Lakeside Secrets

West Investigations #10

by K.D. Richards

A mother murdered. A daughter’s return.
And a killer determined to keep the case cold.

Twenty years ago, trauma and injury stole Karine Eloi’s memories of her mother’s murder. Now she’s back home, teaming up with her best friend, Omar Monroe, to uncover the truth. But the townspeople refuse to spill their secrets, leaving Karine’s life in danger. Omar will risk everything to prevent the woman he’s always had feelings for from becoming the victim of another unsolved murder.

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 23, 2024

About the author

K.D. is a former attorney and educator. Her books are action-packed, page-turners with strong female characters and twists that will surprise.
Follow her on bookbub https://bit.ly/2TLCA7z.

Reviews

[Robbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED everything about this story. Karine just inherited her family home, which is a bitter sweet moment because this is the house her mom was murdered in. What’s worse is Karine was asleep in her bed at the time and for years assumed she never saw a thing. That was until she started having reoccurring nightmares. A call from her mom’s former best friend pleading with her to meet her in person brings her running back to Carling Lake in hopes of solving her mother’s murder. It’s safe to say shit immediately hit the fan once she got back to town.

It becomes increasingly clear that not only is Karine in danger but also anyone she speaks to about her mother’s case.

I was side eyeing a lot of characters in this story. For one Karine’s dad just did not seem like the “good” guy he was made out to be. It started to feel like him fleeing after his wife’s murder was more to protect his own secrets versus being so broken up about it. I also felt like his relationship with Karine was so strained because he spent years hiding anything about her mom from her, which honestly felt cruel and selfish on his part.

Deputy Shep got on my nerves 🙄 At every turn he seemed to keep popping up. The nerve of him to basically tell Karine to get over her mother’s murder and just move on. I hated everything about him.

I absolutely adored watching the love story between Omar and Karine bloom. I love a good friends to lovers trope 😩🥹 I really thought Karine was going to self sabotage at one point. She just kept getting in her own way. It’s funny that the person who finally helped her see the light was her dad, which we already know I’m not too fond of 😭

I can’t wait to read the next book in the series ❤️

[Katie Mettner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of K.D. Richards' West Investigation Series! I love that we went back to Carling Lake for this book and saw some favorite characters from the early part of the series. I loved Karine and Omar. They were both passionate about their reasons for reconnecting, without realizing that those reasons would be the catalyst to them finally reaching their goal of being more than just best friends.

Karine is back in Carling Lake for the first time since her mother was killed to find the killer. She's had enough vague memories to tell her that maybe she did see something that night and hopes going back to the house where her mother was killed will help her remember what happened. It doesn't hurt that her best friend of 30 years, Omar, lives next door.

Omar works as a park ranger in Carling Lake, trying to figure out why small animals are dying in the forest. He doesn't expect that quest to intersect with Karine's to find her mother's killer. Now that she's back, he only cares about spending time with his best friend again.

The killer is determined to convince Karine to leave Carling Lake and give up on her pursuit to find him, but no matter what he tries, she only digs her heels in deeper. Omar and Karine are careening toward a showdown they aren't expecting, and in true KD fashion, it is explosive! You don't want to miss this edition of the West Investigations!

[Karen Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery and I liked Karine and Omar together. The mystery had multiple twists but I was pretty sure who but not why until the end. The wrap up is done by narration so I felt we missed out a bit.

[Harlequin Books]

Romantic Suspense, Mystery & Detective, Police Procedural Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
West Investigations (Book #10)

[Harlequin Books]

Romantic Suspense, Mystery & Detective, Police Procedural Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
West Investigations (Book #10)

[Christine Ridulfo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story line about a woman who comes come and tries to figure out who murdered get mother. Some good twists but ending was out of the Blue.