Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Dark Lake
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
148 posts | 91 read | 1 reading | 89 to read
There were a few minutes when I was alone with her in the autopsy room. I felt wild. Absent. Before I could stop myself I was leaning close to her, telling her everything. The words draining out of me as she lay there. Her long damp hair hanging off the back of the steel table. Glassy eyes fixed blindly on the ceiling. She was still so beautiful, even in death. Our secrets circled madly around the bright white room that morning. Rocking back and forth on my heels as I stood next to her, I knew how far in I was again, how comprehensively her death could undo me. I looked at Rosalind Ryan properly for the last time before breathing deeply, readying myself, letting her pull me back into her world, and I sank down, further and further, until I was completely, utterly under. A beautiful young teacher has been murdered, her body found in the lake, strewn with red roses. Local policewoman Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock pushes to be assigned to the case, concealing the fact that she knew the murdered woman in high school years before. But that's not all Gemma's trying to hide. As the investigation digs deeper into the victim's past, other secrets threaten to come to light, secrets that were supposed to remain buried. The lake holds the key to solving the murder, but it also has the power to drag Gemma down into its dark depths. The Dark Lake is an addictive crime thriller, a mesmerising account of one woman's descent into deceit and madness, and a stunning debut that is already causing a stir around the world.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
blurb
MommyOfTwo
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

Out enjoying my book, it‘s not supposed to rain but I hear thunder not to far away.

review
Julsmarshall
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image
Mehso-so

Solid thriller, a little slow and unnecessarily convoluted in place but I kept listening to learn the outcome. I would read another of hers for sure. #BOTM #BookspinBingo #audio @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
43 likes1 comment
blurb
Julsmarshall
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

#currentlisten while getting in my steps.

45 likes1 stack add
review
Nik_reads
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image
Pickpick

I loved getting to play detective with the little clues left along the way and enjoyed making predictions on who the murderer was. The one thing that I didn‘t like about the book was that there were little snippets of different characters perspective and those characters never reappeared in the story. Definitely some loose ends that needed to be tied up.

review
Nicki_K
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image
Panpan

Soooooo I didn't really like this book that much. It kind of dragged out a bit in places for my liking and didn't grip me in the way I like my thrillers to grip me. I couldn't get invested into either the characters or who killed Rosalind. Going by other Goodreads reviews though a lot of people enjoyed it so maybe it's just me. ⭐#thedarklake #tea_sipping_bookworm #goodreads #bookstagram #bookqueen #litsy

review
Madison91
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image
Pickpick

Perhaps a tiny bit too long but over all has all the elements of a great story!

review
BookBridget
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
Pickpick

I loved this book, very twisty.

Set in Australia at Christmas time during a heat wave (their summer is the opposite of countries north of the equator); Gemma is the lead detective in a murder of a beloved local teacher. Gamma also went to High School with the murder victim.

The main character, Henna, was a mess but I still rooted for her.

Loved the ending!

@crazyspine - do you want this book?

41 likes1 stack add
blurb
BookBridget
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

Finally starting the #BOTM book. It's from October 2017, I'm somewhat behind on my reading. Looks like a good one!

Lovesbooks87 I enjoyed this one! 5y
crazyspine Let me borrow, please 5y
57 likes2 stack adds2 comments
blurb
kspenmoll
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

#LetsTravelAugust #lakeside
Homicide investigator Detective Gemma Woodstock investigates the death of an old classmate, who was found floating in the lake. Woodstock spent time #lakeside.

OriginalCyn620 👌🏻📚💙 5y
58 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Lauren_reading
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image
Pickpick

Not a great mystery, but not bad. Entertaining and I liked the timeline.

blurb
GypsyKat
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

I‘m stealing an hour out at our local B&N. I came here to pick up a new release, but I‘m sitting in the cafe with a pink drink and an oatmeal raisin cookie, and I‘m going to see if these bargain books seem good enough to buy.

MotionChickness Had myself a pink drink today, too! 🙌 6y
Librariana Sounds like a fabulous plan! I've taken myself out for a quick sushi lunch, bullet journaling, and reading 😁 6y
BlameJennyJane Having a Keto Pink Drink now! Cheers! (edited) 6y
Esmerelda1rm The Charlaine Harris one is definitely worth the bargain price! 6y
110 likes4 comments
review
janeycanuck
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image
Mehso-so

A quick but frankly, unmemorable read.

review
NikkiKey94
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image
Pickpick

This was a great mystery novel from Sarah Bailey! I loved the characters and the setting. I can‘t wait to read the second book in the series, because this one was so good!

review
Joanne1
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
Pickpick

This was an engaging fast paced murder mystery set in rural Australia. It wasn‘t anything ground breaking and I picked the killer about 3/4 if the way through but it was well written and narrated and kept me entertained through some very early morning drives. #ozfiction

blurb
Joanne1
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

My latest audiobook and the perfect driving companion. It‘s a compelling Australian crime novel and certainly holding my full attention. #ozfiction

CarolynM I just got a copy of this for reading over the summer. Good to know you're enjoying it🙂 6y
Joanne1 Perfect summer reading @CarolynM 6y
45 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
Librarybelle
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

Not heard too much about this #thriller , but I picked it up awhile ago from Book of the Month and hope to read it this year. #OctoberXFiles

Cinfhen My mom read it and said it was ok, more atmospheric than thrilling #MomReview 🙌🏻👻 6y
Librarybelle @Cinfhen Maybe I should ask my mom to read it...she likes thrillers and can give me another review on it! Sometimes #MomReview is the best! 6y
Cinfhen Ha!! Go for it!! I‘d love to hear what your mom thinks 6y
68 likes3 comments
blurb
kspenmoll
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

#HumpDay🐫 #HumoDayPost
1)12th recent photo was from last night‘s Men‘s Soccer game USA V Peru. The pic includes my son ( bushy hair in front of man in # 14 shirt),cheering with a friend to his right. #AmericanOutlaws
2) tagged book,The Dark Lake
3) son‘s birthday dinner Saturday night🎂🎉🎈
4) red bed quilt
5) theme song is cartoon posted in collage.”Raindrops on roses and stepping on faces...cat version 😻😹

LeahBergen That song! 😂😂 6y
Zelma How many people sang the song in the cartoon rather than just reading it? 👋 6y
55 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Bklover
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image
Pickpick

I found this book 70% intriguing and 30% annoying. There were scenes thrown in that hinted at the reader, but that the MC never discovers, which I found frustrating. I‘m tired beyond words of reading about women main characters who drink too much. On the other hand, the mystery was interesting to me and kept me reading, although it took me quite a while to get through it. I‘ll definitely check out the next book in this series. 3 1/2 stars.

Bklover PS. I‘ve been is somewhat of a slump so the fact that I made it through it earned it the 70%. 6y
MrsMalaprop Read this a while ago. My friend‘s sister knows the author. It was a ‘so so‘ for me. Glad you managed to get through it & hope you come out of that reading slump soon 😊. 6y
Trashcanman 🤗🤯😉🤗 6y
Trashcanman "Will there be another race
To come along and take over for us?
Maybe martians could do
Better than we've done
We'll make great pets!"
6y
Bklover @Trashcanman Pets would be better than free labor. 6y
111 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
Leanne.loves.books
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image
Pickpick

As soon as I started reading this book I was gripped. It automatically drew me in to find out what whispered to the deceased woman and why the detective was hiding how close they were. As the story progresses it doesn‘t give too much away at once. The main character is not portrayed as some damaged woman, but as a woman with a past and issues going on in her personal life without it taking over the story. I enjoyed this all the way through.

review
books.are.my.best
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image
Pickpick

My favourite read of 2017 was The Dark Lake by Sarah Bailey, and now I've won a signed copy of it and her new book Into the Night, beyond excited to read more about Detective Gemma Woodhouse

blurb
Julsmarshall
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

Ok Littens, which one? #botm #helpmechoose

Jess7 I‘ve heard really good things about 6y
mrozzz I really liked Dark Lake! 6y
56 likes3 comments
review
RebelReader
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image
Pickpick

I figured this one out pretty quickly, but that didn‘t stop me from turning the pages to see if I was right. There was a few minor twists I didn‘t see coming so all in all I enjoyed it and the short chapters really kept the story hopping.

JennyM She has a new one coming out very shortly. 6y
RebelReader @JennyM I‘ll have to keep an eye out for it. 😍 6y
96 likes2 stack adds2 comments
blurb
LeslieO
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image
blurb
LeslieO
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

Finished this one pretty fast, not only cuz it was a page turner but also cuz high winds took out my TV and internet for a day and a half.

48 likes1 stack add
review
Sophoclessweetheart
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image
Pickpick

4/5 star for this page turner. It was darkly charming and melancholy. It invoked Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds “Where the Wild roses grow” vibes throughout and I absolutely adored it. I‘ve been feeling really down and out with my usual thriller guilty pleasure reads lately but this one was just perfect! #crime #thriller #debut #sarahbailey #arc #booklover #bookblogger #darkcharm #bibliophile

38 likes2 stack adds
blurb
TheLibrarian
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

#ebook deal today. This was a previous #BOTM selection.

Jess7 Wow! It‘s worth more than .99 cents! 🤗 nice deal! 7y
2BR02B I love picking up BOTMs for even cheaper than 9.99. Thanks for the share! 7y
TheLibrarian @2BR02B You‘re welcome!! @Jess7 Have you read it yet? 7y
Jess7 No, I‘ve heard it‘s gotten mixed reviews but surely it‘s worth more 99 cents. That‘s kinda crazy! 7y
54 likes4 comments
blurb
Minimalgrl
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

Just waiting to be done with work time and move on to reading time!!!

ladym30 Lovely kitty! 7y
33 likes1 comment
blurb
AVChrista
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

Excited to read this story as it sounds exactly like what I need - a suspenseful murder-mystery!

4 likes1 stack add
blurb
Minimalgrl
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

1. Washington
2. Mystery,thriller,horror, historical fiction
3. The Dark Lake
4. Pasta 🍝, chocolate, shepherds pie
5. Two cats ... Harper and Atticus 🤓
6. Do you stick to the genres you love ... or venture out to find new reads?

blurb
Minimalgrl
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

Sunday afternoon... snow flurries outside and reading to be done !!!

blurb
BOTM.BookSwap
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

Another awesome Litten with a great stack of #botm picks up for trade! If you're interested, hit up @EsquireGirl in the comments.

#BOTMBookSwap

BOTM.BookSwap @EsquireGirl are you trading Sleeping Beauties without the dust cover? 7y
EsquireGirl @BOTM.BookSwap yes, read it in Hawaii and seem to have lost the cover 😕 7y
Karkar @EsquireGirl do you have some titles you are looking for? I have bunch... 7y
See All 8 Comments
EsquireGirl @Karkar the wife between us, beasts of extraordinary circumstance, little fires everywhere, sing unburied sing, the hearts invisible furies, you will know me, the trespasser 7y
Sweettartlaura @EsquireGirl The Tana French Trespasser? If so, you can borrow mine 7y
Sweettartlaura @EsquireGirl I‘ll put it aside. Have you read the others? 7y
EsquireGirl @Sweettartlaura I have not. Which one should I start with? 7y
64 likes8 comments
blurb
DeborahSmall
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

#Bookmail from #ReadersFirst, think this is the last of it, for today ❤️📚

LeahBergen You‘ve had quite the mail day! 😮😮 7y
TrishB Great book mail today ❤️ 7y
DeborahSmall @LeahBergen @TrishB yep it was a mountain and typical that Stephen was home as it‘s midterm here this week! 🙈😂 7y
70 likes3 comments
review
Drnkpnkprincess
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
Mehso-so

I wasn‘t as impressed with this book as I was hoping to be... while I “figured” out who the culprit was roughly 3/4 of the way through I enjoyed the climactic reveal. Woodstock was self absorbed and I couldn‘t like her, but I am interested to see if her character develops in later books (if any will be written). Overall 3 ⭐️ #litsyatoz #Litsybingo #RHC #LITSYBINGO #popsugarchallenge #placeiveneverbeen #griefordeath

review
AngelErin
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
Bailedbailed

Well this is my first DNF of 2018. I just can‘t finish it. I‘m bored out of my mind with it and I literally don‘t care who killed her. DNF at about 20-25%.

MrsMalaprop I hear ya! 7y
AngelErin @MrsMalaprop I couldn‘t do it! I figure why suffer though. 😬 I have too many other books to read! 7y
MrsMalaprop I read it for Book Club last year. My friend chose it because her sister had worked with the author. Hence I read the whole book, but I was like, ‘there‘s too many good books waiting for me out there 😩‘. I wanted to like it, debut Aussie fiction & all, but just no. 7y
AngelErin @MrsMalaprop I get that! I really wanted to like this one, but it was just dragging way too much for me to get into it. 😢 7y
47 likes4 comments
review
everfree7
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
Pickpick

I did guess who the culprit at a certain point but I still enjoyed the ride.

blurb
everfree7
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey

Diving in

5 likes1 stack add
review
Hooked_on_books
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image
Pickpick

Ostensibly a mystery, much of this book focuses on character development of the unlikeable and flawed main character, which I frankly really enjoyed. The narrative is complex and moves backward and forward in time. The relationships depicted feel real and sometimes painful. There are some clunky spots that don‘t quite fit, but I would love to see this character again.

Cinfhen Nice review! 7y
59 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
Hooked_on_books
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

I‘m loving the bingo card idea for tackling the TBR piles, so I‘ve made one to work through my unread #botm titles. I have this on the wall next to my botm bookcase. I‘m very much a mood reader, so I‘m not going to set a goal for when I want this completed. Feel free to join in!

63 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Nonaroo
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
Mehso-so

I finished this last night. Mehhhh. It started slow for me and then it picked up the pace. Gemma really started to bug me. It‘s a fun page turner but I didn‘t love it. When it got near the end I felt very “Are we there yet?”

blurb
TheLibrarian
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

#ebookdeal on a previous BOTM pick!

Jennick2004 This was a good one! 7y
55 likes1 comment
review
jessberk13
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
Pickpick

Might be my last read until 2018! What a crazy year 2017 turned out to be...

This hovers between pick and so so for me. While it was good, I felt like some bits were just unnecessary. I'm coming to realize I don't enjoy characters who are sloppy and blame others for their shortcomings - that makes me dislike a book. However, the overall plot was interesting. Possibly would make a good movie?

review
Violetsunrise84
Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image
Pickpick

‪Sarah Bailey did an awesome job writing The Dark Lake. How did I miss the clues. The killer was someone that I least suspected. It took me a while to read the book because I was busy not because the book was boring. #SarahBailey #thedarklake

blurb
Violetsunrise84
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
This post contains spoilers
show me

So, Mr. Nicholson was Rosalind‘s Father. Gemma and Felix‘s affair had gone sour. They were caught by his daughter leaving what I think was a hotel. Scott also caught them but all they were doing was hugging. Now I learned that Gemma is the reason why Jacob killed himself. Wow!!!

blurb
Violetsunrise84
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

I‘m up to page 244. So far I don‘t know who killed Rosalind, but I do know that Gemma and alcohol don‘t mix.

blurb
AngelErin
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image

✨I‘ve been very into #mystery #thriller novels the past couple of years and I can‘t wait to read #thedarklake by #sarahbailey ! It‘s on my #tbr for next January. What are some awesome mystery/thrillers you‘ve read this year? I‘m always on the hunt for a really good one!✨

Lindy Have you read Louise Penny‘s series set in Quebec? The most recent is 7y
AngelErin @Lindy No, I haven‘t. I‘ll have to check it out. Thanks 😀❤️ 7y
AngelErin @Lindy Awesome! I added it to my to read list. 😊 7y
54 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
readtheworld
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
post image
Pickpick

Really enjoyed this mystery novel set in small-town Australia. When the body of a beloved high school teacher is found in the local lake, detective Gemma Woodstock must balance her desire to catch the killer with her urge to keep her own secrets hidden — including her haunting ties to the murdered woman. Bailey writes complex, often unlikeable characters and constructs a slow-burning but suspenseful plot.

#mystery #detectivenovel #aussielit

70 likes2 stack adds
blurb
Violetsunrise84
The Dark Lake | Sarah Bailey
This post contains spoilers
show me

Something is really fishy about Rosalind‘s brothers, Father and that principal.