Objects in Lakes

by Rachael Ramas

Set against the haunting backdrop of Michigan’s Great Lakes, Objects in Lakes combines the propulsive suspense of Shari Lapena, the intimate psychological unraveling of Gillian Flynn, and the moody ethical uncertainty of Stacy Willingham, delivering a uniquely Midwestern twist on the domestic noir thriller.

On a warm Fourth of July night in Duck Lake, Michigan, the Wentworths’ world shattered. As fireworks lit up the sky, Richie and Olive’s four-year-old daughter was pulled from the dark waters of the lake, her death ruled an accidental drowning.

Seven years later, Olive still lives in the shadow of that night. Her grief is numbed by pills, while Richie, a celebrated oncologist, thrives in the spotlight of his career. But as another Fourth of July celebration approaches, the lake yields another body, and the chilling discovery suggests that the tragedy from years ago may not have been an accident after all.

Determined to uncover the truth, Olive digs beneath the polished surface of her picture-perfect neighborhood, where Midwestern smiles conceal dangerous secrets. Each revelation threatens to unravel not only Richie’s hard-won reputation but also the very foundation of their tight-knit community.

In a town where appearances are everything, Olive must confront the terrifying who would take the life of a child, and how far will they go to keep their sins submerged?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Summer, Thriller Suspense

288 pages, Paperback

Published June 2, 2026

About the author

Rachael Ramas is an American author, producer, and Michigan native who writes gripping thrillers rooted in emotional truth and moral complexity. A member of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers, she co-owns a law firm with her husband in Boca Raton, Florida, where the legal world offers endless story inspiration. Living with a rare autoimmune disease and partial hearing loss, Ramas advocates for authentic disability representation in literature.

Reviews

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This debut psychological thriller is a dark and twisty neighborhood mystery. Seven years ago, Olive’s four-year-old daughter drowned at a 4th of July party at Duck Lake in Michigan. Everyone in the neighborhood is well-off, and as the story unfolds, almost all of them have a motive. When Terrence, a former NFL player is found dead in the same lake, a series of events occur that prompt Olive to claw her way out of her over-medicated stupor and do some serious investigating about what happened to her daughter.

I liked this, but if I’m being completely honest, it’s not polished. Certain phrases and segues didn’t quite sound right, and the ending left more questions than answers. I still am uncertain about the “why” of things, and it seems like a deliberate choice by the author to leave things that way. As a result, I’m disappointed and confused. Also, to say this is a slow burn is an extreme understatement.

However, there are fantastic quotes in here regarding mental health and grieving, and I really appreciated Ramas delving into the things that most still don’t talk about. We need to talk with each other about trauma and grief in order to fully be able to heal.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action for the advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Also, now I know what a “Yooper” accent is. :-)

[Brenna (brennas_book_corner) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The synopsis for this sounded so good. It started off strong and then became too much of a slow burn for me. Things also got a bit weird towards the end. The ending came out of nowhere, was rushed and left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. The potential was there, but the execution needed some help.

[Angie Miale · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

If you enjoy atmospheric psychological thrillers where the setting feels just as important as the mystery itself, Objects in Lakes is worth adding to your list.

The story follows a married couple still reeling from the tragic drowning of their four-year-old daughter on the Fourth of July two years earlier. When another body is discovered in the same lake, old wounds are reopened, and they begin to question whether their daughter’s death was truly an accident—or if something more sinister has been lurking beneath the surface all along.

One of this novel’s greatest strengths is its sense of place. Rachel Ramos brings Michigan vividly to life through local landmarks, familiar businesses, regional traditions, and even the little details—like everyone calling it “pop” instead of soda. If you live in the Great Lakes region or simply love books with immersive settings, you’ll appreciate how authentic the backdrop feels.

The story is told through multiple points of view, which is usually something I enjoy in thrillers. In this case, though, the execution felt a bit uneven. Some chapters revisited the same emotional beats without moving the story forward, while other plot threads felt underdeveloped or weren’t fully explained. I originally wondered if that was a byproduct of the audiobook format, but after revisiting parts of the story, I felt the same way.

Even so, Ramos is a talented writer, and there are several moments where the emotional weight and suspense really shine. Some twists felt a little abrupt or came out of left field, but the central mystery remained engaging enough to keep me listening.

Overall, this was a solid three-star read. The atmospheric Michigan setting and intriguing premise carried the story, even if the pacing and structure didn’t always come together as smoothly as I had hoped.

Who should read this?

* Readers who enjoy psychological suspense with multiple POVs.
* Fans of small-town mysteries where grief and family secrets drive the story.
* Anyone who loves novels with a richly developed regional setting, especially if you have a soft spot for Michigan and the Great Lakes.

Thank you to Libro.fm for the gifted audiobook through their influencer program.

[Stephanielikesbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

“We all navigate the same dark waters, sometimes crossing lines we shouldn’t…anyone can justify pretty much anything as long as it sits right in their own moral gray area.”

This is the second book I’ve read recently about the duality of good and evil in people. This one further asks how well we know people - especially those who we think we know well - and what secrets and betrayals they may be hiding.

This domestic suspense mystery moves between 2016 (when Olive’s four-year-old daughter drowns in the neighbourhood lake) and 2023 (when another body is found in the same lake) and is largely from the main character’s (Olive) POV, though some chapters are from her husband’s perspective.

It’s a character-driven, slow-burn read (with an unexpected reveal at the end) about grief, loss, addiction, and healing after trauma. This is a read with depth and there are quite a few weighty issues dealt with so be aware of that. The author indicated in the acknowledgment that this is a very personal story for her and that came through clearly.

Recommended for those seeking depth with their domestic suspense reads.

Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.

[Jennifer Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book got me out of my terrible reading slump! So many Michigan references: sleeping bear dunes, Grand Rapids, ope!, going to Meijer, built Ford tough, the Detroit Lions, Traverse City. Reading about Duck Lake really had me imagining the lakes I’m lucky to call home. Coincidentally, I met the author, Rachael Ramas, and her awesome family at the author meet and greet at Schuler’s book store. Rachael was so incredibly kind, and she signed my book! If you’re looking for an addicting summer thriller with Michigan lake vibes, Objects in Lakes should be your next read!

[Brynn | readyourworriesaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been saving this one to read at my lake cabin since I knew the vibes would be at an all time high 🙌

🌊 This was a fast-paced psychological suspense novel set on a Midwestern lake!

I love thrillers about a group of neighbors because there are always so many secrets lurking beyond the surface, just waiting to be revealed.

I enjoyed how the past and present converged as the Duck Lake residents experience another tragic drowning. With the circumstances being eerily similar to the night Olive lost her daughter, she’s determined to find out if they are connected.

This story takes place on the 4th of July! You still have time to add it to your vacation TBRs 🎇🌊

[Christina Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an ARC for this book and I am so glad I did!

Objects In Lakes is a psychological thriller that shows the journey one goes through with experiencing extreme grief and trauma. Olive has been through some horrible experiences from childhood all the way to adulthood. From having an alcoholic father, losing her child on the Fourth of July, diving into dealing with it through over use of medications, then 7 years later another death the same way as her daughters just shakes something loose in her. Things start not making sense and she sets out on an adventure to uncover the truth. Her transformation of self healing, digging deeper to understand herself and the people around her is just amazing and honestly it was so empowering to read! She uncovers the truth finally and confronts what has been haunting her all these years. And along the way uncovering so many secrets from her seemingly perfect neighborhood! Who can she trust? What memories can she trust? Was the entire truth hidden the entire time? Who else will find their end at Duck Lake?

This was an amazing book and I am so happy that I got to experience this book! I seriously could not put it down and it will be a book that stays with me for a long time! I will never not recommend this book! It’s a psychological thriller but with so much depth and discovery within its pages!

[Robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc of Objects in Lakes in exchange for an honest review.

We follow Olive, a mother, who is struggling to come to terms with the sudden and tragic accident which amounted to her daughter’s death. Although the more she reflects the sooner she realises what was portrayed as an accident could have had a more sinister undertone.

I was really intrigued when I read the synopsis for this novel. It reads as drama filled with secrets and mysterious where readers are left unsure who to trust. While some elements of this are present, I felt the story fell a little flat.

The cast of characters; while out the gate seems large, very quickly boils down to a few main stake characters. This is nice as it doesn’t confuse the reader but it also limits potential storylines. Initially we get tidbits of all the neighbours which sparked my interest and excited me for future reveals only for these to be either quickly revealed or these particularly neighbours side boarded and pushed to the side. The ‘secrets’ we did get, I felt were predictable and underwhelming.

Pacing in this felt extremely sluggish, I felt as though I spent a great deal of time reading a book I would normally finish in a few days. I think a main reason of this was I struggled to connect with Olive. Richie while obviously flawed and painted to be the obvious villain, was my favourite character to read. His POV were really interesting and I feel propelled the storyline in ways Olives chapters didn’t. I wanted to read more through his view as I feel that’s where the most exciting exposition was. I was also under the impression the reader was supposed to trust and like Colin. I couldn’t warm to his character at all. I found interactions between Olive and him, stilted and slightly uncomfortable. I also really disliked the retreat portion of the book and the experimental substances used to recall memories. In my opinion this came from complete left field and really took me out of the book. I thought it was far fetched and wished for a more tactful approach to information gathering like the beginning of the novel.

Finally the ending and epilogue, as mentioned I could see the ending coming early on. Richie is painted as a villain and I expected nothing less. But the ending, in contradiction to the rest of the book, felt so rushed. Which shattered the impact the ending was meant to have with the reader.

And while I love a surprise reveal in an epilogue I couldn’t help but be confused. We had barely any interaction with Landon so this shock reveal felt bittersweet.

While I love the messaging in this novel; a mother healing through grief and addiction I was disappointed in the overall execution. Some nice elements there but I sadly wouldn’t recommend.

[Abby Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of my favorite psychological thrillers ever. When I read this book, it was like watching a movie in my head. The details, the plot, the characters, it’s all so good. I highly recommend this book to anyone!

[J.L. Lienhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a twisty read, with so much depth and heartbreak. Even though this book was out of my normal genre, I could not put it down! Also, it was so much fun to read a book set in Michigan with all of the local references.

I loved following Olive's journey and was rooting for her the entire time. The twists keep coming and there's plenty of blame/death to go around. The end was both satisfying and shocking. Highly recommend this debut thriller!

[HollaBook Vibes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid suspense novel with an intriguing whodunit that keeps you guessing—not just who did it, but why. Add in wealthy family drama, secrets, and lies, and it makes for a compelling mystery.

The dual narration by Rob Brinkmann and Megan Tusing was excellent and really helped bring the story to life.

There are heavier themes woven throughout, including childhood illness and death, but the story never felt overwhelmingly heavy. Overall, it gave perfect Fourth of July mystery vibes with just the right amount of emotional weight.

[Jamie Brandenburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The audiobook was great and made the storytelling feel so real. So many people and personalities it made you question who really did it.

[Melanie Meadows · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m confused by the high ratings. This was a hot pile of garbage. Semi-spoilers ahead - Started out with an interesting premise and then introduced tons of awful, unlikable characters. There were so many red herrings, it was hard to keep track - I mean we have adultery, cancer, brain tumors, fraud, weird retreats in the woods with questionable beverages, addiction. The “twist” was an obvious there may as well have been a flashing sign beside the character’s name.

[Conner Reed · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (2.5/5)

Objects in Lakes started out strong and immediately grabbed my attention. The opening chapters hooked me right away, and I was excited to see where the story was going. Unfortunately, after the first 25% or so, the pacing slowed down considerably and the plot felt incredibly drawn out.

There were many sections that seemed repetitive, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged. It became one of those books that was hard to pick back up after setting it down because the story moved so slowly. While the atmosphere and mystery were interesting, I felt like the book spent too much time circling around the same ideas before finally getting to the point.

That being said, the major twist at the end was genuinely shocking and definitely caught me off guard. It was the strongest part of the book and helped redeem some of the slower sections. If you’re someone who enjoys a very slow-burn psychological thriller, you may appreciate the journey more than I did.

Overall, Objects in Lakes had a promising start and a memorable ending, but the long, drawn-out middle made it difficult for me to stay invested. The final reveal was surprising enough to earn it some extra points, but the pacing issues kept this from being a standout read for me. 2.5 out of 5 stars.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW talk about a book that has you hooked from the first chapter. Pacing was flawless & every twist hit harder than the last. The characters felt real and flawed in the best way, pulling me deeper into their secrets and motives. The tension built steadily until the final reveal, which was both shocking and completely satisfying. If you love a book that makes your pulse race - Objects in Lakes is a MUST READ.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book, and from the very first page, it had me hooked. It’s an intense, deeply human look at how we break and rebuild after trauma. The protagonist’s transformation hit me hard…it felt raw, real, and oddly empowering. And as someone who knows the Midwest well, the familiar Michigan references and phrases made it all feel that much closer to home. A stunning debut that’s going to stay with me for a long time.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is available on June 2nd and I’m lucky enough to get to read an ARC! A great summer book as the story opens at a 4th of July party where Richie and Olivia lose their child. The story picks up seven years later where the family is heartbroken, especially Olivia. She doesn’t really remember wha happened that night and feels guilty for letting others watch her girl. Richie appears to have moved on and is having a great career. As the reader gets into the book the secrets start to come out. Told in dual timeline, this book has me following the family, their neighbors, and everyone at the party very closely because you never know who is lying.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know those glossy lake towns where everyone smiles too hard, the houses look like a Pottery Barn catalog exploded, and every Fourth of July involves fireworks, boat drinks, and someone saying “we’re like family here”? Yeah. That’s exactly the kind of place where a horrifying secret would absolutely fester for years while everyone politely pretends nothing weird is happening.

Welcome to Objects in Lakes, where the vibes are idyllic but the emotional damage is industrial strength.

Seven years before the story starts, Olive Wentworth’s four year old daughter drowns during a Fourth of July party at their home on Duck Lake. Fireworks in the sky, neighbors everywhere, and suddenly the worst nightmare imaginable. The death is ruled an accident and the town collectively decides, yes, tragedy, very sad, let’s never examine this again and instead return to grilling hot dogs like emotionally repressed champions.

Except Olive does not move on. Not even a little. When we meet her years later, she is deep in grief, medicated into a fog, and barely existing in a life that clearly shattered the night her daughter died. And listen, Olive is messy. She’s not a cool thriller heroine with perfect instincts and a Pinterest board for revenge. She’s numb, fragile, sometimes erratic, and deeply haunted by what she can’t remember about that night.

Meanwhile her husband Richie is out here living a completely different movie. Richie is a successful oncologist, admired, respected, thriving. His reputation in town is basically sparkling like a dentist commercial. And the emotional gap between him and Olive is so wide you could park a yacht in it. Their marriage feels like two people quietly orbiting the same tragedy while dealing with it in wildly incompatible ways.

Then Duck Lake decides to stir the pot in the most chaotic way possible and coughs up another body right before another Fourth of July. And suddenly the past starts knocking on the door like a very persistent ghost.

What I loved about this book is how it leans into that creeping suspicion that everyone in this “perfect” neighborhood knows more than they’re saying. Olive starts questioning what really happened the night her daughter died, and the deeper she digs, the more the story everyone accepted starts to wobble. Memories feel unreliable. People feel shifty. And the town’s commitment to keeping things polite starts to feel deeply sinister.

Also, the lake itself? Absolute menace. The author writes Duck Lake like it’s quietly judging everyone. Calm, reflective, beautiful on the surface, but clearly holding onto things that were never meant to come back up. The setting does a ton of heavy lifting here, giving the story this eerie, simmering tension where you constantly feel like something ugly is lurking under the postcard aesthetic.

Olive’s journey is really the emotional spine of the book. Watching her claw her way through grief, addiction, guilt, and fractured memories is messy and painful in a way that feels very real. She’s trying to figure out not just what happened to her daughter, but whether the version of events she’s been living with for seven years is even true.

And as the layers peel back, the story starts poking at bigger things too. Reputation. Power. The way communities protect certain people because believing in them feels safer than facing the alternative. Basically, this town runs on casseroles and denial.

The suspense builds slowly, but it’s the kind of tension where you start side eyeing literally everyone. Neighbors, friends, husbands, that one person who always seems a little too calm about everything. By the time the truth starts surfacing, it lands with real emotional weight because the book has spent so much time building the psychological fallout around that original tragedy.

Objects in Lakes isn’t a flashy twist machine. It’s moodier, more psychological, and very interested in grief and memory and the lies people tell themselves to survive. But when the story finally pulls everything together, it hits with that quiet, unsettling punch that lingers after you close the book.

Four stars from me, and also a brand new distrust of serene lakeside communities.

Whodunity Award: For Making Me Suspicious of Every Single “Perfect” Lake House Couple

Huge thanks to Rising Action Publishing Co and NetGalley for the ARC. Y’all really said, “Here’s some lakeside trauma and neighborhood secrets, have fun,” and honestly… I did. My trust in cheerful Fourth of July parties may never recover.

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

As someone new to this author, I was immediately drawn to the cover. This approach has always been a fantastic way for me to discover new writers.

On July 4th, the Wentworth family's life is upended when their daughter drowns, ruled accidental. Seven years later, as Olive grapples with grief and addiction, a new body surfaces, hinting that her daughter's death may not have been an accident. As Olive investigates her seemingly perfect neighborhood, she uncovers dark secrets that threaten her husband Richie's career and the community's facade, forcing her to confront the lengths others will go to hide the truth...

The story unfolds through a dual timeline, allowing us to peel back the layers of the mystery with each chapter. Our main character, Olive, is grappling with fragmented memories of her past. As she embarks on a journey to uncover what truly happened, we witness the steps she takes along the way. The characters' emotional development is gradual but impactful, enabling readers to connect with their experiences and understand the depth of their grief. While the primary perspective is from Olive, we also gain insights into Richie’s point of view.

Olive's quest is both heartbreaking and gut-wrenching as she goes to great lengths to uncover hidden truths and lies surrounding her daughter’s final day. I didn’t anticipate the direction this story would take, and the ending was mind-bending, revealing just how little we know until the pieces fall into place. The twists were cleverly concealed, and I found myself in awe of the author’s writing style. Even though the pace was slow at times, I was completely captivated and needed to know what would happen next!

This dark, character-driven narrative will resonate with a wide range of readers, but it's worth noting that those who are sensitive to themes of grief, child death, and addiction might want to approach it with caution. The lake-town setting creates a deeply atmospheric vibe that pulls you in. It's moody and serves as a slow-burning thriller with domestic suspense. I can imagine this book sparking great discussions in book clubs, as there's so much to unpack!

This book is perfect for anyone who appreciates a slow and steady pace, emotionally layered thrillers with morally ambiguous characters, and well-concealed secrets within a small lake community. It allows you to explore themes of grief, motherhood, complicated marriages, and the imperfections of a seemingly idyllic neighborhood, where everyone has their secrets. I truly hope this book catches your attention because I feel the need to sit and fully absorb this masterpiece. Bravo!

Huge thank you to @thrillerbookloversthepulse for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Objects in Lakes is a haunting, atmospheric domestic suspense that lingers like mist over dark water. From the opening pages, the novel captures the quiet ache of grief and the unsettling sense that a community’s polished surface is hiding something far more dangerous beneath.

The story centres on Olive, a woman still hollowed out by the loss of her four‑year‑old daughter seven years earlier. Her grief is rendered with painful clarity—muted, medicated, and ever‑present. In contrast, her husband Richie thrives, his career flourishing even as their marriage quietly fractures. That imbalance becomes one of the book’s most compelling tensions, especially as the Fourth of July approaches and the lake gives up another body.

The setting is beautifully drawn: a seemingly idyllic Midwestern lakeside town where everyone smiles, everyone knows everyone, and everyone has something to lose. The author uses this environment to great effect, creating a sense of claustrophobia beneath the sunshine and fireworks. The lake itself becomes a character—still, watchful, and holding more than one secret.

As Olive begins to question the past, the story shifts into a gripping investigation of memory, guilt, and the lies people tell to protect themselves. Each revelation peels back another layer of the community, exposing infidelity, manipulation, and long‑buried resentments. The suspense builds steadily, and the emotional stakes feel raw and real, especially as Olive is forced to confront the possibility that her daughter’s death was not an accident.

The novel handles its difficult themes—grief, child loss, addiction, betrayal—with sensitivity. It never sensationalises the trauma at its core, instead focusing on the emotional truth of a woman trying to reclaim her life while facing the darkest possibilities of her past.

Tense, evocative, and deeply human, Objects in Lakes is a compelling exploration of what happens when the past refuses to stay submerged. A powerful read for fans of atmospheric, character‑driven suspense.

With thanks to Rachael Ramas, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Thrillerswineandchill · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎆 F A T A L F R I D A Y review & book tour 🎆 featuring “Objects in Lakes” by Rachael Ramas!

On the Fourth of July, the lives of the Wentworth family will never be the same again. The body of their 4 year old daughter Kate was found floating in Duck Lake, Michigan while the fireworks went off in celebration.

Richie and Olive have both tried to move on from the nightmare, but in very different directions. Richie is a well known and successful oncologist who is constantly in the spotlight and receiving awards for his breakthrough research. Meanwhile, Olive is dependent on pills just to get her through each day. She had dropped out of medical school early on to be a stay at home mom all those years ago. Olive has been internally deteriorating for years and feels lost and alone.

It’s now 7 years later, and another body is found in Duck Lake as the Fourth of July celebration approaches. Two drownings in a tight knit neighbourhood cannot be a coincidence … and now Olive is more determined than ever to get to the bottom of the drownings. As well as dig into the secrets of her neighbours …

“But what Olive was starting to come to terms with was that not all people in her small community were good people. They were people with secrets. And in small towns, there are no secrets that stay buried”.

💭 Wow, what a whirlwind of raw emotions: grief, guilt, heartbreak, betrayal and suspicion! At times this book was a punch to the gut and tore my heart out as I tried to keep my head above water. The picture perfect lakeside neighbourhood is a sinister facade that is full of fake smiles, fake friendships and fragmented narratives surrounding the night of Kate’s drowning. Dark and ominous like the open water surrounding them, secrets always have their way of resurfacing later on …

Thank you kindly to @rachaelramasauthor @risingactionpublishingco @thrillerbookloversthepulse for my advanced digital copy and spot on this book tour. All opinions are my own. This book releases on June 2, 2026!

[Shelby Boze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Objects in Lakes follows Olive, a woman broken by her daughter’s presumed accidental drowning during a lively Fourth of July gathering at their home seven years earlier. After another life is claimed at Duck Lake, Olive — plagued by guilt and numb from medication — decides she no longer wants to hide from her pain and begins trying to understand what truly happened the night her daughter was taken from her. As Olive examines her relationships with her husband, neighbors, and friends who were present that evening, she discovers that the truth isn’t as simple as memory. What unfolds is a quiet unraveling of the past, where secrets and loyalties blur, and the cost of uncovering reality may be more than Olive ever expected.
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I really enjoyed this read. I struggled a bit with what rating to give it because, for me, it was a page-turner, but I also wished there were more of some elements and less of others. I wanted more backstory for Landon and Kate, and I would have loved more flashbacks to the party — especially since so many characters were present and had interesting stories. I also found that some of the philosophical dialogue and quotes slowed the pace a bit more than I would have preferred.

That said, I genuinely loved the story as written. The twists were well-placed, and I appreciated that each one had a purpose; they didn’t feel like red herrings, but rather connected meaningfully to the story as a whole. In the end, I landed on 4.75 stars, rounded up to 5.
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Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Co. for the ARC of #ObjectsInLakes

[Bethany Mock (bethanyburiedinbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @simonmaverickbooks #partner for the gifted copy of this audiobook!

One of my book besties, @book_wine_and_thinker, told me I HAD to read this because she knows this Mitten Girl has some SERIOUS Michigan love. 💙✋

And let me tell you...the amount of Michigan packed into this book felt like waking up back home. 🥹

We’re talking Vernors floats, the Detroit Free Press, Elk Lake, Petoskey stones, Glen Arbor, Muskegon, Grand Rapids, Meijer, “ope”...and my absolute favorite...💚🤍 “Go Green, Go White!” 🤍💚 For anyone who doesn’t know...that’s Michigan State, where I went to college! The entire time I read this book I wanted to hop in my car and drive home. I seriously couldn’t get enough! This is a solid debut mystery, and I found myself pulled into it so easily because it felt like home. (Not the whole drowning-child mystery...obviously. 😅 Just all of the Michigan goodness.)

I thought the mystery itself was very intriguing. I loved that it centered around a neighborhood with lots of different characters. Those are always my favorite kinds of mysteries because everyone seems to have this shiny, picture perfect life on the outside...but you just sense that nothing is really as it seems! 👀

I also felt so much for our main character. After losing her daughter, I completely understood why she struggled to move forward. I thought the author did a wonderful job showing how grief doesn’t simply disappear overnight. Or how it literally can forever change you.

If I had to categorize this one I’d say it’s definitely more of a moody read. It’s more of an atmospheric suspense read vs. thriller. The audiobook, narrated by Rob Brinkmann and Megan Tusing, was especially well done. Their performances really helped me get into the mood while reading it!

This book is perfect to read RIGHT NOW! It’s literally set over the Fourth of July which I’d say it pretty darn perfect timing! What are you waiting for?!

And to my fellow Michiganders...did all those little hometown references make you smile too?

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Objects in Lakes is a twisty psychological mystery that explores the impact of a tragedy on an entire neighborhood as well as the lengths people will go to stay hidden in the shadows, begging the question how well do we really know our family and neighbors? When Olive's daughter Kate drowns on the 4th of July in front of their lakeside home seven years ago, she understandably struggles with immense grief and pain. Her husband, brilliant oncologist Richie, continues to urge her to move on as he's on the brink of a huge breakthrough in his career. Medicating over the last several years, Olive has lost strong connections with most of her friends and neighbors. When tragedy strikes again, and the lake claims another life, Olive's memories start to glimmer to the surface. She begins asking questions that lead to more more questions than answers, some sinister. While there are some disturbing themes and scenes in this debut by Rachael Ramas, I was still flipping through the pages all the way to the conclusion.

This story starts out strong and the atmospheric Michigan and Midwest descriptions are well done and really invoke the sense of being near a Midwestern lake community. Everyone is a suspect and the twists keep turning, however there was a part nearly 2/3 through that it took a bit of a different turn and almost distracted from the story itself. The writing is strong and Ramas shows promise. 3.5 stars

[Kindra Briggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Objects In Lakes starts out with all the summer, lake, mystery vibes. Something awful happens on the 4th of July and Olive struggles to get to the bottom of it.

Halfway through the story the entire vibe of the book shifts when Olive goes to a retreat to find answers about that awful night. She finds out several clues and wants to connect all the dots. The last half of the book develops into this ayahuasca experience that she uses to retrieve the memories of that night. The story goes so off the rails and no longer feels like that fun lake house read I was reading the first half of the book.

The ending…did not wrap up to be that summer, 4th of July, fireworks ending. It was another ayahuasca mishap that changed the entire dynamic of the story. It didn’t even feel like I was reading the same book from the 3rd part to the end.

I give this read 3 starts because it immediately grabbed me in, I wanted to read a themed story with lake house vibes surrounding the holiday. It gave me that for the first two parts, the ending and part three really killed the mood though. 🫠

There was an entire chapter that felt like mental health quotes, which was kind of weird. If you read the Epilogue, the author discusses how this book is for anyone that struggles or has with addiction, which I appreciate the gesture but how does that relate to the story at all and to wrap it all up with ayahuasca use seems counterintuitive.

[Becky • bookmarked by becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richie and Olive’s daughter, Kate, tragically drowned during their annual Fourth of July party. Seven years later, Richie’s best friend drowns in the very same lake. Two drownings. Same circle. Same place. Coincidence? Olive isn’t so sure… and she’s determined to uncover the truth.

This one really surprised me. I went in expecting more of a breezy, summer thriller, but it’s so much deeper and more emotional than that. It’s a slow-burn, character-driven mystery that leans heavily into grief, secrets, and the ripple effects of one devastating night.

I love the moral complexity of the characters of these characters. Richie and Olive appear to have it all, but their lives are quietly fractured by grief. Olive numbs her pain through medication, while Richie buries himself in his medical career - more concerned with appearances than emotional connection. Honestly, I thought he was a 💩 from page one - completely ego-driven and frustrating in all the right ways.

I also loved the Michigan setting. Ramas brings it to life with vivid detail, you can practically see it in the little touches, from Vernors to Sleeping Bear Dunes to those familiar Midwest sayings like “watch out for deer” and “good people.”

Final Verdict: 👍 Quietly unsettling, emotionally heavy, and impossible to look away from.
And that ending? Worth the slow burn!!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is getting a lot of buzz over at The Pulse. Thanks to @thrillerbookloversthepulse and @rachaelramasauthor for the gifted ebook.

This book is the kind of quiet, creeping darkness that seeps under your skin and stays there.

On a Fourth of July night meant for fireworks and celebration, Olive and Richie Wentworth lose their four year old daughter to the dark waters of Duck Lake. Ruled an accident. Case closed. Except grief doesn’t close cleanly and neither do secrets.

Seven years later, Olive is barely surviving, numbing herself just to make it through the days, while Richie thrives as a celebrated oncologist with a spotless reputation. But when the lake gives up another body on the eve of yet another Fourth of July, the past refuses to stay buried.

What unfolds is a slow burn psychological unraveling of a marriage, a neighborhood, and an entire town obsessed with appearances. The Midwest nice setting makes the story even more unsettling because behind the smiles are grudges, lies, and sins desperate to stay submerged.

This was dark, twisty, and emotionally brutal in the best way. The grief felt raw, the tension simmered.

[Nikki B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Objects in Lakes was a great psychological thriller read with a twist that you won't want to see coming.
On a Fourth of July night, while the sky is being lit up with fireworks, Olive and her husband Richie have the horrifying, traumatizing experience of having to pull their daughters body from the lake behind their house. Olive can only remember pieces of the night. Seven years later, another body is being pulled from the lake. As Olive starts unfolding the truth about her life and what's going on, she realizes how quickly her marriage is put in jeopardy over half truths and lies. She was not married to the man she thought she was and what her poor daughter ended up enduring before her death was probably just as bad as her death.
The story had great suspense and tension build up. I thought the pacing stayed pretty consistent through out the story and left me wanting to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. The ending did wrap up pretty fast but I thought it was a great twist in the story.
This one has all the suspense of a great thriller. I recommend giving this one a read!

[alfz♡ (aprilxsprings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

thanks to Netgalley for the eARC!

Olive is still grieving the loss of her younger daughter Kate, who drowned on the 4th of July when Olive's intoxicated and has fragmented memories which left her with lingering self-blame and guilt. Seven years on, Terrance, Olive's husband's best friend and neighbour suffers the same fate which makes Olive determined to reconstruct that fateful night.

the novel unfolds as a slow burn thriller, strengthened by richly complex characters. Olive's journey of healing is very real, raw and emotional. I didn't like her husband, Richie from the very first page and as the story progresses, his character was portrayed much more horrible, I'm definitely not a fan of him. The writing is amazing that keeps you guessing till the end. The pacing wavers, certain sections linger excessively while others had me turning the pages non-stop. And that epilogue? Mind. Blown.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕:
• addiction
• mental health themes
• unreliable characters
• plot twists
• slow burn psychological thriller
• grief & healing

𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔:
Plot: 3⭐️
Characters: 3⭐️
Ending: 3.5⭐️
Themes: 4⭐️
plot twists: 3.5⭐️
Writing Style & Structure: 4⭐️
OVERALL: 3.5⭐️

[Andria Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by the author and I believe it to be a debut novel. I would love to read more works in the future! It was such a haunting and sad story. Olive lost her daughter 7 years earlier from a drowning but was it an accident or something more? At the time it was ruled an accident. Olive has been suffering grief and guilt for a long time. Then another person in their circle dies at the same lake on the same holiday and this makes Olive take the steps to start finding out what happened to her daughter. She starts looking into her relationships with people that were there around the time of her daughter's death. She starts trying to fill in her missing memories of the night. She starts unraveling secrets. The story did not end quite the way I thought it was going, which made for a nice twist in the story. I consider it a slow burn mystery that is character-driven and emotional. Thank you Netgalley and Rising Action Publishing for the complimentary copy of the story.