The Lake

By: Natasha Preston

Narrated by: Lillie Ricciardi

The instant New York Times bestseller!

Hot on the heels of The Twin, the undisputed queen of YA thrillers is back with a scary and suspenseful read about a summer camp filled with dark secrets.

Esme and Kayla once were campers at Camp Pine Lake. Now they’re back as counselors-in-training. Esme loves the little girls in her cabin and thinks it’s funny how scared they are of everything—the woods, the bugs, the boys...even swimming in the lake. It reminds her of how she and Kayla used to be. Before...

Because Esme and Kayla did something terrible when they were campers. Something they’ve kept a secret all these years. They vow that this summer will be awesome. Two months of sun, s’mores, and flirting with the cute boy counselors. But then they get a message:
THE LAKE NEVER FORGETS.

The secret they’ve kept buried for so many years is about to resurface.

“[T]he strong buildup…leads to a shockingly satisfying finale. An eerie thriller reminiscent of summer horror movies that will keep readers on edge.”—Kirkus

"Pays homage to classic summer camp slasher films...horror fans will likely appreciate this paranoia-fueled tale."—Publishers Weekly

Critic reviews

Praise for THE LAKE:

A New York Times bestseller
A USA TODAY bestseller
A Publishers Weekly bestseller

“[T]he strong buildup…leads to a shockingly satisfying finale. An eerie thriller reminiscent of summer horror movies that will keep readers on edge.”—Kirkus

"Pays homage to classic summer camp slasher films...horror fans will likely appreciate this paranoia-fueled tale."—Publishers Weekly

Praise for Natasha Preston:

"This fast-paced thriller will be a hit."–SLJ, on The Twin

"A deeply disturbing tale that explores what can push someone to kill and what people will do to survive. . . . keeps tensions high to the final page." –PW, on The Lost

"Preston weaves a terrifying tale. . . . A fast-paced, plot-driven page-turner." –Kirkus, on The Lost

"Keeps readers on edge. . . . A great addition to the thriller shelves. Recommended for fans of Stephen King, Jennifer Barnes, and Ally Carter." –SLJ, on You Will Be Mine

"Preston is skilled in building an atmosphere of paranoia and claustrophobia." –PW, on You Will Be Mine

"Preston's latest mystery reads like an homage to a nostalgic Fear Street novel. . . . An enjoyable blend of mystery and horror." –Booklist, on You Will Be Mine

"A fresh take on a murder mystery thriller. Rich with plot twists and suspense, readers will not want to put it down." –VOYA, on You Will Be Mine

"Will keep readers intrigued." –SLJ, on Awake

"Ripped-from-the-headlines." –SLJ, on The Cellar

Wouldn’t do it

Bad ending too long and drawn out I love almost all books but this one was so so at best

Interesting but would not recommend

The most interesting quality of this book was the fact that all this was happening at a summer camp. I felt like it would make a better movie than a book because of how annoying the internal thoughts became. The facial expressions described were the same every time (lip biting). There were some characters who never really developed into anything until the end. I didn’t mind the ending unlike everyone else. But overall 3 stars because it did keep me on the edge of my seat.

Entertaining read

Really enjoyed listing to this book. The story was interesting and the characters were fun, enjoyed all the secrets. The ending did not turn out like I would have thought, though that’s the fun of the story.

If you enjoy a happy ending……………….

…………..this isn’t the book you want to listen to. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve listened to anything by this author that I forgot that she tends to write unhappy endings. This listen did entertain me and I liked the storyline. One revelation shocked me how Ollie and Jake were tied in with Esme and Kayla.

I liked it

I really enjoyed it! makes me want to go to camp and have fun!

WHAT

okay, slower to start than her other books. for sure. however, kept me guessing and had me wanting more at the end. read it!!

Surprising ending!

Loved it! I couldn’t stop listening!! The twists and turns of what you expect are exactly NOT what to expect!!

Pretty good

One of my favorites from the author, though the ending wasn’t how I wanted it to end.

Horrible ending

The ending was painful in a way that didn’t serve the plot at all— I love her work, but this conclusion was abundantly disappointing.

Wild Ending

Love this author. Have almost read EVERY book. While this title isn’t in the top 5, definitely top ten. The twin is honestly last place. Did not like that ending. This one I did not see coming.