From the moment I started the first chapter, I was captivated by the gripping storyline.
There are podcast episodes, flashback chapters from alternating perspectives, and even social media posts scattered throughout the book.
Each chapter seamlessly flows into the next, making it impossible to put the book down!!!!.

I was drawn to this ominous cover and title about missing women. Missing and murdered women is an all too real occurrence. This book tackled that, the world of true crime podcasting, and the dangers women face in a world of men. I think this author made attempts at feminism however, the execution completely lacked. There were plot inconsistencies, so many contradictions that it frustrated me and discounted me from the characters. Speaking of the characters, we have two POV’s between Jessica and her sister Lindsey. Both women were very unlikeable so I was unable to feel attached to this story and invested in the outcome. The chapters felt very long and the writing came off as quite clunky. It was heavy with useless descriptions that I ended up skimming over. The ‘study’ of true crime and the podcasting world was hardly touched, save for a few comments from Lindsey towards the end. Overall, I’m disappointed in this one and it was lacking in intensity, thrill, and suspense.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to review this book!

Whew. This was a doozy. Every time I thought I knew what was going on and whodunnit, turns out I was WRONG. I loved the podcasts and posts integrated into the book. This really kept things going and held my interest. I did feel like things went a little slow from time to time, which is what held the book back from 5 stars. I love a good small town murder.

This was a great whodoneit!
It’s about a sister who disappeared along with 3 other girls.
This book kept me highly entertained. I was invested in the story and I would highly recommend.
Thank you

Using suspenseful podcast clips to weave a twisty tale of a missing student and her sister who is desperate for answers, The Lake of Lost Girls is twisty engaging read. This a book is a unique mystery alternating between two sisters and multiple timelines as one is trying to solve the 24 year old mystery of her sister's disappearance. I couldn't put this book down and read it in a day.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the first book that I've read by Katherine Greene and I must say that I did enjoy it. It was a very compelling fast paced murder mystery book filled with twists and turns that made you want to keep reading. I also enjoyed the mixed media aspect to this book as it did feel like we were learning about a 'real life' case, and the dual timeline, podcast & journalistic elements helped moved the story along well.

Whilst I did enjoy my time reading this book I will say that I had a few issues with it. Firstly, I did manage to guess who the perpetrator was pretty early on in the book and whilst I will admit that I didn't know the full extent of the reveal, I felt like it was a pretty basic story line. The ending wasn't as strong as the rest of the book either which was a bit of a let down. I feel like a lot of reveals happening too fast and it was just so easy for our characters as it wrapped up pretty nicely. I thought we were going to have more of a stand off between different characters or maybe a clearer explanation so unfortunately it did fall flat for me. The male characters in this book are AWFUL, even the ones you think are nice have ulterior motives which really didn't sit right with me. I was under the impression that this was meant to be a feminist thriller however all the author did was make the male characters the worst people she could in order to support this narrative and once again it was the young girls that suffered. No matter who a murderer is, they can NEVER be a 'good person' in my eyes.

All in all, I had a fun time reading this book and flew through it however on reflections I did have some issues with it which is why I'm giving it 3 stars. I would be interested in picking up another book by this author in the future though.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an early copy of this book.

I really liked the idea of incorporating a true crime podcast into a thriller/mystery book. I usually really enjoy those books. This book fell flat for me. I thought the story had a lot of potential, but the characters felt flat and I never really connected to them. I was able to predict the ending very early on in the book, so the twists were not there. I did enjoy the dual point of view with the flashbacks but I was ready for the book to end.

Katherine Greene's "The Lake of Lost Girls" is a compelling thriller that masterfully weaves the modern fascination with true crime podcasts into its fabric, creating a dynamic and engaging narrative. The novel smartly employs a dual timeline, which adds layers of intrigue and depth as it explores a chilling mystery spanning over two decades.

The story kicks off with a startling discovery at a lake near a university campus, where the body of a woman surfaces, rekindling the cold case of four young women who vanished 24 years ago. This incident pulls Lindsey, whose sister was one of the missing girls, into an emotional quest for truth aided by the clues unearthed through a fictional podcast. This element not only modernizes the narrative but also enhances the suspense and complexity of the plot.

Greene's ability to maintain a fast-paced narrative through the clever use of multiple perspectives is commendable. The shifts between past and present keep the tension high and the readers guessing. The integration of the podcast is not just timely but executed in a way that enriches the story, providing a fresh lens through which the investigation unfolds.

While the novel delivers well on suspense and engaging plot twists, some characters seem a bit underdeveloped. However, Greene handles this gracefully by ensuring that even these less fleshed out characters contribute meaningfully to the twists and turns of the plot. This minor flaw is balanced by the book’s many strengths, including its solid plot structure and the seamless merging of different narrative elements.

The twists, though somewhat predictable for seasoned thriller readers, are crafted with enough finesse that they complement the story's build-up rather than detract from it. The ending, while brisk, ties up the narrative threads in a satisfying conclusion that most readers will appreciate.

Overall, "The Lake of Lost Girls" is an absorbing read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Greene's narrative is crisp, her plot well-constructed, and her novel's embrace of contemporary elements like podcasts will definitely resonate with many readers. This book is a strong recommendation for those who love a good thriller with a modern twist. The slight predictability of some twists does little to diminish the novel’s overall charm.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. Fans of mystery and thriller genres, especially those who enjoy innovative narrative formats, will likely find "The Lake of Lost Girls" to be a gripping and worthwhile read.

I enjoyed the twists and turns of this one . I like the addition of the podcast to storyline but felt some of the characters could have been fleshed out more as they fell flat but overall a good read
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for review copy

Such an awesome thriller! There were so many twists and turns, and it kept my attention the whole time. Definitely pick this one up!

I really liked the premise of incorporating a true crime podcast into a thriller/mystery book. Unfortunately for me this book didn't hit the mark. Overall I thought the story had a lot of potential, but the characters felt flat and I never really connected to them. And I predicted the ending very early on in the book, so the "twists" were far too obvious. I did enjoy the dual point of view with the flashbacks, but was ultimately skimming pages by the end.

24 years ago, 4 young women went missing from their university campus with absolutely no trace of them but plenty of suspects.

Today, a body re-surfaces in the lake nearby the campus. Lindsey, the younger sister of one of the missing girls is once again drawn into the mystery.

Set in two timelines - then and now - as well as a dual POV, this has the potential to be a fast paced thriller but it kinda fell flat for me. Loads of twists and turns that keep you guessing but the ending was rushed and I didn't get any kind of closure.

3.5 rounded down.

As an avid consumer of ‘Thriller’ books, I am seriously impressed with this title from Katherine Greene. The intense, the intrigue, the level of investment I had in it… unparalleled.

I particularly loved the formatting and thought it was a refreshing way of presenting such a pulpy, ‘who dunnit’ thriller. The characterisation was spot on, I couldn’t guess who the killer was, so was shocked and left reeling in the big reveal.

5/5 star read, will recommend to everyone!

This book was surprisingly good! I will say it starts slow and I did think about DNFing it, but in all honesty I’m glad I didn’t! I did guess part of the ending but not all of it! This was such a good read and I’m sad I didn’t finish it sooner!

I liked the plot and wanted to know what happened and “who-dun-it.” But I felt the story was a little basic, and I didn’t like the ending. I wish it would’ve given a little more in backstory and ending. I would’ve liked if the book was longer- it would’ve felt smarter and more interesting if there had been some more surprises and more history with the characters. Some parts felt a bit predictable- especially the reporter being Jess, the main characters, boyfriend at the time of the disappearance.. It wasn’t the worst mystery I’ve read, but I wouldn’t want to read it again.

Thank you for letting me read and review early!

There is a good book here. I just felt like all the pieces didn’t come together as well as I like for a thriller. I was able to guess the twist early on so overall, the shock factor was missing for me. The story was there. The plot was enthralling. I was completely invested, but something was just missing for me as the story concluded.

I will say the author does a great job of making you doubt your guess even though I put it together pretty early on. The way she was able to paint everyone as a suspect was very well done. So I still had doubts throughout.

Sadly, it wasn’t my personal favorite, but I do think it will find its readers. Don’t let it stop you from picking it up if it calls to you. It was a fast read, that kept me invested and it just might be the thriller you were looking for.

Pick this one up if you like:

-Dual POV and timeline thrillers
-True crime podcast elements
-Fast reads
-Multiple suspects
-Complicated family dynamics

I had really high hopes for this one, and maybe it's because I tandem read this while listening to "Listen for the lie" but this book missed the mark for me. DNF at about 50%

There's a really good book in here buried under some deeply annoying and overstuffed narration. I have figured out, by the way that basically nobody does it, that it's difficult to make multiple POVs sound significantly different from each other, but this book suffered DEEPLY from that, because both narrators shared one major flaw. I cannot overstate how grab-them-and-shake-them aggravating it is to read about wishy-washy self-destructive people, and both Lindsey and Jessica had the exact same tick of, every time they were confronted with a boy they should not be attracted to, being like "I know I shouldn't want him. Here's a description of multiple red flags. But I just want love! Might as well go for it" and it's just like - I think we're overestimating the self-awareness of people who make catastrophically stupid romantic decisions here. But more than that, it's annoying as hell to read and felt lazy that the two narrators both kept doing this.

I normally enjoy the conceit of writing a novel involving a podcast, but the inclusion of the podcast didn't really add too much, and it wasn't even really used capably as a framing device. I also guessed the ending sooner than I would have liked. However, what I want from a mystery/thriller is a plot that interests me enough to finish the book in a couple of days, and this book had that. So ultimately this wasn't too bad.

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

Great, twisty thriller told in multiple timelines. When four young women go missing from a small university in North Carolina in 1998, families are left looking for answers as police declare them runaways and do little to find them. 20 years later, a female body is pulled from a local lake and the sister of one of the missing starts looking for her own answers. There are multiple suspects who are all involved in the investigation. Who is telling the truth? Where are the other bodies? What happened to these women? Did not see the ending coming, kept me thinking until the end.

The Lake of Lost Girls ~ A Book Review
The Lake of Lost Girls is a novel that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat right up until the very end.

Stella and Rachel are two podcasters who follow up on cold cases involving murder!

book cover
Their followers are also tracking the evidence and speculations run rampant about the "Whodunit?"
Synopsis:

Lindsey has been living in the shadow of what ever happened to her sister so many years ago. All of a sudden out of the blue, the lake, the police and the crime scene tape is being played out yet again.

Body parts have been found by some young boys fishing in Doll's Eye Lake! Could it be they are the remains of Jessica (Jessie)? Will her disappearance finally be solved? Can Lindsey finally get out from under the cloud of grief and loss?

This story will have you turning pages and not wanting to put this book down for anything including coffee!

Jessica is a college student who comes home for a visit and her little sister is the last person to see her. It took ten seconds for her to disappear and never be seen again! How can anyone live with that kind of torment? Lindsey was only 6 years old when her sister disappeared. Twenty four years later body parts are coming to the surface.

Now back in the 1990's more than one college girl went missing, so could this be one of those girls or could it really be Jessie?

Back in the day when these girls first were listed as missing, the police did not have enough evidence to charge anyone with a crime. They also didn't have any bodies! No evidence and only a lot of hearsay about some of the professors and young men on campus!

What was going on here?

Well let me tell you, I had to read the book from start to finish in less than four days! My husband was busy cooking, because I was busy reading! He's great though and didn't mind. He's also a great cook, but I digress!

What I'm trying to tell you is that this book, The Lake of Lost Girls, should be on your MUST READ LIST!

It is available for pre-purchase as it is only coming out on November 5th, of this year.

If you have family or friends that love true crime novels, this one is for you!

I am a member of NetGalley (www.netgalley.com) and this book was made available to me for my honest review. The Lake of Lost Girls, does not leave you disappointed as you will engage with the disturbing and quick downfall of a responsible girl who does not cope well with college life . The aftermath of her disappearance leaves her younger sister with emotional scars too. All of this is very understandable and I think in a way relatable.

Bring in a few "shady" characters and you start to see how lost a young person can become when their lives change so quickly. No one gets out of this mystery without being touched by it in some way!

~ Mark your calendar for this release date! November 5, 2024!~