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What Lies Beneath

Tyler Loftman sees the past of the dead with a single touch.

It’s a power he can’t ignore, can’t control, and can’t escape since he moved to the isolated shores of Lake Bellinor. But his life takes a more terrifying turn when a nameless young woman is found floating in the dark waters of the lake.

Suddenly, Tyler’s unwanted curse of a gift might be the only key to unlocking the truth. Yet, as he delves into the victim’s final moments, it marks his descent into a past that refuses to stay buried.

The lake has its secrets, and so do the dead.

227 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2026

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About the author

April Wright

3 books16 followers
April Wright is an author with a knack for writing haunting paranormal mysteries, thrillers, and the occasional other genres. She hails from New York City with a passion for the eerie and unexplained. When she is not absorbed in her craft, she enjoys reading, drawing, listening to music, or a number of other creative outlets to ease her mind and bring her inspiration.

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5 stars
9 (33%)
4 stars
18 (66%)
3 stars
0 (0%)
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Jenni.
7,712 reviews119 followers
August 22, 2026
Lake Bellinor doesn’t ease Tyler into anything — it behaves like a moody cryptid with boundary issues, tossing dead bodies at him and acting offended when he reacts appropriately.

Tyler Loftman has a curse disguised as a talent: one touch and he sees the past of the dead. Not the fun kind of past either — the traumatic, messy, “oh fantastic, now I know things I didn’t want to know” kind.
And sweetheart, moving to the isolated shores of Lake Bellinor has only made this ability louder, sharper, and significantly more inconvenient.

Then a nameless young woman is found floating in the lake’s dark waters, and Tyler’s unwanted gift becomes the only thread that might unravel the truth.
Except every vision drags him deeper into a past that clearly doesn’t want to stay buried.
The lake has secrets.
The dead have opinions.
And Tyler?
He’s just trying not to lose his grip on reality while everyone around him pretends this is fine.

The atmosphere is thick — eerie, unsettling, and humming with that “something is watching” energy. The mystery tightens with every chapter, pulling Tyler into a spiral of revelations that feel like emotional jump scares.
And the humour?
It slips in naturally — the kind of dry, exhausted commentary that comes from someone who has absolutely had enough supernatural nonsense for one lifetime.

The tension builds beautifully.
The pacing stays sharp.
The final pieces click together with that satisfying “oh, that’s bad” clarity.

A 4‑star read — haunting, clever, immersive, and carried by a protagonist who is relatable in his constant state of “This situation has exceeded my warranty.” The lake is sinister, the mystery is gripping, and the emotional undercurrent hits exactly where it should.

A dark, atmospheric ride with bite, wit, and just enough chaos to keep you hooked.
Profile Image for Lucinda.
637 reviews17 followers
September 4, 2026
Tyler is a teenage boy caught in the middle of his parents' custody battle, stuck in a small town he dislikes. He has a peculiar ability: when he touches an object, he sees visions of its past. Everything comes to a head when the body of a young woman washes ashore at Lake Bellinor.

Feeling compelled to solve the mystery of the young woman's murder, Tyler realises he won't find peace until he uncovers the truth. His older half-brother, Christian, is a police officer in the town, which proves beneficial when Tyler finds himself in difficult situations while following the leads from his visions.

I really enjoyed Tyler's character, especially his struggle to manage his gift/curse while balancing his everyday life. He appears to be a typical teenager who makes some questionable decisions in his quest for the truth, all while keeping his secret ability to himself. It’s a heavy burden for him to bear alone.
Profile Image for Jennifer .
1,784 reviews39 followers
September 11, 2026
What Lies Beneath by April Wright.
4 of 5 Stars.

This atmospheric paranormal mystery kept me hooked throughout. Tyler is a typical teenager, just one that has a power, he can see the past of the dead with a single touch. Living on the isolated shores of Lake Bellinor, Tyler can’t ignore his ‘gift’ or control it. Things take a terrifying turn when a young woman is found dead in the lake, and no one knows who she is. In order to discover who she is and how she died, Tyler uses his power. However, as he sees her final moments, he discovers that his own past won’t stay buried. Tyler is a likeable and relatable character, who as well as navigating the usual teenage dramas, also has his ‘gift’ to deal with. The descriptive narrative brought the eerie shores of Lake Bellinor vividly to life, making me feel fully immersed in the story. Whilst the slightly unsettling feel built chapter by chapter, making this a real page turner!

Profile Image for Shannen.
1,220 reviews32 followers
September 11, 2026
I had only read one book by this author before, but it was the perfect blend of creepy, addictive, and different, so of course I picked this one up without a second though. Tyler has got a pretty wicked talent, if you could even call it that, and man, I do not envy it. The mystery of it all keeps pulling him deeper into the victim’s final moments, and I was sitting there thinking, “Absolutely do not investigate that,” while also desperately needing him to investigate that. I loved the unsettling atmosphere because nothing needs to be screaming in your face for things to feel wrong; sometimes it’s just the lake being dark and quiet and me mentally packing Tyler’s bags for him. The supernatural element also works really well because his gift isn’t presented as some shiny cool superpower. It’s invasive, frightening, and basically impossible for him to shut off. Every revelation made me more suspicious of everyone and everything, including the lake, which feels rude considering lakes are supposed to be relaxing. If you’re into eerie mysteries, buried secrets, supernatural abilities, and stories where the past has absolutely no respect for personal boundaries, this one would make a very good addition to your increasingly questionable reading decisions. Don’t miss out! I’ll be looking for more from this author!
1,089 reviews17 followers
September 12, 2026
Tyler Loftman is a kid with a secret, he can see the pasta of people who have died, he can see the how and when and sometimes the why, but that takes a bit more effort and it all started when he and his family moved to the small town of Lake Bellinor.

Ever since this has been exhausting him beyond measure, but even if he told someone, they would never believe him, so he carries the burden alone, one day he finds out that a body of a girl has been pulled from the Lake and so he tries to figure out what happened and why, but things aren't straight forward and Lake Bellinor holds a lot of dark secrets too.

As he investigates the death of the young girl and her last living days, Tyler has to delve into the darkest areas of the past to bring the truth to light, but will he be able to do it and bring peace to the dead, or will he become one of the unlucky ones too? This is a thrilling YA horror where secrets are buried deep under the waters and life as they know it will change forever once they are brought to the surface.
Profile Image for Angela.
10.1k reviews134 followers
August 22, 2026
3 – 3.5 Stars

What Lies Beneath: Lake Bellinor by April Wright is a YA slow-burn mystery that blends elements of psychological tension with a touch of the supernatural. Set against the haunting backdrop of the isolated Lake Bellinor, the story follows Tyler, who’s burdened with an uncanny ability he neither completely understands nor fully controls. His life takes a chilling turn when the body of a young woman is found drifting in the lake’s dark waters – and it’s this event that forces him to confront both the secrets of the town as well as the shadows within himself.
A great read for fans of YA stories with atmospheric mysteries and a bit of a supernatural edge. If you enjoy stories where the setting is as important as the plot, then Lake Bellinor is bound to pull you under...
I am interested to see if the author will continue this as a series as there is plenty of room for more ‘mysteries’ for Tyler to unravel- along the lines of ‘Ghost Whisperer’.
Happy Reading…
Profile Image for Emerald.
56 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
July 18, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4)/5

I was sent this by the beautiful author herself, April Wright 🩷 Thank you for allowing me the chance to read this!

This book gave Ghost Whisperer and Mediator vibes from the get-go, with more Melinda Gordon vibes with the visions and everything. It’s pretty quick paced and immediately INTO it all, it’s not a slow burning plot, which I don’t mind!

I kept tripping over seeing my name, though! 😂 Emerald isn’t a common name but I love seeing it used. I mean, it’s a ghost, but still.

What Lies Beneath was a good mix of YA, thriller, paranormal, and mental health and mental illnesses. I felt for Tyler in a lot of scenes, you do see in his mind a lot. The ending was sad but satisfying, wrapped up neatly despite it being fast paced. It pretty much played out like an episode of Ghost Whisperer. I enjoyed it, nonetheless!
Profile Image for Jamie Burns.
173 reviews3 followers
September 1, 2026
This book reminded me of the show Ghost Whisper and it was one of my favorite television shows. The main character can talk to and see ghosts. She tries to help them into the light and to find peace. What starts as a mystery quickly turns into a creepy journey where you start wondering what’s hiding just beneath the surface... and whether you REALLY want to find out! What Lies Beneath had me following clues and questioning everything. The mystery kept pulling me deeper, while the supernatural moments added just the right amount of chills and goosebumps. Tyler is such an interesting character with such a supernatural and spooktacular ability. It was a blast to work along side him to figure out the mystery! So grab your flashlight, keep the lights on, and whatever you do... don’t go looking for what lies beneath!
554 reviews9 followers
September 8, 2026
What Lies Beneath is a paranormal mystery that focuses on Tyler, a teenager who experiences visions of the end of people's lives when he touches things relating to them. This “curse” has emerged at a difficult time for him as he navigates a new high school against the backdrop of his parents’ separation and mother's mental health struggles. It's hard enough to cope, without being plagued by nightmares!

Tyler's abilities add an extra dimension to the mystery without being a quick fix that detracts from the process of piecing together the clues. Tyler's visions only give him glimpses at a time, and he knows that clear evidence will be needed for the police to do anything about it.

This book gets four stars from me. I'd recommend it to mystery fans who enjoy stories with ghosts and a bit of high school drama!
Profile Image for Brandy Jo Rymer.
379 reviews8 followers
September 11, 2026
What Lies Beneath was a hauntingly great read by April Wright. I could not put this book down from the beginning, when we get to see the deaths of past victims. Tyler has a special ability to see the past lives of those who have passed on when he touches the same surfaces or items that they had touched when they were alive. As we navigate the mysterious death of a nameless young woman found in a body of water, Tyler starts to find clues that may help solve the case of what happened to her, who she was, and who may have wanted to cause her harm. Will he and his new friend Patty be able to solve the mystery, or will the person who caused the death of this young woman catch up to them first? Read on, my friends; this was a powerful twist on someone with the ability to bring justice to those who have been wronged while in life.
@Brandy Rymer
09/2026
198 reviews11 followers
September 11, 2026
4 stars

I really quite enjoyed this chilling tale. I won't lie, it took me a bit to get into it, but once I did, I seriously enjoyed it. I thought the idea behind it was really cool, and Tyler as a character was endearing and someone I could truly root for. It was nice to read a younger character who read like their true age. I was right there with him while he grappled wth and came to terms with his powers.
I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a mystery YA with supernatural elements. It manages to stay lowish-stakes whilst still maintaining a tense atmosphere. I do think that this would suit both older and younger audiences. Even though I am considerably older than the target audience, I still really enjoyed this, and Wright weaves a tale that will stick with you; I will defo be checking out more of their work in the future.

Profile Image for Vee Lozada.
Author 7 books10 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
July 18, 2026
Thank you April for gifting me an ARC copy of "What Lies Beneath." This review is my personal thoughts on her book.

And I absolutely loved it! Tyler's character is believable from beginning to end, and you get the moments when you feel the teenager in him, then when you feel the weight of his responsibilities to himself, his family, and those around him. The occasional ghost vision will draw you into his supernatural world, too! What Lies Beneath is a perfect balance of drama, crime thriller, supernatural atmospher, also blended with real life situations and pains of mental illness. I recommend this book to anyone, whether you're looking for a ghost spooky-vibe book, or a crime mystery that you want to solve (because as you read, you'll be trying to!!)
Profile Image for Bobbi Wagner.
5,310 reviews74 followers
August 21, 2026
This story is by an author that is newer for me in which enjoyed reading. This is a story that is shorter but the author did a great job of packing the story with details that kept it engaging. This is a story about Tyler and a unique gift. He can see the past in a single touch. What will happen when a woman is found dead in the lake ? Tyler may be the only key to finding the truth. I enjoyed the characters in this story. They are connectable and made me feel as if I was part of their world. They are well developed and had me wanting to know more about what happened next. I found this story to be fast paced and one that I enjoyed reading from beginning to end. This is an engaging story that I highly recommend.
Profile Image for Santana.
472 reviews10 followers
August 22, 2026
I flew through What Lies Beneath. It's a quick YA mystery with paranormal elements, and it gets straight into the story instead of taking forever to set everything up.

Tyler was my favorite part. He felt like an actual teenager, and I liked how his ability to see pieces of the past added another layer to the murder investigation. It kept me guessing while also showing how much pressure he's carrying.

The supernatural side reminded me a little of Ghost Whisperer, which made it even more fun. It also touches on mental health in a way that gives the story a bit more depth.

The ending wrapped everything up nicely and left me satisfied, even though it was also sad. This was an easy, fast read that I'd recommend if you're in the mood for a spooky mystery with a paranormal twist.
Profile Image for Book.Athlete.
342 reviews6 followers
August 30, 2026
I really enjoyed What Lies Beneath by April Wright. From the beginning, I found myself drawn into Tyler's story and appreciated how believable he felt as a character. He isn't simply a perfect hero making all the right choices—he feels like a real young person trying to navigate difficult circumstances and discover what lies beneath the surface of the people and world around him.
April Wright does a wonderful job of bringing out the uncertainty, emotions, and imperfections of being a teenager. I found myself connecting with Tyler and becoming invested in what would happen to him. The story kept me engaged while also giving me characters who felt human and relatable.
What Lies Beneath is a heartfelt and engaging read, and I am looking forward to seeing what April Wright writes next.

2,115 reviews29 followers
September 11, 2026
What Lies Beneath by April Wright. This is a great Young adult paranormal mystery. Its the story of Tyler who is a young teenager that has a crazy ability. When he touches the same items or surfaces that someone has touched he can read their past and everything that they did. Its a crazy gift to be given and when a woman is found dead in the local lake and no one knows who she is. Tyler begins to investigate and try to find out who this mystery Young woman is. Using his gift to see what happened to her it not only helps him see her past but it also brings up things from his past. Will he be able to figure out who she is without running his own life? This is a fast paced young adult paranormal mystery that will keep you flipping pages fast!
Profile Image for Anna Hirsch.
855 reviews17 followers
September 7, 2026
What Lies Beneath Lake Bellinor by April Wright
4 Stars

This is the first book I have read by April Wright, and I really enjoyed it! There was a bit of a mystery woven into the story, which kept me guessing and trying to figure out who did it.
I especially felt bad for Tyler. He didn’t feel like he could confide in anyone or really open up about what he was going through, and honestly, that made me sad. You could really feel how alone he was at times.
Overall, I thought this was an enjoyable read with some mystery, emotion, and enough twists to keep me interested. I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author!
Profile Image for Amber Oakes.
189 reviews8 followers
September 10, 2026
Tyler is not your typical teenage boy. He has a gift to see things that are not there anymore. Which is not helpful when you are trying to keep it together from his parents’ divorce. And also try to make sure your mom is okay and stay in a place that started his visions after all. But after he follows his brother to a scene of a young girl’s death. Finding out what happened to her becomes something he is determined to find out. He uses his gift to find out exactly what happened to Emerald and why. Follow along as you see Tyler use his gift to help with her case and sees that maybe letting people in on the secret he has been keeping to himself is not as bad or scary as he thought.
158 reviews5 followers
September 12, 2026
5 out of 5 Stars

What Lies Beneath by April Wright

This is the first book I've read by the author. What Lies Beneath is a great book. Though if you have a trigger with bipolar disorder then please take caution. It was a good read and something different than most books I read.

Tyler is sixteen almost seventeen and dealing with a lot of issues. When he got to the new town his mother moved him to something in him changed. Now his father wants him to move in with him. The quote I chose for him is this: “Don’t worry about me, kiddo. Why don’t you run back downstairs and see if mom needs your help with anything else?”
221 reviews9 followers
August 26, 2026
What Lies Beneath: Lake Bellinor by April Wright is a YA mystery with a touch of paranormal thrown in. 16-year-old Tyler Loftman has a secret. Since moving into their new house, he’s been seeing dead people – a gift he has not told anyone about. Tyler inadvertently becomes involved in the murder mystery of a young girl found in the lake when he sees and feels how she died. I enjoyed this book. Tyler is a very likeable character. This story is well paced. It has an ending that I didn’t see coming. Good read!
214 reviews9 followers
September 11, 2026
What Lies Beneath by April Wright
5 Star Review
This YA book is a mystery with a paranormal twist. Tyler is a 16 year old boy who has a gift (or curse) of being able to see the past of the dead by simply touching them. When the body of a young woman turns up, Tyler is thrown into the middle of the mystery of her death.
I loved the way this book was written. It is easy to read and made it impossible for me to put down. I had to know what happened next. If you are or know a reader who loves paranormal mystery, this book is an absolute must read!
Profile Image for Alli.
237 reviews
September 11, 2026
What Lies Beneath by April Wright pulled me in pretty quickly! There were secrets, tension, and that feeling that there was always something more hiding beneath the surface. I kept trying to piece things together and figure out who I could trust, which definitely kept me turning the pages.

I enjoyed the twists and the suspense, and I liked how the story kept me questioning what was really going on. It was an entertaining mystery that kept me guessing until the end!
Profile Image for Michelle Marlow.
319 reviews4 followers
September 13, 2026
This story starts right off with no momentum lost as it continues. Tyler has a gift. But is this truly a gift or is it more a curse than anything. Once he sees something, he cannot unsee and then decides to do what he can to make the wrongs righted.
This was truly an easy and fun read. I was able to sit down in one evening and finish it. The momentum never stopped for me and every twist and turn was so good.
Profile Image for Katie Burgess.
404 reviews
September 6, 2026
What Lies Beneath is a really gripping story that pulls you in from the very beginning. I loved the eerie atmosphere around Lake Bellinor and the mystery surrounding the young woman’s death. Tyler’s unusual ability adds such an interesting twist and keeps you guessing about what will happen next. Overall, it’s an intriguing, suspenseful read with plenty of mystery and a great sense of tension.
Profile Image for Amber Howard.
366 reviews7 followers
Read
September 7, 2026
4/5 Although this is a YA book, I in my late 30s really enjoyed this book. It moves at a fast pace. Full of engaging details. I honestly had to finish it in one sitting. I do feel like the ending felt kind of rushed but it was still a great book. I do hope it turns into a series. Like Nancy drew but more supernatural.
851 reviews12 followers
September 11, 2026
Tyler has the gift of seeing a dead person's past with one touch. He isn't the biggest fan of the gift, it's novelty has worn off. When a young woman is found in the local lake he is determined to find out what happened to her. Is he finally going to embrace his gift or will this make him want to push it away? There are some secrets that should stay buried forever and this may be one of them.
Profile Image for Finn Cunningham.
608 reviews16 followers
September 13, 2026
What Lies Beneath by April Wright is an absolutely addictive and truly enthralling paranormal mystery read. Firstly, can we talk about that cover?? I know they say never to judge a book by its cover, but im not gonna lie, I saw it and just KNEW this was gonna be great. I plan on reading more of this AUTHOR very soon!
Profile Image for Jessica Godwin.
321 reviews11 followers
September 3, 2026
Set against the creepy backdrop of Lake Bellinor, Tyler is just a normal teenager trapped in a small town, except he has this huge secret—touching objects triggers visions of their past. When a young woman's body washes up at the lake, he feels like he's the only one who can solve her murder, even though following his visions gets him into some pretty sketchy situations. He feels so real and easy to root for because he makes typical, reckless teenage mistakes while trying to deal with his "curse," mental health struggles, and everyday drama all on his own. It’s a mix of supernatural mystery, real-life drama, and twists that pull you in right away and keeps you hooked.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews