STRANGER IN THE LAKE by Kimberly Belle | #Review

Stranger In The Lake by Kimberly Belle
Genre: Domestic Thriller
Published by Harlequin / Park Row
Publication Date: June 9, 2020
ASIN: B07WNX6ZZS
Pages: 352
Review Copy From: Harlequin via NetGalley
Edition: eBook
My Rating: 5

Synopsis (via GR)

“Spellbinding. Another outstanding novel by Kimberly Belle, masterfully written to lure you in and never let go.” – Samantha Downing, USA Today bestselling author of My Lovely Wife

When Charlotte married the wealthy widower Paul, it caused a ripple of gossip in their small lakeside town. They have a charmed life together, despite the cruel whispers about her humble past and his first marriage. But everything starts to unravel when she discovers a young woman’s body floating in the exact same spot where Paul’s first wife tragically drowned.

At first, it seems like a horrific coincidence, but the stranger in the lake is no stranger. Charlotte saw Paul talking to her the day before, even though Paul tells the police he’s never met the woman. His lie exposes cracks in their fragile new marriage, cracks Charlotte is determined to keep from breaking them in two.

As Charlotte uncovers dark mysteries about the man she married, she doesn’t know what to trust—her heart, which knows Paul to be a good man, or her growing suspicion that there’s something he’s hiding in the water.

My Thoughts

I am a big fan of Ms. Belle and had been waiting patiently to get a copy of this book in my hands. Normally, I would have devoured it in a matter of days, which I had done with her previous books (check out my reviews below), however, it took me much longer. Not because of the storyline, suspense, writing, etc. but because of our current health crisis, which I have had a hard time focusing due to anxiety.

Charlotte, aka Charlie, McCreedy Keller grew up on the wrong side of town but a year ago married Paul Keller, a big-time architect of custom homes. For Paul, he never thought he would find love again after losing his first wife 4 years ago, which he was a suspect in her questionable death.

After celebrating, the night before, that they were expecting, Charlotte walk down to the dock to retrieve some papers that she left on his boat. Those papers are not the only thing she finds, there is a body below their dock, reminiscent of where Paul’s 1st wife was found. How could this happen again? And what’s worse, Paul leaves her to deal with the police while he treks and plans to be away hiking in the woods to locate his friend Jax while his other friend, Micah, son of the Police Chief and an underwater crime investigator is on the scene.

Things are not adding up for Charlotte. Could it be she really doesn’t know her husband? And why are circumstances from a death from 20 years ago, coming to light now?

The suspense was gripping. The characters were believable. The writing fluid.

Even though there were not that many characters, aka suspects, I kept going back and forth between a few of them as to who I thought the killer was. By the time I was into 3/4 of the story I was sure I had this mystery figured out. WRONG!!!!!! Not even close! The ending was climatic that left me saying, WAIT!!
WHAT!!!

Another entertaining and super suspenseful read by an awesome author!!!! Now I sit and patiently wait for her next book!!

Check out my previous reviews for:
Dear Wife
The Last Breath
Three Days Missing
The Marriage Lie

Purchase Links: Amazon 🔗 | Barnes & Noble 🔗 | Goodreads 🔗

REVIEW DISCLAIMER

  • This blog was founded on the premise to write honest reviews, to the best of my ability, no matter who from, where from and/or how the book was obtained, and will continue to do so, even if it is through PICT or PBP.
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