Whispers of the Lake is ideal for readers who crave twisty psychological thrillers with complex interpersonal betrayals and small-town secrets that unravel under relentless investigation.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dafina/Recorded Books for this ARC!

This story was interesting and likely the fastest audiobook I've ever listened to because I was doing my hair needed something that kept my attention. Well this certainly did that, mainly because I needed the same closure that it seemed Rose needed. It was...a lot.

Everything that Rose did was above and beyond in my opinion and Eve seemed very one dimensional and a victim of her circumstances. It was a bit frustrating to see so many characters make terrible decisions with a teenager being the somewhat voice of reason.

Shanora Williams’ thrillers have the absolute best kind of Lifetime Movie energy—and Whispers of the Lake is no exception. From the opening chapter, this book was all gas, no brakes. I was gasping, side-eyeing everyone, and clutching my pearls—sometimes all at once. It’s twisty, messy, and wildly fun in the most addictive way.

Rose is a hot mess of a heroine, and I mean that as the highest compliment. She’s unraveling at the seams, trying to keep her personal and professional life afloat, when she gets pulled into a mystery she definitely didn’t ask for. The story unfolds with just the right mix of suspense, drama, and jaw-dropping moments. Every time I thought I had it figured out? Nope. Shanora had another surprise waiting.

The narration? So good. Both voice actors nailed the tone and pacing, balancing the tension and emotional beats without ever going over the top. They made it so easy to stay locked in—and trust me, you want to be locked in for this one.

A fast-paced, binge-worthy listen. I tore through it and loved every second.

#WhispersoftheLake #NetGalley

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

ARC Book review 🎧📖

Whisper Of The Lake by Shanora Williams is definitely a page turner. With a great mysterious twist for a storyline. Told in alternating POV’s from Rose’s point of view and Eve’s diary entries that will have you definitely wanting to know what happened to Eve.

Would you go out your way to find your ex best friend who betrayed your trust?

I enjoyed listening 🎧to the audiobook and would recommend if you’re interested in a quick mystery, with a little sprinkle of drama type of book 📖

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you
Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.

📚 Book Title: Whispers on the Lake
✍🏽Author: Shanora Williams
🎙️Narrator(s): Jasmine walker & Dominique Franceschi

📕 Format: 🎧

⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 =
(3.5/5)
🌶 Spice Level: Mild = 🌶️ very brief scenes of intimacy

🕑 Quick Take:

Rosette “Rose” Gibson, 32, has been married to Cole for two years, but their relationship has become rocky due to financial strain and growing apart. After experiencing the ultimate betrayal, Rose decides to end their marriage.

Eve Castillo, Rose’s best friend of 16 years, crosses some major boundaries, leading Rose to distance herself from their friendship. However, when Eve goes missing, Rose utilizes her skills as an investigative reporter to take the lead in the search for her old friend.

💕What I Loved:

Rose was hella brave. Honestly, I would have been like Queen Charlotte in Bridgerton, saying “sorrows, sorrows, prayer, prayers!” when it came to Eve. I don’t want to give too much away. I was grateful to her sister and friend Jason for convincing her to leave Sage Hill. We didn’t need any additional victims.

Chillllld, I’m all for forgiveness, but I’m not sure I would have risked my life for Eve's trifling self!

I love that Eve was insightful in her journal entries when she wrote, “hurt people hurt people.”

I’m glad Rose returned to therapy after everything so she could heal and move forward.

Heads Up:
⚠️ (Trigger/Content warnings)
- Infidelity
- Missing person
- Recreational drug use
- Death of a parent
- History of abuse (childhood physical and intimate partner violence)

🎭 Narration:
Jasmine delivers quality narration, showcasing distinct variations for different characters, particularly men and children. She effectively engages the reader with appropriate tonal shifts that indicate conversation, thoughts, and descriptions. Dominique provides a performance that conveys emotional depth while reading Eve’s journal entries.

💭 Final Thoughts:

This is my second book by Shanora Williams. I read and thoroughly enjoyed "Beautiful Broken Love." Since I’ve been wanting to explore thrillers, I will definitely be reading this book again, as well as others in her catalog. It was a fantastic thriller, filled with engaging, unexpected twists and turns that kept me on edge. I didn’t trust anyone—everyone felt like a suspect! Rose was a true friend; there was no way I could have handled that situation!

This was a great audiobook!! As an Immersive reader it was great to have the ebook and the audio so I can have the full experience and it did not disappoint. I didn’t want to put it down! kept me on my toes and did not know what was going to happen next which I love when it comes to thrillers. Will be reading more of her books for sure 5 stars read!!

This book was okay.....I didn't really like any of the characters, I didn't really connect with any of them. Nothing really drew me in at all.

Probably my most favorite thriller by Shanora. Something about her formula for this one just captivated my attention from the start and had me at the edge of my seat all throughout.

This was so eery and disturbing, as in it showed the scary side of humans. It was so eery that no matter where the MC was in the book I felt, as the reader, like I had to constantly look over her shoulder.

The digging for truth, the finding out who is trustworthy, the safety and reliability of the MC, superbly done. The narrator was excellent at bringing the overall vibe of the story to life.

I must also note that I LOVE how Shanora just make diversity the default. So much rep, at all times. Love it.

Book Review
3⭐️
Happy publication day!!!

Guys I’ve been so proud of myself these last few months. I’ve been so much more organized when it comes to reviews and release dates. Ya I started adding it to my mom calendar. I honestly don’t know why I didn’t do that in the first place🤪. Well this is my second book by the author so I was so excited bc I just knew I would love it as much as her romance one i previously read. Welllllllllll I don’t sadly. This one was a thriller about two estranged best friends. One an investigative journalist and the other a social media personality. Of course things will get rocky when you sleep with your besties hubby. Look from that part I felt like I’m here for it, bring on the drama. Well the story dragged in certain areas to me and I found myself bored in certain areas. As rose searched for Eve the danger she was putting herself in I wanted to scream. I finished the book because I became invested in seeing how this finished. While I didn’t really care for this one I do encourage you to give this authors romance reads a try.
❤️thank you @netgalley for my ARC & ALC of this one .

🏷️#booklover #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #readingtime #ilovebooks #bookblogger #bookblog #booknerdigans #bookishfeatures #bookphotography #yalit #yabooks #currentlyreading #igreads #instaread #bookworm #bookdragons #thriller #murder #cabin

I really wanted to like this one but unfortunately it fell short.
It did not feel thrilling and addictive like the thrillers I love and I pushed myself to keep going just to be disappointed.
The family drama felt over done and unrealistic.
I had such high hopes and there was so much potential with the atmospheric setting but I just never bought into the choices our FMC made. I also didn’t connect with Rose or Eve at all while hearing their stories.
I’m sad because I’ve heard great things about this author but this one just wasn’t for me

This was so good but I wasn’t expecting anything less shanora is one of my favorites and this one didn’t disappoint I can not wait till others are able to read or listen too this book because it’s so good I am a fan of her work and have been for years

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of the audiobook. This was a quick listen as the plot was fast paced and continued to keep me hooked throughout the book. I liked having the two different character perspectives since it allowed me to better understand them in different ways. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others!

Whispers of the Lake pulled me in from the very first page—I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a single day. This gripping mystery blends family trauma, small-town secrets, and the search for a missing person into a compelling narrative. Shanora Williams masterfully tells the story through dual perspectives: Rose’s point of view in the present and Eve’s haunting journal entries from the past. The alternating timelines add depth and suspense, keeping you hooked as the truth slowly comes to light.

The audiobook narration by Jasmin Walker and Dominique Franceschi is excellent—both narrators bring their characters to life with emotion and nuance, making the experience even more immersive. If you enjoy emotionally layered mysteries with a strong voice, this one’s a must-listen.

Thank you to NetGalley & RB Media for letting me read this ARC.

4.5⭐️

A fast paced emotional thriller that takes every twist and turn imaginable

Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 6 hours 48 minutes
🎤: Dominique Franceschi, Jasmine Walker
I really enjoyed the main narrators dictation of the novel. It was clear and concise, and the tempo was consistent throughout the novel. I never had to adjust my speed during playback. The inserts of eaves POV with the second narrator were also done very well. I think it was an excellent choice to give Eve a different "voice" to show the difference between the two characters.

Themes:
💧: Forgiveness after betrayal
💧: Making peace with the past

Representation:
🌲 : Anxiety
🌲 : Generational trauma

Tropes:
💗: Eerie Lake House
💗: Missing Bestie
💗: Trust No One

🥵: Spice: 🌶️ minor descriptions of sexual encounters with minimal details
Potential Triggers: **check authors page/socials for full list.

Short Synopsis:
Rose's head is still reeling from her best friend's ultimate betrayal, and the fact that her husband's cheating. After finishing a divorce, she decides to move forward when she discovers her best friend is currently missing and the last place that she was seen was at this lake house. Against her better judgment, Rose sets off to find her bestie Eve and heads into a sinister town, where nobody is really your friend.

General Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this psychological thriller more than I expected to. This author has been on my radar for a while because I've heard the best things about their twisty and Bendy thrillers that are fast paced and unpredictable. This fit every single one of those qualifications.

The premise and storyline of this book was not exactly unique. Best friend goes missing, cheating husband who seems suspicious, an eerie lake town where everybody seems to know more than they say they do? But when I tell you the ride through this book was 100% unique and emotional. I had no idea what was going on from one moment to the next and can genuinely say I did not guess the ending of this novel before it was revealed.

A psychological thriller isn't exactly the type of genre where I go in looking for a lot of development for the main character. But Rose really went through it in this novel, and I do feel like she was a changed woman by the end of it. The plot line did not suffer for the focus on the characters though. I was fully integrated into this plot line and could not stop listening.

I found the story to be quite quick paced, and I even enjoyed the excerpts where we got to hear some of Eve's own journal entries. I found that to give depth and understanding to Eve's character and her motivations, and just further along the plot in a very interesting way.

I cannot wait to dive into this author's backlog. I definitely need more of it.

Disclaimer: I read this book via NetGalley audiobook from Recorded Books. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Whispers by the Lake is a compelling read for fans of romantic suspense and those who enjoy stories that blend emotional depth with thrilling twists. Shanora Williams has crafted a story that is both touching and mysterious, with a setting that serves as a perfect backdrop for the drama that unfolds. It’s a novel about confronting your past, healing from it, and embracing the future—even when the path forward is uncertain.

If you’re looking for a book that combines romance, mystery, and an exploration of the human soul, this one will keep you hooked until the very last page

3.5/5

Publication Date: June 24, 2025
Rose and Eve’s friendship is equivalent to oil and water; they just don’t mix anymore after a form of betrayal happens in the story. Rose is your everyday boss friend who has her head on straight as a private investigator. She comes from a loving and supportive home, and has the biggest heart. Eve on the other hand, is that friend that challenges all of the rules and truly is the definition of YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE! However, even through all of the betrayal… after reading/listening to this book, You will find yourself questioning and thinking… would you do the things Rose did for her ex-friend? Would you care enough to respond to friend/family mutuals when something bad has occurred, knowing you aren’t friends with them anymore? Can you forgive a friend that has hurt you to your core? Through all of the twists and turns, I truly enjoyed this audiobook! The narrators made the story easy to imagine while listening, and I was throughly engaged.

What I learned: YOU CANNOT TRUST ANYONE ON SAGE HILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!😂

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, Shanora Williams, and RBmedia for the opportunity to listen to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

WOW... Okay this book was so intriguing. I was so gracious to get this ALC.

I loved the layout of this book. Most of the chapters were short that made it fly by and there was also the incorporation of journal writings within the book that just made you see things from a different perspective than the MCs POV. I had so much fun trying to figure out this whole thriller and who did what. I must say I will defiantly be picking up more books from this author as this was a good easy thriller.

The narrators Jasmin Walker and Dominique Franceschi did such a good job. This audio was so well done. Parts that I would've overlooked while reading they were able to hit home. I very much think with the audio it was bumped up to a 4.5 ⭐.

Thank you NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 ⭐️ Wow the twist was crazy...I never seen that coming... The whole little town had me suspicious. It wasn't my favorite book of the author's, but overall its a good book 👌🏾

This one had me hooked from the start. The suspense was steady, the buildup kept me curious, and I was really into the way everything slowly came together. It had just the right amount of tension without ever feeling overdone.

I didn’t see the ending coming at all — it genuinely surprised me. It was bold, different, and I can see why it would work for a lot of readers. For me, though, it just didn’t land the way I hoped. Not because I guessed it, but more because it didn’t feel like the ending I personally wanted. That said, it didn’t ruin the experience at all.

Everything leading up to it was strong — great pacing, sharp writing, and moments that really pulled me in. I still enjoyed the ride, and even with the ending not quite hitting for me, I’d absolutely read more from this author.

This was a pretty captivating mystery.

I did find the start to be a tad slow, but that is a thing I have found with most mysteries, so I can easily overlook that as long as it speeds up. And it did!

This book follows Rose as she tries to investigate the disappearance of her ex best friend. She has very little information about her disappearance, just that she disappeared without important items (wallet, purse, etc.) and that she was staying at a cabin. The people around the cabin seem to be hiding something and being suspicious.

I did think it was cool that two of the more main characters are named Zoe and Rose, my first and middle name. That was just random little fun thing that I noticed in this book.

This was a very fascinating mystery because it was so character focused and also had such an emphasis on the relationships between people, it made me invested in the story since I was knew so much about these people. And that is my favorite kind of mystery/thriller, I need to care about the characters that the mystery is happening to. And due to how invested it made me, I went through this so fast. I was listening to the audiobook all day long, non-stop.

I would definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a new, captivating and fast-paced mystery. I had a good time reading it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.