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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Blood, Murder, Colonisation
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, War
Minor: Rape, Xenophobia
4.5
Sinceramente ese final me ha dejado con n sabor extraño de boca. El ambiente de la historia es envolvente y el mundo que crea el autor para su whodoneit marítimo fascinante. Me costó arrancar, pero luego volé por sus páginas. Me cayó muy bien Arent y por eso me suena raro que perdone a Pipps. Tampoco fue especialmente satisfactorio como desvelaron el misterio.
El tiempo dirá como se consolidan mis opiniones de la historia, desde luego voy a dar prioridad a libros de este autor, que son extremadamente originales en su premisa.
Sinceramente ese final me ha dejado con n sabor extraño de boca. El ambiente de la historia es envolvente y el mundo que crea el autor para su whodoneit marítimo fascinante. Me costó arrancar, pero luego volé por sus páginas. Me cayó muy bien Arent y por eso me suena raro que perdone a Pipps. Tampoco fue especialmente satisfactorio como desvelaron el misterio.
El tiempo dirá como se consolidan mis opiniones de la historia, desde luego voy a dar prioridad a libros de este autor, que son extremadamente originales en su premisa.
The Devil and the Dark Water is a standalone historical mystery set on a 1634 sea voyage. Samuel Pipps is the world’s greatest detective, but he is on the other end of the crime this time around as he is a prisoner and being transport for execution. His loyal partner and bodyguard Arent Hayes is determined to prove his innocence. But even as voyage sets out, acts of devilry including strange symbols, sabotage, disappearances and hauntings plague the voyage. With the help of an inquisitive noblewoman Sara, Arent is determined to catch this seemingly supernatural culprit before Samuel is killed, the crew mutinies, or the ship sinks.
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. I loved the period setting, the claustrophobia of a sea voyage, the wide cast of potential suspects, and the hint of the supernatural. The book is atmospheric, tense, and keeps you on your toes. Is there really something supernatural going on? The characters don’t know and neither do we. The mystery is twisty, elaborate, and just a whole lot of fun to uncover. There may be a few conveniences and plotholes, but I don’t think it took away from the final reveal.
The book distinguishes itself by having our “Sherlock” Samuel, out of commission (isolated in a makeshift brig) so the case must be solved by Arent, our “Watson”, aided by Sara who may have an agenda of her own. The book offers multiple perspectives from our main characters to random members of the crew, giving us a fuller view of the events. I do wish we had seen more of Samuel because he is probably the most interesting character, but the current set up does work well with the ultimate plot of the book.
The Devil and the Dark Water is a tense atmospheric historical mystery that is ultimately a fun caper to uncover.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I did not find this book very compelling. I found it too boring and confusing to finish.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Omg if I could give this book more stars I would, I cannot remember the last time I was this engrossed and addicted to a novel (that's no detriment to recent books, but a testament to how truly fantastic this is!)
This post may be less of a review and more of a word-vomit gush because IMO this is perfection.
This post may be less of a review and more of a word-vomit gush because IMO this is perfection.