What do you think?
Rate this book
Emerald Lake
Not yet published
Expected 30 Mar 27An idyllic lakeside cottage hides long-buried secrets in this haunting mystery from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid.
For most of her life, Jane Weber has kept the secrets of one devastating summer submerged in the brooding waters of Emerald Lake. Now, at eighty-four and in failing health, all Jane wants is to live out her days in peace at her lakeside cottage—the place where she first fell in love and where she suffered a loss so profound she wishes she could forget it.
But when her young granddaughters stumble upon human remains by the lake, the discovery sends shock waves through Jane’s entire community, reopening a mystery everyone thought had been laid to rest long ago. Police officer Clair Mundy begins digging into the area’s dark history, unearthing lies, scandals, and the strange legend of a woman who the locals insist has been haunting Emerald Lake for generations.
Jane knows far more than she’s willing to say—including what happened in the summer of 1955 when first she met that mysterious boy who existed in the shadows between the water and the woods. As the investigation closes in, Jane must decide whether to protect the secrets that have defined her life or tell the truth before it's too late.
Atmospheric, emotionally charged, and utterly immersive, Emerald Lake is a sweeping story of love and loss, memory and wilderness, and the dangerous myths we cling to in order to survive.
For most of her life, Jane Weber has kept the secrets of one devastating summer submerged in the brooding waters of Emerald Lake. Now, at eighty-four and in failing health, all Jane wants is to live out her days in peace at her lakeside cottage—the place where she first fell in love and where she suffered a loss so profound she wishes she could forget it.
But when her young granddaughters stumble upon human remains by the lake, the discovery sends shock waves through Jane’s entire community, reopening a mystery everyone thought had been laid to rest long ago. Police officer Clair Mundy begins digging into the area’s dark history, unearthing lies, scandals, and the strange legend of a woman who the locals insist has been haunting Emerald Lake for generations.
Jane knows far more than she’s willing to say—including what happened in the summer of 1955 when first she met that mysterious boy who existed in the shadows between the water and the woods. As the investigation closes in, Jane must decide whether to protect the secrets that have defined her life or tell the truth before it's too late.
Atmospheric, emotionally charged, and utterly immersive, Emerald Lake is a sweeping story of love and loss, memory and wilderness, and the dangerous myths we cling to in order to survive.
464 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 6, 2027
About the author
Nita Prose
19 books8,747 followersNITA PROSE is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery Guest and The Maid, which has sold more than two million copies worldwide. A Good Morning America Book Club pick, The Maid won the Ned Kelly Award for International Crime Fiction, the Fingerprint Award for Debut Book of the Year, the Anthony Award for Best First Novel, and the Barry Award for Best First Mystery. The Maid was also an Edgar Award finalist for Best Novel. Visit Nita at nitaprose.com or on Instagram and X @NitaProse.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When I found out that the incredibly talented author of The Maid was releasing a standalone thriller, I practically jumped at the chance to read it. I was so excited that I even managed to bang my knee against my worktable in the process. A dark purple bruise later, I can confirm that it was absolutely worth it. Apparently, I'm not only an enthusiastic reader but also a rather clumsy one!
I devoured this book in just a few sittings. But don't expect a straightforward thriller. Emerald Lake is a tightly woven mystery with layers upon layers of secrets, shifting timelines, buried tragedies, and just enough folklore to make you question whether everything can be explained by the living.
The story takes us back and forth between two timelines, gradually revealing what happened during the summer of 1955, when sixteen-year-old Jane Weber spent her vacation at Emerald Lake with her mother, stepfather Teddy, and her beautiful older sister Marilyn. Jane has always lived somewhat in Marilyn's shadow, but that particular summer would change everything. It ended with devastating losses, disappearances, and secrets so deeply buried that some people spent the next seven decades making sure they stayed that way.
Fast-forward to Jane at eighty-four. She is now a discreet, emotionally guarded woman living alone in the lakeside cottage she inherited through generations of women in her family. Her days revolve around her visits with her daughter Jordan, her young granddaughters, and especially Grace, her lifelong friend who has remained by her side for nearly seven decades. Their friendship is one of the most beautiful elements of this story. They have survived together, carried each other's burdens, and learned how to live with things that perhaps should never have happened.
But Jane has never really left Emerald Lake. And I don't mean that geographically. She has remained a prisoner of the past, almost like a self-appointed guardian of the secrets buried beneath its waters. Unfortunately, secrets have a habit of resurfacing, and when her granddaughters stumble upon human remains near the lake, the carefully maintained silence begins to crumble. Jane knows considerably more than she is willing to reveal, and the discovery threatens to expose a crime she has spent most of her life trying to keep hidden.
Enter Detective Clair Mundy, a sharp, observant investigator with her own complicated family circumstances, including concerns about her father's increasingly troubling memory. As she begins investigating the remains, she realizes that the history of this seemingly peaceful lakeside community is far darker than anyone wants to admit. A tragedy within Jane's family, a disappearance that was never properly resolved, questionable police work, greed, and long-standing family rivalries all begin to connect. And just when you think you've figured out where the mystery is heading, another revelation changes the picture.
What really happened that summer? Who was responsible for the deaths and disappearances? Were the wrong people punished while others escaped justice? And could Clair's own father's fading memories hold a missing piece of this decades-old puzzle?
Then there's the Lady of the Lake, a local legend whose presence adds another deliciously unsettling dimension to the story. Is she merely folklore, a haunting reminder of the community's collective guilt, or something much closer to reality? I'll leave that for you to discover!
Overall, this is a mystery within a mystery, rather like Russian nesting dolls, with each revelation opening another hidden compartment. You need to be patient and pay attention because the author isn't interested in handing you easy answers. Everything gradually comes together, and the pleasure is in discovering how seemingly unrelated events, people, and secrets connect.
I particularly loved Jane and Grace. Their friendship, their shared history, and their complicated relationship with the place they call home give the story its emotional backbone. They are two women who have spent decades carrying the weight of the past while finding ways to survive and build lives around it. Emerald Lake almost becomes another character itself: beautiful, brooding, watchful, and full of things better left undisturbed.
My only reservation is that there is SO much happening here. Murder, assault, rape, underage relationships, greed, betrayal, and generations of accumulated trauma make this a particularly dark and emotionally demanding read. Some of these subjects may be triggering for readers, and the sheer number of tragedies occasionally makes the story feel almost overwhelming. But the author handles the atmospheric thriller elements, the emotional drama, and the subtle touches of supernatural folklore with impressive control.
I didn't just get a murder mystery; I got a haunting story about memory, guilt, friendship, love, loss, and the things people do to survive their own pasts. And I have a feeling Emerald Lake will be one of the most anticipated and widely recommended reads of 2027. Consider this my early announcement: put it on your radar!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for sharing this intriguing thriller and heartfelt work of women's fiction from one of my auto-approved authors in exchange for my honest thoughts, which I genuinely appreciate.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
instagram
facebook
I devoured this book in just a few sittings. But don't expect a straightforward thriller. Emerald Lake is a tightly woven mystery with layers upon layers of secrets, shifting timelines, buried tragedies, and just enough folklore to make you question whether everything can be explained by the living.
The story takes us back and forth between two timelines, gradually revealing what happened during the summer of 1955, when sixteen-year-old Jane Weber spent her vacation at Emerald Lake with her mother, stepfather Teddy, and her beautiful older sister Marilyn. Jane has always lived somewhat in Marilyn's shadow, but that particular summer would change everything. It ended with devastating losses, disappearances, and secrets so deeply buried that some people spent the next seven decades making sure they stayed that way.
Fast-forward to Jane at eighty-four. She is now a discreet, emotionally guarded woman living alone in the lakeside cottage she inherited through generations of women in her family. Her days revolve around her visits with her daughter Jordan, her young granddaughters, and especially Grace, her lifelong friend who has remained by her side for nearly seven decades. Their friendship is one of the most beautiful elements of this story. They have survived together, carried each other's burdens, and learned how to live with things that perhaps should never have happened.
But Jane has never really left Emerald Lake. And I don't mean that geographically. She has remained a prisoner of the past, almost like a self-appointed guardian of the secrets buried beneath its waters. Unfortunately, secrets have a habit of resurfacing, and when her granddaughters stumble upon human remains near the lake, the carefully maintained silence begins to crumble. Jane knows considerably more than she is willing to reveal, and the discovery threatens to expose a crime she has spent most of her life trying to keep hidden.
Enter Detective Clair Mundy, a sharp, observant investigator with her own complicated family circumstances, including concerns about her father's increasingly troubling memory. As she begins investigating the remains, she realizes that the history of this seemingly peaceful lakeside community is far darker than anyone wants to admit. A tragedy within Jane's family, a disappearance that was never properly resolved, questionable police work, greed, and long-standing family rivalries all begin to connect. And just when you think you've figured out where the mystery is heading, another revelation changes the picture.
What really happened that summer? Who was responsible for the deaths and disappearances? Were the wrong people punished while others escaped justice? And could Clair's own father's fading memories hold a missing piece of this decades-old puzzle?
Then there's the Lady of the Lake, a local legend whose presence adds another deliciously unsettling dimension to the story. Is she merely folklore, a haunting reminder of the community's collective guilt, or something much closer to reality? I'll leave that for you to discover!
Overall, this is a mystery within a mystery, rather like Russian nesting dolls, with each revelation opening another hidden compartment. You need to be patient and pay attention because the author isn't interested in handing you easy answers. Everything gradually comes together, and the pleasure is in discovering how seemingly unrelated events, people, and secrets connect.
I particularly loved Jane and Grace. Their friendship, their shared history, and their complicated relationship with the place they call home give the story its emotional backbone. They are two women who have spent decades carrying the weight of the past while finding ways to survive and build lives around it. Emerald Lake almost becomes another character itself: beautiful, brooding, watchful, and full of things better left undisturbed.
My only reservation is that there is SO much happening here. Murder, assault, rape, underage relationships, greed, betrayal, and generations of accumulated trauma make this a particularly dark and emotionally demanding read. Some of these subjects may be triggering for readers, and the sheer number of tragedies occasionally makes the story feel almost overwhelming. But the author handles the atmospheric thriller elements, the emotional drama, and the subtle touches of supernatural folklore with impressive control.
I didn't just get a murder mystery; I got a haunting story about memory, guilt, friendship, love, loss, and the things people do to survive their own pasts. And I have a feeling Emerald Lake will be one of the most anticipated and widely recommended reads of 2027. Consider this my early announcement: put it on your radar!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for sharing this intriguing thriller and heartfelt work of women's fiction from one of my auto-approved authors in exchange for my honest thoughts, which I genuinely appreciate.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🍁Canadian cottage country setting
🍁Canadian author
It’s always unnerving for me when an author chooses to write in a different genre because I’m unsure if they’re a ‘go to author’ for the genre they write or the characters/series I love. I loved Molly The Maid series and gave all 4 books a 5 star review; however, I was disappointed with Murder at the Royal Ruby. When I saw that Prose had a new mystery, I was hesitant but the synopsis pulled me in.
Turns out, it’s the Molly The Maid series and characters that I love.
Molly and her grandmother were so loveable and quirky and carried the Molly The Maid series. The characters in this story weren’t memorable. Days later, without looking at my reading notes, the only character that stands out is the fishing lure dude in the canoe…cuz he was mysterious and different. Oh, and the grandma, Jane Weber,…cuz I was sure she was hiding something.
I’m not a fan of slow burn and this was painfully slow. Honestly, by the end, I didn’t care whose bones they were and who put them there!
The setting was stellar.
Prose is an accomplished writer and I know my disappointment will fade and that I’ll reach for another one of her novels again.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
🍁Canadian author
It’s always unnerving for me when an author chooses to write in a different genre because I’m unsure if they’re a ‘go to author’ for the genre they write or the characters/series I love. I loved Molly The Maid series and gave all 4 books a 5 star review; however, I was disappointed with Murder at the Royal Ruby. When I saw that Prose had a new mystery, I was hesitant but the synopsis pulled me in.
Turns out, it’s the Molly The Maid series and characters that I love.
Molly and her grandmother were so loveable and quirky and carried the Molly The Maid series. The characters in this story weren’t memorable. Days later, without looking at my reading notes, the only character that stands out is the fishing lure dude in the canoe…cuz he was mysterious and different. Oh, and the grandma, Jane Weber,…cuz I was sure she was hiding something.
I’m not a fan of slow burn and this was painfully slow. Honestly, by the end, I didn’t care whose bones they were and who put them there!
The setting was stellar.
Prose is an accomplished writer and I know my disappointment will fade and that I’ll reach for another one of her novels again.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
October 5, 2026
Emerald Lake is a very slow burn. Full review to come.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A dual timeline, multiple POV mystery centered around the legend of the Lady of the Lake, a decades old deaths, and a web of secrets stretching all the way back to the summer of 1955 when Jane was a child. Jane, in her 80's, is currently living at her childhood Lake house when her daughter, son in law, along with their 2 girls are visiting for Thanksgiving. Out at the lake human bones are found and the mystery begins.
A lake community where everyone escaped their city houses for some R&R every summer has buried secrets, aging parents, dementia, inherited trauma, young love, and lifelong female friendship gave this story plenty of emotional depth. I loved the premise and the themes, but the slower pace made it difficult for me to stay engaged. It's mysterious, but ultimately too slow for me. This is going to be a book where some love and others think it's just ok.
Pre-order now release date is 04 / 06 /2027.
Thnka you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Ballentine for the ARC.
A lake community where everyone escaped their city houses for some R&R every summer has buried secrets, aging parents, dementia, inherited trauma, young love, and lifelong female friendship gave this story plenty of emotional depth. I loved the premise and the themes, but the slower pace made it difficult for me to stay engaged. It's mysterious, but ultimately too slow for me. This is going to be a book where some love and others think it's just ok.
Pre-order now release date is 04 / 06 /2027.
Thnka you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Ballentine for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A dual timeline mystery that will have you wondering until the very end who did it!
Jane is an 84 year old woman who has many, many secrets. When her granddaughters find bones on her property those secrets might just come out. This story is told from Jane's perspective in present day and in the 1950s. We also see the story from the cop, Clair Mundy, sent to investigate, The uncovered bones lead to more questions and possible more murder victims than just the bones uncovered.
I really enjoyed the suspense of this novel and trying to unravel all the threads of who was involved with what. Reading about teenage Jane and elderly Jane brought together both timelines in way that kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next. There was a lot going on in both timelines from family dynamics, young love, and scandals. I also enjoyed the deep friendship between Jane and Grace as well as the need for some characters to try and set things right. Overall this was a good mystery that had an emotional impact on me. I will definitely read more by this author.
Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
Jane is an 84 year old woman who has many, many secrets. When her granddaughters find bones on her property those secrets might just come out. This story is told from Jane's perspective in present day and in the 1950s. We also see the story from the cop, Clair Mundy, sent to investigate, The uncovered bones lead to more questions and possible more murder victims than just the bones uncovered.
I really enjoyed the suspense of this novel and trying to unravel all the threads of who was involved with what. Reading about teenage Jane and elderly Jane brought together both timelines in way that kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next. There was a lot going on in both timelines from family dynamics, young love, and scandals. I also enjoyed the deep friendship between Jane and Grace as well as the need for some characters to try and set things right. Overall this was a good mystery that had an emotional impact on me. I will definitely read more by this author.
Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
September 20, 2026
Well this was just fabulous. I have read all the Maid books previously and always enjoyed Nita’s writing but the more serious note of this book was so well done!
I love the setting and could see everything so clearly in my mind. It reminded me so much of Michigan lakes and had a very nostalgic feel to it!
I will say, you really have to pay close attention due to all the characters. The book switches back and forth quite a bit and I think it may be harder to follow on audio but when reading, it was easy enough. I had to pause frequently to make sure I had my characters straight but I didn’t mind.
I was able to figure out a couple of the story lines throughout the book but overall it kept me on the edge of my seat and interested the whole time!
This will definitely be a favorite mystery of mine! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
I love the setting and could see everything so clearly in my mind. It reminded me so much of Michigan lakes and had a very nostalgic feel to it!
I will say, you really have to pay close attention due to all the characters. The book switches back and forth quite a bit and I think it may be harder to follow on audio but when reading, it was easy enough. I had to pause frequently to make sure I had my characters straight but I didn’t mind.
I was able to figure out a couple of the story lines throughout the book but overall it kept me on the edge of my seat and interested the whole time!
This will definitely be a favorite mystery of mine! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Sometimes the clues of what's to come unfurl all around me, and yet no one seems to notice."
I'm a big fan of Nita Prose's writing and if I thought the character development and plot twists were superb in The Maid, this was simply next level. So atmospheric and poetic, Emerald Lake tells a story of complicated family dynamics with secrets and love so deep it'll drown every fear and sorrow.
I had crocodile tears in my eyes in the middle of the night when I reached the last chapters. I think this book is a perfect cold winter read that will make every reader feel warmth and solitude thinking about their own family ties and friendships.
Highly recommend!
Huge thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.
----------
Follow for more of my reviews:
Instagram
TikTok
I'm a big fan of Nita Prose's writing and if I thought the character development and plot twists were superb in The Maid, this was simply next level. So atmospheric and poetic, Emerald Lake tells a story of complicated family dynamics with secrets and love so deep it'll drown every fear and sorrow.
I had crocodile tears in my eyes in the middle of the night when I reached the last chapters. I think this book is a perfect cold winter read that will make every reader feel warmth and solitude thinking about their own family ties and friendships.
Highly recommend!
Huge thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.
----------
Follow for more of my reviews:
TikTok
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jane’s granddaughters find some bones by her Emerald Lake home, kicking off a story that alternates between the past and present. Present day Jane is ill and in her 80s, sometimes seemingly confused, and worried about the investigation kicked off by the persistent Officer Mundy.
Jane’s memories drift back to the 1950s, when her family summered regularly at Emerald Lake. It’s the same summer where her beloved older sister was murdered. Prose does a wonderful job of linking the current bones to the past, as a young Jane explores first love and watches her stepfather attempt to defraud the locals of their land. Much of the story looks at the dynamics between the locals and the far more wealthy summer crowd.
Both timelines are engaging (Officer Mundy is a great character too, with plenty of local ties) and quite dark and twisty. Be prepared for many awful things to happen to the folks of Emerald Lake. The story uses its atmospheric lake setting to its advantage, with a feeling of dread and foreboding surrounding our characters like the lake’s relentless mist. I found this one to be a bit too long, but definitely a good read nonetheless, especially as it explored classism while weaving its twisted tales.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Ballantine Books in return for an unbiased review. It releases in March 2027!
Jane’s memories drift back to the 1950s, when her family summered regularly at Emerald Lake. It’s the same summer where her beloved older sister was murdered. Prose does a wonderful job of linking the current bones to the past, as a young Jane explores first love and watches her stepfather attempt to defraud the locals of their land. Much of the story looks at the dynamics between the locals and the far more wealthy summer crowd.
Both timelines are engaging (Officer Mundy is a great character too, with plenty of local ties) and quite dark and twisty. Be prepared for many awful things to happen to the folks of Emerald Lake. The story uses its atmospheric lake setting to its advantage, with a feeling of dread and foreboding surrounding our characters like the lake’s relentless mist. I found this one to be a bit too long, but definitely a good read nonetheless, especially as it explored classism while weaving its twisted tales.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Ballantine Books in return for an unbiased review. It releases in March 2027!
September 27, 2026
I absolutely loved Emerald Lake! This was one of those books that completely pulled me into its setting. The lakeside atmosphere, the secrets buried in the past, and the mystery surrounding what happened all those years ago made it incredibly hard to put down.
I especially loved the way the story moved between the past and present, slowly revealing Jane’s history and the events that shaped her life. There was so much more to this book than just solving a mystery—it was also a beautiful and emotional story about first love, loss, family, and the secrets people carry with them for decades.
The mystery kept me guessing, and I loved how the pieces gradually came together. The setting of Emerald Lake almost felt like a character itself, with this eerie, isolated feeling hanging over the entire story. I was completely invested in Jane and wanted to know exactly what happened during that summer in 1955.
Atmospheric, emotional, mysterious, and beautifully written. I absolutely loved this one and would highly recommend it, especially if you enjoy mysteries with long-buried secrets and dual timelines. An easy 5 stars for me!
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine | Ballantine Books for a digital ARC.
I especially loved the way the story moved between the past and present, slowly revealing Jane’s history and the events that shaped her life. There was so much more to this book than just solving a mystery—it was also a beautiful and emotional story about first love, loss, family, and the secrets people carry with them for decades.
The mystery kept me guessing, and I loved how the pieces gradually came together. The setting of Emerald Lake almost felt like a character itself, with this eerie, isolated feeling hanging over the entire story. I was completely invested in Jane and wanted to know exactly what happened during that summer in 1955.
Atmospheric, emotional, mysterious, and beautifully written. I absolutely loved this one and would highly recommend it, especially if you enjoy mysteries with long-buried secrets and dual timelines. An easy 5 stars for me!
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine | Ballantine Books for a digital ARC.
October 16, 2026
I love Nita’s books, so I was really honored to receive an ARC of Emerald Lake!
A beautiful lakeside cottage holds long-buried secrets, and Jane Webber knows what happened during the summer of 1955. When her granddaughters discover human remains by the lake, a mystery that was thought to be laid to rest is brought back to the surface.
I found myself really enjoying this book, but there were moments when the pacing felt slow and I struggled to stay focused. Thankfully, once the story picked back up, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down! I do think the book could have been a little shorter, but I still found the story interesting. There were some great twists that kept me guessing, and I could definitely see myself rereading this one in the future!
Thank you NetGalley, Nita and Ballantine Books for the eARC!
Pub Date: March 30th 2027
Rating: ✨✨✨✨
A beautiful lakeside cottage holds long-buried secrets, and Jane Webber knows what happened during the summer of 1955. When her granddaughters discover human remains by the lake, a mystery that was thought to be laid to rest is brought back to the surface.
I found myself really enjoying this book, but there were moments when the pacing felt slow and I struggled to stay focused. Thankfully, once the story picked back up, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down! I do think the book could have been a little shorter, but I still found the story interesting. There were some great twists that kept me guessing, and I could definitely see myself rereading this one in the future!
Thank you NetGalley, Nita and Ballantine Books for the eARC!
Pub Date: March 30th 2027
Rating: ✨✨✨✨
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this advanced copy.
I loved this book. It's about sisters and best friends, the beauty of nature and its unforgiving heart. It's about now and then, summer people and year round residents. And secrets....many secrets.
I loved this book. It's about sisters and best friends, the beauty of nature and its unforgiving heart. It's about now and then, summer people and year round residents. And secrets....many secrets.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I liked this book- it was an engaging mystery that moved between two timelines in a really interesting way. It centers on Jane, who is in her 80s and has lived by the lake in one way or another her entire life. When her young twin granddaughters discover a long-hidden human bone, it threatens to uncover secrets that have been tightly held for decades. The story alternates between the present day and events from Jane's childhood, with some chapters following Clair, the officer investigating the case.
I enjoyed seeing how the earlier timeline gradually answered the questions raised in the present-day one. The childhood chapters were my favorite, but I liked Jane throughout, especially her lifelong friendship with Grace and the dynamic between them. Clair was an interesting character with her own strong ties to the area, though I wish we had learned more about her background. The book touched on men's mistreatment of women in many different forms, and at times it felt a little preachy to me. I really liked the ending, though- it fit well with the rest of the story and felt realistic.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read with a good mystery and memorable characters, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes dual-timeline stories. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed seeing how the earlier timeline gradually answered the questions raised in the present-day one. The childhood chapters were my favorite, but I liked Jane throughout, especially her lifelong friendship with Grace and the dynamic between them. Clair was an interesting character with her own strong ties to the area, though I wish we had learned more about her background. The book touched on men's mistreatment of women in many different forms, and at times it felt a little preachy to me. I really liked the ending, though- it fit well with the rest of the story and felt realistic.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read with a good mystery and memorable characters, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes dual-timeline stories. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A complex murder mystery with dual time lines. This is the first book I've read by Prose and I find her writing propulsive, her insights into character thoughtful, and her plotting intricate yet plausible. Parts I saw coming (Teddy's story) but others provided a real challenge to understanding motivations and interrelationships. There were a few times all the different characters were confusing, since the cast is large and you've got most of them in two timelines, but they were all necessary to knit together into a cohesive whole. I'd recommend this to anyone who liked God of the Woods or other small-town intricately-plotted mysteries. Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
At 84, Jane and her oldest dearest friend and next door neighbor who lives on the lake just as they have since they’ve been kids have just finished putting in Al the sides to heat up so they’ll warm and ready to eat when her daughter Jordan, her husband Nate(Janes not a big fan) and her identical 8 year old twin granddaughters get there and the Thanksgiving dinner that god bless her. Grace has single handedly made.
As her family arrives, the twins are outdoors playing waiting for the food to be ready and they come back breathless and exciting telling all the the adults to look at what they’ve just found. Jane doesn’t have to look hard for her bike to rise up and know exactly what it is she’s looking at. Police are called and as Grace and Jane speak without words they both know this is one of those things it’s going to be imperative she pull the elderly and confused card. What were the chances of this happening today of all days.
And then Jane goes back into the past when she was a kid, a budding teenager, nearly 16 in fact and her sister Marilyn was one of those perfectly beautiful females that teens and men alike couldn’t take their eyes off her and everyone gravitated to Marilyn. But Marilyn is so moody, like a Jekly and Hude and you never know when she will be the best friend you grew up with and miss dearly or the angry and aggressive and mean teenager who isn’t even sorry about the stuff she says and does.
Thank goodness she has Grace that summer as there’s only a handful of exclusive homes on their lake and she’s glad since Marilyn is moody and hides out in her room at least she can swim all the way to the buoy flashing light halfway across the lake and then back. They’ve been hearing a lot of tension and arguments about the land next door
To their cabin that her stepfather had some shady real estate guy Tom basically manipulate and have Herman Hewitt agree to selling his Loon Marsh for $1 because he signed a trick contract they’d written up knowing he couldn’t read. They’d initially promised him $5000.00. Herman is absolutely irate, naturally. That land has been in his family for centuries and it’s never been sold off. His wife Is even more upset because she knows many of these summer folks who are quick to look down on their local community that lives at the lake year round. They would thrilled if they could get rid of Al the locals and keep this exclusive for just their kind but the locals will never concede.
As tensions begin running higher between the parents and couples that are summer family’s and their drinking becomes sloppier as they stress and argue over whether or not this giant company Whire Waters is going to purchase this land from her mother and stepfather, a land her mother feels was illegally taken from a kind family and has been taking as much cash as she can possibly can to make good on her promise that one she feels is going to be what will be the powder keg exploding under all the pressure and real soon.
Jane begins an intense summer romance with Owen. His family is the one that’s been tricked by all her step dad’s cronies and she hates him for it. One night they are all gathered at one of the families houses and all of the sudden Tom takes off sayinf that Herman was on the dock. He came back a while later sayinf that he brought him back to his side of the shore and Herman was threatening them all about the land. The following day, Jane learns from Owen his mom is officially missing. He confides that she hasn’t been the same since that night something happened to her. He’s convinced those nasty men did something terrible to her physically to teach her a lesson. Then she disappears less than a week later. Her sister Marilyn whispers to her right before she runs off that it was not Herman on the dock that Tom hurt and had been hurt by when he’s shown up with gashes and bruises everywhere. Marilyn whispers to her that it was his wife and that Tom hurt the wife.
At some point, brave Marilyn confronts Tony and he ends up doing horrific things to her and drowns her at the very edge of the lake and dumps her at the bottom of the boat that Owen is always betting around in. Jane know that Owen’s family hasn’t done anything wrong yet his father Herman is arrested for her sisters murder and she and Owen’s love of that summer was irrevocably over.
Until the body surfaces right in the yard adjacent theirs. They learn the body is a females. The DNA shows it is the mother of poor Owen. When Owen comes back to hear what is going on and to say he is happy that he was able to finally spread her with his dad and that he’s waited so so long for the closure. Jane tells her local polish about the friction and the miserable situation that whole summer. Then she tried to admit what went down when she herself confronted Tom and that when she had come to believe what she had done with the oar was the blow that surely killed Tom but it was Grace who will reveal the most shocking revelation of all.
I didn’t want this to end. I couldn’t read more and
Ore about these complex such deep and loyal friendships that surpass the time of friends and automatically become family and one that is as connected and loving and truly supportive as understanding of one another.
This was so not what I was expecting AT ALL. And I adored how creative this authors imagination is and the talented wordsmith that she is as well. And anyone who’s a fan of reading, an admirer of vocabulary that isn’t commonly used and is typically the least known and most unique synonym of a common word but for me I have a penchant for these underused words and any phrases that are clever and interesting and I find just the perfectly most aptly placed words within their paragraphs or sentences that is so well chosen and placed you have to stop and take a breath because true masters of their words and craft take your breath away as #NitaProse has done with her latest book #EmeraldLake and thank you #Netgalley for the advanced reading copy and to #Ballantine for publishing another outstanding piece of art. Thank you for also giving me the opportunity to read the ARCS and give my review. I’m so grateful to have the chance to do so.
As her family arrives, the twins are outdoors playing waiting for the food to be ready and they come back breathless and exciting telling all the the adults to look at what they’ve just found. Jane doesn’t have to look hard for her bike to rise up and know exactly what it is she’s looking at. Police are called and as Grace and Jane speak without words they both know this is one of those things it’s going to be imperative she pull the elderly and confused card. What were the chances of this happening today of all days.
And then Jane goes back into the past when she was a kid, a budding teenager, nearly 16 in fact and her sister Marilyn was one of those perfectly beautiful females that teens and men alike couldn’t take their eyes off her and everyone gravitated to Marilyn. But Marilyn is so moody, like a Jekly and Hude and you never know when she will be the best friend you grew up with and miss dearly or the angry and aggressive and mean teenager who isn’t even sorry about the stuff she says and does.
Thank goodness she has Grace that summer as there’s only a handful of exclusive homes on their lake and she’s glad since Marilyn is moody and hides out in her room at least she can swim all the way to the buoy flashing light halfway across the lake and then back. They’ve been hearing a lot of tension and arguments about the land next door
To their cabin that her stepfather had some shady real estate guy Tom basically manipulate and have Herman Hewitt agree to selling his Loon Marsh for $1 because he signed a trick contract they’d written up knowing he couldn’t read. They’d initially promised him $5000.00. Herman is absolutely irate, naturally. That land has been in his family for centuries and it’s never been sold off. His wife Is even more upset because she knows many of these summer folks who are quick to look down on their local community that lives at the lake year round. They would thrilled if they could get rid of Al the locals and keep this exclusive for just their kind but the locals will never concede.
As tensions begin running higher between the parents and couples that are summer family’s and their drinking becomes sloppier as they stress and argue over whether or not this giant company Whire Waters is going to purchase this land from her mother and stepfather, a land her mother feels was illegally taken from a kind family and has been taking as much cash as she can possibly can to make good on her promise that one she feels is going to be what will be the powder keg exploding under all the pressure and real soon.
Jane begins an intense summer romance with Owen. His family is the one that’s been tricked by all her step dad’s cronies and she hates him for it. One night they are all gathered at one of the families houses and all of the sudden Tom takes off sayinf that Herman was on the dock. He came back a while later sayinf that he brought him back to his side of the shore and Herman was threatening them all about the land. The following day, Jane learns from Owen his mom is officially missing. He confides that she hasn’t been the same since that night something happened to her. He’s convinced those nasty men did something terrible to her physically to teach her a lesson. Then she disappears less than a week later. Her sister Marilyn whispers to her right before she runs off that it was not Herman on the dock that Tom hurt and had been hurt by when he’s shown up with gashes and bruises everywhere. Marilyn whispers to her that it was his wife and that Tom hurt the wife.
At some point, brave Marilyn confronts Tony and he ends up doing horrific things to her and drowns her at the very edge of the lake and dumps her at the bottom of the boat that Owen is always betting around in. Jane know that Owen’s family hasn’t done anything wrong yet his father Herman is arrested for her sisters murder and she and Owen’s love of that summer was irrevocably over.
Until the body surfaces right in the yard adjacent theirs. They learn the body is a females. The DNA shows it is the mother of poor Owen. When Owen comes back to hear what is going on and to say he is happy that he was able to finally spread her with his dad and that he’s waited so so long for the closure. Jane tells her local polish about the friction and the miserable situation that whole summer. Then she tried to admit what went down when she herself confronted Tom and that when she had come to believe what she had done with the oar was the blow that surely killed Tom but it was Grace who will reveal the most shocking revelation of all.
I didn’t want this to end. I couldn’t read more and
Ore about these complex such deep and loyal friendships that surpass the time of friends and automatically become family and one that is as connected and loving and truly supportive as understanding of one another.
This was so not what I was expecting AT ALL. And I adored how creative this authors imagination is and the talented wordsmith that she is as well. And anyone who’s a fan of reading, an admirer of vocabulary that isn’t commonly used and is typically the least known and most unique synonym of a common word but for me I have a penchant for these underused words and any phrases that are clever and interesting and I find just the perfectly most aptly placed words within their paragraphs or sentences that is so well chosen and placed you have to stop and take a breath because true masters of their words and craft take your breath away as #NitaProse has done with her latest book #EmeraldLake and thank you #Netgalley for the advanced reading copy and to #Ballantine for publishing another outstanding piece of art. Thank you for also giving me the opportunity to read the ARCS and give my review. I’m so grateful to have the chance to do so.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️
I absolutely loved The Maid series by Nita Prose. Like, really loved it. The original premise and the quirky and peculiar Molly Maid were such a standout. So going into Emerald Lake, I really didn’t know what to expect. I’m actually glad I went into it blind because I’m not sure I would have given it a chance otherwise. Additionally, I liked that Nita Prose went in a completely different direction from her debut series, but I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much. With The Maid, there was such a distinctly original premise, along with Molly, who I absolutely adored. In Emerald Lake, the characters felt more like characters I’ve encountered in other mysteries over the years. There wasn’t a lot that really stood out to me, until the ending.
And the ending is where this one really came together. This wasn’t just a who killed whom? kind of ending. I really liked how it tied together the mystery, the family secrets, the women across generations, the lake imagery, the loons, and even the ownership of Loon Cove. The ending actually meant something, rather than just throwing one more crazy twist at you. That was what made Emerald Lake feel a little more unique within the mystery genre and ultimately left me appreciating the story more.
Thank you to Ballantine for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
I absolutely loved The Maid series by Nita Prose. Like, really loved it. The original premise and the quirky and peculiar Molly Maid were such a standout. So going into Emerald Lake, I really didn’t know what to expect. I’m actually glad I went into it blind because I’m not sure I would have given it a chance otherwise. Additionally, I liked that Nita Prose went in a completely different direction from her debut series, but I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much. With The Maid, there was such a distinctly original premise, along with Molly, who I absolutely adored. In Emerald Lake, the characters felt more like characters I’ve encountered in other mysteries over the years. There wasn’t a lot that really stood out to me, until the ending.
And the ending is where this one really came together. This wasn’t just a who killed whom? kind of ending. I really liked how it tied together the mystery, the family secrets, the women across generations, the lake imagery, the loons, and even the ownership of Loon Cove. The ending actually meant something, rather than just throwing one more crazy twist at you. That was what made Emerald Lake feel a little more unique within the mystery genre and ultimately left me appreciating the story more.
Thank you to Ballantine for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved everything about this book. The idyllic country setting, the waters of the lake, and the multi-generational characters seemed so real they were almost three dimensional. I became so immersed in the book I didn't want the story to end. I especially enjoyed central character, Jane, who we meet as a teen, then follow her into her eighties. Her friends, family, and neighbors at their summertime lakeside retreats bring the story to life. Though the timelines change, from 1955 to the present, we soon learn that people and their complexities somehow remain the same.
This reviewer wanted to read Emerald Lake after discovering Prose's The Maid cozy mystery series and reviewing two of those books. Nita Prose writes beautifully and her narrative is reader friendly. I look forward to her next novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for providing an advance copy of the book to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews.com at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*
This reviewer wanted to read Emerald Lake after discovering Prose's The Maid cozy mystery series and reviewing two of those books. Nita Prose writes beautifully and her narrative is reader friendly. I look forward to her next novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for providing an advance copy of the book to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews.com at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*
September 14, 2026
Thank you to Ballantine/Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This review is my own. I enjoyed Nita Prose’s Molly the Maid series and was excited to read this new mystery, and I absolutely LOVED it!!! I could not put this book down. The story is told in different timelines and by different characters within the timelines. Jane grows up spending summers on Emerald Lake with her sister, Marilyn, her family, and her best friend, Grace. The summer Jane is 15 the golden times come to an end when a land deal tears the friendships and the summer people/townies apart. There is murder, crime, young love, and the end of innocence. Jane faces her past in the present day. She is 84 years old and fears that the lake has finally released her darkest secret when human remains are found on her property, but Jane’s secret isn’t the only one the lake conceals. An excellent mystery, beautifully written, with a compelling story, rich characters, and an aching heart at its core. Highly recommend!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Emerald Lake is a great mystery with two timelines that kept me interested from beginning to end. In the present, Jane is in her 80s, while the other timeline takes us back to her teenage years. Every summer, Jane, her sister Marilyn, and their mother and stepfather would visit Emerald Lake and become part of the “summer people.”
I really enjoyed Jane’s character and her lifelong friendship with Grace, both when they were young and as they grew older. Tragedy struck in more than one way during those summers, and Jane and Grace made a pact to keep certain secrets. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that there are plenty of secrets waiting to be uncovered!
I especially loved the short, quick chapters that kept the story moving and made it hard to put down. This was a thoroughly enjoyable mystery that I would recommend to readers who enjoy secrets, suspense, and stories that move between past and present.
I really enjoyed Jane’s character and her lifelong friendship with Grace, both when they were young and as they grew older. Tragedy struck in more than one way during those summers, and Jane and Grace made a pact to keep certain secrets. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that there are plenty of secrets waiting to be uncovered!
I especially loved the short, quick chapters that kept the story moving and made it hard to put down. This was a thoroughly enjoyable mystery that I would recommend to readers who enjoy secrets, suspense, and stories that move between past and present.
October 13, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy of this title. All opinions are my own. ✨
I adored The Maid series when I read it and reread it a few times, so when I learned Nita Prose was coming out with a new standalone mystery, I was thrilled!
I really enjoyed every single part of this book. There are two character POVS as well as dual timeline with flashbacks telling the story via Jane’s memory of the summer she fell in love for the first time as a teenager… as well as when her sister, Marilyn, was murdered.
I felt immersed throughout, as if I was at the lake that summer watching the story unfold. So many secrets, murder, young love.. what more do you need?
This will be a great summer read. It’s quick and you really grow to love the characters, especially the locals.
I adored The Maid series when I read it and reread it a few times, so when I learned Nita Prose was coming out with a new standalone mystery, I was thrilled!
I really enjoyed every single part of this book. There are two character POVS as well as dual timeline with flashbacks telling the story via Jane’s memory of the summer she fell in love for the first time as a teenager… as well as when her sister, Marilyn, was murdered.
I felt immersed throughout, as if I was at the lake that summer watching the story unfold. So many secrets, murder, young love.. what more do you need?
This will be a great summer read. It’s quick and you really grow to love the characters, especially the locals.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 stars
I really enjoyed reading this book. It had great pacing and I felt at time I could not put the book down. I like how we got 2 different timelines to explain the story. There were some good twists thrown in the book that I did not see coming either. The reason I couldn't give 5 stars was due to the ending. Everything is wrapped up nicely but I was expecting more. It seemed half thought out, like something was missing. Overall, this was a great read!
In Emerald Lake, we met Jane who has lived most of her life on Emerald Lake. When her daughter and family are visiting for Thanksgiving, her grand daughter's find human remains in the cove. This brings up bad memories of all the death that has happened surround Jane and her family. Jane wants the past to stay hidden but with the discovery of bones, that isn't going to happen.
Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It had great pacing and I felt at time I could not put the book down. I like how we got 2 different timelines to explain the story. There were some good twists thrown in the book that I did not see coming either. The reason I couldn't give 5 stars was due to the ending. Everything is wrapped up nicely but I was expecting more. It seemed half thought out, like something was missing. Overall, this was a great read!
In Emerald Lake, we met Jane who has lived most of her life on Emerald Lake. When her daughter and family are visiting for Thanksgiving, her grand daughter's find human remains in the cove. This brings up bad memories of all the death that has happened surround Jane and her family. Jane wants the past to stay hidden but with the discovery of bones, that isn't going to happen.
Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After reading the Maid series by Nita Prose, I was excited to read something a bit different by her. When 84 year old Jane’s granddaughters find bones in the cove by Emerald Lake, the flashbacks and memories begin. The reader is taken back in time when Jane was a teen & lost her slightly older sister, Marilyn. Marilyn was murdered, but no one on the lake is giving up any answers. In present time, Clair, the local police officer, is trying to find answers to who these bones belong to. Marilyn’s body was found so they know it wasn’t her bones. There were several characters to keep track of which was a bit difficult in the beginning, but as the book went on, I was able to figure out who was who. This one had some twists right up to the end!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Net Galley and Random House Publishing!
Nita Prose does it again and writes a fantastic mystery. I have read all the Molly the Maid books and couldn’t be more excited to jump into this book. This was a different book with a slow burn but it kept me interested.
Pack this book for your next trip to the lake!
I enjoyed the multiple points of view which I felt added the needed texture to this story. I am glad that I read this versus listened as that aspect can make it harder to follow with an audio.
Officer Mundy’s father’s dementia with Jane’s flipping back to the past kept giving us the breadcrumbs to solve the mystery. I was not expecting to feel sadness and I although Prose gave us enough evidence to be suspicious of a couple of character’s I was not expecting a traumatic crime.
Nita Prose does it again and writes a fantastic mystery. I have read all the Molly the Maid books and couldn’t be more excited to jump into this book. This was a different book with a slow burn but it kept me interested.
Pack this book for your next trip to the lake!
I enjoyed the multiple points of view which I felt added the needed texture to this story. I am glad that I read this versus listened as that aspect can make it harder to follow with an audio.
Officer Mundy’s father’s dementia with Jane’s flipping back to the past kept giving us the breadcrumbs to solve the mystery. I was not expecting to feel sadness and I although Prose gave us enough evidence to be suspicious of a couple of character’s I was not expecting a traumatic crime.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Completely immersed myself in Emerald Lake and it was mesmerizing. A haunting mystery thriller with dual timelines in the 1950s and present day, the story is centered on 80-something Jane, and the secrets that have defined her life. Now a mother and grandmother with her own family, Jane is confronted with the complicated summers on the lake long ago, where cherished memories and tragic events collided as she evolved from girl into woman. An atmospheric suspense on the ties that bind and the complicated dynamics we leave in our wake. Loved the legends of the lake that tied into the very heart of the story. Highly recommend! #emeraldlake #nitaprose #netgalley #goodreads
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Emerald Lake” by Nita Prose is an atmospheric mystery filled with family secrets, forbidden romance, and heartbreak.
When 84 year old Jane’s twin granddaughters discover a human bone on her property, long buried secrets from her teenage summers at Emerald Lake begin to surface. Moving between the past and present, the mystery gradually reveals the complicated relationships, betrayals, and tragedies that have haunted her for decades.
I really enjoyed the lake setting, the eerie legend of the Lady of the Lake, and the enduring friendship between Jane and her best friend. The resentment between the wealthy summer families and the locals adds another layer of tension, with superstitions and a sense of entitlement fueling much of the conflict.
The mystery unfolds at a slower pace, but the emotional depth and unexpected revelations kept me interested. An engaging bittersweet story that explores grief, loyalty, and the lasting consequences of choices made long ago.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
When 84 year old Jane’s twin granddaughters discover a human bone on her property, long buried secrets from her teenage summers at Emerald Lake begin to surface. Moving between the past and present, the mystery gradually reveals the complicated relationships, betrayals, and tragedies that have haunted her for decades.
I really enjoyed the lake setting, the eerie legend of the Lady of the Lake, and the enduring friendship between Jane and her best friend. The resentment between the wealthy summer families and the locals adds another layer of tension, with superstitions and a sense of entitlement fueling much of the conflict.
The mystery unfolds at a slower pace, but the emotional depth and unexpected revelations kept me interested. An engaging bittersweet story that explores grief, loyalty, and the lasting consequences of choices made long ago.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Emerald Lake offers a moody setting and a premise that should have pulled me in, yet I found myself struggling to stay engaged. The story moved slowly for my taste, and despite trying a second book by Nita Prose, I’ve realized her narrative style just isn’t the right match for me.
That said, I know many readers enjoy her thoughtful, layered approach, and I can see why this book has earned positive early reviews. It simply wasn’t the immersive experience I hoped for.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.
That said, I know many readers enjoy her thoughtful, layered approach, and I can see why this book has earned positive early reviews. It simply wasn’t the immersive experience I hoped for.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.
October 14, 2026
4.25⭐️ | NetGalley ARC Review
Wow.
When I first started this book I was not expecting to be hooked as much as I was or to enjoy it as much as I did. This is a great thriller and thank God because this is exactly the type of vibe I have been looking for in a book for this time of the year.
The plot is pretty simple.
The actual execution of it is great.
The twists? Also great.
Even the ending ties everything we are figuring out throughout the book beautifully.
Would definitely recommend picking this one up whenever it’s available!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
Wow.
When I first started this book I was not expecting to be hooked as much as I was or to enjoy it as much as I did. This is a great thriller and thank God because this is exactly the type of vibe I have been looking for in a book for this time of the year.
The plot is pretty simple.
The actual execution of it is great.
The twists? Also great.
Even the ending ties everything we are figuring out throughout the book beautifully.
Would definitely recommend picking this one up whenever it’s available!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Three and a half stars rounded up to four. Jane Weber has been living in her cottage by the lake for many years. When her granddaughters find human remains, secrets long buried threaten to rise to the surface. Is Jane ready to talk about that long ago summer?
This was a slow starter for me, it took me a while to become emotionally invested, hence my taking half a star. But when I did get into the story, I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. Highly recommended.
This was a slow starter for me, it took me a while to become emotionally invested, hence my taking half a star. But when I did get into the story, I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. Highly recommended.
Want to Read
September 25, 2026I absolutely LOVED The Maid series! Same author, I'm in!
Pub date: 04/2027
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Pub date: 04/2027
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley & Ballantine for this ARC.
This was such a great story! The author really takes you in on a journey, it's slow burn but I loved the characters and did not mind taking my time with them. I recommend this book although it's completely different than what we know the author for (the Maid series!).
This was such a great story! The author really takes you in on a journey, it's slow burn but I loved the characters and did not mind taking my time with them. I recommend this book although it's completely different than what we know the author for (the Maid series!).
September 20, 2026
Nita Prose knows how to write a good story. I found Emerald Lake to be darker than her “Maid” books. I liked it but it was a haunting tale and sad. Jane and Grace were wonderful characters and I loved their friendship.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews