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Grady Lake Mystery #1
Grady Lake
Sometimes the darkest secrets are just beneath the surface. Two missing girls. One lake. Twenty years apart. Katie Benard reluctantly returns home to Grady Lake two decades after her older sister Malorie disappeared without a trace, a story that has captivated the nation since the day she was reported missing in 2003. After leaving home years ago, Katie is overjoyed to reunite with her childhood best friend and cousin while working at her family's lakeside resort at the end of tourist season in northern Michigan. Just when life begins to feel normal again, a teenage girl goes missing from the resort. She has vanished without a trace, just like Malorie.The area hasn't seen a major crime in decades, leading everyone to believe the disappearances must be connected. Which scenario is more the theory that there are two monsters lurking in the small lakeside town, or the possibility that the same maniac has waited twenty years before striking again?This unputdownable thriller from the bestselling author of Delta County will have you at the edge of your seat.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2023
377 people are currently reading
12202 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Hyde
10 books1,289 followersHi Everyone!
Thank you for stopping by to rate my books or see my reviews. I don't spend much time on Goodreads, as it's not great for the mental health of an author to obsess over their own reviews.
I simply rate books as I finish reading them, and if you'd like a full review, check out my Instagram - @bookandbeerreview - where I keep it light, funny, and never disrespect fellow authors!
Happy reading!
Thank you for stopping by to rate my books or see my reviews. I don't spend much time on Goodreads, as it's not great for the mental health of an author to obsess over their own reviews.
I simply rate books as I finish reading them, and if you'd like a full review, check out my Instagram - @bookandbeerreview - where I keep it light, funny, and never disrespect fellow authors!
Happy reading!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 568 reviews
December 16, 2023
Grady Lake is a super twisty whodunit set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Katie Bernard has recently moved back to her hometown after a devastating breakup. She immediately falls right back into her old routine of working at the lakeside resort family business. As if coming back to the very place her older sister, Malorie, vanished twenty years prior wasn't hard enough, now a guest of the resort, sixteen year old Sammie, has gone missing in the middle of the night. Katie's three eclectic aunts, her wisecracking best friend Nicole, cousin Dougie, rival business owners Benson & Bradford Palmer, and Nolan Cowell, a out of town podcaster looking for the inside scoop, all add their own theories on what happened to both girls. Could the two cases be connected? Will Sammie be found alive? Will Malorie's remains ever be found? Now with even more questions than answers Katie finds herself confused, conflicted, and in desperate need of closure once and for all. Old feelings and deep buried secrets begin bubbling to the surface, and nobody is exempt from being a suspect!
I absolutely love JL Hyde's writing & look forward to part two of this series as we ended on quite the cliffhanger!!
4 stars.
Katie Bernard has recently moved back to her hometown after a devastating breakup. She immediately falls right back into her old routine of working at the lakeside resort family business. As if coming back to the very place her older sister, Malorie, vanished twenty years prior wasn't hard enough, now a guest of the resort, sixteen year old Sammie, has gone missing in the middle of the night. Katie's three eclectic aunts, her wisecracking best friend Nicole, cousin Dougie, rival business owners Benson & Bradford Palmer, and Nolan Cowell, a out of town podcaster looking for the inside scoop, all add their own theories on what happened to both girls. Could the two cases be connected? Will Sammie be found alive? Will Malorie's remains ever be found? Now with even more questions than answers Katie finds herself confused, conflicted, and in desperate need of closure once and for all. Old feelings and deep buried secrets begin bubbling to the surface, and nobody is exempt from being a suspect!
I absolutely love JL Hyde's writing & look forward to part two of this series as we ended on quite the cliffhanger!!
4 stars.
July 12, 2025
Damn you Ms Hyde and your cliffhangers!
In Grady Lake:
We have two missing girls.
Twenty years apart.
At the same location.
Katie is finally returning to Grady Lake twenty years after her sister Malorie disappeared without a trace. Returning to her family lakeside resort she is quickly thrust in déjà vu again when a young girl staying at the resort goes missing. There hasn’t been any major crime in this area in many years. So what is going on and why do both cases feel eerily similar and connected.
What I like about this author is how quick and digestible her books are. Her books are one sit reads and everyone becomes a suspect at some point.
I enjoyed the setting and atmosphere of the book and even though I have never been to Michigan I feel like I know it personally.
I’m a thriller veteran so although predictable to me it doesn’t stop me from enjoying it any less and soaking in all the drama!
A flaw of the book for me would be the behaviour of some of the characters. They are meant to be fully grown adults, but they behaved and acted very childish, and I kept having to remember that they were not high schoolers.
With most of Ms. Hyde’s book she brings the shock factor on the very last pages, having you squirming for more!
The way the book finished off, had my jaw agape and I will be reaching for the second book instantly to get more on the aftermath of book 1!
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⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
J.L Hyde books are such quick easy reads!
Have heard such good things about this series!
Plan to get through all three books this weekend!
💚🤍💚
In Grady Lake:
We have two missing girls.
Twenty years apart.
At the same location.
Katie is finally returning to Grady Lake twenty years after her sister Malorie disappeared without a trace. Returning to her family lakeside resort she is quickly thrust in déjà vu again when a young girl staying at the resort goes missing. There hasn’t been any major crime in this area in many years. So what is going on and why do both cases feel eerily similar and connected.
What I like about this author is how quick and digestible her books are. Her books are one sit reads and everyone becomes a suspect at some point.
I enjoyed the setting and atmosphere of the book and even though I have never been to Michigan I feel like I know it personally.
I’m a thriller veteran so although predictable to me it doesn’t stop me from enjoying it any less and soaking in all the drama!
A flaw of the book for me would be the behaviour of some of the characters. They are meant to be fully grown adults, but they behaved and acted very childish, and I kept having to remember that they were not high schoolers.
With most of Ms. Hyde’s book she brings the shock factor on the very last pages, having you squirming for more!
The way the book finished off, had my jaw agape and I will be reaching for the second book instantly to get more on the aftermath of book 1!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
J.L Hyde books are such quick easy reads!
Have heard such good things about this series!
Plan to get through all three books this weekend!
💚🤍💚
November 20, 2025
3.5 - solid small town mystery! Look forward to continuing the series
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https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTreapFPC/
September 9, 2024
This book was so much fun to read!!!! If you’re craving spooky meets murder mystery meets summer camp at the lake vibes, this is for you. When we meet Katie, she’s discovering that her asshole fiancé is a cheater cheater pumpkin eater. What’s a jilted girl to do except go back to their hometown and work at her family’s diner for the summer tourist season? Oh, and Katie is also the sister of missing girl Malorie who disappeared 22 years ago and hasn’t been seen since. Needless to say, her three aunts and cousin Dougie are very happy to see her and have her home again.
Things continue like she never left, both with her family and her best friend Nicole. This is a small town where everyone knows everyone, aside from the tourists. Speaking of tourists, one of them goes missing shortly after Katie arrives; a young woman who disappeared as suddenly and mysteriously as Malorie. This time, Katie finds herself hoping they don’t find her dead…but also knowing it means closure she never got if they do. Instead, mystery compounds and pieces of the past start coming together to form a picture of the present, and it’s not quite what we all were anticipating.
SO MUCH FUN reading this! Katie and Nicole are absolutely hilarious, I loved sweet Dougie and all three aunts, and even Katie’s useless dad! The character pacing, the setting, the feels…I loved this so much! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!!!!
Things continue like she never left, both with her family and her best friend Nicole. This is a small town where everyone knows everyone, aside from the tourists. Speaking of tourists, one of them goes missing shortly after Katie arrives; a young woman who disappeared as suddenly and mysteriously as Malorie. This time, Katie finds herself hoping they don’t find her dead…but also knowing it means closure she never got if they do. Instead, mystery compounds and pieces of the past start coming together to form a picture of the present, and it’s not quite what we all were anticipating.
SO MUCH FUN reading this! Katie and Nicole are absolutely hilarious, I loved sweet Dougie and all three aunts, and even Katie’s useless dad! The character pacing, the setting, the feels…I loved this so much! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!!!!
January 31, 2025
4.25 ⭐️ I really enjoyed this one! It’s a thriller, but the family in this series is actually really funny. Which is surprising with the tragedy they have endured. I wasn’t absolutely shocked with the outcome of this book, but I am excited to see how it continues!
January 18, 2024
This book exceeded every single expectation and was by far her best. I am so honored to have been able to watch her journey and read the last few books early & now I have a CHARACTER NAMED AFTER ME?! (excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor because I’m simply still not over this)
In all seriousness, this book was absolutely fantastic and Jamie, you should be so proud of yourself. The writing, the plot, the twists & ending were so dang good. Of course, I am recommending everyone read this book!!! It’s her best yet and will continue to be an all time favorite of mine.
This book was the perfect read to start off my spooky season, it gave my chills just in the prologue and I had to keep reading, it was such a page turner. I loved the twists and even found myself shocked more than once.
To me the best part was the writing and atmosphere that was set. I truly felt like I was in a small town on a lake in Michigan and I LOVED that. The vibes were definitely set in the beginning and continued to shine through.
If you take ANY recommendation from me let it be this one. Like seriously, go read it.
In all seriousness, this book was absolutely fantastic and Jamie, you should be so proud of yourself. The writing, the plot, the twists & ending were so dang good. Of course, I am recommending everyone read this book!!! It’s her best yet and will continue to be an all time favorite of mine.
This book was the perfect read to start off my spooky season, it gave my chills just in the prologue and I had to keep reading, it was such a page turner. I loved the twists and even found myself shocked more than once.
To me the best part was the writing and atmosphere that was set. I truly felt like I was in a small town on a lake in Michigan and I LOVED that. The vibes were definitely set in the beginning and continued to shine through.
If you take ANY recommendation from me let it be this one. Like seriously, go read it.
December 21, 2023
2.5 stars
Underwhelmed. Had to skim heavily.
Katie Bernard moves back home to Grady, Michigan and steps right back in to high school mode, despite being almost 40. Everyone is still there and nothing has changed. Her aunts run Bernard’s Inn on the lake, just as their entire family has done for 100 years. The super rich Palmer family owns the big, luxurious resort across the lake.
Katie’s sister disappeared when they were teenagers and was never found. Now 20 years later another teenager disappears from Bernard’s Inn.
Bradford and Benson, whose names are so similar it’s confusing but they are interchangeable characters anyway, are the Palmer brothers who are around Katie and Mal’s ages. Their dad is Lincoln Palmer. He’s an ass. He’s married to his second wife, Fallon. None of this really matters.
Katie’s best friend is Nicole, who is the most annoying almost 40 year old ever. Grow up. Her dad is Big Rich. Katie somehow accused Big Rich of being involved with Mal’s disappearance 20 years ago but then his name was cleared but PSYCH! Spoiler : he really did kidnap Mal, with help from Lincoln Palmer. They’ve kept her in an underground bunker for the last 20 years, along with other girls, including Sammie, the missing vacationer.
Sammie and Mal escape thanks to Fallon, who ends up being killed by Lincoln? I think? This is all unclear as to why or how because this is part one of a series, so it purposefully leaves lots of questions unanswered.
Two things I would change to make this more believable
1. The main characters are late 30s/early 40s but act like they’re in their 20s. Every time age was mentioned it brought me totally out of the story because they act so dumb.
2. Having Malorie be gone for 20 years, living in an underground bunker is just too unbelievable. Should have made it like 5 or max 8 years. Then the characters wouldn’t need to be so old, either.
Underwhelmed. Had to skim heavily.
Katie Bernard moves back home to Grady, Michigan and steps right back in to high school mode, despite being almost 40. Everyone is still there and nothing has changed. Her aunts run Bernard’s Inn on the lake, just as their entire family has done for 100 years. The super rich Palmer family owns the big, luxurious resort across the lake.
Katie’s sister disappeared when they were teenagers and was never found. Now 20 years later another teenager disappears from Bernard’s Inn.
Bradford and Benson, whose names are so similar it’s confusing but they are interchangeable characters anyway, are the Palmer brothers who are around Katie and Mal’s ages. Their dad is Lincoln Palmer. He’s an ass. He’s married to his second wife, Fallon. None of this really matters.
Katie’s best friend is Nicole, who is the most annoying almost 40 year old ever. Grow up. Her dad is Big Rich. Katie somehow accused Big Rich of being involved with Mal’s disappearance 20 years ago but then his name was cleared but PSYCH! Spoiler : he really did kidnap Mal, with help from Lincoln Palmer. They’ve kept her in an underground bunker for the last 20 years, along with other girls, including Sammie, the missing vacationer.
Sammie and Mal escape thanks to Fallon, who ends up being killed by Lincoln? I think? This is all unclear as to why or how because this is part one of a series, so it purposefully leaves lots of questions unanswered.
Two things I would change to make this more believable
1. The main characters are late 30s/early 40s but act like they’re in their 20s. Every time age was mentioned it brought me totally out of the story because they act so dumb.
2. Having Malorie be gone for 20 years, living in an underground bunker is just too unbelievable. Should have made it like 5 or max 8 years. Then the characters wouldn’t need to be so old, either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2023
DNF. I really wanted to like this book because it got such good reviews. And maybe I should have pushed through to the end but by page 46 I was completely over it. I sincerely struggled with the fact that these 30-something young adults, upon being reunited, all started acting like 12 year olds. What was with all the arm twisting, wrestling on the ground, jumping on each other and driving like maniacs?
December 3, 2024
I really enjoyed this and will be reading the next installment. So, why the low rating? This book is like my once-a-year McDonalds. The McDonalds is not well made. It is not made with the best ingredients. To be honest, it doesn’t taste all that great. However, it is enjoyable and I will look forward to eating it again in a year.
September 30, 2023
INCREDIBLE! I couldn’t stop changing my answers and guessing on what was going to happen next. All I know is I need the second one asap
April 22, 2025
3.5 stars.
I am a sucker for a locally based book. I am even more of a sucker for an author that is willing to spend time attending my book club, answering questions and just being an awesome human.
In Grady Lake, a long ago death sparks new interest in the upper Michigan town once another girl goes missing, reminiscent of the crime that shook the town and took away the only sister of Katie Bernard.
The hunt is on for clues that could lead to the creep responsible. Towns people cannot be trusted, but you can’t be sure just who. Witty banter made this an easy and entertaining read. If you are familiar with the U.P. you will love the references to real places, and if you are a lover of twists, this one draws you in and leaves you with a cliffhanger that will have you excited and anxious to jump into book 2.
J.L. Hyde was generous with her time, joining my local Milwaukee book club to discuss all things writing, and Grady Lake. Her openness and genuineness left most of the book club wanting to pick up another of her books.
I am a sucker for a locally based book. I am even more of a sucker for an author that is willing to spend time attending my book club, answering questions and just being an awesome human.
In Grady Lake, a long ago death sparks new interest in the upper Michigan town once another girl goes missing, reminiscent of the crime that shook the town and took away the only sister of Katie Bernard.
The hunt is on for clues that could lead to the creep responsible. Towns people cannot be trusted, but you can’t be sure just who. Witty banter made this an easy and entertaining read. If you are familiar with the U.P. you will love the references to real places, and if you are a lover of twists, this one draws you in and leaves you with a cliffhanger that will have you excited and anxious to jump into book 2.
J.L. Hyde was generous with her time, joining my local Milwaukee book club to discuss all things writing, and Grady Lake. Her openness and genuineness left most of the book club wanting to pick up another of her books.
June 9, 2025
Are you freaking kidding me!?! This book! I could not put it down and those twists at the end! The set up for book 2! Omg I can’t believe I waited so long to pick up this series.
March 19, 2024
If you are not reading J.L Hyde books, you are truly missing out. I just cannot believe how great this book was. I mean, I can- because everything she writes is utterly amazing. Not only do her books contain such twisty twists, but the last sentence of this book—- jaw dropper. So freaking good!!!
April 16, 2025
I don’t get the hype.
August 1, 2025
y'all this book had me gasping and covering the bottom of the page so I didn't skip ahead! can't wait to finish the series.
September 9, 2025
Holy crap!!!! I am speechless!!! This book was fantastic!!!
June 8, 2025
Enjoyed the setting, quick mystery read
August 2, 2025
Loved this one! It has a slow, eerie vibe that keeps you wondering the whole way through. Not heaps of action at first, but it builds so well—and then bam, those cliffhangers at the end! Already downloaded the next book.. I need answers!!
March 12, 2024
Spoilers ahead: quick book but overall this one wasn’t for me. I felt like nothing happened the entire book until the very very end (I mean the VERY END) most of the book was just describing members of the town and their daily lives. No suspense, no thrills, everything felt very blah and surface level and the twists were predictable. The ending was intriguing and the whole “missing girls in a bunker” situation might be enough for me to pick up book two at some point but I’m not sure.
Things I liked: lake setting, missing girls from same location but years apart, shady characters
Things I disliked: pacing was way off, 20 year gap between missing sister and present day was too big of a gap to be believable, overly descriptive on things that truly did not matter what so ever or add anything to the book, and finally the actual age of the characters didn’t fit with the story—They needed to be in their 20s rather than 30-40s.
Things I liked: lake setting, missing girls from same location but years apart, shady characters
Things I disliked: pacing was way off, 20 year gap between missing sister and present day was too big of a gap to be believable, overly descriptive on things that truly did not matter what so ever or add anything to the book, and finally the actual age of the characters didn’t fit with the story—They needed to be in their 20s rather than 30-40s.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
December 13, 2025It was okay. I had much higher expectations because of the reviews. Nothing exciting happened until the end. Also didn’t like that the characters are almost 40 and they act like teenagers. I kept forgetting they were grown adults.
November 28, 2024
Text I’d send my girlfriends: if you think you suspected all along, you are correct. I didn’t think there was any big twist. The book was a whole lot of nothing until the last two chapters. I do have the second one on my bookshelf though so I’m gonna read that next.
February 4, 2024
Another amazing read! I don’t think I have laughed this much in a mystery thriller. Absolutely loved the banter between all the characters and can’t wait for the next book!
March 3, 2024
There are few authors who can transport me to a location like Hyde. Her world building puts you right there and wow. Will be reading the next book first thing in the morning.
May 10, 2025
I had a hard time keeping all of the characters straight for a while. Huge twist at the end. Can’t wait to read book two!
May 10, 2025
2.75 there is no reason why 35 year olds should still be referring to themselves as pranksters
January 22, 2024
I am not at all surprised nor shocked to say JL Hyde has done it again!!! Written another book that had me flying through the pages with ease and left my jaw on the floor at the final sentence. PLUS the best part is this is the first book in a new series!!! The incredibly bad news is … how am I going to survive until her next book in this series comes out?!!!
Katie has lived her whole life with the trauma of her sister going missing when they were young and not only was she never found, but they have absolutely zero answers. When she returns back to her small Michigan town years later not much has changed in a good, but also heartbreaking way. Suddenly another young girl goes missing and it’s about to blow the secrets of a small town to pieces.
I will continue to say this to anyone that will listen … DO NOT sleep on JL Hyde. She is an incredibly talented, intelligent, author who has a way of writing great thrillers in such realistic situations and places you feel like it could be your town she’s writing about. She writes and develops characters that you immediately connect with and feel like someone that you could have grown up with. Her books are not over the top, unrealistic, eye rolling thrillers …. They are just right .. perfect .
I cannot wait to dive into the next book in this series and pretty much every other book she writes!!!
Katie has lived her whole life with the trauma of her sister going missing when they were young and not only was she never found, but they have absolutely zero answers. When she returns back to her small Michigan town years later not much has changed in a good, but also heartbreaking way. Suddenly another young girl goes missing and it’s about to blow the secrets of a small town to pieces.
I will continue to say this to anyone that will listen … DO NOT sleep on JL Hyde. She is an incredibly talented, intelligent, author who has a way of writing great thrillers in such realistic situations and places you feel like it could be your town she’s writing about. She writes and develops characters that you immediately connect with and feel like someone that you could have grown up with. Her books are not over the top, unrealistic, eye rolling thrillers …. They are just right .. perfect .
I cannot wait to dive into the next book in this series and pretty much every other book she writes!!!
September 28, 2023
Katies sister has been missing since she was a teen, now in her thirties, she returns to her hometown. When a young tourist goes missing in a similar manner as her sister, the town is abuzz.
Grady Lake is a fast paced, suspenseful read that will keep you hooked. I read it in one evening and have no doubt you’d do the same. I enjoyed these characters and look forward to reading the next book!
I went with four stars because I did wish the beginning was a bit quicker, it felt like a lot of world building that I didn’t really need. I also would’ve loved some more closure on certain aspects, which I do assume we will get in book two. I think we could’ve gotten a bit more within this story on the last chapter, and then the epilogue plot point I can wait on.
Overall, it’s a book I would recommend!
Thank you to the author for a gifted ARC!
Grady Lake is a fast paced, suspenseful read that will keep you hooked. I read it in one evening and have no doubt you’d do the same. I enjoyed these characters and look forward to reading the next book!
I went with four stars because I did wish the beginning was a bit quicker, it felt like a lot of world building that I didn’t really need. I also would’ve loved some more closure on certain aspects, which I do assume we will get in book two. I think we could’ve gotten a bit more within this story on the last chapter, and then the epilogue plot point I can wait on.
Overall, it’s a book I would recommend!
Thank you to the author for a gifted ARC!
April 9, 2025
Work book club book - seems like a good one for a wide audience. I'm excited to have our meeting tomorrow. The author, JL, is actually joining us via Zoom since the person in charge DM'd her on Instagram!
This book was captivating from the beginning and fun to binge. The characters' humor and banter remind me a lot of my high school friends that I still hang out with. I can see that this might turn some people off because of that.
This ends on a cliffhanger, which I usually am not a fan of. However, knowing there are three other books like this, I actually liked it that way because we now need another full book's worth of details because I have questions.
This book was captivating from the beginning and fun to binge. The characters' humor and banter remind me a lot of my high school friends that I still hang out with. I can see that this might turn some people off because of that.
This ends on a cliffhanger, which I usually am not a fan of. However, knowing there are three other books like this, I actually liked it that way because we now need another full book's worth of details because I have questions.
August 12, 2025
Dont sleep on this series. This is the twistiest book and it's so smooth with every transition.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 568 reviews