Wednesday, April 26, 2023

The Dark Lake

Book: The Dark Lake
Series: Gemma Woodstock #1
Author:  Sarah Bailey

The lead homicide investigator in a rural town, Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock is deeply unnerved when a high school classmate is found strangled, her body floating in a lake. And not just any classmate, but Rosalind Ryan, whose beauty and inscrutability exerted a magnetic pull on Smithson High School, first during Rosalind's student years and then again when she returned to teach drama.

As much as Rosalind's life was a mystery to Gemma when they were students together, her death presents even more of a puzzle. What made Rosalind quit her teaching job in Sydney and return to her hometown? Why did she live in a small, run-down apartment when her father was one of the town's richest men? And despite her many admirers, did anyone in the town truly know her?

Rosalind's enigmas frustrate and obsess Gemma, who has her own dangerous secrets—an affair with her colleague and past tragedies that may not stay in the past.-Goodreads

Review: This was an interesting start to a new series. Although this is a murder/police procedural, this book seemed to focus more of a character study on the lead detective Gemma, who is an interesting woman. She was borderline obsessed with the murder victim in high school and is still grieving over the suicide of her best friend (and murder victim's high school boyfriend) from years ago. Her personal life is a hot mess. The format of the book was a tad strange with 90% of the chapters written from Gemma's perspective with a few random chapters from others. 

Overall, I liked it and will continue with the series. 

Grade: 3/5

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