Review: The Lake by Natasha Preston

Esme and Kayla haven’t told anyone what happened at Camp Pine Lake all those years ago. But now that they’ve
returned as counsellors, it seems that somehow somebody knows — and they want everybody else to know too. The
Lake is a gripping read that isn’t afraid to get dark, not letting the protagonists off the hook for a second. Although some of the twists in the novel are too frequently telegraphed to be particularly surprising, the last fifty pages pack punch after punch and are worth the wait. Preston has a knack for knowing exactly what her characters
would watch and listen to. This helps the reader understand them, and helps distract from the dialogue that at times feels written rather than said. Set at a summer camp for eight- to ten-year-olds, Camp Pine Lake provides the perfect mix of a sunny home-away-from-home and a stifling settlement of strangers.

At times it becomes difficult to know who to root for as the specifics of the girls’ secrets are revealed layer by shocking layer. Again and again Preston asks the reader to interrogate the girls’ actions, whether their age or understanding of the situation absolves them of guilt, and these answers don’t come easily. The complexity of Esme and Kayla’s situation is compelling enough to recommend the book despite its flaws. This book is perfect for thriller fans.

Gillian Doyle