From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson comes It Happened on the Lake, a chilling standalone psychological thriller inspired by the suspense of Rear Window. Packed with long-buried secrets, family scandals, and relentless twists, this atmospheric mystery is perfect for readers who love dark, edge-of-your-seat suspense.

Twenty years ago, Harper Reed Prescott's life changed forever.

On one tragic night at her family's sprawling Victorian estate on Lake Twilight, her grandmother died under suspicious circumstances, and Harper's boyfriend vanished without a trace. His body was never found. No one was ever charged.

But the rumors never disappeared.

Now, after the collapse of her marriage and the growing distance between herself and her adult daughter, Harper returns to the lake hoping to sell the estate and finally leave the past behind.

Instead, old whispers begin again.

As Harper settles back into the isolated property—including its eerie private island—she can't shake the feeling that someone is watching her from across the water. The deeper she digs into the events of that fateful night, the more dangerous the truth becomes.

With every revelation, Harper realizes the past isn't buried—it has been waiting for her to come home.

Dark, suspenseful, and filled with Hitchcockian tension, It Happened on the Lake is an unforgettable thriller where every secret comes with deadly consequences.

Why You'll Love It Happened on the Lake

• Standalone psychological thriller
• #1 New York Times bestselling author
• Hitchcock-inspired suspense
• Atmospheric lake setting
• Family secrets
• Cold case mystery
• Twisty psychological suspense
• Perfect for thriller lovers

Tropes & Themes

• Small-town secrets
• Cold case mystery
• Family drama
• Isolated mansion
• Haunted past
• Missing person
• Unreliable memories
• Psychological suspense
• Gothic atmosphere
• Woman in danger

Perfect For Fans Of

• Riley Sager
• Karin Slaughter
• Paula Hawkins
• J.T. Ellison
• Lisa Jewell
• Freida McFadden
• Gillian Flynn
• Ruth Ware

Book Details

Title: It Happened on the Lake

Series: Standalone

Author: Lisa Jackson

Format: Hardcover

Genre:

• Psychological Thriller
• Mystery
• Suspense
• Crime Fiction

Pages:
592

Publication Date:
June 24, 2025

Dimensions:
9.1 × 6.6 × 1.9 inches

About the Author

Lisa Jackson is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than ninety-five novels, with over 30 million copies in print worldwide. Renowned for her gripping psychological thrillers and suspense novels, including You Will Pay, Liar, Liar, Shiver, and After She's Gone, Jackson is a master of atmospheric mysteries, shocking twists, and unforgettable characters.