Kept me engaged and interested throughout the entire book. I was here for the drama and the ending surprised me. The always changing double life of Eve always kept me wondering.

3.75 stars

I quickly devoured this book; that's how locked in I was with all that was going on. Whispers of a Lake is a mixture of a thriller and mystery with a shattered friendship as the background of the story, and a missing (former) friend in the center of it all.
Eve is Rose's (former) best friend and she has done the unthinkable, the ultimate betrayal that has caused their friendship to shatter. Now, Eve has gone missing and it is up to Rose to uncover what happened to Eve and where she can find her. Grappling with her own feelings of being betrayed along with her knowing she will always care for her oldest friend no matter the status of their friendship, she seeks out to uncover the truth, and ends up uncovering much more than she ever thought.

The middle of the story was a little slow for me, but I enjoyed the end when things started connecting and became a little more fast paced. Overall the book held my attention, and the narration of the audiobook did the main character justice as well. I am looking forward to more from this author!

Shanora is becoming one of my favorite authors this book is suspenseful and will have you on the edge of your seat. Wow!! You will not see the ending coming and it is a journey that you will take to get there. I would say this book title is spot on!

This gripping thriller follows investigative reporter Rose Howard as she battles personal and professional turmoil while searching for her missing former best friend, Eve Castillo. Set against the seemingly idyllic backdrop of Sage Hill, Rose's search unearths chilling secrets, evasive townspeople, and a web of danger that threatens to unravel everything she thought she knew. With sharp instincts and relentless determination, Rose navigates betrayal, buried truths, and escalating peril in a story that blends emotional depth with heart-pounding suspense. A compelling exploration of trust, ambition, and the darkness lurking beneath the surface.

Alright, let’s dive into Whispers of the Lake by Shanora Williams—this book was a wild ride! It’s a psychological thriller that dropped in June 2025, and if you’re into twisty, messy drama with a side of small-town secrets, this one’s got your name on it.

The story follows Rose Howard, an investigative reporter who’s already dealing with a crumbling marriage and the stress of chasing a big promotion. Things get even messier when her ex-best friend, Eve Castillo, a travel vlogger, goes missing from a cozy North Carolina lakefront cottage. Now, Rose and Eve aren’t exactly on good terms—Eve did something unforgivable (no spoilers, but oof, it’s bad). Still, Rose can’t help herself and heads to Sage Hill to figure out what happened. Cue creepy vibes, shady townsfolk, and a whole lot of “what the heck is going on here?”

What I loved: the pacing is snappy, and Williams knows how to keep you hooked. The lake setting is practically a character itself—eerie and quiet, but hiding some dark secrets. Eve’s journal entries were a highlight for me; they add so much depth to her character, showing her as this flawed, complicated woman shaped by her past. You’ll hate her, feel for her, and then question everything. Rose is a great lead too—determined but human, making choices that had me yelling, “Girl, why?!” at my Kindle. The twists? Some hit hard (one totally blindsided me), though a couple felt a tad predictable if you’re a thriller junkie.

On the flip side, the middle dragged a bit for me—some investigative bits could’ve been tighter. Also, a few clichés (like losing cell signal at the worst moment) had me rolling my eyes. But honestly, the drama and suspense kept me flipping pages, and that final act? Chef’s kiss. It’s emotional, intense, and wraps up in a way that left me satisfied but still thinking about it days later.

Overall, Whispers of the Lake is a juicy, fast-paced thriller with heart and plenty of secrets. Perfect for fans of Liv Constantine or Tarryn Fisher. I’d give it a solid 4/5 stars—great for a weekend binge! If you’ve read it, let me know what you thought of that ending!

This was a good read, I think I wanted more from this book as I felt it fell a little flat towards the middle and didn't keep me hooked.

3.5 stars
Eve is missing. She has always been carefree and does whatever she wants, including Rose's husband. Eve is Rose's best friend. Although Eve has hurt Rose to the core by sleeping with her husband, she still feels inclined to go look for her and figure out where she has disappeared to
Rose finds herself at a cabin in the woods, the last place that Eve was before she went offline
All the neighbors there are strange and seem to either not have met Eve or want Rose to go away. The town is hiding something. Rose is bound to find out exactly what it is and where Eve has gone to

Shanora… GIIIIIRL. This book gave exactly what it needed to give.

Reading Whispers of the Lake felt like being wrapped in a blanket of tension, trauma, and truth-telling. Rose’s journey—particularly as a Black woman grappling with the weight of loyalty, boundaries, and self-preservation—was raw and real. That moment when you realize that society keeps gaslighting us into staying where we don’t belong? Shanora wrote that.

Yes, we’ve all heard it:
“But she’s your best friend.”
“You have to forgive her.”
“For better or for worse…”
blah, blah, BLAH—what about MY peace?

I loved watching Rose wrestle with those expectations. Whether or not you agree with her decisions, the honesty of her experience was healing to read.

Now I won’t lie to y’all—Rose definitely stayed at that lake house longer than I ever would have. There were multiple red flags that would’ve had me packing my bag and calling an Uber boat if necessary. 😂 But the eerie pacing, the creeping tension, and that wild ending made this an unputdownable read.

Also, can we talk about that twist?! Listen—Shanora got me. Completely.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Shanora Williams, and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this early. I’m grateful to be part of this journey—this one’s going on the “read it in one sitting” shelf for sure.

Loved the atmosphere. This was a good thriller. It definitely felt a little slow at times but overall a good book. The ending wasn’t as satisfying but I like this author .

Whispers of the Lake by Shanora Williams is a haunting and emotionally charged thriller that absolutely lived up to my expectations. Having read her previous books, I was eager to see how Williams would weave suspense and psychological depth into this new story and she did not disappoint. From the very first chapter, the novel pulls you into the fractured world of investigative reporter Rose Howard, whose life has been upended by betrayal. When her former best friend Eve Castillo goes missing from a lakeside cottage in Sage Hill, North Carolina, Rose is reluctantly drawn into a mystery that forces her to confront both the secrets of the town and the unresolved pain of her past.

Williams excels at crafting atmosphere, and Sage Hill is no exception. The tranquil lakefront setting quickly turns sinister as Rose digs deeper into Eve’s disappearance, uncovering layers of deceit, small-town politics, and long-buried trauma. The Twilight Oaks cottage, with its eerie quiet and cryptic neighbors, becomes a character in its own right beautiful on the surface, but brimming with menace. The tension builds steadily, and Williams’s use of journal entries from Eve adds a chilling intimacy to the narrative, giving readers a glimpse into the mind of a woman who may have known too much.

What truly elevates Whispers of the Lake is its emotional complexity. Rose isn’t just chasing a story she’s grappling with heartbreak, guilt, and the blurred lines between justice and revenge. The characters are richly drawn, especially the Reed brothers and Sheriff James Reed, whose roles in the mystery are as layered as they are unsettling. Williams delivers a story that’s both gripping and deeply human, reminding us that the most dangerous secrets are often the ones closest to home. For longtime fans, this book is a satisfying continuation of her signature style; for new readers, it’s a compelling invitation into her world of suspense.

Amazing fast paced triller! I loved the depth of each character and the flow the author used to deliver the story. It keeps you on your toes all the way through!

Book Review – Whisper on the Lake by Shanora Williams

Whisper on the Lake is a tense, emotional thriller that examines friendship, betrayal, and the weight of unresolved pasts. While the plot pulled me in from the start, I found myself thinking a lot about the way Eve was portrayed. Yes—she did something terrible, but the narrative seemed to keep her under a persistent shadow of negativity, leaving little space for readers to see her complexity until the final stretch. It’s only near the end that we glimpse her trauma, and by then, much of the audience’s perception has already been cemented. I couldn’t help but feel that this deeper human side of her could have been explored earlier for more balance.

The novel also touches on the idea that everyone carries their own trauma, but it often felt like that truth was brushed aside until major reveals late in the story. Each character’s wounds shape their choices, but the pacing of these revelations sometimes lessened their impact.

Sheriff Reed’s presence, on the other hand, was impossible to ignore—though not in a good way. His energy cast a heavy, oppressive pall over every interaction, creating an aura that felt more stifling than authoritative. Rory’s constant chatter had a similar effect, though for different reasons; I was left wondering what motivated her need to fill every silence. Was it anxiety, discomfort, or her own way of masking truths?

Rose’s inability to let go of the search for Eve, even after such a personal betrayal, felt raw and painfully human. Some bonds run so deep that they defy logic, and sometimes it’s not about forgiving the act but about needing answers—or clinging to the version of the person you once knew. Her struggle brought an emotional core to the story that made me empathize with her even when her choices frustrated me.

In the end, Whisper on the Lake delivers tension, mystery, and emotional weight, but it also left me reflecting on how easily narratives can frame people in narrow ways, and how much richer stories become when every character’s pain is given equal room to breathe.

Overall this was ok but nothing special . I r read a couple of other books by this author and this was def my least fav . It had some interesting elements around abuse, family and friendship, but the mystery aspect was pretty generic , with some very common and overused tropes in thrillers and a lot of unlikable characters.
I did enjoy the diversity in the cast of characters . That was prob my fav part of the book

This was a decent read. Had a good mystery and decent writing. Wasn't super suspenseful, but still held my attention and I'd definitely pick up this author in the future!

Thank you to the publisher, and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Oh, this book captured my attention right from page one! It was so gripping that I found it hard to put down.

Investigative journalist Rose Howard searches for her missing friend, Eve Castillo, at a North Carolina cottage. Discovering inconsistencies in Eve's disappearance and facing resistance from the townspeople, Rose digs into the town's past. As she uncovers dangerous truths, her life and future are at stake.

Rose, the main character, was incredibly relatable, especially considering the situation with her best friend. I can't even begin to imagine what Rose must have gone through, but I truly appreciated the plot and the direction it took. It served as a powerful reminder that we can’t fully understand a situation until we have all the facts. Although it would be challenging to regain complete trust in her best friend, the way the story delicately explored what actually happened kept me on the edge of my seat as I witnessed how badly things spiraled out of control.

I admired how Rose continued to search for her friend, even amidst the tension they both found themselves in. I really hoped that Rose would uncover the truth and ultimately forgive Eve, finding some common ground between them. It’s easy to speculate when you're an outsider, but what would you do in Rose's shoes? I loved that the author portrayed Rose as the better person, allowing her to uncover the truth about her best friend. It was admirable and beautifully written, if I may say! The eerie ambiance of the small town added an extra layer of suspense to the story, making me suspicious of everyone around. It beautifully tied together the overall feel of the plot. Well done!

If you're a fan of creepy small-town vibes, the ultimate betrayal by your best friend, and some semblance of a happy ending for everyone involved, you’ll love this book. It was such a fast-paced read that I devoured it in just one day. This murder mystery is filled with unexpected twists and thought-provoking revelations that will linger in your mind.

Thank you, Kensington Publishing | Dafina, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This psychological thriller is an amazing read, filled with secrets and deception. The plot is irresistibly twisty, keeping you guessing until the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read Whispers of the Lake.

Rose is an investigator reporter. Despite her rocky past with former friend, Eve, she has decided to investigate her disappearance. Rose will now travel to Eve’s last known whereabouts. A small town named, Sage Hill. To Rose’s dismay the more questions she ask, the more she does not want to know.

This feels as if we’re walking into the middle of a conversation. Sometimes it works, I don’t feel it did this time. I am not a fan of the martyr trope. It starts off with Rose as an emotional victim. I’m not discrediting the severity of the situation. I am questioning any logical person in pursuing answers for a missing former friend.

This books as if it’s trying to be a combination of:
Who Did it?
Where is she?
What happened?
FMC trying to be the bigger person

When really this is a lot of inner dialogue with a side of mystery and attempting to be a hero.

I was able to listen to the audiobook, provided by NetGalley and RBmedia.

I felt the narrator, Jasmin Walker, voice fits the MFC correctly. I believed the voice of the narrator, Dominique Franceschi. Both narrators performed a good job.

Overall, this book isn’t for me.

Shanora is becoming one of my favorite authors to read and I love the diversity she brings among genres from romance, to thrillers and fantasy.

Whispers of the Lake is a thriller following Rose who does everything she can to find her best friend Eve. Now I must say they have a funny way of defining friendship. Because one thing for certain I wouldn’t have done all the things Rose did because she was persistent on finding Eve. The more the story reveals, the more I found myself questioning why Rose was going out of her way. This book was full of unlikeable characters, and had me questioning everyone. The reveal
came out of nowhere and what I least expected.

Trigger Warning for Sexual Assault

I think that this solidifies Shanora Williams as an author that I will continue to read from. This has journal entries from Eve. And I really liked that extra element because it helps us understand her perspective and why she did the things she did.

This was a good mystery/thriller. Rose was your typical self-sacrificing protagonist. Eve, poor Eve. It was hard to hate her, despite all of the destruction she left in her path. My heart broke for her over and over throughout this book. I found myself growing more attached to Eve’s character and story than Rose’s. I really enjoyed this and wouldn’t have minded if it was a little longer. I recommend this for a quick and enjoyable read.



Thank you to NetGalley & Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this eARC!