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Nearly Departed #1
Dead Woman's Pond
2022 Goldie Award Finalist - Paranormal/Occult/Horror
No matter how Flynn Dalton tries to avoid it, the supernatural finds her.
At first it’s not so bad. Flynn’s girlfriend, Genesis, is a nationally known psychic, which makes Flynn uncomfortable for both paranormal and financial reasons, but she can handle it. As long as no one makes her talk about it.
Then, on her way home from her construction job, Flynn almost ends up the latest casualty of Festivity’s infamous Dead Man’s Pond. And when her ex-lover’s ghost appears to warn her away, things get a whole lot weirder.
Flynn might not like it, but the pond has fixated on her to be its next victim. If she wants to survive, she’ll have to swallow her pride, accept Gen’s help, and get much closer to the psychic realm—and her own latent psychic abilities—than she ever wanted.
No matter how Flynn Dalton tries to avoid it, the supernatural finds her.
At first it’s not so bad. Flynn’s girlfriend, Genesis, is a nationally known psychic, which makes Flynn uncomfortable for both paranormal and financial reasons, but she can handle it. As long as no one makes her talk about it.
Then, on her way home from her construction job, Flynn almost ends up the latest casualty of Festivity’s infamous Dead Man’s Pond. And when her ex-lover’s ghost appears to warn her away, things get a whole lot weirder.
Flynn might not like it, but the pond has fixated on her to be its next victim. If she wants to survive, she’ll have to swallow her pride, accept Gen’s help, and get much closer to the psychic realm—and her own latent psychic abilities—than she ever wanted.
412 pages, Paperback
First published November 2, 2021
28 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
February 10, 2025
**'It's good at times to think about small ideas/incidents that might be vivid in your memory-box because these sometimes ends up being huge themes in your storytelling saga..'
Fascinating read!
A very good, well-paced, pov centered and intriguing 1st book in this 'Nearly Departed' paranormal suspenseful series.
Highly recommended book!
Fascinating read!
A very good, well-paced, pov centered and intriguing 1st book in this 'Nearly Departed' paranormal suspenseful series.
Highly recommended book!
November 8, 2021
DEAD WOMAN’S POND is book #1 in the Nearly Departed series.
Flynn & Genesis (Gen) are in a relationship, Flynn is a broke construction worker and Gen is a successful psychic, which is an issue that comes up regularly for them. Flynn is in an accident & almost killed near a pond, when she see’s the ghost of her dead ex-girlfriend. Flynn might not like it, but the pond has fixated on her to be its next victim. If she wants to survive, she’ll have to swallow her pride, accept Gen’s help, and get much closer to the psychic realm—and her own latent psychic abilities—than she ever wanted.
I chose this on a whim and ended up loving it! It’s way outside my comfort zone, being paranormal… and it went deep into that the further I got, which I thought would turn me off but I just went with it and was rewarded with a fully fleshed out story. It takes place in contemporary times and is set in a town called Festivity, FL. I thought the author did a fantastic job showing what life is like for people who are trying to survive in a wealthy town without lots of cash. The relationship between the MC’s felt relatable on so many levels and didn’t fall victim to tired & formulaic situations. There’s lots of action as well! I listened to a copy via NetGalley, print is available now, not sure when the audio is releasing, I’ve seen different dates. HOWEVER! I did notice it’s available to purchase through Author’s Direct for $16 right now so go grab a copy!!! It’s going to be one of my favorite listens of the year 🥳
Thanks so much to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio! I was provided a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Flynn & Genesis (Gen) are in a relationship, Flynn is a broke construction worker and Gen is a successful psychic, which is an issue that comes up regularly for them. Flynn is in an accident & almost killed near a pond, when she see’s the ghost of her dead ex-girlfriend. Flynn might not like it, but the pond has fixated on her to be its next victim. If she wants to survive, she’ll have to swallow her pride, accept Gen’s help, and get much closer to the psychic realm—and her own latent psychic abilities—than she ever wanted.
I chose this on a whim and ended up loving it! It’s way outside my comfort zone, being paranormal… and it went deep into that the further I got, which I thought would turn me off but I just went with it and was rewarded with a fully fleshed out story. It takes place in contemporary times and is set in a town called Festivity, FL. I thought the author did a fantastic job showing what life is like for people who are trying to survive in a wealthy town without lots of cash. The relationship between the MC’s felt relatable on so many levels and didn’t fall victim to tired & formulaic situations. There’s lots of action as well! I listened to a copy via NetGalley, print is available now, not sure when the audio is releasing, I’ve seen different dates. HOWEVER! I did notice it’s available to purchase through Author’s Direct for $16 right now so go grab a copy!!! It’s going to be one of my favorite listens of the year 🥳
Thanks so much to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio! I was provided a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2023
I read all 3 books in the series and enjoyed them. I enjoyed the elements of the story; magic, psychics, and ghosts. I like a good supernatural mystery type book. The MC is someone I can relate to and understand. I recommend these books. I listened to the audio book and really liked the narrator, Rebecca Lowman.
March 20, 2023
Was sucked in by the writing, but this became a novel in which I loved some things and hated some things...For instanced, loved the strong female lead, loved she was lesbian, loved the supernatural feel to the story! Love the mysterious pond story. Hated with all my souls, the idea of a charm that is based on killing people due to their sexual orientation, and it just got more silly from there.
October 7, 2023
An action-packed Hallowe'en read I heartily recommend!
TW: homophobia, lesbian slurs
The paranormal and occult elements—ghosts, psychics, magic, and a touch of mystery—surrounding a killer pond are more than enough to earn this book a resounding recommendation from me. I commend the compelling development of the narrative, and while there were a couple of instances that initially felt less compelling, I thoroughly enjoyed many parts of it. I believe it all comes down to Ire's fantastic writing.
My appreciation for the romance between the established couple, Flynn and Genesis, started off a bit murky. Despite the in-between flashback scenes that showed how they became a couple, it took me some time to truly feel their connection as lovers. However, once I found it, I was completely hooked and eventually found myself rooting for them. Furthermore, as individuals, I find them to be positively intriguing characters. Flynn exudes mammoth-sized pride, making her a complex character without being unlikable. Gen, on the other hand, is intelligent, fierce, and equally mysterious. Her backstory is particularly interesting, and I look forward to exploring it more in Book 2.
Additionally, the presence of LGBTQ+ slurs and hatred particularly bothered me in this book—they felt very in-your-face whenever they occurred, even though in small doses. Nevertheless, the paranormal plot eventually picked up, and it was as action-packed as it was engrossing. It definitely made up for the parts that made me slightly uncomfortable.
All in all, this book serves as a fantastic introduction to Ire's Nearly Departed series, and with its sequels already available, I no longer have to wait long for Book 2!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TW: homophobia, lesbian slurs
The paranormal and occult elements—ghosts, psychics, magic, and a touch of mystery—surrounding a killer pond are more than enough to earn this book a resounding recommendation from me. I commend the compelling development of the narrative, and while there were a couple of instances that initially felt less compelling, I thoroughly enjoyed many parts of it. I believe it all comes down to Ire's fantastic writing.
My appreciation for the romance between the established couple, Flynn and Genesis, started off a bit murky. Despite the in-between flashback scenes that showed how they became a couple, it took me some time to truly feel their connection as lovers. However, once I found it, I was completely hooked and eventually found myself rooting for them. Furthermore, as individuals, I find them to be positively intriguing characters. Flynn exudes mammoth-sized pride, making her a complex character without being unlikable. Gen, on the other hand, is intelligent, fierce, and equally mysterious. Her backstory is particularly interesting, and I look forward to exploring it more in Book 2.
Additionally, the presence of LGBTQ+ slurs and hatred particularly bothered me in this book—they felt very in-your-face whenever they occurred, even though in small doses. Nevertheless, the paranormal plot eventually picked up, and it was as action-packed as it was engrossing. It definitely made up for the parts that made me slightly uncomfortable.
All in all, this book serves as a fantastic introduction to Ire's Nearly Departed series, and with its sequels already available, I no longer have to wait long for Book 2!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 1, 2025
I couldn’t stand another “butch” lesbian cliche. DNF 87%.
I couldn’t even be bothered to see how it ended.
I couldn’t even be bothered to see how it ended.
Read
April 1, 2023dnf 43%
December 23, 2021
TW: There are some lgbtq+ slurs/hatred in the book. The references are few and some are subtle (about 5 I can remember) but they are there and as a member of the lgbtq+ community I did want to add that as a TW.
I’ve been in a slump for mystery/thriller books for a while. And nothing was able to hold my attention then dead women’s pond came along and finally gave me a book I couldn’t put down! Once I heard it was set in Kissimmee, I was even more sold since that’s my hometown. This book has mystery, lgbtq+ characters, paranormal, and keeps you reading to know what will happen next! I loved the paranormal aspect of the book and felt like it was done perfectly.
Flynn has faced struggle after struggle and then dead women’s pond comes into play. It took me until over halfway through the book until I realized what the city of Festivity was based on in real life then I laughed because the way it’s described and the residents are described is spot on!
This is the first in the series and I can’t see what the next book has in store. Thanks to NetGalley for providing the e-ARC of this book.
I’ve been in a slump for mystery/thriller books for a while. And nothing was able to hold my attention then dead women’s pond came along and finally gave me a book I couldn’t put down! Once I heard it was set in Kissimmee, I was even more sold since that’s my hometown. This book has mystery, lgbtq+ characters, paranormal, and keeps you reading to know what will happen next! I loved the paranormal aspect of the book and felt like it was done perfectly.
Flynn has faced struggle after struggle and then dead women’s pond comes into play. It took me until over halfway through the book until I realized what the city of Festivity was based on in real life then I laughed because the way it’s described and the residents are described is spot on!
This is the first in the series and I can’t see what the next book has in store. Thanks to NetGalley for providing the e-ARC of this book.
August 21, 2024
3.5*, quite possibly 3.75* - an easy read. A sapphic-paranormal-thriller? Sign me up!
Would’ve liked for the suspense to be a bit higher but still thoroughly enjoyed it. A combination of genres but it works; likely to read the sequels.
Would’ve liked for the suspense to be a bit higher but still thoroughly enjoyed it. A combination of genres but it works; likely to read the sequels.
February 13, 2022
(2.5)
probably one i should have read an ebook of, not audio
Rep: lesbian mc, Colombian American bi li, Colombian American side character
CWs: lesbophobic slurs, homophobia, sexual assault, domestic abuse, violence, torture, lesbophobic violence & murder
probably one i should have read an ebook of, not audio
Rep: lesbian mc, Colombian American bi li, Colombian American side character
CWs: lesbophobic slurs, homophobia, sexual assault, domestic abuse, violence, torture, lesbophobic violence & murder
November 16, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.
I was surprised by this book! Sometimes supernatural books just don’t do it for me but I really enjoyed how this book intertwined it. It was a jam packed story but not complicated to follow with the supernatural elements.
I see this is a series! Excited to continue the story later on!
I was surprised by this book! Sometimes supernatural books just don’t do it for me but I really enjoyed how this book intertwined it. It was a jam packed story but not complicated to follow with the supernatural elements.
I see this is a series! Excited to continue the story later on!
November 30, 2021
I primarily requested a copy of the audiobook from Netgalley (in exchange for my honest review) because it was listed as a mystery/thriller. It starts off as if it were a mystery with women dying in a pond, the title should really be Dead Women's Pond. While we're introduced to that aspect of the story early on, the first 65% of the story is more about Flynn's personal issues both with and without her current love interest, Gen. At 65%, the supernatural aspect starts to really get developed but there still a lot of non-supernatural, non-thriller padding.
In terms of mystery, this is more the Columbo style. We know who the bad guy is and it's more about the characters trying to figure it out. What I was left wondering is why no one else seems to be questioning why some of the women are disappearing.
I liked the narrator more as the story went on. At first, it was less a performance than a reading. The narrator would occasionally try to add some emotion, but it was flat. The emotion got better later on, but there still wasn't any voice range.
The ending leaves a hook for the next book. I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger though since it seems a reasonable result of this story line.
In terms of mystery, this is more the Columbo style. We know who the bad guy is and it's more about the characters trying to figure it out. What I was left wondering is why no one else seems to be questioning why some of the women are disappearing.
I liked the narrator more as the story went on. At first, it was less a performance than a reading. The narrator would occasionally try to add some emotion, but it was flat. The emotion got better later on, but there still wasn't any voice range.
The ending leaves a hook for the next book. I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger though since it seems a reasonable result of this story line.
November 22, 2021
Psychics, ghosts, and supernatural events, sign me up!
The first half of this book focuses mostly on romance (F/F) and relationship drama. While well written, spicy romance is really not my thing, nor is it what I expected. But I was immediately intrigued by the two women, so I was entertained while waiting for something of substance to happen.
The second half brings us lots of action and freaky supernatural events. I really enjoyed the way events unfolded.
I was loving the ending, up until the big cliffhanger. I dislike cliffhangers. A lot. I can deal with them in trilogies, when I expect it, but otherwise I like series fiction to give me a solid ending. This is my personal issue, I know, but I’m mentioning it because I’m sure I’m not alone here.
Audiobook narration is fantastic! I felt the narrator embodied Flynn’s character, and I believed I was right there with her.
*I received a free audiobook download from the publisher, via NetGalley.*
The first half of this book focuses mostly on romance (F/F) and relationship drama. While well written, spicy romance is really not my thing, nor is it what I expected. But I was immediately intrigued by the two women, so I was entertained while waiting for something of substance to happen.
The second half brings us lots of action and freaky supernatural events. I really enjoyed the way events unfolded.
I was loving the ending, up until the big cliffhanger. I dislike cliffhangers. A lot. I can deal with them in trilogies, when I expect it, but otherwise I like series fiction to give me a solid ending. This is my personal issue, I know, but I’m mentioning it because I’m sure I’m not alone here.
Audiobook narration is fantastic! I felt the narrator embodied Flynn’s character, and I believed I was right there with her.
*I received a free audiobook download from the publisher, via NetGalley.*
July 18, 2023
Obsessive
I couldn't put this book down. The MCs are fascinating and complex. The plot is incredibly and wonderfully complex. I can't wait to read the others. It is dark fantasy with a real world feel.
I couldn't put this book down. The MCs are fascinating and complex. The plot is incredibly and wonderfully complex. I can't wait to read the others. It is dark fantasy with a real world feel.
August 7, 2023
I’m hooked it’s a bit all over the place in the beginning but I already got book 2 so….give it a listen.
January 18, 2025
3.5* probably? It might change to a 4 but I’m still unsure about it at the moment.
December 8, 2021
4.25⭐️
Psychics, ghosts and magic coupled with a F/F romance set in the US.
I had the 🎧audiobook version. The narrator is very good. I listened at x1.25 speed.
It’s very character driven and predominantly a love story, heavily based in the supernatural with a mystery to be solved.
The characters of Flynn and Genesis are very likeable.
It’s got a good pace holding my attention throughout.
I really enjoyed it, not my usual genre. You have to be able to go with the flow with the supernatural content. I think a lot of the appeal for me is that it is very different to my usual, an easy relaxing listen.
It looks like there are more books in the series which I look forward to listening to.
Psychics, ghosts and magic coupled with a F/F romance set in the US.
I had the 🎧audiobook version. The narrator is very good. I listened at x1.25 speed.
It’s very character driven and predominantly a love story, heavily based in the supernatural with a mystery to be solved.
The characters of Flynn and Genesis are very likeable.
It’s got a good pace holding my attention throughout.
I really enjoyed it, not my usual genre. You have to be able to go with the flow with the supernatural content. I think a lot of the appeal for me is that it is very different to my usual, an easy relaxing listen.
It looks like there are more books in the series which I look forward to listening to.
February 5, 2023
Hoopla Bonus Borrow - Interesting enough for me to follow the story to Flynn's next adventure.
December 9, 2021
Well color me surprised - I loved this one! I have to be honest, I grabbed this one because I liked the cover. Once I started it, I was a little surprised by the plot only because I hadn't read the synopsis. but this story is so good! I was instantly drawn in. I liked the MC and her brash and independent ways. Her girlfriend was equally interesting and I loved learning about them. There was maybe a bit more sex than I like to read in a story, but I easily glossed over those parts and just kept going with the plot. I loved following the story and was completely sucked in. Well paced and with the audiobook, the narrator is just wonderful. I'm so glad I read this one.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
December 5, 2025
[This audiobook was sent to me free of charge via NetGalley.com. This will not affect my opinion of the book.]
Content notes for this book include homophobic slurs and bullying, and discussions of sexual assault.
Dead Woman's Pond is an exciting LGBTQ romance intertwined with a dark supernatural murder mystery about a mysterious lake that claims many lives. Ire did a great job of keeping the romantic relationships realistic, which is even more impressive considering the supernatural setting of the novel -- the characters are not sanitized and do not make ethically black-and-white choices. Stereotypes around queer people are also subverted which is very refreshing in an era where many queer characters written by a non-queer audience feel very one-dimensional and reductive.
Additionally, Rebecca Lowman is an amazing audiobook narrator. She's great at vivid portrayals of the emotions of the characters.
Content notes for this book include homophobic slurs and bullying, and discussions of sexual assault.
Dead Woman's Pond is an exciting LGBTQ romance intertwined with a dark supernatural murder mystery about a mysterious lake that claims many lives. Ire did a great job of keeping the romantic relationships realistic, which is even more impressive considering the supernatural setting of the novel -- the characters are not sanitized and do not make ethically black-and-white choices. Stereotypes around queer people are also subverted which is very refreshing in an era where many queer characters written by a non-queer audience feel very one-dimensional and reductive.
Additionally, Rebecca Lowman is an amazing audiobook narrator. She's great at vivid portrayals of the emotions of the characters.
December 3, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. It has been published in November 2021.
"Dead Woman's Pond" by Elle E. Ire was a bit of a baffling read, in the sense that the solution to the mystery is revealed in chapter 8. The novel is 63 chapters long (plus the epilogue), but for some reason, the author chose to spoil her own ending by having the villains openly discuss their evil deeds on-page in chapter 8. I can't deny that my interest in the story plummeted right there and then. After that, of course, the main characters still have to investigate what's happening, but by now it's all become quite boring because I already know what happened and what the curse is all about, which makes the protagonist look dumb since she's struggling to figure out what I, the reader, have known for ages. Admittedly, I only know that because the villains flat out told me, not because of any special investigative acumen on my part... which is another problem. As an aficionado of the mystery and thriller genres, I love having a go at trying to figure out what happened, therefore I find it very frustrating if the villains just plain tell me (and if they do so very early on in the game before I get a chance to even make a guess).
The rest of the book unfolds without any real surprise, among too many flashbacks (most of them irrelevant to the plot) and the pedantic writing style that instead of going for "Show, Don't Tell" opts for the "Show & Then Tell As Well" variant, such as when the main villain's lair is described in painstaking detail and *then* the reader is told that the decor is tacky. I know for myself that a polar bear's skin rug and all the other decor you just listed is tacky, thank you very much.
For most of the book, the action takes a back seat and it's the love stories (past and present) between the characters that take centre stage. I have nothing against that, but then the marketing should have been better calibrated. I think this story will appeal to romance fans much more than it can hope to appeal to mystery/thriller fans. It's a full-on romance with just a touch of mystery, not the other way around.
As for the characters, we're told that Flynn, the protagonist, is 28 years old, but more often than not she behaves like a high school girl, which gave me weird vibes and made it impossible for me to empathize with her (I can empathize with high school girls all right, but not with 28-year-old women who act like teenagers). The villains are preposterously cartoonish: they hate women, hate lesbians, hit their wives, abuse their dogs, and even indulge in maniacal laughters... The phrase "maniacal laughter" actually comes up in the novel, I kid you not. How am I supposed to take seriously a villain that utters "maniacal laughters"? It's the bogeyman, and it's hilarious!
Last but not least, the sex scenes in this novel contain some very awkward elements, such as when Flynn "keeps the score" of how many orgasms her partner Gen and herself have had in a given encounter, and she says something along the lines of "I owe her because she made me come 4 times and I only made her come 3 times". That doesn't sound like sex to me, it sounds like a football match, which I find distinctly unsexy.
Overall, this book is definitely not for me, and I think mystery fans will not be able to appreciate it. I suppose it would have better luck among romance fans.
"Dead Woman's Pond" by Elle E. Ire was a bit of a baffling read, in the sense that the solution to the mystery is revealed in chapter 8. The novel is 63 chapters long (plus the epilogue), but for some reason, the author chose to spoil her own ending by having the villains openly discuss their evil deeds on-page in chapter 8. I can't deny that my interest in the story plummeted right there and then. After that, of course, the main characters still have to investigate what's happening, but by now it's all become quite boring because I already know what happened and what the curse is all about, which makes the protagonist look dumb since she's struggling to figure out what I, the reader, have known for ages. Admittedly, I only know that because the villains flat out told me, not because of any special investigative acumen on my part... which is another problem. As an aficionado of the mystery and thriller genres, I love having a go at trying to figure out what happened, therefore I find it very frustrating if the villains just plain tell me (and if they do so very early on in the game before I get a chance to even make a guess).
The rest of the book unfolds without any real surprise, among too many flashbacks (most of them irrelevant to the plot) and the pedantic writing style that instead of going for "Show, Don't Tell" opts for the "Show & Then Tell As Well" variant, such as when the main villain's lair is described in painstaking detail and *then* the reader is told that the decor is tacky. I know for myself that a polar bear's skin rug and all the other decor you just listed is tacky, thank you very much.
For most of the book, the action takes a back seat and it's the love stories (past and present) between the characters that take centre stage. I have nothing against that, but then the marketing should have been better calibrated. I think this story will appeal to romance fans much more than it can hope to appeal to mystery/thriller fans. It's a full-on romance with just a touch of mystery, not the other way around.
As for the characters, we're told that Flynn, the protagonist, is 28 years old, but more often than not she behaves like a high school girl, which gave me weird vibes and made it impossible for me to empathize with her (I can empathize with high school girls all right, but not with 28-year-old women who act like teenagers). The villains are preposterously cartoonish: they hate women, hate lesbians, hit their wives, abuse their dogs, and even indulge in maniacal laughters... The phrase "maniacal laughter" actually comes up in the novel, I kid you not. How am I supposed to take seriously a villain that utters "maniacal laughters"? It's the bogeyman, and it's hilarious!
Last but not least, the sex scenes in this novel contain some very awkward elements, such as when Flynn "keeps the score" of how many orgasms her partner Gen and herself have had in a given encounter, and she says something along the lines of "I owe her because she made me come 4 times and I only made her come 3 times". That doesn't sound like sex to me, it sounds like a football match, which I find distinctly unsexy.
Overall, this book is definitely not for me, and I think mystery fans will not be able to appreciate it. I suppose it would have better luck among romance fans.
November 25, 2021
Dead Woman's Pond by Elle E. Ire - 5/5 stars
TW: Homophobia, D-slur, drowning, partner death
Thank you to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for the free copy of this audiobook. I am leaving this unbiased review independently.
I'm not a hard man to please. Give me a book with diverse representation of queer women who get to murder homophobes and I'm set. That being said, this book tackles so much more than that and does an excellent job with all of it.
Sexism/homophobia on a construction job site - thwarted
Large income disparity between partners - discussed frankly and empathetically
Biphobia and bi-erasure - tackled by the bi partner and the gay partner experiencing the bias
Mariticidal homophobe killing lesbians - literally shot and killed
I love the way so many issues are handled in this book. On top of that, we have a "one of the guys" butch main character with long hair, which is representation my high school self would have LOVED to see.
This book truly is a master class on how a gay main character can have being gay be an important part of their character, while still not having it be the defining trait that drives their entire store. The main character in this book is unapologetically lesbian, lets that be a very important and central part of her character, but still had drives and motivations outside of her sexuality. The central plot, while not unrelated to her sexuality, is much more about stopping deaths than it is about being gay. I was thrilled to see this was the first book of a series and I look forward to reading the future installments.
I would definitely recommend this book to those having trouble finding adult LGBT fiction, especially lesbian fiction not written for the male gaze.
-Audiobook Notes-
This book is read by Rebecca Lowman, most recognizable to me through her work with Rainbow Rowell. While I've not listened to a book read by her before, I will definitely try to do so in the future. Rebecca did a wonderful job with the narration of this book. While I'm not one who will seek out books with sex scenes, especially audiobooks with sex scenes, I appreciated that Rebecca did well with them, not overplaying a sultry tone and making the experience more awkward. I look forward to listening to more books read by her in the future.
TW: Homophobia, D-slur, drowning, partner death
Thank you to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for the free copy of this audiobook. I am leaving this unbiased review independently.
I'm not a hard man to please. Give me a book with diverse representation of queer women who get to murder homophobes and I'm set. That being said, this book tackles so much more than that and does an excellent job with all of it.
Sexism/homophobia on a construction job site - thwarted
Large income disparity between partners - discussed frankly and empathetically
Biphobia and bi-erasure - tackled by the bi partner and the gay partner experiencing the bias
Mariticidal homophobe killing lesbians - literally shot and killed
I love the way so many issues are handled in this book. On top of that, we have a "one of the guys" butch main character with long hair, which is representation my high school self would have LOVED to see.
This book truly is a master class on how a gay main character can have being gay be an important part of their character, while still not having it be the defining trait that drives their entire store. The main character in this book is unapologetically lesbian, lets that be a very important and central part of her character, but still had drives and motivations outside of her sexuality. The central plot, while not unrelated to her sexuality, is much more about stopping deaths than it is about being gay. I was thrilled to see this was the first book of a series and I look forward to reading the future installments.
I would definitely recommend this book to those having trouble finding adult LGBT fiction, especially lesbian fiction not written for the male gaze.
-Audiobook Notes-
This book is read by Rebecca Lowman, most recognizable to me through her work with Rainbow Rowell. While I've not listened to a book read by her before, I will definitely try to do so in the future. Rebecca did a wonderful job with the narration of this book. While I'm not one who will seek out books with sex scenes, especially audiobooks with sex scenes, I appreciated that Rebecca did well with them, not overplaying a sultry tone and making the experience more awkward. I look forward to listening to more books read by her in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 27, 2025Flynn Dalton, a down-on-her-luck construction worker, is wary of anything supernatural. She can handle her girlfriend, Genesis, being a successful career psychic, so long as she doesn’t have to get involved. But when Flynn almost becomes the latest victim of the town’s Dead Man’s Pond – Festivity’s lake infamous for becoming the watery grave of many drivers over the years – she has no choice but to confront the very world of ghosts, curses and magic she has spent most of her life trying to ignore and avoid.
Having immensely enjoyed Elle E. Ire’s sci-fi offering Reel to Real Love, I decided to step outside of my usual comfort zone and give her paranormal romance series a try.
Dead Woman’s Pond is primarily a supernatural/paranormal lesbian romance with a supporting murder/mystery, and is not so much of a ‘whodunnit’ as it is a ‘how will the protagonists figure it out’ story. The villain is revealed to the reader about a quarter of the way through the book, which was a surprise, but it didn’t detract from the experience.
I adored Flynn. She is a deeply flawed, well-rounded character. She has been hurt before and has put up a lot of walls, uncomfortable with PDA and has multiple hang-ups about accepting help from anyone, including her loving girlfriend, which causes more than few strains on their relationship. Genesis, too, is a great character. Her love for Flynn runs deep and true, and she has her own secrets and issues that threaten her happiness and bond with Flynn, exacerbated by Flynn’s dead ex-girlfriend haunting them.
Dead Man’s Pond is almost a character in its own right – alive and malevolent. It’s up to Flynn and Genesis to figure out why the pond seems to claim so many lives – specifically gay female lives – before Flynn becomes its next victim, permanently this time.
Even though the focus of Dead Woman’s Pond is paranormal romance, I found the supernatural world elements and murder mystery plot compelling and well-balanced. The story doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but it does set up Flynn’s and Gen’s story for the next book in the series – Dead Woman’s Revenge. I for one can’t wait to read it.
TW for multiple lesphobic slurs used by supporting antagonist characters.
Having immensely enjoyed Elle E. Ire’s sci-fi offering Reel to Real Love, I decided to step outside of my usual comfort zone and give her paranormal romance series a try.
Dead Woman’s Pond is primarily a supernatural/paranormal lesbian romance with a supporting murder/mystery, and is not so much of a ‘whodunnit’ as it is a ‘how will the protagonists figure it out’ story. The villain is revealed to the reader about a quarter of the way through the book, which was a surprise, but it didn’t detract from the experience.
I adored Flynn. She is a deeply flawed, well-rounded character. She has been hurt before and has put up a lot of walls, uncomfortable with PDA and has multiple hang-ups about accepting help from anyone, including her loving girlfriend, which causes more than few strains on their relationship. Genesis, too, is a great character. Her love for Flynn runs deep and true, and she has her own secrets and issues that threaten her happiness and bond with Flynn, exacerbated by Flynn’s dead ex-girlfriend haunting them.
Dead Man’s Pond is almost a character in its own right – alive and malevolent. It’s up to Flynn and Genesis to figure out why the pond seems to claim so many lives – specifically gay female lives – before Flynn becomes its next victim, permanently this time.
Even though the focus of Dead Woman’s Pond is paranormal romance, I found the supernatural world elements and murder mystery plot compelling and well-balanced. The story doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but it does set up Flynn’s and Gen’s story for the next book in the series – Dead Woman’s Revenge. I for one can’t wait to read it.
TW for multiple lesphobic slurs used by supporting antagonist characters.
January 13, 2022
Flynn Dalton; More than just the woman of my dreams….but I digress.
Flynn Dalton is a down on her luck construction worker who hates public displays of affection, or anyone knowing too much about her, or any attention at all. She meets and falls in love with Genesis, a gorgeous fem Medium. Flynn claims to have no belief in the supernatural but is interested enough in Genesis to be tolerant of it as long as it’s not used on her.
Seems she has had her own experiences with the Supernatural that she never talks about. Ever.
Then one day on her way home, her truck is pulled toward the haunted pond that has taken the lives of at least 5 people. Five women, to be more specific, five lesbians.
Flynn survives but is now haunted by her ex, the 1st victim of the pond.
This book is a whirlwind of excitement. It moves at a runaway train pace and all you can do is hold on and pray that everything works out for our loving duo.
The fact that the main characters are lesbians is incidental to the story. Hate started the curse, and love will stop it. The rest is beside the point. Flynn and Gen could be a straight couple and the story would work, with some minor changes. The fact that they are proud, loving woman, just makes it all that much better.
I could not stop listening to the Audiobook. The narrator; Rebecca Lowman, brings all the characters, especially Flynn to life. Her reading is excellent and went a long way to add to my enjoyment of this book.
I loved everything about this book. It was exciting, the romance was realistic and fun, the dialog is believable. If you know Central Florida, you will recognize the town the story is set in. And personally, I can buy all of this happening there.
This is my first book from this author, but I plan to look for others she has written and I eagerly await the next in this new series. It can’t come too soon for me.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to @Netgalley, Orangesky Audio, and Elle E. Ire for the chance to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
Flynn Dalton is a down on her luck construction worker who hates public displays of affection, or anyone knowing too much about her, or any attention at all. She meets and falls in love with Genesis, a gorgeous fem Medium. Flynn claims to have no belief in the supernatural but is interested enough in Genesis to be tolerant of it as long as it’s not used on her.
Seems she has had her own experiences with the Supernatural that she never talks about. Ever.
Then one day on her way home, her truck is pulled toward the haunted pond that has taken the lives of at least 5 people. Five women, to be more specific, five lesbians.
Flynn survives but is now haunted by her ex, the 1st victim of the pond.
This book is a whirlwind of excitement. It moves at a runaway train pace and all you can do is hold on and pray that everything works out for our loving duo.
The fact that the main characters are lesbians is incidental to the story. Hate started the curse, and love will stop it. The rest is beside the point. Flynn and Gen could be a straight couple and the story would work, with some minor changes. The fact that they are proud, loving woman, just makes it all that much better.
I could not stop listening to the Audiobook. The narrator; Rebecca Lowman, brings all the characters, especially Flynn to life. Her reading is excellent and went a long way to add to my enjoyment of this book.
I loved everything about this book. It was exciting, the romance was realistic and fun, the dialog is believable. If you know Central Florida, you will recognize the town the story is set in. And personally, I can buy all of this happening there.
This is my first book from this author, but I plan to look for others she has written and I eagerly await the next in this new series. It can’t come too soon for me.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to @Netgalley, Orangesky Audio, and Elle E. Ire for the chance to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
December 3, 2021
I found this book a very interesting read. I actually rated it at 3.5 stars. Its a mystery book which isn't my favourite genre but I always keep trying them out as this book shows there are good mystery books out there for me. This book had a genre hybrid air to it. Feeling like its part mystery, part thriller and some romance. It also covers a controversial subject of the acceptance of gay relationships when they were first legalised. This aspect of the book was highlighted brilliantly and was the main focus of the people found dead in the lake. I find it unbelievable how people from the LGBTQIA were treated in the past and this it what made this book so wonderful to read as the cover brought this atrocity to real life. I listened to the audiobook version of this book and the narrator brought a great sense of atmosphere, which definitely heightened my senses. There were plenty of twists and turns for you to enjoy. The book contains very interesting elements of psychics, magical powers and the ability to connect with the ghosts of the dead from the pond. I loved trying to work out what was going to happen next, I was always very surprised. The ending was so good with plenty going on to keep you page turning and on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens.
Thank you to the author and publishers for producing a brilliant novel that will fill your senses and keep you hooked until the very end.
Thank you to the author and publishers for producing a brilliant novel that will fill your senses and keep you hooked until the very end.
December 4, 2021
Dead Woman's Pond - Elle E. Ire
Audiobook review.
A paranormal lesbian thriller romance? Not my usual type of 'book', but it came highly recommended so I thought I'd give it a go.
First at all, the narration by Rebecca Lowman is excellent, a relaxing drawl with a superb dramatic range, working well between fragile and tender to enunciated ranting almost spoken word delivery. The presentation is always clear with no confusion on who is speaking.
The characters and the story are captivating, a romance between Flynn a construction work and Gen (Genesis) a renowned clairvoyant.
There are lots of elements outside of the fiction I usually read, spirits, possession, out of body experiences but they are vividly and believably conveyed. That's the test for me, the convincing construction of an internal logic, with supernatural rules of what is an isn't possible, and in this book it really works. The supernatural is core to the plot well balanced with the characters and story.
As the plot progresses Flynn character is tested, as are Gen's powers. There's a will they / won't they stay together romantic plot, as will as a quest to lift a deadly curse and a need for justice and to restore order. There's plenty going on, plenty of variety and it moves at a good pace throughout.
I'm not about to rush out searching for more paranormal fiction, but will definitely be looking out for book two in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and OrangeSky Audio
Audiobook review.
A paranormal lesbian thriller romance? Not my usual type of 'book', but it came highly recommended so I thought I'd give it a go.
First at all, the narration by Rebecca Lowman is excellent, a relaxing drawl with a superb dramatic range, working well between fragile and tender to enunciated ranting almost spoken word delivery. The presentation is always clear with no confusion on who is speaking.
The characters and the story are captivating, a romance between Flynn a construction work and Gen (Genesis) a renowned clairvoyant.
There are lots of elements outside of the fiction I usually read, spirits, possession, out of body experiences but they are vividly and believably conveyed. That's the test for me, the convincing construction of an internal logic, with supernatural rules of what is an isn't possible, and in this book it really works. The supernatural is core to the plot well balanced with the characters and story.
As the plot progresses Flynn character is tested, as are Gen's powers. There's a will they / won't they stay together romantic plot, as will as a quest to lift a deadly curse and a need for justice and to restore order. There's plenty going on, plenty of variety and it moves at a good pace throughout.
I'm not about to rush out searching for more paranormal fiction, but will definitely be looking out for book two in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and OrangeSky Audio
January 7, 2025
So much is not what it seems here, but that is to be expected when you're reading a supernatural book. A cursed lake, psychics, ghosts, magic. It's all there, along with messy relationships, murders, and plenty of secrets.
Overall, this is an enjoyable story, and one that is easy to get hooked in. There are plenty of twists along the way, action and heroics, lots of character development and growth, and despite their flaws, you do want to cheer for Genesis and Flynn. But all is not rosy, and there is plenty of darkness underneath as well. And a few frustrating moments as well.
One is the on page sexual assault that happens early on. Yes, it is brief, and glossed over, both when it occurs, and its impact later on in the story, but it really should have had a content warning. It is a trigger for a lot of people, irrespective of context.
And secrets is the other one, and what that entails between the characters. There are often reasons why things aren't said (not always good ones), and they always have fallout, but fortunately in many of the cases, these are actually resolved rather quickly.
I enjoyed it enough that I will be reading the rest of the series, as I am curious what will happen to the mc's, especially with the issues that are lurking there in the background. And for a paranormal setting, that aspect has been done really well.
Overall, this is an enjoyable story, and one that is easy to get hooked in. There are plenty of twists along the way, action and heroics, lots of character development and growth, and despite their flaws, you do want to cheer for Genesis and Flynn. But all is not rosy, and there is plenty of darkness underneath as well. And a few frustrating moments as well.
One is the on page sexual assault that happens early on. Yes, it is brief, and glossed over, both when it occurs, and its impact later on in the story, but it really should have had a content warning. It is a trigger for a lot of people, irrespective of context.
And secrets is the other one, and what that entails between the characters. There are often reasons why things aren't said (not always good ones), and they always have fallout, but fortunately in many of the cases, these are actually resolved rather quickly.
I enjoyed it enough that I will be reading the rest of the series, as I am curious what will happen to the mc's, especially with the issues that are lurking there in the background. And for a paranormal setting, that aspect has been done really well.
December 30, 2021
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to listen to this book in return for a honest review.*
Dead Woman's Pond was entertaining from beginning until the end. This book follows Flynn and her girlfriend Jen through a wild ride of supernatural and paranormal experiences. The pond in their small Florida town has taken many women, all of whom are in same sex relationships. Flynn is almost one of the pond's victims, but luckily she is able to survive the crash, but her serving opens up a whole new world that she was reluctant to believe was real.
I thought this book was a different twist on a paranormal romance. I enjoyed learning about the curse of the pond and also learning about Flynn and Jen's abilities with the supernatural. I didn't particularly like how Flynn handled situations with her relationship with Jen, or how she presented herself to others around her. She was overly aggressive and constantly questioned her relationship with Jen -- seeming to run at every turn if something went wrong.
I really enjoyed learning and seeing both Flynn and Jen's abilities strengthen throughout the book. Mediums and para-sensitivity has always been an interest of mine and I love seeing different interpretations of those subjects in books.
Dead Woman's Pond was entertaining from beginning until the end. This book follows Flynn and her girlfriend Jen through a wild ride of supernatural and paranormal experiences. The pond in their small Florida town has taken many women, all of whom are in same sex relationships. Flynn is almost one of the pond's victims, but luckily she is able to survive the crash, but her serving opens up a whole new world that she was reluctant to believe was real.
I thought this book was a different twist on a paranormal romance. I enjoyed learning about the curse of the pond and also learning about Flynn and Jen's abilities with the supernatural. I didn't particularly like how Flynn handled situations with her relationship with Jen, or how she presented herself to others around her. She was overly aggressive and constantly questioned her relationship with Jen -- seeming to run at every turn if something went wrong.
I really enjoyed learning and seeing both Flynn and Jen's abilities strengthen throughout the book. Mediums and para-sensitivity has always been an interest of mine and I love seeing different interpretations of those subjects in books.
January 21, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC. Although this review is for the audiobook format, it applies equally to the novel.
In this story Flynn Dalton, a construction worker has to deal with her girlfriend's psychic abilities and a haunted pond that wants her dead. The audiobook is narrated by *Lila Rose who does a great job of bringing the characters life and adds some humor and charm to the narration.
The audiobook blends elements of horror, mystery, and romance.
I am a bit biased (after all, our reviews are "literally" our opinions) being a huge fan of well-crafted mysteries and police procedurals, some horror (think Bentley Little or Stephen King) but almost zero "romance".
The characters in this book are likable and relatable, especially Flynn, who struggles with her own fears and insecurities. The chemistry between her and her girlfriend Genesis is "cute" as far as that goes.
Although not my particular cuppa this story should appeal to fans of paranormal romance, especially those who like stories with strong female protagonists, psychic powers, ghosts, curses, and danger.
It is an introduction to the Nearly Departed series, which promises more adventures for Flynn in future books.
In this story Flynn Dalton, a construction worker has to deal with her girlfriend's psychic abilities and a haunted pond that wants her dead. The audiobook is narrated by *Lila Rose who does a great job of bringing the characters life and adds some humor and charm to the narration.
The audiobook blends elements of horror, mystery, and romance.
I am a bit biased (after all, our reviews are "literally" our opinions) being a huge fan of well-crafted mysteries and police procedurals, some horror (think Bentley Little or Stephen King) but almost zero "romance".
The characters in this book are likable and relatable, especially Flynn, who struggles with her own fears and insecurities. The chemistry between her and her girlfriend Genesis is "cute" as far as that goes.
Although not my particular cuppa this story should appeal to fans of paranormal romance, especially those who like stories with strong female protagonists, psychic powers, ghosts, curses, and danger.
It is an introduction to the Nearly Departed series, which promises more adventures for Flynn in future books.
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