What a thrilling read this was! I haven't read many thrillers where there are SO many potential guilty individuals, but Greene really put me through the ringer in this one. There were many times I thought I had it all figured out, then something new would come up and I was left recalculating all the information I had up to that point. You have a temper-laden boyfriend, a creepy professor that preys on students at the college, and a whole mess of missing young women with many things in common.

This is a story about broken families, traumatized children and that very deep need for parental acceptance and love. The main character, Jessica, had just left for college finally experiencing life on her own. But her family drama followed her everywhere and she struggled with finding her feet. Her experience was heartbreaking to say the least and the unfolding horror was understandable considering everything that she was going through. The close relationship he had with her father was a trigger point for how she was able to navigate her experiences and the resulting fall of her own doing.

I loved this story and how so many different dynamics were weaved together to create a story about a family that refused to acknowledge their own dysfunction; a group of missing girls that suffered from broken homes much like Jessica; and a young sister who's searching for answers to her own families tragedy of a missing girl.

Missing women thrillers are always for me and this added in a podcast, dual timelines and so much more. This was an easy read, perfect for when you just want to escape for a bit. There is a good group of suspects, all with motives and flimsy alibis to keep things interesting. The ending was great - I love when a book really goes for it! I went between listening (audio has a full cast) and reading and would highly recommend either format.

Told in alternating timelines and dual points of views, The Lake of Lost Girls had so much potential. I think it started out lackluster from the get-go by being labeled a thriller because a thriller it is not. This is a murder mystery. A slow moving one.


Remains are found near a lake, 24 years after Jessica went missing. Could it be her? Her family never got any answers and feel like the police botched the whole investigation.



Her sister, Lindsey, starts learning about her sister's past thanks to a new Podcast that is shedding light on similar murders that happened in the same area around that time and also via a very weird and shady reporter who is poking around.



I figured out the suspect pretty early on in the book. It was very clear. The writing style of this story is very choppy. I couldn't get into the flow. The characters are all sad and angry; there wasn't a single person I liked.



Despite the negatives, it was a fast read. Given the podcast aspect it is a modern-type mystery.



The Lake Of Lost Girls is set to be released November 5, 2024 here in the U.S. so pre-order your copy now. Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me an advanced digital copy to read and give my honest review. It was a 3 star read.



Happy Reading!

The Lake of Lost Girls is one heck of a great thriller! Katherine Greene had me guessing all the way to the jaw-dropping end. This well-written mystery uses a modern podcast to try and solve the murders of 4 college freshmen 24 years ago in a small southern town. We get the point of view in the past of Jessica Fadley as a struggling college student and the main focus of the podcast, in contrast to the present-day point of view of her forever grief-stricken little sister, Lindsey. Together with transcripts of the podcast, we get a slow-burn kind of reveal as past meets present and the ultimate outcome is destined to blow apart way too many lives.

I have to admit that I loved that I was fooled more than once, forever second-guessing my own opinion as to who committed these crimes. Lindsey is on a mission to find out exactly what happened to her sister, not thrilled with how the two podcasters presented this long-buried cold case, yet appreciative of the attention their discussion has created. I felt for Lindsey and the less-than-stellar relationship she had with her father, in particular, a man who loved Jess almost too much. I had thoughts that perhaps their relationship was too close for comfort but was glad the authors didn't go in that direction. For Lindsey, as she uncovers new information about her 'sainted' sister, I thought she handled all that is thrown at her quite well. Her strength from being on her own emotionally for the last 24 years clearly helped her sort through everything that occurs in this book. Her trust for the opposite sex will always be on shaky ground but she deserves better and I can only hope she finds peace going forward.

These co-authors very cleverly give us a few suspects that throw us off the track as to who the real killer is. I honestly kept going back and forth confident more than once that I had figured it out. But then as a tearful confession rocks Lindsey's world, I was completely gobsmacked as to the whys of the killer's motives and who they ultimately blamed for their actions. It's like the ultimate butterfly effect, wherein someone's secretive endeavors start a landslide of gestures that break apart families and cause endless strife.

I will suggest that readers go into this book blind, giving their own sleuthing skills a try to solve this cold case for themselves. I really enjoyed this reading experience and the use of the podcast and news articles to embellish this fascinating thriller. Again, I'm not the best at figuring out these kinds of storylines so for me, this kind of adventure is great fun and kept me on my toes.

Well-crafted, engaging and thoroughly entertaining, I happily give The Lake of Lost Girls a big 5 stars!

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 11/5
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Ten Seconds to Vanish: The Unsolved Disappearance of Jessica Fadley is a 13 episode podcast referring to - you guessed it the vanishing of Jessical Fadley. Rachel and Stella - the hosts really dive deep into their investigation of the cold case. Lindsey, Jessica’s sister starts to question everything.
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I loved this book. This was an absolutely gripping read right from the start and it kept me hooked until the very end. I loved the mixed media format where we got snippets from the podcast and the nonlinear timeline of both the past and the present.
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The Lake of Lost Girls is a mystery, a thriller and a family drama. I loved all of these aspects in this story. The characters were great and easy to like. I had my suspicions about how the story was going to end, and I was correct but I didn’t know how Greene was going to make that happen, and I really enjoyed the ride. There are the perfect amount of twists throughout!
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I listened to this one via audiobook while reading my eARC and this full cast narration was superb. Helen Laser, Frankie Corzo, Sara Young, Haley Taylor and David Bendena were fantastic. They brought this one to life. Absolutely phenomenal; I highly recommend the audiobook.
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Overall, I highly recommend this book, I think that people are going to love it! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Greene, Dreamscape Media and Crooked Lane Books for the eARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Lindsey is searching for answers in her older sister’s, Jessica, case. Jessica went missing one day twenty four yesrs ago as a college student. Interest is renewed with a new podcast and a new investigator.

This was a fairly typical missing college girl story, except for the resolution and ending. I was totally not expecting how it ended but pay attention because there are some hints along the way. I was in shock; which is the goal for missing person cold case stories for me. I loved the college background and while at times you may need to suspend belief for certain aspects, it’s worth a read.

“Lies were my family’s love language.”

The Lake of Lost Girls comes out 11/5

This is a great crime mystery story that is set in a small town with the university set above . The setting was at all times so well desribed that it was easy to picture that and all the characters as they evolved. The story is basically about 4 girls that went missing 24 years beforehand and one body being found. Lindsey the sister of Jess, the last girl to go missing, share alternate chapters describing their own timelines and this works very well, adding to the mystery of who did what as the suspects keep increasing with many different reasons. The story covers so many topics from broken families, adultery, pedophiles and the student debauchery at the small town university. The introduction of social media in the podcasts added a different dimension to the usual type of mystery and it was easy to relate to the 2 women who were making the podcast and so making the mystery available for the public and so ensuring that the police did the job properly this time around. It was fairly easy to deduce who the murderer was but the extra twist at the end was certainy not expected.
I look forward to reading more by this very talented writer who kept me enthralled.

Wow!

The Lake of Lost Girls is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that hooks from the start. Told over multiple time lines - the present day when the sister of one of the missing girls is determined to get answers, and the time when the the girls went missing.

So many possible leads as to who hurt and disposed of these girls that the real assailant coasts, basically hiding in plan sight. A lot is unpacked, and so many horrible things happened and were done.

Adultery, lies & secrets are at the forefront of this story and where we got answers, I sincerely wish there was more as it was so good! Looking forward to reading more from this author.

This was a solid mystery, especially if you like the genre. It reminded me a bit of Listen for the Lie since it has the true crime podcast element, so if you enjoyed that one, I would say definitely give this a try. The characters were enjoyable to get to know and there were some good twists thrown in the mix. I wasn’t quite sure how it would end, but I had a but of a correct inkling. Overall, I would recommend for fans of mystery/suspense/thriller.

A well-written thriller that kept me guessing until the very end.

Positives:
The setting of Southern State University in Mt Randall, NC (and a bit of dark academia)
The addition of the podcast, newspaper articles, social media blips, etc. in between chapters
Alternate time lines and POVs
Many plausible and credible suspects

Negatives:
Once in awhile the 2 storylines of the Lindsay and Jess and their lives were too close and I would get them mixed up. Also because of the same reoccuring characters who corssed over both time lines.
There was one character who was really dislikeable. Won't give it away.

This book is perfect for fans of mysteries and true crime!

In the late 90s, four women go missing within a few months of each other. No one really knew what happened to them, until, in the present day, remains are found.

This book really takes you for a ride, full of twists and turns and shocks! I loved how the story was interwoven with podcast episodes and social media posts. And the setting of a small university at the edge of a small town really gave it creepy, unsettling vibes!

Also, the different POVs and alternating timelines really kept me on the edge of my seat. Honestly, at some point, I thought everyone was acting suspicious, I was so paranoid!

I did see a few of the twists coming, but the ending had me shook!

I definitely recommend this if you love trying to solve mysteries!

The Lake of Lost Girls
by Katherine Greene
Pub Date: Nov 05 2024

What a thriller ride! The Lake of Lost Girls kept me on the edge of my seat from the first page until the last. The storyline was exceptional, the characters were so believable, told in dual timelines with different point of views. This is definitely a must read book!

Synopsis: Told in alternating timelines, The Lake of Lost Girls is a haunting novel that will thrill fans of All Good People Here and We Are All the Same in the Dark. Using suspenseful podcast clips to weave a twisty tale of a missing student and her sister who is desperate for answers.

Many Thanks to #TheLakeofLostGirls #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for providing me with an E-ARC of this book.

This was a perfect portrayal of who did it? The reveal was not anything I was expecting and to say my jaw hit the floor. Just wow.

4/5 star would definitely recommend.

Told in alternating timelines, The Lake of Lost Girls follows the story of Jessica Fadley's freshman year at Southern State University, and her younger sister Lindsey's investigation into Jess's disappearance twenty-four years later. Jess attended college in her small hometown, and during her freshman year four young women went missing from the school. The case went cold with no resolution. Interest has been renewed in Jess's case with the possible discovery of human remains at the lake near the college and the release of a new podcast series about the missing women. A handsome reporter approaches Lindsey for information, but it seems like he may have his own ties to the case as well.

I love a mystery/thriller with podcast elements, and was excited to hear how the audiobook would incorporate these into the experience. I found that the script for these segments didn't flow very naturally, unfortunately.

I appreciated the characters and angles of this mystery, but I ultimately had everything solved fairly early on. The family dynamics at play were very interesting, but I wish that there had been more opportunity to focus on that aspect of the story. There are some reveals very late in the story that I think would have been great to show the reader rather than tell them at the end.

Mystery readers who enjoy multiple perspectives, complex characters, and lots of red herrings will enjoy this one!

I knew I wanted to read a mystery-thriller during October – a.k.a. spooky month – and I’ve had this ARC languishing on my Kindle for a while. In 1998 North Carolina, freshman Jessica Fadley suddenly disappears. 24 years later, Jess Fadley is a missing person, and she leaves behind a grieving family including sister Lindsey, plus plenty of fodder for a true crime podcast. Through a dual-timeline narrative, we are invited in as two sisters untangle and weave a complicated web of darkness. Lindsey is unsettled as a 30-year-old living in her missing sister’s shadow, dipping into a new podcast series about said sister when a journalist appears at the hotel she works out, seeking information about the case.

I found this to be incredible readable and propulsive: it was my jetlag companion. There’s a warm humanity to Lindsey’s chapters that opens up a conversation about the culture of true crime. As a true crime fan myself, it definitely left a lurch in my stomach. I appreciated the focus on sisterhood (above family) here for many reasons, and the short commentary into misogynistic approaches to police investigation. Greene reaches deep into human compassion and emotion to propel her story forwards. And, in terms of the ‘whodunnit?’ element, I felt pleasantly surprised that I did go back and forth on who I thought was the culprit. There’s enough suspense to keep you turning the page for more, just a true crime podcast.

Thank you Crooked Lane Book for my free ARC of The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene — available Nov 5!

» SYNOPSIS «
In the late 90s, several young women suddenly go missing from a North Carolina university, including Jessica Fadley, whose sister Lindsey is still grieving her 24 years later. When a new podcast starts digging into the disappearances, Lindsey finds herself involved in the investigation, which starts to feel too real when bodies of the missing women are discovered in a nearby lake. Will Jessica be the next body to be found? Or is something even more dangerous going on?

» REVIEW «
This was just okay for me; I enjoyed the story for the most part but I felt the resolution was a bit rushed and eye-rolly. The men in this book are all terrible, but I guessed the main "culprit" almost immediately — though there is some nuance and twistiness to this so I can't claim to have truly guessed the ending. I found the characters to be a little flat but itf you're looking for a popcorn thriller that will hold your attention, give this one a go!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Told in alternative timelines, The Lake of Lost Girls, follows sisters Lindsey and Jessica. It's been 24 years since Jessica went missing, and Lindsey who was only a child at the time, has let her disappearance control her life since then. Lindsey along with a reporter start to dive deeper into the events that lead to Jessica's disappearance, including investigating a string of other missing girls from the local college. With the discovery of a young girl's remains are found though, what was once a cold case is heating up, as a popular true crime podcasts chronicles in real time what the police are finding.

I love a good mixed media book, and especially when a podcast is involved. Which is strange considering I hardly ever listen to podcasts, but I digress. Greene was able to sprinkle in podcast episodes and social media posts, that enhanced the story perfectly. I enjoyed the podcast commentary, and the fact that Greene is drawing attention to societies morbid fascination with True Crime, and how it's all too easy to forget that these were real people's lives being impacted. Reading the way Lindsey let this impact her life really reminds us to be mindful when consuming True Crime.

Character depth and development is where I took a star away though. Each of our characters lacked any emotional awareness and all of them tended to share similar traits. It was hard to distinguish our characters from each other, as they all tended to fall into the same 'stereotypes'. While this made guessing the murderer more difficult, it did make the characters seem a bit flat for me. However, with the alternating POVs and timelines, Greene was still able to generate an atmosphere of suspense that had me staying up late to finish this book.

With a gripping story line, a claustrophobic small-town feel, and plenty of red herrings, Greene will keep you guessing until the final pages. If you enjoy thrillers and true crime podcasts, then this book is perfect for you.

The Lake of Lost Girls comes out November 5, 2024. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting
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Website: SPEAKINGOF.ORG

This book was fantastically gripping from start to finish.

There were the perfect number of suspects in the disappearances of several college girls, each with their own secrets to hide, and it kept me guessing until the very end. There were some plot twists that completely blew me away with how horrifying the answer to the mystery was.

I recommend this one to anyone who likes books with family secrets, murder podcasts and serial killers.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Katherine Greene for an advanced copy of "The Lake of Lost Girls" in exchange for my review.

This fits the bill as a binge-worthy thriller! I am usually someone that is able to guess fairly quickly who the culprit is but Greene was able to make this a story that I had trouble unraveling! "The Lake of Lost Girls" definitely kept me guessing and compulsively reading because the story was extremely well done. I was in desperate need of a good thriller after a string of predictable stories, and this delivered.

🛶Book Review🛶
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Summary- It’s 1998, and female students are going missing at Southern State University in North Carolina, but freshman Jessica Fadley, once a bright and responsible student, is going through her own struggles. Just as her life seems to be careening dangerously out of control, she suddenly disappears.

Twenty-four years later, Jessica’s sister Lindsey is desperately searching for answers and uses the momentum of a new chart-topping true crime podcast that focuses on cold cases to guide her own investigation. Soon, interest reaches fever pitch when the bodies of the long-missing women begin turning up at a local lake, which leads Lindsey down a disturbing road of discovery.

In the present, one sister searches to untangle a complicated web of lies.

In the past, the other descends ever deeper into a darkness that will lead to her ultimate fate.
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️
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My thoughts- Thank you so much @netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for the advanced copy. I was so excited for this one but it was a bit of a let down. I enjoyed the overall idea of this but there were some major issues. It’s told through alternating timelines and a separate podcast. The podcast didn’t have a purpose or move the story forward, I’m not really sure why it was included. The main issue was the bizarre inappropriate relationship between the father and the missing daughter, it made me so uncomfortable. This was a good but not great thriller.
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QOTD- what are you currently reading or listening to ?
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