Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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!
Thank you to NetGalley & Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this eARC!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
This was not good 😭. So many continuity issues and also very victim-blamey??
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
This book had me hooked from page one and didn’t let go.
Told from the sharp, emotionally complex POV of Rose, an investigative journalist with her own baggage, this thriller weaves mystery, grief, and the tangled history of friendship into something unforgettable. When Rose’s estranged childhood best friend, Eve, suddenly disappears, what starts as a reluctant favor for Eve’s little sister quickly spirals into something much darker and more personal.
I absolutely loved how this book handled the complexities of female friendship, especially one that’s broken but not forgotten. There’s such tenderness beneath the tension, the kind of quiet ache that lingers after someone’s betrayed you, but part of you still cares. Rose is one of those characters who sticks with you: grounded, determined, emotionally guarded but fiercely empathetic. She’s not chasing answers out of curiosity, she’s chasing them because someone has to, and maybe she needs them more than she wants to admit.
And Eve? Whew. I wanted to hate her. I tried to hate her. But this book reminded me that people, even the ones who hurt us, are rarely all good or bad. Sometimes they’re just broken in ways we can’t see. Sometimes they deserve grace, or at least a chance to explain.
The mystery unfolds at a near-perfect pace, just twisty enough to keep me guessing, but not so wild it lost its emotional grounding. Even when I saw a few things coming, it didn’t matter. I was completely invested in the how and why, and the emotional fallout more than delivered.
The small-town setting of Sage Hill, with its eerie atmosphere and cast of suspicious (and downright strange) locals, added so much creep factor. Pair that with Eve’s chilling journal entries woven between chapters, and the tension just builds and builds. Listening to the audio book as I read it made it much creepier. The narrator did an amazing job at making the characters real, bringing out all of their personality traits. It left my senses immersed in this book.
By the end, I was riveted. The final reveal took me by surprise, and yet it made perfect, devastating sense. It was one of those rare endings that’s both satisfying and emotionally impactful.
If you love character-driven thrillers that dig deep into themes of grief, loyalty, betrayal, and the fragile threads that tie us to one another, read this book. If you’re into suspense with heart, haunting secrets, and an ending that lands, read this book. Seriously. This one’s going to stay with me for a long time.
Told from the sharp, emotionally complex POV of Rose, an investigative journalist with her own baggage, this thriller weaves mystery, grief, and the tangled history of friendship into something unforgettable. When Rose’s estranged childhood best friend, Eve, suddenly disappears, what starts as a reluctant favor for Eve’s little sister quickly spirals into something much darker and more personal.
I absolutely loved how this book handled the complexities of female friendship, especially one that’s broken but not forgotten. There’s such tenderness beneath the tension, the kind of quiet ache that lingers after someone’s betrayed you, but part of you still cares. Rose is one of those characters who sticks with you: grounded, determined, emotionally guarded but fiercely empathetic. She’s not chasing answers out of curiosity, she’s chasing them because someone has to, and maybe she needs them more than she wants to admit.
And Eve? Whew. I wanted to hate her. I tried to hate her. But this book reminded me that people, even the ones who hurt us, are rarely all good or bad. Sometimes they’re just broken in ways we can’t see. Sometimes they deserve grace, or at least a chance to explain.
The mystery unfolds at a near-perfect pace, just twisty enough to keep me guessing, but not so wild it lost its emotional grounding. Even when I saw a few things coming, it didn’t matter. I was completely invested in the how and why, and the emotional fallout more than delivered.
The small-town setting of Sage Hill, with its eerie atmosphere and cast of suspicious (and downright strange) locals, added so much creep factor. Pair that with Eve’s chilling journal entries woven between chapters, and the tension just builds and builds. Listening to the audio book as I read it made it much creepier. The narrator did an amazing job at making the characters real, bringing out all of their personality traits. It left my senses immersed in this book.
By the end, I was riveted. The final reveal took me by surprise, and yet it made perfect, devastating sense. It was one of those rare endings that’s both satisfying and emotionally impactful.
If you love character-driven thrillers that dig deep into themes of grief, loyalty, betrayal, and the fragile threads that tie us to one another, read this book. If you’re into suspense with heart, haunting secrets, and an ending that lands, read this book. Seriously. This one’s going to stay with me for a long time.
If you were addicted to lifetime movies growing up, and love dramatic, messy characters, this book is definitely for you. I think you’d like it too if you enjoy Frieda McFadden.
I was definitely interested to see where the story went, and I was invested in the drama. Creepy small town with characters suspicious of outsiders definitely added to the tension of the story. This books was definitely entertaining and kept me listening.
The audiobook was great. I thought the alternating narrators added to the drama. The narrator for Rose did a great job bringing the tension and dramatic feeling of the story telling. Great production with the sound level throughout. I recommend listening to this one.
I was definitely interested to see where the story went, and I was invested in the drama. Creepy small town with characters suspicious of outsiders definitely added to the tension of the story. This books was definitely entertaining and kept me listening.
The audiobook was great. I thought the alternating narrators added to the drama. The narrator for Rose did a great job bringing the tension and dramatic feeling of the story telling. Great production with the sound level throughout. I recommend listening to this one.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I want to start off by saying thank you to the team for allowing me to read an ARC Advanced reader copy of Whispers of the Lake by Shanora Williams.
This book was so intriguing from beginning to end. I couldn't put this book down. As I was reading this book the phrase Would you go to war for your best friend? came to mind. No matter how much Rose may not have wanted to go investigate for herself what was going on with the disappearance of her friend Eve she still went. I love that Rose gave a representation of the phrase she may not have agreed with what Eve had done but she still proceeded with doing the best that she could with the tools and skill set she was given. I loved the pacing and flow of this book I was never bored I wanted to keep picking the book up. Every chapter had me guessing!
Picture this your best friend did you wrong with one decision. WOULD YOU STILL GO TO WAR FOR HER? After she goes missing how far would you go? Is your friends wrong doing worth your time and energy to search for her? Would you leave the situation alone or would you put your feelings aside and do what you felt needed to be done and go search for her?
This book was so intriguing from beginning to end. I couldn't put this book down. As I was reading this book the phrase Would you go to war for your best friend? came to mind. No matter how much Rose may not have wanted to go investigate for herself what was going on with the disappearance of her friend Eve she still went. I love that Rose gave a representation of the phrase she may not have agreed with what Eve had done but she still proceeded with doing the best that she could with the tools and skill set she was given. I loved the pacing and flow of this book I was never bored I wanted to keep picking the book up. Every chapter had me guessing!
Picture this your best friend did you wrong with one decision. WOULD YOU STILL GO TO WAR FOR HER? After she goes missing how far would you go? Is your friends wrong doing worth your time and energy to search for her? Would you leave the situation alone or would you put your feelings aside and do what you felt needed to be done and go search for her?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide
Another hit for me. This book kept me engaged from beginning to end. I absolutely could not put it down. And I couldn't figure out things until it was revealed at the end. But I expect nothing less from this author. And Rose is a better woman than me, cause I don't think I could do what she did. This was one of my favorite books for this year and I can't wait for the author's next read
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love a book that will keep me engaged and guessing until the plot is revealed. This book is fast paced and straight to the point. So many chapters in this book had me biting my nails and on the edge of my seat; literally. This is a great short read that will have you yelling at the FMC while trying to solve the mystery.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Both the murder and its solving were based on chance more than anything else.
I enjoyed Rose’s narration, however, the overall lack of empathy to Eve’s traumatic history grated on me.
I enjoyed Rose’s narration, however, the overall lack of empathy to Eve’s traumatic history grated on me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Violence