What do you think?
Rate this book
It Happened on the Lake
In an intense, twisty, Hitchcockian standalone spin on Rear Window from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson, a woman returns to the Oregon town where a nightmare unfolded 20 years ago—and is waiting to engulf her again. For fans of J.T. Ellison, Paula Hawkins, Karin Slaughter, and Riley Sager.
The huge Victorian house on Lake Twilight belongs to Harper Reed Prescott, as does the private island on which it sits. Harper wants little to do with either. Twenty years ago, Harper’s grandmother died suspiciously while in her care, on the same night that Harper’s boyfriend disappeared. His body was never found, and no charges were filed. But the rumors haven’t faded. There have been other deaths, other accidents. All revolving around Harper and her family.
Now Harper’s marriage is over, her college-age daughter is estranged, and Harper just wants to sell the property and make a fresh start. Except returning to the lake has stirred everything up again. Whispers. Memories. And the persistent feeling that, as she gazes out at the houses across the water, she’s being watched in turn.
The whole town has always thought Harper has something to hide, and they’re right. But she might have even more to fear . . .
The huge Victorian house on Lake Twilight belongs to Harper Reed Prescott, as does the private island on which it sits. Harper wants little to do with either. Twenty years ago, Harper’s grandmother died suspiciously while in her care, on the same night that Harper’s boyfriend disappeared. His body was never found, and no charges were filed. But the rumors haven’t faded. There have been other deaths, other accidents. All revolving around Harper and her family.
Now Harper’s marriage is over, her college-age daughter is estranged, and Harper just wants to sell the property and make a fresh start. Except returning to the lake has stirred everything up again. Whispers. Memories. And the persistent feeling that, as she gazes out at the houses across the water, she’s being watched in turn.
The whole town has always thought Harper has something to hide, and they’re right. But she might have even more to fear . . .
593 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2025
1596 people are currently reading
37252 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Jackson
272 books9,618 followersLisa Jackson is the number-one New York Times bestselling author of over ninety-five novels, including the Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya Series, the Pescoli and Alvarez Series, the Savannah series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of One Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Colony Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Nancy Bush, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Nancy Bush and Rosalind Noonan. There are over thirty million copies of her novels in print and her writing has been translated into twenty languages.
Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.
Visit http://www.LisaJackson.com where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.
Visit http://www.LisaJackson.com where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 561 reviews
June 29, 2025
The story is told through both past and present timelines. It follows Harper as she returns to her late grandmother’s old Victorian house. Years ago, Harper left the town heartbroken after her boyfriend (unofficial fiancé) mysteriously disappeared one night while crossing the lake to meet her. Ever since, strange things have happened around the lake—people going missing, unexplained deaths, and an eerie feeling that something isn't right.
The plot slowly builds through a mix of backstory and current events, creating a steady suspense. Each character has their own unique story, which adds depth to the overall narrative. I enjoyed the book, though I did feel it could have been a bit shorter in parts. But it was a solid, engaging read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this ARC.
The plot slowly builds through a mix of backstory and current events, creating a steady suspense. Each character has their own unique story, which adds depth to the overall narrative. I enjoyed the book, though I did feel it could have been a bit shorter in parts. But it was a solid, engaging read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this ARC.
May 1, 2025
This book was disappointing. It was entirely way too long. There was so much repeating, it's almost felt like the author didn't even realize she'd covered the ground already. It has a potential to be a gripping story, but I think at least 100 pages could probably be cut. It was a very, very slow read for me as well.
Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 11, 2026
Greetings again from Outlier Island!!
But this time I'm here, and I'm happy about it. I had so much fun with this, and I'm not getting that impression from many of my book friends who've read it.
This is a long one, I'll admit. Coming in at well over 500-pages, that's a bit unusual for a Thriller, or Domestic Suspense, but to me, it never felt too long.
I was so invested in all the juicy drama, trying to figure it out. My brain was spinning with all my theories...
I would definitely say it's one of those books you just have to pick up at the right time, and luckily for me, I picked this one up at a time when it was exactly what I needed.
I don't necessarily agree with the publisher comp to Rear Window, but in a way I can see what they were alluding to, as there is definitely a lot of 'watching' going on.
The drama of this story surrounds Lake Twilight, and the private island set in it, with its stately-Victorian home inherited by our MC, Harper Prescott. Even though Harper has an aversion to the property, she's recently returned after some upheaval in her life, including a divorce.
When she was younger, Harper went through a lot of trauma on the property and the surrounding area, so it's not surprising she hasn't really wanted to spend much time there in her adult life.
While we don't learn all that has gone on in Harper's past right away, we are treated to past perspectives that help to fill in the blanks.
Harper's present perspective is given as 1988, and the bulk of the action in the past occurs 20-years earlier in 1968. For me, I loved the back and forth, because it helped to slowly fill in the blanks and build out the story.
I say slowly, because it does take a long time to figure everything out, but not so much because the pace is slow, but more because there is soooo much to uncover.
Harper was considering fixing the property up in order to sell it, but being back stirs up so much unresolved issues and feelings, she's not sure if she'll actually be able to follow through with that plan. For now, she's mostly focused on putting her past to rest.
Can Harper figure out the hazy puzzle that is her past before the island claims another victim, or will Harper finally be overcome by the things that have haunted her?
It Happened on the Lake features one of my favorite tropes and I think that's part of the reason it was such a hit for me. I adore when a protagonist returns to their hometown, usually that they've fled years before, and ends up trying to solve some sort of mystery that's been haunting them.
That's exactly what this book is and I was in it with Harper. I also really enjoy Harper as a protagonist, because she was written in such a way that I wasn't 100% sure how reliable her perspective actually was.
That sense of uncertainty had me questioning everything, and I think that upped the intrigue level for me. I wanted to trust her, but part of me wasn't ready to let my guard down.
There were moments during the build that reminded me a lot of Riley Sager's, The House Across the Lake. It has sort of similar vibes with regards to the lake, surrounding town, and the people watching people situations.
Obviously, the content of this is vastly different and it is more drawn out, but if you enjoyed that drama-filled lakeside setting, this could end up working for you too.
There's a lot of moving pieces, particularly at the beginning, so it is the type of read where you have to be completely dialed in. If you miss anything, I can see it possibly getting confusing. Particularly due to the time jumps.
Regardless, I think if you're in the right mood, and you have the patience for it, it's a super fun and enticing read.
While it won't be for everyone, I think for the people it hits with, like myself, it can be a very enjoyable read.
Thank you to the publisher, Kensington Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I was hesitant to pick it up initially, because of that intimidating page count, but I'm glad I ended up giving it a shot.
It exceeded my expectations!
But this time I'm here, and I'm happy about it. I had so much fun with this, and I'm not getting that impression from many of my book friends who've read it.
This is a long one, I'll admit. Coming in at well over 500-pages, that's a bit unusual for a Thriller, or Domestic Suspense, but to me, it never felt too long.
I was so invested in all the juicy drama, trying to figure it out. My brain was spinning with all my theories...
I would definitely say it's one of those books you just have to pick up at the right time, and luckily for me, I picked this one up at a time when it was exactly what I needed.
I don't necessarily agree with the publisher comp to Rear Window, but in a way I can see what they were alluding to, as there is definitely a lot of 'watching' going on.
The drama of this story surrounds Lake Twilight, and the private island set in it, with its stately-Victorian home inherited by our MC, Harper Prescott. Even though Harper has an aversion to the property, she's recently returned after some upheaval in her life, including a divorce.
When she was younger, Harper went through a lot of trauma on the property and the surrounding area, so it's not surprising she hasn't really wanted to spend much time there in her adult life.
While we don't learn all that has gone on in Harper's past right away, we are treated to past perspectives that help to fill in the blanks.
Harper's present perspective is given as 1988, and the bulk of the action in the past occurs 20-years earlier in 1968. For me, I loved the back and forth, because it helped to slowly fill in the blanks and build out the story.
I say slowly, because it does take a long time to figure everything out, but not so much because the pace is slow, but more because there is soooo much to uncover.
Harper was considering fixing the property up in order to sell it, but being back stirs up so much unresolved issues and feelings, she's not sure if she'll actually be able to follow through with that plan. For now, she's mostly focused on putting her past to rest.
Can Harper figure out the hazy puzzle that is her past before the island claims another victim, or will Harper finally be overcome by the things that have haunted her?
It Happened on the Lake features one of my favorite tropes and I think that's part of the reason it was such a hit for me. I adore when a protagonist returns to their hometown, usually that they've fled years before, and ends up trying to solve some sort of mystery that's been haunting them.
That's exactly what this book is and I was in it with Harper. I also really enjoy Harper as a protagonist, because she was written in such a way that I wasn't 100% sure how reliable her perspective actually was.
That sense of uncertainty had me questioning everything, and I think that upped the intrigue level for me. I wanted to trust her, but part of me wasn't ready to let my guard down.
There were moments during the build that reminded me a lot of Riley Sager's, The House Across the Lake. It has sort of similar vibes with regards to the lake, surrounding town, and the people watching people situations.
Obviously, the content of this is vastly different and it is more drawn out, but if you enjoyed that drama-filled lakeside setting, this could end up working for you too.
There's a lot of moving pieces, particularly at the beginning, so it is the type of read where you have to be completely dialed in. If you miss anything, I can see it possibly getting confusing. Particularly due to the time jumps.
Regardless, I think if you're in the right mood, and you have the patience for it, it's a super fun and enticing read.
While it won't be for everyone, I think for the people it hits with, like myself, it can be a very enjoyable read.
Thank you to the publisher, Kensington Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I was hesitant to pick it up initially, because of that intimidating page count, but I'm glad I ended up giving it a shot.
It exceeded my expectations!
August 17, 2025
The first 300 or so pages of this book were gritty and engaging, and I was so hooked - but after that it just lost me. I feel like the editor really let this author down as there was a lot of repetition, overly long explanations and descriptions, and dialogue that went on and on, but went nowhere to develop the plot. If it was about 200 pages shorter, it would have been 5 stars. I loved the first half though!
June 1, 2025
A disappointing trip to the lake.
"It Happened on the Lake" follows Harper Reed Prescott, a woman trying to escape the haunting legacy of her family’s Victorian estate on a private island in Lake Twilight. Her mother drowned in said lake when Harper was a child, she lost her brother, and twenty years ago, Harper’s grandmother passed away on the same night Harper was supposed to be watching her - and her boyfriend Chase vanished on the lake without a trace. Though no charges were ever filed, suspicion has long clung to Harper's name. Now, she returns to the estate to claim her inheritance - only to find that the past refuses to stay buried.
As someone who’s enjoyed many of Lisa Jackson's earlier thrillers, I came into this one with high hopes. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a major disappointment: lacking the suspense or character depth I’ve come to expect from the author’s work, the novel is overly long and weighed down by repetition, grinding its pacing to a halt.
The sheer number of overlapping mysteries only adds to the problem. While they all connect to Harper and/or the lake, instead of building suspense, the tangled subplots dilute the impact of the main story. And despite all the twists, the ultimate revelations feel both over-the-top and strangely predictable. I had the central mystery figured out early on and found little satisfaction in being right. A more focused narrative would have served the thriller aspect better.
Romantic subplots also take up far too much space, feeling forced and unconvincing. Rather than adding depth, they undercut the suspense and distract from the core mystery. The same could be said for the characters’ near-constant drinking, which seemed to serve no real purpose and only made them more frustrating. Even without that, nearly everyone in the novel is unlikeable in a grating - not compelling - way. Harper, in particular, becomes hard to root for the longer the story goes on. Her obsessive spying on neighbors across the lake, complete with telescopes and binoculars, feels less like a Hitchcockian nod to „Rear Window“ and more like unnecessary, intrusive voyeurism. Rather than heightening suspense, it is awkward and ultimately pointless. And if I had to read one more reference to Harper’s perverted grandfather, I might’ve screamed.
Lisa Jackson still knows how to create atmosphere, and there are occasional glimpses of her signature tension, but they’re buried deep under an unfocused narrative. Overall, this story just did not work for me, and I hope her next release returns to the tighter storytelling, stronger character work and sharper suspense of her earlier thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
"It Happened on the Lake" is slated to be released on July 24, 2025.
"It Happened on the Lake" follows Harper Reed Prescott, a woman trying to escape the haunting legacy of her family’s Victorian estate on a private island in Lake Twilight. Her mother drowned in said lake when Harper was a child, she lost her brother, and twenty years ago, Harper’s grandmother passed away on the same night Harper was supposed to be watching her - and her boyfriend Chase vanished on the lake without a trace. Though no charges were ever filed, suspicion has long clung to Harper's name. Now, she returns to the estate to claim her inheritance - only to find that the past refuses to stay buried.
As someone who’s enjoyed many of Lisa Jackson's earlier thrillers, I came into this one with high hopes. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a major disappointment: lacking the suspense or character depth I’ve come to expect from the author’s work, the novel is overly long and weighed down by repetition, grinding its pacing to a halt.
The sheer number of overlapping mysteries only adds to the problem. While they all connect to Harper and/or the lake, instead of building suspense, the tangled subplots dilute the impact of the main story. And despite all the twists, the ultimate revelations feel both over-the-top and strangely predictable. I had the central mystery figured out early on and found little satisfaction in being right. A more focused narrative would have served the thriller aspect better.
Romantic subplots also take up far too much space, feeling forced and unconvincing. Rather than adding depth, they undercut the suspense and distract from the core mystery. The same could be said for the characters’ near-constant drinking, which seemed to serve no real purpose and only made them more frustrating. Even without that, nearly everyone in the novel is unlikeable in a grating - not compelling - way. Harper, in particular, becomes hard to root for the longer the story goes on. Her obsessive spying on neighbors across the lake, complete with telescopes and binoculars, feels less like a Hitchcockian nod to „Rear Window“ and more like unnecessary, intrusive voyeurism. Rather than heightening suspense, it is awkward and ultimately pointless. And if I had to read one more reference to Harper’s perverted grandfather, I might’ve screamed.
Lisa Jackson still knows how to create atmosphere, and there are occasional glimpses of her signature tension, but they’re buried deep under an unfocused narrative. Overall, this story just did not work for me, and I hope her next release returns to the tighter storytelling, stronger character work and sharper suspense of her earlier thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
"It Happened on the Lake" is slated to be released on July 24, 2025.
June 7, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read and review the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I absolutely love Lisa Jackson’s books. I’ve been reading them for years. So when I saw this title on NetGalley I immediately requested it then squealed when I was approved. If you like atmospheric, slow burn mysteries Lisa is your girl.
A small town full of secrets and mysterious deaths that always bring you back to the lake. Going between and present, the story follows Harper who has come into her inheritance and returned to the eerie mansion where she once lived. It’s hard to return here. So many deaths have taken place and her boyfriend went missing twenty years ago in that lake. And now someone is messing with her. Moving things around and taken her cat.
As every other book I’ve read by Lisa I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. It may not work for some but it was a comforting read for me.
I absolutely love Lisa Jackson’s books. I’ve been reading them for years. So when I saw this title on NetGalley I immediately requested it then squealed when I was approved. If you like atmospheric, slow burn mysteries Lisa is your girl.
A small town full of secrets and mysterious deaths that always bring you back to the lake. Going between and present, the story follows Harper who has come into her inheritance and returned to the eerie mansion where she once lived. It’s hard to return here. So many deaths have taken place and her boyfriend went missing twenty years ago in that lake. And now someone is messing with her. Moving things around and taken her cat.
As every other book I’ve read by Lisa I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. It may not work for some but it was a comforting read for me.
June 29, 2025
Was Lisa Jackson getting paid by the page for It Happened on the Lake? This book is almost 600 pages, and about 400 of them are completely unnecessary. Not only that, it’s tedious and boring, with an inordinate amount of exclamation points and a decent amount of the dialogue taking place in Harper Reed’s head or while she’s talking to herself.
The present timeline takes place in 1988, but there are also flashback chapters too, except for these jump around in time, providing a choppy timeline that’s hard to follow.
I couldn’t find a single character in this book who I liked. Harper is a barely functioning alcoholic with voyeuristic tendencies, and she’s supposed to be the hero of this story.
Her high school boyfriend wanted to knock her up so he could dodge the draft, but disappeared instead. His living brother has an affair with a married woman. His best friend is a cold fish that wants to leave the past in the past, but has no choice but to face his past when his partner wants to investigate. Harper’s grandmother is obsessed with creepy dolls and hornets. Her grandfather is a pervert. Her brother is a player. Her father is checked out and marries a woman that is a social climber with no interest in his children. Harper’s childhood best friend is more interested in making money off selling Harper’s house than she is about what brought Harper home in the first place. Harper’s ex is using their daughter to try and get a cut for himself of her inheritance. Honestly, it’s exhausting.
And then there’s the deaths everywhere. Harper’s mother, her grandfather, her brother, her grandmother, her boyfriend (never found and presumed dead), his father, his mother. You would think this would make the book exciting, but I can’t remember the last time I was this bored with this much death and destruction.
The whodunnit is also cliche and predictable, and certainly doesn’t require almost 600 pages for an unveiling.
Jackson may have been a good writer at some point. But 90 some odd books into her career and this book feels like a contract obligation without a lot of thought or creativity to it and leaves me inclined to pass on any other books she writes in the future. Hard no. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The present timeline takes place in 1988, but there are also flashback chapters too, except for these jump around in time, providing a choppy timeline that’s hard to follow.
I couldn’t find a single character in this book who I liked. Harper is a barely functioning alcoholic with voyeuristic tendencies, and she’s supposed to be the hero of this story.
Her high school boyfriend wanted to knock her up so he could dodge the draft, but disappeared instead. His living brother has an affair with a married woman. His best friend is a cold fish that wants to leave the past in the past, but has no choice but to face his past when his partner wants to investigate. Harper’s grandmother is obsessed with creepy dolls and hornets. Her grandfather is a pervert. Her brother is a player. Her father is checked out and marries a woman that is a social climber with no interest in his children. Harper’s childhood best friend is more interested in making money off selling Harper’s house than she is about what brought Harper home in the first place. Harper’s ex is using their daughter to try and get a cut for himself of her inheritance. Honestly, it’s exhausting.
And then there’s the deaths everywhere. Harper’s mother, her grandfather, her brother, her grandmother, her boyfriend (never found and presumed dead), his father, his mother. You would think this would make the book exciting, but I can’t remember the last time I was this bored with this much death and destruction.
The whodunnit is also cliche and predictable, and certainly doesn’t require almost 600 pages for an unveiling.
Jackson may have been a good writer at some point. But 90 some odd books into her career and this book feels like a contract obligation without a lot of thought or creativity to it and leaves me inclined to pass on any other books she writes in the future. Hard no. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 17, 2025
This book was longer than I think it needed to be. It was not a bad story, and with some editing it could have been a compelling thriller. This book is told over several decades as a new tragedy leads the police to look at a series of unfortunate events under a new light and discover decades hidden secrets. Harper has returned to her grandparents’ home, a home she spent much of her childhood in. Her daughter is off in college and she is newly divorced and ready to restart. Strange things keep happening in her home and around it. She tries to save a woman in a burning boat in the lake and this sets in motion a series of events that rewrite history as she knows it. I didn’t find any of the twists to be as twisty as I would have liked, but they were entertaining. Overall a decent read.
June 22, 2025
I've read several of Lisa Jackson's murder mysteries and have enjoyed them, so I was happy to see this new one. This one is billed as "a spin on Rear Window."
Description:
The huge Victorian house on Lake Twilight belongs to Harper Reed Prescott, as does the private island on which it sits. Harper wants little to do with either. Twenty years ago, Harper’s grandmother died suspiciously while in her care, on the same night that Harper’s boyfriend disappeared. His body was never found, and no charges were filed. But the rumors haven’t faded. There have been other deaths, other accidents. All revolving around Harper and her family.
Now Harper’s marriage is over, her college-age daughter is estranged, and Harper just wants to sell the property and make a fresh start. Except returning to the lake has stirred everything up again. Whispers. Memories. And the persistent feeling that, as she gazes out at the houses across the water, she’s being watched in turn.
The whole town has always thought Harper has something to hide, and they’re right. But she might have even more to fear . . .
My Thoughts:
So many deaths with Harper at the center of all of them. That poor girl - I'm surprised she's not insane! Her grandfather, her brother, her mother, her grandmother, the boyfriend who is presumed dead. Way too many! This book was full of unfolding surprises. The tensions increase gradually as something is happening inside the house when Harper returns. Lots of twist here which kept my attention and then, well can't tell you that, you'll have to read it for yourself. Mystery lovers will enjoy this on
Thanks to Kensington through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
The huge Victorian house on Lake Twilight belongs to Harper Reed Prescott, as does the private island on which it sits. Harper wants little to do with either. Twenty years ago, Harper’s grandmother died suspiciously while in her care, on the same night that Harper’s boyfriend disappeared. His body was never found, and no charges were filed. But the rumors haven’t faded. There have been other deaths, other accidents. All revolving around Harper and her family.
Now Harper’s marriage is over, her college-age daughter is estranged, and Harper just wants to sell the property and make a fresh start. Except returning to the lake has stirred everything up again. Whispers. Memories. And the persistent feeling that, as she gazes out at the houses across the water, she’s being watched in turn.
The whole town has always thought Harper has something to hide, and they’re right. But she might have even more to fear . . .
My Thoughts:
So many deaths with Harper at the center of all of them. That poor girl - I'm surprised she's not insane! Her grandfather, her brother, her mother, her grandmother, the boyfriend who is presumed dead. Way too many! This book was full of unfolding surprises. The tensions increase gradually as something is happening inside the house when Harper returns. Lots of twist here which kept my attention and then, well can't tell you that, you'll have to read it for yourself. Mystery lovers will enjoy this on
Thanks to Kensington through Netgalley for an advance copy.
June 21, 2025
In this slow burn mystery, we meet Harper. Who has returned to her small town, to inherit her grandmother's home on the lake. A town filled with secrets, mysteries and tragedies. Harper can't seem to escape her past and now the present wants a piece of her too.
I want to emphasize that this is a SLOW BURN mystery. It is in 3rd person, with multiple POVs. The book takes you between past and present. There were moments where it felt repetitive and I got uninterested with certain chapters. Was it enough to steer me away ... No, it still had me wanting to unravel the secrets and mysteries in the end.
I want to thank Netgalley and Kensington for the ARC. In exchange for my honest review.
I want to emphasize that this is a SLOW BURN mystery. It is in 3rd person, with multiple POVs. The book takes you between past and present. There were moments where it felt repetitive and I got uninterested with certain chapters. Was it enough to steer me away ... No, it still had me wanting to unravel the secrets and mysteries in the end.
I want to thank Netgalley and Kensington for the ARC. In exchange for my honest review.
July 23, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6MwNoDc/
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6MwNoDc/
June 24, 2025
Happy publication day 🎉🥳🎧
This was quite funny, I was sat listening to the final 2 minutes of a book that I was going to say I did enjoy but it was too lengthy when it decided it had another 17 minutes to run 😐
I was positive that I had read Lisa Jackson’s work before, but if I have it predates my reviews. It seems that her work is plentiful and perhaps this title is just a mixed bag.
There was a really solid story here, but unfortunately for me it lost me often, I like detail but there was a little (18 hours run time, plus that sneaky 17 minutes) too much detail and digression and I found that I was bored or losing track, generally when this happens I’ll pause and restart, after a couple of tries at that though, I realised the book was probably just the wrong fit for me. Curiously it seemed to me that the author knew I’d be distracted because there is a lot of rehashing the same topic to the point I wondered if it was playing the same part over again. Sadly not for me.
I enjoyed the narrators voice, and this was probably the only reason I didn’t dnf.
Huge thanks to Brilliance Publishing via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
This was quite funny, I was sat listening to the final 2 minutes of a book that I was going to say I did enjoy but it was too lengthy when it decided it had another 17 minutes to run 😐
I was positive that I had read Lisa Jackson’s work before, but if I have it predates my reviews. It seems that her work is plentiful and perhaps this title is just a mixed bag.
There was a really solid story here, but unfortunately for me it lost me often, I like detail but there was a little (18 hours run time, plus that sneaky 17 minutes) too much detail and digression and I found that I was bored or losing track, generally when this happens I’ll pause and restart, after a couple of tries at that though, I realised the book was probably just the wrong fit for me. Curiously it seemed to me that the author knew I’d be distracted because there is a lot of rehashing the same topic to the point I wondered if it was playing the same part over again. Sadly not for me.
I enjoyed the narrators voice, and this was probably the only reason I didn’t dnf.
Huge thanks to Brilliance Publishing via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
June 23, 2025
A pile of bodies and decades old mysteries - all surrounding one lake and all the houses and families that lived around it.
Harper has come back to town because her father's had a heart attack and is in the hospital. But she also inherited her grandmother's old lake house mansion and everything inside. She's come back to assess the state of it and see her father. But she isn't there long before long buried secrets start coming back to the surface. This lake is where her grandmother, her mother, her brother, and her first love - all died (except the first love, he just disappeared and is presumed dead.)
On the face of it, this mystery sounded great. Hinting it would have Hitchcockian vibes of Rear Window, I was ready to tuck in and enjoy. But I quickly found myself bogged down by the details. This book is almost 600 pages long. It has so many POV and each one can take place in more than one past or the now. It's confusing, gets really into the details, and even pulls in people from timeframes that mean nothing other than they lived in the area at the time.
I wanted to love it but I found myself lost in the mounds of details and ultimately silly excuses and reasonings.
A huge thank you to the author and Kensington Publishing for providing an ARC. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Harper has come back to town because her father's had a heart attack and is in the hospital. But she also inherited her grandmother's old lake house mansion and everything inside. She's come back to assess the state of it and see her father. But she isn't there long before long buried secrets start coming back to the surface. This lake is where her grandmother, her mother, her brother, and her first love - all died (except the first love, he just disappeared and is presumed dead.)
On the face of it, this mystery sounded great. Hinting it would have Hitchcockian vibes of Rear Window, I was ready to tuck in and enjoy. But I quickly found myself bogged down by the details. This book is almost 600 pages long. It has so many POV and each one can take place in more than one past or the now. It's confusing, gets really into the details, and even pulls in people from timeframes that mean nothing other than they lived in the area at the time.
I wanted to love it but I found myself lost in the mounds of details and ultimately silly excuses and reasonings.
A huge thank you to the author and Kensington Publishing for providing an ARC. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
April 24, 2025
I will be the first to admit drama/thriller is not my usual literary fare, however, having won this ARC in a giveaway (Thank you, Kensington Books!), I figured I’d give it a shot. Winning this book does not affect my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.
It unfortunately reminded me why I don’t read this genre. I think it certainly has its audience, as one of my students remarked “My mom LOVES Lisa Jackson!” But, since I am not a middle-aged suburban mom, it’s just not my jam.
So, here begins my list of complaints:
First, the writing style is veryyyyy choppy. I’m talking sentence fragments formatted almost like long chunks of dialogue. It interrupts any forward motion the author is trying to create because the reader is forced to pause.
After every little line.
Just like this.
The dialogue itself suffers from being full of cliches (like “barking up the wrong tree”) and just not sounding like actual people talk. Add in throwing so many 70s/80s song references and it made me cringe a LOT.
Further regarding “less is more,” boy, did this read dragggggg. I do not need to read 4 pages of Harper catching a bat in her house, or cleaning the house, or spying on people out the window. I resisted the urge to skim long sections, but boy howdy, it was tempting.
And thus, my grievances are aired. I hope the moms on a much-needed beach vacation find this book and eat it up.
It unfortunately reminded me why I don’t read this genre. I think it certainly has its audience, as one of my students remarked “My mom LOVES Lisa Jackson!” But, since I am not a middle-aged suburban mom, it’s just not my jam.
So, here begins my list of complaints:
First, the writing style is veryyyyy choppy. I’m talking sentence fragments formatted almost like long chunks of dialogue. It interrupts any forward motion the author is trying to create because the reader is forced to pause.
After every little line.
Just like this.
The dialogue itself suffers from being full of cliches (like “barking up the wrong tree”) and just not sounding like actual people talk. Add in throwing so many 70s/80s song references and it made me cringe a LOT.
Further regarding “less is more,” boy, did this read dragggggg. I do not need to read 4 pages of Harper catching a bat in her house, or cleaning the house, or spying on people out the window. I resisted the urge to skim long sections, but boy howdy, it was tempting.
And thus, my grievances are aired. I hope the moms on a much-needed beach vacation find this book and eat it up.
July 2, 2025
I liked this book a lot, and it kept me hooked. It was just way toooo long!
June 30, 2025
Lisa Jackson is an auto-read author for me, so I was so sad this one fell flat. I will absolutely continue to auto-read her books though.
My first complaint is the location. Aumsville Oregon is a real place, one I actually lived in briefly, so I was so excited to see it in a book. However Jackson made up the Aumsville in her book, placing it on a lake as a Portland suburb instead of the tiny town outside of Salem it is. Please authors, if you are going to make up a town don't use a real place. it's very disappointing. Also Lake Twilight feels like such an uninspired name, I would have loved even 6% more creativity in naming the more important place in the book.
second- the amount of deaths in the book is actually insane. At a certain point it just distracts from the plot because of all the minor deaths (even main character deaths get maybe 2 pages).
A disappointing read, one I would not recommend.
thank you to NetGalley, the author Lisa Jackson, and Brilliance Publishing for my ARC of this book.
My first complaint is the location. Aumsville Oregon is a real place, one I actually lived in briefly, so I was so excited to see it in a book. However Jackson made up the Aumsville in her book, placing it on a lake as a Portland suburb instead of the tiny town outside of Salem it is. Please authors, if you are going to make up a town don't use a real place. it's very disappointing. Also Lake Twilight feels like such an uninspired name, I would have loved even 6% more creativity in naming the more important place in the book.
second- the amount of deaths in the book is actually insane. At a certain point it just distracts from the plot because of all the minor deaths (even main character deaths get maybe 2 pages).
A disappointing read, one I would not recommend.
thank you to NetGalley, the author Lisa Jackson, and Brilliance Publishing for my ARC of this book.
September 10, 2025
This could have been so good, the storyline was so interesting but honestly it was 200 pages too long. I don’t mind a long book if it makes sense for it to be long but this became repetitive, predictable and some of the twists were quite obvious. I don’t know if I’d recommend it.
September 16, 2025
This book went on FOREVER. I did enjoy the book, I just think it could have cut 100-200 pages out and been a phenomenal read. This book gives a whole new meaning to slow burn!! It hasn't taken me 2 weeks to read a book in a long time.
I did push through because I wanted to see how it ended. I never seen the true villain coming!
I did push through because I wanted to see how it ended. I never seen the true villain coming!
July 5, 2025
When I get to the end of a book, I’m always ready to start another. Not so with It Happened on the Lake. I wanted to know more about the characters and what was going to happen in the future.
I enjoyed this book so much. It was intriguing, had interesting characters, kept me guessing to the end and had a great setting. It truly was one of the best books I’ve read this year.
The version I read was given to me by Kensington Publishing through Between the Chapters giveaways. It was the advanced reading edition, which has about 10 more pages than the final hardback version available now. I imagine there are a bit more details in my book than the finished product, but I’m sure it will still be excellent.
The story takes place in the 1960s and 1980s after the characters have grown up and got on with their lives following the events of earlier times. However, 20 years later, there are still questions about what happened when they were younger, especially since things are continuing in mysterious ways and circumstances.
It’s a wonderful read and will keep you up late at night. I know it did me.
I enjoyed this book so much. It was intriguing, had interesting characters, kept me guessing to the end and had a great setting. It truly was one of the best books I’ve read this year.
The version I read was given to me by Kensington Publishing through Between the Chapters giveaways. It was the advanced reading edition, which has about 10 more pages than the final hardback version available now. I imagine there are a bit more details in my book than the finished product, but I’m sure it will still be excellent.
The story takes place in the 1960s and 1980s after the characters have grown up and got on with their lives following the events of earlier times. However, 20 years later, there are still questions about what happened when they were younger, especially since things are continuing in mysterious ways and circumstances.
It’s a wonderful read and will keep you up late at night. I know it did me.
August 7, 2025
Exciting, spooky and full of twists. This was a good one.
June 25, 2025
Lisa Jackson's latest psychological thriller, "It Happened on the Lake," delivers a masterfully woven tapestry of suspense that proves why she remains one of the genre's most compelling voices. This standalone novel showcases Jackson's signature ability to blend small-town secrets with bone-chilling psychological terror, creating a narrative that grips readers from the atmospheric opening and refuses to release them until the explosive conclusion.
Set against the deceptively serene backdrop of Lake Twilight in Oregon, the story follows Harper Reed Prescott as she reluctantly returns to Dixon Island—a place where nightmares began twenty years ago and where they're about to resume with terrifying intensity. Jackson's choice of setting is nothing short of brilliant; the isolated Victorian mansion on its private island becomes both sanctuary and prison, while the lake itself transforms into a character of menacing proportions.
The Weight of the Past: Character Development and Narrative Structure
Harper Reed Prescott: A Complex Protagonist
Harper emerges as one of Jackson's most nuanced protagonists—a woman carrying decades of guilt, trauma, and unanswered questions. Her characterization feels authentically lived-in; Jackson avoids the trap of creating a perfect victim or an unbelievably resilient heroine. Instead, Harper is flawed, defensive, and carrying baggage that feels genuinely heavy. Her relationship with her estranged daughter Dawn adds emotional depth that elevates the story beyond mere thriller territory into something more profound about family, forgiveness, and the long shadows cast by our past choices.
The way Jackson handles Harper's emotional journey is particularly noteworthy. Rather than presenting her as a passive victim of circumstances, Harper demonstrates agency even when trapped by forces beyond her control. Her determination to uncover the truth about Chase Hunt's disappearance and her grandmother Olivia Dixon's death drives the narrative forward with compelling momentum.
Supporting Characters: A Web of Secrets
Jackson populates her story with a rich cast of supporting characters, each harboring their own secrets and motivations. Detective Rand Watkins, Chase's former best friend, brings emotional complexity to the investigation as he grapples with his feelings for Harper and his duty as a law enforcement officer. The tension between personal history and professional obligation creates some of the novel's most compelling moments.
Levi Hunt, Chase's brother, represents the collateral damage of that fateful night twenty years ago. His strained relationship with Harper reflects the broader theme of how tragedy ripples through communities, destroying relationships and creating lasting divisions. Jackson writes their interactions with a palpable sense of loss and might-have-beens that adds emotional weight to the mystery.
The revelation of Marcia Reed as the primary antagonist showcases Jackson's skill at misdirection. Throughout the novel, Marcia appears as an annoying but ultimately harmless stepmother figure. The gradual unveiling of her true nature—calculating, murderous, and driven by greed—demonstrates Jackson's understanding that the most terrifying villains often hide behind familiar facades.
A Masterclass in Atmospheric Suspense
The Gothic Elements
Jackson infuses "It Happened on the Lake" with gothic sensibilities that elevate it above standard psychological thrillers. The Victorian mansion on Dixon Island, with its towers, hidden passages, and long history of tragedy, serves as the perfect backdrop for a story steeped in family secrets and generational trauma. The house itself becomes a repository of memories, each room holding echoes of past events that continue to influence the present.
The recurring motif of watching and being watched—embodied by the telescope Harper uses to observe the houses across the lake—creates an persistent sense of paranoia that permeates the narrative. Jackson uses this visual metaphor brilliantly, suggesting that the past is always watching, waiting for the right moment to resurface and demand accountability.
Pacing and Structure
The novel's structure demonstrates Jackson's maturity as a storyteller. She skillfully weaves between present-day events and flashbacks to 1968, gradually revealing the truth about that pivotal night when Harper's grandmother died and Chase Hunt disappeared. This dual timeline approach allows Jackson to control the flow of information, building suspense while providing emotional context for Harper's current predicament.
The pacing accelerates appropriately as the story progresses, with the final confrontation between Harper and Marcia delivering genuine tension and visceral thrills. Jackson's decision to make the climax both a physical and psychological battle—Harper fighting not just for her life but for the truth about her family's dark history—proves dramatically satisfying.
Themes That Resonate
Truth and Perception
One of the novel's central themes explores how truth can be obscured by perception, grief, and deliberate manipulation. The mystery surrounding Chase's disappearance illustrates how different people can witness the same events and come away with entirely different interpretations. Jackson uses this theme to examine how communities create narratives to explain tragedy, often scapegoating individuals who don't fit conventional expectations.
Harper's position as the town pariah—the rich girl who supposedly killed her grandmother and drove her boyfriend to disappearance—reflects broader societal tendencies to blame women, particularly those with agency and independence. Jackson doesn't make this theme heavy-handed, but it adds depth to Harper's character and explains the hostility she faces upon returning to Almsville.
Wealth and Inheritance
The Dixon family fortune serves as both motive and curse throughout the narrative. Jackson explores how inherited wealth can become a poison that corrupts relationships and motivates murder. Marcia's elaborate scheme to claim the Dixon inheritance through marriage and manipulation reflects themes about greed's corrosive effects on human relationships.
The inheritance also represents generational responsibility—Harper must literally inherit not just money and property, but the burden of her family's dark history. This adds weight to her decision to return to the lake and confront the past rather than simply selling the property and moving on.
Technical Craft and Writing Style
Dialogue and Voice
Jackson's dialogue feels natural and serves character development effectively. Each character has a distinct voice, from Harper's defensive intelligence to Marcia's manipulative sweetness that masks her true nature. The conversations between Harper and Rand particularly shine, capturing both their shared history and the tension of their current circumstances.
The author's decision to write primarily from Harper's perspective creates appropriate intimacy with the protagonist while maintaining enough distance to preserve mystery elements. Jackson occasionally shifts to other viewpoints—particularly Rand's—when necessary to advance the plot or provide information Harper couldn't reasonably possess.
Descriptive Writing
Jackson's descriptive passages effectively establish mood and atmosphere without becoming overly purple or slowing narrative momentum. Her descriptions of the lake, particularly during the climactic fire scene with Cynthia Hunt, demonstrate her ability to make the environment feel threatening and alive. The Victorian mansion's interior details serve both atmospheric and plot purposes, particularly in the final confrontation when Harper's knowledge of the house's layout becomes crucial to her survival.
Areas of Critical Consideration
Coincidence and Convenience
While the novel succeeds on many levels, some plot developments rely heavily on coincidence. Harper's return to the lake coinciding with Cynthia Hunt's desperate attempt to recreate past events feels somewhat contrived, though Jackson provides enough psychological motivation for Cynthia's actions to make them believable within the story's emotional logic.
The revelation that Joel Prescott, Harper's ex-husband, had been watching her from across the lake years before they met adds an interesting layer to the story but feels slightly underdeveloped. This subplot could have been explored more fully to strengthen the novel's themes about observation and predestination.
Secondary Character Development
Some secondary characters, while well-drawn, could have benefited from additional development. Detective Chelle Brown, who drives much of the reinvestigation into the cold cases, remains somewhat one-dimensional despite her important role in advancing the plot. Similarly, Dawn Prescott, Harper's daughter, appears primarily in Harper's thoughts and phone conversations, making it difficult to assess their relationship's true dynamics.
The Verdict: A Worthy Addition to the Thriller Canon
"It Happened on the Lake" succeeds as both an entertaining thriller and a thoughtful exploration of how the past shapes the present. Jackson demonstrates mature storytelling that balances genre expectations with genuine character development and thematic depth. While the novel has minor flaws in pacing and some reliance on coincidence, these issues don't significantly detract from an overall successful reading experience.
The book will particularly appeal to readers who enjoy atmospheric thrillers with strong sense of place and complex family dynamics. Jackson's writing style—accessible but not simplistic, suspenseful but not gratuitously violent—makes this novel suitable for a broad audience of thriller enthusiasts.
Set against the deceptively serene backdrop of Lake Twilight in Oregon, the story follows Harper Reed Prescott as she reluctantly returns to Dixon Island—a place where nightmares began twenty years ago and where they're about to resume with terrifying intensity. Jackson's choice of setting is nothing short of brilliant; the isolated Victorian mansion on its private island becomes both sanctuary and prison, while the lake itself transforms into a character of menacing proportions.
The Weight of the Past: Character Development and Narrative Structure
Harper Reed Prescott: A Complex Protagonist
Harper emerges as one of Jackson's most nuanced protagonists—a woman carrying decades of guilt, trauma, and unanswered questions. Her characterization feels authentically lived-in; Jackson avoids the trap of creating a perfect victim or an unbelievably resilient heroine. Instead, Harper is flawed, defensive, and carrying baggage that feels genuinely heavy. Her relationship with her estranged daughter Dawn adds emotional depth that elevates the story beyond mere thriller territory into something more profound about family, forgiveness, and the long shadows cast by our past choices.
The way Jackson handles Harper's emotional journey is particularly noteworthy. Rather than presenting her as a passive victim of circumstances, Harper demonstrates agency even when trapped by forces beyond her control. Her determination to uncover the truth about Chase Hunt's disappearance and her grandmother Olivia Dixon's death drives the narrative forward with compelling momentum.
Supporting Characters: A Web of Secrets
Jackson populates her story with a rich cast of supporting characters, each harboring their own secrets and motivations. Detective Rand Watkins, Chase's former best friend, brings emotional complexity to the investigation as he grapples with his feelings for Harper and his duty as a law enforcement officer. The tension between personal history and professional obligation creates some of the novel's most compelling moments.
Levi Hunt, Chase's brother, represents the collateral damage of that fateful night twenty years ago. His strained relationship with Harper reflects the broader theme of how tragedy ripples through communities, destroying relationships and creating lasting divisions. Jackson writes their interactions with a palpable sense of loss and might-have-beens that adds emotional weight to the mystery.
The revelation of Marcia Reed as the primary antagonist showcases Jackson's skill at misdirection. Throughout the novel, Marcia appears as an annoying but ultimately harmless stepmother figure. The gradual unveiling of her true nature—calculating, murderous, and driven by greed—demonstrates Jackson's understanding that the most terrifying villains often hide behind familiar facades.
A Masterclass in Atmospheric Suspense
The Gothic Elements
Jackson infuses "It Happened on the Lake" with gothic sensibilities that elevate it above standard psychological thrillers. The Victorian mansion on Dixon Island, with its towers, hidden passages, and long history of tragedy, serves as the perfect backdrop for a story steeped in family secrets and generational trauma. The house itself becomes a repository of memories, each room holding echoes of past events that continue to influence the present.
The recurring motif of watching and being watched—embodied by the telescope Harper uses to observe the houses across the lake—creates an persistent sense of paranoia that permeates the narrative. Jackson uses this visual metaphor brilliantly, suggesting that the past is always watching, waiting for the right moment to resurface and demand accountability.
Pacing and Structure
The novel's structure demonstrates Jackson's maturity as a storyteller. She skillfully weaves between present-day events and flashbacks to 1968, gradually revealing the truth about that pivotal night when Harper's grandmother died and Chase Hunt disappeared. This dual timeline approach allows Jackson to control the flow of information, building suspense while providing emotional context for Harper's current predicament.
The pacing accelerates appropriately as the story progresses, with the final confrontation between Harper and Marcia delivering genuine tension and visceral thrills. Jackson's decision to make the climax both a physical and psychological battle—Harper fighting not just for her life but for the truth about her family's dark history—proves dramatically satisfying.
Themes That Resonate
Truth and Perception
One of the novel's central themes explores how truth can be obscured by perception, grief, and deliberate manipulation. The mystery surrounding Chase's disappearance illustrates how different people can witness the same events and come away with entirely different interpretations. Jackson uses this theme to examine how communities create narratives to explain tragedy, often scapegoating individuals who don't fit conventional expectations.
Harper's position as the town pariah—the rich girl who supposedly killed her grandmother and drove her boyfriend to disappearance—reflects broader societal tendencies to blame women, particularly those with agency and independence. Jackson doesn't make this theme heavy-handed, but it adds depth to Harper's character and explains the hostility she faces upon returning to Almsville.
Wealth and Inheritance
The Dixon family fortune serves as both motive and curse throughout the narrative. Jackson explores how inherited wealth can become a poison that corrupts relationships and motivates murder. Marcia's elaborate scheme to claim the Dixon inheritance through marriage and manipulation reflects themes about greed's corrosive effects on human relationships.
The inheritance also represents generational responsibility—Harper must literally inherit not just money and property, but the burden of her family's dark history. This adds weight to her decision to return to the lake and confront the past rather than simply selling the property and moving on.
Technical Craft and Writing Style
Dialogue and Voice
Jackson's dialogue feels natural and serves character development effectively. Each character has a distinct voice, from Harper's defensive intelligence to Marcia's manipulative sweetness that masks her true nature. The conversations between Harper and Rand particularly shine, capturing both their shared history and the tension of their current circumstances.
The author's decision to write primarily from Harper's perspective creates appropriate intimacy with the protagonist while maintaining enough distance to preserve mystery elements. Jackson occasionally shifts to other viewpoints—particularly Rand's—when necessary to advance the plot or provide information Harper couldn't reasonably possess.
Descriptive Writing
Jackson's descriptive passages effectively establish mood and atmosphere without becoming overly purple or slowing narrative momentum. Her descriptions of the lake, particularly during the climactic fire scene with Cynthia Hunt, demonstrate her ability to make the environment feel threatening and alive. The Victorian mansion's interior details serve both atmospheric and plot purposes, particularly in the final confrontation when Harper's knowledge of the house's layout becomes crucial to her survival.
Areas of Critical Consideration
Coincidence and Convenience
While the novel succeeds on many levels, some plot developments rely heavily on coincidence. Harper's return to the lake coinciding with Cynthia Hunt's desperate attempt to recreate past events feels somewhat contrived, though Jackson provides enough psychological motivation for Cynthia's actions to make them believable within the story's emotional logic.
The revelation that Joel Prescott, Harper's ex-husband, had been watching her from across the lake years before they met adds an interesting layer to the story but feels slightly underdeveloped. This subplot could have been explored more fully to strengthen the novel's themes about observation and predestination.
Secondary Character Development
Some secondary characters, while well-drawn, could have benefited from additional development. Detective Chelle Brown, who drives much of the reinvestigation into the cold cases, remains somewhat one-dimensional despite her important role in advancing the plot. Similarly, Dawn Prescott, Harper's daughter, appears primarily in Harper's thoughts and phone conversations, making it difficult to assess their relationship's true dynamics.
The Verdict: A Worthy Addition to the Thriller Canon
"It Happened on the Lake" succeeds as both an entertaining thriller and a thoughtful exploration of how the past shapes the present. Jackson demonstrates mature storytelling that balances genre expectations with genuine character development and thematic depth. While the novel has minor flaws in pacing and some reliance on coincidence, these issues don't significantly detract from an overall successful reading experience.
The book will particularly appeal to readers who enjoy atmospheric thrillers with strong sense of place and complex family dynamics. Jackson's writing style—accessible but not simplistic, suspenseful but not gratuitously violent—makes this novel suitable for a broad audience of thriller enthusiasts.
June 12, 2025
This is one of those brain candy thrillers.
There are zero surprises. You know that character you think did that thing? They absolutely did that thing. And you think you know why this one did that other thing? You're right!
However, despite the lack of surprises, it's an enjoyable read.
I found myself really looking forward to the downfall of some characters, worried about a certain cat, and I found that I genuinely liked our main character.
All in all an entertaining read.
* ARC via Publisher
There are zero surprises. You know that character you think did that thing? They absolutely did that thing. And you think you know why this one did that other thing? You're right!
However, despite the lack of surprises, it's an enjoyable read.
I found myself really looking forward to the downfall of some characters, worried about a certain cat, and I found that I genuinely liked our main character.
All in all an entertaining read.
* ARC via Publisher
June 17, 2025
An old mansion, mysterious deaths, a long-buried disappearance…
This one has everything you expect in a classic mystery.
One thing I’ve always appreciated about Lisa Jackson’s books is that they're usually on the longer side. I’m constantly on the hunt for my next audiobook, so I was excited to see that this one would keep me entertained for a few days. That said, I can see how some readers might not be a fan of the length.
The narrator did a great job, I enjoyed her voice throughout. For these kinds of stories, I prefer a single narrator over a full cast, and this one fit the tone perfectly.
Harper returns to the mansion after reaching the age specified in the trust that left her the estate. Now she has to decide whether to sell or stay, while confronting all the questions still lingering around what happened there years ago. It’s almost cliché, but it works.
The story jumps between past and present timelines, and the house itself is such a vivid setting, it even has a bit of a Halloween vibe at times, which I loved.
Overall, if you’re looking for a mystery/thriller to sink into, this one delivers. It’s a long listen, but it has enough twists to keep you engaged. I didn’t guess the ending, though I wouldn’t call it shocking.
Would I recommend it? Yes. Am I raving about it? Probably not. But if you're a thriller fan, it checks all the boxes. 3.5 stars.
Thanks to Brilliance Audio, Brilliance Publishing, and NetGalley for the advance listening copy.
This one has everything you expect in a classic mystery.
One thing I’ve always appreciated about Lisa Jackson’s books is that they're usually on the longer side. I’m constantly on the hunt for my next audiobook, so I was excited to see that this one would keep me entertained for a few days. That said, I can see how some readers might not be a fan of the length.
The narrator did a great job, I enjoyed her voice throughout. For these kinds of stories, I prefer a single narrator over a full cast, and this one fit the tone perfectly.
Harper returns to the mansion after reaching the age specified in the trust that left her the estate. Now she has to decide whether to sell or stay, while confronting all the questions still lingering around what happened there years ago. It’s almost cliché, but it works.
The story jumps between past and present timelines, and the house itself is such a vivid setting, it even has a bit of a Halloween vibe at times, which I loved.
Overall, if you’re looking for a mystery/thriller to sink into, this one delivers. It’s a long listen, but it has enough twists to keep you engaged. I didn’t guess the ending, though I wouldn’t call it shocking.
Would I recommend it? Yes. Am I raving about it? Probably not. But if you're a thriller fan, it checks all the boxes. 3.5 stars.
Thanks to Brilliance Audio, Brilliance Publishing, and NetGalley for the advance listening copy.
June 23, 2025
It Happened on the Lake is the latest novel by Lisa Jackson, and my first read from this author. The story centers on Harper Reed, who returns to her hometown after a divorce and moves into a large, inherited Victorian house by the lake. On her very first night back, a horrifying event occurs where a woman is set on fire on a boat in the lake. From there, strange and unsettling events start to unfold. The house seems shrouded in mystery, and people connected to Harper have been disappearing or dying since her childhood. The narrative shifts between two timelines: one in 1988 and the other in the 1960s.
I have mixed feelings about this book. The beginning was gripping, the atmosphere, pacing, and mystery were all very effective and pulled me in quickly. However, as the story progressed, the plot meandered. The middle section dragged, and I completely lost my interest. The book felt overly long, and at times it seemed like the author wasn’t entirely sure where the story was headed. That said, the ending was strong, with a surprising and satisfying twist that I didn’t see coming.
While this particular novel didn’t fully work for me, I would still read more from Lisa Jackson, especially some of her earlier works from the late '90s or early 2000s, which a friend of mine who is a fan of Lisa J highly recommends.
I have mixed feelings about this book. The beginning was gripping, the atmosphere, pacing, and mystery were all very effective and pulled me in quickly. However, as the story progressed, the plot meandered. The middle section dragged, and I completely lost my interest. The book felt overly long, and at times it seemed like the author wasn’t entirely sure where the story was headed. That said, the ending was strong, with a surprising and satisfying twist that I didn’t see coming.
While this particular novel didn’t fully work for me, I would still read more from Lisa Jackson, especially some of her earlier works from the late '90s or early 2000s, which a friend of mine who is a fan of Lisa J highly recommends.
July 3, 2025
I kept trying to guess and predict what was going to happen but I was wrong most of the time. Because of that I found the book to be very entertaining. It is a rather slow burn mystery but there is a great amount of tension that kept it going for me. I have been waiting for a mystery book to hook me for a bit so I'm happy I finally found one to fit the bill
I enjoyed the multiple POV and time jumps between past and present.
Harper has had a good amount of deaths surrounding her; her grandfather, brother, mother, grandmother and her boyfriend had disappeared but he is presumed dead.
I enjoyed the multiple POV and time jumps between past and present.
Harper has had a good amount of deaths surrounding her; her grandfather, brother, mother, grandmother and her boyfriend had disappeared but he is presumed dead.
June 12, 2025
I usually love Lisa Jackson’s books, but this one I struggled with. Around the 39% mark, it seemed to start dragging a bit and I found it becoming repetitive. It got better around the 60% mark, but at the 80% mark, I found myself wishing for it to reach its conclusion. I felt like it kept dragging on. There were lots of scenes that I think could have been cut to make the book shorter and they wouldn’t have been missed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2025
The beginning of the book is full of a lot of backstory but the multiple POV and timelines helped to keep my interest. It really picked up pace in the last 25% or so. It was an interesting story and I loved that we finally got some solid answers at the end. I also really liked the setting of the island and the creepy house with those horrifying dolls. It’s definitely a moody book that would be great for a spooky season tbr.
October 8, 2025
This book was amazing and was so hard to put down.
June 2, 2025
It Happened on the Lake by Lisa Jackson
4.2⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 0.7/5
Cursing: min-
Format/Source: ebook ARC from NetGalley a d Kensington Publishing
Genres/Tropes: Thriller, mystery, gothic
Audience: Adult
Setting: Oregon
Characters: Harper, Evan, Beth, Gram, Chase, Bruce, Marcia, Levi, Rand, Anna, Chelle, Moonbeam, Trick, Joel, Dawn
👍 short-med chapters, gothic, twists, 80s nostalgia, min- cursing
👎 too many characters cheating on significant others
Description:
The huge Victorian house on Lake Twilight belongs to Harper Reed Prescott, as does the private island on which it sits. Harper wants little to do with either. Twenty years ago, Harper’s grandmother died suspiciously while in her care, on the same night that Harper’s boyfriend disappeared. His body was never found, and no charges were filed. But the rumors haven’t faded. There have been other deaths, other accidents. All revolving around Harper and her family.
Returning to the lake has stirred everything up again. Whispers. Memories. And the persistent feeling that, as she gazes out at the houses across the water, she’s being watched in turn.
The whole town has always thought Harper has something to hide, and they’re right. But she might have even more to fear...
My opinion:
Lisa pens a well-paced thriller with some exciting twists! The short-med length chapters made for an effortless read. I truly enjoyed the Gothicesque house, island, and overall setting. This book gave me such great nostalgia for the 80s too. The minimal amount of cursing made for a pleasant read. I was quite surprised by more than one of Jackson's exciting twists. For most of the book, I found myself thinking it was not believable how many bad events that Harper had to endure; however, the ending makes it all become clear. I did find the inordinate amount of people cheating on their significant others to be inconceivable. I was entertained by this story and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers.
#bookstagram #arcreader #booklovers #thrillerbooks #booktok #twisty #gothic
***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
4.2⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 0.7/5
Cursing: min-
Format/Source: ebook ARC from NetGalley a d Kensington Publishing
Genres/Tropes: Thriller, mystery, gothic
Audience: Adult
Setting: Oregon
Characters: Harper, Evan, Beth, Gram, Chase, Bruce, Marcia, Levi, Rand, Anna, Chelle, Moonbeam, Trick, Joel, Dawn
👍 short-med chapters, gothic, twists, 80s nostalgia, min- cursing
👎 too many characters cheating on significant others
Description:
The huge Victorian house on Lake Twilight belongs to Harper Reed Prescott, as does the private island on which it sits. Harper wants little to do with either. Twenty years ago, Harper’s grandmother died suspiciously while in her care, on the same night that Harper’s boyfriend disappeared. His body was never found, and no charges were filed. But the rumors haven’t faded. There have been other deaths, other accidents. All revolving around Harper and her family.
Returning to the lake has stirred everything up again. Whispers. Memories. And the persistent feeling that, as she gazes out at the houses across the water, she’s being watched in turn.
The whole town has always thought Harper has something to hide, and they’re right. But she might have even more to fear...
My opinion:
Lisa pens a well-paced thriller with some exciting twists! The short-med length chapters made for an effortless read. I truly enjoyed the Gothicesque house, island, and overall setting. This book gave me such great nostalgia for the 80s too. The minimal amount of cursing made for a pleasant read. I was quite surprised by more than one of Jackson's exciting twists. For most of the book, I found myself thinking it was not believable how many bad events that Harper had to endure; however, the ending makes it all become clear. I did find the inordinate amount of people cheating on their significant others to be inconceivable. I was entertained by this story and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers.
#bookstagram #arcreader #booklovers #thrillerbooks #booktok #twisty #gothic
***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
June 28, 2025
This month was way too busy for such a gripping novel… but that didn’t stop me from enjoying every bit of it. It took me longer than usual to get through, but that had nothing to do with the story itself. If I’d had the time or mental bandwidth, I could’ve easily devoured it in a day or two, but life was just wouldn’t allow it.
If you love a thrilling murder whodunnit packed with drama, this one’s for you!
I was completely hooked by the storyline and genuinely invested in the characters—flaws and all. I had my suspicions about the who, but the how completely caught me off guard. Lisa Jackson did an incredible job keeping the suspense going right up until the very end. Her storytelling kept me fully engaged, and I loved how everything unfolded.
This was my first Lisa Jackson book, and it definitely won’t be my last!
If you love a thrilling murder whodunnit packed with drama, this one’s for you!
I was completely hooked by the storyline and genuinely invested in the characters—flaws and all. I had my suspicions about the who, but the how completely caught me off guard. Lisa Jackson did an incredible job keeping the suspense going right up until the very end. Her storytelling kept me fully engaged, and I loved how everything unfolded.
This was my first Lisa Jackson book, and it definitely won’t be my last!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 561 reviews