This was book two in the series but works as a stand alone. This was a police procedural with a paranormal twist that deals with grief, loss, belonging, healing and moving forward.

Alice Harper was in a car accident on Christmas eve with her family. She was hospitalized but her family just vanished that night never to be seen or heard from again. Alice is left traumatized and with so many unanswered questions. Now, Jess Lambert is investigating and trying to figure out how this is linked to her tragedy.

So many lies, secrets and cover ups make this a great fast paced read that kept me guessing until the end how it all fit together. I really liked Isla and how her presence added a nice twist to the story.

owwwww! Okay let me pick my jaw up off the floor.
What Lies In Darkness is an absolute gem that will keep you on end edge of your seat.
I love Christina McDonald’s writing style- it kept me immersed into the story. I kept trying to guess what happened and who was involved but McDonald cleverly had me wrong multiple times. That ending???? I literally gasped out loud.
This is a must read for thriller fans!! Prepare yourself for a wild ride.

“There was nobody there. Besides me, the car was empty. My family was gone.”

I can say without hesitation that this will be a five star read for most.

Alice Harper is the only survivor of a horrible car crash she was in with her family. A year later, now 17 years old, she’s still struggling with trauma and grief. It’s hard to put it behind her when she doesn’t know what happened to her parents and sister; they were gone when she woke from the crash.

When Alice’s sister’s backpack is found, Detective Jess Lambert, who has her own traumatic past, is brought on the case to investigate. What happened to the Harper family? If they’re dead, where are their bodies? Why is Alice the sole survivor?

Alice and Jess are both dealing with loss and still processing their grief. Each haunted by memories, they have more in common than they realize. Christina McDonald’s writing is rich and nuanced with fully fleshed out characters. These are real people with complex inner worlds and emotions. I instantly related to both Alice and Jess. If you’ve ever experienced loss or a traumatic event you can’t help but be sucked in to the story by the real emotions and thought processes.

There’s a supernatural aspect which I didn’t realize because I had not read book one of the Jess Lambert series, These Still Black Waters. I don’t do supernatural stories at all so ultimately What Lies in Darkness was not for me. Without the paranormal element, I’m sure this dark and gritty crime fiction would’ve been a four or five star read for me, so I’ve rated it five despite not finishing it. I would recommend to those who have no objection to the paranormal.

Thank you Christina McDonald, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the gifted copy.