It Happened on the Lake

By Lisa Jackson

Book Overview

In an intense, twisty, Hitchcockian standalone spin on Rear Window from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson, a woman returns to the Oregon town where a nightmare unfolded 20 years ago--and is waiting to engulf her again. For fans of J.T. Ellison, Paula Hawkins, Karin Slaughter, and Riley Sager.

The huge Victorian house on Lake Twilight belongs to Harper Reed Prescott, as does the private island on which it sits. Harper wants little to do with either. Twenty years ago, Harper's grandmother died suspiciously while in her care, on the same night that Harper's boyfriend disappeared. His body was never found, and no charges were filed. But the rumors haven't faded. There have been other deaths, other accidents. All revolving around Harper and her family.

Now Harper's marriage is over, her college-age daughter is estranged, and Harper just wants to sell the property and make a fresh start. Except returning to the lake has stirred everything up again. Whispers. Memories. And the persistent feeling that, as she gazes out at the houses across the water, she's being watched in turn.
The whole town has always thought Harper has something to hide, and they're right. But she might have even more to fear . . .

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1496737032
• ISBN13: 9781496737038
• Release Date: June 2025
• Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
• Length: 592 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.9" x 6.6" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Not a lake you want to visit!

The first thing I took away from this book is to always make sure your blinds are shut tight at night or when doing personal business. You never know if a neighbor has a super strong telescope to peek in! That really upped the eerie creepy factor in this book, along with hundreds of dolls, a grand house on its own island in disrepair, and several unexplained deaths and disappearances that have happened on this lake. Yes, the book is a bit long in revealing little details, though it keeps up the suspense and guessing nicely, and though I think it could have been a bit shorter, I still had fun reading it. Especially when it all comes together at the end with so much action, a few more bodies, and answers finally found to bring closure to the survivors. I really liked Harper, even if she is surrounded by so many dead family members. She does not run at the first sign of trouble and tackles that huge house, plus threats (which include the aforementioned dolls and cat carcasses) with grit (and perhaps a bit too much alcohol) but I still admire her. My favorite part of the book though dealt with her grandma and the story about her and her grandfather (that was delightfully wicked!). This was a fun read and really makes it true that secrets cannot remain hidden with those super powerful telescopes spying on everything! Plus a life and death chase to reveal long lost bodies and possibly a love interest. :)