What do you think?
Rate this book
Still Lake
Still Lake.
It’s always been there, but now something has changed.
Underneath the gentle waters, evil is spreading...
Dr. Craig Lenton is desperately trying to stop the mysterious sickness before he and the people he loves become part of the carnage, but time is running out and the calm waters of Still Lake are hiding something sinister and deadly underneath…
It’s always been there, but now something has changed.
Underneath the gentle waters, evil is spreading...
Dr. Craig Lenton is desperately trying to stop the mysterious sickness before he and the people he loves become part of the carnage, but time is running out and the calm waters of Still Lake are hiding something sinister and deadly underneath…
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2012
20 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Sara Brooke
29 books20 followersSara Brooke is a horror and suspense novelist living in South Florida. A lifelong avid reader of all things scary, Sara's childhood dream was to write horror books that force readers to sleep with their lights on.
Her first novel, Still Lake, was released Spring 2012.
Her first novel, Still Lake, was released Spring 2012.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 17, 2013
This book had a great premise, but nothing ever came of it. The idea that the water pent up and finally released from the Kransen house is actually a malevolent supernatural entity is suggested, but never capitalized upon. Still, these brief chapters/interludes are Brooke's best bits of writing.
The rest is a dull, lifeless procedural of how a small town handles a health crisis. There are some good characters in the story, but they get covered up by the melodrama surrounding cardboard overly-zealous christian villians.
The ending suggests that something did happen in the Kransen House and that possibly it houses an evil spirit, but that is obviously fodder for another tale. Of course, the author must make me want to read another of her tales...
The rest is a dull, lifeless procedural of how a small town handles a health crisis. There are some good characters in the story, but they get covered up by the melodrama surrounding cardboard overly-zealous christian villians.
The ending suggests that something did happen in the Kransen House and that possibly it houses an evil spirit, but that is obviously fodder for another tale. Of course, the author must make me want to read another of her tales...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2013
I'm stunned that not a single review, here or on other sites, mentioned the horrible editing. Words capitalized that should not be, unnecessary details repeated several times, poor formatting. Hard to believe that a publisher would allow this, but then, I've been to their website and based on that it's not really a surprise.
All that said, Ms. Brooke is a great storyteller and I very much enjoyed the book. It is, indeed, a page-turner - couldn't wait to find out what happened!
She deserves a lot better treatment from her publisher.
All that said, Ms. Brooke is a great storyteller and I very much enjoyed the book. It is, indeed, a page-turner - couldn't wait to find out what happened!
She deserves a lot better treatment from her publisher.
November 6, 2015
YAWN... Just couldn't get into it
April 18, 2014
Still Lake by Sara Brooke
As the Kransen house lays still and vacant, years of abandonment has caused structural damage along with dilapidated decaying pipes underneath the framework. An unnoticed subtle current of tiny bacterial infested flakes begin to flow from below the home into a lake that is a popular attraction for the town of Flening. One event structured around the lake is a town celebration called Bonanza. As chemicals continue to empty into the body of water, it begins its toxin release into the bloodstream of innocent people attending the festival and enjoying Still Lake. In a short amount of time the urban area is vastly populated with the infection. An increase in aggressive behavior is apparent after levels of lead, and traces of mercury and copper find human hosts to inhabit. One of those happen to be Chuck, son to Minister Benson who has directed the local church for many years. The descendant has crafted an underlying sinister plan to gain full control over the assemblage using what ever means necessary. As the local contamination feeds on the youth, voices in his head coerce an overthrow of power in the name of religion. As the toxicants reaches its peak, a horrifying conclusion between good and evil takes center stage.
Sara Brooke's passion for scary things as a young reader has transformed into a talent of creativity and writing. These combinations have resulted in her first novel Still Lake, a twisted tale that begins with a bang and evolves into a detailed onslaught of polluted water that worms its way into a fear of chemical sickness and death. Witnessing the environmental threat slowly decay the mind and well being of individuals, Sara turns into a personal tour guide and depicts the decline of mental functions, mood disorders, and schizophrenia as no one else can. The characters are displayed foremost as the balance of good and evil provide a solid background with an addition of elemental hazards. Given the ability to obtain the knowledge that is obscured by the personage creates an uneasiness that gradually crescendos into an unforgettable chilling read. All these components combine an aggressive tension that builds during the storyline. As underlying preparations for the oncoming twists and turns are brilliantly placed throughout the novel, Sara makes sure the reader is buckled in for a white knuckled ride of horror and suspense.
As the Kransen house lays still and vacant, years of abandonment has caused structural damage along with dilapidated decaying pipes underneath the framework. An unnoticed subtle current of tiny bacterial infested flakes begin to flow from below the home into a lake that is a popular attraction for the town of Flening. One event structured around the lake is a town celebration called Bonanza. As chemicals continue to empty into the body of water, it begins its toxin release into the bloodstream of innocent people attending the festival and enjoying Still Lake. In a short amount of time the urban area is vastly populated with the infection. An increase in aggressive behavior is apparent after levels of lead, and traces of mercury and copper find human hosts to inhabit. One of those happen to be Chuck, son to Minister Benson who has directed the local church for many years. The descendant has crafted an underlying sinister plan to gain full control over the assemblage using what ever means necessary. As the local contamination feeds on the youth, voices in his head coerce an overthrow of power in the name of religion. As the toxicants reaches its peak, a horrifying conclusion between good and evil takes center stage.
Sara Brooke's passion for scary things as a young reader has transformed into a talent of creativity and writing. These combinations have resulted in her first novel Still Lake, a twisted tale that begins with a bang and evolves into a detailed onslaught of polluted water that worms its way into a fear of chemical sickness and death. Witnessing the environmental threat slowly decay the mind and well being of individuals, Sara turns into a personal tour guide and depicts the decline of mental functions, mood disorders, and schizophrenia as no one else can. The characters are displayed foremost as the balance of good and evil provide a solid background with an addition of elemental hazards. Given the ability to obtain the knowledge that is obscured by the personage creates an uneasiness that gradually crescendos into an unforgettable chilling read. All these components combine an aggressive tension that builds during the storyline. As underlying preparations for the oncoming twists and turns are brilliantly placed throughout the novel, Sara makes sure the reader is buckled in for a white knuckled ride of horror and suspense.
June 1, 2012
I absolutely LOVED reading this book. I loved it so much that I literally read it all in one sitting. It's got everything that a good, creepy horror novel should have: suspense, death, fear, and mystery.
I was really able to immerse myself in the characters and events of this novel, and I definitely recommend that any and all horror and thriller fans check out this book. It is absolutely awesome reading!
Even though it's great horror, it isn't gory or distasteful; it is presented well and there's enough going on to keep even my attention.
Great work, Sara - I look forward to further books from you!
Jennifer-Crystal Johnson
Original review at www.SoulVomit.com
I was really able to immerse myself in the characters and events of this novel, and I definitely recommend that any and all horror and thriller fans check out this book. It is absolutely awesome reading!
Even though it's great horror, it isn't gory or distasteful; it is presented well and there's enough going on to keep even my attention.
Great work, Sara - I look forward to further books from you!
Jennifer-Crystal Johnson
Original review at www.SoulVomit.com
May 27, 2012
With a gripping reader’s hook as powerful as a grappling hook-violent, graphic, and enticing-this novel is taut, well-plotted, and well-characterised. The backstory is interwoven subtly, never detracting nor distracting from the “current” events of the novel: rather, it adds to the escalating suspense and the reader will be wondering, “what’s happening now?” I was enraptured and raced through the pages, simply to find out the answers to that question! At the end, also, I was left pondering: what if these events could occur in actuality? That’s not an unlikely possibility, and it is one that makes this novel very “current” and very frightening.
June 25, 2014
This was one of those books that I picked up on the spurt of the moment, and didn't really have any prior opinions about it. That being said, I found once I started reading the book it was actually a very enjoyable read. This was one of those books that the horror came from the actual humans, not anything outside, except of course the stuff in the water. The horror itself was based upon human activity and what happens when human's lose touch with reality. The book had a well-written plot line, and characters that were for the most part three-dimensional. Some were a little rough around the edges though and felt a little one-dimensional. On the whole a solid read and four-star book.
July 12, 2016
A big thumbs up!
The frightening thing about this story is the possibility of it actually happening.
Very well written, the story flows smoothly and effortlessly from one disaster to the next as the town's citizens, enjoying a day of festivities at Still Lake, are being poisoned simply by being in the water. Gradually, one after another, hundreds of people are falling ill, some more than others, and culminating in a horrific event.
The writer gets your attention from the first chapter, and holds it all the way through. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and would definitely recommend this book.
The frightening thing about this story is the possibility of it actually happening.
Very well written, the story flows smoothly and effortlessly from one disaster to the next as the town's citizens, enjoying a day of festivities at Still Lake, are being poisoned simply by being in the water. Gradually, one after another, hundreds of people are falling ill, some more than others, and culminating in a horrific event.
The writer gets your attention from the first chapter, and holds it all the way through. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and would definitely recommend this book.
December 23, 2012
Fewer than a 1,000 people live in the small Florida town of Flening. Towns people were catching flu like symptoms and need to be treated. Each day more and more people would get the symptoms and even a few of them would died. Was this a super flu or was it something stronger? Has evil captured the small town of Flening? Sara Brooke weaves this tale like only she can. Sara is one of the up and coming Horror writers of the future.
July 9, 2016
Unfortunately, I could not actually finish the book. It was that hard to read.
The premise was great and I was excited to read it. The first couple pages were also pretty good, but as I read the book it got worse and worse. It was convoluted and the editing (if it was even edited) was HORRIBLE.
It literally read like a first draft that had been spellchecked.
I'm not sure what happened but I was disappointed because like I said, the premise sounded SUPER COOl.
The premise was great and I was excited to read it. The first couple pages were also pretty good, but as I read the book it got worse and worse. It was convoluted and the editing (if it was even edited) was HORRIBLE.
It literally read like a first draft that had been spellchecked.
I'm not sure what happened but I was disappointed because like I said, the premise sounded SUPER COOl.
July 11, 2012
A fast paced read of a water-born horror seeping into a small town Florida community.
Read my full review at Blood Good Horror:
http://www.bloodygoodhorror.com/bgh/b...
Read my full review at Blood Good Horror:
http://www.bloodygoodhorror.com/bgh/b...
March 13, 2014
Great got greater!
I really enjoyed this story. I couldn't wait to read it each day. It held my interest til the end. it starts off good and builds from
there. If you like thrillers and mystery, this book is for you.
Great storyline.
I really enjoyed this story. I couldn't wait to read it each day. It held my interest til the end. it starts off good and builds from
there. If you like thrillers and mystery, this book is for you.
Great storyline.
October 12, 2014
Still Lake
This was a good horror and suspense book. The Gore level is a bit up there considering that the book is about a sickness that plagues a small town. But if you are a horror fan then you need to give it a look.
This was a good horror and suspense book. The Gore level is a bit up there considering that the book is about a sickness that plagues a small town. But if you are a horror fan then you need to give it a look.
March 10, 2015
Not what I was expecting. I started reading this one thinking it was a straight up horror story. So, I was a bit surprised with the twist. It was still a tale worth reading.
November 23, 2014
Good read.
kept me interested but not a lot of long drawn out descriptions. not to far fetched. not to many adjectives which always makes me skip through.
kept me interested but not a lot of long drawn out descriptions. not to far fetched. not to many adjectives which always makes me skip through.
August 15, 2016
Not a bad read if you like a thriller. Something is horrible in the water of Still Lake! Where is it coming from and how many will it kill before they find out?
April 28, 2017
I have been a fan of Brooke since I was given a copy of Zyne Project to read for an honest review. I thought this book had a great premise, and a lot of potential for supernatural terror, but alas, that never came. What came was some seriously disturbing images of bodies ravaged by this disease and the aftermath of the horror it wreaks on this town. I liked the book, the characters, and of course, the graphic and vivid imagery here. I would have liked more of the supernatural element that was alluded too, but I thought this was a good read regardless.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews