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Monster Lake
Terri is looking forward to spending the summer with her new friend, Patricia. Hot lazy days ahead. Until one night, Terri looks out her window and sees something moving across her lawn. Something big. Something scary. Soon Terri finds herself on an adventure to discover what exactly she saw disappear into the woods behind her house. But she quickly realizes that the adventure will take her beyond the woods, to somewhere Terri has been forbidden to go. Down to the lake. Terri is in a race against time as everyone around her starts to change: her mother, her uncle, her new best friend. She has to save them. But to do so she must head back to the old boathouse and unlock the secrets to the lake and its horrible creatures. Creatures she thought could never exist, Monsters! This is the first children's book from acclaimed cult horror writer Edward Lee. For ages 8-12. Illustrated by Erik Wilson.
- GenresHorror
208 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2005
2 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Edward Lee
271 books1,455 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Edward Lee is an American novelist specializing in the field of horror, and has authored 40 books, more than half of which have been published by mass-market New York paperback companies such as Leisure/Dorchester, Berkley, and Zebra/Kensington. He is a Bram Stoker award nominee for his story "Mr. Torso," and his short stories have appeared in over a dozen mass-market anthologies, including THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES OF 2000, Pocket's HOT BLOOD series, and the award-wining 999. Several of his novels have sold translation rights to Germany, Greece, and Romania. He also publishes quite actively in the small-press/limited-edition hardcover market; many of his books in this category have become collector's items. While a number of Lee's projects have been optioned for film, only one has been made, HEADER, which was released on DVD to mixed reviews in June, 2009, by Synapse Films.
Lee is particularly known for over-the-top occult concepts and an accelerated treatment of erotic and/or morbid sexual imagery and visceral violence.
He was born on May 25, 1957 in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bowie, Maryland. In the late-70s he served in the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, in Erlangen, West Germany, then, for a short time, was a municipal police officer in Cottage City, Maryland. Lee also attended the University of Maryland as an English major but quit in his last semester to pursue his dream of being a horror novelist. For over 15 years, he worked as the night manager for a security company in Annapolis, Maryland, while writing in his spare time. In 1997, however, he became a full-time writer, first spending several years in Seattle and then moving to St. Pete Beach, Florida, where he currently resides.
Of note, the author cites as his strongest influence horror legend H. P. Lovecraft; in 2007, Lee embarked on what he calls his "Lovecraft kick" and wrote a spate of novels and novellas which tribute Lovecraft and his famous Cthulhu Mythos. Among these projects are THE INNSWICH HORROR, "Trolley No. 1852," HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD, GOING MONSTERING, "Pages Torn From A Travel Journal," and "You Are My Everything." Lee promises more Lovecraftian work on the horizon.
Edward Lee is an American novelist specializing in the field of horror, and has authored 40 books, more than half of which have been published by mass-market New York paperback companies such as Leisure/Dorchester, Berkley, and Zebra/Kensington. He is a Bram Stoker award nominee for his story "Mr. Torso," and his short stories have appeared in over a dozen mass-market anthologies, including THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES OF 2000, Pocket's HOT BLOOD series, and the award-wining 999. Several of his novels have sold translation rights to Germany, Greece, and Romania. He also publishes quite actively in the small-press/limited-edition hardcover market; many of his books in this category have become collector's items. While a number of Lee's projects have been optioned for film, only one has been made, HEADER, which was released on DVD to mixed reviews in June, 2009, by Synapse Films.
Lee is particularly known for over-the-top occult concepts and an accelerated treatment of erotic and/or morbid sexual imagery and visceral violence.
He was born on May 25, 1957 in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bowie, Maryland. In the late-70s he served in the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, in Erlangen, West Germany, then, for a short time, was a municipal police officer in Cottage City, Maryland. Lee also attended the University of Maryland as an English major but quit in his last semester to pursue his dream of being a horror novelist. For over 15 years, he worked as the night manager for a security company in Annapolis, Maryland, while writing in his spare time. In 1997, however, he became a full-time writer, first spending several years in Seattle and then moving to St. Pete Beach, Florida, where he currently resides.
Of note, the author cites as his strongest influence horror legend H. P. Lovecraft; in 2007, Lee embarked on what he calls his "Lovecraft kick" and wrote a spate of novels and novellas which tribute Lovecraft and his famous Cthulhu Mythos. Among these projects are THE INNSWICH HORROR, "Trolley No. 1852," HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD, GOING MONSTERING, "Pages Torn From A Travel Journal," and "You Are My Everything." Lee promises more Lovecraftian work on the horizon.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 29, 2011
I laughed when I first heard about Edward Lee writing a children's book. I doubted that it was even possible considering he is the mastermind behind some of modern horror's most gruesome impalements, detailed dismemberments, and overall hardcore tortures. That said, I was utterly delighted to discover that he has a more gentle side when I gambled and decided to read a chapter a night to my 4 year-old daughter before she went to bed each night. With 40 chapters and sprinkled with the occasional illustration, this was the perfect book to introduce young ones to a taste of the dark side. It allows them to dip their feet into the water without being pushed in all at once.
Each night my daughter would get into her pajamas, brush her teeth, and jump into bed as fast as she could in order to hear another installment of my reading of Monster Lake. Needless to say, she absolutely loved it. It had a nice, slow build, and a good balance of suspense, danger, and a touch of humor. The story had some repetition with information and with character's thoughts, but it gave my daughter a chance to review details and events that have occurred and allowed her to catch up. While any veteran reader of horror novels can figure out what is happening very early on, this was still a great read for its intended audience. I think it's more suited to 5 to 10 year-olds than 8 to 12 year-olds, but I suppose it depends on each individual child's experience with spooky content. I applaud Necro Publications for publishing something a little different and hope Edward Lee decides to write more for kids, too.
Each night my daughter would get into her pajamas, brush her teeth, and jump into bed as fast as she could in order to hear another installment of my reading of Monster Lake. Needless to say, she absolutely loved it. It had a nice, slow build, and a good balance of suspense, danger, and a touch of humor. The story had some repetition with information and with character's thoughts, but it gave my daughter a chance to review details and events that have occurred and allowed her to catch up. While any veteran reader of horror novels can figure out what is happening very early on, this was still a great read for its intended audience. I think it's more suited to 5 to 10 year-olds than 8 to 12 year-olds, but I suppose it depends on each individual child's experience with spooky content. I applaud Necro Publications for publishing something a little different and hope Edward Lee decides to write more for kids, too.
August 13, 2011
boring as hell, too many repetitive sentences and a predictable (and happy?) ending. Goosebumps is even better than this.
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May 2, 2022Meh.
February 3, 2025
"Monster Lake" by Edward Lee is not his best, probably for young readers. The monsters are toads and salamanders with teeth, shows how ridiculous this story is. A read for fans of Lee.
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June 22, 2010Terri and her friend Patricia look to spend their summer playing badminton and having fun, until one day Terri notices a big frog. The frog also has big teeth and frogs aren't supposed to have teeth! This propels Terri and Patricia on an adventure to uncover the mystery of the giant frogs where they end up at the old boathouse by the lake that they are forbidden to visit. It is at the lake where the girls run into monsters beyond their imagination. Edward Lee is known for some very intense adult horror, but here he shows his versatility in writing a monster books for kids that has such a entertaining story that kids won't want to put in down. Appropriate for upper elementary and middle school students requesting a good scary story. I would consider this a good core book to a scary story collection. Ages: 8-12
May 27, 2015
I'm always curious when writers of nasty, hardcore horror novels produce something intended for children. A couple weeks ago, I read Richard Laymon's THE HALLOWEEN MOUSE and thoroughly enjoyed it for what it was, and now I wanted to see what a kids' book by the Supreme Lord Sicko himself, Edward Lee, would look like.
Surprisingly, it looks just like an actual kids' book. No scenes of rape or torture anywhere to be found.
MONSTER LAKE could easily be an entry in the GOOSEBUMPS series. It's a little scary, but probably not enough to inspire nightmares in your small children. As an adult, I found it a bit dull and hokey, but still way better than most books aimed at the age 8-12 demographic. It was entertaining enough for me to forgive it for having such a preposterous ending.
Surprisingly, it looks just like an actual kids' book. No scenes of rape or torture anywhere to be found.
MONSTER LAKE could easily be an entry in the GOOSEBUMPS series. It's a little scary, but probably not enough to inspire nightmares in your small children. As an adult, I found it a bit dull and hokey, but still way better than most books aimed at the age 8-12 demographic. It was entertaining enough for me to forgive it for having such a preposterous ending.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews