Thank you, #NetGalley and #IntrigueInkPublishing, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

I rarely read novellas, and when I do, they're usually a prequel to a book series, and "The Stranger at Black Lake" by Christina McDonalds is no different.

Jess Lambert and her husband had just moved into the neighborhood. It was a perfect place to raise a family - quiet and peaceful. But just like Jess, Black Lake harbors some secrets, too. But when she meets Annie Parker, Jess's strong sense of intuition leads her into the horrors of the "gingerbread house," a focal point of Black Lake's local folklore and houses its very own boogeyman.

Every chapter was a page-turner. Being a novella reduces monotony by encapsulating the plot in less than a hundred pages. It was propulsively good. I love the mystery behind the first few pages, wanting to connect the different characters to how the plot would unfold. It even gave an eerie atmosphere that left me wondering if it contained paranormal elements.

The only evident misgiving is that usually, with novellas, any potential for character depth and development is limited. Rather than seeing it as a flaw, I'm more accustomed to a novel structure that explores complex character arcs and themes for reader connection. For example, one character in the story has had their motivations disclosed, yet I feel they warrant more introspection, which left me wanting. However, this being a novella, there's no need for argument. Any expectations of a more intricate storyline are unnecessary. Overall, "The Stranger at Black Lake" is a well-written narrative supplement to the series exploring Jess Lambert's detective prowess.

Captured my attention right away. Felt like a familiar story but I kept going. Good writing and interesting setting. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5 backstory stars

We first met Jess Lambert with “These Still Black Waters,” and she became a memorable character to me. I was excited to see that there’s a second in the series, scheduled to publish in July 2024, called “What Lies in Darkness.”

Then, a surprise! This novella prequel gives us the backstory of Jess Lambert. Jess and her husband are new to Black Lake, hoping for a fresh start after a traumatic event for Jess in her paramedic career.

Open to new friends, Jess befriends Annie, another newcomer, over a cup of coffee. Imagine the shock later when she sees Annie wandering naked near the lake and in shock.

As the mysteries and secrets swirl all through Black Lake, the pace definitely picks up, and I quickly read this one to find out what would happen to Jess. There were some big twists in this one and it was a great way to get reacquainted with the character while I wait for the new book to come out.

I read the first in this Jess Lambert detective thriller series when it released last year and it was one of my favourite reads for 2023! So I was thrilled to read this prequel.

I love this author’s writing style and storytelling. The novella was about a murdered man and a mysterious woman who disappears from the scene of the crime. Jess gets pulled into the investigation trying to find the missing woman. It was a quick, easy read with good pacing and twists and turns. Very atmospheric and descriptive writing pulled me into the story. I enjoyed learning more about Jess’ background, her motivations, and her past and how she came to be a detective investigating crime. . I love Jess even more and can’t wait to read more about her in the 2nd in the series. Highly recommend this series!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

My review will be posted to my book IG account and X on February 6. Link to be added below once posted. Review is already up on Goodreads.

"Secrets, murder and revenge converge in this gripping prequel to Amazon charts bestselling thriller, These Still Black Waters, about a young Jess Lambert drawn into a deadly cat-and-mouse game. Because old ghosts often have old scores to settle.

Jess Lambert and her husband, Mac, have just moved to Black Lake, looking for a quieter, more peaceful life. Until one morning Jess befriends a stranger - beautiful and glamorous Annie Parker - who's also just moved to town.

Only a few hours later, Jess finds Annie wandering naked and in shock along the lake. And at Annie's house she encounters a gruesome scene that shows a violent attack. But then Annie disappears.

As Jess is pulled deeper into the mystery of what happened to Annie, she learns about the house's chilling past. And she begins to wonder: who was Annie really? Is she a witness, murderer, victim?

But it's dangerous hunting down old ghosts. And Jess becomes increasingly unsure if she's the hunter, or the prey. Who is the stranger at Black Lake?"

Can't wait to read, but I think the cover needs a redo. Hint, don't use the same stock photography associated with another book. It's How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix if you were wondering.

This prequel novella takes readers back to the time when Jessica Lambert (not yet a detective), and her husband Marc move to the city of Black Lake. Jess is trying to decide what to do now with her life, unsure if she wants to continue in her line of work as a paramedic, or do something new when she meets Annie Parker, who is also new to town. Just a few hours later, she finds Annie wandering around the lake in shock. Jess takes Annie back to her house only to stumble upon a gruesome crime scene. Then Annie disappears. Jess is pulled deeply into this mystery, in trying to find Annie and figure out who she really was.

I absolutely loved the first book of this series, “These Still Black Waters”, so I was thrilled when Christina McDonald announced she was coming out with a prequel. Here, in the prequel, we get to meet a younger, more carefree Jess Lambert, as the events that turned her life upside down had not yet happened. It was so fun to take a step back into the past with her, to see how she came to Black Lake and ultimately became a detective. Though this is a prequel, I definitely recommend reading it after you read “These Still Black Waters”, as that novel really lays the groundwork for Jess Lambert as a character. Once again, I was amazed at how expertly Christina McDonald packed SO much emotion into a thriller but she did it again!

Thank you to Christina McDonald and Thriller Lover Promotions for the ARC! “The Stranger at Black Lake” releases March 19, 2024. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

I was hooked from the beginning and i simply did not want this book to end . The writing is beautiful and the story telling is brilliant . A must read !!

The best prequel I've read in a while. This series is one of the most original and knowing Jess' backstory makes everything come full circle! I love her toughness and vulnerability because it makes her so relatable. Christina McDonald's writing is easy to read, smart, and will keep you guessing until the end!

I was captivated by the troubled Detective Lambert in Christina McDonald’s fabulous thriller These Still Black Waters. I wanted to know more about Jess and have been waiting impatiently for the sequel, What Lies in Darkness, to hit the shelves this summer. To make the wait a little easier, here comes Christina McDonald giving us a novella prequel with some of Jess’s backstory (she obviously loves her readers!) and I’m thrilled!

Jess Lambert and her husband Mac have just moved to Black Lake, seeking a quieter life after Jess suffered a traumatic incident in her career as a New York paramedic. Jess meets Annie in line at the coffee shop and thinks she has found a new friend, but later that day, Jess finds Annie stumbling around the lake, naked and in shock. Inside Annie’s house is a gruesome crime scene. As Jess becomes engrossed in the mystery of the old house and its tragic past, will she find more than she bargained for?

The Stranger at Black Lake is fantastic! I don’t know how Christina McDonald managed to pack a whole thriller complete with a haunting and complex backstory and plenty of red herrings into about 100 or so pages, but wow is she good! The plotting is tight and propulsive, and I was gripped by this dark mystery. This novella reads like a full-length book except that I easily devoured it in a single sitting, a perfect amuse bouche to show us how Jess became a detective and what her life was like before tragedy struck.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Intrigue Ink Publishing for providing me an advance copy of this book.

A digital copy of this book was provided to me by Christina McDonald and NetGalley. The opinions are my own and freely given.

This is the story of Jess Lambert. Jess and her husband Mac, move to Black Lake. This is her beginning and why she changed her life and became a detective. This is a novella/prequel to the Black Lake series and does not have to be read first. In fact, from the authors POV, this is a good story to read after the 1st book, (These Still Black Waters), in order to get a good feel for Jess from the beginning. I loved this story. Jess was not a detective with the police force at the time this story takes place, but you can tell that she has it in her: the drive, determination and passion. This is only 125 pages, fast and will give you a new outlook on how Jess's life was BEFORE.

I recommend this novella and I thank the author for sharing Jess's life with her readers.

I received an advanced copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
An engaging novella which is a prequel to These Still Black Waters. I found it a bit far-fetched but captivating enough to read the next book. The main character, Jessica and the detective, Rivera are great characters. I eagerly await the next in the series: What Lies in the Darkness. Would recommend to others.

The book is atmospheric, intense, suspenseful and dark. The characters were mysterious. Jess Lambert moves in a small town called Black Lake with her husband Mac who works at a law firm and Jess was a paramedic in New York. Her life changes unexpectedly when she meets Annie Parker who has also moved to town. Annie is beautiful and mysterious. Jess offers Annie to take her home. But there she witness strange things and dig deep in the haunting past of the house. The mystery pulls her deeper. Will she find her way out of the house?

The author has created such a profound and haunting story of the house and Black Lake. The ending was jaw dropping. The characters were mysterious. The mystery of the town and the house gripped me. This is an atmospheric thriller. The ending shocked me.

Thanks to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley

I loved finding more about Jess Lambert story. We find out how she met her husband, and why she moved to Black Lack. A twist of fate on how she becomes a detective.


Her skills uncovered a mystery in which the town seemed to have forgotten and with small towns, some stories become myths. Thank you for giving us this novella and two books about this flawed and lovable character Jess Lambert.

This book gives you a look at Jess Lambert when she first arrives at Black lake. The mystery and suspense will keep the pages turning. This is a series that will have you wanting to read more about Jess Lambert and her life at Black Lake. Christian McDonald does not disappoint! Just when you think you have it all figures out.....you don't!

I don't read a lot of novellas. By the time I'm invested in a character, I just want more development than a novella typically provides, but I make the exception for characters that I already know and love, like Jess Lambert. The Stranger at Black Lake gave me more insight into Jess's past, more about what makes her tick, and I loved every minute of it. If you've already loved the first book in the Jess Lambert series, These Still Black Waters, then The Stranger at Black Lake is a must read.

Wow, I was completely hooked throughout this story. It is a prequel and I hadn’t read the first book but I followed the story with no issue. I loved the multiple POV’s and how everything came together at the end.
My first from this author but I will without a doubt be getting the first book (and probably more)

⭐️ 4.5 STARS ROUNDED UP.
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Thank you NetGalley and Intrigue Ink Publishing for the opportunity to review this book.

This thriller novella, told with dual POV, sucked me in right from the beginning and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I flew through this one so fast, needing to find out more of what was happening. I can’t say too much without spoiling anything but I wasn’t overly happy with the ending. Had the ending been different, it would’ve likely been a 5 ⭐️ read. Overall it was a great short story and I look forward to reading the rest of this series. Thank you to netgally and the publishers for the advanced reader copy.

You can definitely read this in one setting and it keeps you turning the pages. However, I was expecting more from the ending. A lot of red herrings dropped into the story without a conclusions. Maybe I was reading into it too much, but the ending left me shocked...and not in a good way. It was not satisfying. I liked the writing just because it kept me guessing.

After moving to Black Lake with her husband, Jess befriends another new resident, Annie. Hours later she stumbles across Annie, dazed and confused, at the scene of a gruesome murder. As Jess informally investigates the case, she learns of the dark history of a local house, and what happened to its residents.

This prequel novella caught me by surprise. While I haven’t yet read the main series, I was intrigued by the description. While a short read, the story was well paced and fleshed out, and the reader is introduced to quite a cast of characters. I enjoyed Jess’ character and am looking forward to reading her series. I loved the mystery associated with the house, and really enjoyed the way the author wove together the dual narratives.

Definitely worth picking up if you’re looking for a quick, engaging and compelling mystery, with spooky undertones and various twists and turns that will keep you hooked.

Thank you Intrigue Ink Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

This novella easy to enjoy in one sitting. I like the characters, the plot, and the writing style. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.