigator and her personal vulnerabilities, making her both relatable and compelling. The lakeside setting serves as an effective backdrop, gradually shifting from picturesque to ominous as Rose uncovers the town's dark secrets. Williams skillfully maintains suspense throughout this transformation.

The dual narration adds significant value to the experience, effectively conveying Rose's increasing apprehension and the community's changing demeanor. While certain plot elements follow established thriller conventions, Williams handles them with such precision and emotional truth that they remain engaging. The concluding revelations manage to be both unexpected and fulfilling.

Readers who enjoy works by Liv Constantine and Kellye Garrett will find this novel particularly appealing. It offers a carefully constructed plot anchored by strong character development, creating an impact that lasts beyond the final page.

4.5/5 stars This latest work from Williams reinforces her position as a significant voice in the thriller genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the ALC.

I liked this book because it kept me engaged. It wasn’t very suspenseful and I figured it out kind of early in the book but I still liked it.

I loved this one, while being very much a murder mystery, it explores serious topics, like female friendship, modern love and career aspirations.

Thank you Shanora Williams and Netgalley for this ALC.

This is my second book that I have read by Shanora Williams, but my first of her thrillers and wow have I found a new thriller author to continue reading! When Rose Howard's friend goes missing, she uses her investigative skills to find out the truth of where she went and what happened. When everybody is a suspect, who do you trust? I tried to solve the mystery right along with Rose as the story was unfolding, with little success on my part. This book had my heart pumping, I had to know the truth and what had happened! I thought the narrators were a great fit for this story! Thank you to RBmedia for an advanced audio copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Rose and her husband have broken up after she catches him with a girl her family took in when she was little. She is determined to never speak to Eve again after the betrayal, but when a mutual friend says Eve, an influencer, isn't responding to calls or texts Rose feels she has to try to find her. She traces Eve to a town where she rented a cabin and things get intense. What secrets are the locals hiding? Definitely a good read.

This might be the year I get into more thrillers, this one gagged me cause imagine if your best friend slept with your man and she goes missing. would u find her or do a quick prayer to the lord? The main character in this book definitely decided to go investigate where her missing friend is which lead her to this small town where things just seems off. Rose is stronger than me but this book had me glued to the pages, there was some drama, it was messy and the twists were twisting. Overall I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend the audiobook as well! The narrator did such a good job. I’m going to have to read more of Shanoras thrillers. I absolutely love her writing.

Thank you to the author for this e-arc and alc

The narration for Whispers of the Lake was really well done. Jasmin Walker and Dominique Franceschi both brought great energy and emotion to the story. They nailed the tension and drama, and their voices fit the characters perfectly. Made the twists hit even better!

The twists & turnss!! This was my first enjoyable thriller all year. The vibes were so good from the houses on the lake, the journal entries & secrets. This book released at a good time, it’s a good summertime thriller read.

Let me start off by saying the betrayal WAS MESSSSYY!!! Like how could you do that to your best friend.

I enjoyed the audiobook I received from NetGalley, I like narrator a lot she made me enjoy the story even more. Also having Eve’s journal entries was really nice to also understand her pov. I learned a lot about her character through the entries, felt her emotions & pain. Even tho I still thought at some parts she was wrong I wanted to find her as much as Rose did.

The ending was everything !! I didn’t know how to suspect, which was surprising. I wished we had alittle more hints about who was behind it all but I guess that what makes this a good thriller.