Author: Mary Dixie Carter
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Released: May 20, 2025
Received: Review Copy
Find it on Storygraph | More Thrillers
Book Summary:
For the last few years, Phoenix has cherished her time working on the famous Marguerite Gray’s gardens. Of course, she knows the truth–that a whole garden crew, Phoenix included, takes care of the grounds. But that’s a whole different story.
A sudden tragedy puts everything into chaos, starting with a storm and an unhealthy tree. Now Detective Hanna is sniffing around, and Phoenix can’t shake the feeling that she’s not where she ought to be.
My Review:
Before I start my review, I need to take a minute to gush about the cover of Marguerite by the Lake. It’s stunning! I love the painterly style of the sky. While it may not be a one-to-one match for the inside themes, I still love it.
Marguerite by the Lake is a tense thriller read. It’s also very much the sort of book you have to be in the right mood for. What do I mean by that? Well, to start with, there isn’t a single character I liked in this book. So this isn’t the book to read when looking for something uplifting or cheerful. But if you’re in the mood to read a thriller in which rich and foolish people keep putting themselves in strange situations? Yeah, Marguerite by the Lake will fit the bill quite nicely.
In a way, Phoenix is an unreliable narrator, though she’s not labeled as such. It becomes clearer and clearer that we can’t trust her words or perspective. Even smaller details that are normally taken for granted come into question, giving Marguerite by the Lake a layered read to the tale.
Overall, I enjoyed Marguerite by the Lake. I didn’t enjoy the people within, but for this thriller, that wasn’t necessary.
Highlights:
- Mystery/Thriller
- Psychological Thriller
- Unreliable Narrator
- Garden/Landscape Themes
Trigger Warnings:
- Affair
- Stalking Behavior
Thanks to Minotaur Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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