Passion and Power give this read a dynamic and interesting read.

Marguerite has to decide what to do about her husbands flourishing realtionship with their gardener and although this is not my usual choice of read I did really enjoy my reading time.

This is a huanting and atmospheric read and I loved the gothic glam of the setting.

Immersive, Haunting…
Marguerite Grey, the muse behind the painting Marguerite by the Lake, lives a glamorous lifestyle alongside husband Geoffrey. Phoenix, their humble gardener, works diligently to support their brand. When a storm threatens to sully the latest party at the estate, it unleashes a catalogue of events culminating in a death. Intriguing and cleverly layered, this atmospheric tale of relationships gone askew tinged with the Gothic is both immersive and haunting, carrying an ever present underlying vein of menace.

Marguerite Grey and her husband Geoffrey are a wealthy and celebrated couple who have made their way up from humble beginnings, and Phoenix is simply the gardener at their lavish home. Until, that is, a freak set of circumstances brings Phoenix and Geoffrey unexpectedly close together and results in a dangerous and torrid relationship.

Marguerite's displeasure is matched only by the suddenness of her death under decidedly strange circumstances. And while Phoenix finds Geoffrey's continued advances difficult to resist, she would be well advised not to get herself into more trouble than she is already in. Because Phoenix has her own secrets, and she does not want those to come to light...

An interesting dissection of relationship dynamics and the intersections of passion, power and possessiveness, this gets 3.5 stars.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of Marguerite by the Lake. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this opportunity.

In her new release, Mary Dixie Carter, mixes psychological suspense with themes of vanity and moral decay! Marguerite by the Lake delivers a suspenseful narrative reminiscent of The Picture of Dorian Gray, weaving themes of moral corruption and the haunting consequences of unchecked desires. The book presents a fascinating premise that grips the reader with its eerie atmosphere and carefully crafted tension.

While the plot keeps you turning pages with its unexpected twists and shadowy undertones, I found the characters themselves left something to be desired. Their decisions often felt frustrating, their personalities lacking the depth needed to truly invest in their fates. Despite this, the novel's ability to sustain suspense and pose thought-provoking questions about human nature makes it a compelling read.

For fans of literary thrillers that explore the dark side of ambition and morality, this book offers a worthwhile experience—though perhaps not one where the characters linger in your thoughts long after the final page.

this was an excellent novel unlike nothing ive read before. it had pace in all the right moments but also had the grounding and descriptive moments which are key to this kind of deep drama too.so your both excited and tense at whats to come but are also loving the in-between moments of learning the lives and events taking place in the story.
i thought the decisions seemed very realistic. yes they felt odd and flawed but so too are many things we decide to do when up against it, or jealous, or fearful and lost.
Phoenix was a great character to follow through the book and i liked how her part in it took on different roles. and then seeing how she handled all of them with the added layer of tension and guilt from what she thinks she knows or has seen.
Phoenix is a gardener(more than that really) for a huge influencer Marguerite Gray who was the subject of one viral painting and let it sky rocket her from there. she now owns a sprawling home and sprawling fame and influence. but Phoenix begins an affair with Marguerites husband Geoffrey after getting too close following an accident. things only get worse for our main character when after an intense argument with her Marguerites falls to her death off a cliff. the same cliff which was depicted in the painting that made her famous. what happened? was it Phoenix?
and whats going on now. because is Phoenix really meant to step into the dead ladies place. and stand alongside Geoffrey. this is all getting too weird and too toxic and you can feel this steaming off Phoenix as the pages turn. her confusion and uncertainty and is that guilt?
but when Taylor, Marguerites daughter starts to get in the way tensions and moods only change for the worse. the feeling of unease continues to build chapter by chapter. its feels this way madness is looming but your not sure why. is it you as the reader, is it the characters, is it the authors,ha!?
there is also a detective now involved who i thought was barely past useless at times.
this was a brilliant all round. it felt like a thriller but with added spook and family drama that goes above and beyond the norm for this genre. or at least different my norm. so it was exciting to read this one and see it done so well.
i really wanted to keep flipping to the end so i could breathe out and find what was going on but i managed to stay the course and read in order and im glad i did.