A gem of a mystery, fast-paced and suspenseful.--Catherine Coulter, # 1New York Times bestselling author

Set in a small, picturesque North Carolina town, Charlie Donleas suspenseful debut novel tells the haunting story of a murdered law school student, the reporter assigned to her storyand the intimate connection that comes when the living walk in the footsteps of the dead.

No suspects.  No persons of interest.  Just a girl who was alive one day and dead the next.

Some places seem too beautiful to be touched by horror. Summit Lake, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is that kind of place, with charming stilt houses dotted along the pristine water. But two weeks ago, Becca Eckersley, a first-year law student, was brutally murdered in one of those houses. The daughter of a powerful attorney, Becca was hard-working, accomplished, and ambitious. Now, while the town reels with grief and shocked residents gather to share their theories, the police are baffled.

At first, investigative reporter Kelsey Castle thinks of the assignment as a fluff piece. But the savagery of the crime, and the determined efforts to keep the case quiet, all hint at something far more than a random attack by a stranger. As Kelsey digs deeper, pushing on despite danger and warnings, she feels a growing connection to the dead girl. And the more she learns about Beccas friendships, her love lifeand the secrets she was keepingthe more convinced she becomes that learning the truth about Becca could be the key to overcoming her own dark past

Advance Praise forSummit Lake

An exciting debut, with all the right touches, captivating from the first page to the last. Theres a bright future ahead for this newcomer to the thriller genre definitely a talent to watch.--Steve Berry,New York Times bestselling author

Gripping! This one kept me up late into the night.--Nancy Bush,New York Times bestselling author

A swift, outstanding debut.Summit Lake engrossed me then knocked me cold. Charlie Donlea is a superb storyteller sure to damage the best seller lists.--Robert Dugoni,New York Times bestselling author

Summit Lake makes a small town come alive through the lens of madness, misunderstandings, betrayal, and a pile of the kind of secrets that makes a mystery of a life so hard to untangle from its death. The pages fly by, zinging through the twists and revelations, all the way to the shattering conclusion.--Jamie Mason

A brilliant, haunting thriller in whichThe Lovely Bones meetsThe Silence of the Lambswith a bit ofTwin Peaks thrown in for good measure! Charlie Donlea weaves a unique, spellbinding tale about a bond between two fascinating womenone living, one dead. Full of unexpected twists and turns,Summit Lake is an irresistible page-turner.--Kevin OBrien,New York Times bestselling author

Grabs you from the very start and doesnt let go! This gripping thriller keeps you at the edge of your seat and gasping in all the right places. Donlea spins a perfectly crafted story of two women, both victims of violent crime, searching for justice, redemption and ultimatelypeace. You wont be able to put this book down until youve uncovered all the secrets hidden inside the picturesque town of Summit Lake.--Emily Bleeker