I am the first to admit that I am not an ardent lover of short stories. I find I finish short stories always wanting more, but I was enticed by the blurb of this upcoming Christina McDonald novella which is the prequel to her Jess Lambert series. A series I'm now eager to pick up.
The Gist: Jess Lambert has just moved to Black Lake, her husband's hometown, after living in New York City and working as a paramedic. One morning, Jess witnesses a concerning situation and the paramedic in her jumps in to help and she soon becomes embroiled in a murder that occurs at the notorious old house that has a dark history.
Told with a dual narrative, Jess and a mysterious 'Him', this novella has delightful creepiness that blends past and present within a story that is filled with lies, deception and building tension.
Sinister and haunting, this is a well-paced short story that provides insight into the character of Jess Lambert and a compelling and twisty mystery that will have many readers finishing this book in one sitting.
Disclaimer: My thanks to the author and publisher for the advanced copy of this book which was provided in exchange for my honest review.
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Author: Christina McDonald
Genre: Suspense, Novella
Series: #0.5 in Jess Lambert series
Type and Source: eBook from publisher via NetGalley
Publisher: Intrigue Ink Publishing
First Published: March 19, 2024
Book Description from GoodReads: Secrets, murder and revenge converge in this gripping prequel to Amazon charts bestselling thriller, These Still Black Waters, about a young Jess Lambert drawn into a deadly cat-and-mouse game. Because old ghosts often have old scores to settle.
Jess Lambert and her husband, Mac, have just moved to Black Lake, looking for a quieter, more peaceful life. Until one morning Jess befriends a stranger—beautiful and glamorous Annie Parker—who’s also just moved to town.
Only a few hours later, Jess finds Annie wandering naked and in shock along the lake. And at Annie’s house she encounters a gruesome scene that shows a violent attack. But then Annie disappears.
As Jess is pulled deeper into the mystery of what happened to Annie, she learns about the house’s chilling past. And she begins to who was Annie really? Is she a witness, murderer, victim?
But it’s dangerous hunting down old ghosts. And Jess becomes increasingly unsure if she’s the hunter, or the prey. Who is the stranger at Black Lake?
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