A review by km_allan
The Dark Lake by Sarah Bailey

5.0

The Dark Lake is set in a town full of secrets, the reveals of which are weaved throughout and then pulled together by a talented author. Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock is set to investigate the murder of a classmate from high school; Rosalind Ryan, who returned to town to teach drama at the high school. When alive, Rosalind captivated everyone she met, and now it’s up to Gemma to find the murderer, as well as sort through her own personal past with Rosalind, the consequences of which may be the very reason for her death. All of the characters in The Dark Lake are flawed, the red herrings never feel cheap, and the ending keeps you guessing but never feels as if it's a revelation that comes from nowhere. It’s a satisfying read, crafted from the viewpoint of Gemma and mixed with the occasional chapter from another character, which cleverly reveals some things only to the reader. Highly recommended for those who love a well-written, character-driven murder mystery.