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The Secret Lake #1
Der verborgene See
An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.
A lost dog, a hidden time tunnel and a secret lake.
When Stella and her younger brother, Tom, move to their new London home, they become mystified by the disappearances of Harry, their elderly neighbour's dog. Where does he go? And why does he keep reappearing wet-through?
Their quest to solve the riddle over the summer holidays soon leads to a boat buried under a grassy mound - and a tunnel that takes them to a secret lake.
Who is the boy rowing towards them? Why is he so terrified? And whose are those children's voices carried on the wind from beyond the woods?
Stella and Tom soon discover that they have travelled back in time to their home and the children living there almost 100 years earlier. Here they make both friends and enemies, and uncover startling connections with the past and present...
A lost dog, a hidden time tunnel and a secret lake.
When Stella and her younger brother, Tom, move to their new London home, they become mystified by the disappearances of Harry, their elderly neighbour's dog. Where does he go? And why does he keep reappearing wet-through?
Their quest to solve the riddle over the summer holidays soon leads to a boat buried under a grassy mound - and a tunnel that takes them to a secret lake.
Who is the boy rowing towards them? Why is he so terrified? And whose are those children's voices carried on the wind from beyond the woods?
Stella and Tom soon discover that they have travelled back in time to their home and the children living there almost 100 years earlier. Here they make both friends and enemies, and uncover startling connections with the past and present...
154 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2011
8205 people are currently reading
2643 people want to read
About the author
Karen Inglis
23 books88 followersKaren Inglis is a bestselling children’s author based in London, UK, writing for ages 3–12.
She is best known for her time travel mystery The Secret Lake, which has sold over 600,000 print copies worldwide and is in translation in 12 languages. Set in London, it follows siblings Stella (11) and Tom (8), who discover a time tunnel while searching for a neighbour’s missing dog. The tunnel leads them to their own home and the children living there 100 years in the past. First published in 2011, the book hit bestseller lists in 2018–19 (and continues to rank highly on Amazon), proving that children still love a good old-fashioned adventure!
Two long-awaited sequels followed: Return to the Secret Lake (2022) and Beyond the Secret Lake (2024). The latter won the UK Selfies Children’s Book Award, announced at London Book Fair in 2025.
Karen explains:
“There was a long gap after book one as I was busy with other projects — but the best things come to those who wait! Reconnecting with Stella, Tom and friends was such a joy, and the response to the sequels has been wonderful. The Secret Lake was always going to be a hard act to follow!”
Karen’s other books include:
Eeek! The Runaway Alien (ages 7–10): a soccer-mad alien runs away to Earth for the World Cup. Illustrated, fast-paced and funny — a hit with reluctant readers!
Walter Brown and the Magician’s Hat (ages 7–10): magical mayhem ensues when Walter inherits his great-grandpa’s enchanted hat — and discovers his cat Sixpence isn’t quite what he seems...
Henry Haynes and the Great Escape (ages 6–8): Henry falls inside his library book after complaining it’s boring — and meets a smelly gorilla and a bossy boa with a zoo escape plan!
For younger readers:
The Tell-Me Tree (ages 4–8): a gentle, rhyming picture book that helps children talk about feelings through drawing, writing or conversation. Praised by parents, teachers, and charities, it's widely used in UK homes and classrooms. Includes links to free activity sheets.
Ferdinand Fox rhyming stories (ages 3–5):
Ferdinand Fox’s Big Sleep – inspired by a real fox who slept in Karen’s garden!
Ferdinand Fox and the Hedgehog – introduces Hatty and her son Ed, plus facts about how to help hedgehogs.
Ferdinand Fox and the Lost Boy – Ferdinand comes to the rescue in his bravest story yet.
A collected edition of all six rhyming stories is currently in the works for readers aged 6–7, or for parents who enjoy reading rhyme to younger children.
How it all began…
Karen’s writing journey began in 2010 when she took a sabbatical from her career in business writing to revisit story ideas drafted a decade earlier, when her sons George and Nick were small. One was The Secret Lake, which had been tucked away in a drawer after early rejections. This time, she self-published — and never looked back. In fact, she has turned down three traditional publishing deals in the last few years, preferring (for now at least) to retain creative control of her IP.
She eventually left business writing to focus fully on children’s books. Today, she regularly visits schools in person and via Zoom, and has signed books in Waterstones branches across London.
Visit her author website to find out more or to enquire about a school visit.
She is best known for her time travel mystery The Secret Lake, which has sold over 600,000 print copies worldwide and is in translation in 12 languages. Set in London, it follows siblings Stella (11) and Tom (8), who discover a time tunnel while searching for a neighbour’s missing dog. The tunnel leads them to their own home and the children living there 100 years in the past. First published in 2011, the book hit bestseller lists in 2018–19 (and continues to rank highly on Amazon), proving that children still love a good old-fashioned adventure!
Two long-awaited sequels followed: Return to the Secret Lake (2022) and Beyond the Secret Lake (2024). The latter won the UK Selfies Children’s Book Award, announced at London Book Fair in 2025.
Karen explains:
“There was a long gap after book one as I was busy with other projects — but the best things come to those who wait! Reconnecting with Stella, Tom and friends was such a joy, and the response to the sequels has been wonderful. The Secret Lake was always going to be a hard act to follow!”
Karen’s other books include:
Eeek! The Runaway Alien (ages 7–10): a soccer-mad alien runs away to Earth for the World Cup. Illustrated, fast-paced and funny — a hit with reluctant readers!
Walter Brown and the Magician’s Hat (ages 7–10): magical mayhem ensues when Walter inherits his great-grandpa’s enchanted hat — and discovers his cat Sixpence isn’t quite what he seems...
Henry Haynes and the Great Escape (ages 6–8): Henry falls inside his library book after complaining it’s boring — and meets a smelly gorilla and a bossy boa with a zoo escape plan!
For younger readers:
The Tell-Me Tree (ages 4–8): a gentle, rhyming picture book that helps children talk about feelings through drawing, writing or conversation. Praised by parents, teachers, and charities, it's widely used in UK homes and classrooms. Includes links to free activity sheets.
Ferdinand Fox rhyming stories (ages 3–5):
Ferdinand Fox’s Big Sleep – inspired by a real fox who slept in Karen’s garden!
Ferdinand Fox and the Hedgehog – introduces Hatty and her son Ed, plus facts about how to help hedgehogs.
Ferdinand Fox and the Lost Boy – Ferdinand comes to the rescue in his bravest story yet.
A collected edition of all six rhyming stories is currently in the works for readers aged 6–7, or for parents who enjoy reading rhyme to younger children.
How it all began…
Karen’s writing journey began in 2010 when she took a sabbatical from her career in business writing to revisit story ideas drafted a decade earlier, when her sons George and Nick were small. One was The Secret Lake, which had been tucked away in a drawer after early rejections. This time, she self-published — and never looked back. In fact, she has turned down three traditional publishing deals in the last few years, preferring (for now at least) to retain creative control of her IP.
She eventually left business writing to focus fully on children’s books. Today, she regularly visits schools in person and via Zoom, and has signed books in Waterstones branches across London.
Visit her author website to find out more or to enquire about a school visit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 401 reviews
September 28, 2011
A wonderful young adults book. Takes me back to my years of mischief and excitement of the unknown.
November 2, 2018
This was such a fantastic book! A great story for adults and children... a great mix of Alice and Wonderland and Narnia! A tale of two children who find a tunnel to the past and another life before theirs even existed... definitely worth a read!
On kindle unlimited for free!!!
Could get you children to create their own tunnels - what would they have at the end?
On kindle unlimited for free!!!
Could get you children to create their own tunnels - what would they have at the end?
July 23, 2022
What a great time travel adventure! Really had a blast. When Stella & her younger brother, Tom, move to their new London home, they become mystified by the disappearances of Harry, their elderly neighbour’s small dog. Where does he go? And why does he keep reappearing wet-through?
Their quest to solve the riddle over the summer holidays leads to a boat buried under a grassy mound, & a tunnel that takes them to a secret lake.
Who is the boy rowing towards them who looks so terrified? And whose are those children’s voices carried on the wind from beyond the woods? Stella & Tom soon discover that they have travelled back in time to their home & its gardens almost 100 years earlier. Here they make both friends & enemies, & uncover startling connections between the past and present. I loved the unique way they time travel in this, & the tunnel, & especially the “dancing moles” & everything they represent & do. The mystery aspect was also great. I also loved that they travel back to their own gardens & house-but 100 years or so before. I loved the sibling dynamic between Stella & Tom, & also LOVED the friendship they formed with the kids they meet from the past. A great mystery adventure time travel read, with great friendships. Heartwarming & charming read. The ending gave me all the feels as well. Highly recommend! BEAUTIFUL cover by Damir Kundalić too.💜
Their quest to solve the riddle over the summer holidays leads to a boat buried under a grassy mound, & a tunnel that takes them to a secret lake.
Who is the boy rowing towards them who looks so terrified? And whose are those children’s voices carried on the wind from beyond the woods? Stella & Tom soon discover that they have travelled back in time to their home & its gardens almost 100 years earlier. Here they make both friends & enemies, & uncover startling connections between the past and present. I loved the unique way they time travel in this, & the tunnel, & especially the “dancing moles” & everything they represent & do. The mystery aspect was also great. I also loved that they travel back to their own gardens & house-but 100 years or so before. I loved the sibling dynamic between Stella & Tom, & also LOVED the friendship they formed with the kids they meet from the past. A great mystery adventure time travel read, with great friendships. Heartwarming & charming read. The ending gave me all the feels as well. Highly recommend! BEAUTIFUL cover by Damir Kundalić too.💜
June 22, 2022
The secret lake is a fun and short adventure about time travelling.
This story surprised me, in the end it got way deeper than I thought it would and I liked those little twists and turns. As a kid I would have loved a story like this. It gave me flashbacks of my own childhood and all the small adventures we made growing up. It is really lovely book.
This story surprised me, in the end it got way deeper than I thought it would and I liked those little twists and turns. As a kid I would have loved a story like this. It gave me flashbacks of my own childhood and all the small adventures we made growing up. It is really lovely book.
January 22, 2021
I have to admit I was a little underwhelmed. My standard 5 star book for children’s time travel books is always Tom’s Midnight Garden by Phillipa Pearce. I’ve read that one at least a dozen times and even bought an old hardcover copy of it. This book was short and pleasant but not sure, even as a child, i would read it a second time.
November 25, 2021
I couldn’t believe this got so many 5 star reviews. I tried to start this 3 times with my kids and they were totally uninterested. I finally read it on my own and thought it was just ok. I don’t really get the hype?
July 2, 2020
DNF 33%
This book had no pacing or anything to hook me in. In my opinion, it was unreadable.
This book had no pacing or anything to hook me in. In my opinion, it was unreadable.
October 29, 2013
'A boat!' Stella whispered repeatedly. 'How on earth could it have got there? And why was Harry soaked to the skin?'
Eleven year old Stella and her eight year old brother Tom have moved from Hong Kong to a new home in London, where they enjoy exploring in the gardens around their house. Harry, the little dog belonging to Mrs Moon, one of their neighbours, arouses their interest as he keeps disappearing, and when he reappears he is wet. During their summer holidays, the two children investigate the gardens further and find a buried boat, and a tunnel which leads to a secret lake. Here they meet a young boy rowing, and looking scared. Their subsequent adventures take them on a journey back to the past, making new friends and discovering their home as it was nearly a hundred years previously.
This was a lovely read of just over a hundred pages with short chapters, and the author builds the suspense well over the course of the story. It's a magical and imaginative children’s tale, filled with plenty of excitement, discovery and adventure, time-travel, and some rather special moles! The interactions between the children and with those they met were well written and the author conveys their real excitement and intrigue about the mysteries they uncover and the discoveries they make. The realistic details of their lives in the present - such as their clothing and Stella listening to her iPhone and connecting with old friends from Hong Kong on Facebook - both adds substance and also contrasts well with the different appearances, speech and behaviour they find in the people they meet in the past. The attractive, intriguing setting is well evoked, and this is also nicely illustrated in the colourful, appealing cover design of the book jacket which matched the story nicely.
The Secret Lake is aimed primarily at readers aged around 8 to 11 years old, and I think readers of that age bracket (girls and boys) would enjoy this one very much, though I myself certainly enjoyed escaping into it and joining them on their adventures through the time tunnel too! It's a recently rediscovered delight to pick up a children's story from time to time.
4.5
Eleven year old Stella and her eight year old brother Tom have moved from Hong Kong to a new home in London, where they enjoy exploring in the gardens around their house. Harry, the little dog belonging to Mrs Moon, one of their neighbours, arouses their interest as he keeps disappearing, and when he reappears he is wet. During their summer holidays, the two children investigate the gardens further and find a buried boat, and a tunnel which leads to a secret lake. Here they meet a young boy rowing, and looking scared. Their subsequent adventures take them on a journey back to the past, making new friends and discovering their home as it was nearly a hundred years previously.
This was a lovely read of just over a hundred pages with short chapters, and the author builds the suspense well over the course of the story. It's a magical and imaginative children’s tale, filled with plenty of excitement, discovery and adventure, time-travel, and some rather special moles! The interactions between the children and with those they met were well written and the author conveys their real excitement and intrigue about the mysteries they uncover and the discoveries they make. The realistic details of their lives in the present - such as their clothing and Stella listening to her iPhone and connecting with old friends from Hong Kong on Facebook - both adds substance and also contrasts well with the different appearances, speech and behaviour they find in the people they meet in the past. The attractive, intriguing setting is well evoked, and this is also nicely illustrated in the colourful, appealing cover design of the book jacket which matched the story nicely.
The Secret Lake is aimed primarily at readers aged around 8 to 11 years old, and I think readers of that age bracket (girls and boys) would enjoy this one very much, though I myself certainly enjoyed escaping into it and joining them on their adventures through the time tunnel too! It's a recently rediscovered delight to pick up a children's story from time to time.
4.5
February 17, 2021
I LOVED IT,it was so awesome and interesting.I really enjoyed this book.and there is so much stuff to find out in this book also.around Christmas time I've been dying to get this book just by looking at the cover.and I have finally got it for Christmas and I was so happy.and just by reading the 2nd or 3d chapter It was already getting interesting.its a book anyone and everyone could love.and there is so much to find out in that book.and there is sooooooo many secrets in there that are amazing and interesting. I really enjoyed this book a lot.
November 27, 2020
My girls and I have fallen in love with reading chapter books together at bedtime. This was our 25th read aloud of the year and we all agree this book was our favourite!! This sorry has the perfect mix of feelings... we laughed, we cried, and waited in suspense. Thank you for sharing this amazing and creative story with us!
January 11, 2022
This lovely time-travel adventure for 8 to 12-year-olds reveals that friendship can last through the ages. The story reminds the middle-grade reader that, once, their parents and grandparents were young, too!
August 20, 2023
Absolutely magical book for young adults and all those who have their inner kids alive 🩵☺️
A full review is coming soon ✍🏼
A full review is coming soon ✍🏼
August 28, 2024
This is an engaging story involving time travel that will captivate middle-grade readers.
October 23, 2024
Розбираючи кошик з книжками біля ліжка, взяла цю до рук й не могла згадати чи я її дочитала😅
Полізла сюди й побачила, що навіть не відмітила початок, хоча це було ще весною))
Тепер попри мою коротку пам‘ять тепер знаю фінал історії й вона мила, хоча і дуже дитяча.
Полізла сюди й побачила, що навіть не відмітила початок, хоча це було ще весною))
Тепер попри мою коротку пам‘ять тепер знаю фінал історії й вона мила, хоча і дуже дитяча.
January 20, 2022
" Come and play in the garden of imagination. Let the seeds of your dreams grow and blossom in distant lands and time forgotten. "
A very nice book, for kids. A time-travelling story involving moles (!) and a dog, and a lake, focusing on friendship and justice. With nice characters and well written it echos other stories in a good way, while still being original and fun.
I would recommend this book for the younger side of middle grade.
A very nice book, for kids. A time-travelling story involving moles (!) and a dog, and a lake, focusing on friendship and justice. With nice characters and well written it echos other stories in a good way, while still being original and fun.
I would recommend this book for the younger side of middle grade.
August 8, 2022
This was an absolutely amazing book and I would rate it higher if possible! It is an amazing mystery kind of book and it adds some comedy in there too! 😜 It's a great book for all ages! Definitely recommend!
July 31, 2024
This was a fun adventurous summer read for me and the kids! Two children move to a new place and discover a tunnel to the past. They travel back in time and meet the children/family who lived nearby years ago and make fun discoveries and new friends along the way. It was a quick, fun read that we all enjoyed.
February 23, 2021
A short, fun filled read that kept me interested from start to finish. A lovely plot that sticks together with some great twists and turns.
June 26, 2020
Who knew a book aimed at 8-11 year olds could move a 23 year old to tears? Neither did I but somehow it did! Maybe it’s a bit like the classic Disney films, although they’re mainly aimed at children, you get so much more out of them watching them as an adult.
This book was perfect in so many ways! At only 110 pages, it was a super quick read but managed to pack so much of a storyline in. There was definitely no waffle, it got straight to the point and I loved every minute of it. It incorporated so many of my favourite things; friendships, sibling relationships, dogs, secret adventures and time travel!
I didn’t see the ending coming but it was unbelievably adorable and I like to think that the history repeated itself through the different time periods.
If you’re looking for a fun, easy and quick read, reminding us that the future is full of hope and dreams can come true, I would definitely recommend ‘The Secret Lake’, even if you’re much older than the target audience!
This book was perfect in so many ways! At only 110 pages, it was a super quick read but managed to pack so much of a storyline in. There was definitely no waffle, it got straight to the point and I loved every minute of it. It incorporated so many of my favourite things; friendships, sibling relationships, dogs, secret adventures and time travel!
I didn’t see the ending coming but it was unbelievably adorable and I like to think that the history repeated itself through the different time periods.
If you’re looking for a fun, easy and quick read, reminding us that the future is full of hope and dreams can come true, I would definitely recommend ‘The Secret Lake’, even if you’re much older than the target audience!
July 20, 2020
As an elementary school teacher, I am always on the lookout for good books for a definite audience in mind. This is the type of book my students enjoy, and for the most part, so do I. But this book was disappointing and unfortunately lacking in many areas. First of all, to be fair, perhaps I have a reprint written for American readers. During most of this book, when the author referred to a flashlight she named it as a torch as the British call it. Yet one time in this book, out of the blue, it is called a flashlight. This bothered me. There were several grammar and spelling errors that must have missed the proofing. But as a story it did not flow well and the characters were shallow. I know the book's audience are young people, but still these readers deserve quality writing and a cohesive story.
June 24, 2022
5 stars - English hardcover
Quote: The Island was a cluster of four oak trees in the center of the garden skirted by rododendron bushes.
Quote:" Tom! " She whispered in disbelief. " It's not a box. It's a boat!
When I saw all the five-star reviews listed under this book, I wondered whether the author had done a good job of rounding up family members and friends to write reviews.
Nonetheless I decided to give the book a try. Initially I was a bit apprehensive that it might not have enought action. Well, all I can say is they absolutely loved this book!
It was intriguing and mysterious. Those five-star reviews are all well deserved! And I am adding another one.
A good, clean, adventurous, mysterious time travel story for young kids! Grammar is not my main concern but I certainly did not spot any errors anywhere either.
Quote: The Island was a cluster of four oak trees in the center of the garden skirted by rododendron bushes.
Quote:" Tom! " She whispered in disbelief. " It's not a box. It's a boat!
When I saw all the five-star reviews listed under this book, I wondered whether the author had done a good job of rounding up family members and friends to write reviews.
Nonetheless I decided to give the book a try. Initially I was a bit apprehensive that it might not have enought action. Well, all I can say is they absolutely loved this book!
It was intriguing and mysterious. Those five-star reviews are all well deserved! And I am adding another one.
A good, clean, adventurous, mysterious time travel story for young kids! Grammar is not my main concern but I certainly did not spot any errors anywhere either.
February 26, 2024
A time travel adventure for grades 1 through 6
The story had some of the same elements as the classic Tom's Midnight Garden, but with a lighter treatment of the historical details regarding the harsh living and working conditions of children during the time period.
The story had some of the same elements as the classic Tom's Midnight Garden, but with a lighter treatment of the historical details regarding the harsh living and working conditions of children during the time period.
June 1, 2019
Wonderful book five stars
Amazing book
Love it
I want more books like this
I was about to cry
Love it so much amazing
Amazing book
Love it
I want more books like this
I was about to cry
Love it so much amazing
August 23, 2019
I like the overall idea of the book but feel it lacked detail, skipping too briefly over the main parts of the story.
January 12, 2025
Cute - perfect for a children's book. Quick, fun, diversion from the normal.
April 19, 2020
The title, "The Secret Lake", by Karen Inglis, immediately grabbed my attention upon searching for books in the mystery genre. It all started with two young children and a dog, whom have just moved to a new house, which lead to the uncovering of a mysterious lake that has never been discovered before. The journey of Stella (11) and Tom (8) to solve the riddle leads to unexpected twists and turns , where they make friends and enemies to reveal shocking connection between the past and present. This book is a definite WOW, as it rises the readers curiosity and keeps them on their toes while they are reading the entire time, which makes them addicted to reading the whole book. Moreover, the characters and scenes are described vividly, as if you are put in the their places trying to solve the mystery. Although the characters travel in time, and different scenes from the past and present are described, it is easy for the reader to keep up and differentiate between the different timings of events which in other books can be confusing.
This book is one of my favorite mystery books I came across and can be a great fit for students of 3rd through 5th grades. I think this would be a great book to include in books clubs, as it enhances students development of critical thinking and formation of inferences. During book clubs students can discuss certain predictions they have for the upcoming chapters and form relations of text to self and text to text.
This book is one of my favorite mystery books I came across and can be a great fit for students of 3rd through 5th grades. I think this would be a great book to include in books clubs, as it enhances students development of critical thinking and formation of inferences. During book clubs students can discuss certain predictions they have for the upcoming chapters and form relations of text to self and text to text.
June 14, 2020
Karen Inglis' 'The Secret Lake' is the an excellent adventure story for young readers. Siblings Stella and Tom live in a London flat with a shared garden. The garden is looked after by Charles, a stern man who often tells Tom off for digging. One day, whilst hiding from Charles, Stella and Tom come across an old boat buried in the soil and a mysterious ladder, leading deep into a dark hole. From then on, the two embark on an exciting quest which leads them to a secret lake in a time much different from their own. Stella and Tom must not only solve the mysteries they discover, but also save the friends they make along the way and, ultimately, try and find their way home.
'The Secret Lake' is filled with beautiful examples of descriptive language, without being too difficult for readers in Years 4 and 5, or even Year 3. The story is engaging, fast paced and at only 110 pages long, would be great for individual reading tasks. The themes of friendship, family and bravery are extremely emotive. Elements of historical fiction are also threaded into the story, which adds another interesting layer. The only reason I don't give it five stars is that I think the historical element of the story lacks some key specifics which would strengthen a child's understanding of what life was like for children in this particular period of history.
'The Secret Lake' is filled with beautiful examples of descriptive language, without being too difficult for readers in Years 4 and 5, or even Year 3. The story is engaging, fast paced and at only 110 pages long, would be great for individual reading tasks. The themes of friendship, family and bravery are extremely emotive. Elements of historical fiction are also threaded into the story, which adds another interesting layer. The only reason I don't give it five stars is that I think the historical element of the story lacks some key specifics which would strengthen a child's understanding of what life was like for children in this particular period of history.
October 3, 2020
Delight
Reminds of one of my favorite childhood books, Tom's Midnight Garden. Quite clever those moles..likely will never look at mole holes in quite the same manner. For a child I imagine the puzzle pieces fit together in such a delightful manner.
Reminds of one of my favorite childhood books, Tom's Midnight Garden. Quite clever those moles..likely will never look at mole holes in quite the same manner. For a child I imagine the puzzle pieces fit together in such a delightful manner.
January 26, 2021
It was so adventureus
March 31, 2021
it is a grate book it loved it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 401 reviews