Charlotte's life has never been an easy one. She struggled and worked for everything that she had, and it was never enough. But fate introduced Paul into her life and everything changed for the better.
Paul is older, widowed, and insanely rich. And much of their small town has judged young Charlotte for their marriage. But Charlotte and Paul are in love and their relationship is a good one. And now they're expecting. But on the morning after Charlotte tells Paul the good news, she discovers a dead body floating under their dock.
Paul isn't home when it happens but Charlotte recognizes the woman as one she saw Paul talking to just one day prior. But when Paul is questioned by the police he says he has no idea who the woman is. He then immediately sets off to find his friend Jax, the town's local eccentric, leaving Charlotte to deal with further questions and the investigation.
Charlotte isn't sure why Paul lied about the woman. She also isn't sure what caused him to run to seek out Jax. But she knows that she has to protect him at all cost. Because when Paul's former wife died, it was in the very same lake. And Paul was a prime suspect.
Kimberly Belle's latest is a great suspense story that builds fabulously until the final reveal!
Charlotte, as she likes to be called (only her brother is allowed to call her Charlie), is immediately likable. The book begins with her setting off in their boat to pick Paul up from work. The weather is cold and dreary and her old beater can't really make treacherous road conditions. And Paul's car has been taken to the shop for last minute repairs. And it's all of this that leads to her finding a body.
The following morning, she realizes that in her rush to get inside after telling Paul about the baby, she left her phone and some important documents in the boat.
Paul is out on a run and the weather is threatening to get worse, so she can't wait for him to trek down to the dock to do it. And boy what a surprise she finds waiting for her!
Charlotte is definitely planning to stand by her man but as the book continues even she begins to have doubts. Two women found in the same spot? Add to that Paul's definitely skirting of the truth when it comes to the latest body. But she knows her husband. He's a good man. He'd been broken up for so long about the death of his wife and this woman is a stranger, regardless of the fact that she saw her husband talking to her just the day before. Surely he can't have had anything to do with it?
Stranger in the Lake isn't quite a slow burn but it's definitely more suspense than a faster-paced thriller. And this gives the reader a chance to really get to know Charlotte, Paul, Chet (Charlotte's brother), and even Paul's group of friends.
I quite enjoyed this latest outing from Belle! It proved to be a perfect escape and an excellent hammock read!
No comments:
Post a Comment