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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A jaw-dropping start to my 2024 reading year!
In a small coastal village in the Lake District, a local man makes a grisly discovery on the beach – a man buried up to his neck in the sand, death caused by the incoming, unforgiving tide. Remember the 1982 movie Creepshow?
Nearly in the town of Elderbridge. Calvin Matheson is struggling to keep his newly opened café – Therapy – afloat. His wife Vicky suggests a series of social media posts to promote and attract customers. At first Calvin is reluctant, but as his followers grow, and business improves, he relishes the benefits and rewards. But newfound notoriety brings unwanted attention, and Calvin has a lot to hide, secrets from his past that are about to threaten his professional and personal reputationin life-altering and harmful ways.
As a longtime fan of Mark Edwards, I instantly requested The Darkest Water without even reading the synopsis as this author never fails to deliver well-crafted plot twists, and a final sentence that is prone to leave me reeling in shock. And I’m thrilled to report that Mark Edwards latest novel of domestic drama and mystery combined with psychological suspense did not let me down.
I desperately tried to unravel how the body on the beach connected to Calvin’s story arc, to no avail, not even when the clues started rolling in. It sure made for a tense and nerve-wracking final act. You may recognise DI Imogen Evans from Mark Edwards, The Lucky Ones – I didn’t, as I haven’t read it yet, and even though there were minor spoilers in this book, if anything it has me even more intrigued to bump that one up my tbr. Which brings me to my next point, in that there’s a police procedural element to The Darkest Water, from Imogen’s POV, as she and her new partner, Steve Milner, first identify, and then investigate the beach murder victim.
Pre-order The Darkest Water in preparation for release day 16th April 2024, as I read it over a day, which clearly underscores how unputdownable it was.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Mark Edwards for the e-ARC.