The Lake Escape
- Judith D Collins
- Jul 21
- 5 min read
By: Jamie Day
Narrators: Lisa Larsen, Phoebe Strole
Macmillan Audio
ISBN: 978-1250358196
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: 07/15/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC) (ALC)
The next riveting summer suspense by the author of THE BLOCK PARTY and ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY, Jamie Day.
They've been coming to Lake Timmeny in Vermont since they were babies. Now, Julia Crawford, David Dunne, and Erika Miller are returning for their annual summer getaway, a family tradition they've continued into adulthood. But for all its beauty, Lake Timmeny harbors a dark past. Two young women with no known connection to each other, aside from their shared vacation spot, vanished without a trace exactly thirty years apart.
Lacking evidence, the vanishings gave rise to a foreboding lore that the lakes take them, a legend that continues to this day. But it's not only the lake that's hiding something. All three friends harbor secrets and deceptions that lurk just beneath the surface.
But, when David's new girlfriend mysteriously vanishes after a night of drinking and tension, the lore of the lake resurfaces. As the group searches for the missing woman, long-buried secrets emerge, and an intricate web of lies, deceit, and betrayals stemming back generations is gradually revealed, putting all of them in grave danger. Can the friends keep their heads above water, or will they, too, succumb to the lake's dark history?
My Review
Jamie Day, the master of suspense, returns following The Block Party and One Big Happy Family (both 5 stars) with her latest summer sizzler, THE LAKE ESCAPE.
When three friends reunite at the lake, past dark secrets rise to the surface, turning their relaxing vacation into a nail-biting, page-turning mystery.
WILL THIS BE THE BEST WEEK OF THEIR LIVES... OR THE LAST?
About...
Julia, David, and Erika, each with their own unique and complex personalities, grew up together, spending fun summers at their idyllic Vermont lake homes. Even though they have not always stayed in touch and (possibly ex-friends), they are reuniting for a week at the lake. Now, older, they each have families and lots of drama.
Julia had been eagerly anticipating her annual summer vacation to the lake house, but once she pulled into the driveway, everything was ruined.
David (newfound wealth) has remodeled and built a house (or a monstrosity), modern, sleek, three stories, made of glass, blocking her lake view. An eyesore! A stark contrast to the two charming rustic neighboring homes belong to Julia and Erika, the third musketeer in their lakeshore trio.
She had always enjoyed sunsets with her chilled wine and dinners, and now this had changed. She is beyond furious. She can only imagine how upset Erika would be (hotheaded defense attorney).
David is now dating a younger woman and has brought his nanny, Izzy, to take care of his twins. Izzy has her own agenda. When David’s girlfriend mysteriously vanishes after a fight, Julia and Erika wonder how well they know their lifelong friend.
The lake and its residents also harbor secrets of the past. Could the missing woman be connected to the women who vanished thirty years ago?
Get ready for lies, scandal, suspense, and much more in this cozy lake neighborhood, which hides more than you can imagine.
Let the games begin...
My thoughts...
THE LAKE ESCAPE is a fun, twisty, gripping, and unpredictable whodunnit! There are plenty of fireworks and chaos for your summer entertainment. Packed with sharp characters, psychological suspense, and gasp-worthy plot twists.
You can always count on Jamie Day to keep you hooked with summer scandals, complex relationships, dark secrets, and vanishings at Lake Timmeny! There are three missing women, both past and present, that build suspense leading up to the final explosive reveal.
Told from the POVs of Julia and Izzy (nanny) with her own agenda. Shocking secrets can lurk beneath that will not stay buried. With a cast of supporting characters, we learn about what the three main characters have been up to in the first half, and then it heats up wth non-stop action in the second half.
A full investigation begins, and all the complex layers are unraveled in this twisty mystery. Expertly paced, this domestic suspense tale about the consequences of one’s choices will not only keep you guessing, but also explore how those actions are carried over into adulthood.
My third book by the author, and I always enjoy her fun and engaging style with atmospheric settings. The Lake Escape's plot is full of drama, and the well-developed characters have plenty of secrets (and the mob and family were unexpected twists).
The story concludes with an Epilogue/podcast episode, featuring Meredith, Erika, Izzy, Detective Baker, Julia, Rick, Debbie, and an excerpt from the newspaper, providing a satisfying conclusion.
Audiobook...
Highly entertaining! For an even more immersive experience, I had the honor of reading an e-book and listening to the audiobook, which Lisa Larsen and Phoebe Strole expertly perform. The characters come alive, adding to the intensity, mystery, and intrigue for a fun and engaging listening experience. I highly recommend the audio for your summer beach bag.
Recs...
THE LAKE ESCAPE is for fans of the author and those who enjoy scandal and drama. Also for fans of authors, Kaira Rouda, Emma Rosenblum, Riley Sager, Megan Goldin, Jenova Rose, Lisa Jewell, and Seraphina Nova Glass
Special thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing an advanced review copy and to Macmillan Audio (#MacAudio2025) for an advanced listening copy.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub date: July 15, 2025
Praise
"Unputdownable."
—Freida McFadden
"Like a fire cracker on a hot summer night!"
—Elin Hilderbrand
"The revelations pile up, and by the end, the reader will be surprised and a bit overwhelmed, which is a good thing. Day perfectly delivers the awkwardness and obligation of family reunions while spotlighting the comfortability and love that makes it all worthwhile."
―Jeff Ayers, First Clue
"Jamie Day exemplifies how few settings are as ripe for tension as a secluded lakeside retreat. The Lake Escape lures you in with its promise of an idyllic getaway, only to unravel into a labyrinth of betrayals, hidden motives, and chilling revelations. Day’s pacing is razor-sharp, delivering twists that feel both shocking and inevitable―a balance that only the best thriller writers achieve. It’s the kind of novel that keeps you up late, the stillness of the night suddenly feeling a little less serene."
Jamie Day Books
THE BLOCK PARTY
ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY
THE LAKE ESCAPE
"The revelations pile up, and by the end, the reader will be surprised and a bit overwhelmed, which is a good thing. Day perfectly delivers the awkwardness and obligation of family reunions while spotlighting the comfortability and love that makes it all worthwhile."
―Jeff Ayers, First Clue
"Jamie Day exemplifies how few settings are as ripe for tension as a secluded lakeside retreat. The Lake Escape lures you in with its promise of an idyllic getaway, only to unravel into a labyrinth of betrayals, hidden motives, and chilling revelations. Day’s pacing is razor-sharp, delivering twists that feel both shocking and inevitable―a balance that only the best thriller writers achieve. It’s the kind of novel that keeps you up late, the stillness of the night suddenly feeling a little less serene."
“A MASTER STORYTELLER with wit and style.”
―WILLIAM LANDAY, bestselling author of Defending Jacob
“Jamie Day is ONE TO WATCH!”
―SALLY HEPWORTH, New York Times bestselling author
“Jamie Day has a bone-deep knowledge of what MAKES US TICK, what binds us together, and what tears us apart.”
―LISA UNGER, New York Times bestselling author of Last Girl Ghosted
About the Author
Jamie Day lives in one of those picture-perfect, coastal New England towns you see in the movies. And just like the movies, Jamie has two children and an adorable dog to fawn over. When not writing or reading, Jamie enjoys yoga, the ocean, cooking, and long walks on the beach with the dog, or the kids, or sometimes both.
