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.

Loved everything about this book and look forward to more from Detective Jess Lambert. From start to finish the story kept me guessing about what happened to the Harpers and why was the 16 year old daughter left at the wreck site injured.
While trying to find answer Jess must face some of her own past.
Thrilling from start to finish ~ highly recommend

4.5 stars! I loved this book and I pray that there is more of Detective Jess Lambert to come! Christina McDonald’s writing was fantastic. I’m not typically a fan of super natural things, which this series has some of, but MvDonald does it so well and it just works. Love how it tied back to things in the first book (definitely should read the first one before this). Really enjoyed it! Definitely recommend!

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer & NetGalley for the ARC!

What Lies in Darkness is the second installment of McDonald's Jess Lambert series, and it continues the story of a dedicated detective searching for a way back from unspeakable tragedy. Her young daughter died in a car accident while she was behind the wheel, and she's literally haunted by the incident, plagued with guilt that has destroyed her marriage and her personal life. Jess throws herself into her career, this time to solve a case that has everyone stumped. An entire family went missing after a bad car accident the year before, and only Alice, their teenage daughter, survived. When evidence surfaces a year later, Jess is determined to solve the case and bring closure to young Alice. This is a slow burn thriller that ramps up to a breakneck pace towards the end, with reveal after reveal peeling back the layers of this complex and nuanced story. The setting is immersive, and it's the kind of story that stays with you. Highly recommended.

Being the second book in the Jess Lambert series, this book hooks you with action from the very beginning. The story starts off with a car accident with Alice and her family. When Alice wakes, her family is no longer missing and she doesn’t know whether they are alive or dead. As the story goes on, we follow the points of view of Alice, who is trying to stay afloat and deal with the trauma of being the only one of her family left, Jess the detective who is also battling her own grief while trying to solve this case, Laura, Alice’s mother, who’s POV is told in the past and helps to piece the puzzle together, and finally Mel, Alice’s aunt. This fast-paced story was full of so many twists that had my jaw on the floor and kept me on the edge of my seat. You’re definitely gonna want to get your hands on this thriller when it releases this summer.

𝔾𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕂𝕟𝕠𝕨
► Part of a Series
► Paranormal Elements
► Unreliable Narrator
► Multiple POV
► Dual Timelines

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4 ½⭐️✨
WHAT LIES IN DARKNESS
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: thriller/mystery
📖 346 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: ❄️🚗🕵🏻‍♀️🎵💊📷🎄🔦👻🩸🎒🔑💵
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 7/16/2024

💛𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲💛

Thank you @thomas&mercer @christinamac79 for the #gifted copy! @thrillerbookloversthepulse is raving about this for a reason!

𝘔𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦.

WHAT LIES IN DARKNESS was absolutely amazing! I couldn’t put it down, & the phrase “the plot thickens” echoed in my mind countless times as I devoured it. Told from multiple POVs with past chapters leading up to the fateful night in question, I was completely enthralled & couldn't figure it out. The ending had me gasping in shock more than once!

The descriptive writing vividly brought the creepy scenes to life, & the intricate web of characters & motives kept me eagerly turning pages. Full of mysterious phone calls, threatening texts, hallucinations, & an unreliable narrator, it kept me on the edge of my seat.

Although this is the second book in a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone—I hadn’t read the first one & thoroughly enjoyed it. I can't wait to read more by this author & highly recommend this book!

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ multiple POV
◽️ dual timeline
◽️ mysterious phone calls & texts
◽️ endless suspense

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Late Christmas Eve, the Harper family's car crashed near Black Lake, leaving sixteen-year-old Alice injured & alone. Her parents & younger sister, Ella, had mysteriously disappeared. A year later, Alice & her friends find Ella’s bloodstained backpack in an abandoned house. Detective Jess Lambert's investigation uncovers dark secrets linked to her past. Determined to find the truth, Jess faces resistance from both the living & the dead.

With Detective Jess Lambert back again in What Lies in Darkness, I knew this was going to be another captivating read and I was right. This was another addictive mystery where we follow Jess trying to find out what happened to a family who went missing after a car crash except for one daughter. Short chapters, lots of twists and turns, multiple POVs and interesting characters all made this a thriller that was incredibly hard to put down.

This book is the second in a series, but I had not read the first when I read this, so I believe it can be read as a standalone. I love a good ghost story, but it has to be executed right. Christina McDonald does a superb job in this genre of mystery/ghost story. I loved Jess Lambert's character and now I can't wait to go back and dig into the 1st in the series!

Alice Harper lost her entire family on Christmas Eve, last year in a horrific car crash. She "lost' them in more ways than one, they were presumed dead AND they disappeared into thin air! It was a snowy night, the car slid on some black ice, flipped over and Alice awoke from the crash, hurt, bloody and with the loss of her family. A year later, some evidence of her family pops up at a teen party. Enter Jess Lambert to search for the missing Haper family members. Jess has a special set of skills. But she has her own family trauma she's recovering from.

The book is told in alternating chapters, which I enjoy. The story unfolds and is read easily with twists and turns as slippery as the ice that the Harper family slid into. It's a great story and I can't wait to get more of McDonald's easy writing style!
3.5 stars rounded up.

I was so excited to read this one and it did not disappoint! And there is so much more we learn about Jess and what really happened in her past. Love this series so much! Detective Jess Lambert is pulled into a cold case when new evidence and a body is found in an empty house. Christmas Eve a car accident happens, a teenage girl is found confused and injured on the side of the road meanwhile the parents and sister are missing from the wreck. What happened to cause this wreck and how do three people just disappear after an accident scene like this one? As Jess works off of old notes from the original investigation and works on questioning the remaining teenager, things just seem odd. She knows she is missing pieces and someone knows something but as she starts to gather the various pieces she realizes just how close to this case she may personally be. She has been warned about her detective work and now everything is on the line to solve this before the FBI steps in to take over. I could not turn the pages fast enough! This series is a new favorite of mine. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the complementary ebook. Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse is excited to be reading, posting and talking about this series. This is one you don't want to miss out on!

I love the Jess series. Christina McDonald is a must read. You won’t want to put her books down.
She is a master storyteller who will have you believing one thing and shock you with the truth of the story.
Love this author!!!

Another great installment of the Jess Lambert series! Lots of suspense and twists to get lost in. Love the character of Jess, a flawed detective trying to redeem herself while solving a tough disappearance. It's hard to put down and I finished it all in one sitting! Can't wait for the next!