The Stranger at Black Lake by Christina McDonald

This review first appeared on Reader Views. Read the Reader Views version here. 

Jess Lambert and her husband Mac have just moved to what should be the quiet town of Black Lake. Mac grew up here and has a promising job at his dad’s law firm while Jess is a little more lost. Back when they lived in New York City, she had been a paramedic, but she isn’t convinced she still wants that life—especially after what happened on her last call.

After running into a friendly woman named Annie at a local coffee shop, Jess thinks she may finally be finding a place here in Black Lake. But then, later that same day, Jess comes across a naked and traumatized Annie and a horrid scene at a house Mac had told her ghost stories about. Can Jess solve a series of increasingly horrific crimes, escape the ghosts of her past, and find her way? Only by reading Christina McDonald’s The Stranger at Black Lake (A Jess Lambert Prequel) shall you find out.

The Stranger at Black Lake is told through two perspectives. One is Jess’s and the other is sinisterly labeled “Him.” Jess’s perspective allows readers to get to know her as the main character and sets up what is sure to be a fantastic series. The vague label of “Him” allows readers’ minds to run wild, trying to make connections between the various threads of the story before they are officially unveiled. Additionally, “his” perspective also ramps up the stakes and sets up a bit of a welcome ticking clock.

Despite its short nature, The Stranger at Black Lake is filled to the brim with intrigue. There is, of course, the intrigue of both Jess’ past as well as the present mystery. However, there is also a heavy theme of what and how the past haunts us—both figuratively and, possibly, literally. The novella format also allows author McDonald to create a racing, but still easy-to-follow narrative that is sure to ensnare readers.

McDonald has masterfully woven a fast-paced and thrilling mystery in The Stranger at Black Lake. With just a dash of ghost story, McDonald hit the perfect sinister balance of potential supernatural with real-life horror.

The Stranger at Black Lake by Christina McDonald, Intrigue Ink Publishing