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What the Lake Won't Forget: A Chilling Dark Psychological Thriller
EVERY SMILE HIDES A SHADOW. SOMETHING STIRS BENEATH THE SURFACE.
Miles Turner thought moving to the quiet lakeside town of Draymere for his wife’s career would give his family a fresh start. But when they arrive, he begins to feel like something is wrong.
It starts with a crude a crooked smile that appears everywhere he turns. Things escalate when he starts finding himself by the edge of the town’s eerie lake, each time with no memory of how he got there.
When a body washes ashore, Detective Maria Martinez arrives to investigate, and Miles is pulled into her search for answers. Stripped of his old identity, haunted by feelings he cannot name, he finds himself unravelling, forcing him to question whether the darkness lies within him—or in the depths of Draymere’s waters.
A haunting blend of psychological and supernatural horror that explores the darkness that stirs beneath the surface of the human mind. Fans of Stephen King, John Langan and H. P. Lovecraft will love this chilling mystery of mounting psychological suspense.
Miles Turner thought moving to the quiet lakeside town of Draymere for his wife’s career would give his family a fresh start. But when they arrive, he begins to feel like something is wrong.
It starts with a crude a crooked smile that appears everywhere he turns. Things escalate when he starts finding himself by the edge of the town’s eerie lake, each time with no memory of how he got there.
When a body washes ashore, Detective Maria Martinez arrives to investigate, and Miles is pulled into her search for answers. Stripped of his old identity, haunted by feelings he cannot name, he finds himself unravelling, forcing him to question whether the darkness lies within him—or in the depths of Draymere’s waters.
A haunting blend of psychological and supernatural horror that explores the darkness that stirs beneath the surface of the human mind. Fans of Stephen King, John Langan and H. P. Lovecraft will love this chilling mystery of mounting psychological suspense.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2025
About the author
Joe Topliffe
7 books17 followersAfter spending the better part of 3 years writing in the sci-fi space, eventually publishing City of Dust in 2017, Joe Topliffe realised he wanted to write something that was really reflective of the kind of books that made up the majority of his reading: contemporary adventures that draw on historical themes. The result is his second novel, The Aztec Secret, which was released in June 2020.
Working full time as a digital marketer in London, Joe spends his commute to and from the city engrossed in a book, or working on the next story. He tries to make time on the weekends for planning and writing, when he's not busy filling his Instagram feed with pictures of his cat.
His main influences sit across a range of genres, and include authors such as Clive Cussler, Matthew Reilly, Michael Crichton, Nathan Van Coops, Nick Jones, Lexi Revellian, Marcus Sakey, Becky Chambers and Wilbur Smith.
Working full time as a digital marketer in London, Joe spends his commute to and from the city engrossed in a book, or working on the next story. He tries to make time on the weekends for planning and writing, when he's not busy filling his Instagram feed with pictures of his cat.
His main influences sit across a range of genres, and include authors such as Clive Cussler, Matthew Reilly, Michael Crichton, Nathan Van Coops, Nick Jones, Lexi Revellian, Marcus Sakey, Becky Chambers and Wilbur Smith.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 11, 2026
Gripping and thoughtful
I love the Cthulhu vibe. The normalcy of Miles’ life and challenges with the added factor of the evil entity made for a nice transition in the story. It felt like the psychological break could really happen which does increase the chilling factor. The resolution was not what I expected. An interesting choice by the author. Well worth the read!
I love the Cthulhu vibe. The normalcy of Miles’ life and challenges with the added factor of the evil entity made for a nice transition in the story. It felt like the psychological break could really happen which does increase the chilling factor. The resolution was not what I expected. An interesting choice by the author. Well worth the read!
November 10, 2025
This book is a thoughtful and well-written story that pulls you in with its quiet intensity. The writing has a nice balance of mystery and emotion, and the author does a great job capturing atmosphere and character depth. It’s one of those books that lingers after you finish, with moments that make you stop and think. The pacing isn’t perfect in a few spots, but overall, it’s a strong and memorable read.
June 18, 2026
We all have to deal with our own lake. Can you face your’s?
Suppress it or let it all out? While growing up, most of us have been taught to do the former. That just feeds the lake! Grow with Miles as he confronts his demons and denies the lake any more victims. He saves himself, his daughter, Liv, and future residents of the small town from the horror of succumbing to the false voice of the lake’s entity.
Suppress it or let it all out? While growing up, most of us have been taught to do the former. That just feeds the lake! Grow with Miles as he confronts his demons and denies the lake any more victims. He saves himself, his daughter, Liv, and future residents of the small town from the horror of succumbing to the false voice of the lake’s entity.
November 7, 2025
Going to a small town for his wife career will leave to something worse for him. He keeps finding himself by a lake with no memories of how he got there. A body gets washed up and he will then be pulled into the investigation. His life will get more confusing as the investigation continues. See where it will end
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great thriller
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great thriller
July 19, 2026
Not a very good story
I have never stopped reading a book with only 20% of it left. I just couldn't stand wasting another minute on this story. Maybe if it had been a short story I would have cared more. It just went on and on with one silly situation after another. Maybe it was ment to explain how trauma affects our live, I don't know, I just gave up.
I have never stopped reading a book with only 20% of it left. I just couldn't stand wasting another minute on this story. Maybe if it had been a short story I would have cared more. It just went on and on with one silly situation after another. Maybe it was ment to explain how trauma affects our live, I don't know, I just gave up.
August 17, 2026
A bit between fantasy, psychology, and crime. In the end the fantasy rules, which is not my favorite.
However, the first 200 pages about the family relations, the librarian and the police women kept me reading and turning pages.
However, the first 200 pages about the family relations, the librarian and the police women kept me reading and turning pages.
June 4, 2026
Page turner....,
What a great read. Totally different from my normal read but so glad I decided to download this book. Looking forward to other books Joe will write.
What a great read. Totally different from my normal read but so glad I decided to download this book. Looking forward to other books Joe will write.
August 7, 2026
Great Read
The Story was one of a kind, weird but not to weird, actually very believable. A story that keeps you turning pages. You will never look at a lake the same way.
The Story was one of a kind, weird but not to weird, actually very believable. A story that keeps you turning pages. You will never look at a lake the same way.
February 23, 2026
Fugues and Water Don't Mix
Draymore is not just a quiet town with a lake. Maria’s instincts pick up the weirdness at the scene when a missing person's body is found. Miles becomes less sure of reality as each lonely walk to the lake seems to steal a part of him. Led by an unreliable narrator with childhood trauma, the novel hints at something supernatural but could be a psychological thriller. I won't tell.
The atmosphere was heavy, but I enjoyed how the author told this story. The way grief and trauma shape a personality is a big part of the plot, where human weakness seems to interact with a terrifying supernatural presence. I was reminded of Lovecraft, but the setting is modern rather than gothic. I particularly enjoyed that Miles is the stay-at-home husband while his wife’s career supports them. He has more time on his hands to feel crazy, but it was good to see a man learning to be a caregiver to his child.
Thank you to author Joe Topliffe and Hidden Gems for the free advance reader's copy. My review is uninfluenced by that gift. What the Lake Won't Forget is a riveting read.
Draymore is not just a quiet town with a lake. Maria’s instincts pick up the weirdness at the scene when a missing person's body is found. Miles becomes less sure of reality as each lonely walk to the lake seems to steal a part of him. Led by an unreliable narrator with childhood trauma, the novel hints at something supernatural but could be a psychological thriller. I won't tell.
The atmosphere was heavy, but I enjoyed how the author told this story. The way grief and trauma shape a personality is a big part of the plot, where human weakness seems to interact with a terrifying supernatural presence. I was reminded of Lovecraft, but the setting is modern rather than gothic. I particularly enjoyed that Miles is the stay-at-home husband while his wife’s career supports them. He has more time on his hands to feel crazy, but it was good to see a man learning to be a caregiver to his child.
Thank you to author Joe Topliffe and Hidden Gems for the free advance reader's copy. My review is uninfluenced by that gift. What the Lake Won't Forget is a riveting read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews