Excellent! If this is the first in a new series, I'm looking forward to learning more about the protag and supporting characters

I love to read, and I particularly love finding new writers. The Dark Lake is a debut novel by Sarah Bailey, and I hope she continues along this road. THe Dark Lake is about a murder in a small town in Australia. The victim (Rose) is an old school mate of one of the two detectives investigating the case. The detective (Gemma) is a very interesting character as written, dogged and morally ambiguous. Her character was well-developed as she dealt with her own past relationship with the victim, her relationship with her father and her son, and her relationship with her home partner and work partner. She is a complex character, and the author did an excellent job of bringing her to life. The mystery is a good one, with only a handful of plausible suspects and virtually no evidence to help the detectives. I thought I had it figured out at about the halfway point, but I wasn't sure until the final few pages. I would highly recommend The Dark Lake to all my friends who enjoy a good mystery. I hope a follow-up novel with Gemma is already in the works.

This is just an "OK" book. The search for the killer of a beautiful former classmate of the lead (female) married-with-kids investigator SHOULD have been the focus of the novel, as the case was interesting and the woman's death is surrounded by intrigue. Unfortunately, the author spent an inordinate -- and boring -- amount of time detailing the stupid affair between the detective and her also married-with-kids partner. I ended up skipping through lengthy paragraphs describing how they can't (or won't) keep their hands off each other, and ultimately found that sub-story slightly offensive and, worse still, of little interest. The author should have stuck to the plot and dispensed with the gratuitous and off-putting sex... which scenes are VERY easy to write (I've done it myself). Those paragraphs (of which there were MANY) served as nothing but filler to puff up the number of pages. An otherwise good story suffered death throes from it. Not recommended.

A debut novel by Sarah Bailey, The Dark Lake provides a compelling psychological drama.

DS Gemma Woodstock is a complex and not always entirely likable character. Her mother's death when she was thirteen and her boyfriend's suicide a few years later cast a pall on several aspects of her life. Her job is extremely important to her; she likes the details of investigation and is respected and valued by her boss. On the other hand, Gemma often seems insensitive, callous, or needy, and the decisions in her private life are often questionable.

The discovery of the body of Roselind Ryan, an enigmatic young teacher, shocks the community. Rose and Gemma were high school classmates, but not friends. Rose was the kind of person who charmed and intrigued others: beautiful, elusive, very private.

Gemma and her partner Felix are beset with a litany of questions, but few answers. Who would want to hurt Rose Ryan? What brought Rose back to her hometown? Is there anyone at all who had a close relationship, a more than superficial knowledge of Rose? Certainly not her family or her colleagues.

Rose's murder and the subsequent investigation have an emotional effect on Gemma, reviving memories of the past. The puzzle of Rose Ryan consumes her, but Gemma has some secrets of her own, past and present, that she is keeping.

An impressive first novel--a gripping psychological police procedural. Well-written and deftly plotted. Recommended. :)

Read in June; blog post scheduled for Sept. 14

NetGalley/Grand Central Press

Psychological/Police Procedural. Oct. 3, 2017. Print length: 400 pages.

This was a great read. A mystery that kept me guessing until the end. Great storylines with lots of plot twists. Highly recommend.

This haunting and suspenseful crime novel held my attention from beginning to end. This is a fresh and original novel that is going to be quite the fit for this debut author. I am now anxiously awaiting more releases from Sarah Bailey!

** Full review to be posted during release week **

I really loved The Dark Lake – One of those brilliantly layered human drama’s that are within the psychological thriller genre. Sarah Bailey has created some memorable and relatable characters who will stay with me – especially the victim Rosalind who even after resolution will linger in your head and make you wonder.

Gemma as a main protagonist is, to be fair, divisive. Haunted by memories of a past she can’t fix, living in a family situation she is not sure of and involved in a slightly obsessive affair, when the beautiful Rosalind is found dead it throws up some difficult challenges for her that may be beyond her ability to cope with. I felt sorry for her and at random times annoyed with her – she is certainly prone to human error both in her working and personal life. This really worked for me I was with her all the way even on the occasions I wanted to slap her.

The mystery element is clever, haunting and unpredictable – I loved the setting, descriptively speaking the author puts you right there and the surroundings added to the slightly melancholy feeling the narrative gave, that emotional core that I love to find in a book.

Overall The Dark Lake is one of the good ones – addictive and intelligent with a heavy dose of drama and a twisted mystery that may well have you guessing right up until the end. Nothing not to love here.

Yep. I’m a fan. Highly Recommended.

**Review also posted pre-release to Goodreads, Amazon upon Publication**

A lot of chaff amongst the wheat- that's this The Dark Lake. A lot should have IMO been edited out if only to keep the reader from despising some of the characters.