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Lake Child
You trust your family. They love you. Don't they?
When 17-year-old Eva Olsen awakes after a horrific accident that has left her bedbound, her parents are right by her side. Devoted, they watch over her night and day in the attic room of their family home in the forests of Norway.
But the accident has left Eva without her most recent memories, and not everything is as it seems. As secrets from the night of the accident begin to surface, Eva realises - she has to escape her parents' house and discover the truth. But what if someone doesn't want her to find it?
When 17-year-old Eva Olsen awakes after a horrific accident that has left her bedbound, her parents are right by her side. Devoted, they watch over her night and day in the attic room of their family home in the forests of Norway.
But the accident has left Eva without her most recent memories, and not everything is as it seems. As secrets from the night of the accident begin to surface, Eva realises - she has to escape her parents' house and discover the truth. But what if someone doesn't want her to find it?
324 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2019
41 people are currently reading
1258 people want to read
About the author
Isabel Ashdown
15 books255 followersIsabel Ashdown is an award-winning author and writing coach. 'One Girl, One Summer' is her tenth novel.
Isabel’s writing career launched with her critically acclaimed debut 'Glasshopper', which was twice named among Best Books of the Year after winning first prize in a national competition judged by Fay Weldon, Sir John Mortimer, and Michael Ridpath. Since then, her thrillers 'Little Sister' and 'Beautiful Liars' have been shortlisted in the Dead Good Reader Awards, while '33 Women' was an Amazon bestseller within weeks of release. Alongside her own work, Isabel is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow and a coach to developing writers.
Born in London, Isabel grew up on the south coast, and she now spends much of her time in a writing cabin in West Dorset, built for her by carpenter husband, Colin. She is a member of the Society of Authors and is represented by Kate Shaw of The Shaw Agency. Isabel lives with her husband, with whom she has two grown-up children and a pair of ageing dogs. Her happy place is anywhere with a coastal view.
Find out more about Isabel via her website, Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.
Isabel’s writing career launched with her critically acclaimed debut 'Glasshopper', which was twice named among Best Books of the Year after winning first prize in a national competition judged by Fay Weldon, Sir John Mortimer, and Michael Ridpath. Since then, her thrillers 'Little Sister' and 'Beautiful Liars' have been shortlisted in the Dead Good Reader Awards, while '33 Women' was an Amazon bestseller within weeks of release. Alongside her own work, Isabel is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow and a coach to developing writers.
Born in London, Isabel grew up on the south coast, and she now spends much of her time in a writing cabin in West Dorset, built for her by carpenter husband, Colin. She is a member of the Society of Authors and is represented by Kate Shaw of The Shaw Agency. Isabel lives with her husband, with whom she has two grown-up children and a pair of ageing dogs. Her happy place is anywhere with a coastal view.
Find out more about Isabel via her website, Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
September 21, 2019
I truly found this book hard to put down.
Pick this book up in a quiet place and I dare you to get to chapter 5 and say it’s confusing because I thought so too until then.....
I HAD to keep reading, I needed to know things. I wanted answers, I needed clarity.
Was this person mad, where her parents mad, this just wasn’t making sense, why is she locked in the attic.
She asked that herself! And it made sense until.........
Then I’m WHAT, jaw dropping on floor screaming in my in my head “what’s going on”?
Talk about tense.
I’m on a complete roll of superb books at the moment. This ones definitely in my top 10 this year in this genre.
Twists! Twists? You’ll get twisted in knots!
Pick this book up in a quiet place and I dare you to get to chapter 5 and say it’s confusing because I thought so too until then.....
I HAD to keep reading, I needed to know things. I wanted answers, I needed clarity.
Was this person mad, where her parents mad, this just wasn’t making sense, why is she locked in the attic.
She asked that herself! And it made sense until.........
Then I’m WHAT, jaw dropping on floor screaming in my in my head “what’s going on”?
Talk about tense.
I’m on a complete roll of superb books at the moment. This ones definitely in my top 10 this year in this genre.
Twists! Twists? You’ll get twisted in knots!
September 15, 2019
Seventeen year old Eva Olsen wakes up in the attic of her home bed bound after a horrific accident. Her devoted parents are by her side. She has no memory of her accident. As her memory starts to return gradually, she also begins to doubt everything her parents are telling her. Why is she in the attic? Why domher parents lock her in? Why does her parents not let her friends visit?
This story is told through Eva's point of view. The story is more complex than I first thought. It's a bit slow and confusing at times. There's a traumatic event and it can also be very touching. We are introduced to a new character about half way through who puts a different perspective on things. There are plenty of twists to keep your interest as you flick quickly through the pages. Once the story starts unfolding, you will be gripped. Just when you think you know where this story is headed, another twist is revealed and off in a different direction we go. This is a well crafted book with a lot taking place. Its beautifully written with complex characters. Everything was tied up at the end.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Orion Publishing Group and the author Isabel Ashdown for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
This story is told through Eva's point of view. The story is more complex than I first thought. It's a bit slow and confusing at times. There's a traumatic event and it can also be very touching. We are introduced to a new character about half way through who puts a different perspective on things. There are plenty of twists to keep your interest as you flick quickly through the pages. Once the story starts unfolding, you will be gripped. Just when you think you know where this story is headed, another twist is revealed and off in a different direction we go. This is a well crafted book with a lot taking place. Its beautifully written with complex characters. Everything was tied up at the end.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Orion Publishing Group and the author Isabel Ashdown for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
July 19, 2019
Eva has has been in a terrible car accident that she has little memory of.
She has recently woken up from a coma and relies on her parents to look after her.
As her memory starts to return she begins to doubt what her parents have been telling her about the accident and wants to find out the truth.
A slow moving story that I found quite confusing at the beginning.
Some twists and turns that kept me reading this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
She has recently woken up from a coma and relies on her parents to look after her.
As her memory starts to return she begins to doubt what her parents have been telling her about the accident and wants to find out the truth.
A slow moving story that I found quite confusing at the beginning.
Some twists and turns that kept me reading this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2019
LAKE CHILD is a dark psychological thriller by British author Isabel Ashdown. The novel is set in a remote valley town in the heart of Norway's ancient fjords. This is one book you will not be able to put down as the characters and landscape is so rich.
“Local girl escapes death: dangerous driver faces prosecution. But driver is missing. Could he come after Eva?”
When 17-year-old Eva Olsen awakes after a horrific accident that has left her bedbound, and thinks she is dead. Her mind is blank. The room is silent and cold. She soon realizes that she is not in her bedroom. Where is she and where are her parents? She cries out for her parents, and they come running to her side. Devoted, they watch over her night and day in the attic room of their family home.
But why is she in the attic? Why is the door bolted and locked? Why is she not allowed to see her best friends, Rosa and Lars?
She discovers all the scars on her chest. She begs her mum, a doctor to explain to her what happened. Eva is told she was involved in a car crash, and broke several bones and internal injuries as well as a serious head trauma. She suffered short-term memory loss.
Her mind flips from past to present.
But not everything is as it seems. As secrets from the night of the accident begin to surface, Eva realizes, she has to escape her parents' house and discover the truth.
This story is told through Eva's point of view. So many lies and twists to this story. This novel will grip and shock you, the characters come alive on the page and your heart will go out to Eva for all she had to endure. This is a well- written book with a detailed plot, complex characters and satisfying ending.
Many thanks to the author, Orion Publishing Group, NetGalley and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
“Local girl escapes death: dangerous driver faces prosecution. But driver is missing. Could he come after Eva?”
When 17-year-old Eva Olsen awakes after a horrific accident that has left her bedbound, and thinks she is dead. Her mind is blank. The room is silent and cold. She soon realizes that she is not in her bedroom. Where is she and where are her parents? She cries out for her parents, and they come running to her side. Devoted, they watch over her night and day in the attic room of their family home.
But why is she in the attic? Why is the door bolted and locked? Why is she not allowed to see her best friends, Rosa and Lars?
She discovers all the scars on her chest. She begs her mum, a doctor to explain to her what happened. Eva is told she was involved in a car crash, and broke several bones and internal injuries as well as a serious head trauma. She suffered short-term memory loss.
Her mind flips from past to present.
But not everything is as it seems. As secrets from the night of the accident begin to surface, Eva realizes, she has to escape her parents' house and discover the truth.
This story is told through Eva's point of view. So many lies and twists to this story. This novel will grip and shock you, the characters come alive on the page and your heart will go out to Eva for all she had to endure. This is a well- written book with a detailed plot, complex characters and satisfying ending.
Many thanks to the author, Orion Publishing Group, NetGalley and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
September 28, 2019
Imagine waking up in a dark unfamiliar room that is bolted from the outside, covered in scars and with no memory of what happened and how you got there?
That is the nightmare Eva Olsen faces made even worse upon discovering that it's her own parents that have locked her in the attic with no contact with the outside world. They say it's for her own protection after she was involved in a car accident in which she was very seriously injured and the driver who, having escaped, remains unknown. It appears she had been kidnapped from a local bar although no one knows by whom or who she may have left with.
The accident has left Eva without her most recent memories - from that night or those leading up to it - but not everything is as it seems. Why have her best friends, Rosa and Lars, not been to visit her? Why has no one but the police been allowed to see her? The questions they ask just seem to confuse Eva even more as she desperately tries to recapture and retain the memories that linger on the periphery of her mind. But as secrets from the night in question start to surface, Eva also begins to question her parents' motives. Nothing they have told her seems to be the truth, and she begins to wonder can she really trust them?
One night, Eva convinces her parents to go into town for some annual celebrations and she uses this time to make her escape. Armed with just a knife she deftly removed from the tray on which they brought her meals and kept hidden until the time was right, Eva set to work on the door hinges. Once the door fell away, she couldn't believe that she was finally free and she quickly packed a bag from her own untouched bedroom before making her way down the stairs. But she hears the sound of the TV which is never left on. Of course they wouldn't leave her on her own, unguarded. So Eva begins to quietly make her way out when she hears another sound. The piercing cries of the fox in her dreams. Eva is confused...and then she hears the sound again...but it's not a fox. How could they keep this from her? Where does this leave Eva now? For she knows now, she cannot escape.
Suddenly the story shifts and takes us to London where a grandmother is being interviewed for the writing of her memoirs about the disappearance of her granddaughter almost two decades ago. And there are even more secrets surrounding that story as well as bit by bit we are given tiny morsels to try and piece together. How was the disappearance of baby Lorna Gregory in England connected to Eva's accident and subsequent amnesia in the snowy forests of Norway? I thought I had it all figured out until a final twist threw a whole new perspective on everything we thought we knew.
Told primarily from Eva's POV, with the England connection told through a series of interviews, this complex story was cleverly written...despite moving at a glacial speed for the first 30%. I admit, there were times I'd wondered whether to continue as it was incredibly slow and very confusing and repetitive in the first quarter or so...and for me, a book shouldn't take that long to engage the reader. I really was very close to giving up on it. BUT then it picked up...and when it did pick up it really picked up. And then I couldn't put it down.
As secrets begin to unfold, LAKE CHILD takes us on a journey through Eva's confused and convoluted memories surrounding her accident and her family. Dark and atmospheric, the chilly Norwegian landscape only adds to the mystery and intrigue as Eva clings to the shreds of memories, fighting to remember what really happened that night. And whether she can truly trust her parents.
As I fought my way through the first 30% of this book, I really didn't think I would enjoy the rest of it...but I did. Suddenly, everything began to fall into place and secrets unraveled and the truth was finally revealed.
LAKE CHILD is a dark and incredibly atmospheric thriller that is so intense and even suffocating. I had that claustrophobic feeling witnessing Eva's confusion and the incarceration in her parents' attic. Nothing made sense...until it did. The entire tale had a kind of complex ingenuity to it wrapped up in that atmospheric Scandi-noir.
While the first part is thoroughly confusing, repetitive and moves at a glacial speed, I would urge you not to give up! It does begin to make sense, albeit further on than I would normally like, but it is worth it in the end. While I wouldn't say it was gripping from the start, LAKE CHILD is shrouded in mystery, intrigue and dark secrets that make this an intense and compelling thriller that is both dark and atmospheric.
My only complaint is the amount of time it took to engage me as a reader, with the first half being far too slow and confusing with too much repetition. I've said before that it shouldn't take 30% of the novel before it starts to get interesting. Normally I would have given up long before if not for someone else assuring me it would all begin to make sense soon. I'm glad I stuck it out, as not many would.
Having said that, LAKE CHILD ended up being a clever, complex, twisted thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed by the end. And that cover - WOW! That alone was atmospheric in both colour and detail.
I would like to thank #IsabelAshdown, #NetGalley and #OrionPublishingGroup for an ARC of #LakeChild in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
That is the nightmare Eva Olsen faces made even worse upon discovering that it's her own parents that have locked her in the attic with no contact with the outside world. They say it's for her own protection after she was involved in a car accident in which she was very seriously injured and the driver who, having escaped, remains unknown. It appears she had been kidnapped from a local bar although no one knows by whom or who she may have left with.
The accident has left Eva without her most recent memories - from that night or those leading up to it - but not everything is as it seems. Why have her best friends, Rosa and Lars, not been to visit her? Why has no one but the police been allowed to see her? The questions they ask just seem to confuse Eva even more as she desperately tries to recapture and retain the memories that linger on the periphery of her mind. But as secrets from the night in question start to surface, Eva also begins to question her parents' motives. Nothing they have told her seems to be the truth, and she begins to wonder can she really trust them?
One night, Eva convinces her parents to go into town for some annual celebrations and she uses this time to make her escape. Armed with just a knife she deftly removed from the tray on which they brought her meals and kept hidden until the time was right, Eva set to work on the door hinges. Once the door fell away, she couldn't believe that she was finally free and she quickly packed a bag from her own untouched bedroom before making her way down the stairs. But she hears the sound of the TV which is never left on. Of course they wouldn't leave her on her own, unguarded. So Eva begins to quietly make her way out when she hears another sound. The piercing cries of the fox in her dreams. Eva is confused...and then she hears the sound again...but it's not a fox. How could they keep this from her? Where does this leave Eva now? For she knows now, she cannot escape.
Suddenly the story shifts and takes us to London where a grandmother is being interviewed for the writing of her memoirs about the disappearance of her granddaughter almost two decades ago. And there are even more secrets surrounding that story as well as bit by bit we are given tiny morsels to try and piece together. How was the disappearance of baby Lorna Gregory in England connected to Eva's accident and subsequent amnesia in the snowy forests of Norway? I thought I had it all figured out until a final twist threw a whole new perspective on everything we thought we knew.
Told primarily from Eva's POV, with the England connection told through a series of interviews, this complex story was cleverly written...despite moving at a glacial speed for the first 30%. I admit, there were times I'd wondered whether to continue as it was incredibly slow and very confusing and repetitive in the first quarter or so...and for me, a book shouldn't take that long to engage the reader. I really was very close to giving up on it. BUT then it picked up...and when it did pick up it really picked up. And then I couldn't put it down.
As secrets begin to unfold, LAKE CHILD takes us on a journey through Eva's confused and convoluted memories surrounding her accident and her family. Dark and atmospheric, the chilly Norwegian landscape only adds to the mystery and intrigue as Eva clings to the shreds of memories, fighting to remember what really happened that night. And whether she can truly trust her parents.
As I fought my way through the first 30% of this book, I really didn't think I would enjoy the rest of it...but I did. Suddenly, everything began to fall into place and secrets unraveled and the truth was finally revealed.
LAKE CHILD is a dark and incredibly atmospheric thriller that is so intense and even suffocating. I had that claustrophobic feeling witnessing Eva's confusion and the incarceration in her parents' attic. Nothing made sense...until it did. The entire tale had a kind of complex ingenuity to it wrapped up in that atmospheric Scandi-noir.
While the first part is thoroughly confusing, repetitive and moves at a glacial speed, I would urge you not to give up! It does begin to make sense, albeit further on than I would normally like, but it is worth it in the end. While I wouldn't say it was gripping from the start, LAKE CHILD is shrouded in mystery, intrigue and dark secrets that make this an intense and compelling thriller that is both dark and atmospheric.
My only complaint is the amount of time it took to engage me as a reader, with the first half being far too slow and confusing with too much repetition. I've said before that it shouldn't take 30% of the novel before it starts to get interesting. Normally I would have given up long before if not for someone else assuring me it would all begin to make sense soon. I'm glad I stuck it out, as not many would.
Having said that, LAKE CHILD ended up being a clever, complex, twisted thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed by the end. And that cover - WOW! That alone was atmospheric in both colour and detail.
I would like to thank #IsabelAshdown, #NetGalley and #OrionPublishingGroup for an ARC of #LakeChild in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
December 8, 2019
Eva is having a really confusing, scary dream. It becomes even scarier when she awakes at home... but not in her room. She's locked in the attic not understanding why that is so.
Her mom and dad bring her food .. but their explanation leaves her even more confused. According to them, she was in a bad car accident .... leaving her with temporary amnesia. Neither of her parents will look her in the eye.
Days go by and she wonders why no one comes to visit her ... especially her best friends.
As she starts getting flashes of the accident, she realizes that not everything is as her parents have told her. She starts looking for a way to escape her attic prison. But maybe there's someone out there who doesn't want her memory returned.
Just what happened the night of her accident? Without knowing who she can trust, she runs.
This is an extremely well written psychological thriller. It's complex, but the author has made it easy to follow. There are twists and turns and surprises along her journey to the truth. This is a character driven novel, with Eva outstanding in her role. Her fear, confusion, and not knowing why her parents are lying to her, come across plain as day.
Many thanks to the author / Orion Publishing Group / Netgalley / THE Book Club Reviewer Group (FB). Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Her mom and dad bring her food .. but their explanation leaves her even more confused. According to them, she was in a bad car accident .... leaving her with temporary amnesia. Neither of her parents will look her in the eye.
Days go by and she wonders why no one comes to visit her ... especially her best friends.
As she starts getting flashes of the accident, she realizes that not everything is as her parents have told her. She starts looking for a way to escape her attic prison. But maybe there's someone out there who doesn't want her memory returned.
Just what happened the night of her accident? Without knowing who she can trust, she runs.
This is an extremely well written psychological thriller. It's complex, but the author has made it easy to follow. There are twists and turns and surprises along her journey to the truth. This is a character driven novel, with Eva outstanding in her role. Her fear, confusion, and not knowing why her parents are lying to her, come across plain as day.
Many thanks to the author / Orion Publishing Group / Netgalley / THE Book Club Reviewer Group (FB). Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
September 7, 2019
Oh my! Eva found herself locked in the attic with her parents getting her food and water. She was apparently in an accident and had lost her memory. But nothing made sense to her anymore. The clues obtained from the subtle actions of her parents burned a single sentence in her brain - She had to escape, her mother was a liar!!
My first book by author Isabel Ashdown led me down the cliff of rocky precipice where I knew there was something hidden under every rock. Eva was portrayed well as a confused, partially amnesiac teen where the returning memory brought out her panic and fear. Her character was the driving force behind this novel.
I loved the way the author could create an atmosphere of swirling darkness around her. The continuous shafts of gray and light made me feel as if I was in the midst of an approaching storm. Twists after every few chapters made sure that I would read the book with bated breath.
The author's writing with the insertion of a parallel story made me think about rumbling clouds which would bring about lightning ready to strike the nearest victim down. The story was a slow start with repetitive scenes, but the book picked up pace, and I was soon swept into my kindle by the force of the author's words.
Sometimes even the subtle strokes of a sentence can show a wealth of approaching action. The parallel story lines were deftly connected, though I could guess the ending, it still left me shocked. This was one such where I didn't want to be proved right.
I was left with the two lines burning a hole into my psyche.
"Twisted are the people who travel the path toward darkness. More twisted are those who sell their soul to the devil."
And what do I say about the authors who write about this. They are a clever lot who know how to make their point via a fictional theme.
My first book by author Isabel Ashdown led me down the cliff of rocky precipice where I knew there was something hidden under every rock. Eva was portrayed well as a confused, partially amnesiac teen where the returning memory brought out her panic and fear. Her character was the driving force behind this novel.
I loved the way the author could create an atmosphere of swirling darkness around her. The continuous shafts of gray and light made me feel as if I was in the midst of an approaching storm. Twists after every few chapters made sure that I would read the book with bated breath.
The author's writing with the insertion of a parallel story made me think about rumbling clouds which would bring about lightning ready to strike the nearest victim down. The story was a slow start with repetitive scenes, but the book picked up pace, and I was soon swept into my kindle by the force of the author's words.
Sometimes even the subtle strokes of a sentence can show a wealth of approaching action. The parallel story lines were deftly connected, though I could guess the ending, it still left me shocked. This was one such where I didn't want to be proved right.
I was left with the two lines burning a hole into my psyche.
"Twisted are the people who travel the path toward darkness. More twisted are those who sell their soul to the devil."
And what do I say about the authors who write about this. They are a clever lot who know how to make their point via a fictional theme.
September 17, 2019
As a huge fan of Isabel’s previous psychological thrillers when I was asked to arrange the #blogtour I immediately put my name down to open the tour alongside my fellow blogger Joanne Robertson because I adore her writing so much. (Isabel’s writing NOT Jo’s BTW although Jo does write brilliant reviews!)
Lake Child has an extremely atmospheric and claustrophobic feel about it from the opening chapter. Eva has woken up recently from a coma after being involved in an horrific car accident of which she has absolutely no recollection. This is pretty scary anyway, but when you add in the factors that she appears to be locked in a secret attic room in her parents house in Norway and is not allowed out then the tension is even more heightened for the reader. Eva begins to suspect her parents are lying to her and her isolation from her friends is making her fear for her life.
With another story running through the book featuring an elderly woman in London writing her memoirs about her granddaughter’s abduction 18 years ago, the reader is taken on quite a journey trying to figure out if and how these two stories are connected.
I thoroughly enjoyed this atmospheric and dark thriller and was kept gripped throughout. Highly recommended.
Lake Child has an extremely atmospheric and claustrophobic feel about it from the opening chapter. Eva has woken up recently from a coma after being involved in an horrific car accident of which she has absolutely no recollection. This is pretty scary anyway, but when you add in the factors that she appears to be locked in a secret attic room in her parents house in Norway and is not allowed out then the tension is even more heightened for the reader. Eva begins to suspect her parents are lying to her and her isolation from her friends is making her fear for her life.
With another story running through the book featuring an elderly woman in London writing her memoirs about her granddaughter’s abduction 18 years ago, the reader is taken on quite a journey trying to figure out if and how these two stories are connected.
I thoroughly enjoyed this atmospheric and dark thriller and was kept gripped throughout. Highly recommended.
September 19, 2019
This is a brilliant mystery thriller that had me hooked from the first few pages.
Eva realises she is being kept in the attic room of her home and locked in each night. Her parents tell her it’s to stop her sleep walking and is helping her recover from a near fatal car accident she was involved in.
Eva eventually gets her strength back and is determined to get out of that room but what will she find when she does?
I won’t spoil this book as there’s several revelations and twists in store which I loved.
I couldn’t even attempt to guess what would happen next as just when you think you know what’s going on, it’s turned completely on it’s head.
I loved the character of Eva and was desperate for things to work out well for her.
This is a gripping mystery thriller that I highly recommend.
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Eva realises she is being kept in the attic room of her home and locked in each night. Her parents tell her it’s to stop her sleep walking and is helping her recover from a near fatal car accident she was involved in.
Eva eventually gets her strength back and is determined to get out of that room but what will she find when she does?
I won’t spoil this book as there’s several revelations and twists in store which I loved.
I couldn’t even attempt to guess what would happen next as just when you think you know what’s going on, it’s turned completely on it’s head.
I loved the character of Eva and was desperate for things to work out well for her.
This is a gripping mystery thriller that I highly recommend.
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
October 20, 2019
Lake Child is my first book by Isabel Ashdown and was a really great read, hugely exciting and jam packed with trepidation and fear. With numerous, unexpected twists and turns, I loved the author’s superb characterisation and the story-line was totally absorbing.
The Norwegian setting was perfect and its general remoteness contributed towards my sense of unease and the tense, atmospheric feel.
Lake Child was compulsive and compelling from beginning to end and I would recommend this impressive psychological thriller without any hesitation.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Orion Publishing Group via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion
The Norwegian setting was perfect and its general remoteness contributed towards my sense of unease and the tense, atmospheric feel.
Lake Child was compulsive and compelling from beginning to end and I would recommend this impressive psychological thriller without any hesitation.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Orion Publishing Group via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion
September 18, 2020
What goes around comes around.
Eva is in a terrible accident and wakes up after months of being in a coma. Little does she know what she thinks has been a few weeks turns into over 9 months.
Her parents have kept her safe under lock and key, but Eva starts to question the necessity of the control and being cooped up in the attic takes it toll on her. Eva doesn’t remember anything before the accident but something does quite make sense.
Once the story picked up I couldn’t put it down. The lies the betrayal and the terrible injustice caused so many years before. Her parents aren’t who they say they are but they do love her more than anything. I loved the truth and the twists in the physiological thriller.
Eva is in a terrible accident and wakes up after months of being in a coma. Little does she know what she thinks has been a few weeks turns into over 9 months.
Her parents have kept her safe under lock and key, but Eva starts to question the necessity of the control and being cooped up in the attic takes it toll on her. Eva doesn’t remember anything before the accident but something does quite make sense.
Once the story picked up I couldn’t put it down. The lies the betrayal and the terrible injustice caused so many years before. Her parents aren’t who they say they are but they do love her more than anything. I loved the truth and the twists in the physiological thriller.
October 21, 2019
This was a heartbreaking, shocking and gripping read from this talented author! This is a difficult book to review as I don’t want to give too much away.
The main character Eva is a very sympathetic one who I couldn’t help but feel sorry for. Her confusion is almost palpable at times and it was heartbreaking to watch her try to piece everything together. Her memory loss makes her an unreliable narrator which made for very interesting reading as I tried to work out what was real and what wasn’t.
The story does start of slow which I thought was cleverly done by the author as it reflected the confusion that Eva feels. It soon picks up though when the different threads of the story start pulling together and the many twists kept me guessing until the end. The ending really shocked me and I felt pulled the story together nicely.
Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Trapeze for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
The main character Eva is a very sympathetic one who I couldn’t help but feel sorry for. Her confusion is almost palpable at times and it was heartbreaking to watch her try to piece everything together. Her memory loss makes her an unreliable narrator which made for very interesting reading as I tried to work out what was real and what wasn’t.
The story does start of slow which I thought was cleverly done by the author as it reflected the confusion that Eva feels. It soon picks up though when the different threads of the story start pulling together and the many twists kept me guessing until the end. The ending really shocked me and I felt pulled the story together nicely.
Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Trapeze for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
July 14, 2019
I found this book slow to get going,covering the same ground for quite a while.
Then when it started up,it felt slightly predictable.
It was an easy one sitting read,and I enjoyed the twists that kept coming.
Then when it started up,it felt slightly predictable.
It was an easy one sitting read,and I enjoyed the twists that kept coming.
April 8, 2020
This book has one of the most ridiculous and far-fetched plots which I have ever encountered in fiction. Yet still, I read it in its entirety...
September 22, 2019
Set in Norway, 17 year old Eva wakes and her parents tell her she’d been in a terrible car accident and they are going to look after her while she recovers. Eva’s confused and a little scared as she has no memory of the accident at all….
As she slowly recovers, she starts to remember little things and she’s now doubting her parents are telling her the truth…..and why they are keeping her in a locked room?
Isabel Ashdown’s writing really conveys Eva’s confusion and her state of mind while she tries to remember everything…..the tension is slowly building with plenty of twists to keep you turning the pages……just what is happening? And how is this linked to Maxine in London?
Gripping, compelling and with an ending you won’t see coming……brilliant.
Thank you to Tracy and Compulsive Readers for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
As she slowly recovers, she starts to remember little things and she’s now doubting her parents are telling her the truth…..and why they are keeping her in a locked room?
Isabel Ashdown’s writing really conveys Eva’s confusion and her state of mind while she tries to remember everything…..the tension is slowly building with plenty of twists to keep you turning the pages……just what is happening? And how is this linked to Maxine in London?
Gripping, compelling and with an ending you won’t see coming……brilliant.
Thank you to Tracy and Compulsive Readers for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
December 6, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Wasn’t really sure where it was going as there was so much mystery surrounding the main character. Her mum and dad isolate her...why? Her good friends seem to have abandoned her...why? Even more frustrating is her lack of memory for recent events. All of this wrapped up with some explosive revelations that are drip fed to the reader throughout, made for a compelling read.
Great!
Great!
January 17, 2020
17 year old Eva wakes up after spending several months in a coma following a car accident. She finds that she has no memory of what happened and her parents are keeping her locked in the attic. As she tries to piece together the events of earlier in the year, family secrets begin to pour out. This started off as an okay mystery but as I read on more twists were added and I found myself totally gripped. A worthwhile thriller to stick with.
January 17, 2023
Wat een aangename verrassing is dit verhaal. Spannend tot de laatste pagina en geen enkel moment dat er een dip inzat. Ook wordt je fantasie enorm geprikkeld, het is zo geheimzinnig dat je echt door moet lezen. Plotwendingen die je nauwelijks merkt maakt het zeer aangenaam om te lezen. Dus, kort samengevat, ga beginnen en laat je meeslepen door de gebeurtenissen van Eva.
July 20, 2019
Eva wakes up locked in the attic. Her mother tells her she has been in an accident and is recovering from injuries. Still her parents are keeping her locked up. Slowly regaining strength she finds someone is watching her which terrifies her parents. How does Eva’s family life link to a child missing in england years before?
This was a really engaging read. I loved the characters and the setting. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
This was a really engaging read. I loved the characters and the setting. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
June 29, 2019
Lake child is a very well written book. With interlocking secrets, family history, traumatic events and a story that is also touching and sweet. This book has very many red herrings in it that will keep you guessing throughout. My favourite bits of he book were the story in Norway. I thought that it was a very well written book.
September 25, 2019
Lake Child was a cover love choice. The beautiful colours struck me and I couldn’t take the title off my mind. I knew the book would be atmospheric and complex.
How can I put words in the experience that is Lake Child? Mainly set in Norway, in the middle of nowhere, with a young Eva struggling in the aftermath of an accident and being cared of by her parents, the novel sets the tone straight away. Eva is locked in her house’s attic, scars covering her body while her mind feels like cotton candy. She has no recollection of the events that led her there. This is one of the things I am scared of. Not remembering. This scenario has been used before, but rarely had it been so powerful.
Reading Lake Child felt like standing in the middle of a forest when snow is falling. The crisp sound of the fresh white coat under my feet made me feel both safe and afraid. The sound is familiar, but it doesn’t feel right. Just like Eva and her parents. Why is she in the attic? Why won’t they tell her what happened? The short and vivid chapters accentuated the undercurrent of secrecy. Isabel Ashdown has a knack for creating a suffocating and intense atmosphere. In this forest, I was left on my own device with Eva. I lifted my face to the sky and let the snowflakes land on my skin. Some burnt, like the discoveries of lies. Others comforted me, in the shape of a mother’s love, or a father’s warm hug. A few snowflakes tickled. Where were Eva’s friends? Some snowflakes tasted bitter. Where was her memory?
The more I read, the more anxious I became. I couldn’t comprehend Eva’s parents. I couldn���t figure out what would justify locking your own daughter up in your house like a Disney princess. Eva’s friends’ silence was baffling. Nothing made sense, and yet… Yet I could feel that there was a picture underneath all that snow. A complex picture which would make sense of this accident, its consequences, and the burning secrets surrounding Eva.
Eva’s choice to go look for the hidden truth is bold, and I admired her for the length she goes to in order to shake answers from those around her. I wanted to slap everyone until they finally gave up and came clean. I would have been less patient than Eva! I would make a terrible book character!!
Halfway through Eva’s story, other characters appear out of nowhere, adding layers to what is already a heavy crust of mystery. Why? How? With no apparent connection to Eva, those chapters caught me off guard. The race began to speed up and suddenly, my wariness extended to all characters. It was about Eva and myself against the world. I really wanted her to get to the bottom of things, no matter what. I am in awe of how the author managed to give all characters multiple sides, creating rainbows of grey, black, and white.
With a spending writing bound to draw the reader in, Isabel Ashdown delivers a taut and unnerving psychological thriller. The slow pace perfectly complements the setting and allows the reader to understand the power of families…
How can I put words in the experience that is Lake Child? Mainly set in Norway, in the middle of nowhere, with a young Eva struggling in the aftermath of an accident and being cared of by her parents, the novel sets the tone straight away. Eva is locked in her house’s attic, scars covering her body while her mind feels like cotton candy. She has no recollection of the events that led her there. This is one of the things I am scared of. Not remembering. This scenario has been used before, but rarely had it been so powerful.
Reading Lake Child felt like standing in the middle of a forest when snow is falling. The crisp sound of the fresh white coat under my feet made me feel both safe and afraid. The sound is familiar, but it doesn’t feel right. Just like Eva and her parents. Why is she in the attic? Why won’t they tell her what happened? The short and vivid chapters accentuated the undercurrent of secrecy. Isabel Ashdown has a knack for creating a suffocating and intense atmosphere. In this forest, I was left on my own device with Eva. I lifted my face to the sky and let the snowflakes land on my skin. Some burnt, like the discoveries of lies. Others comforted me, in the shape of a mother’s love, or a father’s warm hug. A few snowflakes tickled. Where were Eva’s friends? Some snowflakes tasted bitter. Where was her memory?
The more I read, the more anxious I became. I couldn’t comprehend Eva’s parents. I couldn���t figure out what would justify locking your own daughter up in your house like a Disney princess. Eva’s friends’ silence was baffling. Nothing made sense, and yet… Yet I could feel that there was a picture underneath all that snow. A complex picture which would make sense of this accident, its consequences, and the burning secrets surrounding Eva.
Eva’s choice to go look for the hidden truth is bold, and I admired her for the length she goes to in order to shake answers from those around her. I wanted to slap everyone until they finally gave up and came clean. I would have been less patient than Eva! I would make a terrible book character!!
Halfway through Eva’s story, other characters appear out of nowhere, adding layers to what is already a heavy crust of mystery. Why? How? With no apparent connection to Eva, those chapters caught me off guard. The race began to speed up and suddenly, my wariness extended to all characters. It was about Eva and myself against the world. I really wanted her to get to the bottom of things, no matter what. I am in awe of how the author managed to give all characters multiple sides, creating rainbows of grey, black, and white.
With a spending writing bound to draw the reader in, Isabel Ashdown delivers a taut and unnerving psychological thriller. The slow pace perfectly complements the setting and allows the reader to understand the power of families…
September 26, 2019
What an outstanding book! Atmospheric doesn't even begin to describe it; Isabel Ashdown perfectly conjured the landscape in Norway, so much so that I felt as if I should have been wearing snow boots and a padded jacket whilst reading Lake Child.
Eva's whole story is massively intriguing from the start; she's recovering from a mysterious accident and her parents have her locked in the attic. I couldn't read fast enough to find out why she was locked in the attic and to discover the mystery surrounding the night she was involved in a crash. Then just as the story reaches fever pitch, we are distracted by the interview of a grandmother of a missing baby in England that threw my mind into turmoil and made me put on my virtual running shoes to see how the two stories were linked. I thought I saw it coming but, with an abundance of family secrets stashed in the closet, I could only see the tip of the iceberg.
Isabel Ashdown must be part-Viking to have embraced the scandi-noir genre so expertly. I say scandi-noir but maybe this is scandi-psych as it twisted my brain into knots with the shots of intrigue and surprise being fired at me relentlessly. As chilly as the landscape is, the warmth of family and friendship shines through, excluding the dysfunctional family in England of course; they wouldn't have looked out of place on the Jeremy Kyle show, that's for sure. The contrast between the two families is portrayed excellently; they really are like chalk and cheese.
Gripping from the start, Lake Child is filled with mystery, intrigue and dark family secrets. Set against the backdrop of a cold and beautiful Norwegian landscape, it's a real ice-gripper. A highly recommended read.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Eva's whole story is massively intriguing from the start; she's recovering from a mysterious accident and her parents have her locked in the attic. I couldn't read fast enough to find out why she was locked in the attic and to discover the mystery surrounding the night she was involved in a crash. Then just as the story reaches fever pitch, we are distracted by the interview of a grandmother of a missing baby in England that threw my mind into turmoil and made me put on my virtual running shoes to see how the two stories were linked. I thought I saw it coming but, with an abundance of family secrets stashed in the closet, I could only see the tip of the iceberg.
Isabel Ashdown must be part-Viking to have embraced the scandi-noir genre so expertly. I say scandi-noir but maybe this is scandi-psych as it twisted my brain into knots with the shots of intrigue and surprise being fired at me relentlessly. As chilly as the landscape is, the warmth of family and friendship shines through, excluding the dysfunctional family in England of course; they wouldn't have looked out of place on the Jeremy Kyle show, that's for sure. The contrast between the two families is portrayed excellently; they really are like chalk and cheese.
Gripping from the start, Lake Child is filled with mystery, intrigue and dark family secrets. Set against the backdrop of a cold and beautiful Norwegian landscape, it's a real ice-gripper. A highly recommended read.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
August 8, 2019
Outstanding and brilliant !!
Absolutely full of praise for this fabulous book that is totally compulsive reading. Eva wakes in the attic room of her home her parents roll her she has been badly injured in a car accident but why is she being locked in her room and why are her parents acting so strange nothing seems to make any sense to Eva and from there the story just gets more and more mysterious.
This such a well crafted book with intricate plotting and lots going on keeping you guessing at just what has actually happened to Eva, there are also plenty of surprises and twists and I just loved it grabbing every spare minute to read. Wonderfully written by Isobel Ashdown as are all her other books this really is a page turner and a highly recommended 5 star read from me.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing group, Trapeze for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Absolutely full of praise for this fabulous book that is totally compulsive reading. Eva wakes in the attic room of her home her parents roll her she has been badly injured in a car accident but why is she being locked in her room and why are her parents acting so strange nothing seems to make any sense to Eva and from there the story just gets more and more mysterious.
This such a well crafted book with intricate plotting and lots going on keeping you guessing at just what has actually happened to Eva, there are also plenty of surprises and twists and I just loved it grabbing every spare minute to read. Wonderfully written by Isobel Ashdown as are all her other books this really is a page turner and a highly recommended 5 star read from me.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing group, Trapeze for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 10, 2019
I usually love Isabel Ashdown’s books but sadly this one didn’t quite work for me. I found most of the first half so very slow and a little repetitive, and it didn’t really help that the main character of Eva irritated me beyond belief. It certainly picked up for me when the second strand of the story began and it was from then that I really started to find it interesting. The second part was definitely much stronger than the first in my opinion and although I had already guessed the reveal, it was still an intriguing read. What did work in its favour was a tremendous sense of place, especially the Norway setting which was brought to life by the atmospheric and evocative descriptions.
Whilst I didn’t enjoy this as much as I expected to it certainly wouldn’t stop me from reading future books by this author.
Whilst I didn’t enjoy this as much as I expected to it certainly wouldn’t stop me from reading future books by this author.
December 3, 2019
Where on earth do I start with this review ?? Lost memories, lost time, secrets, lies and an unreliable narrator are just the start of this terrific read. Then to throw in transcripts of a ghost writers interview leads you to another mystery.
The start was slightly confusing but then the protagonists start was and that just heightened the feeling of what the hell is going on. But it soon starts to become clear and before you know it you’ve nearly finished the book as it’s too damn good to put it down.
The setting was exquisite and so beautifully described and the characters wow. You can’t help but urge on Eva in her attempts to find out what happened that night and why her parents have kept her locked in the attic and away from her friends.
This had more twists than a child proof medication bottle top. I did guess one but the rest I was way off. This has a great mystery at its core but to me it was all the other little sub plots that gave this a well deserved five stars.
The start was slightly confusing but then the protagonists start was and that just heightened the feeling of what the hell is going on. But it soon starts to become clear and before you know it you’ve nearly finished the book as it’s too damn good to put it down.
The setting was exquisite and so beautifully described and the characters wow. You can’t help but urge on Eva in her attempts to find out what happened that night and why her parents have kept her locked in the attic and away from her friends.
This had more twists than a child proof medication bottle top. I did guess one but the rest I was way off. This has a great mystery at its core but to me it was all the other little sub plots that gave this a well deserved five stars.
December 11, 2019
I couldn't get into this book. At all. Each chapter was more or less the same as the last. Girl who lives in Norway with memory loss kept in the attic by her parents. Girl tries to escape. This goes on and on until she gets out and lives in the "normal" parts of the house with her parents. Finds out she's had a baby. Then it's girl thinks mother's hiding something. Why is girl being kept in the dark. Girl wants to see her two best pals who she hasn't seen in ages but can't get to see them because mother doesn't want her to for some reason. Blah blah blah.
Then an older woman from England is interviewed for a biography (really interesting. Not). This goes on and on. Lots of irrelevant stuff is being said. But has something to do with the girl, obviously there's a connection.
It just didn't keep me wanting to turn pages. It didn't hold my attention. But I can't not read a book I have started. So I read til the end.
Then an older woman from England is interviewed for a biography (really interesting. Not). This goes on and on. Lots of irrelevant stuff is being said. But has something to do with the girl, obviously there's a connection.
It just didn't keep me wanting to turn pages. It didn't hold my attention. But I can't not read a book I have started. So I read til the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2025
A moving and atmospheric story that is wonderfully written and my first novel by Isabel Ashdown. I liked this book but I just wasn’t mad about it, maybe because it’s not quite on par with pace and suspense that I’m used to reading. The characters are good, the plot is decent if a little predictable,and the twist is interesting. It is a good read but just a little flat in places for me. 3.5⭐️
December 16, 2019
This was my first book by the author, but wont be my last. I find it gripping and thrilling. A quick read, with some twists to. Highly recommend for lovers of thrillers. Many thanks to TBC group for the chance to review the book
March 27, 2020
Eva Olsen wakes up bed bound locked in an Attic in her home after a dreadful accident. her parents seem devoted but what secrets are they keeping. an excellent thriller that keeps you turning those pages highly recommend.
September 26, 2024
I enjoyed this read…a little slow in some places but some really good twists and turns.
Worth reading to find out exactly what’s going on won’t the FMC. She wakes up with no memory of what’s happened to her and piecing it all together alongside of her is quite the journey!
Worth reading to find out exactly what’s going on won’t the FMC. She wakes up with no memory of what’s happened to her and piecing it all together alongside of her is quite the journey!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews