Gruesome and gripping an excellent dose of Scottish noir !!
I hadn’t read the the first of of this the Monica Kennedy series but in no way spoilt this book for me but I will go back and read the first book at some point as this is proving to be a brilliant series. Monica is brought back to work to deal with a dismembered body and as then another body is found also dismembered and it becomes quite obvious that Monica has one hell of a gruesome case on her hands. At the same time we have the story of Annabelle who was driving on a private road when a young child appears of nowhere, swerving to miss her Annabelle hits a tree and later wakes to find herself in a truly horrifying situation.
Well this one heck of a dark and terrifying read and I flew through it in a day, the story was grim and exceptionally well crafted with well rounded characters that I really liked. A book I can highly recommend and I look forward to reading more in the series in the future.
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK Vintage Publishing, Harvill Secker for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was an easy to read thriller thaylt kept my attention all the way through! Lots of twists and surprises I didn't see coming. Very good, would recommend!

A dark, atmospheric read. I found it to be a solid read and enjoyed the setting. Full if tension and intrigue.

Brilliant story set in Scotland. Beautifully written in a stunning setting. A great pice procedure story. Fantastic. Kept me guessing throughout x

When I first requested this and was subsequently approved for this book, I wasn't aware that this was actually the second in a series of books by this author.
The blurb had stood out to me as something of interest straight away but I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to pick it up from where the first book had obviously left off.
Whilst there are many references to that first book, it didn't negatively impact my reading of this book.
There were lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming and I found myself counting down the time until I could read more of this.
It's atmospheric, tense at times and well written.
I'll definitely be going back to read the first book in the series and would like to read more from this author in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A solid 3* thriller, with some very scary, dark moments.

This is the second book in a series, but, not having read the first didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story or characters. But, be aware, there are many references to book 1.

The entire story is dark, soulful and creepy and there’s no respite, so, unless that’s your bag, this isn’t a book for you. However, if you enjoy spooky, dark tales with a claustrophobic edge, you’re in for a treat.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview.

A well named title, this dark and gritty thriller had me wanting to read more and more. The writing style took a little for me to get into as it was chopping and changing from Annabelle’s perspective to the DI Monika Kennedy.
If you like a gory at times thriller then this is definitely for you. The Scottish setting is beautiful written and has a great feel about it.
This is the 2nd book in this promising series

second in the series and better than the first one. It doesn't feel gimmicky and it's nice to be back with the characters and the setting.

This is the 2nd book in the Monica Kemnefy series and I admit a book I started to read with comprehension as I struggled with the style of the 1st book in the series.

However from the outset I was drawn into this storyline and found the style a little bit more suited to my preference.

Returning back to work after a 6 month hiatus, Kennedy has a dismembered body on her hands and a fractured team to put back together after the daunting events of book 1.

Then there is Annabelle, a young woman, who awakes in a strange place, after a car accident to find herself being cared for by a Doctor...

Kennedy is a character that feels like there is more to come and in this 2nd book, Halliday definitely shapes her more, whilst still letting us know how very tall she is...

Gritty, Atmospheric Dark, macabre and brutal stuff, G.R. Halliday writes brutality very well, and this thriller cross horror thriller is a haunting and tense read that will chill you deeply.

4🔥🔥🔥🔥

I found this a real page turner. It was, however, a bit dark in places and rather gruesome. Nevertheless, that aside I found it difficult to put down. It got more exciting as it went on and Annabelle's attempts at communication with the outside world and frustrations at her situation made it even more of a page turner. It was well planned in the way we alternated between Annabelle and the police, who were trying to solve a number of gruesome murders and did not even know about her plight at the beginning.. Altogether a good read, but maybe not for the squeamish!

Disclaimer: Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this book. I have been sent a copy of this book for review purposes. This has not influenced or affected my opinions in this review.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dark Waters. I would highly recommend this to anyone, even if crime thrillers weren’t normally their choice of reading. This book certainly could be situated within the genre of horror as it definitely has horrific undertones. This is Scottish noir at its finest! If you’re a fan of thrillers and crime, you will enjoy this book!

*5 stars*

There is something going on in the Scottish Glens and its not nice.
Annabelle is forced to swerve on an isolated road to avoid a young girl and wakes up in a dark damp room.
Scott is camping in the glen when he hears screaming. When he gets up in he morning he sees something he wishes he hadn't - he is never seen again.
DI Monica Kennedy is called to investigate a dismembered body found in a dam and then another one is discovered.
What is the connection and what is DI Kennedy running from?

A dark gritty and gripping read. Some parts of this story were gruesome. Set in the amazing highlands this is a compelling read that sent shivers down my spine. This is a memorable story about a family you would never want to meet.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Wow, what a read! Annabelle is looking for an escape, she is heading beyond the wall until she crashes; her next conscious moment is pain and a voice telling her the doctor will be here soon. Meanwhile DI Monica Grady and her team are still trying to find their feet following the last case. They are confronted by two naked heavily mutilated bodies abandoned in the loch. No connections and no leads they are running out of time to rescue Annabelle. With thanks to #Random House UK, #Vintage Publishing and #Harvill Secker

After reading G.R. Halliday's first book 'From the Shadows', I was pleased to receive a copy of the second in the series 'Dark Waters'.
The debut novel ended traumatically, so D.I. Monica Kennedy and team are still dealing with the emotional aftermath. As before, we have the glorious, although dark and bleak setting of the Scottish Highlands.
This case centres on the discovery of a dismembered body, and the team are in back in a full on investigation.
The story involves layers, and links with a trapped woman; it's dark, traumatic and intense.
Full of secrets and dysfunction. Recommended for crime thriller fans.

Oh wow, what an opening sentence.
'When she still had all of her arms and legs'
I just wanted to delve right into this book and find out what had happened to her arms and legs, and boy was this a fast page turning read that kept your mind racing throughout. There's quite a bit of gory details, so if you're squeamish then I wouldn't recommend. However if, like me, you don't mind some gruesome, spine chilling settings then I'd put Dark Waters high on your 'To Buy' list.


We are introduced to DI Monica Kennedy and DC Connor Crawford who are investigating a dead body found in the River Beauly, and this is where the story gets even more interesting. Obviously I don't want to give too much away, but the twists and turns are brilliantly plotted.
I found the characters were strong and believable. I could easily see myself having a cuppa and a chat with Monica, a drink in the pub with Fisher or road trip with Annabelle.

All in all, this is one of the best murder mysteries I've read in quite a while.

Thankyou to Random house UK, Vintage Publishing and Netgalley for my proof copy in exchange for an honest review.

After the terrors of her last case, GR Halliday's 44 year old DI Monica Kennedy returns for this spine-chilling sequel that has more in common with the horror genre, where the location of the Scottish Highlands is depicted as sinister, dark and bleak, where unimaginable monstrous horrors lurk for the unwary. Kennedy has been taking a break from MIT, when she gets a call from a rattled Detective Superintendent Fred Hately, a dismembered body has turned up. Kennedy brings together her old team, harbouring the mistaken belief that DC Conor Crawford and geeky DC Ben Fisher were largely unaffected by the trauma of the last case, this is not true, particularly to her surprise, for Fisher. DC Maria Khan is a welcome addition to the team, a media specialist that is going to be sorely needed in a case that is going to attract huge media interest and lurid headlines.

As Monica tries to work out the identity of the murder victim, the team narrow it down to two men reported missing, 53 year old Sebastian Sinclair of Sinclair Enterprises, and Theo Gall, a career petty criminal, when another body with the same macabre stomach-churning MO turns up. Annabel is driving her BMW fast in the Highlands when the appearance of a girl on road causes her to swerve and crash, waking up to find herself in a terrifying nightmare, being 'treated' by the doctor from hell. Canadian Scott is camping when he hears sounds outside his tent in the middle of the night, he spots a little girl, and is to disappear for good. In a narrative relayed from Annabelle and Kennedy's perspective, this is a creep fest of a case that goes back in time to other missing persons, a dam incident that results in many trapped in tunnels, where a number of leads point to Glen Turrit and the menacing village of Arklow.

Kennedy is a single mother, with a mother, Angie, a little too interested in crime and her cases, on whom she relies on to help look after her precious daughter, Lucy. Halliday develops her character further by filling in her haunted personal history in relation to her prison officer father, with themes that resonated with elements of her investigation, with the issues underlined with a Lucy sleepwalking and dreaming of her grandfather. This is a great sequel to what is a terrific series, one which steps firmly into the darkest of territories, and I do not mind admitting had me afraid, tense and fearful, desperately hoping Annabel will survive an ordeal that will surely mark her for life. Many thanks to Random House Vintage for an ARC.

This is a very dark, atmospheric read, set in the Highlands, where the woods add to the claustrophobic feeling, the small town folk, don’t take kindly to strangers in there area, there’s no internet, very little mobile phone signal, no social media. If you want to live off the grid this is the perfect place to go.

Annabelle is driving her car far too fast along a road between Inverness and the West Coast, when a child appears from nowhere, forcing Annabelle to swerve to miss the child, she hits a tree. When she wakes up she has no idea where she is, she can’t move, she is terrified and believes she is underground. But where?

In the same area a dismembered body is found, could the two things be linked in some way? After the effects of a dreadful case a year earlier DI Monica Kennedy has taken a step back from MIT, but she is asked to investigate this death with D.C. Conor Crawford, and D.C. Ben Fisher.

The story is told mainly through the perspectives of Annabelle and Monica, but also includes some flashbacks to years prior to this case. There is nothing happy or joyful about this story, no light moments, just darkness, kidnapping and murder. If you love a creepy tale this will suit you, but if you are looking for a light read this is not the book to choose.

Annabelles character was interesting, she is determined to survive and escape, and I found myself rooting for her to do this, it made for gripping reading. I’m still on the fence regarding DI Kennedy, I’m not sure if I like her or not, she is determined and wants to get to the truth, and the love for her daughter is strong and admirable. Her character is still developing as we see some of her back story, including her relationship with her parents, he father mostly. So maybe over time she will grow on me.

I think this series will get better as it goes along, as we learn more about Kennedy and would be nice to get to know a little bit more about the rest of the team. But overall this is a gripping read, dark and sinister.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #HarvillSacker for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

I thought this book was very good. A little grisly in parts and not for the faint hearted. Lonely Scottish location added an extra touch of mystery.
Some rather interesting characters which must mean the author has great imagination. Just thinking about some of them makes the hairs on the back of your neck rise up.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt it was well written.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had overtones of a horror book, and I would say it may not be for everyone, certainly not for the feint hearted .I thought however it was very believable and the characters were well written, and interesting.To be honest I couldn't read it fast enough, I was desperate to find out what was going to happen next.Certainly gruesome in places but also very exciting I loved it. and would definitely read more books by this talented writer.