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Annie Graham #4

The Lake House

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Elderly Martha Beckett is a prisoner in her own home, and has been ever since her older brother disappeared at just nine years old. He went to hide in the cellar and never came back. And now Martha has sworn to protect anyone else from the evils lurking just below her floorboards. But whatever it is, has woken up – and is hungry again…

When she calls the police for help, Annie Graham is the first to respond. Now Annie Ashworth, she is happily married to fellow police officer Will, with a gorgeous home and a job she loves. But then she hears the news – serial killer Henry Smith has escaped from his mental hospital and is on the run. So when a severed head lands at her colleague Jake’s feet – they can only assume that Henry is back to his old tricks. Last time he nearly killed Annie, and this time she’ll bet he wants to finish the job.

So Annie now has two monsters to track down, before they kill again. And time is running out…

301 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 29, 2015

213 people are currently reading
543 people want to read

About the author

Helen Phifer

58 books1,243 followers

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5 stars
624 (60%)
4 stars
284 (27%)
3 stars
100 (9%)
2 stars
17 (1%)
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9 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Maddie.
682 reviews260 followers
January 2, 2026
All I can say is that Annie Graham books are officially my guilty pleasure reads. Forget the reality, forget the probability, things happen to Annie Graham and others in those books that will make you question your sanity and yet Helen Phifer makes it all work.
Bring on book five.
Profile Image for Jessica Redland.
Author 53 books1,179 followers
January 23, 2016
Spooky time is here again! The fourth book in the Annie Graham series sees Annie under series threat from serial killer Henry Smith who is determined to finish what he started. Literally. While he watches and lays his plans, Annie faces a new danger. The cellar of the house by the lake is not a safe place to be. People have a habit of disappearing when they go down there. This time it isn't a ghost or demon threatening Annie but a scary monster. As always, Helen Phifer creates a wonderful sense of place and the back story is brilliantly written. Looking forward to book 5.
16 reviews
July 21, 2015
Ugh. Unfortunately I disliked this novel so much, I returned it before finishing it. The writing is just not up to par for my personal taste. I liked the author's first two books but the quality of the novels started to go downhill after those two.
Profile Image for Gillian Caulkin.
39 reviews4 followers
March 1, 2017
I enjoyed this book made a change from the chic lit I have been reading. I was disappointed with the ending though. Without giving too much away it didn't finish the whole story so I'm hoping their will be another book to follow.
Profile Image for Kiri.
139 reviews12 followers
December 27, 2020
I’m surprised that I liked this book so much. I still have a problem with the conversation parts, but that is what it is, and I can live with that - but I didn’t think that I would be down with some monster action.. but guess what? I was. Very well written and thrilling, and I found that it was the monster stuff that I liked the best, and it even was so freaky that it made my skin crawl. I loved it!
Profile Image for Kerry Cahill.
160 reviews5 followers
January 12, 2018
Grrrrrrreat!!!

Yes, another good one... Love how the past, and the present mingle in this series.
2 serial killers, a few coppers, couple of ghosts and a windigo!!! I bet that has got you thinking?
I personally love this author, her books offer a little bit of everything.
Well, only thing left for it.... is to read the next instalment. TTFN 😊
120 reviews
June 10, 2019
Edge of your seat

Extremely well written. I think this author gets better with each new novel. I did feel there was one important subject left to dangle with no conclusion....and I prefer the ends be tied. Perhaps the author left it open ended because she plans to bring the matter back into a future novel.
207 reviews
April 24, 2021
Fantastic

Once again another brilliant read .Finished this book in 2 days couldn't put it down .Books just keep on getting better and better . Absolutely page turning ending and a nice surprise at the end which I guessed .Downloading the last in the series now and I am really looking forward to reading it .
42 reviews
March 21, 2023
More supernatural chills with a murder mystery

It was an enjoyable read with all the familiar series characters and suspense blended together. However, one matter remained unresolved in the end. I suppose it could be left for the reader to decide, or perhaps the next in series will be more revealing.
Profile Image for Dawn Lawrence Read_with_Lola.
293 reviews10 followers
December 28, 2024
This is the Annie Graham series book #4 and I loved it. Helen is the queen of spooky, this one had me cringing whenever somebody went down in to the cellar. What is it about cellars? Eek! I’m a big Helen Phifer fan and I recommend all of her series, they are all excellent. I really enjoyed this one, I really had a job putting it down. You can tell a good book when you read it in one sitting!
Profile Image for Jan.
Author 1 book8 followers
July 21, 2020
I really liked this creepy book. This is the first Annie Graham story I've read. I don't feel like I've missed anything from the earlier books. I guess the most frightening thing is there is more than one bad guy in the book.
622 reviews2 followers
August 30, 2020
Oh my I am so engrossed in this series can't wait to read the next one, but I must say don't think there could ever be such an unlucky cop as Annie. She does get into some scrapes but they certainly keep you engrossed and are proper page turners.
Profile Image for Melanie-ann Diesel.
230 reviews2 followers
December 6, 2021
I don't know... I've loved the previous books in the series but this, for me, has been the weakest so far.
It starts so promisingly but then just gets silly. Very disappointing considering how brilliant the previous books were.
Profile Image for Becky Mayes.
65 reviews
June 30, 2025
The series started out as a mystery with a couple of ghosts thrown in, which was great, but as the series goes on there seems to be more supernatural than mystery. I usually love supernatural, but this feels like it is trying to hard to be more than it is.
1 review
September 27, 2022
The Lakehouse

The Lakehouse is just what you expect from Helen Phifer. Suspenful tension and a very satisfying ending.

I recommend this book
7 reviews
May 30, 2025
Brilliant

Fabulous book definitely a brilliant read , exciting to the last page , love the characters and the story line , highly recommend
2 reviews
July 13, 2025
Another awesome book from Helen Phifer. I love this character and I am going on last book and don’t want Annie to end. Love love love these books
407 reviews12 followers
January 7, 2026
3.5⭐️
What can I say, I actually really enjoying the audiobooks of of the Annie Graham series. I am not usually one for supernatural but it somehow works with this series.
Some moments felt a little predictable, and a couple of the character could’ve been a bit deeper, but overall it’s a gripping, well-executed thriller.
Profile Image for Fiona Wilson.
Author 2 books57 followers
December 31, 2015
I have loved the series thus far, and was hoping this book would continue it in the same vein as before. I'm delighted to say it most definitely does!

Again Annie Graham, now Ashworth, has her work cut out for her with not one, but two, major plotlines. Her past comes back to haunt her when Henry Smith once again resurfaces, determined to finish what he started before. This in itself is enough to have Annie up to her eyes in trouble. But throw in a suspected paranormal creature and her job gets even more difficult.

The paranormal side of these stories is something I love. It takes a simple murder mystery story and raises it up so much more for the reader.

Both investigations may appear to have nothing whatsoever to do with each other, but what will happen when they begin to share elements? Will this work in Annie's favour, or against her?

A brilliant read, a great addition to the series, and I cannot wait to read more from the author.
Profile Image for Wanda Burquest.
172 reviews
October 16, 2016
The Lake House is one of a series about Annie Graham, a police detective in a small community. Well told by Helen Phifer with glimpses of the past and then back to the present throughout the book. An interesting suspenseful read. I plan to read the earlier Annie Graham stories.
Profile Image for Wen.
162 reviews
November 23, 2016
This was a great read! It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The plot was not hard to follow, perhaps she is getting to be a pro in writing.....on to book #5.

Thank you Helen for keeping my mind occupied with a page turner while convalescing.
Profile Image for Gill Chivas.
187 reviews1 follower
May 29, 2015
Enjoyed the story but I felt the ending was a bit rushed with a few loose ends. Still looking forward to the next book though!
181 reviews
February 19, 2016
Another great book in the series. Looking forward to the next one.
9 reviews
September 23, 2016
Not as well written as the previous books. I am still looking forward to reading the next in the series.
Profile Image for Louise Banks.
2 reviews
December 17, 2016
A must read

Having read the 3 others, the fourth has been just as good,very gripping and clever. Looking forward to reading the 5th novel.
Profile Image for Emiliya.
713 reviews19 followers
September 10, 2022
Много добра криминално-мистична поредица.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews

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