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A body in the lake. A child missing.
Detective El (Elaina) Lyons is haunted by her past but relentless in her pursuit of justice. When a woman’s body is found in Lost Lake and her child vanishes without a trace, El races against time to solve the crime before it turns into a second tragedy.

A killer and kidnapper still out there.
Enter Gabe Irving—Lost Lake Locator, rogue investigator, and the victim’s best friend. He’s got a personal stake and zero patience for protocol, putting him at immediate odds with El. And at odds with the ongoing interest they’d been fighting for years.

But as tensions rise and secrets surface, it’s clear the case—and the killer—are far more twisted than either expected. Forced to work together, El and Gabe must navigate a maze of lies and danger. Can they find the missing child before it’s too late. . . or will the killer disappear with the sweet little girl?

344 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2026

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About the author

Susan Sleeman

132 books831 followers
SUSAN SLEEMAN is the bestselling author of over sixty romantic suspense and mystery novels with more than two million books sold. She writes romantic suspense novels that are clean with inspiring messages of faith. Readers love her series for the well-drawn characters and edge-of-your-seat action. She graduated from the FBI and local police citizen academies, so her research is spot-on and her characters are real.

In addition to writing, Susan also hosts The Suspense Zone. She has lived in nine states but now calls Oregon home. Her husband is a retired church music director, and they have two beautiful daughters, two special sons-in-law, and four amazing grandsons

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5 stars
243 (76%)
4 stars
57 (17%)
3 stars
15 (4%)
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2 (<1%)
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Julie Graves.
1,006 reviews41 followers
May 7, 2026
When Gabe's best friend Kenna calls and tells him she's scared and heading to see him Gabe worries when she doesn't show up. Where could Kenna and her daughter be? Soon Kenna's body is found. But where is Lucy her daughter? Gabe and Elaina, a detective on the force, team up to find Lucy. They know they are racing against the clock to find a killer and an abductor. Will they be able to overcome their pasts to find a lost little girl before it is too late?

I think this is one of my favorites in this series. There was a good amount of romance and also a good amount of suspense to keep me turning the pages. I loved El and Gabe together. They knew they cared for each other and there wasn't a lot of denial in that. They just had to figure out if they could make it work. There was the right amount of suspense to keep the reader interested, but not over the top. We once again got to see how the Lost Lake Team supports each other and how well they work with law-enforcement. I always have to mention the spiritual aspect of this author's writing. I like the way the characters struggle with their faith, yet they don't let go of it. The author portray's faith in a very real way that allows the reader to relate and know that struggles with faith are real and can be overcome. I definitely recommend this series and this book!
Profile Image for Edward Arrington.
1,216 reviews12 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 9, 2026
The Lost Lake Locators and the local law enforcement agencies in their region seem to get more than their share of cases involving some terribly twisted people, people who are in positions where no one would ever suspect them of being guilty of the kind of evil depicted in the stories. The crimes committed are often to the detriment of the most vulnerable such as sweet little Lucy. The mother, Kenna, was found floating face down in the lake and Lucy, the young daughter, was gone. No one had witnessed a thing. Gabe had been friends with Kenna since he was in the first grade and had known Lucy from the time she was born. As a member of the Lost Lake Locators, Gabe was well-trained and experienced in locating lost people, but this was more personal than any case he had ever worked. El had experience searching for lost people as well. They worked well together throughout the story, relying heavily on all the resources at their disposal. Although finding who murdered Kenna was important, locating Lucy was urgent. Everyone on the team felt the urgency as the tension of a fast-ticking clock kept running. A pizza restaurant near my home used to have a clock that made a twelve-hour sweep in about ten minutes. I can imagine Gabe and El feeling that was how fast the clock was ticking as they kept hitting dead ends on finding Lucy. I mentioned twisted people earlier. That seemed to be the kind of trail they were following as they tried to piece together what had happened to Lucy. Although El and Gabe were people of faith, this case truly put that faith to the test. I received an advance copy of this book from the author. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.
3,734 reviews42 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 12, 2026
In this latest addition to this clean, Christian romance series, we are back in Oregon with the Lost Lake Locators. A group dedicated to finding lost individuals or items.
This time the story belongs to Gabe Irving, the investigator in the group that tends to go rogue, and Lost Lake detective El/Elaina Lyons.
Both of these individuals carry their past with a heavy heart. For El is the loss of a child and for Gabe is the criminal family he comes from. One he’s done his best to stay away from.
Gabe’s best friend from childhood, Kenna, has called him scared and needing his help decides to drive to meet up with him. When the time passes when she should have arrived at their meeting point, Gabe goes in search of her and finds her van has gone off the road. There is no Kenna and evidence that her daughter, Lucy was with her and is also gone.
Gabe is devastated when the body found on the lake, is not only Kenna’s but that Lucy is also missing.
As these two team up with the Lost Lake Locators, Veritas and the local police, feelings intensify. But first, they must find out who killed Kenna, and why, and where is Lucy.
The story is filled with malicious men, good ones, danger and feelings.
It’s also a reminder that our past experiences , whether growing up in a less than stellar family or ones that are filled with life’s heartbreaking moments, all contribute to who we become later in life.
It’s also a reminder that God is almighty, and that while we can do the best we can, it’s Him who will guide us and decide our future.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own,
Profile Image for Marylin.
1,405 reviews46 followers
May 18, 2026
This newest story in the Lost Lake Locators series is packed full of drama, action, suspense, and a bit of romance.
My heart hurt for Gabe and all that he was dealing with. It’s tough when a missing child is involved in a case, but to make matters worse, she’s the child of his closest friend, who was found murdered. Not only this, but Gabe was dealing with his own family issues and all the pain from that separation. This whole drama was very intense and wearing on his soul.
Elaina was the detective on this case, but also someone close to Gabe. They each struggle with past pains and fight to keep their emotions in check.
This is the fourth book in this series, and wow, I was held captive from the first page until the last.
Susan Sleeman is a mastermind at bringing just the right amount of suspense to all her books. You don’t know how it’s all going to end up until the very end!
This is what makes a fantastic author!
The reader gets so tangled up in the story that they don’t want to put it down. I know I didn’t even want to sleep because I just had to read one more chapter!
If you love action, suspense, and intrigue, I highly recommend you pick up this book and start reading!
However, I need to warn you that once you start reading, you won’t be able to stop!
Like I said, I stayed up way too late to finish this book. WOW!
I was given this book by the publisher, which did not influence my review in any way; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Glenda Parker.
Author 13 books22 followers
June 25, 2026
My review today is on the Christian Romantic Suspense, Lost Lake. This is book four in the series Lost Lake Locators. I'm a huge fan of Susan's work. I'm always thrilled to receive one of her books. I have really enjoyed this series. It is different than most of her book. This one is truely awesome and I know you are going to love it.

Gabe Irving, Lost Lake Locator was searching for his friend. She was missing! His best friend and her four year old daughter just gone. She had called him with a shaky voice and said she was on her way to see him. It was only an hour drive but she never showed up. His team had searched for her but had given up. He couldn't give up until he found them. Then he found her car where it had gone off the road. A pool of blood but no bodies. Where could they be. He found the crime scene down by the lake.

Elaina Lyons is a detective, she received a call out . She found a woman's dead body drenched and face down on the shore of the lake. An empty child's car seat sat on the dock. As they worked the scene Gabe Irving shows up, identifying the body. El must find the child even if it meant working with Gabe.

With past attractions and issues These two must work together to find a killer and a kidnapper. God has a plan for these two, a hope and a future. God has a plan for you too. A good plan for peace and not for destruction. Give Him your heart and watch Him turn your life around.
Profile Image for Carolyn Bryant.
1,043 reviews79 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 13, 2026
Lost Lake is the fourth gripping installment in the Lost Lake Locators series. Involved in a case that is very personal to him, Investigator Gabe Irving works closely with Detective El Lyons in a desperate fight against time to locate a missing four-year-old girl and solve her mother's murder. Aiding them in their pursuit are the Lost Lake Locators private investigating team, the Lost Lake Sheriff's Department crew, and the Veritas Center forensic team who were introduced in previous books of the series. The complex, multi-faceted investigation, where every new lead just seems to present more questions, kept me reading intently and staying fully invested in the outcome. Suspenseful twists that are perfectly timed, compelling characters, a tenderly evolving romance, and a light faith thread with reflections on forgiveness and trusting God's leading, combine to make this a page-turning, inspiring read. I highly recommend this book and the series. Note: Even though this book is part of series with recurring characters, it can easily be read as a standalone.
I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Marilyn Johnson.
606 reviews2 followers
August 14, 2026
Even though this book can be read as a standalone, I definitely recommend starting with the earlier books in the Lost Lake Locaters series. You’ll miss out on some great reads and the history of some of the supporting characters if you jump right into this one. And if you’re familiar with this author, you know she loves bringing characters from her previous series into new ones, which I absolutely love! It’s always fun reconnecting with characters from other series.

This book did not disappoint! It has everything I’ve come to expect from this author: mystery, drama, twists and turns, friendships, and a great storyline with wonderful character development.

I really enjoyed getting to know Detective El and Gabe Irving. Together, they have a murder to solve and a little girl to find, and the story kept me turning the pages to see how everything would unfold.

I love this author’s writing style and the way she creates stories that keep you guessing while developing characters you genuinely care about. I’m already looking forward to reading more from her!

I was given a copy of this book for my honest opinion.
1,901 reviews37 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 13, 2026
This story was a deeply emotional one. It was also very fast-paced and had quite a bit of action and extremely good police work. I can always count on this author to provide great research, police procedure and fantastic, realistic characters. This series provides all of these.
Lost Lake Locators is a wonderful group that provides help to law enforcement (since they are all former law enforcement themselves) when someone or something goes missing. This is Gabe Irving's story and he is frantic when his best friend, Kenna, calls him in a panic and later ends up murdered but her young daughter (who was with her) is missing. The lead detective, El (Elaina), will do anything to find the missing girl and solve the murder.
There are so many twists and turns that you don't know who is involved and where the story is going. I loved it and couldn't read it fast enough! I was caught off guard so many times! Both Gabe and El have pasts that have to be dealt with in some way also.
A truly emotional yet high-octane story!
Profile Image for Judy.
3,366 reviews
June 1, 2026
Lost Lake by Susan Sleeman
Lost Lake Locators Series Book Four
Gabe Irving is waiting for his best friend to arrive. Kenna James and her four-year-old daughter, Lucy, should’ve arrived by now. It doesn’t turn out well. They find Kenna’s body, and Lucy is missing. The Lost Lake Locators team is doing all they can to find her, along with the sheriff’s department. Time is so important in a missing-child case, but they keep hitting dead ends.

Detective Elaina “El” Lyons knows how important it is to find the child quickly. She had a case go wrong when she was a rookie. And seeing Gabe so torn up over losing his best friend and trying to find Lucy, hurts her heart. She and Gabe have been dancing around their feelings for a long time, but both have pasts that weigh them down and hold them back.

Another page-turner in the race to find Lucy and to find who murdered Kenna. Along with Gabe having to face his family after years of no contact, to help find answers. Great series!
https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com...
Profile Image for Ethelann.
497 reviews
May 18, 2026
Lost Lake is another in this amazing series by Susan Sleeman.

Detective El (Elaina) Lyons is relentless in her pursuit of justice, but she is wrestling with guilt from her past. Then when a woman’s body is found in Lost Lake and the woman's child vanishes without a trace, El is racing against time to solve the crime before it turns into another tragedy.

Gabe Irving is a Lost Lake Locator, and a rogue investigator, plus the victim is his best friend. Gabe has a personal stake in the case and no patience for rules, putting him at immediate odds with El. And now since working together the interest they’d been fighting for years is even harder.

But as secrets surface, it’s clear the case and the killer are far more twisted than either expected. By working together, El and Gabe must navigate a maze of lies and danger. Can they find the missing child before it’s too late or will she disappear forever?
4,224 reviews1,772 followers
July 14, 2026
I do so love the way Susan Sleeman writes a story- layered with emotion, infused with faith and all wrapped up in gripping suspense. I really enjoy the police procedural side of the investigation that temper the action scenes. And her characters are larger than life -- a lovely mix of family and found family with all the relational give and take that involves. Of course, the romance is my favourite part and getting to watch El and Gabe work through their issues and come out stronger together made me all kinds of happy. I do so love a hard won HEA!

I listened to the audible edition of 'Lost Lake' narrated by Whitney Dykhouse who does all of Susan's audio books and hearing her voice always gives me a thrill of homecoming when I start listening.
116 reviews1 follower
August 10, 2026
This was the best book so far in a really fun series. The suspense is REAL in this one, especially because there’s a small child involved. You know that you will get a satisfying ending with any Sleeman story, but sometimes you have to work for it, and this story is one of those. Not everyone will make it through this particular labyrinth of a mystery.

Gabe and El seem like really different characters at the onset of the action, but as the story moves, you see how much they really have in common, as well as how their strengths complement each other’s weaknesses. The development of the entire Lost Lake Locators team through the series is also a really strong point in this particular story, and I can’t wait to see what happens to them next!
Profile Image for Kelli.
670 reviews
September 28, 2026
I'm so loving this series! This time its Gabe's turn. His family's criminal past has haunted him for a long time and kept him from pursuing a relationship with police detective Eliana. When their paths cross during a missing persons investigation, things turn tragic. Now Gabe is mourning his best friend while hunting for her abducted daughter. Will he follow protocol and work with Eliana to find little Lucy or go rogue? Can Eliana put the ghosts of her own past to rest while she hunts down the criminals? This twisty turn-y suspense novel kept me up late at night as I was drawn in by the intense plot. A definite must-read for 2026!
Profile Image for Allyson Anthony.
1,401 reviews57 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 11, 2026
What a fast-paced suspense story Lost Lake was. The suspense starts off immediately and the case becomes personal when Gabe's friend Kenna is discovered murdered and Kenna's young daughter Lucy is missing. El (Elaina), a detective, and Gabe, along with the rest of the Lost Lake Locaters team, are in a race against time to find little Lucy. Is she dead or alive? Why was Kenna murdered? Lost Lake has twists and turns, a dysfunctional family, shocking revelations, faith, and a haunted past.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Mary Hake.
Author 4 books411 followers
May 28, 2026
A young mother is murdered and her preschool daughter is missing. Gabe Irving of Lost Lake Locators joins Detective El Lyons to untangle the threads, find the killer and, hopefully rescue the little girl. The hunt leads them on what seems a good chase until the threads gradually interweave into a surprising connection and additional crimes. This novel is slower paced than many of her other suspense stories, but still ropes readers in and keeps them hoping everything will turn out for the best. The whole series is great. I received a copy from the author. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Kristen.
1,271 reviews
May 21, 2026
Lost Lake is a great combination of intriguing mystery and captivating romance. The book has a few twists I saw coming, a number of turns I didn’t expect, and a fast-paced and emotional story that kept me glued to the pages. I enjoyed the characters of Gabe and El, enjoyed watching them unravel the mystery and open up to each other, and am always happy to meet back up with the Lost Lake Locaters. This book could be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend all the books in the series.
61 reviews
May 19, 2026
Another Hit for Susan Sleeman

Susan Sleeman has done it again. I really enjoyed reading El and Gabe's story. The hunt for the abducted child was the focus of their attention throughout the book, but their love story also played along in the background. I highly recommend this book, especially if you enjoy suspense and romance in your books.
341 reviews1 follower
May 15, 2026
Inspiring!

Wow! Susan Sleeman is an amazing storyteller! You can feel she had the hand of God on her while she wrote! Lost Locators is an inspiring series, as is all of her series! They have drama, trauma and tragedy, but also hope, joy and love!
384 reviews10 followers
May 28, 2026
Captivating!

Oh, what a captivating Christian thriller. It has so much 'energy' that it just kept getting more and more exciting.
I've even pre-ordered the next in the series and am looking forward to reading it.
Believe me that you won't be disappointed in reading this series.
Profile Image for Becky Smith.
435 reviews5 followers
May 30, 2026
So Good!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The suspense and mystery, along the the many twists and turns kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. It is definitely another interesting read! I'm looking forward to the rest of the books in this series!
132 reviews
September 9, 2026
Lost Lake

I am a huge fan of all Susan's books. She always brings the characters to life you can feel their feelings. This book is no different Gabe and El get closer by dealing with a tragedy.
Profile Image for Mark.
2,689 reviews57 followers
May 20, 2026
Great read. In my opinion, this is the best one of the series so far.
Profile Image for Brenda.
298 reviews8 followers
May 20, 2026
Loved the story line and characters. Glad for a somewhat happy ending and that the Lost Lake family keeps going and growing.
I received an advance ebook and I am voluntarily leaving my review.
513 reviews1 follower
June 4, 2026
Action starts at the very first page and book stays fast paced looking for missing child and budding romance. Also bits of humor like like there not being 401k's for criminals
26 reviews1 follower
June 23, 2026
Great book and mysterious
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
4 reviews
June 27, 2026
Great storyline

I like this unique storyline. Appreciated the reliance on God and the importance of family as well. Characters developed very well.
Profile Image for Renee Helton.
955 reviews4 followers
September 17, 2026
I received a copy of this book.
My opinions are entirely my own.
Great Characters and Fascinating Story. Full of plot twists and action.
Definitely Recommend.
Profile Image for Sharon.
1,282 reviews49 followers
September 29, 2026
This tale was interesting and exciting on both the law enforcement case and the private investigator personal stake in it.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews