In 1960 Harper witnesses the death of her mother. In 1968 Harper's grandmother dies unexpectedly and her boyfriend Chase goes missing the same night. 20 years later Harper inherits her grandmother's estate so she moves back to the area. After the death of another person connected to Harper, a local policewoman decides to take another look at all of these incidents surrounding Harper. Is Harper a murderer?

This book had so many elements of a Gothic novel--an old mansion on a lake, creepy dolls, gargoyles, cats, bats, skeletons. At first I thought this was a horror novel, but it ended up being a really good thriller. The story is told in three timelines--1960, 1968, and 1988. It is told through multiple perspectives which helps to fill in the storyline. Harper and several of the neighbors had devices they used to spy on each other, reminiscent of Rear Window (one of my favorite old films). There were so many moving parts it was almost impossible to figure out who was behind all the deaths. I really enjoyed this story. My only complaint is that it is super long for a thriller.

The following review was posted on Goodreads on 4.29.25:

Atmsopheric thrillers about people in the present unearthing secrets from the past are my jam. IT HAPPENED ON THE LAKE has many of my favorite genre tropes, so I was hopoing it would be a five-star read for me. Unfortunately, this novel is a hot mess. The only thing I can really say for it is that although I debated putting it down about a million times, I never actually did. I powered through to the end, but man, was it a slog!

My top issues with IT HAPPENED ON THE LAKE are these:

- It's WAY too long. I read an e-ARC on my Kindle, so I didn't realize at first just how lengthy this sucker is. The print version is 592 pages, apparently, which is about double the length of most of the mystery/thriller books I read. I'm not even sure there was enough to the story to justify 300 pages, let alone almost 600. Yikes! Jackson's prose is extremely wordy and repititious, for one, and the book is also chock-full of drawn-out, unnecessary scenes. The novel is overwritten in every way.

- The story is melodramatic, far-fetched, and predictable. Although the twist at the end did catch me somewhat by surprise, it didn't seem at all plausible.

- The characters are bland and unlikable. None of Jackson's story people are developed enough to feel like real humans, and almost all of them are cold, self-centered, immoral, and unrelatable. I had difficulty caring about any of them. I especially couldn't understand why anyone cared about a jerk like Chase Hunt.

- Jackson's prose is very amateurish, with little complexity or depth to it. Harper's dialogue—especially her inner voice, which is littered with exclamatory remarks and punctuation—make her sound much younger and less immature than she's supposed to be. With a whole lot more tell than show, Jackson's writing just doesn't sound like the work of a seasoned author.

Considering all these complaints, WHY did I plow through 592 pages to finish this book? Honestly, I don't know. Despite the fact that I really didn't enjoy it, I guess the novel was compelling enough on some level to keep me reading, even though I was over the whole thing before I got even a quarter of the way through the brick. For that, I'm giving IT HAPPENED ON THE LAKE two very generous stars.

If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for strong language, violence, blood/gore, sexual content, depictions of underage drinking and illegal drug use, and disturbing content

Oh so twisty! I didn’t see that ending coming. This was a perfect start of summer read!

5 stars!
Thank you for the copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC digital copy. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

This mystery truly kept me guessing! There were many threads and storylines that intertwined to keep me interested. I did solve a few puzzles but was surprised by most.

Absolutely enjoyed the lake setting. I could visualize the majestic (and later, decrepit) island buildings. In particular, the grandfather's tower with 360* views. Great use of beauty combined with ugliness.

4 out of 5 stars and my respect to the author.



POSSIBLE SPOILER and hoping my suggestion is accepted in a final revision prior to publication:
The main character, Hannah, specifically called her father's wife by name throughout the book, Hannah even noted her displeasure at hearing Dawn refer to Marcia as grandmother. However, in chapter 68 Marcia was referred to as "her stepmother" numerous times. This would be completely out of character for Hannah.

twisty, and full of secrets. perfect for a beach...or lake read. this is a standalone, which is sometimes great to have a one and done from Jackson.
thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

This is a twisty suspense that rotates back and forth through the 1960’ and the current year of 1988. The book is a bit slow and a little too long. However, it’s fascinating watching the clues unfurl. There’s a lot of darkness. The book is full of lies, jealousy, and greed. It was difficult to know who to trust. A lot of the characters weren’t very likable. It was a very interesting story. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

This was my first Lisa Jackson book. While it had a great pace and unexpected twists, I am not sure the writing style is for me. I appreciate the well thought out characters and descriptions, as well as the satisfying ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I haven’t found a Lisa Jackson book I haven’t loved at this point I’m still on that vibe. While there was a lot of open issues and mysteries in this story I really enjoyed it and also loved the way the author always has a way of weaving everything together

Absolutely LOVED It Happened on the Lake by Lisa Jackson! 20 years after a tragic night on which her grandmother died and her boyfriend disappeared, Harper Reed has returned to the behemoth of a lakeside home that she has now inherited. As she begins to work through the memories, emotions and literal clutter associated with the house, something sinister begins to come to light. Harper finds herself both eager and dreading the possibility of uncovering answers.

Lisa Jackson is another author who is an automatic read for me, her thrillers have depth and although I think I’m going to figure out the twist—she gets me every time! The switch between current day and the past was well done and added to the intrigue of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and Lisa Jackson for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my review! You can find It Happened On the Lake on shelves near you on its release date of June 24th, 2025.

#netgalley #LisaJackson #ItHappenedOnTheLake #ARCreader #thriller #booksta #bookish #2025reads

I always enjoy Lisa Jackson’s books - this story is told in two timelines - past and present - with a lot of twists and turns that I did not expect!

I just can't get into this book. It's definitely a slow burn and I struggle with it.

I unfortunately had to DNF

This one was jam packed with twists and turns and had a great ending. I can't say that i'm surprised, Lisa Jackson always kills it! She never fails to really get you into the book and make her words come to life.

I will read everything she publishes!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC!

It Happened on the Lake takes readers to a small town with a haunting past and a chilling present, where mysterious deaths loom large, and secrets are buried deeper than the lake itself.

The story toggles between past and present, following Harper, who returns to her eerie childhood home on an isolated island after her marriage falls apart. The setting—moody, mist-shrouded, and both beautiful and ominous—adds an extra dose of tension as strange occurrences escalate and bodies begin to surface.

Jackson excels at atmosphere. The lakeside town feels alive with whispers and unease, and the writing draws readers into a story where no one is quite what they seem. However, while the premise is undeniably compelling and the slow unraveling of the mystery is intriguing, the pacing sometimes falters. A few twists lean more toward convenient than shocking, and some characters could have benefited from deeper emotional development.

Still, for fans of slow-burn mysteries with a healthy dose of family secrets and eerie settings, It Happened on the Lake delivers a satisfying read. The ending ties most threads together, with a well-handled epilogue that brings closure—though one character's arc feels left slightly unresolved.

This was my first foray into Lisa Jackson’s work, and while I can’t compare it to her earlier books, I found her storytelling strong enough to make me curious about her more popular titles.

Final Verdict: A moody, mysterious read that may not hit every mark perfectly but still offers enough suspense and intrigue to keep readers turning the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. 3 stars

What drew me to Lisa Jackson’s It Happened on the Lake was the promise of a Hitchcockian mystery—complete with a creepy house and unexplained deaths. Harper Prescott inherits the island and mansion where she once lived with her grandmother. It’s been 20 years since she left, following the tragic events of one fateful night: her grandmother Olivia’s death and the disappearance of her boyfriend, Chase.

Tragedy seems to haunt Harper. At age nine, she witnessed what appeared to be her mother’s suicide, and her brother also died by suicide—on the island. Now, on the very night Harper returns, she sees Chase’s mother on a boat in the middle of the lake, setting fire to both her belongings and herself. Harper valiantly tries to save her, but to no avail. Thus begins the island’s newest mystery.

The cast of characters—each cloaked in suspicion—includes Harper’s childhood friend Beth and her husband Craig, Chase’s brother Levi Hunt, Harper’s father and stepmother, and several others tied to the lake. The story alternates between the 1960s, when Chase disappeared, and the 1980s, when Harper returns. It’s a slow burn—perhaps too slow. Near the end, I was tempted to skip ahead just to uncover the truth, though I resisted.

Overall, the story is intriguing and well-written, but it would have benefitted from tighter editing; some plotlines felt unnecessary and didn’t impact the outcome. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I look forward to reading more from Lisa Jackson.

#ItHappenedOnTheLake #NetGalley
Lisa Jackson, the queen of atmospheric suspense, returns with It Happened on the Lake, a haunting and gripping thriller set against the eerie backdrop of a secluded Victorian estate on Lake Twilight. Harper Reed Prescott has tried to outrun her past for two decades. Her grandmother's mysterious death and her boyfriend’s sudden disappearance still cast a long, dark shadow over her life. Now, freshly divorced and emotionally estranged from her daughter, Harper returns to the lake house she’s always tried to forget—hoping to sell it and finally move on. But the moment she steps back onto the property, buried secrets start to rise. Locals still whisper, the house seems to hum with memories, and Harper can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching her. As old mysteries resurface and strange happenings occur, Harper is forced to confront a terrifying truth: the past never stays buried—and someone wants to make sure hers stays deadly.
What I Like :-
1 Creepy, Slow-Burn Suspense: The isolated lake setting is perfectly moody, steeped in dread and claustrophobia.
2 Family Secrets and Twisted Truths: Jackson explores how guilt, trauma, and unresolved mysteries can ripple through generations.
3 A Strong Yet Vulnerable Protagonist: Harper is flawed, haunted, and painfully real—making her journey both compelling and heartbreaking.
Overall, It Happened on the Lake is a masterfully written psychological thriller that weaves together past and present, grief and guilt, mystery and menace. Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Megan Miranda, this novel will keep you on edge until the final, chilling twist.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for giving me an advance copy.

This was a really awesome thriller. It was spooky and engaging. I couldn't put it down!

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

Lisa Jackson delivers another masterclass in atmospheric suspense with It Happened on the Lake, a haunting tale that blends mystery, family secrets, and long-buried trauma into a gripping, emotionally charged read.
Lake Twilight is the kind of place that seems cursed by tragedy. For Harper, it's the site of nearly every heartbreak in her life: her brother’s suicide, her mother’s drowning, her grandmother’s overdose, and the disappearance of her first love, Chase—all shrouded in mystery, all happening in eerie proximity to one another. The lake, once a backdrop for teenage memories and friendships, has become a symbol of unresolved grief and dark secrets.
Now in her 30s and newly divorced, Harper returns to her childhood home after inheriting the family estate. But her homecoming is far from peaceful. On her very first night back, another suspicious death shakes the already-fragile peace of the lake community. It's a chilling reminder that the past is not done with her yet.
Jackson’s narrative unravels slowly, layer by layer, with just enough twists to keep you guessing. Rand, now a police officer and once a close friend of Harper’s lost brother and boyfriend, finds himself pulled back into a decades-old promise to protect Harper—one he failed to keep after going off to Vietnam. Levi, Chase’s surviving brother, adds even more tension with his brooding presence and mysterious PI work.
The pacing is deliberate, letting the reader sink into the haunting atmosphere of the lake and its residents. The dynamic between Harper, Rand, and Levi is rich with history, regret, and unspoken truths. As the plot twists tighten like a noose, the questions mount: What really happened to Chase? What secret was Rand protecting Harper from? And why do the deaths always lead back to the lake?
It Happened on the Lake is a moody, compelling read that sinks its hooks in early and doesn’t let go. If you love mysteries with complex characters and long-buried secrets, you’ll want to spend some time on Lake Twilight—just don’t expect to come away unscathed.

A thrilling book that keeps you turning the pages until the shocking ending. Full of twists and turns and shocks. Brilliant! I highly recommend reading this book! 📖

It Happened on the Lake is a stand-alone read. The story alternates between the past and the present.

The small town has had several mysterious deaths, all of which are not considered cold cases, but definitely are not cut and dry. Harper returns home after her marriage has ended. Her family home sits on an island connected by a bridge. For the locals that live there it is either a place of envy or the creepiest place ever. Soon after she arrives strange things begin to happen, and the bodies begin to multiply.

I have been a huge fan of Lisa Jackson and have been following her for years. The stories are always wonderfully written. They can be a little lengthy, (592 pages print version) but with all the characters, it takes time to weave them all together for a satisfying ending. This book was no different. Harper appears to be at the heart of all the mysterious deaths which escalate once she returns home. Nothing is as it seems, which allows the book to have the shocking ending we have come to love.