Stranger in the Lake

A Novel

By: Kimberly Belle

Narrated by: Xe Sands

Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

“Spellbinding. Another outstanding novel by Kimberly Belle, masterfully written to lure you in and never let go.” (Samantha Downing, USA Today best-selling author of My Lovely Wife)

When Charlotte married the wealthy widower Paul, it caused a ripple of gossip in their small lakeside town. They have a charmed life together, despite the cruel whispers about her humble past and his first marriage. But everything starts to unravel when she discovers a young woman’s body floating in the exact same spot where Paul’s first wife tragically drowned.

At first, it seems like a horrific coincidence, but the stranger in the lake is no stranger. Charlotte saw Paul talking to her the day before, even though Paul tells the police he’s never met the woman. His lie exposes cracks in their fragile new marriage, cracks Charlotte is determined to keep from breaking them in two.

As Charlotte uncovers dark mysteries about the man she married, she doesn’t know what to trust - her heart, which knows Paul to be a good man, or her growing suspicion that there’s something he’s hiding in the water.

Don't miss Kimberly Belle's newest novel, My Darling Husband!

Look for these other pulse-pounding thrillers by Kimberly Belle:

• Three Days Missing
• The Marriage Lie
• Dear Wife

©2020 Kimberly Belle (P)2020 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

Narration

Narrator was the worst I have ever heard. Whined through the entire book. Story line would have been much better without all the poor pitiful me the heroine presented .
Would not recommend this book or narrator

Straddling the ledge that divides excellent & good

This was an overall good novel. Although Charlie "won" in the end, her life was saved, I was still a little disappointed that the only place she could return to was the trailer park and a food truck with her brother. Her husband didn't steal the money; he was a successful business man with earnings other than the inheritance from his 1st wife. I would have liked seeing her prosper even a tiny bit...having money to put her through school, maybe enough to go into a small restaurant business with her brother, a nest egg for her child, etc. Worth reading though!

hard to stay engaged

I have restarted this book so many times. never gets better hard to follow.

A nice slow burn

I listened to this one via Audible and it was probably the quickest listen I’ve done in a long time. Xe Sands southern twang narration was spot on. This book was a bit of a slow burn mostly told by Charlotte (Charlie) and the various relationships with her husband and friends and mother in law and the suspicions of the lady she finds in the lake. The last few chapters are action packed but what I loved the most was at the end and the words “everyone is in charge of our own destiny”. Seems so relevant in our current times. Loved the location of this one; very familiar with the area and had a good visual of scenery.

Excellent Thriller

Excellent thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat and kept me guessing! I will buy whatever Kimberley Belle writes!

Xe Sands narration was as always fabulous!

Narrator is not the best until you get involved in the story

The narrator is difficult to get used to in the beginning and is a big deterrent to the story. But once you get used to her it’s not as distracting and annoying. Don’t give up on a good story based n your initial discomfort of her initial low guttural tone/sound of her voice. It gets better or less noticeable...or she gets more comfortable with the story herself.

Friends

Great story great rhythm and timing. Truly a great mystery. Good plot and twists and a lesson about living, values and decisions.

I DID IT!

I just felt like I accomplished something big. This book could have been better. The story was good. But because of the length and just going on and on and the slow lackadaisical tone of the narration the story doesn’t matter anymore. The narration would be good in small doses. Or if every single character didn’t have the same way of speaking that really grates on your nerves.
It wasn’t horrible! And I know many would like it. This is just my opinion. It was too long and drawn out though for sure.

Good listen overall

Overall it was worth a “credit”. I do wish certain North Carolina places mentioned were pronounced correctly.

SURPRISE

Didn't think I would like it, but I did. Narrator had a lot to do with it. Once I learned how to listen to her voice and not scoff at her lisp, she actually drew me in. It was a very enjoyable book and a life lesson that the grass is not always greener.