I really enjoyed this story and am excited to see that it's the first of a series. Red is a great character. It kept me guessing and engaged in the plot. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

This was such a good thriller. I loved Red and I love a small town mystery. It was really engaging. I couldn't put the book down!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was a chilling cold mystery/thriller to read.

I loved it very much, and lots of twists kept coming.

Definitely a author to discover!

Great book. Twists and turns that kept me coming back. Love a good female lead. All the secrets she uncovers. Can’t wait to read the next book.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this e-arc! This was a very captivating suspense novel and I’m excited to look into more work from this author in the future.

Edge of my seat thriller that kept me guessing up until the very end! I read this in one sitting ,could not put it down!

Nature thrillers are so good and whis was no exception. You're not only fighting against a psycho but also the weather. And the weather always wins. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this book.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Linda Norlander’s And the Lake Will Take Them marks a promising start to a new mystery series featuring the determined and relatable Sheriff Red Hammergren. Set in a small, snowbound Minnesota town, the novel interweaves a missing teen, a life-threatening cabin fire, drug smuggling, and a brewing snowstorm that threatens to derail the entire investigation.

Plot and Atmosphere
From the first chapter, Norlander propels readers into the tension of an impending blizzard that complicates Red’s every move. While the storm closes in, Sheriff Red juggles one crisis after another: Missy, a missing teenager; another teen in critical condition following a violent attack; and the alarming discovery of drugs leaking into the community from an unexpected source. The relentless snow only amplifies the sense of urgency, creating a claustrophobic setting in which each new clue feels all the more critical.

Character Development
The strength of the novel lies in its cast, notably Sheriff Red Hammergren herself—a gritty, competent leader forced to balance small-town politics with the need to protect vulnerable citizens. Red’s dedication to her job, combined with very human doubts and a compassionate approach, makes her a believable protagonist. Missy’s backstory, involving a murdered father and a mother lost to addiction, highlights the town’s many hidden secrets, reminding readers that no one is ever quite what they seem. Even secondary characters—local officials, family friends, and possible suspects—are fleshed out and add layers to the central mystery.

Themes and Tension
Norlander successfully blends themes of grief, isolation, and trust in a place where everyone knows everyone else—or believes they do. As Red’s investigation deepens, she uncovers how the community’s surface respectability masks a disturbing network of secrets and lies. The combination of murder, drugs, and a missing teen might seem familiar to fans of the genre, but the author’s careful attention to pacing, atmosphere, and character emotions keeps the tension high.

Pacing and Style
The writing style is straightforward but effective, focusing on the details of Sheriff Red’s day-to-day challenges. Norlander delivers quick, punchy scenes that move the action along briskly. If there is a downside, it’s that the plot may feel like a standard small-town procedural at times, lacking the kind of stylistic flourishes that set truly groundbreaking mysteries apart. Yet, that same simplicity also makes the book accessible, ensuring it remains a comfortable read for anyone who enjoys classic murder mysteries.

Conclusion
And the Lake Will Take Them offers a strong, suspenseful debut to Linda Norlander’s new series. Readers looking for a small-town mystery with a stormy setting, a tenacious female lead, and enough twists to keep them turning pages will find plenty to enjoy. Sheriff Red Hammergren is a character worth rooting for—her blend of perseverance and empathy sets the tone for what could become a memorable series. If you’re in the mood for an absorbing winter read with heart and high stakes, Norlander’s novel is well worth a look.

This one was a DNF for me, I truly enjoyed the characters and the character development as well as the story line. But the writing style isn’t really my preference. I would definitely try this author again!

this was a good book. I enjoyed all of the twists and turns, and also the dark and eerie theme of this book. I liked the book overall and enjoyed the writing style of the author

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

A mysterious read! I enjoyed tagging along with Sheriff Red and her friends while they worked to untangle just what was really happening in their small town.

And The Lake Will Take Them by Linda Norlander
This was a nice surprise. I’ve never read anything by this author before so I really didn’t know what to expect. I immediately liked the main character Red Hammergren, the sheriff of a little town in Minnesota. Her life and the lives of others in her town intrigued me. I felt like I knew many of them personally.
Red is going over some cold cases in her town when a teenaged girl (Missy) goes missing. Then a teenaged boy (Jared) is found nearly dead out by an old abandoned cabin that’s engulfed in flames, he’s also a known acquaintance of Missys. There’s rumors of drugs within the school and Red lots of things to check out. Did I mention that Missys dad’s murder is one of Reds cold cases too? Lots of coincidences, too many for Red who is determined to put the puzzle together. Overall a good old mystery with great character development.

I enjoyed this one. It had just enough twists, and kept me engaged. I read it in 2 days (would have been one, but unfortunately chores don't do themselves) I'm a sucker for a book with a strong female lead as it is, but I found myself emerged in the Sheriff Red character. She came across very real to me and her being so relatable is one of the reasons I devoured this book. Highly recommend

I always love cold cases being solved in books and these cold cases didn't disappoint. The book was well paced and atmospheric, I liked Red as the Sheriff and the story was thrilling enough to keep my attention

And the Lake Will Take Them
by Linda Norlander

I read this book while I had pneumonia - and it kept me on my toes and engaged while I was coughing my had off.

It all takes place in a small town - the sheriff is the widow of the former sheriff and he was the son of the former sheriff. There is a lot of infighting - there are parts of the town that want to get rid of her - nepotism? But personally it was because they were all guilty and wanted to put in their own sheriff so that way they could control the town.

We hear about her husbands death extensively - and we go back to flashbacks - she is still grieving - and on Christmas she goes back to look at dead cases - which there are four.

Missy happens to be the current case, her father was one of the four unsolved cases - and then we have a crazy person running around (who I think was SAed and has multiple personalities).

There were so many twists and turns - and we got to learn about the local "planned parenthood" - and Red's friends there -

At the end of the story - three of the missing cases, Missy's moms death and the crazy multiple personality case gets solved.

I would defintely give this book four stars!

I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Set against the backdrop of a snowstorm in rural Minnesota, *And the Lake Will Take Them* intertwines the disappearance of a troubled teenager, Missy Klein, with the legacy of an unsolved cold case and a drug trade rooted in the local high school. Sheriff Red Hammergren’s investigation uncovers dark secrets and awakens a lurking killer determined to protect them. While the icy setting and tense stakes are atmospheric, the plot felt predictable, leaving little room for genuine surprises. Despite its promise, the story ultimately lacked the twists needed to elevate it beyond a standard thriller.

Sheriff Red Hammergren has a lot on her plate. She’s the new sheriff after her husband died,, and she has three cold cases that she keeps coming back to. She knows there’s something she’s missing i them. A snowstorm hits northern Minnesota, and along with it, a high school girl, Missy Klein, is reported missed by her grandfather, it just so happens Missy is the daughter of one of the cold cases on the corner of Red’s desk. Incredibly written with a great supporting cast for Red… her poker friends, lots of twists and turns,,, I hope Ms Norlander keeps Red’s tale going. Thank you to Severen River Publishing for an advanced copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Una vez al año, los sheriffs de un pueblo en Minnesota tienen la tradición de revisar todos los casos sin resolver para ver si hay alguna pista nueva. Si es así, el caso se vuelve a considerar activo. La actual sheriff, Red, aparentemente no ha encontrado nada nuevo en los casos, pero la hija de una de las víctimas de uno de esos casos ha desaparecido, y está contra reloj para encontrarla con vida. ¿La desaparición de Missy tendrá que ver con la muerte de su padre?


Estuvo entretenido, pero no llegó a ser una historia que me impactara.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There is a bad snowstorm coming in fast. Too fast for Sheriff Red Hammergren. She has a missing teen, one in critical condition after a cabin fire and attack, and drugs coming in from an unexpected source. She is busy.


The missing girl is Missy. Her father was killed years ago and her mother got into drugs and died. Missy lives with her grandfather and she has secrets. They all have secrets. No one in town is what and who they say they are and my goodness, this was suspenseful!
This is the first book in the new series.


I will definitely look for this author again!


NetGalley/ Severn River Publishing March 25, 2025