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.

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.
.

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!