3.5 stars, rounded up.

As someone who generally prefers thrillers grounded in reality, I tend to steer clear of books with supernatural elements. I wish they were more clearly marked as such, but I suppose that’s life. If you share this preference, you might want to skip this one. However, once I accepted the supernatural aspect, I found The Lake House Children to be a gripping read—I genuinely didn’t want to put it down.

Unlike other thrillers where the supernatural twist is a late reveal (and also share the lake house theme… looking at you, Riley Sager), Dunnett makes it clear early on, which I appreciated. The story is told through the lens of investigators interrogating Kate, whose family has tragically died in a fire. Her responses unfold as a series of detailed flashbacks. Initially, I was concerned that this back-and-forth format might come across as corny or overdone, but I was pleasantly surprised by how masterfully it was executed.

One thing that caught my attention was the characters' diction. Despite being set in Maine, some of the phrasing felt distinctly British, which puzzled me until I confirmed in the "about the author" section that Dunnett is indeed from across the pond. It wasn't distracting, but rather became a bit of a fun game for me as I read along.

Overall, despite my usual reservations about supernatural elements, I thoroughly enjoyed The Lake House Children. It’s a well-crafted story that kept me hooked from beginning to end.

4.5 ☆
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I don’t even know what to say, except to READ this book. 📚 Once you start reading this book, it will be difficult to stop. I need to sit and think about this review! But READ, READ, READ this book. 📖 The audiobook was good and easy to listen to and pay attention to. 🎧 Kate’s son, Jack, insists that he used to be someone else—someone who died tragically. 😱 At first, Kate is confused about what he’s telling her. Don’t little kids say the weirdest things? 🤔 #bookstagram #bookreview #mustread #thriller #suspense #mystery #audiobook #netgalley #dreamscapeselect
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Dreamscape Select for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I just listened to a thrilling audiobook. The Lakehouse Children by Greg Dunnett was an enthralling lesson that I definitely recommend.

4.25⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Publication date ~ September 18, 2024
Publisher ~ Dreamscape Select
Est Page Count ~ 358 (52 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 11 hours 3 minutes
Narrator ~ Elise Roth
POV ~ single 3rd & 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ dual timeline, assisted suicide, deceased child

We begin with a FBI agent named McGee as he investigates a fire that took 4 lives. Who started the fire and why? Kate narrates the family drama tale between her sisters, Amber and Bea, and their families, which led up to it.

Kate’s son Jack is only 3 with limited vocabulary, but he’s trying to say something that’s difficult to comprehend. He seems to know things about Zack. How can that be when Bea’s 8 year old son Zack died before Jack was even born?

Wowza, what a unique premise, which is really hard to come by these days. It was really fast paced with its captivating story line. I know it’s awful to say, but I was quite pleased with who died in the fire.

There’s a lengthy author's note at the end that discusses why this book came about.

Narration notes:
She did a pretty great job. I have no complaints.

Cover gripe ~ love the eerie vibes of it, but that certainly does not look like it’s “a colonial style with high ceilings and big windows and surrounded by porches and balconies” as described. Pretty much looks like a standard cabin to me.

WOW!

Kate's son Jack claims he used to be someone else who died tragically. At first, Kate is skeptical, thinking it's just a child's imagination. But as Jack reveals details he shouldn't know; Kate starts to believe there's more to his story. Jack shares a disturbing memory from the family lake house that could threaten their family's unity. Kate is determined to uncover the truth and must decide how far she's willing to go to get answers.

Finally, a refreshing change of pace! The topic at hand truly captivates me, and I recently delved into a fascinating read titled "Many Lives Many Masters." The book delves into the intriguing concept of uncovering one's past lives but different to this one.

From the very beginning, this book had me hooked. It started off slowly, meticulously laying the groundwork to explain the events that unfolded. The writing style was unique and engaging, offering a fresh perspective that I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters were intricately developed over time, with a tantalizing glimpse into their lives provided during a family dinner.

The plot was rife with unexpected twists and turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout. The conclusion of the last family dinner left me utterly surprised, a testament to the clever and suspenseful nature of the book. It was evident that the author had conducted thorough research, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative.

If you appreciate a thought-provoking thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end, this book is a must-read!

The narrator was a great choice, because I just couldn't stop listening!

Thank you, Dreamscape Select | Storm Publishing for ARC digital copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I REALLY enjoyed this book! The spooky undertones were just enough to keep me hooked, but not too much to scare me away. The twists and turns of the book were perfectly thought out and made the story line that much better. I can’t wait to have my friends read this book so we can discuss it!

Lake House Children by Gregg Dunnett is an absolute emotional whirlwind! From the very first page, this book gripped me with its heartfelt storytelling, and by the end, I was in tears—both of sadness and joy. The twist at the end left me completely stunned, in the best possible way. I can’t remember the last time a book evoked such a powerful range of emotions: happiness, sorrow, frustration—it was like living through the characters’ experiences myself.

What really sets this book apart is the way it delves into life’s biggest question: what happens when we’re no longer here? Dunnett answers this in the most adorable, tear-jerking way, crafting a vision of the afterlife that is as tender as it is thought-provoking.

The narrator was phenomenal, bringing so much passion and life to the characters. It was as if I could see them playing out the story right in front of me. Every word, every sentence was so vividly delivered that I felt entirely immersed in their world.

If you’re looking for a book that will move your soul and stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page, Lake House Children is it. Absolutely compelling from start to finish!

I think Gregg Dunnett writes engaging stories and I'm always happy to read them.

This one explored the theme of reincarnation and past lives, whereby a young child began retelling memories of how he died. He's talking about his cousin which was an apparent accidental drowning but turns out that might not be the case.

It goes on to create a divide in the family unit of three sisters after their dad commits suicide at the lake house which is where the story begins.

I enjoyed this book, not as much as his previous work but still found it interesting and entertaining. Gregg is a must read author for me.

Thank you, Netgalley, Gregg Dunnett, and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook. A great listen narrated by Elise Roth. This was a great thriller. I loved the story line of the child who had memories from a past life. It is something I can't say I've seen much of, and it was intriguing and so interesting. Had lots of twists and turns and a great ending!

This was actually such a really good thriller. I thought it was going one way and then it turned and was about something totally different. You’re hooked the entire time trying to figure out if what you’re hearing is true.

I also loved the explanation from the author at the end on the research behind the book too. So cool.

I love books that keep you
questioning a key part of the plot& this book didn’t disappoint! 🤔
📚 This book was very interesting & kept me wanting to know what would happen next!
I enjoyed the family dynamics, the relationships & the police investigation!
I also enjoyed trying to figure out how everything would fit together & where exactly the police investigation would lead. 🤯 I enjoyed the suspense of the twists &turns, revelations& “what the?!” moments of this book.
😳 I didn’t see the ending coming!
I highly recommend this book!!
🙏🏻 Huge thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! Set to publish 9/18/24.
⚠️ Potential Triggers :
😔 death of child
😞 assisted suicide

I love books that keep you guessing if something paranormal is going on the whole time. This book was really interesting and I was already hooked just from the description. 😂 creepy kid tropes always make for some of the best plot lines. I didn’t see the ending coming and the narration was great. 😃

Jack thinks he's the reincarnation of his cousin who tragically drowned at the family lake house. It's a super interesting premise and unlike anything I've ever read before.

It kept my attention and kept me reading, but every part of the mystery was really predictable for me. I guessed all of it really quickly, so I didn't have much of a reaction to all of the twists. The only thing I didn't figure out was super unrealistic and left me annoyed.

3.5* rounded... This story definitely took some turns I wasn't expecting. It was an interesting perspective...a fire has killed four people in a lake house, and then it hits rewind and takes the reader on a journey back to other tragic and mysterious happenings at the same house. I could not have predicted where it would all lead! Dunnett did a stellar job laying out the storyline with details and timelines in great detail. I was wondering where we were going for a little while...definitely a supernatural twist in there...but it wasn't sensationalized. It just left you wondering...hmmmm.
Definitely recommend for those up for a thrill and untangling some deceitful webs and mysteries. The narrator was adequate for the characters without taking away from the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARL. All opinions are mine.

READ THIS BOOK!
It's so good! Throughout the whole thing I was gasping & getting chill bumps!

Publisher's summary
Kate’s son Jack insists he used to be someone else. Someone who died, tragically.
At first, Kate’s confused about what he’s telling her. Don’t little kids say the weirdest things? But soon she can’t pretend it isn’t something more. No four-year-old should know what Jack does – have memories from before he was born.
Then Jack reveals something he saw, years ago at the family lake house. Something that, if true, could tear their family apart… could never be forgiven. What really happened all those years ago? And how far will Kate go to find out?

Thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for the ALC of this book!

The Lake House Children
By: Gregg Dunnett
Narrated by: Elise Roth
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Release date: 09-18-24

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Loved this audiobook. A little slow moving or slow burn but well worth it. I would classify it as a family drama that has some interesting surprises. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the summary but I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I had expected. There was so much more behind this book than just a little boy with unusual memories of another life. The narration was great as well.
Really good book that was also well researched by the author on the subject too.

Hannah, Jasper and daughter Pia have moved into a lovely new home in an exclusive community. Everything’s rosey until Hannah meets her new next door neighbor, a police officer, and possibly the one person who knows about the past she’s kept hidden from her family. A solid domestic thriller

The Lake House Children by Gregg Dunnett
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a fantastic and exciting mystery/thriller book! I was completely sucked in from the beginning! It’s such a unique premise with the idea of possible reincarnation, and it follows with a great storyline. There is suspense, lots of family drama and twists that kept me immersed in the story! The story has strong character development and I love how the family all twists together in the story.
I wasn’t thrilled with the how things played out towards the end of the story, but it came back around to a good final ending! It is still such a great read, that I gave it 5🌟!

This is my first book from this author, but I’m definitely looking to read more! I listened the audio version and enjoyed the narrator!

Thank you to NetGalley for an audio copy of this excellent book!
It comes out September 18th. Grab your copy!!

Gripping, unique, unsettling, and well written, The Lake House Children proved to be a thought provoking and mysterious read. Kate is being interrogated by FBI agent Jim McGee and his partner Billy Robbins about a fatal fire that claimed the lives of four of her family members...

Kate's four-year-old son, Jack, has been saying things that he should have no knowledge of. He is mentioning events that occurred before he was born. What he is saying has piqued her interest and is the cause for concern.

The Lake House Children is told the past and present timelines as Kate shares major events from her life, her family's life, and the events from the past. Through her POV we get to meet each family member and how they play a part in the central mystery in this book.

I enjoyed how Gregg Dunnett has readers questioning a key part of the plot. I found this to be very well done. I also enjoyed the family dynamics, the relationships between the characters, and the investigation.

I enjoyed trying to figure out how everything would come together and where the investigation would lead. I enjoyed the twists, turns, revelations, and 'aha' moments in this book.

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narration was fantastic.

The Lake House Children by Gregg Dunnett
Narrated by Elise Roth

Kate's family has had some major trauma over the last several years. When we meet Kate, she's being interrogated by FBI Agent Jim McGee and his partner due to the death of four family members. Considering four people died, Kate seems very calm as she tells what she knows of the events leading up to the deaths. But then, death seems to be a common occurrence in this family that may be hiding more than one secret.

Going back into the past few years we learn Kate's story as she relates some very unbelievable events. Kate's four year old son, Jack, who has only recently been able to communicate in a more understandable manner, knows everything, more than Kate even knew, about an event that happened years before he was born. How can this be? Kate's husband is not open to exploring what is going on with Jack other than wanting to tell Jack that he's wrong about the things he is saying. Kate can't discuss what Jack is saying to her two sisters or other relatives for a variety of reasons. The family is walking on eggshells around one sister because she's an overbearing, smug, clod and because the other sister is grieving a tragic loss.

Of the three stories I've listened to by Dunnett, two of them have revolved around young children and I enjoy the way he writes those children. Elise Roth narrates this audiobook and it's the child's voice that is so important here...Roth does a great job with all the voices. As Kate tells her story and as the agents question her, we wonder just who has died, who has lived, and what happened to cause the deaths of the four family members. At the end of the book is an informative author's note, which I always appreciate. We get to know what motivated Dunnett to write this story, the research he did, and why he is willing to let us decide some things for ourselves.

Thank you to Dreamscape Select | Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.