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Green Lake
The suicide of Madeleine Heron’s husband leaves her at her sister’s lake house for the summer, until she can ‘sort things out’ for herself and find a new direction, but life in the lake community is anything but conducive to calm. Right away a three year old girl goes missing from the dam, Madeleine is nearly assaulted when her truck breaks down, and she discovers her neighbors have an affinity for digging holes and burying things in their yard, usually things they find floating in the lake, like a hand, or an arm… Native American conservation officer Eris Renard appears to be the only sane person around, and without warning Madeleine finds herself falling for him, but he’s an adopted Indian who’s just found his birth mother, a famous artist who hates Madeleine. ( graphic material may be disturbing.)
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 512 reviews
March 26, 2013
All I can say is wow; I've never read a story like this before. This book touches on subjects of rape, racism, romance, suicide, alcoholism, pedophilia, abuse, revenge, arson, adultery & necrophilia all wrapped up into an intense thriller. The forefront of the story is about a woman who moves into her sister and brother-in-laws cabin for the summer after her husband commits suicide. From there stories stem from each of the characters that live in the community. I was instantly hooked and my interest was held until the end.
For being a freebie from B&N the book is pretty well edited. Some paragraphs are hard to follow since the author suddenly switches character stories but otherwise the story flows nice. I liked the story and had a hard time reading about the part on animal cruelty and pedophilia but gave this a 4 star rating since I really enjoyed the story overall.
For being a freebie from B&N the book is pretty well edited. Some paragraphs are hard to follow since the author suddenly switches character stories but otherwise the story flows nice. I liked the story and had a hard time reading about the part on animal cruelty and pedophilia but gave this a 4 star rating since I really enjoyed the story overall.
November 14, 2014
Great New Horror Author
I was about to give this book four, maybe three stars, as there are info dumps (may be just me), but the dynamic ending, as well as several disturbing plot twists, make this one a winner. Nothing is mentioned that doesn't mean something later, so the parts of the novel that had nothing to do with story arc are cut, leaving straight-ahead writing with purpose.
I was about to give this book four, maybe three stars, as there are info dumps (may be just me), but the dynamic ending, as well as several disturbing plot twists, make this one a winner. Nothing is mentioned that doesn't mean something later, so the parts of the novel that had nothing to do with story arc are cut, leaving straight-ahead writing with purpose.
October 16, 2023
Entertaining murder listening 🎶🔰
This was a free novel e-book from Amazon.
Madeline is a teacher at the school but things are not going well and she looses her job. She moves into the cottage belonging to her sister and brother-in-law. She meets the conservation officer and they enter into an affair. A very young girl 👧 is murdered. There are a number of people who are doing bad 👎 things. She gets pregnant.
I would recommend this fast moving action adventure thriller novel and author to 👍 readers of romantic mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀💘🏡
This was a free novel e-book from Amazon.
Madeline is a teacher at the school but things are not going well and she looses her job. She moves into the cottage belonging to her sister and brother-in-law. She meets the conservation officer and they enter into an affair. A very young girl 👧 is murdered. There are a number of people who are doing bad 👎 things. She gets pregnant.
I would recommend this fast moving action adventure thriller novel and author to 👍 readers of romantic mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀💘🏡
November 23, 2013
I enjoyed this story of a newly widowed woman who leave her teaching position and moves to lakeside community after her husband's suicide. She is hoping for quiet and time to recover from the loss of a husband she realizes she never really loved. What she gets is an introduction to a community of quirky residents, including a perverted old guy, a spoiled and drunken rich boy, a murderous pedifile and a not-so-good looking man who steals her heart. There is a lot going on in this book, with several smaller stories woven between the developing relationship between the main characters Madeline and Eris, a Native American man who knows his heritage and his appearance are offensive to many of the people he encounters in his role as a local conservation officer. While this is a love story of sorts, it is also a dark story of violence, murder, perversion and self-hate. It is well written, never dull, shocking at some points and achingly tender at others.
November 5, 2013
This was a free book on bn.com and I am sometimes skeptical about reading the freebies, but finally delved into it yesterday. I was surprised at how quickly the book sucked me in. This book encompasses suicide, racism, romance, murder, rape, pedophilia, abuse, revenge, arson, adultery & necrophilia ....there are some seriously f*cked up things going on in this book, excuse the language. The main characters are not your typical characters, which made the book that much better. The only criticism I have is that the author changes point of view without notice, which can be confusing, and I felt the ending was somewhat abrupt, but otherwise, it was an amazing read. Definitely recommend, and it is a LendMe on Nook if anyone would like to borrow.
April 9, 2017
Haven't seen a community of people this horrible since watching Happiness. But I couldn't put it down. You have to see what fucked up thing will happen next.
October 25, 2014
I struggled with this book in the first chapter. Then it started to smooth out and I immersed myself in the story. It was a good read and became better with each chapter. The ending is a surprise and well worth reading the book to get there. Its not many times a book makes me sit up after finishing it and say "Huh?" Green Lake by S.K. Epperson certainly did that. You owe it to yourself to read this book.
November 5, 2015
Great
Quite the page turner. Didn't want to stop reading it, not having read any of her or his books before
Quite the page turner. Didn't want to stop reading it, not having read any of her or his books before
August 5, 2016
263 pages
Stand alone (for cliffhanger protestors like myself)
Despite disliking the cover yet intrigued by some of the reviews I downloaded this freebie from the romance genre and have to say its not quite like anything I've read before. Sure the romance is there between Eris and Madeline but its more like a slow believable and growing awareness between two people who bring their own personal angst to the story as well as differing cultural backgrounds and to top it all off a small lakeside community of depraved, weird, zany and interesting characters.
It's not a story that everyone will like since the author takes a brush and makes a broad sweep into domestic violence, rape, murder, racism, adultery I feel it fair to warn readers that this novel also steps inside the mind of a pedophile and there is no doubt in my mind you will feel as sick as I did at one particular revelation that I'd read before I'd realised what I'd read. One sick fucker who got what he deserved only it was too quick and it will take some time, if ever, to get the horrifying visualisation out of my head. By now I was too invested in the other characters to stop reading but I was a wary reader from that point on.
I seriously liked Madeline, she had grown strong through adversity, not a trait that was welcomed by some of the characters nor did she lose herself in Eris and become a whimpering twit. Eris an American Indian...hallelujah...a hero that didn't look like a Greek God with the requisite stream of faceless women. How utterly, utterly refreshing. I really got into Eris, he was scarred and full of deep seated self doubt and displacement due in part to his upbringing within the eroding walls of his white adoptive family and the added trauma of not knowing his native roots. Eris perfectly encapsulated the saying 'still waters run deep.'
One thing though that I did find distracting was the too sudden switches in POV's forcing a jump out of the story and a reread to see if I'd skipped a paragraph or a page.
I must admit I too was a little surprised that the person who did the dastardly crime was revealed so quickly but it didn't detract from how much I enjoyed the writing (skipping POV's notwithstanding as well as that haunting visualisation) and the sense of reading something different throughout.
December 12, 2013
The choice of characters and their development in this novel drew me in quickly. I felt comfortable reading about the clash of cultures between the Eris and Madeline, and loved the quirky if not creepy minor characters that surrounded them. Unfortunately, the structure of the book didn't hold up as well.
A third of the way in, Epperson had already revealed the real antagonist, leaving little to solve other than just how bad it would get. I dont' know why this was done, and it would have been a better read it hadn't been done. So many opportunities to push the suspicion on others was lost.
Then there is the end. It didn't ring true. I don't give spoilers, but in my opinion, Eris behaved in a way that no real man trained in law enforcement would. Sorry, that left a bad taste in my mouth, thus the 2 stars. Still, if you are looking for a light mystery with some really nasty images (no spoilers remember), give Green Lake a read. It might appeal to you more than it did me.
A third of the way in, Epperson had already revealed the real antagonist, leaving little to solve other than just how bad it would get. I dont' know why this was done, and it would have been a better read it hadn't been done. So many opportunities to push the suspicion on others was lost.
Then there is the end. It didn't ring true. I don't give spoilers, but in my opinion, Eris behaved in a way that no real man trained in law enforcement would. Sorry, that left a bad taste in my mouth, thus the 2 stars. Still, if you are looking for a light mystery with some really nasty images (no spoilers remember), give Green Lake a read. It might appeal to you more than it did me.
May 29, 2015
This is a very interesting novel. The characters are unique and thoroughly developed, and the plot is complex and multi-faceted; but the excessive number of evil characters was unrealistic. Also, the book is in somewhat of a rough-draft condition. It contains many errors that should have been caught before publishing. In one case a whole scene was repeated. The plural of surnames is not formed by adding 's to the singular.
August 19, 2017
Distasteful
I did not expect this book to be about child molestation. It was graphic and sick. I wish I had read reviews beforehand. I only downloaded it because it was free. Big mistake. BIG mistake.
I did not expect this book to be about child molestation. It was graphic and sick. I wish I had read reviews beforehand. I only downloaded it because it was free. Big mistake. BIG mistake.
June 27, 2016
Light suspense
I was looking for a good quick read and I was held from page 1. I enjoyed this and hope there is a book 2.
I was looking for a good quick read and I was held from page 1. I enjoyed this and hope there is a book 2.
April 5, 2018
(3.5 stars rounded to 4) This book had everything going on in it and I mean everything. It is well written and has an interesting plot with unique characters. Things were getting wrapped up a little too convenient at the end as bad guys get their just ends, but I will say no more. The book is free on Amazon and that is how I originally found it.
June 19, 2017
Cant put it down
Rate this book 5 out of 5! Very good book and I had to read it straight through! Love a good mystery!
Rate this book 5 out of 5! Very good book and I had to read it straight through! Love a good mystery!
June 4, 2020
Loved it!
June 4, 2024
3.3. started off strong, but lost me in the middle and end. the third person writing style got a little annoying to read.
December 4, 2017
I think I read this story in a shorter form, or maybe I attempted at reading it before. Anyways it got some really good characters, and a great setting, and the story revolving around the two main characters are super compelling. The surrounding plot, which ought to make it a suspense story falls absolutely flat, it's confusing and steps completely in the background to the romance story of the lead characters. You seriously get to know the male lead character's mother better than the villain - and sometimes it's difficult to figure out who the villain actually is, I think there might actually somehow be two villains with two sort of storylines... as I said, it's confusing.
Which brings me to the fact that this book I downloaded for free on Amazon, so at least I did not pay for it, and in that aspect it's decent quality in comparison to other free stuff there. It is however not a horror book as advertised, it's a romance novel with a murder. The plot in no shape or form revolves around said murder, it's like a blip on the horizon.
I admit I struggled a little with finishing it, but I think I was expecting something else than it is, and that is why I am only giving it 3 stars. If you expect a romance story with a dark setting, i'm sure it's fine - if you like me expect a horror story, you will be super disappointed.
Which brings me to the fact that this book I downloaded for free on Amazon, so at least I did not pay for it, and in that aspect it's decent quality in comparison to other free stuff there. It is however not a horror book as advertised, it's a romance novel with a murder. The plot in no shape or form revolves around said murder, it's like a blip on the horizon.
I admit I struggled a little with finishing it, but I think I was expecting something else than it is, and that is why I am only giving it 3 stars. If you expect a romance story with a dark setting, i'm sure it's fine - if you like me expect a horror story, you will be super disappointed.
September 13, 2019
Excellent thriller and love story
The story was engaging and moved at a good pace. The action was realistic and well written. I was definitely entertained, although just a little disappointed in the ending.
The story was engaging and moved at a good pace. The action was realistic and well written. I was definitely entertained, although just a little disappointed in the ending.
June 30, 2015
I found this to be a very intense thriller & couldn't put it down! While there was romance involved, it wasn't the unrealistic sort of romance that induced eye-rolling like some other books I've read. If anything, the romance helped break up some of the other things that made my stomach churn. If you can hang with disturbing... this book is for you! Never in a million years did I think I'd be reading about so many different people with so many different issues when I downloaded this book!
I absolutely loved the many different POV's & numerous issues this book touched on. At first, I was a bit disappointed in finding out "whodunnit" so quickly. However, I ended up liking the way the author did this and found it to be rather unique by the end of the book.
Overall, for being a free e-book, I am highly impressed. I'll definitely be looking into more by S.K. Epperson!
I absolutely loved the many different POV's & numerous issues this book touched on. At first, I was a bit disappointed in finding out "whodunnit" so quickly. However, I ended up liking the way the author did this and found it to be rather unique by the end of the book.
Overall, for being a free e-book, I am highly impressed. I'll definitely be looking into more by S.K. Epperson!
October 16, 2018
Overall, the story was good, and there was a lot of things happening at once. Thankfully the author wrote it in such a way that it was easy to track, and keep tabs on what was happening.
My biggest gripe about this book is the head hopping between characters without a break. One scene starts out in one character's head, and a few paragraphs later, you're in another character's mind.
Other than that, I liked the story. The characters were believable, the protagonists were well written, and you cheered when the antagonists were given their due. There's a lot of "what goes around, comes around" in the story, and it is deliciously satisfying, notably the final chapters.
I read most of it in three hours, I could not put it down once I actually sat down and took the time to read it.
4 stars, because of the head hopping, and giving away the main antagonist almost right away.
My biggest gripe about this book is the head hopping between characters without a break. One scene starts out in one character's head, and a few paragraphs later, you're in another character's mind.
Other than that, I liked the story. The characters were believable, the protagonists were well written, and you cheered when the antagonists were given their due. There's a lot of "what goes around, comes around" in the story, and it is deliciously satisfying, notably the final chapters.
I read most of it in three hours, I could not put it down once I actually sat down and took the time to read it.
4 stars, because of the head hopping, and giving away the main antagonist almost right away.
August 15, 2013
Green Lake by S. K. Epperson
I am totally hanging over a cliff, when I tell you that I was fooled by the cover and name of this book....WOW
This story will keep you on the edge of your seat!
It is not for everyone, because it deals with subjects that will make some readers uncomfortable like
murder, kidnapping of a minor and pedophilia.
But this a good story and well written the characters makes you feel like you are really there so realistic and interesting to read.
I would recommend to anyone over the age of 18.
This coffee drinker gave it a strong 4 stars
Jackee322001.tumblr.com
I am totally hanging over a cliff, when I tell you that I was fooled by the cover and name of this book....WOW
This story will keep you on the edge of your seat!
It is not for everyone, because it deals with subjects that will make some readers uncomfortable like
murder, kidnapping of a minor and pedophilia.
But this a good story and well written the characters makes you feel like you are really there so realistic and interesting to read.
I would recommend to anyone over the age of 18.
This coffee drinker gave it a strong 4 stars
Jackee322001.tumblr.com
February 8, 2020
In a nutshell, this was awful. There was so much going on in the book that covered topics of rape, racism, suicide, alcoholism, paedophilia, domestic abuse, and necrophilia. It was as though the author felt a need to cover every despicable topic possible.
The guise of the story takes place at Green Lake, where a woman recently widowed moves into her sister and brother in law's weekend home after her husband(whom she never loved) committed suicide. The characters surrounding her cabin and in the area and their dysfunctionalities then make up the rest of this tale. Deeply disappointing.
The guise of the story takes place at Green Lake, where a woman recently widowed moves into her sister and brother in law's weekend home after her husband(whom she never loved) committed suicide. The characters surrounding her cabin and in the area and their dysfunctionalities then make up the rest of this tale. Deeply disappointing.
June 15, 2014
Great until the very end.
I really, really loved this book, until the ending. I didn't like that I spent so much of myself learning about the characters and endearing myself to them and there was no explanation of what happens to them. However, this book was great, so I'll look over that. The characters were good and I had no problem putting myself in the story and picturing the characters. I recommend it to anyone who likes romances an mysteries.
I really, really loved this book, until the ending. I didn't like that I spent so much of myself learning about the characters and endearing myself to them and there was no explanation of what happens to them. However, this book was great, so I'll look over that. The characters were good and I had no problem putting myself in the story and picturing the characters. I recommend it to anyone who likes romances an mysteries.
September 9, 2013
Great read. Was fooled by the cover, but downloaded because it was free. After I had read the first couple pages, I couldn't put it down. I found the secondary characters creepy, loved the two main characters. Even with close to 600 pages, read the book in one sttting. can't wait to read more by this author.
January 25, 2014
Since this is a murder mystery I was expecting to see more suspense elements in the story. I just didn't feel they were there. There is a reasonable story line however and it moves along pretty well even though at times it seems to digress into a romance. If you like a bit of romance you'll probably like the story. I could feel for Madeline and what she was going through.
November 15, 2015
I'm finished with Green Lake: I stumbled on this read as a freebie looking at all the other reviews I would generally agree.
I found the book got me interested from the start and turned into a page turner. fast paced and it gave us a hard hitting story I will be picking up more of the Authors books Borderland is next
I found the book got me interested from the start and turned into a page turner. fast paced and it gave us a hard hitting story I will be picking up more of the Authors books Borderland is next
July 29, 2018
Green Lake
When I picked out Green Lake as my Sunday read today I have to admit I hit the wrong button by accident ..And I'm so very happy that I did.The author writes a great book with funny,quirky and just I couldn't leave my couch fun.I'm ready for another book.I'm just so tired of boring books.And this book is not boring.
When I picked out Green Lake as my Sunday read today I have to admit I hit the wrong button by accident ..And I'm so very happy that I did.The author writes a great book with funny,quirky and just I couldn't leave my couch fun.I'm ready for another book.I'm just so tired of boring books.And this book is not boring.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 512 reviews