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Haven Cliff #2
The Lost Summer: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 14 Apr 26Win a free kindle copy of this book!
18 days and 03:16:01
100 copies available
U.S. only
A girl’s vanishing draws a detective into the crimes and mysteries of her own past in a shocking novel of psychological suspense by the New York Times bestselling author of The Fourth Girl.
Detective Sergeant Midge Kennedy and her lifelong pals Talia and Kelly have reunited on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the disappearance of their friend Caroline, hoping to put that summer of loss behind them. But as the season draws to a close in Mulberry Bay, Midge is plunged into a missing person case with unsettling ties to the past.
Ordinarily, she wouldn’t suspect foul play when a sixteen-year-old girl is just a few hours late getting home on a beautiful summer afternoon. But her investigation yields a shocking glimpse of a familiar face, and mounting coincidences link Sarah Greene’s vanishing to Caroline’s.
The clues lead to Haven Cliff, an abandoned Gilded Age estate that’s been the stuff of cursed legend for generations. It’s also Kelly’s new home, restored after decades of ruin. Midge suspects that the wooded grounds hold the key to Sarah’s fate and Caroline’s. But will Haven Cliff—and Midge herself—give up long-buried secrets?
Detective Sergeant Midge Kennedy and her lifelong pals Talia and Kelly have reunited on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the disappearance of their friend Caroline, hoping to put that summer of loss behind them. But as the season draws to a close in Mulberry Bay, Midge is plunged into a missing person case with unsettling ties to the past.
Ordinarily, she wouldn’t suspect foul play when a sixteen-year-old girl is just a few hours late getting home on a beautiful summer afternoon. But her investigation yields a shocking glimpse of a familiar face, and mounting coincidences link Sarah Greene’s vanishing to Caroline’s.
The clues lead to Haven Cliff, an abandoned Gilded Age estate that’s been the stuff of cursed legend for generations. It’s also Kelly’s new home, restored after decades of ruin. Midge suspects that the wooded grounds hold the key to Sarah’s fate and Caroline’s. But will Haven Cliff—and Midge herself—give up long-buried secrets?
357 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 14, 2026
8 people are currently reading
1849 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Corsi Staub
82 books1,914 followersNew York Times bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub is the award-winning author of more than ninety novels, best known for the single title psychological suspense novels she writes under her own name. Those books and the women’s fiction written under the pseudonym Wendy Markham have also appeared on the USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookscan bestseller lists.
Her current standalone suspense novel, THE OTHER FAMILY, is about a picture-perfect family that that moves into a picture-perfect house. But not everything is as it seems, and the page-turner concludes “with a wallop of a twist,” according to #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben.
Her critically acclaimed Lily Dale traditional mystery series centers around a widowed single mom—and skeptic—who moves to a town populated by spiritualists who talk to the dead. Titles include NINE LIVES; SOMETHING BURIED, SOMETHING BLUE; DEAD OF WINTER; and PROSE AND CONS, with a fifth book under contract.
Wendy has written five suspense trilogies for HarperCollins/William Morrow. The most recent, The Foundlings (LITTLE GIRL LOST, DEAD SILENCE, and THE BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER), spans fifty years in the life of a woman left as a newborn in a Harlem church, now an investigative genealogist helping others uncover their biological roots while still searching for her own.
Written as Wendy Markham, Wendy’s novel HELLO, IT’S ME was a recent Hallmark television movie starring Kellie Martin. Her short story “Cat Got Your Tongue” appeared in R.L. Stine’s MWA middle grade anthology SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN and her short story “The Elephant in the Room” is included in the Anthony Award-nominated inaugural anthology SHATTERING GLASS.
A three-time finalist for the Simon and Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award, she’s won an RWA Rita Award, an RT Award for Career Achievement in Suspense, the 2007 RWA-NYC Golden Apple Award for Lifetime Achievement, and five WLA Washington Irving Prizes for Fiction.
She previously published a dozen adult suspense novels with Kensington Books and the critically-acclaimed young adult paranormal series “Lily Dale” (Walker/Bloomsbury). Earlier in her career, she published a broad range of genres under her own name and pseudonyms, and was a co-author/ghostwriter for several celebrities.
Raised in Dunkirk, NY, Wendy graduated from SUNY Fredonia and launched a publishing career in New York City. She was Associate Editor at Silhouette Books before selling her first novel in 1992. Married with two sons, she lives in the NYC suburbs. An active supporter of the American Cancer Society, she was a featured speaker at Northern Westchester’s 2015 Relay for Life and 2012 National Spokesperson for the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation. She has fostered for various animal rescue organizations.
Her current standalone suspense novel, THE OTHER FAMILY, is about a picture-perfect family that that moves into a picture-perfect house. But not everything is as it seems, and the page-turner concludes “with a wallop of a twist,” according to #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben.
Her critically acclaimed Lily Dale traditional mystery series centers around a widowed single mom—and skeptic—who moves to a town populated by spiritualists who talk to the dead. Titles include NINE LIVES; SOMETHING BURIED, SOMETHING BLUE; DEAD OF WINTER; and PROSE AND CONS, with a fifth book under contract.
Wendy has written five suspense trilogies for HarperCollins/William Morrow. The most recent, The Foundlings (LITTLE GIRL LOST, DEAD SILENCE, and THE BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER), spans fifty years in the life of a woman left as a newborn in a Harlem church, now an investigative genealogist helping others uncover their biological roots while still searching for her own.
Written as Wendy Markham, Wendy’s novel HELLO, IT’S ME was a recent Hallmark television movie starring Kellie Martin. Her short story “Cat Got Your Tongue” appeared in R.L. Stine’s MWA middle grade anthology SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN and her short story “The Elephant in the Room” is included in the Anthony Award-nominated inaugural anthology SHATTERING GLASS.
A three-time finalist for the Simon and Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award, she’s won an RWA Rita Award, an RT Award for Career Achievement in Suspense, the 2007 RWA-NYC Golden Apple Award for Lifetime Achievement, and five WLA Washington Irving Prizes for Fiction.
She previously published a dozen adult suspense novels with Kensington Books and the critically-acclaimed young adult paranormal series “Lily Dale” (Walker/Bloomsbury). Earlier in her career, she published a broad range of genres under her own name and pseudonyms, and was a co-author/ghostwriter for several celebrities.
Raised in Dunkirk, NY, Wendy graduated from SUNY Fredonia and launched a publishing career in New York City. She was Associate Editor at Silhouette Books before selling her first novel in 1992. Married with two sons, she lives in the NYC suburbs. An active supporter of the American Cancer Society, she was a featured speaker at Northern Westchester’s 2015 Relay for Life and 2012 National Spokesperson for the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation. She has fostered for various animal rescue organizations.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 13, 2026
This was a great follow up to first Haven Cliff book! I loved the continuation of the story. The characters were relatable and the story was suspenseful. No jaw dropping twists but it kept me interested and anxious to fit all the pieces together.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for this advanced read!
Thank you so much to NetGalley for this advanced read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
I read The Fourth Girl last year so when I saw this second book in the series, I knew I had to read it. This picks up roughly two months after the previous book ends,
Friends Midge and Kelly live in their hometown of Mulberry Bay where 25 years ago their friend Caroline went missing. Talia is returning to spend Labor Day weekend with her friends and show her husband and children where she grew up.
Talia's daughter is your typical 12 going on 20 preteen. But she has a secret she's keeping from her parents.
Midge is called out to investigate a 16 year old girl who hasn't come home from Bible study.
A girl from a nearby town has also gone missing recently.
Kelly is restoring the Winterfield estate which was the ancestral home of their friend Caroline.
One thing ties all these things and people together and as the story unfolds, the mystery deepens and you're compelled to keep reading.
I knew I would love this book like I did the first one and I tried to drag the story out and enjoy it instead of knocking it out in a couple days. We get to know the characters better in this book and get a little more personality from them. It's so nice to read a book about childhood friendships lasting into adulthood and all the roadblocks they had throughout their early adulthood.
All the characters have their own quirks and personalities that make them feel real. The mystery in this story is so realistic and makes you think about how this could happen in the real world. I had feelings about who the 'bad guy's was throughout the story and was pretty close on my theory.
As someone who has read a ton of thrillers, this was a fun and enjoyable read. I look forward to continuing the series, but for me the plot twists aren't mind blowing or surprising. When I wasn't reading, I was itching to get back to reading and that's a great feeling to have when reading a book.
I read The Fourth Girl last year so when I saw this second book in the series, I knew I had to read it. This picks up roughly two months after the previous book ends,
Friends Midge and Kelly live in their hometown of Mulberry Bay where 25 years ago their friend Caroline went missing. Talia is returning to spend Labor Day weekend with her friends and show her husband and children where she grew up.
Talia's daughter is your typical 12 going on 20 preteen. But she has a secret she's keeping from her parents.
Midge is called out to investigate a 16 year old girl who hasn't come home from Bible study.
A girl from a nearby town has also gone missing recently.
Kelly is restoring the Winterfield estate which was the ancestral home of their friend Caroline.
One thing ties all these things and people together and as the story unfolds, the mystery deepens and you're compelled to keep reading.
I knew I would love this book like I did the first one and I tried to drag the story out and enjoy it instead of knocking it out in a couple days. We get to know the characters better in this book and get a little more personality from them. It's so nice to read a book about childhood friendships lasting into adulthood and all the roadblocks they had throughout their early adulthood.
All the characters have their own quirks and personalities that make them feel real. The mystery in this story is so realistic and makes you think about how this could happen in the real world. I had feelings about who the 'bad guy's was throughout the story and was pretty close on my theory.
As someone who has read a ton of thrillers, this was a fun and enjoyable read. I look forward to continuing the series, but for me the plot twists aren't mind blowing or surprising. When I wasn't reading, I was itching to get back to reading and that's a great feeling to have when reading a book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Title: The Lost Summer
Series: Haven Cliff #2
Author: Wendy Corsi Staub
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: April 14, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars!
Pages: 368
Talia, Imogene Kennedy, Caroline Winterfield, and Kelly Barrow ‘TICK’ were best friends and an inseparable group who looked out for each other. However the night of senior Prom Caroline goes missing. Now twenty-five years later three of the friends get together on the anniversary of Caroline’s disappearance.
(‘Caroline actually contacted them and told them she was fine but didn’t want anyone to know where she was as she just wanted to disappear.)
Imogene ‘Midge’ Kennedy has lived in Mulberry Bay her whole life and is now Detective Sergeant Midge Kennedy.
Midge and friends were hoping to let go what happened to Caroline until n sixteen year-old Sarah Greene disappears.
Detective Sergeant Kennedy is on the case and wonders if there is a connection.
• Sarah was dating Michael Klatte
• Caroline went to the prom with Gordy Klatte – Michael’s Father.
• Gordy Klatte recently died in an accidental fall in fact, on the Anniversary of Caroline’s disappearance.
As the clues mount – we start to wonder if there is a connection to Kelly's new home, ‘Haven Cliff’. We learn it was an abandoned/crumbling estate that she has had restored. However the original owners were Caroline Winterfields’ – great-great grandparents!
In the early nineteen hundreds it was a ‘Tuberculosis Sanatorium “but locals called it a “lunatic asylum”.
Kelly states that there were skeletal remain found believed to be
Caroline!
However Sarah Green’s disappearance has the story go deeper into secrets – it was a different direction than I expected.
I didn’t read The Fourth Girl Book #1 but I have read other Wendy Corsi Staub stories so knew she wouldn’t disappoint
I do hope to read Book #1 and am looking forward to Book #3.
Want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this awesome early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 14,, 2026.
Series: Haven Cliff #2
Author: Wendy Corsi Staub
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: April 14, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars!
Pages: 368
Talia, Imogene Kennedy, Caroline Winterfield, and Kelly Barrow ‘TICK’ were best friends and an inseparable group who looked out for each other. However the night of senior Prom Caroline goes missing. Now twenty-five years later three of the friends get together on the anniversary of Caroline’s disappearance.
(‘Caroline actually contacted them and told them she was fine but didn’t want anyone to know where she was as she just wanted to disappear.)
Imogene ‘Midge’ Kennedy has lived in Mulberry Bay her whole life and is now Detective Sergeant Midge Kennedy.
Midge and friends were hoping to let go what happened to Caroline until n sixteen year-old Sarah Greene disappears.
Detective Sergeant Kennedy is on the case and wonders if there is a connection.
• Sarah was dating Michael Klatte
• Caroline went to the prom with Gordy Klatte – Michael’s Father.
• Gordy Klatte recently died in an accidental fall in fact, on the Anniversary of Caroline’s disappearance.
As the clues mount – we start to wonder if there is a connection to Kelly's new home, ‘Haven Cliff’. We learn it was an abandoned/crumbling estate that she has had restored. However the original owners were Caroline Winterfields’ – great-great grandparents!
In the early nineteen hundreds it was a ‘Tuberculosis Sanatorium “but locals called it a “lunatic asylum”.
Kelly states that there were skeletal remain found believed to be
Caroline!
However Sarah Green’s disappearance has the story go deeper into secrets – it was a different direction than I expected.
I didn’t read The Fourth Girl Book #1 but I have read other Wendy Corsi Staub stories so knew she wouldn’t disappoint
I do hope to read Book #1 and am looking forward to Book #3.
Want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this awesome early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 14,, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a follow-up story that’s probably better understood if you read the first one, The Fourth Girl, before this one. Midge, Talia, and Kelly still have unanswered questions about their friend, Caroline, who disappeared twenty-five years ago. But now, on top of that, another girl has gone missing, and it reminds the women of Caroline’s case. The similarities the two girls shared might spoil some of the story, so I’ll just leave it at saying they had similar lifestyles.
Midge is a detective, so it’s hard for her not to compare the two cases, especially because she was close with Caroline and knew things no one besides the four girls knew. But this case goes in a new, unsettling direction that could finally clear things up about Caroline and hopefully bring both girls justice.
Whereas the previous story was partly told in the past, this one is mainly focused on the current lives and relationships of the three women. And how Caroline and the past keep affecting the present. We finally get the truth about Mary Beth, Caroline’s older sister, who is more sympathetic in this story than where we left her at the end of the first book.
While it’s good to finally get answers, it’s not too suspenseful a story. It moves a little slowly, and I can’t help wondering why this was stretched out into two books. There’s a lot of extra filler that could be removed from both, and I think it would have been a more powerful and engaging story that way.
My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the free advanced reading copy of this book.
Midge is a detective, so it’s hard for her not to compare the two cases, especially because she was close with Caroline and knew things no one besides the four girls knew. But this case goes in a new, unsettling direction that could finally clear things up about Caroline and hopefully bring both girls justice.
Whereas the previous story was partly told in the past, this one is mainly focused on the current lives and relationships of the three women. And how Caroline and the past keep affecting the present. We finally get the truth about Mary Beth, Caroline’s older sister, who is more sympathetic in this story than where we left her at the end of the first book.
While it’s good to finally get answers, it’s not too suspenseful a story. It moves a little slowly, and I can’t help wondering why this was stretched out into two books. There’s a lot of extra filler that could be removed from both, and I think it would have been a more powerful and engaging story that way.
My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the free advanced reading copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“Everything changes. Everyone is nostalgic”
I really should pay more attention when requesting a DRC - “The Lost Summer” is Book 2 of The Haven Cliff series - my bad! So, after reading “The Fourth Girl”, I picked the above back up.
The pace seems quicker in the 2nd book, but I expect that’s just me. Both books change timelines frequently and as there’s no particular order that I could see, book 1 took some time to adjust to .
However, aside from different perspectives, character wise, and the jumping timeline, the story itself is both well written, and written with imagination. It’s not a wholly original storyline but plotting, timeline and characters bring unusual elements to what would otherwise be a run-of-the-mill thriller.
Although there is a conclusion to the overall questions, there are enough strings that allow for the possibility of further books in the series - I would definitely read more from Wendy Corsi Staub.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and may be found on Goodreads, Amazon, and NetGalley.
My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the DRC of ‘The Lost Summer’ by Wendy Corsi Staub.
‘The Lost Summer’ is due to published and available on Amazon on 14 April 2026.
I really should pay more attention when requesting a DRC - “The Lost Summer” is Book 2 of The Haven Cliff series - my bad! So, after reading “The Fourth Girl”, I picked the above back up.
The pace seems quicker in the 2nd book, but I expect that’s just me. Both books change timelines frequently and as there’s no particular order that I could see, book 1 took some time to adjust to .
However, aside from different perspectives, character wise, and the jumping timeline, the story itself is both well written, and written with imagination. It’s not a wholly original storyline but plotting, timeline and characters bring unusual elements to what would otherwise be a run-of-the-mill thriller.
Although there is a conclusion to the overall questions, there are enough strings that allow for the possibility of further books in the series - I would definitely read more from Wendy Corsi Staub.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and may be found on Goodreads, Amazon, and NetGalley.
My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the DRC of ‘The Lost Summer’ by Wendy Corsi Staub.
‘The Lost Summer’ is due to published and available on Amazon on 14 April 2026.
March 4, 2026
Unfortunately, I did not read The Fourth Girl and although this is the second book in that series, I had no problem following this book. Wendy Corsi Staub has long been a favorite and I was glad to read this arc from Netgalley and Publisher, Thomas Mercer.
Twenty-five years ago, one of four close friends went missing at Haven Cliff. One of the girls, Talia moved away. Kelly also moved away but has returned and renovated Haven Cliff. Midge stayed and is now a police sergeant on the Mulberry Bay police force. On the anniversary of Caroline’s disappearance another girl has gone missing Coincidence? Midge would like to think so, but she has learned not to dismiss anything. The characters, especially Midge and Talia play a major role, Talia became a little tiresome to me with her over protective ways. Especially since she and her family have returned to Haven Cliff for a long weekend. But I suppose that was because of Caroline’s disappearance. There are many secrets in this book from before and still. Slow paced till its volatile end, the author delivers a good mystery.
I received a complimentary copy of this book without remuneration and this review is my own opinion.
Twenty-five years ago, one of four close friends went missing at Haven Cliff. One of the girls, Talia moved away. Kelly also moved away but has returned and renovated Haven Cliff. Midge stayed and is now a police sergeant on the Mulberry Bay police force. On the anniversary of Caroline’s disappearance another girl has gone missing Coincidence? Midge would like to think so, but she has learned not to dismiss anything. The characters, especially Midge and Talia play a major role, Talia became a little tiresome to me with her over protective ways. Especially since she and her family have returned to Haven Cliff for a long weekend. But I suppose that was because of Caroline’s disappearance. There are many secrets in this book from before and still. Slow paced till its volatile end, the author delivers a good mystery.
I received a complimentary copy of this book without remuneration and this review is my own opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love a good small town thriller series, but there is something special about this one. It has an all star cast and I love how their relationships work together, even when they are far apart. This book was a pageturner, especially after the questions of the previous book. It left so much tension, I couldn’t stop turning the pages because I needed to find out what was going to happen next. I was pretty excited to find out that all of my suspicions about the previous book proved correct. I’m even more excited that there are more books to the series! I’m so curious how the next one will go now that the true killers has been revealed. This author is an absolute master at giving you just enough information to have you chomping at the bit before you realize it’s 6am and you’re supposed to be getting for work. If you’ve never read any of her books, I highly recommend buying her entire backlist. You will not be sorry!
Huge thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!
Huge thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!
January 9, 2026
📚Book Review: The Lost Summer
Author: Wendy Corsi Staub
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Psychological Suspense
Pages: 367
Coming April 14, 2026
📚My Book Review:
The Lost Summer by Wendy Corsi Staub is a psychological suspense novel. It is the second book in The Haven Cliff Series. (The first book is The Fourth Girl) Detective Sergeant Midge Kennedy and her lifelong friends reunite on the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of their friend.
I LOVED this book. It was a quick moving read and kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters are very relatable and likable. Brilliant story line, that all comes together at the end. Multiple twists and turns that had me scratching my head. Not predictable! You will not see it coming! I love the multiple point of views! I’m hoping that there will be a book 3!
My rating is a strong 5 stars! This book is a great read and I was not disappointed. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from Wendy Corsi Staub in the future!
Author: Wendy Corsi Staub
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Psychological Suspense
Pages: 367
Coming April 14, 2026
📚My Book Review:
The Lost Summer by Wendy Corsi Staub is a psychological suspense novel. It is the second book in The Haven Cliff Series. (The first book is The Fourth Girl) Detective Sergeant Midge Kennedy and her lifelong friends reunite on the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of their friend.
I LOVED this book. It was a quick moving read and kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters are very relatable and likable. Brilliant story line, that all comes together at the end. Multiple twists and turns that had me scratching my head. Not predictable! You will not see it coming! I love the multiple point of views! I’m hoping that there will be a book 3!
My rating is a strong 5 stars! This book is a great read and I was not disappointed. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from Wendy Corsi Staub in the future!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The second novel in the Haven Cliff series finds Detective Midge Kennedy looking once again at the Haven Cliff mansion, which is reputed as cursed. In her own youth, her friend Caroline disappeared over 25 years later. This time, it's a missing sixteen-year-old girl- Sarah Greene, who's vanishing is almost exactly like her childhood friend Caroline.
Secrets have a way of surfacing themselves when you least expect or when its entirely convenient. Midge must make some hard choices that include outing her own history of mistakes and misdeeds. I strongly recommend that you read The Fourth Girl first, otherwise, much of this book will not make sense. Make sure you add this to your TBR for late spring- you'll take this tale to the grave.
Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#TheLostSummer #NetGalley #Goodreads #libraryninja📚
Secrets have a way of surfacing themselves when you least expect or when its entirely convenient. Midge must make some hard choices that include outing her own history of mistakes and misdeeds. I strongly recommend that you read The Fourth Girl first, otherwise, much of this book will not make sense. Make sure you add this to your TBR for late spring- you'll take this tale to the grave.
Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#TheLostSummer #NetGalley #Goodreads #libraryninja📚
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This story has a compelling premise—old wounds resurfacing, a missing teen echoing a disappearance from decades earlier, and a haunting estate at the center of it all. The multiple POV structure adds an interesting layer, giving the mystery a wider emotional lens. However, the execution didn’t always work for me.
The opening moves at a very slow pace, and even around the 20% mark I still wasn’t entirely sure what direction the plot was taking. The shifting perspectives could have helped build momentum, but the chapters weren’t labeled, which made it confusing to track whose voice we were in at any given moment. Once the narrative finally settled in, the connections between past and present became more engaging, and the eerie atmosphere of Haven Cliff added a nice touch of suspense.
Overall, it’s a solid mystery with some strong elements, but the early pacing and POV confusion kept it from fully landing for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The opening moves at a very slow pace, and even around the 20% mark I still wasn’t entirely sure what direction the plot was taking. The shifting perspectives could have helped build momentum, but the chapters weren’t labeled, which made it confusing to track whose voice we were in at any given moment. Once the narrative finally settled in, the connections between past and present became more engaging, and the eerie atmosphere of Haven Cliff added a nice touch of suspense.
Overall, it’s a solid mystery with some strong elements, but the early pacing and POV confusion kept it from fully landing for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wanted to be into this, but it just didn’t land for me.
The audio narration was a big part of it. It felt flat and kind of drained the energy out of scenes that should’ve had tension. I found myself zoning out more than once, which is never a good sign.
The story itself felt drawn out. There’s a lot going on, a lot of secrets, a lot of back and forth… but instead of feeling layered, it felt tangled. I honestly think not reading the first book worked against me because I kept feeling like I was missing context the whole time.
Also, the killer POV between chapters just isn’t my thing. It always feels a little forced, and here it didn’t add anything for me. If anything, it tugged me out of the story every time it popped up.
There are twists, but a lot of them didn’t feel believable enough for me to really get behind. By the end, I wasn’t surprised or impressed, just kind of ready to move on.
Not awful, just not for me.
The audio narration was a big part of it. It felt flat and kind of drained the energy out of scenes that should’ve had tension. I found myself zoning out more than once, which is never a good sign.
The story itself felt drawn out. There’s a lot going on, a lot of secrets, a lot of back and forth… but instead of feeling layered, it felt tangled. I honestly think not reading the first book worked against me because I kept feeling like I was missing context the whole time.
Also, the killer POV between chapters just isn’t my thing. It always feels a little forced, and here it didn’t add anything for me. If anything, it tugged me out of the story every time it popped up.
There are twists, but a lot of them didn’t feel believable enough for me to really get behind. By the end, I wasn’t surprised or impressed, just kind of ready to move on.
Not awful, just not for me.
February 20, 2026
3.5 stars...Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC. I went into this one ready for answers after the first book, since I was definitely not satisfied with that ending and felt there was still a lot left unresolved.
This sequel picks up shortly after where book one left off, following the same three friends — Midge, Talia, and Kelly. The story begins with the disappearance of a teenage girl, and the eerie similarities to their friend’s disappearance 25 years ago (including a connection to a church) immediately pulled me in.
This truly feels like a direct continuation of the first book rather than a standalone sequel. It provided much-needed closure and wrapped up many lingering questions, which I really appreciated, while still leaving a few threads open for the next installment in the series. Overall, I was glad to finally get some answers and enjoyed this continuation of the story.
This sequel picks up shortly after where book one left off, following the same three friends — Midge, Talia, and Kelly. The story begins with the disappearance of a teenage girl, and the eerie similarities to their friend’s disappearance 25 years ago (including a connection to a church) immediately pulled me in.
This truly feels like a direct continuation of the first book rather than a standalone sequel. It provided much-needed closure and wrapped up many lingering questions, which I really appreciated, while still leaving a few threads open for the next installment in the series. Overall, I was glad to finally get some answers and enjoyed this continuation of the story.
December 22, 2025
The Lost Summer by Wendy Corsi Staub published by Thomas & Mercer is the second book in the Haven Cliff Series. The previous book is The Fourth Girl and I recommend to read the books in order.
Midge, Talia and Kelly meet in their home town 25 years after their friend Caroline vanished. And now Midge, a DS has the newest case with parallels to Caroline's case when 16 year old Sarah disappears.
I read the first book and couldn't wait for this second one, there are lots of things that now come to light, getting explained.
I loved re-connecting with characters from the previous book, loved the pace, the intrigue, the drama.
Midge, Talia and Kelly meet in their home town 25 years after their friend Caroline vanished. And now Midge, a DS has the newest case with parallels to Caroline's case when 16 year old Sarah disappears.
I read the first book and couldn't wait for this second one, there are lots of things that now come to light, getting explained.
I loved re-connecting with characters from the previous book, loved the pace, the intrigue, the drama.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Wendy Corsi Staub for this ARC of The Lost Summer. I loved reading about Caroline, Midge, Talia and Kelly’s Lost Summer. Things were a little slow at first but about 25% in I was intrigued. After finishing the book I realized this was the second book in the series. I will definitely be going back for the first book. I’ve read several other books by this author and would definitely read more. The friendship between the girls reminded me of some of my own friends. We all hold secrets and only our friends know the real ones.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC.
No. 2 in the Haven Cliff Book series is a good follow-up to no. 1, it answered a lot of questions.
The 3 friends reunite on the 25th anniversary of their 4th friend's disappearence ... and then a 16-year old girl goes missing. But coincidences with 25 years ago lead back to the supposedly cursed, abandoned estate, now owned by one of the friends.
Good book, a solid 4 stars.
No. 2 in the Haven Cliff Book series is a good follow-up to no. 1, it answered a lot of questions.
The 3 friends reunite on the 25th anniversary of their 4th friend's disappearence ... and then a 16-year old girl goes missing. But coincidences with 25 years ago lead back to the supposedly cursed, abandoned estate, now owned by one of the friends.
Good book, a solid 4 stars.
December 26, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
The Lost Summer follows Detective Midge Kennedy as a new disappearance in the seaside town of Mulberry Bay reopens old wounds tied to a girl who vanished years earlier. As the investigation unfolds, past and present collide, revealing buried secrets, complicated friendships, and the lasting impact of unresolved loss.
This is #2 in The Haven Cliff series. I would recommend reading #1 first.
The Lost Summer follows Detective Midge Kennedy as a new disappearance in the seaside town of Mulberry Bay reopens old wounds tied to a girl who vanished years earlier. As the investigation unfolds, past and present collide, revealing buried secrets, complicated friendships, and the lasting impact of unresolved loss.
This is #2 in The Haven Cliff series. I would recommend reading #1 first.
January 2, 2026
I absolutely loved the first Haven Cliff novel so I had high expectations for book two and boy did Wendy Corsi Staub deliver!
The characters are so well-developed and I love how “minor” characters from book one seem to play a larger role in book two. The book flows seamlessly from the first book and I couldn’t wait to see how it ended.
The twists and turns were masterful, another 5 stars for me in the Haven Cliff series.
If you have not read book one, you need to before this one is released on April 14th!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
The characters are so well-developed and I love how “minor” characters from book one seem to play a larger role in book two. The book flows seamlessly from the first book and I couldn’t wait to see how it ended.
The twists and turns were masterful, another 5 stars for me in the Haven Cliff series.
If you have not read book one, you need to before this one is released on April 14th!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is an honest NetGalley ARC review:
Okay so this was so much more wild than I could have imagined!! Again, I thought I was putting the puzzle together just to find out that I had no idea what was really going on! This was an “EPIC” sequel to a twisty story! I enjoyed the characters and the self discovery and growth! Can’t wait to see what’s next from this author and maybe hope this story comes around one more time!!
Okay so this was so much more wild than I could have imagined!! Again, I thought I was putting the puzzle together just to find out that I had no idea what was really going on! This was an “EPIC” sequel to a twisty story! I enjoyed the characters and the self discovery and growth! Can’t wait to see what’s next from this author and maybe hope this story comes around one more time!!
January 31, 2026
This was a hit or miss for me. Chapters should be named if there are more than 2 characters and it’s going back and forth. Though I love reading everyone’s perspectives.
It felt slow in the beginning but it was also intriguing. But after 55% it got a wee bit interesting but still felt it wasn’t as grabby and again it got interesting when I reached 70%. It was slow and I could sense the build up but It was a slow one. I wonder if I would have liked it more if I read the first one?
It felt slow in the beginning but it was also intriguing. But after 55% it got a wee bit interesting but still felt it wasn’t as grabby and again it got interesting when I reached 70%. It was slow and I could sense the build up but It was a slow one. I wonder if I would have liked it more if I read the first one?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I jumped into this book, not realizing it was book two but I had no problem with it. This is a character/relationship driven mystery. How does the disappearance of their close friend connect to the missing girls. The characters are likeable, believable and the story flows pretty well. Some of the twists were apparent but that didn't take away from the story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Lost Summer is second in a series but reads easily as a standalone. This is a slower, steady mystery rather than a rollercoaster thriller but the characters are well developed and the scene is well drawn to explain the story. Very solid for an easy read with some strong turns.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this DRC.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this DRC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An enjoyable 2nd novel in this series. Always enjoy Wendy Corsi Staub's mysteries and thrillers and this one did not disappoint. Really liked the split POVs among the characters in this story. A lot of interrelated story lines and murders that are not obvious at first. Plenty of red herrings and twists to keep you turning the pages.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The plot twist was everything in this book! I had no idea where this story was going to go for the 1st 30% of the book. It was a slow burn at the beginning but if you can get through the first 30% of the book, you will not be disappointed with the ending!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book has a part 1 which I didn’t know when I requested from NetGalley. The suspense was good while the police work was dealt like an afterthought. We do get some idea of what happened before although I think it would work well if read in order.
March 22, 2026
ARC from NetGalley - solid four stars. I went back and read #1 in tnis series when I saw I got the ARC on this one. Not necessary, but definitely added history to the characters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am a long-time reader of Wendy Corsi Staub. She is one of my favorites for a quick and easy read that still has a suspenseful storyline and good characterization. The Lost Summer definitely fills that bill. Midge is a small-town detective. She has reunited with her two childhood besties, Kelly and Talia. The three women have not been together since their friend Caroline disappeared twenty-five years ago. The women are hoping to let the past go when a 16-year-old girl disappears. Are the disappearances connected? Th clues all point to Kelly's new home, Haven Cliff, which was an abandoned and crumbling estate that has been restored. This book is actually Book 2 in the Haven Cliff series. I do recommend reading Book 1, The Fourth Girl, but this story is still good on its own. There are some pretty great twists also.
Thank you to #NetGalley, Wendy Corsi Staub and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to #NetGalley, Wendy Corsi Staub and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
February 24, 2026
ARC review
An enjoyable thriller with an ending which wasn’t obvious from too early in the book.
It took me a while to learn all the characters, as there are quite a few, but this is the second book in the series and I haven’t read the first. So that might have helped.
The characters were just the right level of flawed and each with their own difficulties outwith the main storyline.
Overall I enjoyed the story and the writing. Getting into the characters earlier would have bumped it up to a 5 star read for me.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC book.
An enjoyable thriller with an ending which wasn’t obvious from too early in the book.
It took me a while to learn all the characters, as there are quite a few, but this is the second book in the series and I haven’t read the first. So that might have helped.
The characters were just the right level of flawed and each with their own difficulties outwith the main storyline.
Overall I enjoyed the story and the writing. Getting into the characters earlier would have bumped it up to a 5 star read for me.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC book.
March 24, 2026
Wendi Corsi Staub's latest thriller explores how a secret can change lives. Three friends made a vow twenty years ago to protect their friend Caroline;s secret. Unfortunately, keeping that secret has repercussions in all of their lives. I really enjoyed this thriller. I liked the main characters Midge, Kelly, and Talia. I realized this was the second book in a series a quarter of the way through. I think the author did a nice job of giving the backstory, but it probably would have been better if I read the first book in the series first.
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