A twisty, fast-paced thriller! Right from the beginning, I really enjoyed it. It’s easy to read and I like the author’s writing style.

Alice is with her parents and younger sister when they are in a car accident. When Alice comes to, she is the only one there. Where is her family?

Detective Jess Lambert is on the case. This time, her partner is Shane, a younger detective. Jess has her own demons she is fighting—guilt over causing the death of her young daughter, Isla.

There are so many twists and edge of your seat moments. So many chapters left me gasping.

I am very happy to be back in the world of Jess Lambert. She is an easy character to root for. I read book one first and then most recently, the novella. The novella gives us some backstory on a younger Jess—happier times with her husband, Mac. I read this book immediately after the novella.

This is told in Jess and Alice’s POV with some chapters from Laura, Alice’s mother.

Great ending! I loved it. Another shocking moment, tying the stories all together.

I definitely need more stories from Jess Lambert’s world. She is meant to help others and I look forward to it.

Thank you to @thrillerbookloversthepulse and Thomas and Mercer and the author for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to ThrillerBookLovers The Pulse, Thomas & Mercer, #partner, for an advanced e- copy of What Lies in Darkness in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second book in Christina McDonald’s Jess Lambert series and I am definitely a fan! I loved the first book, These Still Black Waters and was very excited to get my hands on this next installment and I’m so happy to say it exceeded my expectations! Now I just need to wait for the next book…which hopefully will be coming out soon!

Once again, Christina McDonald has managed to give us a book where it is almost impossible to talk about without delving into spoiler territory, so forgive me for being a bit vague here…but trust me when I say if you love thrillers that are incredibly addicting, fast-paced, atmospheric and have just a hint of the paranormal – this series is for you! The protagonist in this series, Detective Jess Lambert might just be one of my new favorite characters and I hope she will be around for a long time. She is a flawed character but has a fierce, determined personality that once on a case, will stop at nothing to see it resolved.

This installment had me invested and hooked from the get-go. And I just love the way Christina McDonald is able to weave different threads together that you don’t see coming. The twists and turns this book takes are nothing short of brilliant. I definitely did not see some of them coming and loved how it all played out. I loved how there were mini cliffhangers at the end of some of the chapters – this just begs you to keep reading, as if I wanted to put the book down anyway!

One of my favorite quotes from this book really sums up the cleverness of what you will find within these pages: “Some of the most poisonous things come in the most clever disguises.” I really cannot recommend this book, and this series, enough. While this book can be read as I stand-alone, I do suggest reading the series in order to really see the growth and development of my new favorite character, Jess Lambert, especially as there are only two books and a novella so far!

So I started this book last night. I’ve been feeling like I was on mystery/thriller overload, so was hesitant to read another- but I have committed to read ARC’s by the due date! All I can say is WOW!! I stayed up too late, then rushed home after volunteering to finish! I have never read anything by this author, but I will be rectifying that now!

The book opens with 16 year old Alice. She is still grieving the death of her entire family from 6 months prior. Her friend, Maya, takes her to a party in an abandoned vacation home. This leads to the discovery of Alice’s little sisters backpack that she had with her on the night of the accident. This is a significant piece of evidence because Alice’s family’s bodies have never been found.

This book jumps right in. As I was reading the beginning, I already felt anxiety. The description of Alice and her struggles with grieving and depression are written very well.

The story is told by multiple POV’s of the main characters. There is an ebb and flow between all these pieces that come together nicely to complete the whole story. The characters are relatable, and experiencing personal issues themselves. I especially loved the detective Jess. She, too, is dealing with grief, and has a connection with Alice. This develops very nicely throughout the book.

There is an element of paranormal. Not ghost or monsters, but Alice sees her father, and Jess sees and talks to her dead daughter. I rather like how the author did this.

And the twists! I did not see the very last twist coming! I had one twist figured out, but not the “why”. But that last one, whoa!!!!

I will be looking for the first in this series, as well as checking out others!!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for this ARC. This is my honest, voluntary review.

i read this mystery is one sitting and couldn't wait to see how it all came together. I enjoyed the different narrators for different chapters, especially Alice's mom. Her point of view gave hints about what happened to Alice's missing family and some of the backstory that Alice would not have known. I had ideas about how the story might wrap up but I really enjoyed the final chapter. I did not realize that the detective, Jess, has shown up in other books and I really enjoyed her as a character. This is a great summer read in the pacing but it's winter setting will be perfect for cozy reading any time of year. Thanks to Christina McDonald, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I am excited to share with you WHAT LIES IN THE DARKNESS by Christina McDonald. This is the second book in the Jess Lambert Series that will be published on July 16, 2024. It can be read as a standalone but you have plenty of time to read the first book THESE STILL BLACK WATERS.

The story is told in multiple POV past and present. The Harper family's car crashed on Christmas Eve on a desolate stretch of road outside Black Lake. Alice was found on the side of the road alone. Her parents and sister Ella were missing, vanished without a trace! A year later Alice and her friends find Ella's bloodstained backpack in an abandoned house.

As Detective Jess Lambert investigates, she uncovers dark secrets that put her on a collision course with her past. Jess’s only witness is haunted by her own ghosts—ghosts that might ultimately be connected to Jess.

This is a fast paced police procedural thriller that had me fully invested in these flawed characters that are dealing with their loss, grief and nightmares. The paranormal aspect in the story was well done and added to the mystery of the missing family. This story was so well written and kept me guessing as to what happened to the family and how Jess was related to the mystery. The ending was shocking and I never saw it coming. I am looking forward to the next Jess Lambert book.

Thank you @thrillerbookloversthepulse
@christinamac79 @netgalley for the #gifted ebook

4.5 riveting stars

This is my sixth book from this author, and I was excited to read this one, which features Jess Lambert, who is fast becoming one of my favorite detectives. We’re back in Black Lake for this one, and I wondered if Jess could still see ghosts and if they would help her solve the next case. Detective Lambert is real and flawed, with physical injuries and grief that she’s working through.

The family at the heart of this one has been devastated by a terrible accident, and no one knows what really happened. The parents and young daughter are missing, presumed dead, and only one family member survived a brutal car accident. Alice was sixteen then and doesn’t recall any part of what happened after her family left a Christmas party.

It’s the one-year anniversary of the accident, and a gruesome find brings the case back into the police's focus. Jess and a younger detective are assigned to the case. Jess is determined to figure out what happened that night. Alice is grappling with visions and wonders if she’s starting to remember what happened.

This one kept me on my toes, and the twists at the end really brought it all full circle. I’m rooting for another one featuring Jess Lambert and can’t wait to see what the next one brings.

Christina McDonald’s latest thriller, "What Lies in Darkness," proves that sequels can indeed surpass the original novel. I immediately thought of the famous line, “I see dead people”, but what if there is a scientific reason for these illusions? This gripping story dives deeper into the complexities of its characters and the haunting mysteries introduced in the first book of the series.

The story unfolds through dual timelines and multiple points of view, which intensifies the suspense and keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The lines between reality and illusion are blurred, inviting readers to second-guess everything and question what the truth is. This book continues to follow Jess, whose’ past continues to haunt her in unexpected ways. Threads from the previous books are skillfully woven together to enrich the storyline, creating a roller-coaster ride of suspense and emotion.

Overall, "What Lies in Darkness," is an enjoyable read with a blend of psychological suspense, emotional depth, creativity, and twists. While "What Lies in Darkness," can be enjoyed as a standalone, I recommend reading the entire series because it’s awesome and it also enhances the reader’s understanding of Jess’s journey and the intricate connections that shape her reality. 5 STARS!

Thank you to NetGalley, Christina McDonald, and Thomas & Mercer for the chance to read this amazing ARC.

What an amazing read. This is the first full length novel I’ve read from Christina and it is amazing. So many twists, turns and surprising revelations will keep you flipping the pages. Just when you think you know who did it…there’s a new clue…the end shocked me! The characters were intriguing and kept you guessing and thinking about their actions. They were truly twisted and at times made me angry. Lol I had to really pay attention because there was so much going on and to keep track of. I enjoyed the paranormal aspect of the story.

I’m looking forward to reading Christina’s other books.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the arc.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This is the second book in the Jess Lambert series, and I will admit that I did not read the first book in the series yet, but really enjoyed this book and think that it works well as a stand alone read. I now want to go back and read the first book in the series because I am hooked. I am not a big series girly, but I really am enjoying the MC-Jess Lambert, as well as McDonald’s writing. I love a badass female detective, and that is detective Jess Lambert in a nutshell. Oh, and did I mention that Jess can see the dead as well?!😱 It was an enjoyable, fun, quick read and I loved the writing style, the characters, and the alternating chapters. Not to mention, that ending!🤯 I DID NOT see that coming! This book is full of suspense, twists, and turns that I did not see coming and. If you are looking for a creepy, dark, and atmospheric whodunit then definitely check this one out.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦An awesomely fun whodunit
✦A fun, quick, suspenseful and twisty book
✦An ending that leaves you 🤯
✦A badass female lead detective who can see the dead


𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5

I went into this book blind and didn’t realize it was part of a series. Let me tell you this was absolutely riveting and worked great as a standalone. Now I want to go back and read the first in the series. This book does a masterful job of showing the different characters voices and how they deal with trauma and grief.

Read this if you like:
-multiple POVs
-fast paced read
-hidden family secrets and lies
-multiple timelines
-highly atmospheric setting-it was eerie, creepy and unsettling especially Killer’s Grove
-the wintery Christmas season setting
-hints of the supernatural
-unreliable narrators
-exploration of trauma, grief and survivors guilt
-twists and turns
-a highly satisfying ending I didn’t see coming

My rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 (rounded up to 5)

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for this eARC that will be released July 16 2024.

Massive thank you to thomas and Mercer for the gifted ARC! This is one of my favorite series and I really hope this is not the last we see of Jess Lambert! Supernatural is not something I gravitate towards in my books, but Christina does it so well!! I absolutely loved the first book, These Still Black Waters and then the novella, The Stranger at Black Lake, gave us a little more back story on Jess. What Lies in Darkness elevates the story even more! Updating us on how Jess is coping with everything and diving into another investigation. I really enjoyed the format of this one with the multiple POV and dual timelines. And especially towards the end, it felt like each chapter ended with a cliffhanger, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! This book had truly some of the most jaw dropping twists I’ve read in a long time! It is emotionally charged, atmospheric and begs to be read! The way Christina crafts her characters and brings them to life is aww inspiring! She created this world of Black Lake and I feel like I have been there and know the people who walk the streets!

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I've read the previous book in the series and the prequel novella. I'd recommend reading at least the 1st book before starting What Lies in Darkness.

We continue with Jess Lambert, a detective who lost her daughter in a tragic accident a year ago. She's assigned to investigate a year old missing presumed persons case when new information comes to light with evidence and a body is subsequently found.

A year ago, the Harper family had a terrible accident following a Christmas party. Laura's brother Jack and his wife Mel [wondering if the author is a Virgin River fan] had their party. After leaving, Laura and her husband get into an accident, and only 16 year old Alice seemed to have survived. Without bodies or proof of anything, her parents and younger sister Ella are presumed dead. A year later, Alice is living with her aunt and uncle in their huge mansion. Alice has a few friends but is mostly called a freak at school. Turns out Alice had a vision of a dead girl - Jess' dead daughter, Isla.

There's a lot of pieces to the story we find out bit by bit with Jess, Alice in present day, and her mother Laura a few months back. There's a shady ex from Laura's past, drugs and con jobs, and embezzlement. Also, Jack's assistant is named Rose [Titanic nod?[

The town of Black Water in an unnamed state is its own character. I enjoyed the twist at the end, although a lot was revealed and some of the reveals were a little convoluted or far-fetched. There's definitely something that was revealed that could be very interesting for another book featuring Jess Lambert. 4/5 ☆ out July 2024.

TW for death of family members, ghosts, drugs, and extortion.

Book 2 in the Jess Lambert series. I haven't read the first book in the series. This can be read as a stand alone, but I'm definitely going to go back and read the first book because I want more of Jess Lambert!

This thriller is multi-layered and has a complex story line, but it's also easy to follow. There are a few major twists that were so satisfying. The paranormal component was done well and typically I don't like that type of story, but it worked well here. This is no doubt a 5 star read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The story pulls you in and keeps you hooked throughout. Fast-paced and quite the mystery. The writing was fantastic. Loved the characters.

This is a book worth losing sleep for! I stayed up late last night to finish What Lies in Darkness because ai just had to know what happened to Alice’s family and why! How did her parents and little sister just go missing after a car accident last Christmas? And why is her sisters backpack covered in blood and hidden in the basement if an abandoned house?? Right, see why I had to know.

This is the second book with Jess Lambert and I think I loved it more than the first, which was incredible too. I recommend reading them in order so you understand Jess and her abilities better. I loved the darkness and creepiness of this book, especially the scenes set in Killers Grove… quiet, spooky, snow falling and ghosts…. Say no more.

It is an emotional read, for both Alice and Jess are still trying to come to terms with their losses. It is Christmas time and it should be a happy occasion but the memories are hard to forget.

I can see why everyone at Thriiller Book Lovers The Pulse are loving this one. Get it on your TBR, published on July 16th by Thomas and Mercer.

After reading These Still Black Waters, I was so excited to read book 2, What Lies in Darkness. I loved seeing all of the connections with book 1 and got so much answered that were left open-ended. I’m not usually a fan of series but when I am hooked with book 1 I needed to continue with the series.

I loved the multiple POV as it really added to the story! There were so many times that I knew I figured out the plot twists and every time, I was so wrong.

*****Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing and Christina McDonald for my gifted copy in turn for an honest review.


Rating 3.5 stars rounding up to 4.

I’m not a huge series person, but this is one series I don’t think there’ll ever be enough of!

I really like our main character in the series, Jess, and I’m totally rooting for her and her personal life right now. But as far as the case she’s investigating in What Lies in Darkness, it had me constantly questioning who the killer was and I really enjoyed the end. I liked the other POVs, and I absolutely loved Alice and wanted to give her the biggest hug ever. The paranormal parts in this one I also happened to love.

I can’t wait for what’s next for Jess. Christina McDonald is certainly an expert in what she does. Many thanks to the author and Thomas and Mercer for my eARC. What Lies in Darkness will be published 7/16 and you’ll definitely want to put this in your summer line up!

Excellent characters and such a smoothly told story. Enjoyed everything about this book. Always a win with Christina McDonald

Readers, here is a TOTAL package: From the powerhouse author (Christina McDonald), a powerhouse series (Detective Jess Lambert), and a compelling and dazzling powerhouse novel, WHAT LIES IN DARKNESS! A must-read series, author, and novel, making the early Top Books of 2024 lists everywhere and among the thriller community—the most loved, flawed, and relatable protagonist by fans, Detective Jess Lambert.

Series...

We were wowed by #1 in the Jess Lambert series, THESE STILL BLACK WATERS, and then a bonus surprise, a novella, #.5 (brilliant), THE STRANGER AT BLACK LAKE, where we met Jess before becoming a detective. Now, we have the latest #2, WHAT LIES IN DARKNESS which is mind-blowing sensational! I highly recommend reading them in this order because you do not want to miss a thing! Trust me, you will be salivating, waiting for the next in the series.

Summary...

In WHAT LIES IN DARKNESS, the past and present collide in this complex, emotionally charged, genre-bending suspense crime thriller. The rollercoaster of emotions, twists, characters, and tension will keep you guessing and your heart pounding until the explosive ending. A young teen girl is left behind after an entire family vanishes after an accident with barely a trace while a tormented and guilt-ridden detective is desperately looking for answers.


About...

It is Christmas Eve, snowing, and we meet the Harper family: Dad, Pete, Mom, Laura, and two girls, Alice (16) and Ella (10). However, the evening will turn deadly at the witching hour out on the dark roads. They were happy until they were gone.

The family always stayed at Mel and Jack's, (aunt and uncle? home on Christmas Eve because they had a big house, money and loved to entertain. They always had fun. But this year, Alice had a sore throat after the festivities and the parents decided to go home instead of staying over.

On the way home in the snow, on the dark, icy roads, there was a road-closed sign with construction barriers blocking the road. The dad spun the minivan around and turned into Killer's Grove (a haunted road). The couple of miles of road that stretched through the forest near Black Lake were haunted. Their mom had always warned them about the witching hour that nothing good happens after midnight when all the spirits come out of hiding.

The dad lost control of the car. The weather was bad. A horrible accident. Alice was knocked out, and then when she came to, there was no one. The van was empty. Her family was gone. She was found injured on the side of the road and wound up in the hospital. Alice was the only one left behind, and she never found her family. There were lots of speculation, but nothing. Some thought her dad killed her mother and Ella and hid the bodies then killed himself. However, Alice thought her father was kind and would not do this.

How could a family disappear? Why was Alice left? She feels like a freak, the forgotten one, the girl left behind.

A year later December - Anniversary

Alice barely copes as a teen with her sister, mom, and dad gone. Why would someone leave her behind? She has survivor's guilt. She is now living with her Aunt Meg (owner of a yoga studio), Uncle Jack (real estate developer), and baby Finn (age 4). However, she does not feel like she belongs. She was seeing a therapist and often saw her dad and others in a ghostly form. Then her friend, Maya, whose mom cleaned vacation rental homes, stole the keys, threw parties at the empty homes, and charged admission to save money for college.

Afterward, when they were cleaning up one house in the basement, Alice stayed to help. They found Ella's backpack in an old steamer trunk with the daisy on the back. What was Ella's backpack doing in this house?

Detective Jess Lambert

One year ago was the night that changed her life. A car accident killed her precious little girl, Isla, age 8. Her therapist calls the traumaversary. She has a bad leg and more than physical pain, there is the mental pain of her dead child and the loss of her husband, Mac. She lives to help others and bring in the bad guys.

Now she is on the Harper case. The case is re-opened with new evidence. Nothing about this case is simple. The family who went missing last Christmas. No witnesses. No ransom demands. No motive. Just an entire family, vanished with barely a trace. She had been in the hospital trying to learn to walk again, losing herself in pain meds and booze and trying to escape the nightmares.

Killer's Grove had a reputation for witch gatherings, ghost sightings, and the unexplained disappearance of the Harpers last year, so people say it is haunted. What happened that night? Are the dark secrets buried somewhere?

Told from alternating POVs of Alice, Jess, and Laura (past before the accident) and present.

Then an arm and a body in a suitcase in that same basement is found by Jess. Who is in the suitcase and where are the other family members? The more Jess dives into the case, the more sinister things appear. Jess feels something unsettling and spine-chilling. Nothing or no one is as they appear.

Mix in a crime podcast, The Darkest Night, and all the many theories, the atmospheric setting, the forest, the snow, the dangerous chasms and gorges, the intelligent investigating, and all the creepy things happening with ghostly appearances, and you will be on the edge of your seat. Trust no one.

Little does Jess know how this case will connect with one of the worst nights of her life. Could this case help Alice find out what happened to her parents and what happened to Jess a year ago? Could they hope for closure? But in the meantime, there is a killer out there, and it may be closer than they know.

Alice is clever, perceptive, sensitive, and astute. But is she telling the whole truth? You will not be able to predict the multi-level mega head-spinning twists and turns and how this one will play out.

Detective Jess Lambert is faced with her most emotional case yet as all the haunting past comes back to the surface. She and Alice bond over their tragedy and she is determined to find closure for this haunted girl, much like herself. She will do everything in her power to find this family and solve this mystery.

My thoughts...

WHAT LIES IN DARKNESS is off-the-charts spectacular! It's edgy, dazzling, haunting, electrifying, twisty, emotionally complex, and totally gripping! Prime for the big or small screen, this series is exceptional.

Genre-bending...

Razor sharp, blending the best of literary fiction with the author's stunning lyrical prose, with richly drawn and complex characters, an ongoing mystery and intrigue of a missing family with dual timelines, twisty psychological suspense, domestic and family drama, a riveting crime thriller, an intense and smartly written cop procedural, and as an added bonus, a mind-bending paranormal. Now, readers, you are getting your money's worth and then some.

The author...

First, let me express how much I admire and adore this author. I have been a devoted fan of hers since her debut and every hit title since! A gifted storyteller, she is a master of suspense and the real deal. I'm not sure how she does it, but each book she writes surprises, and I believe she keeps surpassing herself with each new release! You know when you pick up a CM book, you are in for a rare treat. An adventure like no other. When you think of Christina, you think —gripping PAGE-TURNER. Set aside the time.

McDonald smartly delves deep into her characters' psyches. Her books are emotionally gripping, ranging from grief, dark secrets of the past, death, survivor's guilt, family, loss, trauma, betrayal, longing, fear, and pain to love, acceptance, forgiveness, joy, healing, and hope. Her characters are flawed and highly relatable, and her protagonist is smart, intelligent, and flawed.

The writing is stunning and I bookmarked many pages. With the atmospheric setting, and the vivid descriptions, combined with the gorgeous writing and compelling characters with a first-class cop procedural and a winning protagonist, I cannot recommend WHAT LIES IN DARKNESS enough and this author. Get this series on your list now! I cannot wait for more Jess Lambert!

Recs...

For Christina McDonald fans and those of Wendy Walker, Allen Eskens, Heather Gudenkauf, Lisa Unger, Karin Slaughter, and Lisa Gardner.

Stay tuned for my upcoming #AuthorElevatorSeries Chat with Christina on pub day (July 16), where we will discuss the book, series, and more from this gifted storyteller!

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the gifted ARC for review purposes.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Day: July 16, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars +
July 2024 Must-Read Books

Christina McDonald is one of my favorite authors. I will read anything she writes. I thought that all of Christina's books have been fabulous and this is just as good if not better. I started reading in the morning and couldn't put it down until I finished it later that night. This had me from the very first sentence and I just couldn't stop reading. This had so many twists and turns and a gripping mystery. I was so surprised at the ending. I just loved it and this is a must read. This is the 2nd in the series but can definitely be read on it's own. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for sending me the ARC for my honest opinion. I can't wait for this series to continue.