Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Stranger in the Lake by Kimberly Belle Narrator: Xe Sands
Published by HarperAudio on June 9, 2020
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Length: 9 hours, 39 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
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Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
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.
I love mystery thrillers and Xe Sands so this felt like a great fit. Things felt off from the start. Poor Charlotte has always been strong and smart and capable. She is finally happy to be in a marriage where someone can take care of her sometimes and she doesn’t have to worry about having food to eat.
The town, along with her husband and his two best friends from high school, have secrets which they have held for so long. Her husband is a wealthy widower and some people look down on her or see her as a gold digger, including her mother-in-law. But she loves her husband. He also loves her.
When she finds a woman’s dead body under their dock, the same as his first wife’s death, all the old rumors of him being a murderer resurface. Old secrets start coming to light with this new homicide investigation.
I perceived one of the bad guys right away and that made for a tense reading, feeling Charlotte was in danger. I liked her relationship with Paul and her brother, Chet. It’s hard initially to tell what really happened with Paul’s story changing a bit over time. Micah, one of the best friends and now neighbor, having one idea and involved in the evidence collection. Jax, the other best friend, is a wilderness guy and hard to locate normally. Jax keeps showing up to talk to Charlotte, which people say is dangerous, but she feels safe with him.
Charlotte has good instincts. I hate that even in a good marriage, she suddenly is alone and has to take care of herself again. She holds herself back, learning and putting things together until she has to get to the truth. But that’s when she nearly dies, because the murderer is right there to keep the truth hidden.
Narration:
I partially chose this audiobook because of the narrator; I am a fan of Xe Sands. Her southern mountain accent was strange to hear at first, but I got used to it quickly. We are mostly in Charlotte’s head with her thoughts and she is also primary in dialogue. The pacing was good. The voices felt authentic. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:
About Xe Sands
Award-winning narrator known for credible characterizations and an intimate delivery with more than a decade of experience bringing stories to life through narration, performance, and visual art. I believe an authentic performance demands authentic connection to the text and subtext.
About Kimberly Belle
Kimberly Belle is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of six novels, including her forthcoming domestic suspense, Stranger in the Lake (June 2020). Her third novel, The Marriage Lie, was a semifinalist in the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Mystery & Thriller, and a #1 e-book bestseller in the UK and Italy. She’s sold rights to her books in a dozen languages as well as film and television options. A graduate of Agnes Scott College, Belle divides her time between Atlanta and Amsterdam.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- COYER-20
It’s amazing how we both really liked the same aspects like the relationship with Chet and guessing one of the bad guys ahead of the big reveal. I thought it was really well written and the mystery was fun but you are right, there was a sadness about it because of marriage falling apart in front of the reader’s eyes.
This was different and I really enjoyed it. Chet was hilarious. I felt sorry for Charlie and Paul.
Yeah, I love Xe Sands and imagine that accent took a minute! LOL
Yes it was unexpected. I’m listening to her again right now on Always the Last to Know by Kristan Higgins which is the more typical voice.