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Charlotte Pierce Mysteries

Lake of Lies: Detectives Charlotte Pierce and Kaitlyn Carr Novella

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When a young woman’s lifeless body is found with strangulation marks not far from her tent, Detective Charlotte Pierce heads to the small mountain town of Quail Lake to investigate. Mesquite County Sheriff’s department is short staffed and the only other person working the case is an inexperienced deputy who has never investigated a murder. Soon, Charlotte discovers that the twenty-year-old murder victim was living in a camper van with her boyfriend and documenting their life online as van life influencers. But there’s more to it. Charlotte had actually met the couple while on a hike by a desert waterfall and intervened when their argument got intense. Now, Charlotte is up against the clock to find the boyfriend, the person she suspects was the last one to see the woman alive. The investigation leads her from the sleepy town of Quail Lake to the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and the streets that she is all too familiar with having worked previously for the LAPD. It also brings her in contact with an old acquaintance, Detective Kaitlyn Carr who helps her with the mystery . As Charlotte and Kaitlyn start to pieces of the puzzle together, they find out that appearances are deceiving. Quail Lake is a town where secrets don’t want to stay buried and the truth will put both of their lives in danger. This novella is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the last page. Scroll up to grab the book now!

126 pages, Paperback

Published July 12, 2022

191 people are currently reading
299 people want to read

About the author

Kate Gable

39 books427 followers
Kate Gable loves a good mystery that is full of suspense. She grew up devouring psychological thrillers and crime novels as well as movies, tv shows and true crime.

Her favorite stories are the ones that are centered on families with lots of secrets and lies as well as many twists and turns. Her novels have elements of psychological suspense, thriller, mystery and romance.

Kate Gable lives in Southern California with her husband, son, a dog and a cat. She has spent more than twenty years in this area and finds inspiration from its cities, canyons, deserts, and small mountain towns.

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5 stars
225 (38%)
4 stars
166 (28%)
3 stars
138 (23%)
2 stars
45 (7%)
1 star
12 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for Sandy S.
8,257 reviews206 followers
July 23, 2022
3.75 STARS- LAKE OF LIES by Kate Gable is a cross over novella from the author’s DETECTIVE CHARLOTTE PIERCE and DETECTIVE KAITLYN CARR series.


Told from first person perspective (Charlotte Pierce) with a single chapter by Kaitlyn Carr LAKE OF LIES follows in the wake of a young woman, found dead at her campsite, a young woman whom Detective Charlotte Pierce had witnessed being abused by her boyfriend at another time. Days earlier Charlotte came across a young couple, Madison and Michael, who were filming and blogging their journey across the country when the young man became aggressive and abusive towards Madison. Offering to press charges, Charlotte is surprised when the young woman declines, contiuing on their journey together. Days later, a hiker stumbles across a body, the murder victim is none other than young woman Madison, the woman Charlotte met days before. With the boyfriend as the prime suspect, Charlotte begins an investigation but a staff shortage at the precinct forces Charlotte to call in help from Detective Kaitlyn Carr, who is tasked with interviewing the boyfriend’s parents. Suspecting all was not right with the parents, Kaitlyn quickly becomes suspicious when the young couple’s van is found parked outside, and the parents claim no idea as to the how and why. Brought in for questioning, Michael proclaims his innocence directing the detectives towards someone else. What ensues is the search for the truth, and the fall out when obsession leads to murder, prefaced by love.


LAKE OF LIES bares some but limited resemblance to a recent murder case that gained national attention when another couple filmed their trip across America, a trip that ended in the murder of the young woman. LAKE OF LIES is a novella length, fast paced, quick read that pulls together two tough but experienced Detectives as they search for a killer, to bring justice for a young woman who died long before her time. The premise is intriguing with a couple of twists and turns.
Profile Image for Cat.
189 reviews
October 5, 2022
Overall a decent and quick story. I felt that this novella had a few grammar errors in it, and that the wording was a bit off throughout the book. This novella was focused more on the actual crime compared to her other one.
Profile Image for Cassie Driggs.
133 reviews11 followers
February 6, 2024
This book struck me bc it’s so damn similar to the real crime of Gabby Petito murder right down to the van and altercation police officers came across a day prior to the body of the woman is found. They’re living in a van and started a live blog of their travels and so on so forth. But the ending does surprise you when you learn of who the killer is. I enjoyed this novel but feel like the ending was rushed a bit. And that’s why I gave it 3 stars well also because it’s way too similar to the true crime that happened and captivated the world only a matter of a few years ago.
Profile Image for Karen Wood.
748 reviews3 followers
September 10, 2022
I loved this novella, I cant get enough of Charlotte Pierce mysteries and having Kaitlyn in this as well made it even better. This is a thrilling mystery great plot and a page turner.

It is so easy to decide who the killer is, all the evidence points to one person, but you know with Kate's book there is always a few twists.

I have loved all of this series
3,708 reviews42 followers
July 21, 2022
This is a book in The Last Breath Series and Detective Charlotte Pierce and Kaitlyn Carr Novella and omg it is definitely a must read. When a young woman is found dead it is Detective Charlotte Pierce that is called in to Quail Lake to check it out and access the crime scene only Charlotte recognised her as she was having a argument with her boyfriend and Charlotte came across them while she was hiking and now she calls her friend Detective Kaitlyn Carr to help because of the department being short staffed. Who killed Madison was it her boyfriend Michael as they were always arguing or was it someone else and will they be able to find the person responsible and solve the crime so that they can close the case. Wow this book was totally addictive and it had me turning the pages to find out what would happen next and I loved the fact of these two amazing detectives working together. I definitely recommend you read this book and even though it is a shorter story it still pack's a punch and is worth reading.

I Voluntarily Reviewed a Copy of This Book.
448 reviews
July 24, 2022
This is a thrilling read and would keep you entertained from beginning to end. Madison a young girl is found dead,detective Charlotte Pierce is called to Quail Lake to investigate. Realizing that she recognized the victim, because she met her during a hike.Who killed Madison ?Is it Michael her boy friend or someone else ?You got to read to find out .My review is voluntary I received a free copy of this book.
Profile Image for Barbara Waloven.
617 reviews44 followers
February 22, 2023
Two women detectives from different stations (and different detective series books) team up to solve a murder. Detective Charlotte Pierce calls her friend and fellow officer Detective Kaitlyn Carr to assist. The victim is a young female van-life blogger who has been recording trail hiking, beautiful sites and camping adventures with her boyfriend. Fast paced, easy to follow who done it. Good read.
Profile Image for SylviaV.
677 reviews9 followers
April 7, 2025
Lake of Lies (A Detective Charlotte Pierce Mystery Thriller) by Kate Gable.

A quick read as this is a novella length crime story, told from the point of view of Detective Charlotte Pierce.

An interesting story, but for me it resembled too closely the real crime story of
the 22-year-old American woman and travelling vlogger Gabby Petito who was killed by her fiancé Brian Laundrie while they were traveling together on a van-life journey across the United States.
Profile Image for Sammye.
4,391 reviews30 followers
August 3, 2022
This book is an exciting novella in the Last Breath series. Charlotte Pierce and Kaitlyn Carr are working on the same case. Who killed Madison? It’s definitely a page-turner. It’s a short fast read. There’s plenty of action in this intriguing plot. I enjoyed it all the way through. *this was a complimentary copy and this is my honest review*
74 reviews
April 3, 2025
A good short story.

This is a good who done it story but a short ending. It is a clean story language wise which I appreciate. Foul language doesn't add to any story. It is sad to think about real life and how this type of thing happens more often. But the author's description of the setting makes for a great background.
1,543 reviews12 followers
July 23, 2022
Reading both Detective Kaitlyn Carr and Detective Charlotte Pierce Series has been a adventure that I've enjoyed so much and to have them criss cross on a case is thrilling. Not only do I recommend both series I'm hoping there will be future cases these these two ladies will work on together.
68 reviews1 follower
October 22, 2022
short, but suspenseful...

The story begins with Madison running from someone... barefoot... she ends up dead... who done it? It seems simple... but there are twists...keeps you interested...
369 reviews5 followers
November 11, 2022
Not so peaceful camping

Michael and Madison are wannabe Youtubers. When they stumble on a dive bar, there lives take a terrible turn, and almost ends in disaster for Michael. Who even thinks you would be watched while sleeping in your tent?
A very interesting read.
Profile Image for Kimberly Russell.
67 reviews6 followers
January 8, 2023
A quick read about Detective Carr and Detective Pierce, nice little novella, however, felt extremely “improper”? Not sure if that’s the right word, I just wasn’t the biggest fan. If you’re looking for a quick solve this is for you, but if you need more context, probably not.
Profile Image for Dana Redding.
486 reviews1 follower
March 21, 2023
Lake of Lies

This story reminds me of Cassie and her boyfriend who’s ending similar to this.
Only the ending is different than the facts.

Anyone who reads this is for sure to add up the similarities.

85 reviews1 follower
April 30, 2023
Love all her books!

I am captivated from the first word. Can not wait towards the end, because I know it will set me up for the next book. This is an ingenious style of writing and no one does it better than Kate Gable.
1,952 reviews9 followers
November 5, 2023
Who wanted her dead?

A young woman is murdered in the woods but who wanted her dead? Detective Pierce is on the case but she doesn't have much to go on. But can she find the stranger that seemed to be following her?
A good read.
Profile Image for Carla.
803 reviews2 followers
December 2, 2023
A short, but suspenseful, page turner that is easy to read in one sitting, unless you don’t start it until late at night and can’t read until the end. A compelling story with some interesting characters. 3.5** rounded down to 3**
404 reviews2 followers
February 28, 2024
Review of this book.

This was o short story or novella.. Really great. Led me right down the stray path. The author was so clever that I never saw it coming. There was so much drama and tension that I had to keep reading. All of her books are fantastic.
683 reviews9 followers
July 24, 2022
An exciting Novella. Action from start to finish. Looking forward to reading more of these ladies.
Profile Image for Jeannette.
687 reviews2 followers
August 1, 2022
A short quick read with two intriguing characters.
192 reviews
August 4, 2022
great

Another gripping read from the one and only Kate gable i can’t wait to read the next instalment of this series
Profile Image for Laura.
212 reviews
August 8, 2022
Just awful!

I have to say this is one of the worst books I have ever read! It did not hold my attention. The best I I cab say is it was short.
2,428 reviews13 followers
August 24, 2022
It was a short book and enjoyable. The killer was a bit 'Hey Presto!' but that's probably due to length. Longer would be better
Profile Image for Lesley Johnston.
35 reviews7 followers
September 13, 2022
I am so glad I found this author. I really enjoyed this novella but it only left me wanting more….lol. I have read several of her books and cannot wait to read the rest.
Profile Image for Fran Burdsall.
536 reviews12 followers
September 17, 2022
Great little preview of a detective series that holds promise of action, strong characters and solid plotting.
182 reviews1 follower
September 18, 2022
Enjoyed the assist with Det. Kaitlyn Carr. I hope to see more books with these two working together. This novella held my attention from the onset to the end. Good read
185 reviews
February 5, 2023
Great introduction to a new series by Kate Gable. Can't wait to read the series!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 40 reviews

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