I was intrigued by the prologue on this one, and I dove right in. Chapter 1 kept up the drama, and I buckled up for a great ride. Yes, this book was entertaining, but it was more of a domestic drama than a thriller. There were minimal psychological thriller vibes. I did enjoy the book, and I found myself constantly turning the pages wanting to know what was going to happen. The twists were mostly predictable. That didn't take away from the enjoyment of the book. It just didn't give off thriller vibes as promised.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Like a lot of other reviewers I did feel like this was more a domestic thriller / drama and less psychological thriller. The lake house was still a very solid thriller book, and the prologue was so gripping. Overall this was a good read but maybe the marketing was a little off.

An easy to read, interesting book. Laura moved to the Lake House after finding her bridegroom and bridesmaid in bed together on her wedding day. A fresh start was needed so she moved to the idyllic town of Pine Lake. Unexplained deaths occur, her ex and his girlfriend rent the next door property. Laura and her slightly reclusive friend try to make sense of the strange happenings that occur in this charming little town. Little did they know a predator was lurking in their midst.
A decent thriller with just the right amount of mystery to keep the pages turning.

Thank you Negalley, Inkubator Books and Theo Baxter for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This was an amazing popcorn thriller that was unputdownable and will have you turning the pages at a super high speed. I will definitely be recommending this to more people.

I have no complaints about except that the end was a little anticlimactic and rushed.

All in all, this was definitely a great read!

I received an advance copy of this book and found myself engrossed from the very beginning, particularly intrigued by the prologue. The story follows Laura, whose wedding day is derailed when her fiancé Tony is caught in a compromising situation with her best friend Mary, who is also her maid of honor.

Years later, Laura relocates to Lake Pines, a seemingly idyllic town nestled amidst retirees but with some amenities catering to younger residents. Initially, it appears to be the perfect escape for Laura.

However, things take a dark turn as Laura encounters unsettling and downright bizarre occurrences. Despite the oddities, she forms a bond with Graham, the town's eccentric character, who becomes a source of comfort amidst the chaos. Yet, as Laura's life becomes increasingly entangled in mysteries and unexpected deaths, including the unsettling presence of her ex-fiancé Tony as her new neighbor, and her landlord's unsettling behavior, the atmosphere grows increasingly eerie.

While some aspects of the narrative may feel repetitive, the storyline is propelled by a captivating blend of conspiracy theories, a love triangle, and a plethora of coincidences. Despite any flaws, the gripping nature of the plot left me craving answers, eager to unravel the mysteries lurking within this seemingly serene town.

I was really interested in the book based on the title and description. I give the book a light three stars. It's a fast read that serves well as a "palette cleanser." However, I felt the psychological thriller aspect was somewhat lacking and predictable. Overall, it was a pleasant read.

Cosy, creepy and creative!
If you’re in the market for a cosy mystery with a few twists and turns along the way, this is the summer read for you.
Set in the backdrop of a small lakeside town in California, the mystery surrounds Laura. She’s left the big city for the comfort and anonymity of small town life, but is it everything she had hoped for?
Interesting characters and a fast paced plot drive this book along with a few questions that our protagonist needs to answer.
It felt a little like the plot wrapped up too quickly at the end for me, would have liked to have seen a little more of the explanation of events as well as a little more of life after, however the rest of the book more than made up for it!

The Lake House is labeled as a psychological thriller, but honestly I would not label this as one. It is more of a domestic drama to be honest. The book did not really give me the thrill and shock factor I expect from a thriller.

This book was definitely thrilling, fast-paced and a bit creepy at times. I felt the tension between the different characters throughout the entire book, and you are kept guessing until about the very end as to who is pulling the strings in this formerly idyllic lake community that is hiding some very dark secrets

Laura moved to calm, peaceful Pine Lake after discovering her fiancé in bed with her best friend on their wedding day. She thought she would finally be able to get over the heartache by taking time away from everything and everyone she knew. But soon after moving in, her next door neighbor dies in a freak accident, and her new neighbors are familiar faces. Too familiar-her ex fiancée Tony and ex best friend Mary. Laura quickly finds out that both Tony and Mary suspect each other for the suspicious move next to Laura. As Laura tries to come to grips with everything happening in her new small town, different things start to happen to make her question many of the people around her. Someone in town has some interesting motives-and it’s up to Laura to figure out if it’s someone from her past or present.

I enjoyed this book but it was a bit predictable. It was a fast read though, and I’m happy to have the chance to review it!

3🌟
The Lake House is less thriller and more stalker/creepy vibes and men who can't take no for an answer really. While there's something to be said for the drama at the beginning of the book, and the romance that comes alongside all the peculiar stuff happening I wasn't really here for it much to be honest.

Quick easy read that had me hooked from the beginning and kept my attention until the very end. Creepy & mysterious lake house that gave me goosebumps.

Anyone looking for a fast read this is a great one! I would recommend this one for sure!!

At first glance, the story might seem like your typical small-town drama, but it's something quite different. Baxter masterfully crafts a narrative that is as gripping as it is unpredictable. From the very beginning, I found myself drawn into Laura's world, rooting for her as she navigates the murky waters of betrayal and deceit.

What sets "The Lake House" apart is its cast of characters, each more complex and intriguing than the last. Laura, with her resilience and determination, is a protagonist you feel an immediate kinship with, while the other characters' twisted motivations keep you guessing until the very end.

As the plot unfolds, Baxter keeps readers guessing with twists and turns that will leave you reeling. The pacing is expertly crafted, allowing for moments of quiet contemplation amidst the chaos, as Laura grapples with the truth lurking just beneath the surface.

But perhaps the most impressive aspect of "The Lake House" is Baxter's ability to evoke such strong emotions in the reader. I found myself laughing, seething with anger, and holding my breath in suspense as the story unfolded. It's a testament to Baxter's skill as a storyteller that he can elicit such a visceral response from his audience.

Quick easy read that had me hooked from the get go and kept my attention until the very end. Great character development. Creepy & mysterious lake house.

Anyone looking for a fast read this is a great one! I would recommend this one for sure!!

This was my first book by this author but definitely not my last.

Thank you Netgalley & Inkubator for allowing me to read this ARC.

The Lake House was my first Theo Baxter book. I enjoyed it, and thought it was well written and interesting. I personally wouldn't call it a thriller - more of a really well done Soap Opera style read. There was certainly plenty of drama, a few little twists here and there but nothing wild. I liked the characters, the setting of the lakeside village and I thought it was a great idea for a book. Easy enough to follow, and fast paced enough to keep me turning the page and a realistic but satisfying ending.

If a gentle thriller is more your style then this is a fantastic read.

This was a new-to-me author that gave me a little thrill in reading it. I checked out his other books and see a few more I'm going to read.

This one revolves around Laura and her mental health in dealing with multiple problems. It's all set in a small town that's full of exes, wanna be's, weirdos, and gossips. Otherwise, a pretty good mix of characters.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

First, I want start by saying thank you to NetGalley, Theo Baxter, and Inkubator books for allowing me the opportunity to read the ARC of The Lake House!

I was really excited for the book because the synopsis peaked my interest. The beginning first few chapters really drew me in, and I was excited to see where the story went. I love when a thriller completely grabs your attention and holds it from the very beginning, and I felt like, for the first few chapters, it was going to be a read that was going to be hard to put down. Once I got past the initial attention grabber, I felt like the book slowed down a lot and became more predictable and more of a domestic drama rather than a suspense/thriller. I was able to correctly guess the plot twists of the book, so I didn't get that shock factor that I love in a true thriller. The book was, overall, still entertaining, but I felt that it lacked suspense, lacked a surprise/shock factor at the end, and just kind of felt forced in many parts.

I originally wrote this review feeling ambivalent and then I saw “a killer psychological thriller” on the cover and got mad enough to add some more color to my sentiments. It wasn’t unpleasant to read, but I can’t say I was impressed. I kept waiting for something shocking to happen, like that the good guy turned out to have been the bad guy all along, or that the bad guy was the bad guy but he had somehow orchestrated the infidelity we learn about right at the beginning as part of his master plan. It felt like there were so many opportunities for devious little twists but none of them were taken. It was the worst combination of predictable and not very believable. I didn’t absolutely hate this book and I guess it can go on my list of mindless beach or plane reads but definitely at the bottom of that list and not one I feel any desire to read again.

This was my first time reading a book from Theo Baxter and WOW what a way to jump into a story. I was immediately drawn in by the intensity of the beginning and couldn't put this down. One of my favorite things about a thriller is if it can capture my attention from the beginning, so that was a huge plus when I started reading this one.

A bit more than halfway through the book I realized while this was definitely thrilling in a sense, it was a bit more of domestic drama vs a full on thriller. This didn't take too much away from the book, as I still loved reading it but in terms of categorizing it I felt that was more of match.

Overall this was a really fun read and I enjoyed it. Thank you to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to review!

Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Lake House by Theo Baxter due to be published April 28, 2024.
Laura was devastated when she caught her fiancé, Tony, and best friend/maid of honor, Mary, together on her wedding day. She moved away from everything to a quiet setting – Pine Lake. It was quiet and peaceful until her new neighbors moved in – Tony and Mary! Talk about uncomfortable! There must be an ulterior motive. Why did they move there? To stalk Laura or worse?
I had previously read Not My Mother and loved it, so I was delighted to get The Lake House! I’m not sure this was a psychological thriller – more like a domestic thriller, but it kept me interested and was a fast read. The town of Pine Lake truly gave off “Stepford Wives” vibes – no way would I live there with all the creepy people and their interference in everyone’s lives.
All in all, it was a quick read and I enjoyed it!
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