Wow! It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book with so many plot twists! I truly could not put it down and the author(s) really kept me on my toes. Just when I thought I knew everything, I would get to the next chapter and have a whole new theory.

Very well written and I definitely would recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and the author(s) for allowing me access to this book.

Wow! The ending left me speechless, I was not expecting that! This was my first Katherine Greene book, and it was amazing. I thought I had it all figured it, but I should have known it couldn't be that easy. I loved the alternating time lines between the sisters, I thought it flowed together and just added to the story. When I wasn't reading I was thinking of this book. I'm honestly debating going for a second read it was so good!

Thank you to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Katherine Greene for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date for The Lake of Lost Girls is November 5, 2024

I enjoyed this book very much! You think you have it all figured out and then there’s another twist! Absolutely amazing!

In "The Lake of Lost Girls" by Katherine Greene, readers are treated to a haunting and suspenseful narrative that will captivate fans of All Good People Here and We Are All the Same in the Dark. With alternating timelines and spine-tingling podcast clips, this novel offers a twisty tale of mystery and intrigue that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Set in 1998 at Southern State University in North Carolina, the novel follows the disappearance of Jessica Fadley, a once bright and responsible student who vanishes without a trace. Twenty-four years later, her sister Lindsey embarks on a desperate search for answers, fueled by a chart-topping true crime podcast that delves into cold cases like Jessica's.

As Lindsey delves deeper into the investigation, bodies of long-missing women begin to surface at a local lake, leading her down a dark and disturbing path of discovery. In alternating timelines, one sister searches for the truth while the other descends into darkness, ultimately leading to a shocking revelation.

"The Lake of Lost Girls" by Katherine Greene is a propulsive and chilling suspense novel that examines the bonds of sisterhood and the allure of true crime culture. With its sharp examination of secrets and lies, this gripping tale is sure to leave readers breathless until the very end.

What I liked
- The twist of who the killer was, I guessed before it came but it was a pleasant surprise either way
- Jessica’s voice. I felt like she was the only character with true emotion and depth to them
- The inside look on how the true crime ‘movement’ online could negatively impact the lives of the people actively living in to situation where a loved one has been missing for years.
- The different news articles and such put in between chapters, made the missing person case feel more real.
- Finding out the impact on Lindsay of being a sibling to a missing person. Not getting anymore birthdays after her sister disappeared on her birthday. Not understanding why her dad loved her sister more.

What I disliked
- The writing was really clunky in the beginning, almost like the author wasn’t sure of how to write it first person past tense.
- I really didn’t think the transcripts for the podcasts were necessary. They didn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know. Just repeat information. Could still show the impact it was having on Lindsay without it.
- The flashbacks, I struggle anytime a book relies on flashbacks.
- Lindsay, I really didn’t feel any connection to her. She was just kind of there for other characters to dump info at most of the time.

3 out of 5 stars. I did read the whole book is one sitting so that’s got to count for something but I still have some gripes with it. I might have to read the authors other book too.

This was really fun, I liked the author's previous book too but this one was definitely better. I really enjoyed the connections to true crime as well as the switching formats with the podcasts and the articles. The alternating timelines also worked really well and both of them were suspenseful enough on their own, although I liked Jess' POV a lot more. The writing was good and the pacing was fast, so I finished this in one sitting.

What I wanted was a little more detail in some regards, everything felt pretty surface-level, especially regarding Jess' POV and what happened to her there. I wanted a little more action and gore. I also think towards the end things got a little messy, there could have been less time spent explaining things in the beginning and more time spent on making the ending feel really neat. However, I only saw half of the plot twist coming and not all of it which definitely positively surprised me. I will definitely be reading more books by this author in the future.

Lindsey’s older sister Jessica was one of four female college students to go missing 24 years ago. Ever since Jessica's disappearance, Lindsey has felt the weight of all the unanswered questions. Now two podcasters are focusing on the missing girls, which leads to the discovery of one of their bodies. Will Lindsey's family finally get the answers they've always craved?

Told in alternating timelines and perspectives, the reader is given insight into present-day Lindsey's world as she searches for answers, and Jessica's life leading up to her disappearance. The reader is taken through various twists and turns as secrets are unearthed.

While a couple of parts of the plot are a little predictable, the author does a great job of building suspense and keeping the reader invested in the story. Jess starts off as a seemingly perfect daughter, but soon her self-destructive behavior sends her down a bad path, whereas Lindsey is stuck in a somewhat adolescent state due to not having a true childhood. They are equal parts likable and frustrating, and how their stories are woven together for the big reveal is ultimately satisfying.

This is an incredibly fast read, so it would make a great choice for a vacation read. Any mystery/thriller book group should consider it for a selection, as it is sure to engage and encourage lively discussions.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

This book gripped me right from the beginning! I found myself sneaking away at work to read the next chapter. I think this book also does a really good job of how problematic true crime podcasts can be in this day and age. Even though I did guess 1/2 of the ending I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves a whodunit.

This book was so damn gripping, I woke up in the middle of the night wanting to read it…the book called me that much. This book was a treasure of podcast excerpts, current day, flashbacks, social media posts, news articles. Anyone who loves a true crime podcast MUST listen to this book!

The ending of the book could have used a slightly longer epilogue or a few more threads wound together but the fact that it sucked me in so hard was more than enough to warrant it 5 stars (and I can’t remember the last thriller I’ve given 5 stars since The Silent Patient and Verity).

A big thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Publication day is set for November 4, 2024. Cheers to adding it to your TBR!

Read this in a day! So good! Hadn't read this author before but will be adding her to my TBR. I really enjoyed then intensity of this book. The development was spot on.

I was captivated by the story unfolding in the first chapter and couldn't wait to see where the book would take me next. If you're a fan of thrilling mysteries involving college-age characters, then this book is a must-read. It begins with a podcast investigating the disappearance of four girls from a small college town in the UK, switching between the perspective of one of the missing girls during her time in college and her younger sister in the present. I was on the edge of my seat, trying to predict the book's direction, and I was genuinely surprised by the twist at the end. I'm grateful for the opportunity to read this book in advance and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a gripping thriller.

scary!!!! missing college students and a whirlwind to unveil what is happening. this was a quick paced page turner thriller. excellent plot!

I strongly recommend reading this book when you get the chance! I found this book extremely captivating and engaging. I could not put this book down for the life of me! I definitely need to get my hands on a physical copy when it’s released into the wild!

I loved most of this book, it kept me guessing right until the end! I have to say I didn’t totally love the ending but I’d still recommend the book.

Twenty-four years after a series of female students were missing form Southern State U in North Carolina, Lindsey Fadley begins searching for answers to her sister Jessica’s disappearance. Her efforts are driven by a local true crime podcast that focuses on cold cases. Shortly after she begins her search, the bodies of the missing women begin turning up at a local lake. Matters become complicated when Lindsey learns that each of these students were involved in a sexual relationship with an older man that may have led to their death. Lindsey finally discovers the truth, despite having to follow a tortuous pathway, complicated by lies and botched police investigations. It is a truth that leads to a powerful and explosive ending.

This book kept me on my toes the entire time! I even had to go back and reread some parts, as I didn’t see the plot twists coming! I love how the book goes from past to present, and how it also incorporates the podcast style as well! Such a good read. Highly recommend

This book was absolutely phenomenal. I was hooked on the story from the first chapter and could not wait to see where this book lead. If you’re looking for a missing college age thriller mystery, but this book is for you my friends. The story starts with a podcast being made about four missing girls from a small college town in the UK perspective between one of the girls younger sister at the current time and one of the missing girls while she was in college. I was on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out where this book was going to lead and I honestly was shocked by the twist at the end. I am so grateful for this advanced copy read of this book and encourage anyone looking for a good thriller to pick this up.

A twisty page turner that has you hooked from the very start!! A very cleverly written thriller that has you guessing until the end. Everyone is a suspect. But only one of them did it. There's twist after twist after twist. You'll never see the ending coming!!

I loved the dual timelines and different formats of story telling - from podcast transcripts and tweets to Facebook posts & newspaper articles. It reads like a true crime case and I loved every second of it.

Thank you NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for the ARC!!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

unfortunately I couldn't get past the writing style in this book. It felt over simplified, and the premise of the podcast, and the fact that it was compared to I have some questions for you is what drew me in initially, but I couldn't get past the descriptions of things and writing.

Firstly, I did find myself wanting to know whodunit when reading this so I will praise Katherine Greene for keeping the suspense going, and I do also think it started some interesting conversations about true crime in the media, but that is where the strengths of the novel end for me. The writing felt quite stoic, and the flashbacks felt unnecessary as there would already be a description of what happened before then an immediate flashback. The love interest - Ryan - was the same for both sisters and it was insta love for both of them, too, despite them not trusting him at all. The characters constantly contradict themselves and it was really frustrating - I think this was made worse by it being in first person. Jessica’s and Lindsey had such similar voices that if it didn’t state whose POV it was, it would’ve been hard to tell. I was really looking forward to this novel but I just felt it let me down in quite a few places