*Exhale!* Jaime Jo Wright’s The Souls of Lost Lake grabbed me like a skeletal hand from the mist. Superbly written, Wright unravels, via split-time, an old scary campfire story that reaches gnarly fingers into the present.

If anyone has done any type of camping or sitting around a fire on a moonless night, someone inevitably tells a ghost or gory story. Scary enough everyone sleeps with the flashlight or nightlight.

Jaime Jo creates the story of Ava Coons, whose auspicious entry into town in the 1930s, was as a thirteen-year-old, dragging an axe and covered in blood. Rumors are that she hacked her parents and brothers to death and drug them into Lost Lake. Ava claims no memory of anything, but no one is confident enough in her memory loss to believe her, but there’s no physical evidence to prove either way.

Fast-forward to today, Arwen “Wren” Blythe begins having nightmares about Ava Coons when a child goes missing in the forest surrounding the Bible camp where her family and other families live permanently as staff. Especially when the missing girl told her mommy she spoke with a woman the day before that claimed to be Ava Coons. *Shiver!*

Generally, I can figure out most mysteries—or in this case chillers—by the middle of the book. But there were so many twists and turns in both timelines—Ava’s and Wren’s—that I had trouble keeping up. PLUS, there were romantic interests that while they gave the reader a breather with the gruesome storylines, were still rabbit trails into the scary woods.

I highly recommend for readers of mystery, suspense, folklore, chiller, and romance fans—good grief, never thought those would go together. Not for the younger reader, in my opinion, no matter how precocious.

I received an ebook copy of this book from the Bethany House Publishers via #NetGalley for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this one early. First from this author and while I feel like it may have dragged on a little bit, I enjoyed it.

Wren Blythe is obsessed with a six-year-old girl who has gone missing near her Northwoods home. The disappearance prompts a revival of the campfire story of Ava Coons, a suspected murderess who still roams in the woods. During the search, Wren faces sinister omens that signal her as a target. And she and her best friend Eddie face the death of Patty, a mother figure who's dying of cancer, which brings back memories of Wren's own mother's passing and open old wounds. Will Wren survive and be okay in the end?
The book is okay. The twist at the end was interesting. But overall, the book was kind of boring. And the romantic relationships are stilted and forced. Also, I was only emotionally vested in the missing girl and her parents. I didn't care what happened to the other characters, and that was probably part of why the book felt boring. The mental health aspect could have been handled better, too.
Two of my favorite quotes:
Pain either magnified faith or disabled it.
History has a way of repeating itself. People prey off old superstitions.

Die Geschichte beginnt mit der Lagerfeuererzählung über Ava Coons, die aus einer geheimnisvollen Familie stammte, die einsam in den Wäldern lebte. Eines Tages tritt das dünne 13-jährige Mädchen aus dem Wald, das Blut ihrer Familie auf ihrem Kleid, in der rechten Hand schleppte sie eine Spaltaxt hinter sich her und kann sich an nichts erinnern. Vater, Mutter, zwei ältere Brüder und der Familienhund sind spurlos verschwunden. Suchtrupps finden die niedergebrannte Hütte. In den folgenden Jahren wächst Ava ohne Erinnerungen an ihre Familie oder die Ereignisse bei einem Paar im Ort auf. Man nennt sie die Waldnymphe vom Lost Lake, bis auch sie eines Tages in den Wald geht und spurlos verschwindet. Zurück blieben wieder die blutige Axt und zwei weitere Tote. Seitdem suchen angeblich sie und ihre Opfer die umliegenden Wälder heim und von Zeit zu Zeit verschwinden weitere Menschen.
Dann beginnt die tatsächliche Geschichte von Ava Coons im Juli 1930. Inzwischen ist sie 19 Jahre alt und lebt immer noch bei Wittwer Frisk und seiner neuen Frau Jipsy. Es findet eine Ortsversammlung satt, weil Matthew Hubbard mit einer Axt im Schädel gefunden wurde. Sofort steht Ava im Mittelpunkt aller Verdächtigungen. Man verlangt sie sofort einzusperren, es droht fast eine Lynchjustiz. Doch der neue Reverend springt ihr zu Seite und will sie bei sich aufnehmen und beaufsichtigen, bis der Fall geklärt ist.
Dann springt die Geschichte in die Gegenwart zu Arwen Blythe. Die 6-jährige Jasmine wird vermisst, die Suchtrupps sind unterwegs. Im Traum sieht sie das Mädchen bleich und reglos am Ufer des Lost Lake liegen und wird dadurch an die Gruselgeschichten über Ava Coons erinnert. Die Suche wird vom Deer Lake Bible Camp aus organisiert, wo auch ihr Vater, Bruder Pippin, bester Freund Eddie und ihr Freund Troy leben und arbeiten.
Und so versuchen Ava und Arwen zu verschiedenen Zeiten und unter verschiedenen Umständen mehr über die Familiengeschichte der Coons herauszufinden und die Vorkommnisse aufzuklären.
Das Buch beginnt gleich fesselnd und leicht gruselig. Arwen und Eddie sind direkt sympathisch und nachvollziehbare Hauptfiguren. Es tauchen zahlreiche interessante Nebenfiguren auf. Die ganze Geschichte schafft eine intensive Atmosphäre. Dank der eindringlichen Beschreibungen der Autorin kann man sich gut in die heikle und verwirrende Situation von Ava versetzen. Und gerade als man anfängt zu denken, dass sich die Erzählung anfängt zu ziehen, nimmt sie erneut Fahrt auf und strebt spannend dem Finale entgegen. Auf beiden Zeitebenen werden die Fälle mit überraschendem Ergebnis gelöst.
Ich bin nicht unbedingt ein Fan von Romanen mit zwei Ziellinien, aber dieses Buch konnte mich gut unterhalten und hat es geschafft auf ganzer Länge eine schaurige, unheimliche Atmosphäre zu schaffen.

Incredible book! Spooky and atmospheric. This is my first read of Jaime Jo Wright’s work but it certainly won’t be the last!

Starts out in present day with a ghost story sitting around a campfire. Now a young girl has disappeared and no one wants to think about Ava Coons, who the ghost story is about and is said to roam the woods and steal young girls.

This is a first time author for me and I very much enjoyed this book. The tale is told from present day told from Wren's perspective, and the past from the 1930's with Ava Coons telling her story. Both stories have their secrets and I usually figure out what happened early on, but this book kept me in the dark until the end. Very enjoyable.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bethany House publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

Ava Coombs comes out of the woods with a bloody ax , her dress stained with blood, her cabin is burned to the ground and there is no trace of her family and she has no memory of what happened. The townspeople assume she killed them.

When other people in the town are killed by an ax it is assumed Ava killed them.

A search party goes into the woods to find her family and discovers a lake and assume that's where her family's bodies are.

Arwen Blythe is haunted by her dreams of missing people. She joins a search party for a missing girl , whose case mirrors that of another girl who went missing 10 years earlier and was never found,
She finds the ruins of Ava's cabin and discovers a doll that has her name etched on the doll's foot.

Arwen uncovers a mystery about herself and is kidnapped because of it, she finds the missing girl and manages to free her and herself.
The kidnapper was responsible for the other missing girl as well..

The deaths of Ava's family and the deaths of the the other people killed by an ax are solved by Ava.

Absolutely fantastic and creepy dual time novel! I have loved all of Jaime’s work but I think this book is one of my all time favorites. I love campfire tales and this book did not disappoint!
I loved Ava, she had such a strong willed personality and was very much independent. However, my heart went out to her with everything she went through and was going through, throughout the book. One bright spot in her life was the handsome preacher Noah!
I also liked Wren although she seemed more mellow then Ava was she still had some spunk. Wren has had more then her fair share of hardships in life and looked to her friend Eddie’s family more then her own.
This book was an absolute page turner and I found it incredibly hard to put down. I must say the ending was a complete surprise to me, which I loved as I hate books where you can pretty much guess the ending within the first few chapters.
So, if you like a book that will take you on a wild ride, then make sure to read this one, and be prepared for the creep factor!!

Whoa!! I need a moment to compose myself before even attempting to write a review on this spellbinding, chilling, brilliantly written, dual-timeline by author Jaime Jo Wright! I mean what can I possibly add to the many laudatory reviews that have already been written? There's certainly no need to recap what the story is about as that has been done numerous times.

At first I was deeply conflicted about reading this novel because well—the description! I mean an ax-wielding 13 year-old girl, covered in blood? But as the positive buzz began on social media I started feeling a bit left out and decided to chance it. The novel wasn't as creepy as some of my other fave suspense writers' books—a bit gruesome in places and spooky, if you will. But stories told around youth group campfires are supposed to be...right?

Wren Blythe and the enigmatic Ava Coons (though they lived decades apart) have something very much in common. Both are displaced females who really don't feel a sense of belonging. When a six year-old girl goes missing, Wren becomes personally involved, but how does that connect her to a wood roaming murderess who lived eons earlier? I tried to connect the dots and solve this evil mystery and failed miserably. What an unpredictable read with so many twists and turns, it's a wonder the author was able to keep up! ;-)

There are so many great quotes and lessons to be learned in this book! Oh, and there's sublime romance, too.

"Some things couldn't be captured but through the experience of pain. It was a wicked but essential way to understand the depths of perfection, the depths of God ..."

*I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and wasn't required to write a favorable review.*

“We’re all lost in our own ways. Some of us just hide when we shouldn’t. We hide in our grief, in our minds, in our pain…in the woods…or in a story, like Ava Coons.”

Dual time lines (or time-slip) novels are some of my favorites to read, especially when they are high caliber like The Souls of Lost Lake. The suspense is phenomenal, as always, but there is just something about this tale that grabbed hold of my imagination and will not let go. Maybe because I love “camp fire tales” and my husband and I told so many of them to our children during their growing up years that this book resonated with me as much as it did. I don’t know. I do know that for the last two weeks since I finished the book, Ava Coons still rattles around in my brain almost daily!

Wright turned up the “heebie-jeebies” with this one and provided a feast for the senses. The characters jumped off the paper, cementing themselves in my mind, because they were not going to let me get away. Excellent, excellent summer reading!!! I'd give this book 10 stars if I could!

I was provided a copy by the publisher through Netgalley. No compensation has been received.

What a story. Just the beginning will give you chills. But you won’t stop reading. You must know the story of Ava Coons. What a story it is. It spans generations too! Wren is in modern day northern woods and is doing what she can to help find a little girl missing in the woods. As I read this book I found myself pulling the covers over my head. I also found myself feeling the need for a tissue or two. The author has done a wonderful job with difficult topics. If you enjoy a good suspenseful mystery this is a must read. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All views stated here are my own.

The Souls of Lost Lake, by Jamie Jo Wright, is a gripping, tension-filled, eerily atmospheric novel about a girl who goes missing at a youth camp in a remote wooded area and the discovered haunted tale from the past, which may not be just an old campfire story.

The story is captivatingly creepy, has layers of secrets, but is also oddly moving and emotional. The author weaves a powerful message of faith throughout the narrative which is impactful and poignant. There are a lot of deeper, darker topics brought up in the plot, so be warned, but the storytelling is masterful and the dual timelines weave the plot together seamlessly.

If you’re interested in a pulse-pounding, chilling, immersive Christian thriller, then this story, and this author are for you!

Jaime Jo Wright is a master storyteller… I absolutely loved The Souls of Lost Lake! I’ve read every book this author has penned and this is perhaps my favorite so far.

I found The Souls of Lost Lake to be spooky, thrilling and intriguing! Wright did not merely tell a story with her words… She created an atmosphere that surrounded, captivated and completely immersed me in the mysterious legend of campfire-story-favorite, Ava Coons. In addition, Wright's characters and their stories evicted a deep, raw emotion that made this story one to be highly recommended.

WHAT I LOVED: The dual story line! Because this novel features two stories that coincide with each other and intersect, it was easy for me to find myself entertained by this novel. The transitions between past and present day were flawless and the suspenseful pace of this story kept me highly invested. I was devouring the pages late into the night!

The characters were also fantastic. I really loved Ava’s character and witnessing her inner struggles as she experienced memory loss and being hunted by the townspeople. She and Noah were wonderful together. Their sparking, tension-filled romance was exactly what I was hoping for. As for Wren, her story was unique as well and very surprising! From the moment she mentioned Eddie, I was routing for them and their romance. Both Noah and Eddie were seemingly normal, strong, capable men and I found them very likable. Secondary characters, such as Gary and Patty, were also endearing and lovable. Because of the very real and raw nature of Patty’s part in this story, Wright had me in tears halfway through this novel.

The book’s setting in the town of Tempter’s Creek and the northern woods was another highlight. Wright created a fictional place that served as the connecting factor for both past and present. This element further intensified the eerie, mystifying nature of the novel. With her vivid descriptions, I had no trouble at all envisioning the dark, hidden woods surrounding Lost Lake.

Lastly, and most importantly, I loved Wright’s writing style. In addition to creating a story that was phenomenal, she used her words to evoke the ambiance of a thriller with a spooky, dark overture. Then, masterfully through her characters’s inner struggles and the unique horror stories she intertwined, Wright offered an element of deep faith and a beautiful ray of light and hope. The dramatic conclusion to The Souls of Lost Lake was a superb ending that left me surprised, satisfied and already craving another story from this talented author. Good thing I’ve heard there’s one in the works!

This book is a definite top 2022 read and one I highly recommend. Do not miss it and if you haven’t read them already, I recommend all the books by this author! Happy Reading!

Content and Trigger Notes: This is Christian fiction and a clean read. The book does contain mention of violent death, traumatic situations for children, mild gore, child abduction, the mention of alcohol consumption and the mention of swearing with no curse words written out. This is not a sweet romance or boundary-constrained romantic suspense Christian fiction; it borders on thriller. I believe even secular readers would enjoy this story.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author as part of her book launch team. All thoughts below are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.

I devoured this book in one sitting. A perfect blend of eerie, supsenseful, and great world building. I couldn't put it down.

Review of eBook

In the small town of Tempter’s Creek, Arwen Blythe works with her father at the Christian youth camp. She enjoys the Northwoods, but the disappearance of six-year-old Jasmine Riviera revives the decades-old legend of Ava Coons, a young girl who murdered her family, and who [according to the legend] still roams through the woods.

When Ava Coons, with absolutely no memory of what happened to her family, wandered out of the woods one day, she was covered in blood and dragging a blood-covered logger’s axe. It was easy for folks to believe that she’d murdered her family. Now, six years later, the murder of one of the town’s citizens in a similar manner causes rumors and accusations to fly . . . all naming the child-murderess Ava Coons as the person responsible for the crime.

When Wren, helping in the search for the missing child, discovers the ruins of the Coons cabin, she finds an old porcelain doll there. To her horror, she discovers “Arwen” written on one of the doll’s feet. How could her name be on the doll?

In both timelines, a young woman must face the secrets of the past in order to right the wrongs. Will Ava remember what happened to her family? Will Wren discover the missing girl?

And what secrets will each one uncover?

=========

Told in two timelines, this absorbing . . . and ominous . . . tale reveals the lives of two young girls, one in 1930, the other in the present day. Well-defined, nuanced characters and a strong sense of place anchor this unputdownable tale. There’s a bit of creepiness, a bit of eeriness, and long-held secrets that promise to change everything.

The evolving story reveals some unexpected surprises and keeps those pages turning as fast as possible. Readers are sure to empathize with both Ava and Wren; their stories, though different, are both compelling and heart-wrenching. With its satisfying denouement, readers will find their questions answered as a lingering sense of hope brings the story to a close.

This satisfying journey through faith, honesty, and redemption in a variety of circumstances is sure to remain with readers long after they’ve turned the final page.

Several questions for discussion are included.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley
#TheSoulsofLostLake #NetGalley

I will begin by saying I don't think I have ever *not* enjoyed a Jaime Jo Wright book. However, The Souls of Lost Lake felt very personal and relatable because, at its core, it addresses grief and loss.

Wright crafts stories that whisk you away to the long-ago past and connect you right back to the present with characters who are real, flawed, and relatable. There is always an element of spookiness, which I adore, as I am a long-time reader of suspense, true crime, and supernatural stories.

I always seem to find a part of myself in both the characters from the past and those of the present. Wright wrote this book during her mother's illness and subsequent passing, and the grief is palpable. I think that's why this story is so heartfelt and those of us who have experienced loss can truly commiserate with the main characters in the time-split, Wren (present time) and Ava (past).

Once again, I don't want to give anything away, but just know that Wright remains one of the best CF authors who deal with humanity's frailty and how it impacts so much of each of our lives, altering it in different ways. We aren't perfect, so I appreciate flawed characters who may (or may not) end up with redeeming qualities. She's an author whose stories I can depend on to give me an adrenaline boost or make me cry--sometimes in the same book!

There is a love triangle in this book, which is a new one for Wright, but I think it ends the way it should (depending on whom you're rooting for!) and was an interesting twist. There's a lot to love in The Souls of Lost Lake. You won't be disappointed--and then you will need to find Wright's backlist to keep reading her awesome stories!

I was an early reader, thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Many thanks to Jamie Jo Wright, NetGalley, and Bethany House Publishing for the opportunity to read this book!

The Souls of Lost Lake is the first book I have read by Jamie Jo Wright and I must say, it took me by surprise. A dual timeline that begins in the 1930s when Ava Coons at just thirteen appears from the woods covered in blood dragging an ax. Her whole family is murdered but how could a young girl commit such atrocities? Is it even possible? Well, the whole town thinks so. When there is another murder years later, suspicion falls on Ava once again. Only with the help of a young preacher and an old widow will she be able to hide from the tumultuous community. Meanwhile, in present-day a young girl has gone missing in the woods near Lost Lake, Arwen, also known as Wren has been helping with the search. In ways she can’t quite figure out, this disappearance has affected her deeply. Could this disappearance be linked to the story of Ava Coons who is said to still haunt this forest?

This book quite confused me. Here we have a ghost story, an ax serial killer, a romance, and a Christian message? Don’t get me wrong, I quite enjoyed it, but I didn’t expect this dark of a story. For those who are not religious, this book can still make an impact and those who are religious will love the message it brings. At first, I felt the dual timelines weren’t that cohesive. However, they did come together perfectly in the end.

The romantic aspects were pretty predictable but the development really enhanced the story and gave it some extra depth.

There are two things that bothered me. The first is the portrayal of mental health. At first, the stigmas of mental health were portrayed as they would have been in the 1930s. But towards the end of the novel, it is insinuated that those with mental health issues are more likely to commit violent crimes. Those suffering from any mental health issues may feel that stigma emotionally.

The second thing I did not think would bother me at first. BUT BE PREPARED: SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Tolkien is a huge part of Arwen’s family.–Obviously since her name is Arwen. Her brother’s name is Pippin. Unfortunately, all of those who are obsessed with Tolkien is the dark characters in this book. It is silly, I know. But it is brought up so much about the love for Tolkien and then those characters are not the good characters. This doesn’t affect my rating at all. It was just something that made me frown towards the end. I will not tolerate any Tolkien-related slander.

Overall, this will not be my last Jamie Jo Wright book! I enjoyed the messages, even though the mental health stigmas could have been handled better. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Jaime Jo Wright presents yet another well-written dual timeline novel with her latest release, The Souls of Lost Lake.

Wright crafts two compelling main characters with Ava and Wren. Both heroines had me hooked from the beginning. Somehow Wright manages to juggle the two timelines seamlessly. I don’t know how she manages, but she drops hints in each timeline that helps build the overall mystery.

I loved the twists and turns in this book and all the red herrings in between. But most of all, I loved the characters. As I mentioned before, both Ava and Wren are compelling characters. I enjoyed seeing them grow throughout the novel as they were challenged by circumstances and the people around them.

There’s a lot of great discussion about grace, faith, and trusting God. These faith elements, while somewhat subtle, are organic and play such a large role in the story.

Overall, The Souls of Lost Lake is a gripping novel that suspense fans will love.

Jaime Jo Wright has done it again. Masterfully weaving two time periods together into one amazing story. This eerie tale kept me on the edge of my seat with all of the twist and turns, spooky stories, creepy dolls, and an ending that I definitely did not see coming. I laughed, cried, and hung on for dear life.

Wren and Ava both share the same desire, to fit in somewhere, to be understood, and to have their voices heard. Ava does so by trying to solve the mysteries of her past, and Wren by helping to solve the disappearance of a missing child. Both get more than they bargained for along the way. I would definitely recommend this book but, you might not want to read it right before bed.

I decided to dnf this after hearing my friends’ reviews. It goes too dark for my taste on top of already not liking the dual timeline. I wish I could get into her books but I think she’s not the author for me!