A review by whataqt
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

dark inspiring mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

What I find unfortunate about A Study In Drowning is how the first half of the book is compelling, atmospheric, and eerie. The set up of the central mystery and the first couple of plot beats had me engrossed. After the halfway point, however, the romance becomes more of the central focus. This is acceptable, given the dedication boldly marks the novel as a love story, but what I didn't enjoy was the choice Reid made regarding the other males characters. Any man who isn't named Preston is a total piece of shit inside this world, which felt to me like a choice meant to aid in the romantic development, but ultimately undercuts the themes of the novel. Patriarchy is a system of oppression, and men uphold it in many ways, both obvious and subtle. I wanted my view of these men to be complicated the deeper into the story I went, and that did not happen. Another choice I couldn't get past was the choice to not have Effy spend a substantial amount of time around any female characters. Those interactions are pushed into the front and back of the book, and in a story about women reclaiming their stories, it felt like an oversight to not have another female character Effy could interact with. As the mystery was revealed and the book drew to a close, I found myself losing interest. Ultimately, though, I enjoyed the overarching metaphor of the sea, the dense atmosphere, and the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter (which were better than a lot of the prose). I just was left wanting more from the back half of this book, but with my time with it, I can never say I wasn't intrigued and immersed.
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