The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton
A historical detective thriller with a twist of the supernatural and occult: a maritime murder mystery with demons, undead lepers and witches to boot. Based in the 17th century, the protagonist of the novel, Detective Samuel Pipps, finds himself travelling from Batavia to Amsterdam as a prisoner aboard the Saardam ultimately to face both trial and execution for a crime that he may or may not have committed. Accompanying him on this voyage are a trio bound to Pipps’ past: Lieutenant Arent Hayes, his faithful bodyguard, Sara Wessel, a noblewoman with a haunting secret and her husband, Jan Haan, the governor general of Batavia.
Once aboard the vessel, peculiar events unfold. Strange symbols manifest, livestock are slaughtered in the dead of night and ominous whispers echoing in the minds of the passengers, acting as the promised herald of three unholy ‘miracles’, resulting in the eventual death of all upon this cursed vessel. From beginning to end, the determined and enigmatic character of Hayes stands out in this spooky tale as he remains ever devoted to the task of proving his friend innocent. For those who adore supernatural/occult themes incorporated into crime fiction, or who would be eager to find out what a modern Agatha Christie/Arthur Conan Doyle meets Treasure Island novel would be like, look no further than Turton’s suspense – driven novel which will leave you with more questions than answers! To both dedicated lovers of crime fiction or those dipping their toes into the genre, I would strongly recommend.
Submitted by Kayleigh
