Not my favorite book by this repeat author. The story didn't flow as well as her previous thrillers.

The story is quite interesting, but not thrilling. The writing quite good, but not excellent. So a quite nice reading.

From the very first page, this book draws you into its world with engaging prose, well-developed characters, and a compelling narrative. The author's storytelling is confident and immersive, weaving together themes that resonate long after the final chapter.

take this book to your bedroom, shut the door and be prepared for more thrill rides even when you think you know it all.
there is so much to unpack here both with the story and the people involved in it. its messy and real and the way the characters are portrayed only adds a juicier layer to the book.
the strength of our female main character was stunning to read. she was clever and smart and totally dedicated. even her life is falling apart. even when the reason for this is linked to the person she goes to find. she is determined to get this right. if the only reason for this is to have something within her control again then so be it. but she is certainly the friend youd all want to step up and fight for you.
Shanora has set the tone for summer thrillers. its perfection in everything it throws at you and keeps you guessing both of the storyline and the characters within it. not only are the main characters filled with secrets but so too are the side characters.

we are taken in by Rose who feels everything is falling apart both at work and home. then she learns her friend Eve is missing. and when we learn more about Eve the pressure is on to find out just whats happened to her and why. and along the way who is the bad guys, why are the local community keeping secrets and does that makes them one and the same?
you'll want your friends to read this book too just so you can talk excitedly over eachother about it.

Whispers of the Lake is a beautifully written, heart-thumping blend of domestic suspense, small-town secrets, and a woman’s reckoning with her past—and it delivers on every level. From the moment investigative reporter Rose Howard steps into the seemingly peaceful town of Sage Hill, you know this won’t be just a story about a missing friend—it’s about deception, danger, and the unspoken truths we bury deep beneath calm waters.

Rose is a heroine you root for immediately. Worn thin from a crumbling marriage and the pressure to perform at work, she’s not out for adventure—she just wants one thing in her life to make sense. But when Eve Castillo, her ex-best friend and wildly popular travel vlogger, goes silent during a stay at a picturesque North Carolina cottage, Rose’s instincts kick in. The fact that their friendship ended in betrayal makes the emotional tension all the more compelling—this isn’t just a search, it’s personal.

The setting of Sage Hill is gorgeously eerie. What starts as a postcard-perfect lakeside town soon turns cold and claustrophobic, with too many friendly smiles hiding something rotten. Everyone knows something… and no one wants Rose asking questions. The tension builds like ripples on still water—quiet at first, but steadily rising until you realize you’re in way over your head.

The mystery is masterfully paced. Every twist is earned, every revelation feels like peeling back another layer of paint on a long-forgotten wall. Rose uncovers more than just clues—she stumbles into the haunting consequences of Eve’s choices, the town’s buried past, and the chilling realization that someone wants her gone. The danger is real. The stakes are personal. And just when you think you’ve figured it out—bam. The story hits you with a revelation you never saw coming.

Whispers of the Lake is an emotional, edge-of-your-seat mystery that explores trust, betrayal, and the dark currents that run beneath still waters.

3 ⭐️
Expected publication date - June 24, 2025

WHAT I LOVED - This was a very quick read. The chapters were short, and each ended with just enough of a cliffhanger to make you want to read the next one.

WHAT I LIKED - The journal entries interspersed in between some of the chapters.

WHAT I DISLIKED - I felt like some details were boring and unnecessary.

WOULD I RECOMMEND? To a certain audience. Yes, if you want a quick, straightforward thriller. No, if you want something more complex.

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing, for this eARC for review. All opinions are my own.

man shanora can really write a thriller book! my first thriller I've read by her and I was tuned the f*cked innnn! MAN this book was too damn good!! let me just say that eve was a hot mess but I loved every second of it because I love when I read books they have that one messy character!! shanora had me thinking it was so many different people everytime a new clue was revealed! and I loved how the journal entries were added into the book! a page turner for sure!! rose made sure to not give up on her friend no matter what and Iloved how quick she was and how she caught people playing in her face! the plot twists were there the whole entire storyline was *chefs kiss* definitely ready for everyone to get this book in june!!

This book had me hooked right from the start—missing friends, messy relationships, and a whole lot of drama! But let me ask you this… was that even really your friend? Rose is in the middle of chaos—she’s reeling from her marriage falling apart and the person responsible for that? Oh yeah, her best friend Eve, who’s now missing. Talk about layers.

Eve’s backstory is heartbreaking—terrible, abusive parents and a string of bad relationships left her searching for love in all the wrong places. She’s also an influencer (because of course she is) and one day, she just up and vanishes. Enter Zoey, Eve’s little sister, who reaches out to Rose for help—even though they weren’t on speaking terms. But being the investigative reporter she is, Rose feels like she has to step up and find Eve, no matter their rocky past.

The story takes us to a lakefront cottage, Eve’s last known location, and let me tell you, the suspense is real. Will Rose find her ex-bestie, or will she end up just as missing?

This book kept me flipping pages like crazy. It’s packed with tension, messy relationships, and the lingering question of whether the people in your life are who they seem. A fantastic read—I loved every moment of it!

I enjoyed reading Whispers of the Lake. I thought it was a pretty well paced story and new clues developed as the story progressed. I enjoyed the journal entries. Eve was a very complicated character and she truly was heavily flawed. Rose was loving and forgiving to a detriment to herself. I really hated their friendship. I would recommend this book.

This book is a page turner for sure! Shanora knows what she’s doing! I couldn’t put this down! Very fast paced!

Man this book was so good, I mean I couldn’t put it down. I got this book as an ARC and I am so happy that I was given the opportunity to read this book. Even though I didn’t want to feel sorry for Eve. After fully understanding her backstory. You kind of can’t help but have empathy for her. While reading this book, I just knew I knew who her killer was. But when it was revealed, baaaaby I was shookith. This book had me like 😳🤯😮

I already knew this book was going to be good because I love everything Shanora writes, but this one went way beyond what I expected.
I started it on a Saturday night thinking I’d just read a few chapters before bed, but I was so into it I couldn’t stop. I ended up binge reading the whole book that night and woke up the next morning still thinking about it.

I really loved Rose, even though she had me stressed out the entire time. She made some questionable choices, sure, but her determination and need to get to the truth had me rooting for her. Her loyalty just made her even more likable.

The way the story played out was so good. The pacing was fast, and the short chapters made it easy to keep reading “just one more.” I liked the variety of characters and the plot kept me guessing. I had a few theories, but the twist still caught me completely off guard. I also loved how the flashbacks and journal entries gave us a peek into Eve’s mind—it added so much to the story.

I’d highly recommend this one, and honestly, I might even reread it before it officially comes out. That’s how much I enjoyed it.

Shanora Williams delivers a suspenseful and atmospheric read with *Whispers at the Lake*, blending mystery, family drama, and a touch of the supernatural into a compelling story. From the very first page, the eerie setting of the lake pulls you in, creating an immersive backdrop that keeps the tension high throughout the novel I just wish this were consistent feel throughout the rest of the book as I did not always feel like I was reading a suspenseful story. The MCs journey is layered with grief, secrets, and self-discovery, making her struggles feel real and relatable. The relationships—especially the complex family dynamics—are written with nuance, adding depth beyond the mystery itself.

The pacing is steady, with just the right balance of slow-burning suspense and attempts at shocking twists. Williams knows how to plant subtle clues and unravel secrets at the perfect moments, keeping the reader engaged without feeling overwhelmed.

While the mystery unfolds predictably at times, the journey is still an enjoyable one.

⭐️ 3.5/5

5 Stars – Gripping and impossible to put down!

Whispers of the Lake by Shanora Williams is a captivating blend of mystery and a hint of spice/ romance. The story follows Rose, whose marriage is falling apart just as her ex-best friend goes missing—cue the suspense! The short chapters and unexpected twists had me completely hooked; I honestly couldn’t put it down.

I’m forever a fan of Shanora’s writing style—it’s so engaging and vivid, you can easily picture every scene and connect with the characters.

If you're into thriller/suspense with a touch of emotion, this one’s a must-read. Highly recommend!

I enjoyed this read. The twists weren’t necessarily ‘jaw-dropping’ but still a good read! One thing I did pick up on was the lack of spelling and grammar issues, which I’ve noticed are more common I. ARCs. I don’t recall a single error in this book which made for an easier read.

Whispers of the Lake had me hooked from the start. Rose is a relatable protagonist—flawed, driven, and quietly unraveling under the pressure of a crumbling marriage and career ambition. When her former best friend Eve goes missing in a picturesque North Carolina town, what starts as a reluctant check-in spirals into a layered mystery full of shady locals, buried secrets, and growing danger.

The setting in Sage Hill is perfectly eerie, with that creeping, small-town paranoia that makes you question everyone. The plot moves at a solid pace, with just enough red herrings to keep things interesting without going off the rails.

That said, I found myself frustrated near the end. Without spoiling anything, there’s a moment where the narrative seems to start shifting blame onto the victim in a way that didn’t sit right. After investing in the stakes and emotional weight of Eve’s disappearance, that tonal shift felt jarring and a bit unfair.

Still, this is a compelling mystery with a sharp lead and strong atmosphere. If you're into stories about friendship gone wrong, small-town secrets, and the kind of tension that makes you double-check locked doors, this one's worth the read—just be ready for a slightly bumpy landing.
**Rounded up from 3.5 stars**

Rose is miserable – she isn’t getting the promotion she deserves, she has separated from her husband as she caught him cheating and she has ended her long friendship with her best friend, Eve, as she was the one who her husband cheated with. While she is yet to come to terms with the troubles of her life, she gets a worried call from her now-estranged best friend’s sister that Eve has gone AWOL. Thus starts Rose’s chase as she tries to trace Eve’s steps to figure out where she is. Eve was last seen in a cottage by the lake and hence the name of the book.

The book is labeled as a mystery thriller, but this book is much more than that. Williams masterfully weaves themes of marriage, friendship, and deception. Rose’s character is so well portrayed – I seethed in rage as she overhears her colleagues bitch about her in the toilet, I cried with her when she catches her husband cheating with her best friend, struggled with conflicting emotions when Eve goes missing.

Though Eve is the missing person, Williams weaves such a different perspective that I found myself feeling sorry for her. Without spoiling the book, even some of the side characters are so well written, that I wanted to know more about them – their past life, what motivates them and why they behave the way they do. The character development takes a backseat as the story picks up pace, which is reasonable. Given how complex and layered her characters are in this book, I hope Shanora Williams writes a literary fiction with Rose and Eve’s characters.

“Whispers of the Lake” is a gripping thriller that will captivate fans of suspense and mystery. With its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and unexpected twists, it is a must-read for anyone seeking a thrilling page-turner.

If you love messy friendships, shady small towns, and psychological thrillers that keep you guessing until the last page, then Whispers of the Lake is it! Shanora Williams nails the tension and drama with these the characters who are layered with secrets. I was hooked and stressed the whole time. I also loved that it was a quick read that I devoured in one sitting!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Kinsingtonbooks for the eARC.

I've been wanting to read a book by this author. I had recently checked one of her earlier books from the library but had not read it yet. When I saw a new book is due out in June, 2025, I was excited to read this latest selection first!

I was not disappointed! I would put this book in the category of suspense. If you are a fan of Lifetime movies, I think you would enjoy this book also.
The main character, Rose is having it rough lately, her marriage is falling apart, and then her former best friend, Eve goes missing- or is she really missing? Although Eve may be a former friend, she still feels the need to find out what happened, and if something did, who is responsible. The search for an answer takes her to a town where not everyone is trying to be helpful, and a setting on a lake with a dark forest makes the search even scarier.
This is not a scary book, but I have to admit the setting makes for an eerie feel! I enjoyed the mid-pace of drawing out what happened. I did not see the ending coming, which I love in a book.
This is a quick enjoyable read that I would recommend to fans of the is author, or fans of suspense novels.

A quick read with an intriguing premise; but the execution fell flat for me. I didn’t feel “connected” to any of the characters, so while I wanted to know WHAT happened to Eve, I didn’t really care to know the WHY. She was far from a good person, but the victim-blaming comments at the end of the book didn’t sit well with me.
An “average” read, overall.