Book Review for These Still Black Waters by Christina McDonald

 Jess Lambert #1

These Still Black Waters by Christina McDonald

Publication October 1, 2023

Genre:  Crime Thriller

 

Taken from Goodreads:  Two women struggle toward a dark truth as a killer avenges the sins of the past in a twisting novel of suspense by the USA Today bestselling author of Do No Harm, Behind Every Lie, and The Night Olivia Fell.

After a violent home invasion, Neve Maguire returns with her daughter to Black Lake, her childhood summer home, hoping for a fresh start. But when the body of a woman is found floating among the reeds in the lake behind her house, she fears she has made a horrible mistake.

Neve is hiding secrets, though. Detective Jess Lambert can tell. Recently back after her own personal tragedy, Jess knows what it’s like to live with skeletons in your closet, and she’s sure Neve has a few of her own.

When another woman’s body is found, Jess and Neve are forced to confront a horrible truth. Because one thing is clear: the darkness of the past is waiting. And the secrets of Black Lake are only just beginning to surface.

 

My Thoughts:  Christina McDonald is amazing!   This book had me reading non-stop! I read it in one day with only short, forced breaks and am still talking about the book.  I love the paranormal aspects of the book, especially since they were not overwhelming. 

 Neve leaves her home to get away from the memory of a home invasion only to have a body found in the lake.    There had to be something tying Neve to the body but what was it?   I was intrigued from the very beginning and did not quite figure it all out until close to the end. 

 These Still Black Waters is a different type of book from Christina McDonald and I LOVE it.  I am excited for more of the Jess Lambert Series.  

 I chose a copy through Amazon Prime First Reads.  All opinions are my own.

 Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads

Purchase your own copy on Amazon

Meet Christina McDonald (taken from her website):  Christina McDonald is the USA Today bestselling author of These Still Black Waters, Do No Harm, Behind Every Lie and The Night Olivia Fell (Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books), which has been optioned for television by a major Hollywood studio.

Her writing has been featured in The Sunday Times, Dublin, USAToday.com, and Expedia. Originally from Seattle, WA, she has a BA in Communications from the University of Washington and an MA in Journalism from the National University of Ireland Galway. She now lives in London, England with her husband, two sons, and their dog, Tango. She’s currently working on her next novel.

Christina enjoys reading, hiking and lifting weights at the gym. She always wanted to be a writer, and told her earliest stories to her two younger sisters, who were her first audience, cheerleaders and sounding board. She has a BA in Communications from the University of Washington, Seattle and an MA in Journalism from the National University of Ireland, Galway.

Going to college in Ireland wasn’t part of the master plan, but happened randomly when Christina went travelling and arrived completely jet lagged at Heathrow Airport in London, caught sight of the Aer Lingus desk, and spontaneously bought a ticket to Ireland. She loved it so much she went back the following year to study.

She is currently writing her next novel.