I absolutely loved Jamie Day’s debut work, and ever since, I have eagerly anticipated her latest mystery installment. As a fan from the very beginning, my expectations might be a bit high, almost like chasing a unicorn, and I haven't found the same gripping, popcorn-worthy intensity that characterized her first book. However, The Lake Escape offered some interesting and tangled plot threads that were intriguing to unravel.

Julia, David, and Erika return to their family's lake houses for their annual vacation, each harboring their own secrets and reasons for coming back. Their trust in one another is also superficial at best. A few new characters join this year's vacation: Fiona, David’s current girlfriend, and Izzy, the hired nanny for two weeks. Unbeknownst to the original group, these newcomers have their own hidden agendas. When Fiona goes missing in a manner reminiscent of two other young women, each disappearing thirty years apart, the plot thickens.

I particularly enjoyed the last third of the novel as the narrative threads came together. I agree with other reviewers that there were some lulls due to unnecessary backstories for minor characters. While I understand the intention was to provide depth and character definition, it ultimately distracted from the thrill of the plot. Overall, this was an enjoyable mystery filled with numerous twists.

How well can you know even your best friends when everyone hides their darker side. One teen with a love for true crime crosses the path of a trio of friends vacationing at the site where buried bones have been found. With so many gathered, each hiding something explosive, you can feel the foundation of this friendship shifting from the moment that the first car pulls into the driveway. The secrets fall like dominoes, leaving echoes that will change everyone's life. Day masterfully weaves together at least eight different bombshells in this thriller that center around the disappearance of one of their group, but expands to include the identity of the bones unearthed close to their vacation site. I could not put this book down, reading it pretty much in one sitting. I have to thank Erica Martirano of St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book that reads like the most sinister true-life podcast. There are so many twists and revelations, that you can't help but question everyone's intentions. I can't say that I am completely satisfied with the outcome, but it sure was a thrilling read!

This was alright, nothing groundbreaking. The mystery was engaging, but there were some small gripes that I had. I got a little frustrated with one of the characters' preoccupation with imagining everything as an IG post and caption -- didn't really add much for me. Similarly, one of the characters kept using terms I associate with being British (I guess her dad was Irish, so maybe that makes sense?) -- row, shag, rubbish. Still, the book was overall enjoyable.

I've been a fan of Jamie Day's books thus far so was excited to read this book! I enjoyed it unexpected twists along the way!

I've been a fan of Jamie Day since her first and second books the block party and one big happy family. Her third book doesn't disappoint at all. I love it. From the start you are taken though a plethora of amazing characters many with secrets that will reveal themselves throughout the book.. This book was honestly amazing, filled with twist and turns. As you continue to read the book, the more invested you get. with the characters. I picked this book due to reading her previous books and it is amazing. you will keep guessing until the end who killed who and the ending was heartfelt and amazing. Love Ms. Day and her books. I would say a 4 star book review. Amazing novel. Can't wait until the next.

I loved Jamie Day’s Block Party book so I was excited when I was approved to read this book by NetGalley. It was an enjoyable book and I did not guess the twists in the story. Julia and Izzy were both awesome main characters to read. I loved how they got more confident as the story went along.

My Thoughts

David, Erika and Julia have been Vacationing at Lake Timmeny Vermont together from childhood through adulthood.

The lake is a place of refuge for Julia, a place to stay that has always brought her peace.
Peace that she needs more than ever this summer in particular.

Izzy has come to the lake with an agenda far different than just taking care of her employers’ children.

Told from these two women’s point of view we have a beautiful location with a cast of friends that are not at all what they portray themselves to be and as their different memories unfold and their secrets are revealed certain things that come to light are shocking for the characters as well as readers.

For me what stood out most is how much goes on behind the scenes in setting up how past and present come together.

What starts out as a way to reconnect with each other soon takes David, Erika, Julia and their families on a very different path.

A path that reveals secrets none of them wanted to see the light of day.

Julia Crawford, husband Christian, 18-year-old daughter Taylor, their elderly Lab mix Nutmeg, David Dunne, his five-year-old twins Becca and Brody along with his girlfriend Fiona, new Nanny Izzy Greene, Erika Miller, her husband Rick and their son Lucas were fleshed out pretty well for their respective roles in the story.

[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

#TheLakeEscape #NetGalley
Jamie Day’s The Lake Escape is a gripping, slow-burning psychological thriller that masterfully blends friendship, deception, and a chilling mystery lurking beneath the surface. Set against the backdrop of an idyllic Vermont lake, this novel peels back the layers of long-held secrets, revealing that even lifelong friendships can be built on fragile foundations. Julia, David, and Erika have spent their summers at the lake since childhood, but now, as adults, their lives are far from carefree. Between raising teenagers, struggling with their marriages, and managing their careers, the trio carries unspoken tensions and unresolved conflicts. When David unveils his newly renovated lake house—one that conveniently blocks his friends' beloved views—resentment simmers beneath the surface. But things take a sinister turn when his much-younger girlfriend mysteriously vanishes after an argument. As the search intensifies, eerie parallels emerge. Thirty years ago, two young women disappeared from the same lake, never to be seen again. Could history be repeating itself? Or is the truth buried in the tangled web of secrets and betrayals among these so-called friends?
Likes :-
1 Atmospheric Setting: Jamie Day paints a vivid picture of the lake—a place that is both beautiful and ominous. The setting plays a crucial role, almost becoming a character itself.
2 Complex Relationships: The dynamics between Julia, David, and Erika feel authentic, filled with long-standing tensions, buried guilt, and hidden jealousy. Their interactions drive much of the novel’s suspense.
3 Twisty, Multi-Layered Mystery: The book expertly weaves together the present-day disappearance with the decades-old mystery, keeping readers hooked as secrets unravel.
Overall :- The Lake Escape is a compelling thriller packed with drama, suspense, and a chilling mystery that keeps you turning pages. If you enjoy dark, atmospheric novels about old friends with skeletons in their closets—à la Big Little Lies meets The Girl on the Lake—this book is a must-read.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me an advance copy.

I’ve enjoyed other books by Jamie Day, specifically The Block Party, but I couldn’t get into The Lake Escape. I didn’t find any of the characters particularly appealing or likable, and I just didn’t really care what happened to them. It was fairly predictable, but just not for me.

The Lake Escape had the opportunity to build up some great suspense with three families gathering together at the lake, each with something major to hide. Unfortunately, while the mystery started off well with the disappearance of Fiona and the rise of Izzy as a protagonist, the plot took a turn for the unexpected and a bit far fetched. Perhaps if there had been more time to draw out the plot then I would have been able to swallow the curveballs that were throw toward the end, but it all kind of landed a bit suddenly.

I will say that I enjoyed how the author chose the end the novel via the podcast and some of the information that was shared through those excerpts.

What a great book. This is the third book by Jamie Day that I have read and it did not disappoint. I thought I had it all figured out and I kept doubting myself. The book reminded me of Simone St. James, which is huge compliment. Highly recommend.

I just finished reading The Lake Escape by Jamie Day. The disappearances of women at Lake Timmeny has not deterred three friends David, Julia, and Erika, from continuing to get together with their families at their lake houses. But a sudden disappearance by one of the main characters makes them all start to question who they can trust. The first addicting aspect was it was told in two totally different perspectives. Alternating chapters with Izzy, a young woman pretending to be a nanny for David and his twins to get her back to Lake Timmeny for some secret investigating. The other perspective of Julia, one of David’s long time friends and lake house neighbor. I did wonder when reading why we never get David’s perspective or Erika’s. I had my predictions about the women disappearing but the friend group definitely is all twisted!

Holy canoli!

Forget Britney Spears-- Jamie Day did it AGAIN!

I feel that each book he writes is fresh and inventive-- a complete departure from any previous ones. I have to say, I feel honored (and excited) whenever St. Martin's Press offers me his ARC. What a privilege indeed!

Let me start by saying that there was a LOT going on in this one!

I won't spoil it, but let's just say that the MC, Izzy, pulls on a thread that unravels the full sweater! You cannot possibly imagine the twists and turns this rollercoaster provides-- I had to pay VERY close attention or I would get left behind. There were some great surprises towards the end that I appreciated, especially as it appeared to be a pretty straight forward open-and-shut thriller.

It went way over where I thought it would go, but I still appreciated that it laid out some breadcrumbs ahead of time so that we, the readers, weren't completely blindsided by the big reveals. Because of the due diligence of careful plotting, even the far-fetched storylines seemed plausible for my suspended beliefs.

I also liked how there were two POVs (any more and it would have been overwhelming with all of the extraneous plotlines going on) and how Izzy was first-person, while Julia was third. Izzy was definitely my favorite character and high-five to Mr. Day for fleshing out the teenagers in this novel! They weren't the rote, one-dimensional, petulant and moody teenager with a tired, overcooked trope-ish personality.

One thing can be said of Jaime Day-- you won't ever be bored!

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. It’s official– I’m a fan!

This book makes you question whether you can ever really know someone, even when you grew up together as friends. Secrets, lies, and deception tear these friends apart. Story was ok. Characters weren't very likable.

This is a good summer thriller that keeps you guessing from start to finish. There are a lot of characters to keep up with but the author does a good job of weaving their stories together. Great story!

I love Jamie Day’s books so when I saw this book and read the description, I knew it was a must read – and I was right! We meet three childhood friends who have been vacationing at their lake homes as long as they can remember. Now as adults with families, each face challenges and hide major secrets that they try to ignore for their two-week summer vacation. We also meet a new nanny, who isn’t really a nanny, but her agenda is unclear. Should be a relaxing time, right? Unfortunately, the lake is known for ‘taking’ a young woman every thirty years (two disappearances occurred 30 years apart previously) … and guess what? it’s been 30 years since the last disappearance. Told from multiple POVs, this book does a great job giving insight to each of the main characters while unraveling the secrets of the past…. And present. I appreciate that I couldn’t guess the outcome of the book either… It kept me interested and wanting to find out what was happening. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eArc.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!!!

I really loved the synopsis for this novel, but it fell a little short for me. A really slow burn with very unlikable characters. I was drudging through until the end. I think the ending actually ended up being really good, but I did not like 90% of the novel. I’m sure this book is a good read for some though.

I love all of Jamie Day's books they are written so we'll that they demand your attention from the first page all the way until the end. I love books that give different points of view then as the book continues they blend together with events still providing different views of the same event. This book took me for a ride and is one I will be buying when released. The character and background information was beautifully written to a point where you personally connected to the characters and felt like you at the lake house with everyone. If you haven't read any of Jamie Day's books this is one to start with.

I was immediately drawn in by this book's title and cover, which depicted one of my favorite settings—summer lake homes. I loved the web of secrets woven into this story and the parallels between the past and present timelines. This book would be the perfect beach read for the summer!

This was a good murder mystery but not a thriller, as it lacked action or suspense. I do like how the story is told from multiple points of view. Some of my favorite parts are Julia's inner monologue for potential Instagram posts which were hilarious. Overall, it was a quick easy read.