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Objects in Lakes
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26Set 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?
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?
352 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 2, 2026
112 people want to read
About the author
Rachael Ramas
1 book14 followersRachael 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 13, 2026
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!
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!
October 28, 2025
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!
March 6, 2026
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.
October 22, 2025
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.
October 22, 2025
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.
March 4, 2026
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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
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
February 21, 2026
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
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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
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
Review of advance copy
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!
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!
March 2, 2026
🌟 3.5 stars
Objects in the Lake (received an eARC from NetGalley release date 6/2) is a haunting psychological thriller centered on unbearable grief and long-buried secrets. I can’t fathom the pain Olive endures after losing her young daughter to a drowning seven years earlier. Since then, she’s closed herself off from the world, barely surviving on medications and routine.
When another body is discovered in the same lake — again ruled an accidental drowning — Olive begins to ask questions, and the story quickly pulls you into a web of suspicion, secrets, and unsettling truths. I loved the dysfunctional neighborhood dynamic and the slow unraveling of what really happened.
Things get a little weird toward the end with some psychedelic drug use (trying not to spoil anything), but overall this is the pure definition of a psychological thriller — tense and full of mystery right up until the final pages.
Objects in the Lake (received an eARC from NetGalley release date 6/2) is a haunting psychological thriller centered on unbearable grief and long-buried secrets. I can’t fathom the pain Olive endures after losing her young daughter to a drowning seven years earlier. Since then, she’s closed herself off from the world, barely surviving on medications and routine.
When another body is discovered in the same lake — again ruled an accidental drowning — Olive begins to ask questions, and the story quickly pulls you into a web of suspicion, secrets, and unsettling truths. I loved the dysfunctional neighborhood dynamic and the slow unraveling of what really happened.
Things get a little weird toward the end with some psychedelic drug use (trying not to spoil anything), but overall this is the pure definition of a psychological thriller — tense and full of mystery right up until the final pages.
Review of advance copy
I can't believe this is a debut novel! Simply reading the prologue had me hooked. I looked at my husband and said, "That's one way to start a book!"
I absolutely loved the journey of Olive trying to fill in her missing memories from the night that haunts her. Is everyone being honest about what happened? Why can't she remember the events that evening?
Quick chapters and different points of view kept me wanting to turn the pages late into the evening!
Another aspect that I personally loved is that it takes place here in Michigan. Having that extra layer of connection to the story made it really enjoyable.
I highly recommend this and am so happy I was picked to read an advanced copy. It's going to be a perfect summer read.
I absolutely loved the journey of Olive trying to fill in her missing memories from the night that haunts her. Is everyone being honest about what happened? Why can't she remember the events that evening?
Quick chapters and different points of view kept me wanting to turn the pages late into the evening!
Another aspect that I personally loved is that it takes place here in Michigan. Having that extra layer of connection to the story made it really enjoyable.
I highly recommend this and am so happy I was picked to read an advanced copy. It's going to be a perfect summer read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I flew through this one. Objects in Lakes is a beautifully written, gut wrenching debut thriller about a woman who loses her young daughter in an accident on the Fourth of July. The grief was so potent, I felt it deep in my bones.
I appreciated how the author correlated mental health and its effects on the body. About how the body keeps score and having to release feelings about things you cannot control in order to recover. It was spoken about in such an honest way that I haven’t seen in other fiction books.
The end of the book was a little silly and a bit lackluster, but overall a good read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Co. for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I appreciated how the author correlated mental health and its effects on the body. About how the body keeps score and having to release feelings about things you cannot control in order to recover. It was spoken about in such an honest way that I haven’t seen in other fiction books.
The end of the book was a little silly and a bit lackluster, but overall a good read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Co. for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Some secrets don’t stay buried…
Seven years after her young daughter drowned in Duck Lake, Olive Wentworth is still haunted by that devastating night. She has never stopped wondering if the truth about what happened was ever fully uncovered. When another body is discovered in the lake, old questions come back up and Olive starts digging into the past, uncovering secrets hidden beneath this lakeside community.
This was such an atmospheric, slow burn suspense. I loved how the mystery slowly unfolds as Olive starts revisiting the past and questioning what really happened that night.
Seven years after her young daughter drowned in Duck Lake, Olive Wentworth is still haunted by that devastating night. She has never stopped wondering if the truth about what happened was ever fully uncovered. When another body is discovered in the lake, old questions come back up and Olive starts digging into the past, uncovering secrets hidden beneath this lakeside community.
This was such an atmospheric, slow burn suspense. I loved how the mystery slowly unfolds as Olive starts revisiting the past and questioning what really happened that night.
Review of advance copy
This book delivered far more than I expected.
One night that Olive can’t remember takes the entire book for readers to finally get the whole truth.
It’s like a layered suitcase with unfathomable depths. As more clothes are unearthed it reveals more secrets and lies.
Olive spent seven years wallowing in a haze and one person in her book was just horrible.
The ending made my jaw drop because I wasn’t expecting to read what turned out to be an astonishing curveball.
Thanks NetGalley Rising Action Publishers, and ThrillerBooks Lover the Pulse for the advance copy.
One night that Olive can’t remember takes the entire book for readers to finally get the whole truth.
It’s like a layered suitcase with unfathomable depths. As more clothes are unearthed it reveals more secrets and lies.
Olive spent seven years wallowing in a haze and one person in her book was just horrible.
The ending made my jaw drop because I wasn’t expecting to read what turned out to be an astonishing curveball.
Thanks NetGalley Rising Action Publishers, and ThrillerBooks Lover the Pulse for the advance copy.
Review of advance copy
I am grateful to have received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This was a fun book. It is full of twists and turns as one would expect in a mystery thriller like this. There are also some great subplots. It is entertaining and easy to read. I personally did not love the last quarter of the book. It took some avenues that felt a bit rushed and unrealistic for me. However, I also always acknowledge that what does not work for some will be loved by others. Overall, it is a good book and very enjoyable read.
November 6, 2025
I was fortunate enough to read an advanced review copy of Rachael Ramas's debut novel OBJECTS IN LAKES. It was one of the best books I've read in a long time. She transports you into every scene, making the reader feel like they are in the room with the characters. This book was an incredible psychological thriller, leaving the reader to guess who the killer is, right up to the epilogue of the book. I highly recommend!!
February 25, 2026
This book was a mystery up until the very end! Seven years ago Olive’s daughter drowns in the lake during a 4th of July party. She blames herself but doesn’t know who is truly responsible because she doesn’t remember.
Olive is on a quest to find out what really happened to her daughter. We are pulled in so many different directions on this one and I will say the ending truly shocked me! I read a lot of thrillers and that’s not easy to do.
Olive is on a quest to find out what really happened to her daughter. We are pulled in so many different directions on this one and I will say the ending truly shocked me! I read a lot of thrillers and that’s not easy to do.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
It's been 7 years since a terrible accident took Olive's daughter's life. Olive is finally ready to uncover the truth of what happened that night, but is she ready for all the other truths that she will uncover along the way?
There are so many lies and secrets in this book. It was good to see Olive heal herself and unravel all the lies. That last twist i never saw coming!! So good!!🌟🌟🌟🌟
TW: death of a child, childhood cancer, alcohol abuse
There are so many lies and secrets in this book. It was good to see Olive heal herself and unravel all the lies. That last twist i never saw coming!! So good!!🌟🌟🌟🌟
TW: death of a child, childhood cancer, alcohol abuse
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Loved this book. I have read so many thrillers that I’ve found it’s easy to figure them out, but I could have never guessed how this one ended. This story was a journey full of twists and turns that I could have never seen coming. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
Review of advance copy
This is hands down the best book I have read in years. It had me completely glued to it, I finished it in one day. My head nearly exploded at the final twist. I had to put the book down for a second because I was truly shocked. Her writing style is perfection, descriptive to the point it felt like a movie was playing in my head. I can’t recommend this enough!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Fellow readers - please do yourself a favor and pre order this book. I was lucky enough to be a beta reader and have been with these characters from the beginning. I read this book 1.5 days while ignoring my everyday life, it was that good. Rachael is going to be the next up and coming mystery thriller author you will read again and again!
October 22, 2025
Objects in Lakes completely pulled me in from the first page. It’s emotional and beautifully written. The suspense kept me hooked until the very end. I was lucky enough to read an advance copy. Easily a 5 star read.
Read
February 20, 2026The characters pull you in right away. The tension builds steadily and doesn’t let up, and the final twist hit me hard. By the end, it makes you stop and rethink everything you thought you understood. It’s been a while since I’ve finished a book and still keep thinking about it afterward.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Rachael Ramas for this ARC! Deep, heartfelt writing that really made me feel like I was right there in the story. Cannot wait to read more from this author, but this book is a MUST read! :)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book ABSOLUTELY deserves to be adapted into a movie or limited series. It’s incredibly atmospheric and haunting, I couldn’t put it down. I also loved the alternating points of view between the husband and wife, which added so much depth to the narrative.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review forthcoming in Library Journal.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The characters were all beautifully developed with twists and turns around every corner! this book is almost impossible to put down.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Mind blown. Rachael had me at the edge of my seat, what an incredible read!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Secrets, secrets are no fun—except when they threaten to come undone like in this chilling and tense domestic suspense. Objects in Lakes is not one to miss.
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