I first reviewed this book in 2017. I am rereading it for my U3A Crime Fiction group.

Like the victim, Gemma Woodstock is working in the town that she grew up in. She has some background knowledge of the victim and her family. In some ways that should be an advantage in a police investigation but Gemma underplays how close her relationship with Rosalind Ryan was. In fact she lies to her boss, and she probably should have stood herself down from the investigation.

Her boss "Jonesey" is so taken with what he sees as Gemma's brilliance that he is more than willing to accept her assurances at their face value. More than that he is prtty well a boss that doesn't rock the boat. However there are times when he should be much more asserive and observant.

One of the blurbs I have seen describes Gemma as troubled and brilliant. I would add damaged and unstable.

Rosalind Ryan has returned to the town of Smithson that she grew up in and has been teaching English to senior students there for four years. She has persuaded the principal to allow her to produce a version of Romeo and Juliet. The play is a great success with the students and Ms Ryan is very popular. The production occurs late in the last school term, after exams. It is opening night when Ms Ryan is killed, found face down in the lake the following morning.

THE DARK LAKE is tightly plotted and takes concentration from the reader. The plot has several twists. The investigation into Rosalind Ryan's murder takes nearly 3 weeks, approaching Christmas and New Year. Almost everyone in the town comes under intense scrutiny and there are few clues.

In addition a number of issues and relationships in Gemma's life cause complications, her young son is abducted, and Gemma herself is attacked.

The plot structure is interesting with narrative from "then" accompanied by daily accounts of what is happening in the investigation. Most of the latter are from Gemma's point of view. However these are supplemented with short third person accounts of incidents where Gemma is not a witness.

The Australian setting is very strong, and the weather plays a strong role too.

Secrets Gemma Woodstock is hiding

the extent of her connections with Rosalind Ryan and the role she played in past events
what happened to Jacob Morgan
her relationship with her Sergeant Felix McKinnon ( )

Thank you to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin Publishers for the opportunity to read [a: Sarah Bailey|16454767|Sarah Bailey|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1487134292p2/16454767.jpg] in her debut novel [b: The Dark Lake: Gemma Woodstock, #1]

If you love a fat book, well-written, with complex characters I recommend this for that 'hunker-down-cold weather-burrow and reading.'

Author Sarah Bailey centers the story in New Wales, Australia. Protagonist Gemma is an imperfect but strong woman and detective who loves her son, but balks at marriage with her long-time live in lover.

I had a phonebook of suspects through most of the novel and am still scratching my head at the artistic twists and changes that kept me off balance and the away from the trail of the killer.

Wow. I look forward to more from Sarah Bailey. ( )

A lot of the action (or should that be inaction?) takes place in the head of the main character to the detriment of the novel. Hopefully now that we have got all Gemma's tortuous thoughts out in this one, the next in the series should pick up in pace and action. Certainly not in the league of Tana French as the publicists would have us think..... ( )

4.5 * I really enjoyed this book. I did work out who had done it but towards the end so it didn’t spoil the story. Look forward to reading more by this author. ( )

An interesting story well told. Good job. ( )