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The Secret Lake: A children's mystery adventure (Secret Lake Mystery Adventures) Paperback – August 4, 2011

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 18,735 ratings

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A lost dog, a hidden time tunnel and a secret lake. A page-turning time travel adventure for children aged 8-11. Enjoyed by over half a million young readers and in translation around the world! (Books 2 and 3 now available!)

When Stella and her younger brother, Tom, move to their new London home, they become mystified by the disappearances of Harry, their elderly neighbour’s small dog. Where does he go? And why does he keep reappearing wet-through?

Their quest to solve the riddle over the summer holidays leads to a boat buried under a grassy mound, and a tunnel that takes them to a secret lake.

Who is the boy rowing towards them who looks so terrified? And whose are those children’s voices carried on the wind from beyond the woods?

Stella and Tom soon discover that they have travelled back in time to their home and its gardens almost 100 years earlier. Here they make both friends and enemies, and uncover startling connections between the past and present.

A modern children's classic

The Secret Lake has been described by readers as a modern Tom's Midnight Garden and compared in atmosphere with The Secret Garden and the Enid Blyton and Nancy Drew mystery adventure stories. Its page-turning plot, with its many twists and turns, makes it a firm favourite with both boys and girls.

Karen Inglis describes it as, a time travel mystery adventure with modern twists - the kind of story that I loved to read as a child, but brought right up to date.

The adventure starts here! Order today with one click, in print or for kindle

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Editorial Reviews

Review


"...an excellent read...because of the strong mix of characters it succeeds in being...a book that can be appreciated by both boys and girls alike...(its) short, gripping chapters lead you swiftly on through an absorbing tale of mystery and suspense."

----Louise Jordan, founder, The Writers' Advice Centre for Children's Book, London UK

About the Author

Karen Inglis lives in London, UK. She has two boys, George and Nick, who inspired her to write when they were younger. Karen is also a professional copywriter who writes for business - but she far prefers making up stories! Find out more and join her readers' club at kareninglisauthor.com

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Well Said Press (August 4, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 122 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0956932304
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0956932303
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 11 years, from customers
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 1
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.31 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 18,735 ratings

About the author

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Karen Inglis
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Karen Inglis is an Amazon bestselling children's author living in London in the UK. She writes picture books, chapter books and middle grade novels. Her international bestselling time travel adventure 'The Secret Lake' for ages 8-12 has now been enjoyed by over half a million children in the English language and is in translation in nine languages. The long-awaited sequel 'Return to the Secret Lake' (published March 2022) is proving equally popular... don't miss!

Karen is a big dreamer and thinker and loves taking young readers into worlds where literally anything can happen... like magical time tunnels that take you to meet children in the past, or soccer-mad aliens zooming down from space to hide in your bedroom and watch the World Cup, or library books that suck you down into the story, or magic hats and talking cats! Her latest picture book 'The Tell-Me Tree' (for ages 4-8), which invites children to share how they're feeling — whether happy, sad or anywhere in between — with friends, family or trusted grown-ups, has received praise from teachers and parents and is being used widely in UK classrooms.

Karen loves going into schools and meeting her fans, and offers virtual school visits all around the world. For more details and to sign up for news and special offers, search online to visit her website.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
18,735 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and well-written for young readers. They describe it as an adventure with unexpected twists that keep them guessing until the end. The book is described as a mystery suitable for grade school kids, with relatable characters and humor. However, some customers feel the writing lacks clarity and is not engaging for children.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

147 customers mention "Story quality"147 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's story. They find it engaging and well-written for young readers. The storyline is packed with adventures and easy to follow. Readers appreciate the satisfying ending and cliffhangers that make them want to read more.

"My kid told me the book is good. She enjoys reading it." Read more

"...All in all a fun and delightful read. Highly imaginative, with unique twists and turns. Highly recommend" Read more

"the book is great , arrived in pristine condition, super fast shipping , i would buy from them again" Read more

"...it is great it made a couple of tears come out at the end but it is wonderful!..." Read more

53 customers mention "Adventure"53 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the book's adventure. They found it exciting, mysterious, and well-balanced for young readers. The book was fun and joyful with wonderful surprises. It engaged their imagination with good thematic material and characters.

"...All in all a fun and delightful read. Highly imaginative, with unique twists and turns. Highly recommend" Read more

"This book is a fabulous mystery and adventure involving time travel, friendship, loss, and hope! It will be well-loved by both boys and girls...." Read more

"A great sibling adventure through a secret passage to the past, where courage is found and new friends are made. Good for 8-10 year olds." Read more

"So ur hearing from a kid so listen up! It is filled with adventure sadness happiness puzzles and great things!..." Read more

39 customers mention "Mystery"30 positive9 negative

Customers enjoy the mystery. They find it engaging with unexpected twists that keep them guessing until the end. The book is suitable for grade school kids and has a unique and interesting plot. Readers appreciate the time travel concept and multiple twists at the end.

"...There were enough unexpected twists for that to happen. I look forward to reading Return to Secret Lake." Read more

"This book is a fabulous mystery and adventure involving time travel, friendship, loss, and hope! It will be well-loved by both boys and girls...." Read more

"...This book was exciting, magical, and mystical. Liza says, "It kept making me want to read more!"..." Read more

"...The plot was simple and the characters a little underdeveloped, but overall it is a good read for younger kids." Read more

32 customers mention "Book age"32 positive0 negative

Customers find the book suitable for young readers. They appreciate the action, intrigue, and easy language that keep kids engaged. The adventure through time keeps them turning pages and is a good choice for a book club. It helps them expand their vocabulary and understanding of their own language.

"...Good for 8-10 year olds." Read more

"...the characters a little underdeveloped, but overall it is a good read for younger kids." Read more

"...On the flip side, it's a great way to widen their understanding of their own language and push their reading horizons a bit!" Read more

"...Perfect for 8-12 age group in my opinion. The mystery will be fun for your young reader to solve." Read more

15 customers mention "Character development"11 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed characters. They find the main characters relatable and funny. The book has plenty of humor and suspense, with some comedy parts.

"...Its very well written and even has some comedy parts. I would highly recommend this author and her books!" Read more

"...Robyn loved that the author created great, memorable characters and a beautiful setting. This book was exciting, magical, and mystical...." Read more

"...The plot was simple and the characters a little underdeveloped, but overall it is a good read for younger kids." Read more

"...the story's premise is provocative and well imagined, characters are well developed and relatable...." Read more

43 customers mention "Writing quality"25 positive18 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality. Some find it well-written and easy to read, with memorable characters and a great vocabulary. Others mention issues with dialect, spelling errors, and thick accents that make reading difficult. The book has a good idea but needs some spell and punctuation checking.

"Great story and well written and best of all my 10 year old grandson that does not like to read loved it and read it! I liked it too!..." Read more

"...Its also written with a thick English "accent", which is fine since the story is based in London. But my 7-9 year olds just couldn't follow along...." Read more

"...Well written and can’t wait to recommend to my students" Read more

"...It just seems complicated to read, like the author was more interested in using her extensive vocabulary to describe every little incident in each..." Read more

10 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive6 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing of the book. Some find it fast-paced with interesting characters and short chapters that allow them to get into the story quickly. Others feel the opening seems slow and the story moves too quickly.

"...Another thing that wasn’t perfect was the ending. It felt rushed, almost. 😅Other than that, it was good.Keep writing 😁👍👍🙏..." Read more

"...Interesting characters, got into the story quickly, great elements of adventure and a nice, satisfying ending. Great book!" Read more

"This book is very slow. I do not understand the reviews stating this is a "page turner"...." Read more

"...She will enjoy the fast read and plot turns." Read more

16 customers mention "Boredom"0 positive16 negative

Customers find the book boring and unsatisfying for children. They say the writing seems amateurish and the content is not special. Some readers feel the book is too advanced for young readers and difficult to follow.

"...Compared to that level of writing, this seemed very amateur. The plot and characters were pretty thin...." Read more

"Story was not engaging to 8-yr-old g'son. Little boring." Read more

"...Very disappointing!" Read more

"Very disappointed in this book I bought for my 9 year old." Read more

Great Mystery for 3rd Grader
5 out of 5 stars
Great Mystery for 3rd Grader
This was a great book! It’s set in Great Britain, so some words are different from American words. But nothing we couldn’t figure out with context clues. It was definitely an appropriate reading level for my kiddo (reads a 4th grade level) but we decided to read it together! It was filled with mystery, twists and turns!! Our reading each night was always cut too short, as we couldn’t wait to find out what happened next!! I definitely recommend!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2024
    My kid told me the book is good. She enjoys reading it.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2024
    this i one of the best books i’ve ever read i really hope you make more! next im gonna read the rest of the books😁
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2024
    This story was SO amazing😃 but it seemed to go on forever... I loved the idea🙌 and all, but the same scene would go on FOREVER😅
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2024
    The Secret Lake by Karen Inglis blends the magical world with the present world wonderfully. Where does the lost dog keep coming from, and going? Who is the cranky caretaker? What will Tom and Stella find when they slide down the hole? All in all a fun and delightful read. Highly imaginative, with unique twists and turns. Highly recommend
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2024
    I enjoyed reading this with my grandson. The thrill of being mysterious keep us wanting to read faster to each chapter.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2024
    My kids loved the book
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2024
    I so enjoyed reading this on the Kindle app to a patient of mine. Stories that I can get excited about help her be engaged as well. There were enough unexpected twists for that to happen. I look forward to reading Return to Secret Lake.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2021
    This book is a fabulous mystery and adventure involving time travel, friendship, loss, and hope! It will be well-loved by both boys and girls. As a brother and sister move to a new home and country, they are met with adventure and mystery. Leaving the big city of Hong Kong and friends, a brother and sister find themselves in a large home on an estate with close neighbors and an expansive community garden which is the setting of this story. Why is a lost ship burried in the garden? How does the neighbor's dog constantly go missing and reappear? These are the questions that the brother and sister team seek to answer that takes them back through time.
    I would highly recommend this book for the suggested 8 through 11 year old ages. Though some of the vocabulary may be challenging, the high interest and context should keep the pages turning in their hands. Children will likely become introspective of their own place in the world after reading this book.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Natty's Fave Finds
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great read!
    Reviewed in Canada on May 19, 2024
    My 10 year old daughter absolutely loved this book! She found it entertaining and couldn’t put it down! She loved it so much she chose to write a book report on the novel for school. It’s one of her faves and she has already bought the sequel.
  • Fábio Andrews Rocha Marques
    4.0 out of 5 stars a great mystery novel with time traveling
    Reviewed in Brazil on April 14, 2024
    The secret lake felt nice to read, and to me the characters had lots of charisma, that’s very nice to see in a book. Although there were quite a few names to be noted (well, it is a mystery after all), and children can get a bit lost, it isn’t so overwhelming. Kids will relate to the main characters, and this book is wonderful to English as second language learners too, as there are expressions and terms good to learn without being overwhelming. It has a sensitive theme at the end, but it barely gets looked on, so I think it’s appropriate to kids. Although I would prefer to see more moments of friendship throughout the book so that the old era characters get more memorable, I think it was quite good! I recommend it for any kids or adults who like mysteries, and time travel!
  • Alan T
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Plot
    Reviewed in Spain on November 22, 2024
    A great story that holds interest and improves reading skills.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars My first book on my mom's kindle
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 6, 2024
    It was very exciting to read in my spare time instead of my tv I hope more people like me enjoy this book
  • Jessica c
    5.0 out of 5 stars Molto bello
    Reviewed in Italy on August 9, 2024
    "The Secret Lake" di Karen Inglis è un incantevole romanzo per bambini che mescola mistero, avventura e viaggi nel tempo in una storia affascinante che cattura l'immaginazione dei giovani lettori. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

    Il libro segue la storia di Stella e Tom, due fratelli che scoprono un lago nascosto nel giardino dietro la loro casa. Questo lago è molto speciale, poiché permette loro di viaggiare indietro nel tempo di 100 anni, dove incontrano nuovi amici e affrontano avventure in un mondo molto diverso dal loro.

    Karen Inglis ha un talento per la narrazione che rende la lettura scorrevole e avvincente. I personaggi sono ben sviluppati e le descrizioni sono così vivide che è facile perdersi nell'atmosfera magica della storia. Il tema del viaggio nel tempo è trattato in modo semplice ma efficace, rendendolo comprensibile e affascinante per i bambini.

    Uno degli aspetti più apprezzabili di "The Secret Lake" è il modo in cui combina elementi di suspense e mistero con temi di amicizia, coraggio e curiosità. È una storia che incoraggia i giovani lettori a esplorare, a fare domande e a cercare risposte in mondi nuovi e sconosciuti.

    In sintesi, "The Secret Lake" è un libro che consiglierei vivamente ai bambini di età compresa tra 7 e 11 anni, o a chiunque ami una buona avventura fantastica. È una storia che rimane nel cuore e nella mente molto dopo aver girato l'ultima pagina.