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honnari_hannya's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun follow-up to [b:The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle|36337550|The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle|Stuart Turton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506896221l/36337550._SY75_.jpg|57528323], though it takes quite a bit more to get into than Turton's debut. Like Evelyn Hardcastle, this novel also features a small cast in a locked-room mystery—but this time, we are on a boat. I did find guess at some parts of it, and some parts were a bit disingenuous to the spirit of a mystery novel (imo) but overall had fun. Just wish there were less mentions of shitting. Like. Zero mentions, honestly. Why did I need to read about it even once, let alone multiple times.
rebekahy's review against another edition
5.0
I was cautious as his first book was down right weird but this one was so different and so good! I picked one mystery but totally not the other. A must read.
mainereading's review against another edition
5.0
WOW... I don't even know what to say, I am speechless. This was so much fun to read! 'The Devil and the Dark Water' reads just like a classic murder mystery and gave off big Sherlock Holmes vibes.
I absolutely loved some of the characters in this book, especially Sammy Pipps and Arent Hayes. And then there were some I hated *cough* *cough* Governor General Jan Haan.
I found that I really enjoyed the fact that the setting was enclosed on a ship at sea, and no one could go anywhere. It just made it a more exciting reading experience. I couldn't stop guessing who the culprit could be because everyone seemed to have some type of motive.
'The Devil and the Dark Water' is beautifully written and packed with mystery and suspense. It has become one of my absolute favorite books, and I highly recommend giving it a shot.
PS: That twist at the end of the book blew my mind!
I absolutely loved some of the characters in this book, especially Sammy Pipps and Arent Hayes. And then there were some I hated *cough* *cough* Governor General Jan Haan.
I found that I really enjoyed the fact that the setting was enclosed on a ship at sea, and no one could go anywhere. It just made it a more exciting reading experience. I couldn't stop guessing who the culprit could be because everyone seemed to have some type of motive.
'The Devil and the Dark Water' is beautifully written and packed with mystery and suspense. It has become one of my absolute favorite books, and I highly recommend giving it a shot.
PS: That twist at the end of the book blew my mind!
cheekyramen's review
1.0
This feels like one of those "if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all" situations but I'm so disappointed.
I absolutely loved Seven Deaths (Turtons debut) which I still think about, 4 and a half years after reading it and even though this is an ocean story (which I tend not to like) I was hopeful that it would be so interesting the setting didn't matter.
Somehow I finished it. I kept getting bored and found my mind wandering while reading on my Kindle but then fell asleep briefly listening to the audiobook in the last 20% - the ending was not worth pushing through 😕
I absolutely loved Seven Deaths (Turtons debut) which I still think about, 4 and a half years after reading it and even though this is an ocean story (which I tend not to like) I was hopeful that it would be so interesting the setting didn't matter.
Somehow I finished it. I kept getting bored and found my mind wandering while reading on my Kindle but then fell asleep briefly listening to the audiobook in the last 20% - the ending was not worth pushing through 😕
readcharlotte's review against another edition
5.0
Fun and spooky! What an adventure! I thought it was quick moving and intriguing. Like his last novel, the end was its low point, but I really, really enjoyed the ride. I thought the reviewer who said it was like Pirates of the Caribbean meets Murder on the Orient Express hit it nicely on the head.
thepaperbackplanner's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Premise: Sherlock and Watson discover a mystery, but then Sherlock is locked up and Watson has to solve the case. Also, Watson is built like a brick shithouse. Also, there’s some supernatural stuff. While I did have a good time trying to figure out what the heck was going on on this dang ship, I unfortunately didn’t love the story overall. I was glad to see the perspective switched between the Watson character and a woman rather than having a male narrator throughout, but I felt that she and many of the characters adhered a bit too closely to established tropes. I also was not a huge fan of how Turton wrote some characters interacting with other characters who were part of marginalized communities. Like, I know it’s the 1600s and shit is bad for a lot of folks, but you’re in control of the story and dialogue, my guy. On the other hand, I did enjoy the ending a little bit more with this book than the previous one. I did some Googling and I may be in the minority there, but I personally was relatively satisfied by the way the mystery resolved. Overall, if you’re super into, like, boats and history and mysteries and stuff, you’ll probably like this a little more than I did.
vickyfred's review against another edition
4.0
What a ride. Twists and turns galore. So many suspects with plausible motive, I wouldn’t have been surprised if it were them but the real culprit was a surprise up until it was actually revealed. Fun setting, ladies looking out for one another, a forbidden romance, and a twist ending I didn’t see coming. A little bit of a kumbaya moment at the end but overall an enjoyable read.
thebookstackattack's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
cfairwea's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
dreaminthepages's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This was my second Stuart Turton read and it was definitely entertaining and adventurous.
I loved the characters although have to admit listening to this in audiobook form meant sometimes i'd get confused between the characters...their names sounded similar in my head but it was certainly a full cast of characters. However some of them felt like extras or just thrown in there with no real purpose even who was meant to be one of the main characters, Samuel Phipps, really did not do much but in the end the author just threw in that he was Krisha's brother - that revelation did not sit very well with me. Also Sander's character did not add much but I suppose allowed for some red herrings in the story.
Speaking of which, a bit too many red herrings that in places I had no idea what was going on and it was sort of all over the place. I also disliked how rushed the ending parts felt like ho conveniently Arent and Sara were able to deduce everything from very little at all..or at least very little that was revealed to the reader which just left me feeling bamboozled. It also felt like many knots were tied in the story but then it just suddenly like magic became unravelled! The motives of everything that happened were a little weak too.
I will say that I did enjoy the setting of the story on a ship on the seas in the 1600s. It was very well done and described.
The audiobook was surprisingly very good and glad I listened to this as my first fiction audiobook (have only ever listened to non-fiction/ memoirs). However it is one that helps if you can concentrate a little more on due to all the clues etc and I listened to this mostly when driving to and from work so had to rewind a few times!
Overall I did enjoy reading thi this time of year and will definitely check out more of Stuart Turtons future books!
This was my second Stuart Turton read and it was definitely entertaining and adventurous.
I loved the characters although have to admit listening to this in audiobook form meant sometimes i'd get confused between the characters...their names sounded similar in my head but it was certainly a full cast of characters. However some of them felt like extras or just thrown in there with no real purpose even who was meant to be one of the main characters, Samuel Phipps, really did not do much but in the end the author just threw in that he was Krisha's brother - that revelation did not sit very well with me. Also Sander's character did not add much but I suppose allowed for some red herrings in the story.
Speaking of which, a bit too many red herrings that in places I had no idea what was going on and it was sort of all over the place. I also disliked how rushed the ending parts felt like ho conveniently Arent and Sara were able to deduce everything from very little at all..or at least very little that was revealed to the reader which just left me feeling bamboozled. It also felt like many knots were tied in the story but then it just suddenly like magic became unravelled! The motives of everything that happened were a little weak too.
I will say that I did enjoy the setting of the story on a ship on the seas in the 1600s. It was very well done and described.
The audiobook was surprisingly very good and glad I listened to this as my first fiction audiobook (have only ever listened to non-fiction/ memoirs). However it is one that helps if you can concentrate a little more on due to all the clues etc and I listened to this mostly when driving to and from work so had to rewind a few times!
Overall I did enjoy reading thi this time of year and will definitely check out more of Stuart Turtons future books!