Let me tell you a little story about this book...

I was introduced to this sensational author through Bookstagram and I have been hooked on her every word ever since. The Stranger at Black Lake and These Still Black Waters, are amongst my most favored books and two books I always suggest to fellow thriller lovers.

I had high expectations for What Lies in Darkness, but I was confident McDonald would deliver.

Well, all of my expectations were exceeded!!!

I loved every minute of this wild ride. There was never a time I was bored or wanted to close the book, instead it was just the opposite. I could not move, I was completely consumed and I white knuckled my kindle after I was thrown from one twist to the next.

This is a riveting suspenseful thriller that will get even the biggest critic going.

After reading three of McDonalds books and loving them, I have to say What Lies in Darkness, is definitely my favorite.

Teaser :

A missing family. A traumatized detective. The past and present collide in a riveting novel of suspense by the USA Today bestselling author of These Still Black Waters, Do No Harm, Behind Every Lie, and The Night Olivia Fell.

Late Christmas Eve, the Harper family’s car crashed on a desolate stretch outside Black Lake. Sixteen-year-old Alice was found injured by the side of the road—alone. It was as if her parents and younger sister, Ella, had simply disappeared.

One year later, Alice is still dealing with nightmares and unanswered questions when she and her friends find Ella’s bloodstained backpack in the basement of an abandoned home. 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.

Jess will do anything to find out what happened to the Harpers—no matter how deep she has to dig. Because neither the living nor the dead are giving up their secrets easily.

Thank you @christinamac79 #thomasandmercer for my complimentary ebook. We @thrillerbookloversthepulse have been loving this one! My thoughts are my own.

This well-crafted police procedural-mystery was a delight to read! This was my first Detective Jess Lambert novel, and I really liked her well-rounded character. Her storyline was heart-wrenching and touching, and I loved how it was resolved.

The story is told through three perspectives: Jess, Alice, and Alice’s mother, Laura. The chapters are fairly short and the action and viewpoints are easy to follow.

I enjoyed the paranormal aspect, (both Jess and Alice can see the dead) and I was totally engaged in the perplexing mystery. The conclusion came as a shocking surprise with one twist after another!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the copy of What Lies In Darkness by Christina McDonald. I loved how this book started out and was curious about what happened to the family. Unfortunately, I kept getting the different POVs confused so I had trouble keeping track of what was going on. I kind of checked out a couple of times, so that may have been why the ending seemed a little convoluted and that final reveal was a head-scratcher. I read the first book but had forgotten about the paranormal aspect which I hated in this book too, and I’m not sure this one was for me so I’m not sure I’ll continue this series.

To begin with, I did not realize that this was book number two in a series until I went to publish my review. This one can easily be read as a stand alone without the reader feeling as though they are missing anything either in relation to Jess and her "abilities", or anything that happened in the first book.

On the whole, I enjoyed this story and the various twists and turns that it took. I found the story engaging (in fact, I read it in one day unable to resist seeing what came next), and the characters for all of their flaws, interesting. Jess and Alice especially came across as complex and multi-faceted characters which made them and their stories all the more compelling for me. I was also intrigued by the way each of our two main characters (and a few of the background characters) handled their grief, as well as the thought of moving on.

However, I did have a couple of issues with this one. To begin with the paranormal aspect of it really took me out of the story. In general, I think it would have been just as strong of a story without it (if not stronger as I know some readers who absolutely abhor anything paranormal related in their police procedural type novels). If anything, I would have kept it to one or the other of the characters, not both of them (especially with the way it was explained away for one of them).

The second issue I had with this one was the final twist at the end. Sure it was one of those that takes the reader off-guard, but it was really just implausible in the grand scheme of things. After all, the police are going to be pretty confused when certain details come out, and Alice will once again be left with questions she can't answer.

I think I will give at least one more book in this series a chance however, because I am curious after the revelations Jess had in this one, how that will impact her character moving forward.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

I was such a fan of These Still Black Waters. The characters. The twist. This one had a lot to live up to. And it did.

I’m a fan of police procedurals. But this series is a little different as it focuses on characters outside of the police and at times it seems that the police are secondary characters. There is still a case and an investigation but there is also a huge focus on the characters affected by the case. It’s a clever way to stand out in this genre.

All that said I love the detective in this one. Jess has a lot of demons that she brings to the table as she investigates. I loved that her story progressed in this one. She’s paired with a different partner in this one and has the added burden of adjusting.

This book can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend reading book one first. You’ll see a lot about Jess and that twist in the first book was epic.

I can’t wait to see what’s up next for Jess.

This book is the second in the Jess Lambert series, but I thoroughly enjoyed it as a standalone. Although, now I definitely want to go back and read The Stranger At Black Lake ( #.5) and These Still Black Waters (#1) to learn more about our main character! The Pulse group chat is going wild over this one @thrillerbookloversthepulse- Definitely a great upcoming release for the summer! #pulsepoint

With multiple points of view, flashback chapters, lots of lies and deceit, plus some paranormal happenings, I was hooked on this book! The pace was perfect- it kept me engaged and never bored, and also wasn’t rushed at all. I really appreciated the difference between the Jess and Alice chapters- the author did a really great job at making the reader feel that these are the thoughts and actions of a teenage girl. I love when a book has all the twists come together in that perfect “ahaaaa” moment where everything just clicks- and this story brought me that.

I will say that it took me a couple of chapters to get into it. Initially I really didn’t know who was who or what was going on. But that’s probably my own fault for picking up what’s technically book #3 in a series before reading the first two.
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Thank you to @netgalley and @Thomas&Mercer for this ARC. Book 2 of Jess Lambert series. I love this broken character. Christmas Eve, Alice and her family are driving home when an accident occurs. When Alice wakes up in the hospital, her family riding with her has disappeared without a trace from the crash site. Jess is called in when Alice's sister's backpack is found in a basement of a house near the accident. This book is good but I gobbled up the last five chapters plus the twist at the end!!! $4.99 pre-order on Kindle #WhatLiesinDarkness #ChristinaMcDonald #JessLambert #July2024 #Thomas&Mercer

Jess Lambert is back in Book 2 and this series has me hooked.

What Lies in Darkness grabs your attention from the first to the last page.

It's Christmas Eve when the Harper family goes missing .

They go missing from Killer's Grove that is the local legend where nothing good ever happens there.

The oldest daughter does survive but has no memory of what happened after the accident.

Where could her mom , dad and sister be?

Did they die in the accident but where are there bodies.

Nothing adds up.

Jess Lambert along with Shane are investigating the crime and are as stumped as everyone else.

Jess is still dealing with her tragic loss and she listens to the living and the dead.

Christina MacDonald has written a taut, atmospheric , hold your breath story that had me racing to the end .

I cleverly followed the twists and turns but I was oh so wrong.

Expect the unexpected from Christine McDonald.

Grab your copy, clear your calendar and settle in for chilingly good read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the privilege of reading and reviewing What LIes in Darkness. Cant wait for Book 3.

★★★★★
Save the date! July 16th is the release day! Detective Jess Lambert is making her return in the second book of the Jess Lambert series, "What Lies in Darkness." Known for its intense storyline and intricate characters, this series is truly captivating. Jess, a riveting fictional character, is definitely one of my favorites. Her battle with alcoholism and inner demons is both heart-wrenching and inspiring.

This atmospheric sequel is more than just a thriller. It's a deeply moving journey, delving into themes of love, loss, family, and the secrets we hold. It serves as a reminder of the damage these secrets can cause while highlighting the resilience we discover amid challenges.

With its multiple narrators, timelines, and a hint of the supernatural, Christina McDonald takes us on a shocking ride, delivering twist after twist.

A big thank you to the author and Thomas and Mercer for providing this advance copy via NetGalley. All thoughts expressed are strictly my own.

#WhatLiesInDarkness #ChristinaMcDonald #ThomasandMercer

My friends at @thrillerbookloversthepulse were raving about this author, and I knew that I couldn’t pass up the chance to read her newest release! What Lies in Darkness was the second installment in the Jess Lambert series. However, I didn’t have any difficulty reading it as a standalone.

This book was so so good!! I knew right from the beginning that I was going to love it, and I was right! The story was equal parts haunting and mysterious, and it really tugged on my heartstrings as a Mom. I was obsessed with the little supernatural touches, and it reminded me a bit of a tv show that I loved watching in high school called Ghost Whisperer. I also really enjoyed the author’s writing style. It was descriptive, atmospheric and made me feel as though I was transported directly into the setting of the book. I would highly recommend checking out this series!

Read if you like:

✨Detective thrillers
✨Quick reads
✨Small town settings
✨Thoughtfully written main characters

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This was a good addition to the Jessica Lambert series. I had to go back and read the These Still Black Waters, realizing this was part of a series, and I can honestly say that I am glad I did. I think that's what made me enjoy it more as I was not too crazy for the prequel I read before this. It helped me get into her head and see her full personality, what makes her tick, and why she so easily delves into an investigation when honestly, sometimes, she may not need to. This was a quick, fun read with a very likable protagonist and a solid plot. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer, for this ARC.

If you’re looking for a domestic mystery suspense novel with creepy atmosphere, well-developed characters and shocking plot twist then I suggest picking this one up!

Told in multiple POVs and alternating between the past and present, the plot flows smoothly with great writing style and relatable characters which get me hooked into the story from the beginning until the end.

I really enjoy my time following the detective investigating this case. It wasn't an easy case to solve and the unexpected twists at the end really surprised me.
Not just a suspenseful and thrilling mystery, it was also an emotional read as the main characters battle with grief, guilt and fear.

I didn't read the 1st book in this series but I can totally read this one just fine.
Although, there are some things which makes me wonder if I would've understand it more if I'd had read the previous book.

Overall this was such a page turner. A well-written thrilling, addicting, and heart-breaking story I’ve read so far this year!
I'm definitely coming back for more books from this author in the future and I will keep an eye out for the 3rd one in this series especially when the author gave a glimpse of what the next case for our detective is gonna be about!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: grief, drug use, infidelity, car accident, brief mention of addiction.

4.5 rounded up to 5

I read These Still Black Waters last year and absolutely loved it, so I knew I just had to read this one.  This is #2 in the author's Jess Lambert series, and it is just as good as the 1st one.

Alice Harper's family was in a tragic car accident on Christmas Eve.  Everyone was presumed dead except for Alice, who was found on the side of the road injured.  But the bodies of her parents and sister Ella were never found.  Fast forward a year, and Alice is still dealing with nightmares from that horrible night.  She finds Ella's bloodstained backpack in an abandoned house.  Detective Jess Lambert is put on the case but not as the lead detective since she's still dealing with her own issues.  But she has a gift for solving crime.  As she starts to investigate, she uncovers dark secrets.  She's determined to figure out what really  happened to Alice's family. 

I totally binged this book!  I seriously couldn't put it down.  The mystery was so intriguing, and I loved the paranormal aspect.  I've loved Jess Lambert since the 1st book, and she's such a great complicated character.  The author does such an amazing job of writing her books as part police procedural, part psychological thriller.  This book was atomspheric, suspenseful, and thrilling.  I loved it and would highly recommend adding this one to your TBR.

OHHHEMMMGEEE! How does Christina McDonald manage to craft books that just get better and better? In the first book in the series, These Still Black Waters, she pulled the rug right out from under me in the best possible way. Now, with What Lies in Darkness, I couldn’t keep the s*** eating grin off of my face. From the magically interwoven plot to the well-developed characters who had me in the palm of their hands, there wasn’t a thing not to love. Even better, though, was McDonald STILL managed to shock me all the way to my core.

The plot itself alternated back and forth between dual timelines and multiple POVs. In fact, it was so intoxicating that I lost track of time. Despite clearly remembering the earth-shattering twist from book one in the series, this time around there was also even more of a heartbreaking element. Through thought-provoking quotable quotes and plot charging emotion, I felt this storyline deep in my bones. That’s not to say there wasn’t non-stop suspense and palpable tension. I promise that that was also there in spades.

Like most characters in a series, Jess has blossomed from the prequel to book one and now book two. The more I learn about her, the more realistic she becomes to the point where I almost feel like I know her by now. Yet again, though, she wasn’t the only character real enough to walk right off the page. From her stand-in partner to her witch of a boss, they each fit their roles to a T. All I can say is that I can’t wait to see where they all go from here. And I’m not the only one. All of us at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse feel exactly the same way.

Done and dusted, this newest addition to the Jess Lambert saga hit all the sweet spots for me. With a twisty, atmospheric plot, an unstoppable yet flawed heroine, and a killer conclusion, this psychologically acute thriller was beyond a slam dunk. A masterclass in suspense, McDonald has done it yet again. Already an auto-buy author for me, her sharp writing meant I felt immersed into this story. Take it from me, you have got to get your hands on this series. And please, start at the beginning. You’re not going to want to miss a minute with Jess. Rating of 5+ stars.

“What Lies in Darkness” by Christina McDonald quickly sucked me into the world of Detective Jess Lambert and the complex lives of the Harper family! I felt so much for Jess, still grieving her loss and coming to terms with her new normal - and for Alice, sixteen-year-old Alice who lost everyone one fatal night, similarly coming to terms with her new reality. Neither of these characters had it easy, but both persevered through the hard times realizing that the truth and life itself was worth living for, even when all seemed lost. I enjoyed McDonald’s literary style, bringing in the paranormal (ghosts of lost loved ones) as a way of coping with grief and forging a path onward. “What Lies in Darkness” has a skillfully crafted storyline that pays respects to the mental health and challenges surrounding loss, propelling the reader forward, and into truly rooting for the characters. I'm happy Jess and Alice found some peace and I look forward to the hopeful next installment in this series.

Thank you to the author, publishers, and Net Galley for my advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review. This review was left on Good Reads and will be left on Amazon once published.

Alice's life was completely changed one Christmas Eve night when her family got in a car crash on the way home. Alice was found injured near the site of the accident, but her parents and sister had vanished without a trace. One year later, Alice is in the basement of an empty home with her friend when they find her sister's backpack. Jess Lambert is the detective put on the case. As Jess digs for details to find out what happened to the Harper's, it leads her down a path connected with her own past. Jess is determined to find out what happened to the Harper's even if it means facing ghosts from her past.

What Lies In Darkness is the second book in the Jess Lambert series, but it can be read as a standalone. I did not read the first book of this series and had no issues following along with this book, but I am going back to read the first book because I enjoy Jess's character so much. This is the type of book that's so good you will want to read it on one day, which I did. This one has that eerie, atmospheric setting that keeps you drawn into the story, wanting more. The plot keeps you continually guessing and on the edge of your seat in suspense, wanting to know what happened to Alice's family. Then that bombshell twist of an ending! Just when I thought this book couldn't get any better, I was completely blown away.

Last year I read These Still Black Waters, where I met detective Jess Lambert. Jess carries heavy emotional baggage after losing her daughter in a car accident. Now she’s back, bringing her special sense of awareness to the case of a missing family.

This book is a complex series of storylines pushing genre boundaries of mystery, suspense, drama, and magical realism. How can a story gut you only to leave you hopeful? The characters sure found a way to tug at my heartstrings! Each twist was more brilliant than the previous one, and even as some of my predictions were validated, the author managed to trip me up with another inner twist. If Christina McDonald writes it, I will read it!

book review } What Lies in Darkness by Christina McDonald

In classic Arianna style, I picked up What Lies in Darkness because the @thrillerbookloversthepulse crew has been raving about it. I didn’t realize it was book two in a series, but no regrets here! This book is fantastic and can totally be read on its own. However, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be craving more Black Lake and Jess Lambert in your life.

What Lies in Darkness is an amazing small-town mystery with strong female leads. Jess Lambert is a complex character who can easily carry a series—I can’t wait to see where her story goes next. Alice is a compelling character- she’s tragic, strong and will have you rooting for her until the last page. The plot is detailed and McDonald has a knack for writing haunting imagery that sticks with you. I absolutely love mysteries with multiple timelines and narrators, and I especially enjoyed Laura’s perspective.

I’m excited to go back and read book one, These Still Black Waters, and I’m eagerly waiting for the next installment in the series!

Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for the copy to read and review.

I only know that this book is a second series of Detective Jess, so I'm kind of missing out of Jess' past like what happened to her daughter, but you certainly still can read this book as stand alone.

A missing family - A teenage girl left behind
Alice Harper and her family were on their way home from a family Christmas celebration, and as their normal route was blocked, they had to turn around and cut through Killer's Grove. They ended up in a car accident, but it's only her that was found on the side of the road while the rest of her family just disappeared.
Every lead has gone cold, they just vanished with barely a trace.
Detective Jess Lambert is on the case and feels a strong connection with Alice. I definitely want to get into the first series of Jess Lambert, as I want to know more of Jess' background story and her daughter, Isla.
Still fighting her demon from the past, Detective Jess determined to bring closure for Alice Harper.

It's a fast-paced, twisty thriller with a paranormal element that I didn't expect at all. It's truly impossible to put down !!

This book grabs your attention at the cover and holds it until the very last page! The cover is gorgeous and the spine has a surprise pop of color that will look amazing in your bookshelf. In this second book in the Jess Lambert series, Jess needs to help Alice who lost her family in a tragic auto accident a year ago. Alice’s family’s bodies were never recovered and it has haunted her. I love a good dual timeline story and this one was amazing. The book has a hint of supernatural that helps solve the case. The characters are so real they bring you into the story with them. My heart broke for Alice with everything she went through and is still going through. If you love a thrilling character driven novel you want to check out this series. It can be read as a series or standalones.