These Still Black Waters

McDonald (The Night Olivia Fell) departs from stand-alone novels, offering the first installment in a mystery series. The story follows detective Jess Lambert, a woman who has suffered a tragedy and is barely holding it together. In Black Lake, MI, Jess investigates the murder of Bailey Nelson, the owner of a local property management company. Meanwhile, Neve Maguire and her daughter, who recently survived a home invasion, have moved to Black Lake for a fresh start. However, upon arriving, Neve finds that her neighbor Bailey has been murdered, and she wonders if moving here was the right choice. As the two women navigate this deeply unsettling landscape, their worlds collide. The narrators—Angela Dawe, Erin Bennett, Ellen Quay—abound with talent. Bennett, a seasoned narrator, pours her emotions into Neve, and the fear and confusion she portrays are genuinely felt. With her husky voice and Michigan accent, Dawe gives voice to men and women characters. Her passionate portrayal of Lambert’s troubles is especially skillful. Quay has an expressive voice that chillingly embodies the murderer’s focused hunt.