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Detective Chris Bailey #1
The Lake House
Two missing women.
One unidentified victim.
A witness who may have seen too much.
Lauren Mathews, while lounging on the shore, sees a man lugging something heavy into a boat the morning after she and her friends hear a strange cry ring out across the lake in the dead of night.
Detective Chris Bailey is stumped. He’s trying to solve the mystery of a drowning with an unidentified victim. But with no leads, he’s getting nowhere. And now, at the same lake, two more women suddenly have gone missing.
Chris suddenly finds he has an array of murder suspects but no bodies. At the center of it seems to be a young woman, Lauren Mathews. He doesn't know what role she plays, but he does know she is of interest to at least three of the men under suspicion.
But a pattern is emerging. Another body surfaces.
The killer will stop at nothing to stay hidden. But as he draws closer to unraveling the mystery of dead women, Chris begins to fear Lauren will be next on the killer’s list.
One unidentified victim.
A witness who may have seen too much.
Lauren Mathews, while lounging on the shore, sees a man lugging something heavy into a boat the morning after she and her friends hear a strange cry ring out across the lake in the dead of night.
Detective Chris Bailey is stumped. He’s trying to solve the mystery of a drowning with an unidentified victim. But with no leads, he’s getting nowhere. And now, at the same lake, two more women suddenly have gone missing.
Chris suddenly finds he has an array of murder suspects but no bodies. At the center of it seems to be a young woman, Lauren Mathews. He doesn't know what role she plays, but he does know she is of interest to at least three of the men under suspicion.
But a pattern is emerging. Another body surfaces.
The killer will stop at nothing to stay hidden. But as he draws closer to unraveling the mystery of dead women, Chris begins to fear Lauren will be next on the killer’s list.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 10, 2022
201 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Kate Watterson
32 books91 followersWriting as both Emma Wildes and Katherine Smith, Kate Watterson has over thirty published books to her credit, plus five Eppie nominations, one Eppie win for best historical erotic in 2007, a RWA Lories win, WisRWA 2005 final for best historical romance, and is a CAPA nominee. She loves suspense and to write erotic stories in the genre is a special treat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
May 23, 2022
Drew (short for Andrew) Fletcher and his girlfriend Lauren Mathews are spending a week with Drew's best friend Rob Hanson at Rob's uncle's lake house. Karen, a girl Rob's been dating, was supposed to be with them as well but that plan tanked early on. The trio meet another resident on the lake, a famous author whose wife turns up missing. Strangely, Detective Chris Bailey didn't make an appearance in the book until about page 75 which seems unusual in a story of this type, not that there's anything wrong with it, just unusual, more so since we're unaware that the author's wife is missing before then. He only told the three friends that she was out of town.
I feel like I was misled by the description of this book and that it was a thinly veiled story about a love triangle with a few dead bodies popping up out of the water. Although the main characters weren't very likeable, the story wasn't bad as long as I skimmed the parts with all the angsty, torn-between-two-lovers nonsense. The writing was actually well done even though I didn't find the story all that strong. Of course there was that blip around 70% where the coroner arrives on the scene and darned if his name isn't Dr. Loren! Now why would you do that when the main female character is named Lauren?! Thankfully he didn't appear in the book after that scene. TBH, I was a little confused by the end of the book and even read the last chapter twice and I'm still not sure if the story is finished or if it'll continue into the next book.
As I said in a status update I read this in preparation for reading Book #2 in the Detective Chris Bailey series which I have from Netgalley and I really hope it's a better story.
I borrowed a copy of this book from Kindle Unlimited. All opinions expressed are my own.
I feel like I was misled by the description of this book and that it was a thinly veiled story about a love triangle with a few dead bodies popping up out of the water. Although the main characters weren't very likeable, the story wasn't bad as long as I skimmed the parts with all the angsty, torn-between-two-lovers nonsense. The writing was actually well done even though I didn't find the story all that strong. Of course there was that blip around 70% where the coroner arrives on the scene and darned if his name isn't Dr. Loren! Now why would you do that when the main female character is named Lauren?! Thankfully he didn't appear in the book after that scene. TBH, I was a little confused by the end of the book and even read the last chapter twice and I'm still not sure if the story is finished or if it'll continue into the next book.
As I said in a status update I read this in preparation for reading Book #2 in the Detective Chris Bailey series which I have from Netgalley and I really hope it's a better story.
I borrowed a copy of this book from Kindle Unlimited. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 29, 2022
2.5 stars rounded down
Detective Chris Bailey Book 1
Lauren Matthews, while while lounging on the shore, sees a man lugging something heavy into a boat the morning after she and her friends hear a strange cry ring out across the lake in the dead of night. Detective Chris Bailey is stumped. He's trying to solve the mystery of a drowning with an unidentified victim. But with no leads, he's getting nowhere. And now, at the same lake, two more women suddenly have gone missing. Chris suddenly finds he has an array of murder suspects but no bodies.
I do dislike when I have to write a negative review. After all, someone has put a lot of work, time and effort into writing a book. There was a couple of times when I thought it was showing more potential, but I was wrong. I didn't like any of the characters, they were a bit one-dimensional to me. I'm sure I will be in the minority and lots more readers will enjoy this story.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #KateWatterson for my ARC of #TheLakeHouse in exchange for an honest review.
Detective Chris Bailey Book 1
Lauren Matthews, while while lounging on the shore, sees a man lugging something heavy into a boat the morning after she and her friends hear a strange cry ring out across the lake in the dead of night. Detective Chris Bailey is stumped. He's trying to solve the mystery of a drowning with an unidentified victim. But with no leads, he's getting nowhere. And now, at the same lake, two more women suddenly have gone missing. Chris suddenly finds he has an array of murder suspects but no bodies.
I do dislike when I have to write a negative review. After all, someone has put a lot of work, time and effort into writing a book. There was a couple of times when I thought it was showing more potential, but I was wrong. I didn't like any of the characters, they were a bit one-dimensional to me. I'm sure I will be in the minority and lots more readers will enjoy this story.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #KateWatterson for my ARC of #TheLakeHouse in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2022
When I read the blurb I thought this was right up my street and I thought it would be more police procedural than it was. I found the main characters vapid and really didnt engage with it at all.
I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.
I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.
February 29, 2024
This is a new author to me and I'm so glad that I chose to read this book!
Lauren and Drew are invited to stay with Drew's friend Rob and his girlfriend, at Rob's Uncles Lake House. Some fishing time for the boys and rest and relaxation for the girls.
In a dream location, nice weather, good food and company what could be better!
On arrival Lauren & Drew find that Karen won't be spending time with them after all.
There is trouble in paradise in more ways than one.
The story is told from different perspectives including the killers, although we don't yet know who the killer is.
Local detectives are still looking for the perpetrator in a case from the previous summer where a young woman was found drowned in the lake... now more women are disappearing in the area.
The author drew me in, I love her easy writing style, it was never confusing, it was descriptive and I was suspicious of all three suspects. She really made me put my thinking cap on!
This is full of secrets and suspense with a perfect setting and a creepy neighbour, I enjoyed every minute of it and I couldn't wait for the killer to be revealed, also I needed to know how the relationship fiasco would pan out. I liked Lauren and wanted to see her happy; really hoping that she didn't become a victim of the killer!
This is a book that I highly recommended and I look forward to reading more books by this great author.
Thank you.
This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Lauren and Drew are invited to stay with Drew's friend Rob and his girlfriend, at Rob's Uncles Lake House. Some fishing time for the boys and rest and relaxation for the girls.
In a dream location, nice weather, good food and company what could be better!
On arrival Lauren & Drew find that Karen won't be spending time with them after all.
There is trouble in paradise in more ways than one.
The story is told from different perspectives including the killers, although we don't yet know who the killer is.
Local detectives are still looking for the perpetrator in a case from the previous summer where a young woman was found drowned in the lake... now more women are disappearing in the area.
The author drew me in, I love her easy writing style, it was never confusing, it was descriptive and I was suspicious of all three suspects. She really made me put my thinking cap on!
This is full of secrets and suspense with a perfect setting and a creepy neighbour, I enjoyed every minute of it and I couldn't wait for the killer to be revealed, also I needed to know how the relationship fiasco would pan out. I liked Lauren and wanted to see her happy; really hoping that she didn't become a victim of the killer!
This is a book that I highly recommended and I look forward to reading more books by this great author.
Thank you.
This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
January 30, 2022
I got this book from Net Galley and was pleasantly surprised with it. A love triangle, Murder, suspense. This book definitely keeps you on your toes right to the end. I really enjoyed this first book and am looking forward to reading more in the series!
February 1, 2024
There was a lot packed in this one. Serial killer, love triangle, ambitious detective, devious writer. I just feel trying to pack so much in just muddled the waters. Streamlining the plot and concentrating on just one, maybe two threads, would definitely make it a better read in my eyes.
March 27, 2022
The Lake House by Kate Watterson
The Lake House by Kate Watterson is the first in Detective Chris Bailey thriller series. I would certainly read more stories in this new series.
The storyline was full of interesting twists and turns, with intriguing characters, murders and romance. Also, there was the enigmatic poetry inserts to keep the reader further intrigued.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
Highly recommended.
The Lake House by Kate Watterson is the first in Detective Chris Bailey thriller series. I would certainly read more stories in this new series.
The storyline was full of interesting twists and turns, with intriguing characters, murders and romance. Also, there was the enigmatic poetry inserts to keep the reader further intrigued.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
Highly recommended.
February 13, 2022
If there’s one thing that I like doing it’s discovering new authors. Kate Watterson is certainly a new author for me and having enjoyed reading ‘The Lake House’ as much as I did, I am rather annoyed to realise that I left it this long to discover her work. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Lake House’ but more about that in a bit.
I was drawn into this book from the synopsis alone and as soon as I started to read, I knew that I wasn’t going to be doing much apart from reading for the rest of the day. I can honestly say that I didn’t warm to the characters of Lauren, Drew and Rob at all but I still wanted to know what happened to them. I developed my own theories as to what was going to happen and I had to keep turning those pages to see if the story developed in the way that I was expecting it to or not. I would become so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story. All too quickly I reached the end and I was able to distance myself from Lauren, Drew and Rob and I had to say a temporary farewell to Detective Chris Bailey. I found ‘The Lake House’ to be a tense, dramatic and gripping read, which certainly kept me guessing.
‘The Lake House’ is certainly well written. Kate grabbed my attention from the synopsis and drew me into what proved to be a compelling story. In Lauren, Drew and Rob, Kate has created some interesting characters with more layers to them than you would find on a parcel during a game of ‘pass the parcel’. For me the story was more of a ‘slow burn’ type of read. The pace gathered momentum as the story continued and led to a tense conclusion. Reading ‘The Lake House’ felt a bit like being on an at times scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I love the way in which Kate makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action. That’s how I felt at any rate.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘The Lake House’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Kate’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
I was drawn into this book from the synopsis alone and as soon as I started to read, I knew that I wasn’t going to be doing much apart from reading for the rest of the day. I can honestly say that I didn’t warm to the characters of Lauren, Drew and Rob at all but I still wanted to know what happened to them. I developed my own theories as to what was going to happen and I had to keep turning those pages to see if the story developed in the way that I was expecting it to or not. I would become so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story. All too quickly I reached the end and I was able to distance myself from Lauren, Drew and Rob and I had to say a temporary farewell to Detective Chris Bailey. I found ‘The Lake House’ to be a tense, dramatic and gripping read, which certainly kept me guessing.
‘The Lake House’ is certainly well written. Kate grabbed my attention from the synopsis and drew me into what proved to be a compelling story. In Lauren, Drew and Rob, Kate has created some interesting characters with more layers to them than you would find on a parcel during a game of ‘pass the parcel’. For me the story was more of a ‘slow burn’ type of read. The pace gathered momentum as the story continued and led to a tense conclusion. Reading ‘The Lake House’ felt a bit like being on an at times scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I love the way in which Kate makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action. That’s how I felt at any rate.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘The Lake House’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Kate’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
February 13, 2022
This story was sadly a far cry from the gripping thriller it promised to be. In fact, throughout most of the book, I was simply.... bored.
The main characters were a lackluster group with nothing that made them stand out from each other. In fact, when it came to the main trio, their personalities were so close that sometimes I confused Drew and Rob altogether. I also didn't care much for the fact that Lauren was dating one of them, but had feelings for the best friend (and the best friend for her). Even Chris (our insightful detective didn't even stand out. I remember two things about him - that his girlfriend moved out and left him the dog, and that he was the more "imaginative" of the two detectives.
Another big issue that I had with this was the fact that the point of view of who was telling the story jumped with no warning. This wasn't an issue with the opening of each chapter, as that was a given that it was from the perspective of the killer, and was italicized. However, randomly in the middle of a chapter, the point of view would change sometimes two or more times causing me to have to go back and re-read in order to ascertain just who was talking at that time.
I did enjoy a couple of twists and turns that this story provided, but in the end, I feel as though things were wrapped up just a little too nicely (aka in a very rushed sort of way), and I didn't connect with Chris who will feature in the rest of the series enough to continue on with them (at least at this time).
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
The main characters were a lackluster group with nothing that made them stand out from each other. In fact, when it came to the main trio, their personalities were so close that sometimes I confused Drew and Rob altogether. I also didn't care much for the fact that Lauren was dating one of them, but had feelings for the best friend (and the best friend for her). Even Chris (our insightful detective didn't even stand out. I remember two things about him - that his girlfriend moved out and left him the dog, and that he was the more "imaginative" of the two detectives.
Another big issue that I had with this was the fact that the point of view of who was telling the story jumped with no warning. This wasn't an issue with the opening of each chapter, as that was a given that it was from the perspective of the killer, and was italicized. However, randomly in the middle of a chapter, the point of view would change sometimes two or more times causing me to have to go back and re-read in order to ascertain just who was talking at that time.
I did enjoy a couple of twists and turns that this story provided, but in the end, I feel as though things were wrapped up just a little too nicely (aka in a very rushed sort of way), and I didn't connect with Chris who will feature in the rest of the series enough to continue on with them (at least at this time).
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
February 7, 2022
A week’s vacation is a luxury house on a beautiful lake – what could go wrong? Pretty much everything.
Rob has invited his best friend Drew and Drew’s girlfriend Lauren to his uncle’s house where the boys plan to fish and Lauren to read her book and enjoy the scenery. Lauren is not really looking forward to her week and we soon find out why. Rob and Drew are not as easy in each other’s company as usual. Lauren witnesses some weird behaviour on the lake. Rob’s girlfriend turns up but leaves the next day after a row.
Enter Detective Chris Bailey. He has one cold case, a girl found drowned in the lake. Then, the wife of one of the other residents by the lake goes missing. And then, Rob’s girlfriend goes missing. Bailey has two missing people but no bodies and one missing person with no name.
Bailey’s list of suspects grows and includes Rob and Drew. The landscape of the suspected crimes shifts and the plot twists and turns right up until the final page.
I enjoyed reading this book. Rob, Drew and Lauren grew on me as characters and the dynamics between the three of them is well portrayed. Detective Chris Bailey is an interesting detective and his crime solving abilities are a little bit different. He is not the main character necessarily as the trio feature more prominently, but his personality develops slowly but surely and by the end you have a full person.
The setting is magical – a picture perfect lake with an exclusive enclave of wealthy residents who own amazing houses. The description of the setting is vivid, and I’d love to go to something similar.
The plot is seriously something else. It may start slowly, but just when you think you know something, another revelation, another twist, and you’re speculating again.
One serious point - Rob and Drew go fishing on the lake a lot and they seem to catch fish. However, meal descriptions are written which never feature fish! What happened to those fish?
Thanks to #NetGalley and #JoffeBooks for the eARC of #TheLakeHouse
Rob has invited his best friend Drew and Drew’s girlfriend Lauren to his uncle’s house where the boys plan to fish and Lauren to read her book and enjoy the scenery. Lauren is not really looking forward to her week and we soon find out why. Rob and Drew are not as easy in each other’s company as usual. Lauren witnesses some weird behaviour on the lake. Rob’s girlfriend turns up but leaves the next day after a row.
Enter Detective Chris Bailey. He has one cold case, a girl found drowned in the lake. Then, the wife of one of the other residents by the lake goes missing. And then, Rob’s girlfriend goes missing. Bailey has two missing people but no bodies and one missing person with no name.
Bailey’s list of suspects grows and includes Rob and Drew. The landscape of the suspected crimes shifts and the plot twists and turns right up until the final page.
I enjoyed reading this book. Rob, Drew and Lauren grew on me as characters and the dynamics between the three of them is well portrayed. Detective Chris Bailey is an interesting detective and his crime solving abilities are a little bit different. He is not the main character necessarily as the trio feature more prominently, but his personality develops slowly but surely and by the end you have a full person.
The setting is magical – a picture perfect lake with an exclusive enclave of wealthy residents who own amazing houses. The description of the setting is vivid, and I’d love to go to something similar.
The plot is seriously something else. It may start slowly, but just when you think you know something, another revelation, another twist, and you’re speculating again.
One serious point - Rob and Drew go fishing on the lake a lot and they seem to catch fish. However, meal descriptions are written which never feature fish! What happened to those fish?
Thanks to #NetGalley and #JoffeBooks for the eARC of #TheLakeHouse
February 10, 2022
The Lake House is the first book in the series. I was not aware this was going to be a series when I requested this book. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. The book was intriguing from the start as it continued to build until the surprising conclusion.
The story begins with someone describing the scenery and then saying or thinking 'He was going to kill his wife.' Next, we are with Lauren Matthews and her boyfriend, Drew on their way to best friend Rob, whose uncle has a vacation home on a lake in Tennessee. On their first night, they hear a scream, but can't decide if it is a woman or an animal. The next morning, Lauren notices their neighbor, dragging something heavy into his boat. But, what is strange about this is his attire. Dark slacks, light blue dress shirt and leather loafers, not at all boating attire. Several days later the neighbor's wife is reported missing. Shortly after, another woman who is known to the friends, is found on their shore murdered.
The bodies and the suspects keep turning up in this mystery. The book was slow to start but picked up slowly to draw you in to the story. The characters were a little stiff at the beginning, but I think it was part of the premise where Drew, Lauren and Rob had their own secrets which made them hard to understand until each revealed their secret.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
The story begins with someone describing the scenery and then saying or thinking 'He was going to kill his wife.' Next, we are with Lauren Matthews and her boyfriend, Drew on their way to best friend Rob, whose uncle has a vacation home on a lake in Tennessee. On their first night, they hear a scream, but can't decide if it is a woman or an animal. The next morning, Lauren notices their neighbor, dragging something heavy into his boat. But, what is strange about this is his attire. Dark slacks, light blue dress shirt and leather loafers, not at all boating attire. Several days later the neighbor's wife is reported missing. Shortly after, another woman who is known to the friends, is found on their shore murdered.
The bodies and the suspects keep turning up in this mystery. The book was slow to start but picked up slowly to draw you in to the story. The characters were a little stiff at the beginning, but I think it was part of the premise where Drew, Lauren and Rob had their own secrets which made them hard to understand until each revealed their secret.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
February 6, 2022
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of The Lake House, the first novel to feature Detective Chris Bailey, set in rural Tennessee.
Lauren, Rob and Drew are spending a week at a lakeside cabin but the creepy neighbour and a missing woman put a crimp on their enjoyment when Detective Chris Bailey starts to regard them as suspects.
I thought that with Chris Bailey being the tag in the series that the novel would be a police procedural, instead he’s obviously going to be the thread to link different psychological thrillers together, rather than the main focus of the novel.
The novel focuses on Lauren, the beautiful woman who has her boyfriend Drew and his best friend Rob in love with her. Fortunately, they are so mature there is little friction in this set up. We get not just pages but chapters of this extremely unlikely scenario, so the crime investigation doesn’t start till about 30% in. The emphasis didn’t appeal to me in the slightest. Who cares about city slickers working out their emotional issues in a crime novel? Then the killer announces himself early in the novel, so there is little suspense, although give the author her due she manages to muddy the waters enough at the backend of the novel that the ending is inconclusive on who did what, but hey, Lauren picks a man.
The Lake House is well written and manages to engender some tension, but it simply didn’t appeal to me.
Lauren, Rob and Drew are spending a week at a lakeside cabin but the creepy neighbour and a missing woman put a crimp on their enjoyment when Detective Chris Bailey starts to regard them as suspects.
I thought that with Chris Bailey being the tag in the series that the novel would be a police procedural, instead he’s obviously going to be the thread to link different psychological thrillers together, rather than the main focus of the novel.
The novel focuses on Lauren, the beautiful woman who has her boyfriend Drew and his best friend Rob in love with her. Fortunately, they are so mature there is little friction in this set up. We get not just pages but chapters of this extremely unlikely scenario, so the crime investigation doesn’t start till about 30% in. The emphasis didn’t appeal to me in the slightest. Who cares about city slickers working out their emotional issues in a crime novel? Then the killer announces himself early in the novel, so there is little suspense, although give the author her due she manages to muddy the waters enough at the backend of the novel that the ending is inconclusive on who did what, but hey, Lauren picks a man.
The Lake House is well written and manages to engender some tension, but it simply didn’t appeal to me.
March 6, 2022
Quite a complicated book , Lauren and Drew are in a relationship when Drew is invited to go fishing with his best friend, Rob. Lauren also goes along because Rob's girlfriend, Karen has invited herself to the country house beside the lake. On the first evening, a scream is heard (or it could be a bird/animal) and the wife of the man next door is missing. Quite a way into the book, two detectives start to investigate the drowned bodies (by this time there are 2), but strangely do not seem to look at the reclusive husband of the missing woman, and focus their investigation on Rob, Drew and Rob. Karen having firstly called off, arrived later and then left in a temper because her boyfriend wouldn't sleep with her, has now turned up dead on the deck. Both of the men are in love with Lauren (she has nice smelling,shiny hair and a nice bum)
The story is told from different perspectives . The characterizations were not great, the two friends were nice, one with blue eyes and the other with hazel eyes and had good bodies. The writer next door was strange . The police did not seem very interested in him at all which seemed strange in itself. More complications added by a case from years ago at university and the sister of the writers wife. The suspense did build up at some points in the book, but it all seemed to end up in an anticlimax and not all loose ends were tied up.
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Not bad, but I have read better
The story is told from different perspectives . The characterizations were not great, the two friends were nice, one with blue eyes and the other with hazel eyes and had good bodies. The writer next door was strange . The police did not seem very interested in him at all which seemed strange in itself. More complications added by a case from years ago at university and the sister of the writers wife. The suspense did build up at some points in the book, but it all seemed to end up in an anticlimax and not all loose ends were tied up.
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Not bad, but I have read better
February 10, 2022
Such a lot going on in this one!
Two couples are planning a nice, relaxing break at the lakeside home belonging to a relative of one of them. More luxurious than expected, they look forward to a chilled week but fate has other ideas in store. A local detective has a missing woman case on his hands which quickly escalates into two missing women and an unidentified body. As Detective Chris Bailey works the case, he finds himself returning to the holiday home more and more often as things escalate with their neighbour; the big question is, are the holidaymakers quite as innocent as they seem?
Now here a story which will keep you on your toes – there is a lot happening, and not just disappearing people! The location sounds idyllic (although here in Scotland, the midges would be out in force), an ideal getaway to recharge the batteries but add in a creepy neighbour, constant police visits and the uncertainty of knowing whether you are suspects or witnesses and the stress begins to stack up. This is a riveting read and one which kept me glued all the way through. I loved the epilogue, it tidied everything up neatly and left no unanswered questions as well as leading the way to the second novel which I will definitely be looking out for. A cracking read and one I’m delighted to recommend and give all five stars.
Two couples are planning a nice, relaxing break at the lakeside home belonging to a relative of one of them. More luxurious than expected, they look forward to a chilled week but fate has other ideas in store. A local detective has a missing woman case on his hands which quickly escalates into two missing women and an unidentified body. As Detective Chris Bailey works the case, he finds himself returning to the holiday home more and more often as things escalate with their neighbour; the big question is, are the holidaymakers quite as innocent as they seem?
Now here a story which will keep you on your toes – there is a lot happening, and not just disappearing people! The location sounds idyllic (although here in Scotland, the midges would be out in force), an ideal getaway to recharge the batteries but add in a creepy neighbour, constant police visits and the uncertainty of knowing whether you are suspects or witnesses and the stress begins to stack up. This is a riveting read and one which kept me glued all the way through. I loved the epilogue, it tidied everything up neatly and left no unanswered questions as well as leading the way to the second novel which I will definitely be looking out for. A cracking read and one I’m delighted to recommend and give all five stars.
November 2, 2022
This book was a personal drama trying to be a murder mystery, except there was no mystery because it told you straight from the beginning who the murderer was. The writing failed to generate an ounce of tension, the drama was so contrived it was laughable. The main female character was a very poorly veiled Not Like Other Girls (TM) fantasy, with literally every male character being obsessed with her.
November 7, 2022
Because this book got a 4 rating I kept waiting for it to get going. For me, it never did.
July 20, 2023
tbh this book sucked, it was boring and so hard to get through with an anticlimactic plot twist.
September 2, 2024
There was a lot I really liked about this book. It is, in many ways, well-written, with a clean mystery, interesting setup, and fun thrills.
But it self-sabotages with shallow characterization. These characters arcs could have been so fulfilling if I'd just been allowed into their heads a little more.
Lauren is in a relationship with Drew, but has a mutual crush on Drew's best friend, Rob. That's an interesting setup! But Drew and Rob are depicted as being so similar in terms of dialogue, thought process, and maturity levels that I couldn't relate to Lauren's dilemma. What was she lacking in her relationship with Drew? How did Rob compliment her personality better?
We're told, not shown, that Lauren is creative and Rob is analytical, but we never get a chance to FEEL that. In my opinion, she seems to interface with Drew in exactly the way she interfaces with Rob. And that really detracted from my enjoyment of the dynamic, and the tension of the novel, which relies on empathy for the characters.
A desire to avoid uncomfortable emotions might be what plagues this novel. One of my favorite parts was when it was revealed that Because it's messy, it's human, it's unexpected - and it's a break from the characters being so damn reasonable about things that are really hard for humans to approach reasonably.
Yes, it was a refreshing break that I like that! Too many books rely on the melodrama of lust to avoid character development. But this book hides behind characters being unreasonably well-adjusted at all times to avoid character development.
Infatuation is a difficult emotion to reason with, and the fact that would have been more meaningful if we'd gotten the chance to see them really wrestle with some of those unpleasant and difficult-to-manage emotions, to have moments where they think and behave erratically and have to wrestle with themselves in some palpable way, and there was some triumph in
I also have a problem with the...safe, surface-level sexuality of this book. There's a lot of talk about the attractiveness of the characters, but since the tension of their dynamic was dependent on getting their lust towards each other, I would have preferred to get into their head and really understand the source of that attraction. Or better yet, some sense of what they found emotionally and intellectually attractive about each other.
Finally, I have a problem with the dialogue. It's too clean, and sounds too much like the characters' internal monologues. A few moments of realistic awkwardness, nervousness, goofiness, etc. in the dialogue would have gone a long way - as well as a few moments where the characters can't perfectly put their thoughts into words.
I really liked the conclusions of the characters' stories, so it was frustrating that for most of the book I was skimming the surface of their characterization.
And you might notice I'm not talking much about the crime in this crime thriller, because I liked that, too. But we spend an awful lot of time with Lauren, Drew, and Rob, so I think their characterization and internal worlds should have done a lot more heavy lifting.
But it self-sabotages with shallow characterization. These characters arcs could have been so fulfilling if I'd just been allowed into their heads a little more.
Lauren is in a relationship with Drew, but has a mutual crush on Drew's best friend, Rob. That's an interesting setup! But Drew and Rob are depicted as being so similar in terms of dialogue, thought process, and maturity levels that I couldn't relate to Lauren's dilemma. What was she lacking in her relationship with Drew? How did Rob compliment her personality better?
We're told, not shown, that Lauren is creative and Rob is analytical, but we never get a chance to FEEL that. In my opinion, she seems to interface with Drew in exactly the way she interfaces with Rob. And that really detracted from my enjoyment of the dynamic, and the tension of the novel, which relies on empathy for the characters.
A desire to avoid uncomfortable emotions might be what plagues this novel. One of my favorite parts was when it was revealed that Because it's messy, it's human, it's unexpected - and it's a break from the characters being so damn reasonable about things that are really hard for humans to approach reasonably.
Yes, it was a refreshing break that I like that! Too many books rely on the melodrama of lust to avoid character development. But this book hides behind characters being unreasonably well-adjusted at all times to avoid character development.
Infatuation is a difficult emotion to reason with, and the fact that would have been more meaningful if we'd gotten the chance to see them really wrestle with some of those unpleasant and difficult-to-manage emotions, to have moments where they think and behave erratically and have to wrestle with themselves in some palpable way, and there was some triumph in
I also have a problem with the...safe, surface-level sexuality of this book. There's a lot of talk about the attractiveness of the characters, but since the tension of their dynamic was dependent on getting their lust towards each other, I would have preferred to get into their head and really understand the source of that attraction. Or better yet, some sense of what they found emotionally and intellectually attractive about each other.
Finally, I have a problem with the dialogue. It's too clean, and sounds too much like the characters' internal monologues. A few moments of realistic awkwardness, nervousness, goofiness, etc. in the dialogue would have gone a long way - as well as a few moments where the characters can't perfectly put their thoughts into words.
I really liked the conclusions of the characters' stories, so it was frustrating that for most of the book I was skimming the surface of their characterization.
And you might notice I'm not talking much about the crime in this crime thriller, because I liked that, too. But we spend an awful lot of time with Lauren, Drew, and Rob, so I think their characterization and internal worlds should have done a lot more heavy lifting.
April 25, 2022
Dark, twisted and unpredictable, thriller fans will be gripped by Kate Watterson’s creepy chiller, The Lake House.
When Lauren, Drew and Rob had gone on a luxurious lake house vacation, they had been looking forward to a relaxing holiday away from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives. Lauren plans on doing nothing more strenuous than topping up her tan and enjoying herself as much as she possibly can – until one day she spots the man from next door lugging something heavy into a boat. Just what is he carrying? And could it be connected in any way to the screaming woman Lauren had heard the night before?
This beautiful part of Tennessee has got a dark secret bubbling away beneath the breath-taking scenery: women are disappearing and vanishing off the face of the earth. Detective Chris Bailey is naturally troubled by this and as he finds himself investigating a drowning from last summer of a woman who has never been identified, he begins to see a pattern emerging as another body surfaces…
As the killer edges ever closer and closer to Lauren, will she be the next victim? Will Chris manage to get to the bottom of this mystery and put a stop to this nightmare the women in this beautiful part of Tennessee are trapped in once and for all?
Kate Watterson certainly knows how to keep her readers on the edge of their seats. A heart-pounding page-turner full of adrenalin, twists and turns and shocks and surprises, The Lake House grips from the off and takes readers on a white-knuckle rollercoaster ride that will make every single hair on the back of their neck stand on end.
Full of tension, menace and suspense, thrillers don’t get more chilling than Kate Watterson’s The Lake House.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When Lauren, Drew and Rob had gone on a luxurious lake house vacation, they had been looking forward to a relaxing holiday away from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives. Lauren plans on doing nothing more strenuous than topping up her tan and enjoying herself as much as she possibly can – until one day she spots the man from next door lugging something heavy into a boat. Just what is he carrying? And could it be connected in any way to the screaming woman Lauren had heard the night before?
This beautiful part of Tennessee has got a dark secret bubbling away beneath the breath-taking scenery: women are disappearing and vanishing off the face of the earth. Detective Chris Bailey is naturally troubled by this and as he finds himself investigating a drowning from last summer of a woman who has never been identified, he begins to see a pattern emerging as another body surfaces…
As the killer edges ever closer and closer to Lauren, will she be the next victim? Will Chris manage to get to the bottom of this mystery and put a stop to this nightmare the women in this beautiful part of Tennessee are trapped in once and for all?
Kate Watterson certainly knows how to keep her readers on the edge of their seats. A heart-pounding page-turner full of adrenalin, twists and turns and shocks and surprises, The Lake House grips from the off and takes readers on a white-knuckle rollercoaster ride that will make every single hair on the back of their neck stand on end.
Full of tension, menace and suspense, thrillers don’t get more chilling than Kate Watterson’s The Lake House.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 1, 2023
Coming back on the bus from Auckland after spending the weekend there as I went to the Michael Buble concert which was amazing and if he came again, I definitely would see him again. I decided to get some reading done on the bus and clicked open The Lake House by Kate Watterson. I wasn't sure what it would be about but I knew I would enjoy it, as I had read a few of Kate's books and enjoyed them and who doesn't enjoy a good thriller? The Lake House by Kate Watterson takes us on a vacation that these three friends will never forget as the tragedies not only brought them together but a relationship was renewed and another one forged. Lauren, Drew, Rob, and Karen are spending some time away at Rob's uncle's vacation house but tensions will be high as Lauren is stuck in a love triangle between Rob and Drew. She is dating Drew but has feelings for Rob. Karen is with Rob, but he doesn't have feelings for her. Drew also has a secret, that will change the dynamics of his and Lauren's relationship. Not only will the group examine their feelings and emotions and sort out their love triangle, but murder has also been occurring on the opposite side of the lake as author Glen Heeston's wife has gone missing, an unidentified girl has been found drowned and now Karen. Who is killing females around the Lake and is Lauren next? Who will Lauren end up with at the end of the vacation? Find out in this action-packed vacation thriller that will possibly put you off visiting a Lake House for your next holiday/vacation. I am now looking forward to reading more of Kate Watterson’s books and if you like authors like Melinda Leigh, Melinda Woodhall, and Kendra Elliott, you will love this author.
February 24, 2022
“The Lake House,” by Kate Watterson, is a page-turning mystery, a psychological thriller, and murder suspense. It centers around best-friends Rob Hanson and Drew Fletcher, and Lauren Matthews, Drew’s girlfriend of six-months. They are all heading out to a luxe Tennessee “cabin” on a lake, a very large piece of property owned by Rob’s uncle who, we learn through Rob, is in Italy. Rob’s current girlfriend, Karen Foxton, decides she won’t be joining them as she is a busy attorney working on a case, but there is no disappointment on the side of Drew and Lauren, who are not overly crazy about her. Into this idyllic lake house vacation setting add one voyeuristic neighbor, Glenn Heaston, professor-turned-author, “an expert in offbeat criminal history.” Glenn watches the three of them interact through a telescope, openly, astutely guessing that both Drew and Rob have a romantic interest in Lauren. Throw in an I’m-coming-after-all by Karen, a confession by Rob leading to an angry confrontation with Karen, who abruptly leaves, and a visit by Detectives Bailey and Carter, and it is abundantly clear this is no relaxing fishing vacation after all.
There is gorgeous descriptive prose, an example of which is this quote regarding the emerging stars: “They were, the clouds tearing apart like soft cotton candy, in long thin layers with small brilliant lights in the background.” The character studies are well-written throughout the book, the plot of which winds, twists, and cascades to what we think is the end. The climax is dramatic, tense, and page-turning. Many surprises abound throughout, and while you may believe you finally know the truth, can it be proven in a court of law? I gladly and highly recommend this novel, and any other works of Kate Watterson.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for kindly sending me this novel to read in exchange for an honest review.
There is gorgeous descriptive prose, an example of which is this quote regarding the emerging stars: “They were, the clouds tearing apart like soft cotton candy, in long thin layers with small brilliant lights in the background.” The character studies are well-written throughout the book, the plot of which winds, twists, and cascades to what we think is the end. The climax is dramatic, tense, and page-turning. Many surprises abound throughout, and while you may believe you finally know the truth, can it be proven in a court of law? I gladly and highly recommend this novel, and any other works of Kate Watterson.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for kindly sending me this novel to read in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2025
Rob, Drew and Lauren are on vacation by the lake. Their neighbour is a reclusive writer whose wife is missing. Last year there was an unexplained drowning of another woman. Could Lauren be in danger?
The Lake House is the first book in a new detective series although Chris Bailey doesn't appear until a quarter of the way through.
The beginning of the book sets the scene for the complicated love lives of Rob and Drew, both in love with Lauren who is dating Drew but feels attracted to Rob. I found this trio very interesting as the relationships intertwine and had no idea how the complication could be resolved. It certainly didn't seem like a detective story for the first third of the book.
The chapters begin with snippets of perspective from the killer which increases the tension and anticipation. We see that he is responsible for a death but no details except for the men hearing a scream and Lauren witnessing something odd. Detectives Bailey and Carter arrive to investigate the disappearance of Glenn's wife and follow up on an unsolved cold case from the previous summer.
I liked the way that this book was driven by characters other than the lead detective. We were not bogged down in his personal life which allowed me to focus on the investigation and try to guess connections and outcomes.
The Lake House was an intriguing murder novel and I look forward to the next book in the series.
The Lake House is the first book in a new detective series although Chris Bailey doesn't appear until a quarter of the way through.
The beginning of the book sets the scene for the complicated love lives of Rob and Drew, both in love with Lauren who is dating Drew but feels attracted to Rob. I found this trio very interesting as the relationships intertwine and had no idea how the complication could be resolved. It certainly didn't seem like a detective story for the first third of the book.
The chapters begin with snippets of perspective from the killer which increases the tension and anticipation. We see that he is responsible for a death but no details except for the men hearing a scream and Lauren witnessing something odd. Detectives Bailey and Carter arrive to investigate the disappearance of Glenn's wife and follow up on an unsolved cold case from the previous summer.
I liked the way that this book was driven by characters other than the lead detective. We were not bogged down in his personal life which allowed me to focus on the investigation and try to guess connections and outcomes.
The Lake House was an intriguing murder novel and I look forward to the next book in the series.
January 30, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Lauren Matthews heads to the lake on vacation with her boyfriend, Drew, and his best best friend, Rob, but it is not the relaxing week they hoped for. On their first night, they hear a scream, but can't decide if it is a woman or an animal. The next morning, Lauren sees their voyeuristic neighbor, a bestselling crime author, lug something big and heavy into his boat, and a day or two later he reports his wife missing. As detective Chris Bailey investigates her disappearance, he begins to think there may be a link to the body of an unidentified young woman that found drowned in the same lake the summer before, cause of death undetermined, especially when the body of another young woman is found floating in the lake. Drew and Rob were also there last summer around the time the first body was found, as was the neighbor, putting them all on Bailey's suspect list. This was a quick read and overall I enjoyed the book. Sometimes I found the writing a bit awkward and I had to reread sentences to make sense of them. You feel like you know who the perpetrator is for much of the book, but there are surprises at the end. Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2023
A relationship conundrum with twists of murder
Rob and Drew, longtime friends, arrive at the lake house, for a weeks vacation. Drew brings his girlfriend, Lauren along, which creates a tense background of desire and secrets. Into the mix comes Dr Heaston, a creepy neighbour and Karen, Ron’s wanna-be girlfriend. When Mrs Heaston and Laren go missing, Detectives Bailey and Carter become involved in this mystery.
The novel starts with the internal musings of the killer and it’s pretty clear who that is very early in the book. The mystery concentrates on how much the killer is involved in the various disappearances/deaths and whether Drew and Rob can exonerate themselves, while they sort out their love triangle. I did get confused by the references to the two detectives as Bailey was often referred to as Chris which confused with Carter and calling it a Chris Bailey book 1 made me expect a stronger more dynamic character and Lauren seemed the stand out character for me. Knowing the killer also took away a lot of the speculation and mystery solving,so it was more a case of waiting for him to make a mistake than any great sleuthing skills. There were a few twists but generally the plot points were inevitable. It did keep me reading.
Rob and Drew, longtime friends, arrive at the lake house, for a weeks vacation. Drew brings his girlfriend, Lauren along, which creates a tense background of desire and secrets. Into the mix comes Dr Heaston, a creepy neighbour and Karen, Ron’s wanna-be girlfriend. When Mrs Heaston and Laren go missing, Detectives Bailey and Carter become involved in this mystery.
The novel starts with the internal musings of the killer and it’s pretty clear who that is very early in the book. The mystery concentrates on how much the killer is involved in the various disappearances/deaths and whether Drew and Rob can exonerate themselves, while they sort out their love triangle. I did get confused by the references to the two detectives as Bailey was often referred to as Chris which confused with Carter and calling it a Chris Bailey book 1 made me expect a stronger more dynamic character and Lauren seemed the stand out character for me. Knowing the killer also took away a lot of the speculation and mystery solving,so it was more a case of waiting for him to make a mistake than any great sleuthing skills. There were a few twists but generally the plot points were inevitable. It did keep me reading.
February 25, 2022
This is Book 1 of a new series starring Detective Chris Bailey and is a crime thriller set in Tennessee. A bit of a slow burn but once I got into it a fast paced and very clever storyline which involves three friends, Lauren, Drew and Rob. Not really a police procedural which was my expectation from the blurb, more of a psychological thriller.
Briefly, when three friends, having a break in a lakeside house, hear a scream in the night they assume it is an owl. However, the next day Lauren sees their neighbour put something into a boat, and watching them through binoculars. Then Rob’s girlfriend Karen joins them but after a disagreement she leaves. Meanwhile Bailey is looking into the death of an unidentified woman found in the lake the previous summer. He becomes involved with our threesome when Karens sister reports her missing and they become suspects in her disappearance.
This was a read full of suspense and drama. Many twists and turns right through the book leading up to a clever ending. I’m looking forward to reading more of Chris Bailey ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Briefly, when three friends, having a break in a lakeside house, hear a scream in the night they assume it is an owl. However, the next day Lauren sees their neighbour put something into a boat, and watching them through binoculars. Then Rob’s girlfriend Karen joins them but after a disagreement she leaves. Meanwhile Bailey is looking into the death of an unidentified woman found in the lake the previous summer. He becomes involved with our threesome when Karens sister reports her missing and they become suspects in her disappearance.
This was a read full of suspense and drama. Many twists and turns right through the book leading up to a clever ending. I’m looking forward to reading more of Chris Bailey ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
February 25, 2022
Sorry but I had to give up reading this book at chapter 11.
The story still hasn’t got going, all I’ve read so far is 3 people 1 woman 2 men who are both in love with her and she’s with one of the men, and they are all on vacation at a lake where a neighbour’s wife has gone missing. I just couldn’t relate to any of the characters at all.
This is being dragged out too much and not getting to the nitty gritty of what the actual book is about.
Sorry Kate, I couldn’t read any more, I may come back to it but it didn’t hook me in and make me want to read on.
I really don’t like giving bad reviews and I respect Kate as an author and it hasn’t put me off wanting to read her other books, but I have to be honest.
The story still hasn’t got going, all I’ve read so far is 3 people 1 woman 2 men who are both in love with her and she’s with one of the men, and they are all on vacation at a lake where a neighbour’s wife has gone missing. I just couldn’t relate to any of the characters at all.
This is being dragged out too much and not getting to the nitty gritty of what the actual book is about.
Sorry Kate, I couldn’t read any more, I may come back to it but it didn’t hook me in and make me want to read on.
I really don’t like giving bad reviews and I respect Kate as an author and it hasn’t put me off wanting to read her other books, but I have to be honest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2025
The premise of the story had potential and an interesting foundation. However, the love triangle felt somewhat underdeveloped, and some of the dialogue came across as repetitive, especially regarding the characters' attraction to one another. While the secret Drew kept added some intrigue, it might not have had the dramatic impact intended. The character dynamics occasionally leaned toward being exaggerated, and the frequent shifts in the narrative made it a bit challenging to follow the flow. Additionally, the conversations with Chris and Cassandra could have benefited from a touch more realism to enhance their relatability.
It’s clear that a lot of effort and creativity went into this book, and refining some areas could elevate the story even further.
It’s clear that a lot of effort and creativity went into this book, and refining some areas could elevate the story even further.
January 23, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
I was looking forward to reading this book, but just couldn't get into it. The 3 main characters, 2 best friends and the girlfriend of 1 of them, spend a week at a beautiful lake house in the country. One has come with his girlfriend and his friend secretly covets her (and she him). The 2 men are very good-looking and the girl is beautiful and I found all of them vapid and couldn't care less about them. There's a neighboring murderous author, a murder or 2 and a detective who will feature again in this series, but unfortunately I have no wish to read any of them, sorry!
I was looking forward to reading this book, but just couldn't get into it. The 3 main characters, 2 best friends and the girlfriend of 1 of them, spend a week at a beautiful lake house in the country. One has come with his girlfriend and his friend secretly covets her (and she him). The 2 men are very good-looking and the girl is beautiful and I found all of them vapid and couldn't care less about them. There's a neighboring murderous author, a murder or 2 and a detective who will feature again in this series, but unfortunately I have no wish to read any of them, sorry!
February 10, 2022
I received The Lake House as a free ebook for an honest review from Net Galley. I was really hopeful when I selected this book. While I feel the premise had the potential to be a great read, this book fell a little short. The biggest issue I had was the constant perspective changes that some times provided little to no indication of whose perspective we were following. There were a couple times I had to reread the first few paragraphs after a switch in order to figure out who I was reading about. One thing that could really help with that is including a subheading with the character’s name. This would provide clarity and make these changes not as jarring.
April 21, 2023
WOW I really enjoyed The Lake House (Detective Chris Bailey book 1 by Kate Watterson a crime thriller.
Three friends, Lauren Drew and Rob go on vacation to a luxurious Lake House owned by Rob's Uncle in Tennessee which is surrounded by a lake and woods but unbeknown to them a killer is on the loose.
Detective Chris Bailey is investigating mainly women getting murdered in the vicinity and is on a mission to find the culprit.
Kate a girlfriend of Rob arrives uninvited but Rob is not overjoyed as he has another love interest. There are a lot of secrets that are revealed as the story develops.
Three friends, Lauren Drew and Rob go on vacation to a luxurious Lake House owned by Rob's Uncle in Tennessee which is surrounded by a lake and woods but unbeknown to them a killer is on the loose.
Detective Chris Bailey is investigating mainly women getting murdered in the vicinity and is on a mission to find the culprit.
Kate a girlfriend of Rob arrives uninvited but Rob is not overjoyed as he has another love interest. There are a lot of secrets that are revealed as the story develops.
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