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Publication
Grand Central Publishing (2017), Edition: First Printing, 400 pages
Description
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.… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Katyas
I just finished editing this very interesting mindfuck of a story. The narrator is unreliable, and you never know if what you are reading has actually happened, is actually happening, or is just in the narrator's mind. I really enjoyed it! The author is re-releasing it in conjunction with a
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promotion in a week or so, so I'll be sure to let folks know when it's available, and maybe try to write up a better review later, but for now I have one more story to edit before my week is done! Show Less
LibraryThing member Daydreambooks
This isn't my usual style of book, but found it enthralling. Jane is definitely odd, but in her rambling thought patterns the flashbacks between past and present come across smoothly. The ending left me still with a few questions but no doubt they will be revealed in the second book. The author has
Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author. I did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was I obliged to write a positive one.
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cleverly weaved snippets of clues into Jane's inner dialogue about what happened at the lake. I will certainly buy her books in future. Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author. I did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was I obliged to write a positive one.
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LibraryThing member selinalynn69
reminded me a bit of A Visit From The Goon Squad. Slightly schizophrenic in the narrative, but overall a descriptive tale of black outs and dealing with the past. Not sure what the second book will be like. I have to continue on this story because I'm curious.
LibraryThing member Twink
The Dark Lake is Australian author Sarah Bailey's debut novel.
DS Gemma Woodstock is the lead investigator in a rural Aussie town. When a woman is found dead in a local lake, Gemma recognizes her from their high school days. But she downplays this connection. Why? "It's amazing what you can keep
Bailey sets up the reader with not one, but two mysteries - who killed Rosanind and what event occurred in Gemma's past that she is so determined to keep hidden.
Gemma was an interesting lead character. She's smart and driven to find answers. But. She's also playing a dangerous game with her personal life. I didn't agree with the choices she was making and the actions she took to pursue that choice. I can't say that I liked her partner Felix either. I was intrigued by Rosalind. We only get to 'know' her from other's memories and observations though. I would have like a peek into her life from her own point of view.
Bailey's use of the 'then and now' technique gives the reader small glimpses into Gemma's past and then flips back to the present. The book is equally divided into a search for the killer and a character driven exploration of Gemma and her life.
Bailey gives us lots of options and characters to choose from for the closing 'whodunit' and the final answer was clever. I did find the reveal of Gemma's secret to be a bit of a letdown and the resolution she finds in her personal life in the final pages to be somewhat cliched. The book weighs in at 400+ pages. I feel this could have been tightened up a bit, as Gemma's dilemma became somewhat repetitive after awhile and I found my interest slipping.
I think this may be the first in a series. If so, I would be curious to see where Bailey next takes her character. I think The Dark Lake is a solid debut, but the publisher's comparisons to Tana French and Paula Hawkins may be a bit ambitious at this stage of Bailey's career.
DS Gemma Woodstock is the lead investigator in a rural Aussie town. When a woman is found dead in a local lake, Gemma recognizes her from their high school days. But she downplays this connection. Why? "It's amazing what you can keep
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buried when you want to." The dead woman is an enigma - her students adored her and her colleagues admired her. But as the investigation continues, Gemma discovers that no one really 'knows' Rosalind, including her own family.Bailey sets up the reader with not one, but two mysteries - who killed Rosanind and what event occurred in Gemma's past that she is so determined to keep hidden.
Gemma was an interesting lead character. She's smart and driven to find answers. But. She's also playing a dangerous game with her personal life. I didn't agree with the choices she was making and the actions she took to pursue that choice. I can't say that I liked her partner Felix either. I was intrigued by Rosalind. We only get to 'know' her from other's memories and observations though. I would have like a peek into her life from her own point of view.
Bailey's use of the 'then and now' technique gives the reader small glimpses into Gemma's past and then flips back to the present. The book is equally divided into a search for the killer and a character driven exploration of Gemma and her life.
Bailey gives us lots of options and characters to choose from for the closing 'whodunit' and the final answer was clever. I did find the reveal of Gemma's secret to be a bit of a letdown and the resolution she finds in her personal life in the final pages to be somewhat cliched. The book weighs in at 400+ pages. I feel this could have been tightened up a bit, as Gemma's dilemma became somewhat repetitive after awhile and I found my interest slipping.
I think this may be the first in a series. If so, I would be curious to see where Bailey next takes her character. I think The Dark Lake is a solid debut, but the publisher's comparisons to Tana French and Paula Hawkins may be a bit ambitious at this stage of Bailey's career.
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LibraryThing member nbmars
The main protagonist of this crime novel is Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock, 28, who often behaves less than admirably, and hints at having some dark secrets from her past that are only gradually unfolded. Yet somehow, she is absolutely a sympathetic character.
Gemma’s partner on the Smithson
Gemma and Felix are trying to find out who killed Rosalind Ryan, a magnetic 28-year-old former classmate of Gemma’s and more recently a school teacher at their old high school. Rosalind was found in the local lake showing clear signs of homicide and of possible sexual assault. The case brings back a host of memories for Gemma; she was tied to Rosalind in ways she does not want to share with the rest of the police.
Gemma and Felix are repeatedly stymied in trying to negotiate the lies and half-truths that form a dense web around Rosalind’s life. Gemma is also navigating the treacherous shoals of her personal life, with a conflict between her real life with Scott and Ben, and her fantasy life with Felix. Moreover, her past has now reared its head and threatens to swamp her and her current reality.
In the end, of course, the secrets unravel, and we the readers even learn some that Gemma herself will presumably never know.
Discussion: Gemma is a complex character. Her past was marked by traumatic loss, and she joined the police not only so she could block out the thoughts that pulled her deeper into an emotional black hole, but so she could exercise some control over life:
“I needed so badly to work in a world that made binary sense of things. A place where there was good and bad, right and wrong, and where I was in charge of making sure there was more good than bad.”
Not only her career but her relationships have been colored by her past: she feels “a sense of urgency, a need to feel alive, a desperation to keep breathing.” She prefers adrenaline to stability.
The many ways in which the past have shaped Gemma’s life reminded me very much of the prescient observation in Gabrielle Zevin’s book Young Jane Young: “When you think about it, isn’t a person just a structure built in reaction to the landscape and the weather?”
Evaluation: Ordinarily I shy away from blurbs that take the form of comparisons, such as “if you love [Author X]…” but this book is so evocative of Tana French - an author I do love - I feel it merits such treatment.
Since it is set in Australia rather than in Ireland, you won’t encounter any “fecking eejits” in this book, but you will still get a lot of the “feel” and tone of a Tana French book.
I enjoyed this book almost as much as one of French’s, and am hoping it will become only the first of an ongoing detective series.
Gemma’s partner on the Smithson
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Detective Squad in New South Wales, Australia, is Felix McKinnon, a recent transplant from London. Felix isn’t similarly sympathetic, although Gemma is smitten with him. This was in spite of the fact that Gemma was living with Scott, the father of her son 2 and 1/2 year old son Ben, and Felix is married with three daughters. Perhaps it is Gemma’s fragility and vulnerability that made me want to protect her rather than excoriate her. Gemma and Felix are trying to find out who killed Rosalind Ryan, a magnetic 28-year-old former classmate of Gemma’s and more recently a school teacher at their old high school. Rosalind was found in the local lake showing clear signs of homicide and of possible sexual assault. The case brings back a host of memories for Gemma; she was tied to Rosalind in ways she does not want to share with the rest of the police.
Gemma and Felix are repeatedly stymied in trying to negotiate the lies and half-truths that form a dense web around Rosalind’s life. Gemma is also navigating the treacherous shoals of her personal life, with a conflict between her real life with Scott and Ben, and her fantasy life with Felix. Moreover, her past has now reared its head and threatens to swamp her and her current reality.
In the end, of course, the secrets unravel, and we the readers even learn some that Gemma herself will presumably never know.
Discussion: Gemma is a complex character. Her past was marked by traumatic loss, and she joined the police not only so she could block out the thoughts that pulled her deeper into an emotional black hole, but so she could exercise some control over life:
“I needed so badly to work in a world that made binary sense of things. A place where there was good and bad, right and wrong, and where I was in charge of making sure there was more good than bad.”
Not only her career but her relationships have been colored by her past: she feels “a sense of urgency, a need to feel alive, a desperation to keep breathing.” She prefers adrenaline to stability.
The many ways in which the past have shaped Gemma’s life reminded me very much of the prescient observation in Gabrielle Zevin’s book Young Jane Young: “When you think about it, isn’t a person just a structure built in reaction to the landscape and the weather?”
Evaluation: Ordinarily I shy away from blurbs that take the form of comparisons, such as “if you love [Author X]…” but this book is so evocative of Tana French - an author I do love - I feel it merits such treatment.
Since it is set in Australia rather than in Ireland, you won’t encounter any “fecking eejits” in this book, but you will still get a lot of the “feel” and tone of a Tana French book.
I enjoyed this book almost as much as one of French’s, and am hoping it will become only the first of an ongoing detective series.
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LibraryThing member seasonsoflove
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.
Rosalind Ryan is dead, murdered and left in the lake surrounded by red roses. Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock, who has personal connections to
Gemma is a complex, complicated character with imperfections and truths all her own. Taking the journey with her as she struggles to not only solve a case, but the uncertainties of her own life, really connected me to the book.
Bailey does an excellent job of building up suspense through the integration of well-timed flashbacks, giving readers information and motivations piece by piece that change everything we thought we knew about the story.
The mystery is also a good one, with an ending I did not see coming. Looking back though, I can see how so many of the clues were in place, hidden but there.
There wasn't really anything I didn't like. I did feel the book could have been tightened up a little here and there, but there wasn't really anything specific.
This isn't my favorite psychological thriller I've ever read, but it is a good one. It's definitely worth a read when you get the chance.
Rosalind Ryan is dead, murdered and left in the lake surrounded by red roses. Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock, who has personal connections to
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Rosalind from their school days, attempts to solve the case while figuring out her own complicated personal life, past and present.Gemma is a complex, complicated character with imperfections and truths all her own. Taking the journey with her as she struggles to not only solve a case, but the uncertainties of her own life, really connected me to the book.
Bailey does an excellent job of building up suspense through the integration of well-timed flashbacks, giving readers information and motivations piece by piece that change everything we thought we knew about the story.
The mystery is also a good one, with an ending I did not see coming. Looking back though, I can see how so many of the clues were in place, hidden but there.
There wasn't really anything I didn't like. I did feel the book could have been tightened up a little here and there, but there wasn't really anything specific.
This isn't my favorite psychological thriller I've ever read, but it is a good one. It's definitely worth a read when you get the chance.
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LibraryThing member smik
Gemma Woodstock is a Detective Sergeant in the town she grew up in. Rosalind Ryan has recently returned to Smithson to teach in the high school she once attended. When she is murdered shortly after a performance of Romeo and Juliet at the school, Gemma's boss questioned whether there was a conflict
Gemma obviously believes that being involved in the investigation will give her an edge in solving the murder, as well as keeping elements of her own past hidden. There is at least one big secret that she doesn't want anybody to know.
The author uses a time frame device to reveal snippets of the past, generally labelled "Then", alongside carefully dated chapters (together with times) to encapsulate the present. I am never sure when we have carefully labelled time episodes whether I have got the timeline right in my mind. I find myself hoping the author hasn't played a trick on me, put something out of sequence.
Her relationship with the deceased is not the only thing that Gemma is trying to hide, but I'll let you find the rest out for yourself.
A good read from a new Aussie writer that I will have to watch out for.
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of interest in her being involved in the investigation. But she assures him that there is no question about that - her special knowledge of the town and its people will be invaluable. She and Rosalind were in the same class but that was all.Gemma obviously believes that being involved in the investigation will give her an edge in solving the murder, as well as keeping elements of her own past hidden. There is at least one big secret that she doesn't want anybody to know.
The author uses a time frame device to reveal snippets of the past, generally labelled "Then", alongside carefully dated chapters (together with times) to encapsulate the present. I am never sure when we have carefully labelled time episodes whether I have got the timeline right in my mind. I find myself hoping the author hasn't played a trick on me, put something out of sequence.
Her relationship with the deceased is not the only thing that Gemma is trying to hide, but I'll let you find the rest out for yourself.
A good read from a new Aussie writer that I will have to watch out for.
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LibraryThing member iadam
I received a free advance e-copy of this book and have chosen to write an honest and unbiased review. I have no personal affiliation with the author. Everybody has secrets in this rural Australian town. I appreciate the author’s use of appropriate Aussie lingo throughout the book and I found
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myself referring to the dictionary several times in order to understand what was going on. This psychological thriller is full of betrayal, secrets, murder, illicit affairs, and drama. I couldn’t put it down. The author kept me guessing as I was never quite sure of the identity of the killer. The author finally reveals the killer’s identity at the end. This book is well written with good character development and an excellent plot. ‘The Dark Lake’ is well worth the read and I look forward to reading more from Sarah Bailey about Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock in the future. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kris_Anderson
The Dark Lake by Sarah Bailey is the first book in A Gemma Woodstock Mystery series. Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock lives and works in Smithson, Australia. Gemma receives a call regarding the strangulation death of Rosalind Ryan. She was found by a jogger floating in Sonny Lake with red roses
The Dark Lake had an extremely dislikeable main character. You know you do not like a character when you keep hoping the killer will do her in. Gemma’s personal life was a mess and it spilled over into her work. She is living with one man (father of her son) while having an affair with another man. There are numerous sex scenes and it seems to be all Gemma can think about (it was obsessive). Gemma came across as unstable. I do want to mention that the book does contain foul language (a pet peeve of mine). I found there to be a lack of action and suspense. The mystery comes across as complex, but the solution is obvious. The book seemed long and drawn out (lacking in suspense and action). The same details kept being repeated. The focus of The Dark Lake was on Gemma and her messed up life instead of Rosalind’s murder. The book had potential. It just needed a major rewrite and severe editing.
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surrounding her body. Gemma went to school with Rosalind and were once friends (as well as rivals). Rosalind had recently returned to town to teach drama at Smithson Secondary College. Rosalind was a woman who spoke her mind and recently put on an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet (she was quite insistent about it). Gemma starts to dig into Rosalind’s life. Despite her popularity, Rosalind was something of an enigma. Why had Rosalind quit her job in Sydney and returned to Smithson? Gemma is determined to track down the killer despite the threats to her own life and that of her son’s. Will Gemma find the killer, or will she end up the next victim?The Dark Lake had an extremely dislikeable main character. You know you do not like a character when you keep hoping the killer will do her in. Gemma’s personal life was a mess and it spilled over into her work. She is living with one man (father of her son) while having an affair with another man. There are numerous sex scenes and it seems to be all Gemma can think about (it was obsessive). Gemma came across as unstable. I do want to mention that the book does contain foul language (a pet peeve of mine). I found there to be a lack of action and suspense. The mystery comes across as complex, but the solution is obvious. The book seemed long and drawn out (lacking in suspense and action). The same details kept being repeated. The focus of The Dark Lake was on Gemma and her messed up life instead of Rosalind’s murder. The book had potential. It just needed a major rewrite and severe editing.
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LibraryThing member fredreeca
Gemma is a detective on the murder case of an old high school acquaintance. This leads her down the trail of her past.
This book just did not do it for me. The story is just ok. It’s a little long and round about. To be honest, I started skimming toward the end. Lots of junk in this book. For
To say I disliked Gemma is an understatement. She is very selfish, secretive and she is having a affair with her partner. It is very difficult to enjoy a book when the lead character is as unappealing as Gemma. I don’t think I found anything about her to like.
I will be honest, I thought this book would never end. I hate to write bad reviews. I do not want to damage the author’s hard work based on my opinion and it is just MY OPINION.
I received this novel from Netgalley for a honest review.
This book just did not do it for me. The story is just ok. It’s a little long and round about. To be honest, I started skimming toward the end. Lots of junk in this book. For
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instance, there are several chapters on whether Gemma knew the victim more than she should. She is from a rural town…of course she knew the victim. Also, whether Gemma is going to have another baby. Who cares…related to the murder..NO!To say I disliked Gemma is an understatement. She is very selfish, secretive and she is having a affair with her partner. It is very difficult to enjoy a book when the lead character is as unappealing as Gemma. I don’t think I found anything about her to like.
I will be honest, I thought this book would never end. I hate to write bad reviews. I do not want to damage the author’s hard work based on my opinion and it is just MY OPINION.
I received this novel from Netgalley for a honest review.
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LibraryThing member jess_reads_books
3.5/5 stars
Rosalind Ryan has been found floating in the lake early one morning by a jogger in her rural hometown of Smithson. The night of Rose’s death was the debut of her play, a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet, performed at Smithson High School where she was teaching. Widely admired
Gemma Woodstock must learn to confront the ways in which Rose impacted her high school life in order to figure out the truth of who she really was. Interviews with those in positions closest to Rose reveal that they don’t truly know much about her personal life. Despite the lack of solid information from people who consider Rose a friend, Gemma and Felix find themselves unveiling secret, after secret that Rose kept from those around her. Why did she decide to leave her previous teaching position in Sydney to return to a hometown she didn’t enjoy? Why did she choose to live in a quaint apartment, when her father is a wealthy business owner? Does anyone really know who Rose Ryan actually was?
THE DARK LAKE is a debut novel from Sarah Bailey and the start of a series focusing on Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock. Marketing this novel as a thriller presents a reader with certain expectations that I don’t believe this novel is able to meet. THE DARK LAKE is very much a mystery and a piece of crime fiction, but it is also a study into the life of Gemma Woodstock. Bailey provides the reader with information on her current life events, as well as her past, which plays a role in her current case. At times I almost felt as though I was reading two novels that had been combined. The subplots regarding Woodstock’s past and current life could easily have been shortened and tailored in a more relevant manner. The novel as a whole is a slow-build to the revelation of the killer and the motives behind Rose’s death. I would recommend this read to someone interested in starting a new crime fiction series focused around an intriguing main character.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing, Sarah Bailey, and NetGalley for providing me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Rosalind Ryan has been found floating in the lake early one morning by a jogger in her rural hometown of Smithson. The night of Rose’s death was the debut of her play, a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet, performed at Smithson High School where she was teaching. Widely admired
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throughout the town for her stunning looks and intriguing personality, the play drew many audience goers, and all of them are now a suspect. Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock and her partner Felix McKinnon are placed on the case. Gemma is also a native Smithson resident and it quickly becomes obvious that Rose was more than just a classmate in Gemma’s past. Gemma Woodstock must learn to confront the ways in which Rose impacted her high school life in order to figure out the truth of who she really was. Interviews with those in positions closest to Rose reveal that they don’t truly know much about her personal life. Despite the lack of solid information from people who consider Rose a friend, Gemma and Felix find themselves unveiling secret, after secret that Rose kept from those around her. Why did she decide to leave her previous teaching position in Sydney to return to a hometown she didn’t enjoy? Why did she choose to live in a quaint apartment, when her father is a wealthy business owner? Does anyone really know who Rose Ryan actually was?
THE DARK LAKE is a debut novel from Sarah Bailey and the start of a series focusing on Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock. Marketing this novel as a thriller presents a reader with certain expectations that I don’t believe this novel is able to meet. THE DARK LAKE is very much a mystery and a piece of crime fiction, but it is also a study into the life of Gemma Woodstock. Bailey provides the reader with information on her current life events, as well as her past, which plays a role in her current case. At times I almost felt as though I was reading two novels that had been combined. The subplots regarding Woodstock’s past and current life could easily have been shortened and tailored in a more relevant manner. The novel as a whole is a slow-build to the revelation of the killer and the motives behind Rose’s death. I would recommend this read to someone interested in starting a new crime fiction series focused around an intriguing main character.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing, Sarah Bailey, and NetGalley for providing me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
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LibraryThing member miss.mesmerized
The murder of a beloved teacher moves the whole city of Smithson in Australia. Rosalind Ryan is found dead in the waters of Sonny Lake after a stunning performance of her art class in their version of Romeo and Juliet. Gemma Woodstock and her partner Felix take over the investigation even though
Sarah Bailey’s debut thriller “The Dark Lake” has an interesting setting. You hardly ever come across an Australian small town where everybody knows everybody and where all the characters have some kind of old common memories and histories. The most striking moment was for me, however, when everybody was complaining about the hot temperatures on Christmas – quite uncommon for most European or North-American novels. Well, things are different down-under, but the concept of a good thriller is the same, and “The Dark Lake” has much to offer in that respect.
The case is highly complicated and for a very long time I didn’t actually have the slightest clue of what was going on. The author has masterly crafted her plot and it takes some time until a lot of dub-plots suddenly make sense. The protagonist Gem is also quite interesting, she is not only the policewoman, but also a mother of a young boy and doubting her relationship with the kid’s father. An affair with her partner doesn’t make things easier – but that’s just how life is. She is somehow typically female, she follows her intuition and she has a different way of approaching suspects and of observing places. I really appreciated this different point of view in the investigation.
Even though much becomes clear when you come to the end of the novel, a downside was for me Gem’s private life in the present and the past. It was just a bit too much and slowed down the pace, even though it made perfectly sense for the story to tell it all.
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Gemma has known Rosalind for her whole life. But her superior doesn’t know that she not only knew the beautiful young woman, but that that there is much more that links the two. The investigation leads to nothing, nobody can provide any useful information, neither her family not her colleagues really seem to have a motive. Yet, somebody must have hated her so much that he killed her.Sarah Bailey’s debut thriller “The Dark Lake” has an interesting setting. You hardly ever come across an Australian small town where everybody knows everybody and where all the characters have some kind of old common memories and histories. The most striking moment was for me, however, when everybody was complaining about the hot temperatures on Christmas – quite uncommon for most European or North-American novels. Well, things are different down-under, but the concept of a good thriller is the same, and “The Dark Lake” has much to offer in that respect.
The case is highly complicated and for a very long time I didn’t actually have the slightest clue of what was going on. The author has masterly crafted her plot and it takes some time until a lot of dub-plots suddenly make sense. The protagonist Gem is also quite interesting, she is not only the policewoman, but also a mother of a young boy and doubting her relationship with the kid’s father. An affair with her partner doesn’t make things easier – but that’s just how life is. She is somehow typically female, she follows her intuition and she has a different way of approaching suspects and of observing places. I really appreciated this different point of view in the investigation.
Even though much becomes clear when you come to the end of the novel, a downside was for me Gem’s private life in the present and the past. It was just a bit too much and slowed down the pace, even though it made perfectly sense for the story to tell it all.
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LibraryThing member jhullie
A pick but with some reservations. From all the hype around the release I have to admit that I expected more of a thriller. It had its moments but was more of a comfortable little mystery than a suspenseful adventure. An author to watch though.
LibraryThing member Robert3167
Secrets long held can be your undoing. Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock finds herself investigating the murder of a high school classmate. Her story bounces back and forth between the current investigation and that final year in high school. Gemma found Rosalind an enigma as a classmate and even
In the autopsy room alone with her Gemma is taken back to that last summer.
“Even back then, she was a mystery that I wanted to solve.”
“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.”
Gemma’s past and Rosalind’s are entwined; young love, teenage suicide, and now infidelity and forbidden passion. Gemma has to come to terms with her past before she can come to grips with the present.
This story is powerful, complex and believable. It is much more that a police procedural. Told from several POV we see the ripple effect a death can have on a community.
High recommended.
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more as a victim. In the autopsy room alone with her Gemma is taken back to that last summer.
“Even back then, she was a mystery that I wanted to solve.”
“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.”
Gemma’s past and Rosalind’s are entwined; young love, teenage suicide, and now infidelity and forbidden passion. Gemma has to come to terms with her past before she can come to grips with the present.
This story is powerful, complex and believable. It is much more that a police procedural. Told from several POV we see the ripple effect a death can have on a community.
High recommended.
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LibraryThing member pgchuis
SPOILERS
This police procedural set in Australia features Gemma, a DS, who is investigating the murder of Rosalind, a woman she went to school with. Gemma is still obsessed with the suicide 10 years ago of her high school boyfriend Jacob, who had dated Rosalind after breaking up with Gemma. Gemma
Gemma is not very likeable, although Felix and Scott are, but she is (we are told this) very good at her job. Nevertheless the investigation drags on and on - this novel could easily have been 50% shorter - and becomes repetitive. We are led to believe there will be an explanation for the mystery of Rosalind's enigmatic character, but it turns out she was a psychopath. While this did fit the facts, it felt like a bit of a cop-out.
I would probably read another by this author, but I hope the next is a bit pacier.
This police procedural set in Australia features Gemma, a DS, who is investigating the murder of Rosalind, a woman she went to school with. Gemma is still obsessed with the suicide 10 years ago of her high school boyfriend Jacob, who had dated Rosalind after breaking up with Gemma. Gemma
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regards Jacob as the love of her life and feels guilty because she wrote him a note shortly before he died purportedly from Rosalind, breaking things off with him. Gemma is living with Scott, for whom she appears to have no affection whatsoever, and she and Scott have a toddler called Ben, whom Gemma believes she loves, but not to the extent of spending much time with him. Gemma is having an affair with her married partner Felix, although when he breaks things off towards the end of the novel she wonders if he was using her - I think the using was mutual.Gemma is not very likeable, although Felix and Scott are, but she is (we are told this) very good at her job. Nevertheless the investigation drags on and on - this novel could easily have been 50% shorter - and becomes repetitive. We are led to believe there will be an explanation for the mystery of Rosalind's enigmatic character, but it turns out she was a psychopath. While this did fit the facts, it felt like a bit of a cop-out.
I would probably read another by this author, but I hope the next is a bit pacier.
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LibraryThing member cathyskye
Sarah Bailey has written a compelling story that sucked me right in. In no time at all, I had to know the answers to all the questions Bailey raised, two of which are just what happened between Gemma and Rosalind when they were in high school? And who disliked Rosalind enough to kill her now?
It's
The Dark Lake is a very well-written story with a smooth, fast pace and a mystery that is worth solving. However, if you're the type of reader who must have at least one character you can like and trust, this may not be the book for you.
It's
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amazing that I did find The Dark Lake so compelling because I didn't like any of the characters. The character I disliked the most was Gemma herself. I had to keep reminding myself that she was only twenty-eight and emotionally still a child. There are some traumas that occur during childhood that make children grow up quickly. There are others that stunt the child's emotional growth, and Gemma is one of these people. I deduced why she was behaving the way she was, but all her angst was too much for me. To Gemma, her teenage years were absolute perfection and she does everything she possibly can to ensure that she can't have perfection now. Oh. So. Tiresome. (And, oh, if only I could've dredged up some sympathy for her.)The Dark Lake is a very well-written story with a smooth, fast pace and a mystery that is worth solving. However, if you're the type of reader who must have at least one character you can like and trust, this may not be the book for you.
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LibraryThing member Faradaydon
At least three people fell in love with Gemma, but I reckon they're the only ones who would. She's not a likable character and the story would have been better if tightened by a third.
LibraryThing member flourgirl49
Gemma Woodstock, a cop in Australia, is working to solve a murder mystery, and the victim happens to be her nemesis from high school days. Let's be frank - Gemma is a mess, living in the past and also determined to ruin her present life. The book, in the beginning, is very slow moving, and Gemma
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and her partner - in fact, pretty much the entire police force - seem fairly incompetent. It would have been nice if Jacob and Rosalind had been fleshed out more so that we could better understand the angst going on here. This is apparently the first in a series featuring Gemma - I guess I might try the next one to see if she straightens herself out, because she really isn't very likable right now. Not too bad for a debut novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member linda.a.
When an early morning jogger discovers the body of beautiful young woman at the edge of a lake and surrounded by red roses the whole community of Smithson is shocked to learn that the murdered woman is Rosalind Ryan, twenty eight years old and a popular teacher at the local high school. Detective
Told in short chapters with almost minute by minute time-lines, this is an action-packed story which exposes the complexities of a murder investigation when there are so many potential suspects, most of whom are being less than honest! Layer upon layer of deception need to be uncovered before the truth can be discovered and there are many red-herrings as the investigation progresses. I did guess who the murderer was by about half way through the story but as there were several other twists and turns which came as a surprise, this didn’t interfere with my overall enjoyment of the book.
I thought that in Gemma the author created an interesting, flawed character who became increasingly torn between her personal and professional personas and, as a result, reaches breaking point in both areas of her life. She was not a particularly likeable character but, on the whole, she was a credible one. However, there were moments when I have to admit that I found my credulity stretched to the limit when expected to believe that, in such a small community, the true nature of her relationship with the murder victim, let alone her “secret” affair with a fellow officer, could have been kept under wraps! The story introduced an interesting cast of characters whose presence provided opportunities for Gemma’s back-story to be explored and one of the strengths of the story-telling was the way in which the author managed this gradual revelation.
I enjoyed the way in which the author evocatively captured this small Australian town, baking in the heat of summer as its residents prepared for Christmas whilst struggling to make sense of the apparently senseless murder of a popular teacher. I thought that she captured the nature of the “rumour-mill”, as well as the way in which any crisis will expose old rivalries and unresolved conflicts, affording individuals the opportunity to settle old scores.
Although this was a reasonably engaging story, I found that there was a lack of the psychological tension which I had been expecting from the description.
My thanks to Real Readers/Corvus for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Sergeant Gemma Woodstock and Rosalind had graduated from the local high school ten years earlier and, although friends, their relationship was a complex one. With many unresolved feelings about her relationship with Rosalind Gemma is keen to discover what had led up to the murder but, knowing that she wouldn’t be allowed to take the lead in the investigation if the closeness of their relationship was acknowledged, she plays down its true nature. With her partner Felix, a married detective with whom she is having an affair, she begins her search for the murderer and, in the process, opens up a Pandora’s Box of secrets in this small, close community. Many of the secrets are hers and, as the story evolves, told mostly through her voice, the reader comes to realise what a complicated life she is leading. Not only is her past history with Rosalind full of disturbing secrets, but her relationship with her partner Scott is strained because she won’t commit to marriage. In addition to all these complications she is struggling to combine being a mother to their young son Ben with her fierce ambitions as a policewoman. Told in short chapters with almost minute by minute time-lines, this is an action-packed story which exposes the complexities of a murder investigation when there are so many potential suspects, most of whom are being less than honest! Layer upon layer of deception need to be uncovered before the truth can be discovered and there are many red-herrings as the investigation progresses. I did guess who the murderer was by about half way through the story but as there were several other twists and turns which came as a surprise, this didn’t interfere with my overall enjoyment of the book.
I thought that in Gemma the author created an interesting, flawed character who became increasingly torn between her personal and professional personas and, as a result, reaches breaking point in both areas of her life. She was not a particularly likeable character but, on the whole, she was a credible one. However, there were moments when I have to admit that I found my credulity stretched to the limit when expected to believe that, in such a small community, the true nature of her relationship with the murder victim, let alone her “secret” affair with a fellow officer, could have been kept under wraps! The story introduced an interesting cast of characters whose presence provided opportunities for Gemma’s back-story to be explored and one of the strengths of the story-telling was the way in which the author managed this gradual revelation.
I enjoyed the way in which the author evocatively captured this small Australian town, baking in the heat of summer as its residents prepared for Christmas whilst struggling to make sense of the apparently senseless murder of a popular teacher. I thought that she captured the nature of the “rumour-mill”, as well as the way in which any crisis will expose old rivalries and unresolved conflicts, affording individuals the opportunity to settle old scores.
Although this was a reasonably engaging story, I found that there was a lack of the psychological tension which I had been expecting from the description.
My thanks to Real Readers/Corvus for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member theeclecticreview
A body is found in the small Aussie town of Smithson. She was Rosalind Ryan, a local drama teacher and pregnant. Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock is assigned the case with her partner, Detective Sergeant Felix McKinnon. The detectives find out this is not a cut and dried case, and how is
See my complete review at The Eclectic Review .
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Gemma’s history with her old schoolmate, Rosalind, connected to the case? There are a lot of secrets to be discovered, and Gemma and Felix have a lot to lose if their affair is one of them.See my complete review at The Eclectic Review .
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LibraryThing member Carol420
Dark Lake is a mystery with an interesting case as well as an interesting investigator who quickly becomes obsessed with the case, It's a rural town with everyone knowing everyone and all seeming to have something to hide. Gemma is beginning to find that sometimes cases can really get too close to
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home. The only thing I found unbelievable about the characters was Gemma's son's father and their relationship....or lack of a relationship. I just couldn't see a woman this strong willed falling for such a wimp. Otherwise a really good start to the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member kbranfield
4.5 stars.
A stunning debut by Sarah Bailey set in Smithson, Australia, The Dark Lake is an absolutely riveting police procedural starring the deeply flawed but sympathetic Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock.
A police detective in the same small town she grew up in, Gemma is used to sometimes knowing
Gemma is a brilliant detective but her personal life is a mess. She lives with her partner Scott and their young son Ben, but she is definitely not firmly committed to her relationship since she is currently embroiled in a passionate affair. Although Gemma loves her son, she is not overly maternal and she is more dedicated to her job than she is to either Scott or Ben. As the bits and pieces of her somewhat tragic past are revealed, the reasons for her fear of commitment become clear. Gemma is a sympathetic character but it is easy to become impatient with her lack of honesty in both her personal and professional lives.
The investigation into Rosalind's murder is virtually at a standstill from the start. Despite her family's wealth, she lived a seemingly quiet life with no friends or romantic entanglements. Most everyone at the high school has nothing but kind things to say about her, but the discovery of possible trouble at her previous job raises some very intriguing questions. An unsubstantiated rumor about Rosalind's involvement with one of her students is just one of the avenues of inquiry that Gemma and Felix explore as they try to unearth a possible suspect or even a motive for the murder.
The Dark Lake seamlessly weaves back and forth between events from Gemma's past and the murder investigation in the present. The search for Rosalind's killer often takes a backseat to Gemma's unsettled personal life, but these glimpses into Gemma's past and present are absolutely fascinating. Sarah Bailey does a bang up job of keeping the killer's identity and motive for the crime carefully underwraps until the novel's adrenaline laced and action packed conclusion. An outstanding beginning to the Gemma Woodstock series that will leave readers impatiently awaiting the next installment.
A stunning debut by Sarah Bailey set in Smithson, Australia, The Dark Lake is an absolutely riveting police procedural starring the deeply flawed but sympathetic Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock.
A police detective in the same small town she grew up in, Gemma is used to sometimes knowing
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victims of crimes she investigates. However, she is shocked to learn the murder victim in her newest case is Rosalind Ryan, a former classmate of hers. Gemma and her partner Detective Sergeant Felix McKinnon are soon stymied by the lack of evidence at the scene. Equally frustrating is their inability to get a sense of who the victim was prior to her death. Seemingly loved by all who knew her, there is scant information about her life and her relationships. Then there is Gemma's puzzling personal history with the victim which is slowly revealed as she hunts for Rosalind's killer.Gemma is a brilliant detective but her personal life is a mess. She lives with her partner Scott and their young son Ben, but she is definitely not firmly committed to her relationship since she is currently embroiled in a passionate affair. Although Gemma loves her son, she is not overly maternal and she is more dedicated to her job than she is to either Scott or Ben. As the bits and pieces of her somewhat tragic past are revealed, the reasons for her fear of commitment become clear. Gemma is a sympathetic character but it is easy to become impatient with her lack of honesty in both her personal and professional lives.
The investigation into Rosalind's murder is virtually at a standstill from the start. Despite her family's wealth, she lived a seemingly quiet life with no friends or romantic entanglements. Most everyone at the high school has nothing but kind things to say about her, but the discovery of possible trouble at her previous job raises some very intriguing questions. An unsubstantiated rumor about Rosalind's involvement with one of her students is just one of the avenues of inquiry that Gemma and Felix explore as they try to unearth a possible suspect or even a motive for the murder.
The Dark Lake seamlessly weaves back and forth between events from Gemma's past and the murder investigation in the present. The search for Rosalind's killer often takes a backseat to Gemma's unsettled personal life, but these glimpses into Gemma's past and present are absolutely fascinating. Sarah Bailey does a bang up job of keeping the killer's identity and motive for the crime carefully underwraps until the novel's adrenaline laced and action packed conclusion. An outstanding beginning to the Gemma Woodstock series that will leave readers impatiently awaiting the next installment.
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LibraryThing member purple_pisces22
I’m so excited to have found this series. I’m kind of in a rut right now with reading certain subjects and struggling to find something that grabs my attention and keeps it. This book did that. I was immediately pulled into the story and I cannot wait to read the next one in the series.
LibraryThing member NanetteLS
Gemma is a young Australian detective working to solve the murder of a high school classmate – the beautiful and mysterious Rosalyn Ryan. Gemma’s own secrets and earlier traumas are woven into Rose’s life and death in surprising ways. But Gemma and Rose aren’t the only ones with secrets. It
A well-written debut by Sarah Bailey is a great read for fans of Tana French, Claire Mackintosh, and also The Dry by Jane Harper.
In addition to juggling her own mixed feelings about Rose, Gemma is also working through romantic issues with her older partner, dealing with her romantic partner (no, not her husband as she repeatedly states), and her ambivalent feelings toward motherhood. All these issues are set against a hot December in Australia.
Secrets come out, the past is dealt with (or at least reconciled with) and Gemma finds a clearer path in her career and personal life.
Thanks to publisher Allen & Unwin and to NetGalley for the free copy in return for an honest review.
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seems that nearly everyone who comes into contact with them carries the burden of hidden pasts and secrets that are begging to be revealed. Of course that could be characteristic of any small town where multiple generations continue to live (and die) in a confined space. A well-written debut by Sarah Bailey is a great read for fans of Tana French, Claire Mackintosh, and also The Dry by Jane Harper.
In addition to juggling her own mixed feelings about Rose, Gemma is also working through romantic issues with her older partner, dealing with her romantic partner (no, not her husband as she repeatedly states), and her ambivalent feelings toward motherhood. All these issues are set against a hot December in Australia.
Secrets come out, the past is dealt with (or at least reconciled with) and Gemma finds a clearer path in her career and personal life.
Thanks to publisher Allen & Unwin and to NetGalley for the free copy in return for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member Mercef
Apparently this book won awards as best debut crime novel. Seriously. Even I was not surprised by the murderer, and that is saying something. This is only 2 and a half stars, rounded up to 3. Another audio book and perhaps the narrator in this one added to my disinterest - too “Strine” with the
Also, it was difficult to admire Gemma, the young lead detective, who spent most of her free time lusting after her policing partner, Felix (who was also cheating on his wife).
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voices for some of the characters, which made me cringe.Also, it was difficult to admire Gemma, the young lead detective, who spent most of her free time lusting after her policing partner, Felix (who was also cheating on his wife).
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ISBN
153875990X / 9781538759905