When Lisa Gardner is prepared to endorse a debut book then you know it's going to be a very good one. "The Dark Lake" by new author Sarah Bailey is an enjoyable, addictive and well written suspenseful thriller that contains all the required elements to be a successful bestseller.
When beautiful Smithson High School teacher Rosalind Ryan is found strangled in Sonny Lake surrounded by roses, Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock is allocated the investigation. However, Gemma remembers Rosalind from school. Can she stay objective when memories, good and bad, start resurfacing and her then relationship with Jacob becomes the forefront of her thoughts.
Told in alternating timelines I liked how we followed the investigation in the present and then Gemma's life when she was young at the high school with Rosalind.
I found this a compelling slow burner, very much character focused but with a truly interesting and intriguing storyline that I was desperate to find out who murdered Rosalind. I was pleasantly surprised at the ending which fit perfect and came together seamlessly.
I would recommend this book to crime and thriller readers of all ages and I'd happily read more by this author again, I like her writing style and found the whole book an enjoyable read.
4.5 stars
When beautiful Smithson High School teacher Rosalind Ryan is found strangled in Sonny Lake surrounded by roses, Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock is allocated the investigation. However, Gemma remembers Rosalind from school. Can she stay objective when memories, good and bad, start resurfacing and her then relationship with Jacob becomes the forefront of her thoughts.
Told in alternating timelines I liked how we followed the investigation in the present and then Gemma's life when she was young at the high school with Rosalind.
I found this a compelling slow burner, very much character focused but with a truly interesting and intriguing storyline that I was desperate to find out who murdered Rosalind. I was pleasantly surprised at the ending which fit perfect and came together seamlessly.
I would recommend this book to crime and thriller readers of all ages and I'd happily read more by this author again, I like her writing style and found the whole book an enjoyable read.
4.5 stars