The Souls of Lost Lake by Jaime Jo Wright brings all of the spookiness and mystery we’ve come to expect as fans of this author. The split timeline novel gives readers two intriguing stories. In 1930’s a child is found dragging a bloody axe, her family missing. Ava Coons doesn’t remember what happened to her as a child, but the town thinks she murdered her family and accuse her of more recent murders. Pastor Noah Prichard believes she’s innocent and decides to protect her. In the current timeline, Wren Blythe deals with the mystery of a missing girl. The legend of Ava Coon pulls her into the forest, and she feels a connection to Lost Lake. But things unravel when she starts to realize her personal connection to the missing child.
I love how Wright weaves two different stories into one fabulous tale. The eerie settings and dynamic characters drew me into the story. Both timelines took plenty twists and turns, but also brought out a level of emotion that took me by surprise. Wren deals with a lot of grief and loss, as does Ava. From trauma to triumph, both characters had inspiring journeys through the pages of the book. There’s a layer of romance in the story, and I love the relationship that develops between Ava and Noah, as well as Wren finding out who she truly belongs with.
This story does have that creepy factor, but the haunting story with complex characters will work its way into your heart. Be sure to check out the The Souls of Lost Lake when it releases April 5th.
I received an ebook review copy of this book through Bethany House. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.