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ISBN:  9781496700988

Publisher: Kensington

Publication Date:  1/26/2016

Format  Hardcover 
My Rating: Currently Reading 

Featured Weekend Read Nov 13-15 

No suspects. No persons of interest. Just a girl who was alive one day and dead the next.”

Set in a small, picturesque North Carolina town, Charlie Donlea's suspenseful debut novel tells the haunting story of a murdered law school student, the reporter assigned to her story—and the intimate connection that comes when the living walk in the footsteps of the dead.

Some places seem too beautiful to be touched by horror. Summit Lake, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is that kind of place, with charming stilt houses dotted along the pristine water. But two weeks ago, Becca Eckersley, a first-year law student, was brutally murdered in one of those houses. The daughter of a powerful attorney, Becca was hard-working, accomplished, and ambitious. Now, while the town reels with grief and shocked residents gather to share their theories, the police are baffled.

At first, investigative reporter Kelsey Castle thinks of the assignment as a fluff piece. But the savagery of the crime, and the determined efforts to keep the case quiet, all hint at something far more than a random attack by a stranger. As Kelsey digs deeper, pushing on despite danger and warnings, she feels a growing connection to the dead girl. And the more she learns about Becca's friendships, her love life—and the secrets she was keeping—the more convinced she becomes that learning the truth about Becca could be the key to overcoming her own dark past…

A special thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

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 Advance Praise

“A brilliant, haunting thriller in which The Lovely Bones meets The Silence of the Lambs—with a bit of Twin Peaks thrown in for good measure! Charlie Donlea weaves a unique, spellbinding tale about a bond between two fascinating women—one living, one dead. Full of unexpected twists and turns,Summit Lake is an irresistible page-turner.”
--Kevin O’Brien, New York Times bestselling author

"Gripping! This one kept me up late into the night."
-- Nancy Bush, New York Times bestselling author

“A swift, outstanding debut. Summit Lake engrossed me then knocked me cold. Charlie Donlea is a superb storyteller sure to damage the best seller lists.”
-- Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author

“Summit Lake is a gem of a mystery, fast-paced and suspenseful.”
-- Catherine Coulter, # 1 New York Times bestselling author

“An exciting debut, with all the right touches, captivating from the first page to the last. There’s a bright future ahead for this newcomer to the thriller genre — definitely a talent to watch."
-- Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author

"Charlie Donlea has written a riveting novel, layered with secrets and intrigue. He reveals his story through Becca Eckersley, the young law student who was murdered, and Kelsey Castle, the tenacious reporter working to bring a killer into the light. Donlea weaves his dual narrative together seamlessly for a gripping and tense mystery."
-- Allen Eskens, author of The Life We Bury
 

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About the Author

Charlie Donlea was born and raised in Chicago. He now lives in the suburbs with his wife and two young children. Summit Lake is his first novel.  Debut pub date Jan 26, 2016.  
 

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Photo Credit:
​Carrianne Photography