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Lake Ness #1
Lake Ness: Extinction Is About To Be Redefined
Beneath the inky black surface of Lake Ness lurks something too monstrous for this world...
Gerry Lawson, a washed-up scientist slowly recovering from a life that got out of his control, finds himself saying yes when his cousin Marnie asks him to help her and her partner Jim with an outdoor survival program for disadvantaged kids. Not quite sure what he's let himself in for, he slowly adjusts to the isolated environment of Lake Ness and the challenges of living with a bunch of often erratic and unpredictable teenagers.
However, it's not long before their best-laid plans start to unravel. Some of the kids aren't too good at obeying the rules of the camp, Gerry finds himself dragged back down into memories he's been trying to avoid, and Marnie and Jim have had a falling out. The FBI is also sniffing around and everyone knows that they don't generally like to spend money unless it's money well spent.
On top of everything else, there's something large and dangerous living in the lake and as impossible as it sounds, Gerry is starting to think they've discovered some long-extinct aquatic dinosaurs living in this isolated waterway, creatures who are rapidly developing a taste for human flesh. Someone is going to have to step up to be a hero before more lives are lost and it looks like Gerry is that man. Unfortunately, volunteering to be a hero was never one of Gerry's preferred career choices.
Lake Ness - extinction is about to be redefined.
Gerry Lawson, a washed-up scientist slowly recovering from a life that got out of his control, finds himself saying yes when his cousin Marnie asks him to help her and her partner Jim with an outdoor survival program for disadvantaged kids. Not quite sure what he's let himself in for, he slowly adjusts to the isolated environment of Lake Ness and the challenges of living with a bunch of often erratic and unpredictable teenagers.
However, it's not long before their best-laid plans start to unravel. Some of the kids aren't too good at obeying the rules of the camp, Gerry finds himself dragged back down into memories he's been trying to avoid, and Marnie and Jim have had a falling out. The FBI is also sniffing around and everyone knows that they don't generally like to spend money unless it's money well spent.
On top of everything else, there's something large and dangerous living in the lake and as impossible as it sounds, Gerry is starting to think they've discovered some long-extinct aquatic dinosaurs living in this isolated waterway, creatures who are rapidly developing a taste for human flesh. Someone is going to have to step up to be a hero before more lives are lost and it looks like Gerry is that man. Unfortunately, volunteering to be a hero was never one of Gerry's preferred career choices.
Lake Ness - extinction is about to be redefined.
- GenresHorrorScience Fiction
206 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2020
163 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Cherie Mitchell
165 books85 followersCherie Mitchell is an Amazon bestselling author with a number of short story prizes, book awards, and literary commendations to her name. Her biggest prize to date was a complimentary trip across the world when her book The House At Sailor's Bay was ranked as a finalist in the Litnet Small Towns, Big Stories Contest.
Cherie is staunchly cross-genre and has written books in the categories of suspense, mystery, romance, women's fiction, non-fiction, thriller, YA, and drama. She enjoys creating the types of characters and scenarios that readers can relate to, cheer for, or recognize.
Books to note include The Life Thief, The Knowing series, The Dare, and The Apartment.
Cherie is staunchly cross-genre and has written books in the categories of suspense, mystery, romance, women's fiction, non-fiction, thriller, YA, and drama. She enjoys creating the types of characters and scenarios that readers can relate to, cheer for, or recognize.
Books to note include The Life Thief, The Knowing series, The Dare, and The Apartment.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 15, 2022
Gerry Lawson, a washed-up scientist, finds himself helping his cousin with an outdoor survival camp for kids at lake Ness. The isolated lake is being investigated as something is amiss there after a recent earthquake. The earthquake set something free into the lake. Something huge. Something terrifying.
This is a well written creature horror story. The short chapters allow the pages to fly by. And there is a lot of focus on the characters to make us care about what happens to them. The tension is slowly and expertly built up, with subtle flashes of the creature creeping into the story at regular intervals. Though, I would have loved to see a bit more focus on the creature itself. The ending is also a bit puzzling as the story simply stops, just as it was getting interesting.
This is a well written creature horror story. The short chapters allow the pages to fly by. And there is a lot of focus on the characters to make us care about what happens to them. The tension is slowly and expertly built up, with subtle flashes of the creature creeping into the story at regular intervals. Though, I would have loved to see a bit more focus on the creature itself. The ending is also a bit puzzling as the story simply stops, just as it was getting interesting.
February 8, 2021
It was a 4 star creature feature with a few errors that glared, but a fun read.
I wish storylines had been completed and we knew what was going on with Jim and Leigh, but it just stops.
The last 2 pages sucked. Terrible ending, or non ending as it may be.
I wish storylines had been completed and we knew what was going on with Jim and Leigh, but it just stops.
The last 2 pages sucked. Terrible ending, or non ending as it may be.
March 1, 2022
I love creature novels, especially ones set in the deep so I thought a short book like this would be a fun way to kill a few hours, but I can now say that if you're looking for some exciting killer creature action you're going to be disappointed. About 70% of the book comprises of a few adults and a bunch of kids attending an outdoor survival camp. They potter around building fires, eating meals, hiking... it's all very mundane. The kids - except for one - all come off as jerks and the main character spends the entire time moping about, filled with inner angst about his dead daughter. Not really fun to read. It's only in the last few chapters the creatures finally show up and even then it feels more like a cameo rather then them being the focal point of the novel.
Even so, the writing was decent, and as I went through I was intending to give this three stars for effort - but then I hit the ending. Yes I know it's part of a series, so I wasn't expecting everything to be wrapped up, but the cliffhanger was a horrible way to end this! It literally stops dead right in the middle of the most interesting scene in the book with the good guys making a last ditch attempt to kill the creatures once and for all. Do any of the heroes survive? Do the creatures survive, escape, and take over? What happens to the town where all this is happening? Sorry, can't tell you because the author decides that's a great place to end the book. Feels like a cheap way to make readers buy the next one. I'll spend my money elsewhere
Even so, the writing was decent, and as I went through I was intending to give this three stars for effort - but then I hit the ending. Yes I know it's part of a series, so I wasn't expecting everything to be wrapped up, but the cliffhanger was a horrible way to end this! It literally stops dead right in the middle of the most interesting scene in the book with the good guys making a last ditch attempt to kill the creatures once and for all. Do any of the heroes survive? Do the creatures survive, escape, and take over? What happens to the town where all this is happening? Sorry, can't tell you because the author decides that's a great place to end the book. Feels like a cheap way to make readers buy the next one. I'll spend my money elsewhere
July 16, 2021
Wasn't what i expected
But then I don't read a lot of horror books, but this isn't a horror. Thriller, yes.
Gerry is a has-been, a recovering alcoholic with some remaining issues.
When his cousin Marnie asks him to help her with some teenagers on a survival camp, he agrees. Why? We don't really know. Gerry seemed to have a rather shallow personality to start with, and I struggled to like him, but once you understand some of the problems he's facing, it quickly clarifies things.
A reluctant hero, an anti-hero, Gerry eventually saves the day. Great characters, lots of tension building. A clever story.
But then I don't read a lot of horror books, but this isn't a horror. Thriller, yes.
Gerry is a has-been, a recovering alcoholic with some remaining issues.
When his cousin Marnie asks him to help her with some teenagers on a survival camp, he agrees. Why? We don't really know. Gerry seemed to have a rather shallow personality to start with, and I struggled to like him, but once you understand some of the problems he's facing, it quickly clarifies things.
A reluctant hero, an anti-hero, Gerry eventually saves the day. Great characters, lots of tension building. A clever story.
February 25, 2021
This isn't Walden Pond
The story is a well crafted example of the niche in Science Fiction that can be connected all the way back to the "Hollow Earth" tales from Burroughs that evolved eventually into Rodan. I have always enjoyed this sub genre, as it harkens back to an age of adventure where new things exist in the blurry areas of the map.
I found the characters bit thin initially, but development did happen and they became far more human.
Definitely worth the read, I look forward to following the series.
The story is a well crafted example of the niche in Science Fiction that can be connected all the way back to the "Hollow Earth" tales from Burroughs that evolved eventually into Rodan. I have always enjoyed this sub genre, as it harkens back to an age of adventure where new things exist in the blurry areas of the map.
I found the characters bit thin initially, but development did happen and they became far more human.
Definitely worth the read, I look forward to following the series.
March 21, 2022
The premise of this book is ridiculous. A woman decides to take a bunch of kids with behavior problems out to a wilderness camp she knows nothing about, in the dead of winter. The closest town is 2 hours away, they have no cell service, and their only vehicle is a van that barely runs. She brings a man she's only known 6 months, and her cousin that has lost everything because of his alcohol addiction. What could possibly go wrong?
March 30, 2021
Really great story.
This is a real pages turned. The pacing is really strong, and the mystery unravels at a steady rate. Putting yourself in Gerrys shoes doesn't take much convincing at all. The suspense in the third act really kept me gripped and needing to finish the book. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to finish the rest of the series.
This is a real pages turned. The pacing is really strong, and the mystery unravels at a steady rate. Putting yourself in Gerrys shoes doesn't take much convincing at all. The suspense in the third act really kept me gripped and needing to finish the book. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to finish the rest of the series.
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July 14, 2021Scary and Fascinating creatures
His cousin wasn't honest about the trip. He was
totally a person who isn't smart cause he should have
asked questions. And being a recovering alcoholic everyone knows firsthand Let go and let God is our motto.. I thought it was funny when he mentioned he bought the camera from Amazon. lol
All and all it was ok.
His cousin wasn't honest about the trip. He was
totally a person who isn't smart cause he should have
asked questions. And being a recovering alcoholic everyone knows firsthand Let go and let God is our motto.. I thought it was funny when he mentioned he bought the camera from Amazon. lol
All and all it was ok.
August 7, 2021
Lake ness
The first book in a series. This book started and ended really good . I cant wait to tead the bext one.
A group of kids and three aduts head out to spend a few weeks at a lake in the wilderness. Staying in some government cabins that had been abondened .
I dont want to spoil it but hold on to your seat. You wont believe what happens.
The first book in a series. This book started and ended really good . I cant wait to tead the bext one.
A group of kids and three aduts head out to spend a few weeks at a lake in the wilderness. Staying in some government cabins that had been abondened .
I dont want to spoil it but hold on to your seat. You wont believe what happens.
January 19, 2021
Not bad overall
I was hoping for more dinosaur action and ended up with a decent story about a lake and the animals in it. It was good for a quick read, I intend to add the next book to my reading list.
I was hoping for more dinosaur action and ended up with a decent story about a lake and the animals in it. It was good for a quick read, I intend to add the next book to my reading list.
January 23, 2021
I REALLY liked this story!
This was fast paced from start to finish.
Several times I thought “hmmmm” what’s going on now.
I highly recommend this book due to the characters, the plot, and adventure.
This was fast paced from start to finish.
Several times I thought “hmmmm” what’s going on now.
I highly recommend this book due to the characters, the plot, and adventure.
September 26, 2021
Getting there
I see that this author has written and published several books. This surprised me! It reads like about talented beginner's first novel. Good imagination story -wise but less meaty than it could have been.
I see that this author has written and published several books. This surprised me! It reads like about talented beginner's first novel. Good imagination story -wise but less meaty than it could have been.
January 18, 2022
Interesting and believable
I'm not usually into sci fi stories but this one hooked me. I enjoyed the story and found it strangely believable. The characters were easy to know and there's plenty of emotion to keep you hooked.
I'm not usually into sci fi stories but this one hooked me. I enjoyed the story and found it strangely believable. The characters were easy to know and there's plenty of emotion to keep you hooked.
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June 16, 2022The book was ausom
It had me from the beginning and could not stop reading it it was bold and strange and the ones that died I did not exit that if was up to me it wood be a ten stair thank u
It had me from the beginning and could not stop reading it it was bold and strange and the ones that died I did not exit that if was up to me it wood be a ten stair thank u
June 2, 2024
This might be the slowest book ever! I ended up DNFing this book. I was 60% in and not one thing had happened at all! I don’t know how a monster book could be so freaking boring! Do not read this book.
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January 20, 2021Wonderful Book and hard to put down. Very exciting and I would recommend it to people that love horror..
February 1, 2021
Good story, engaging characters and entertaining.
February 23, 2021
Good but slow at times
I enjoyed his book but it was very slow at times and didn’t really get good till the end and then it ended!
I enjoyed his book but it was very slow at times and didn’t really get good till the end and then it ended!
April 23, 2021
Well, that's a couple of hours I'm not getting back.
July 14, 2021
Fun read. Wanted a better ending. Seemed incomplete. Quite enjoyed it.
April 19, 2021
I absolutely loved this one. I love casual lake Mosasaurs! More origin story for them would be awesome, I love reading about how they got where they are. Characters and premise were excellent. I really liked the camp setting and all the kids. Who is Justine, really? She seemed kind of shady, and we get no backstory for her other than "Marnie's friend". Why is the FBI curious about the lake? What do they want? Jane seems shifty. They clearly know something is there. Lots of questions! Hopefully we get some answers in the next two books that I just recently discovered existed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews