The Lake of Dead Languages is an evocative and intricate thriller that captures the reader's imagination. In the haunting tradition of Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, this accomplished debut novel explores the shadowy corridors of youthful innocence tainted by dark sins.

Twenty years ago, Jane Hudson left the Heart Lake School for Girls in the Adirondacks after a terrible tragedy. Now, she returns to the serene yet isolated shores of the lakeside school as a Latin teacher, seeking a fresh start with her young daughter. However, ominous messages from the past begin to surface, dredging up forgotten memories that soon turn into a living nightmare.

Since freshman year, Jane and her two roommates, Lucy Toller and Deirdre Hall, were inseparable—studying the classics, performing school rituals by the lake, and sneaking out after curfew to meet Lucy’s charismatic brother, Matt. But during the last winter before graduation, their sheltered wonderland was shattered when three lives were claimed by senseless suicide.

Only Jane survived to carry the burden of a mystery that has remained hidden for more than two decades in the dark depths of Heart Lake. Now, pages from Jane’s missing journal, written during that tragic time, have reappeared, revealing shocking, long-buried secrets. As the truth slowly surfaces, young, troubled girls begin to die once again...

Compelling, sensuous, and intelligent, The Lake of Dead Languages is an eloquent thriller, balancing suspense and fine storytelling, and showcasing Carol Goodman's rare talent with a brilliant future.