Thank you #ThomasAndMercer and #Netgalley for letting me read this early.What Lies In Darkness is the second book in the Jess Lambert series by Christina McDonald.I love this series by McDonald.Make sure you read the first one These Still Black Waters it is not to be missed as well.

#WhatLiesInDarkness by @Christinamac79 was an absolute delight. I loved the intertwined characters and POVs and how that brought every possibility to the surface. A truly wild thriller with breakneck speed that picks up and never quits. The core mystery left me dumbfounded for longer than I expected -- and there were even more twists ahead.

So, this is the second book in the Jess Lambert series and I will say that I am already wanting more!! I’m not typically a big fan of series (it’s just too big of a commitment to get started on), but I love Jess Lambert’s detective character. I’m also starting to love author Christina McDonald more and more with each book that she writes. This book kept me glued to the pages from the first chapter, and made my head spin a little at the last chapter (I totally did not see that coming)!

In this story we have the main character of Alice Harper. Alice lost her parents and younger sister, Ella nearly a year ago late Christmas Eve during a terrible car crash. It was a snowy night, and the family vehicle slid on some ice, flipped over and all family members were presumed dead except Alice. Alice awoke from the crash bloodied, bruised up, and with a broken arm. However, her parents and sister were nowhere to be found. How could her other family members have just disappeared into thin air? They obviously must be dead, or they would have come for her. Right?

Now enter Jess Lambert, my favorite book detective (yes, I can totally relate to her bad leg). Jess is in search of the missing Harper’s. Jess becomes close to Alice, as she knows they can both see and feel things that others cannot. Can Jess protect Alice and help her find her family? Also, can Jess heal from her own personal trauma and problems while trying to solve this case and move forward with her life?

This book was easy to read as it was told in alternating chapters of Alice, Jess, and Laura’s (Harper), POV’s. This book can easily be read as a standalone, although I do recommend reading “These Still Black Waters” beforehand- just to get a clearer understanding of Jess Lambert’s life (Oh, and there’s also a prequel too 😁).

I highly recommend reading this book (and this series), as there were many twists and turns along the way and the ending gave me a surprise that I did not see coming!! I cannot wait for the next book!! Hurry up Jess Lambert #3!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: July 16, 2024.
Genre~ General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers

📚 Book Review 📚

This is my first experience of reading anything by Christina MacDonald and I was impressed.

Alice Harper lost her entire family in a horrific car accident almost one year ago. She is haunted by her grief and as the first anniversary approaches, she is decidedly affected by events around her.

One day, a backpack is found in an empty house in her neighbourhood. The backpack is covered in blood. Her sister’s blood. There is a suitcase next to the backpack containing something that will blow everyone’s world apart. Where is her family? Are they alive or dead? Who is the young child that Alice sees?

Jess Lambert has a hell of a job on her hands, whilst in the depths of her own grief and loss.

I was a bit worried at first that this is the second book in a series and I hadn’t read the first, but it really didn’t matter. It was easy to make links with the detective Jess and despite her flaws and demons as a character, I really liked her. She drew me in.

The other characters were intriguing and the events which unfolded, were exciting and gripping. People are not what they seem! I also loved the supernatural elements within the book; the shadows of the victims which still envelope the characters were compelling.

I loved it and I am am very interested in reading more from this author. I can’t wait to read another!

I’d like to thank Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley and Christina MacDonald for this fantastic opportunity 😊

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What Lies inI Darkness is Christina McDonald’s second in the suspenseful Jess Lambert’s series. Having not read the first in the series, I can definitely say you can read this as a standalone.
On Christmas Eve, sixteen year old Alice is in a car accident with her parents and younger sister Ella. When Alice is rescued, the rest of her family is no where to be found.
Forward to a year later, Jess a grief stricken, disabled police detective becomes active in the case of Alice’s missing family when Ella’s bloody backpack and a body stuffed in a suitcase are found.
Both Alice and Jess in their grief are seeing ghosts, helping them in the investigation.
This novel keeps your attention in hoping to find out what happened to the family. What an unexpected ending! Definitely a book to enjoy!

I read book one in the Jess Lambert series (These Still Black Waters) last year and loved it so much that I could not wait for book two! It did not disappoint, and I would venture to say that it is just as good, if not better, than the first one!

I love Jess, and it was great to see how she's working through her personal issues while at the same time trying to solve the case of Alice's missing family. The storyline was so good, and it kept me guessing as to what really happened the night of the accident. I was suspicious of so many of the characters and loved all the twists and turns! I did not see that shocking ending coming from a mile away!

This is now one of my favorite series, and I can't wait for more!! @christinamac79, please don't make me wait too long! 🤞😃

Thank you, @netgalley, for the #gifted e-book!

holy smokes!!!!! great thriller! if you like freida mcfadden type books, this is def one for you!!!! lots of twists

Jess Lambert Book #2

This one has it all. A family missing, a grieving detective, and a twisted, heart-pounding thrill ride!

AFter The Night Olivia Fell, I have been waiting for another CM book!
She is brilliant at the build up to a shocking end. And we love it!

On Christmas Eve the Harper family’s car crashed on the way home from the family Christmas party. Only Alice survives. We think. Since there are no bodies, it’s hard to say.

Alice seems to not remember a lot about the accident and is sent to live with her aunt and uncle. But she needs to find out what happened in that haunted stretch of road in the woods.

A year later, they find her sister’s backpack stained with blood in an abandoned house her uncle owns.

Detective Jess Lambert begins her investigation and wow, do these guys have secrets. All of them. Who do you trust?

The investigation uncovers a shocking connection between Jess and Alice. They see dead people. And they both see her daughter!

So many red herrings in this one! And I fell for all of them before that most excellent end!


NetGalley/ Thomas and Mercer July 16, 2024

I greatly enjoyed this book. I was not expecting a supernatural element to be so appealing to me, but I think that it worked well in this story.

I liked how the story switched back and forth from the viewpoints of Jess and Alice. I was not expecting there to be a connection between the two stories in the end, and was quite surprised at how they converged.

One thing about this book that I was not a fan of was the constant reiteration about Jess' cane and motorcycle. We did not need to hear about Jess grabbing her cane or getting on her motorcycle every time she made a move. I understand we were meant to connect Jess' need for the cane to her accident last year, which was obviously a crucial part of the story, but it just became annoying to read about over and over.

All in all, I thought this book was well done. The combination of mystery and supernatural worked well together. I look forward to more books in the Detective Jess Lambert series.

Before reading particular ARC, I read/listened to the first book in the series, which I did not enjoy. However, I did find this book to be better than the first. That being said, I do think it is important to read the first book so you have some idea of the main character, Jess, and her abilities (aside from that, this could almost be a stand-alone).

Overall, I enjoyed the characters, the story was interesting and the story held my interest for most of the book. The last third of the book, however, really dragged. There were so many characters, it was also hard to keep track of who was what. Lots of chapters were just filler, with character introspection and no real contribution to the story (or if there was, it could have been condensed in some chapters).

I would consider reading other books by this author, but likely would not be continuing this series (if it continues).

I read The Night Olivia Fell a few years ago and I loved it and have read some McDonald books since then. I did not read the first book featuring Jess Lambert, and I feel like it would have been a little helpful if I had just for some background information but it did not take away from the story.

This was such an interesting story that kept me wanting to know more. It is coming on the year anniversary of when Jess lost her daughter and also the year anniversary of when Alice's entire family went missing. It seemed the two incidents were separate yet they still somewhat intertwined. The end was so satisfying and that's all I'll say to not give anything away.

I think I will go back and read Jess Lambert #1 and will continue to read Christina McDonald books. Be sure to pick this one up when it comes out later this summer.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Lambert fights with her own hurt from losing a child, but knows in her heat that she must be the person to help other find out about their family’s tragedy. Can she ever forgive herself for the accident? Can she open her heart and love again? Can she be the partner and work with fellow detective Shane without plowing ahead alone? This story will have you turning the pages to try and figure out all these questions and the turn mystery that happened on Christmas night.

US pub date: 7/16/24
Genre: suspense/thriller
Series: Jess Lambert, book 1
Do I need to read book 1 first? I read it but I didn't remember the plot when I started book 2. I think this one works well as a standalone.
Quick summary: A winter car crash lead to a puzzling ending - 16-year-old Alice left injured at the scene, with the rest of her family having vanished. A year later, she discovers her sister's backpack and detective Jess Lambert takes up the investigation.

THE NIGHT OLIVIA FELL is still one of my fave thrillers, so I've enjoyed seeing what McDonald's been writing since! I liked the small town setting and how Jess' past was woven into Alice's story. I didn't guess the twists, and I really liked how everything played out. The one thing I had trouble with was keeping all the townspeople straight - for this reason, I'd recommend reading this one over a short time period if possible!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"What Lies in Darkness" is the second installment in the Jess Lambert series, but don't worry if you haven't read the first one. This book stands strong on its own, although if you want the full backstory, you might want to check out the first book "These Still Black Waters" beforehand. Just a little tip!

After a car accident, 16-year-old Alice Harper is left alone on the side of the road while her entire family seemingly disappears into thin air. Enter Detective Jess Lambert, who takes on the case one year later when new evidence surfaces. The mystery deepens as Jess dives headfirst into the investigation, determined to uncover the truth behind the Harper family's disappearance.

Let's talk about Jess Lambert for a moment. She's an incredibly resilient protagonist, facing her own personal struggles while tackling this perplexing case. Despite the challenges she's faced - including the loss of her daughter and a strained marriage - Jess remains determined to crack the case and seek justice for the Harpers. And on top of all that, she's navigating her own journey to sobriety, which adds another layer of depth to her character.

But hold onto your hats because this book has it all - multiple viewpoints, intricate timelines, and a plot so full of twists and turns it'll leave your head spinning. And the ending? Let's just say it packs a serious punch and will have you itching for more!

So, if you're looking for a heart-pounding thriller that'll keep you guessing 'til the very end, "What Lies in Darkness" is totally the book for you. Trust me, you won't be able to put it down!

Wow, just finished reading this book and it’s quite a story! Jess Lambert is an interesting complicated character who’s her own worst enemy! This is the second book of the series and it certainly didn’t disappoint. It’s a great read, fast paced and full of suspense. Kept me guessing right until the end. I’m already looking forward to the next instalment. Definitely a page-turner!

Christina McDonald is easily one of my favorite authors when it comes to thrillers, and her second installment of the Jess Lambert series did not disappoint (although this novel can easily read as a stand alone as well). "What Lies in Darkness" centers around a girl named Alice who lost her entire family in a car crash, and by lost I mean they disappeared and, a year later, haven't been found. Alice can't remember much, and Detective Jess Lambert is assigned to the case after a new piece of evidence comes to light. Throughout the novel I kept changing my mind on what I think happened; this novel was truly impossible to put down. Already anticipating her next novel! Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

What Lies in Darkness by Christina McDonald
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Synopsis: “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.”

Wow! This was my first Christina McDonald book and now I need to go back and read the first Jess Lambert book. This was fast paced, well written, deep characters, and full of twists I didn’t see coming. I didn’t feel like there was a slow point in the middle where the story isn’t moving along quick enough. I thought it was an original story and loved every minute of it. Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy. Publishes July 16, 2024.

Hands down my favorite new series! Christina McDonald's writing style is smart, easy to read, and completely enthralling! I loved the dynamic between Jess and her new partner Shane in this book. I also enjoyed getting to know Jess better. I hope this series continues.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

What Lies in the Darkness by Christina MacDonald is the second book in her Jess Lambert series. Macdonald did such a great job explaining things from the first book that it is easy to jump right into this one. Darkness has such smooth writing that I was able to forget I was reading and was completely immersed into this world. Jess is a strong character and it is easy to look up to her. Her character development over the two books is well thought out and I loved seeing more of her background. If you are looking for a book with an intense atmosphere and compelling mystery, this is for you.