This novella is the prequel to These Still Black Waters . Jess, how she discovered her talent for investigation and went from a paramedic to being a detective. moving to a new home, making a new friend who she discovers naked and in shock and a murdered body upstairs in a house with a history of suicides and missing people. And a man, suffering with pain, disability and violent tendencies who is stalking someone, jess or ? . It is well written, suspenseful right away and introduces some likeable character and a disturbing one

The stranger at Black Lake is a short thriller novel revolving around a married couple who move out into a small rural town from New York City in the hopes of finding somewhere calmer and safer to begin building their family.

The wife is yet to find new work there so with extra time on her hands she decides to venture outdoors, where she meets a new friend who claims she is living in “the gingerbread house” that is notorious for its dark history of death, murders and restless ghosts.

A little while later she stumbles upon the scene of a murder at the exact same house, and when mysterious events unravel she lets her curiosity get the better of her and starts to investigate the dark past surrounding the home.

For a short story this was well written, interesting and engaging. Multiple POV allow the reader to try to puzzle together events from the past with current events in the present. The story concludes with all the answers wrapped up and explained nicely.

I liked the main character and the detective involved with the case and their budding friendship.

This is a prequel to these still black waters, which I haven’t read. You definitely don’t need to have read it to understand and enjoy this short story. But perhaps if I had read it I may have found more enjoyment in getting a back story to certain characters in this prequel? It’s hard to say without having read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and intrigue ink publishing for a copy!