Stranger in the Lake: A Novel

Kimberly Belle

Jun 2020 · Sold by Harlequin

About this ebook

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

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

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

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

Don't miss bestselling author Kimberly Belle's next deeply addictive thriller, The Personal Assistant—where she explores the dark side of the digital world when a mommy-blogger’s assistant goes missing!

Look for these other pulse-pounding thrillers by Kimberly Belle:

• The Marriage Lie
• The Last Breath
• My Darling Husband
• Three Days Missing
• Dear Wife
• The Ones We Trust

Ratings and reviews

She was a young thang from the wrong side of town who found herself lost and in love. Unwilling to see anything bad about him she was all in despite warnings and suspicions. When another body shows up and the lies start adding up she realizes her mistake. Can a relationship built on half truths and dark secrets last, well that's the question. The relationship between the guys keeps you wondering just what really happened that keeps them so close. The animosity between two of them let's you know that the secret they share is a big one. This author spins a story that even with the twist still ends up with too much descriptive words and inner dialogue for this reader. This made some spots go on forever and move you out of the story and action. This is my first read by this author and while I did enjoy it I really needed more. The characters and the action keep you turning the pages, while waiting for them to just get to the point. Will I read more of this author's work? Most definitely!

It is a good story, but there is way too much dialogue and describing what the characters are wearing yes I get that Jax is homeless and lives in the woods and looks rugged, but do they have to describe it every time he appears in the book it takes too long to get to the point and you forget who is who and what is going on. It gets too repetitive. It is a good story though just needs to be more brief or you start to lose interest.

4.5 stars. Stranger in the Lake by Kimberly Belle is a captivating domestic mystery. Following a bit of a whirlwind romance, Charlotte and wealthy widower Paul Keller are now happily married. Despite her domestic bliss, she can never quite escape the whispers that she married him for money. She and her brother Chet lived alone with their drug-addicted mother after their father went to prison. Charlotte is deeply in love with Paul and she puts no stock in the rumors that he had anything to do with the death of his first wife, Katherine, who drowned in the lake in front of their home four years earlier. Although Charlotte is a little troubled when she sees Paul talking with a stranger, she believes him when he denies knowing her. But when Charlotte discovers the woman’s dead body floating in the river, she begins to entertain doubts about her husband. Especially since he lies to the police then quickly leaves to locate his friend Jax, the town “crazy” who lives in the nearby woods. With Chet temporarily staying with her, Charlotte tries to find out the truth about her husband. But what will do she do once she finds the answers? Charlotte is a smart woman in her mid-twenties. After her tumultuous, unstable and poverty stricken childhood, she vows to be nothing like her addicted, irresponsible mother. Charlotte genuinely loves Paul and while they are quite happy, she is still a little uneasy with his wealth. She is no longer accepted by her former friends nor has she found friendship in her new life. Luckily, Paul’s best friend Micah Hunt welcomes her into the fold. After Charlotte discovers the stranger’s body, Micah is the first person she calls for help since Paul is out for his daily jog. Micah is the police chief’s son and he is a trained diver. Once the deceased has been brought to shore, life as Charlotte knows it soon ends. Despite desperately wanting to believe Paul has nothing to do with this latest death, his actions and evasions contribute to her growing suspicions. It soon becomes clear that something is going on, but Charlotte is having trouble determining exactly what that is. Stranger in the Lake is an extremely fast-paced and clever mystery. Charlotte is a gutsy and tenacious lead protagonist with a strong moral compass. The storyline is compelling and weaves back and forth in time between present day and twenty years earlier. With a stunning turn of events, Kimberly Belle brings this riveting domestic thriller to a twist-filled conclusion. I highly recommend this brilliant domestic mystery to readers of the genre. I received a complimentary copy for review.

About the author

Kimberly Belle is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of five novels of suspense. Her third, The Marriage Lie, was a semifinalist in the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Mystery & Thriller, and has been translated into a dozen languages. Before turning to fiction, Kimberly worked in marketing and nonprofit fundraising.