I've read all of the books in the Detective Ellis series in order and have enjoyed them all. I am now invested in the characters. Ellis is a strong lead character; she is trying to prove herself as a good detective, but feels that she is in her father's shadow (retired detective). Her newest case revolves around 2 drowned teens. There is no shortage of witnesses not talking, or potential suspects. However, motives and evidence are not as plentiful. Throw in some romance, and media touting police excessive force and hinted wrongdoing, and this little police force is set for upheaval. A reporter trying to make her mark jeopardizes the careers of several officers. Another great mystery with some complex choreography and a fun cast of characters! I already can't wait for the next in the series!

I enjoyed reading this book. I found the characters very easy to envision and the situation leading to the deaths very realistic. The investigators involved were very relatable. I would have enjoyed a bit more background on some of the characters as I think it would have made it easier for the reader to try to figure out the killer along the way.

The dead lake by Robin Mahle.
Two bodies. One Spring Break. And a school full of kids who won’t talk.The bodies of two high school students are found floating in an icy lake, both showing signs that these were no accidental drownings.
I really enjoyed this book. Twisty and gripping. I kept going from one suspect to the other. First Theo then Megan then Aldridge. It wasn't who I thought it was. I do hope there is more to come. 5*.

I was hooked from the start! The book really starts with a bang and kept me engrossed throughout. The plot was constantly moving forward and the characters were really well written. There were no clichés or parts that felt similar to books I've read before and I was left guessing til the end! Highly recommend

Spring Break and the bodies of two high school students are found floating in an icy lake. Was this an accidental drowning?
Bangor Police Detectives Rebecca Ellis and Bryce Pelletier start asking questions at the school. None of their classmates are saying anything.

Ellis then finds information about a spring break tradition that may have led to the murder. Numerous suspects emerge but, who is the murderer?

Really excited about this book. It was an Absolutely phenomenal read. High will recommend to others to pick up as soon as it is released.

Detective Ellis is back and this time she is investigating a pair of teens that have drowned in a lake on spring break. A mysterious game has been involved and nobody is talking.

I really enjoy this series and its characters. I was disappointed that Becca worked with Bryce this time and not Euan There was something developing there and I wanted to see it keep going. They also have a great rapport and Bryce overthinks it, which annoys me.

I was definitely guessing up until the end with this mystery. Mahle is an excellent writer and I hope she continues this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A chilling game is played during a High School party at a local lake. The bodies of two pupils are found floating, and because of marks on the bodies, accidental death can be ruled out.

Rebecca Ellis and her partner, Detective Bryce Pelletier get very little information from the teens that attended the party. A post on social media leads Rebecca to possible suspects in the murders. Which one of them is a cold blooded killer?

I love Robin Mahle's books, and I love the main characters, their personal stories are incorporated into the books as well, and make the characters more real.
The red herrings keep the reader guessing all the way through, and the killer, when revealed, is a huge surprise.
I have to say that this is my least favourite of the series so far.
I struggled to get into the book, I am not sure why. But it did keep me engaged when I passed the halfway point.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
The book does not yet appear on Goodreads, but I will post the review there once it does.

Another solid Robin Mahle mystery! Easy to read with numerous suspects for the main mystery and multiple plot lines adding to the suspense. The ending leaves us open to more of these interesting stories starring Becca Ellis and her father, Hank.

Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Inkubator Books for an advance copy of The Dead Lake, the third novel to feature Detective Rebecca Ellis of the Bangor, Maine PD.

The bodies of two high school seniors are found floating in a local lake. They drowned, but there are several clues that make it seem suspicious. Becca and her partner, Bryce Pelletier start asking questions at the school and get nowhere, so it is an anonymous social media post that sets them in the right direction.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Dead Lake, which is another fine addition to the series. In fact I find myself getting excited when I see another book in the series as the author has a way of drawing the reader in and not letting go. This is no different.

The novel is told from various points of view, mostly that of the detectives and the victims’ friends. There is no hint of who the perpetrator is or what the motive could be and that’s the way I like my reading, a good chance to speculate and guess as it makes the read more interesting and enthralling. In this case experience gave me an inkling, but not enough to say I guessed in advance.

The novel is obviously teencentric given the victims and it’s a world I don’t understand. I have no idea why they keep things quiet and lie or why they threaten each other with social ostracism or why that even matters when they’re soon off to college. White privilege at its finest, I assume. So Robin and Bryce have to navigate this world and it gives them two or maybe three suspects, but proving a case with little to go on is interesting. I admired their resourcefulness and imagination and got caught up in the narrative quickly.

The novel has a bit of everything. It has a great narrative style, it introduced me to a world I don’t want to know more about and there is tension, a small amount of violence, several chases, a lot of lying, the influence of social media and even a hint of romance. It adds up to an engrossing whole that I have no hesitation in recommending as a good read.

Two bodies. One Spring Break. And a school full of kids who won’t talk. The bodies of two high school students are found floating in an icy lake in The Dead Lake: Detective Rebecca Ellis Book 3 by Robin Mahle.
Bangor Police Detective Rebecca Ellis and her partner, Detective Bryce Pelletier, hit a wall of silence when they try talking to the victims’ classmates.

It was good to be back with familiar characters. I've read each book in this series. Book 3 was not my favorite. The story felt a little slow, and I found myself skimming the last 2/3 of the book just to get to the end. Plus, the ending was a bit disappointing for me. Kind of cliche reasoning and just feel flat for me.

I would recommend this series and this author. I give this book a 3.75 out of 5 stars (rounded to 4).

#TheDeadLake #NetGalley @VE_NetGalley

This book was such a good thriller mystery that I am so grateful to NetGalley for the ARC. The protagonist, Det. Rebecca, was such a well written character. The author wrote the characters extremely well. The book was a good read start to finish and I am definitely excited to read more from this author.

I loved this book and this series. And you definitely need to read them in order. Great mystery and a bit of romance. I highly recommend.

I absolutely loved reading this book. I was completely drawn into the topic and could not stop reading it.

What happened to Anthony and Carly? Two popular Pinedale high school kids found dead after a senior party with an agenda. The plot thickens with so many unanswered questions, jealous ex boyfriend, jealous ex girlfriend and an alum with a score to settle. Pinedale is located in upstate Maine on the coast where in April the waters and air are still frigid. So why would these kids go to the ocean for a party that involved getting into the water?

Detective Rebecca Ellis is a well respected officer on the force, her father was also on the force until he retired recently due to a case gone bad. When Detective McCallister joins the department she finds an instant attraction to him as they form a connection she finds out why he has transferred to her department, will she keep his secret? Seems the department has a few secrets of their own, will his expose them all when the reporter covering his case publishes her story?

I could not put this one down, I just wanted to know more, what was happening? I would say suspense crime thriller would cover this book, it had it all. I really enjoyed Detective Ellis's character she's a strong powerful woman yet loving and compassionate. The author did a great job leading you down so many paths throughout the story that left you craving more. I felt the ending worked well with the story as well no unleft pieces for you to wonder about.

Thank you NetGalley and Robin Mahle for sharing this ARC for my honest review.

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, revenge, great police work, A great who done it, and some really crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!