It is 1634 and the Saardam is bound for Amsterdam. As passengers board a leper curses the vessel and then self-combusts. When the mainsail is unfurled, the mark of the demon Old Tom is revealed. The voyage appears doomed yet the decision to proceed is made.

Once the voyage is underway, a series of mysterious and macabre events herald the presence of the demon on board ship and tensions rise, between crew and between the upper class passengers. Family ties are questioned and gender restrictions challenged. Nobody is who they seem and nobody can be trusted as events turn murderous.

Whilst the author's previous novel grabbed the attention from the outset, this is more of a slow burner and even dull in places as we are introduced to a panoply of characters, from the base to the high born. Interest increases as the plot gathers pace. Are events prompted by greed and hatred, demonic influence or a combination of the two?

The plot is intricate and the outcome rather too convoluted. There are unsubtle hints towards the Holmes stories in the unlikely pairing of Arent and Sammy, the plot and the rather wordy exposition, which detract from the enjoyment for this particular reader.

Unfortunately, not to the standard of Evelyn Hardcastle but an entertaining read nevertheless.

I received an ARC of this book via netgalley. For much of the book I was enthralled by this book, the setting and characterisation were excellent.
Someone is selling his soul to the devil in this instance "Old Tom" but Who? this and what does it mean for the ship sailing to Amsterdam. For me it just went on too long with too many similar events. The suspense built, someone else was killed / maimed and somebody suspected before the pace flopped again. I lost patience with it towards the end. I don't think it will remain in my mind on a long-term basis.

I was already a fan of Stuart Turpin, having read The seven deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, so I was very keen to read The Devil and the Dark Water, and I was not disappointed.

It begins with a mystery and more follow throughout the entirety of the novel. As with his first book Turton produces a page turning murder mystery, shrouded in the supernatural, in a setting people cannot escape.

I really loved this book, it was atmospheric, engaging and I was desperate for the mystery to be solved. The ending was perhaps a little contrived, but it was satisfying all the same.

I have just purchased a copy for a friend for Christmas and I know it will be enjoyed.

Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for this ARC, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I both listened to and read this book, and wow! Though I loved Evelyn Hardcastle a little bit more, I am dumbfounded by the author’s skill as a writer, how well he plots his books, and how he manages to keep the reader guessing until the very end without using conjuring tricks.

My one gripe was that it perhaps was a tad too long, as I found myself losing interest halfway through when there were so many lines of possibilities, so many mysteries to solve. The ending did satisfy me completely though.

I am glad I also bought a copy of the book (yes, I read this in three formats!) as the characters were hard to keep track of and I had to use the list of characters often. I did find it difficult to read as an ebook due to the sheer length and complexity of the book, so paper and audio were my preferred formats.

Highly recommended for lovers of a complicated suspense read with real heart.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me the audio and e book in exchange for an honest review.

I have really enjoyed Mr Turton’s previous book and I am happy to say I liked his newest release even better. I found it to be written in a more assessable way and definitely less confusing than the first novel.

We follow passengers and crew travelling one the merchant ship Saardam when the strange things start happening. The rumours are spreading quickly there is a demon on board known as Old Tom who is possessing the souls and wants to kill everyone. Our detective duo Sara and Arent are on the mission to solve the mystery.

The novel is a great crossover between historical fiction, locked room mystery and suspense thriller with paranormal elements.
It started really slow for me but once I got into story I was glued to the pages. The book was crammed with mystery, intrigue, murders and surprises and kept me on the edge of my sit til the end. The story is very well written and atmospheric due the setting and creepy elements involving witchcraft and demons. I loved the the main characters, especially Sara who I found to be strong and independent for her times and her blossoming relationship with Arent.

I was slightly disappointed with the ending which felt for me unfinished and rushed.

This is another great book from Stuart Turton which I would highly recommend.

Having enjoyed Stuart Turton’s previous offering, ‘The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle’, I was looking forward to seeing what twists and turns his new murder mystery would bring. The author essentially retains the Christie-esque setup of a finite number of characters unable to escape their surroundings, in this instance a merchant ship in 1634, while a killer (human or supernatural) prowls the decks, out to settle old scores.

The major characters are Sara, wife of the abusive governor general who seemingly has control over everything and everyone on the ship; and Arent, the sidekick to a Sherlock Holmes-style detective who is imprisoned on the ship for reasons unknown. Around them are a large supporting cast of family members, sailors, soldiers and passengers, all well drawn and characterful. As increasingly sinister incidents start to occur aboard the ship, the crew start to believe that a devil, dubbed ‘Old Tom’, is among them and out for blood. While fear begins to make them turn on each other, it is up to Sara and Arent to determine what, or who, Old Tom really is, and stop it/them before it costs everyone on board their lives.

The plot is every bit as dark and creepy as in the author’s previous book, and the sense of unease tangibly grows with each chapter. The plot itself is very clever and I was kept guessing throughout. The story moves along at a good pace which heightens the tension and increases the sense of menace that is prevalent throughout. I felt as though several elements were rather far-fetched, but as this is a period that I don’t know much about I was happy to be swept along and kept my disbelief at bay! Overall, an entertaining, unsettling (but in a good way) read.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

Excellent writing! I was completely immersed in the story. The only downfall for me was that it was a little slow in terms of plot.

I loved this author’s mind-bending 2019 debut, The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle so I was very excited to get my hands on this. In his latest offering, the author gives us a completely different but just as original premise. An intercontinental ship journey across Europe in the 1600s. A colourful host of characters from the esteemed Governor General of Batvia to a mysterious predikant to renowned detective and his loyal assistant. Whisperings of a devil in the night. As soon as the motley crew are aboard, it becomes clear something’s strange is afoot, and once they set sail the plot thickens as the water darkens…

“Like everything on this ship, the solidity had been an illusion. They’d encased themselves in wood and nails, throwing themselves into the sea, believing their courage would see them safe. And then their enemy had raised its hand and showed them how foolish they’d been.”

There’s a whole host of eclectic characters. It took me a little while to get a track of who was who but there’s some great personalities here. Our main narrator is Arent, partner to private Detective Sammy Pipps. Arent and Sammy are a Holmes and Watson kind of deal – Arent even writes about their exploits for the public’s enjoyment – except Arent is a giant who provides the brawns of the partnership, and currently Sammy is being held in chains for a crime unknown.

The other main character is Sara – wife to an abusive, arrogant Governor General and mother to an Lia – a highly intelligent teen who is forced to hide her cleverness in the traditional, anti-feminist society. Sara, Lia and the Governor are on board along with the Governor’s mistress Cressjie and her two sons. Talk about dysfunctional families. There’s also plenty of colourful characters amongst the ship’s crew, essentially a ragtag band of reprobates who sail to leave their sins behind them.

“Sailing’s about the crew, which means it’s about superstition and hate. The men you’re depending on to get you home are murderers, cutpurses and malcontents, unfit for anything else.”

The drama starts before our gang even set off on their voyage; a leper in rags delivers a threatening message to the crowd before going up in flames. On closer inspection Sammy realises the leper has had his tongue cut out – so who was speaking? It’s intriguing for sure, and the mystery unfolds from there with Sara and Arent becoming an amateur sleuthing team while the expert Sammy is held prisoner elsewhere. I loved the dynamic of this duo.

This book has a little of everything – there’s mystery, drama and romance and some supernatural folklore to boot. It provides an insight into the historical period too, touching on themes of religion and the treatment of women, all seamlessly wrapped up in the action. I do think the ending felt a little rushed, and personally I preferred the author’s debut novel, but once again Taunton has provided a compelling and unique read – landing him straight into my auto-read authors in future.

A complex historical and paranormal murder-mystery on the high seas

In 1634, a group of passengers was due to board the merchant vessel, The Saardam, for her voyage across the seas from Batavia to Amsterdam. Among them are the world’s greatest detective, Sammy Pipps, and his faithful assistant and bodyguard, Arent Hayes. However, Pipps is not a guest aboard this ship, but a prisoner, due to be locked in the brig, and heading to his execution for an unknown crime. A leper appears on the docks before the ship sets sail and warns the voyage will end in ruin, the guests are briefly frightened, but quickly shrug the incident off. However, it is not long into the 8-month journey before strange unworldly things begin happening on the ship, with demonic symbols appearing on the sails and passengers being marked for death. Without Sammy’s help, Arent must team up with Sara, the brave wife of the Governor-General, to investigate the strange goings-on before it is too late.

This was an inventive, intelligent novel packed with mystery, suspense, and plenty of surprises. The writing is very atmospheric and sets a dark, tension-filled tone from the very beginning, which builds up to a terrifying climax as the plot progresses. The characters are mostly multi-layered and complex, and the author does an excellent job of making you both trust and suspect virtually everyone at different points in the story. There were very few characters who I felt the same about at the start and the end of the book, and almost none of them had the allegiances or motivations that I suspected. I enjoyed the setting of the ship, as it added a sense of claustrophobia and fear to the story. The reader knows that someone or something is on board the boat. The characters always, enhancing the dangerous atmosphere and the feeling of them being trapped.

My main issue with this story was that it was perhaps slightly too complicated, and at times I had to double back to check I hadn’t gotten lost or misunderstood something. There are lots and lots of characters and remembering who was who and how everyone relates to each other was tricky at times (the author does include a brief guide at the start of the book, but accessing this wasn’t easy when reading on a Kindle!) Because of how complicated and creative the mystery was, the ‘big reveal’ at the end was also quite drawn out and convoluted, meaning it lost some of its impact. Additionally, it is the second book in the series, and I felt that I may have been able to better appreciate the relationships between the characters had I read the previous instalment.

In conclusion, I enjoyed this novel, although it was a bit overcomplicated at times. The atmosphere generated by the writing was excellent, and the setting was unique and exciting, but it certainly wasn’t an easy read. I would, however, be keen to read both this story’s predecessor and more by this author.

Daenerys


Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of this book to review.

A murder on the high seas. A detective duo. A demon who may or may not exist.
Samuel Pipps, the world's greatest detective, is travelling from Batavia to Amsterdam on the Saardam Ship, but not by choice. He has been imprisoned upon the ship and is said to be executed for a crime that he may or may not have committed. Arent Hayes, his loyal bodyguard is there to make sure nothing bad happens to him as he strives to prove his innocence. But no sooner are they out to sea than devilry begins to blight the voyage. A twice-dead leper stalks the decks. Strange symbols appear on the sails. Livestock is slaughtered. And then three passengers are marked for death, including Samuel. Could a demon be responsible for their misfortunes? With Pipps imprisoned, only Arent can solve a mystery that connects every passenger on-board. A mystery that stretches back into their past and now threatens to sink the ship, killing everybody on board.
This book had me entranced from the very beginning wanting to find out what was going on and who or what is ‘Old Tom’? The variety of characters were wonderful and mostly charming, although it took me a while to get used to who was who and what titles meant what. As we get to meet them, you can see that Sammy and Arent have this Sherlock and Watson relationship which is great to read and with Sammy locked away Arent (in the Watson role) has to come out of his shell and believe in himself to solve the mystery on board the ship.
His and Sara’s relationship was my favourite, she was also my favourite character. I couldn't get enough of her and how she stood up for her and her daughter and the way she fought back against her husband and the patriarchy. I really liked Lia’s character too and would have liked to have seen more of her and her ‘brilliance’ as it was the reason that her parents feared for her safety. In the setting it was in upon a ship with restricted space I would have liked to have seen that develop more.
Overall I enjoyed it, it was full of twists and turns but towards the end it did feel like there may have been a bit too many? It felt like there was a bit of filling the story before it could get to the final climax (one I was miles away from guessing correctly!). I’m still not sure how I felt about the final couple of twists and the story’s ending, I liked that it was unexpected but it didn't feel as strong as the rest of the book for me. That being said however, it didn't stop me from enjoying it, a brilliant historical mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

It’s 1634 and something dark is brewing aboard the merchant ship transporting world famous detective Samuel Pipps and his loyal bodyguard Arent Hayes to Amsterdam. Ghosts stalk the decks and demons demand offerings, but Pipps and Arent suspect one of their fellow passengers to be behind the supposedly supernatural events.

Stuart Turton’s debut The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was one of the most bizarre, original stories I read last year, and as soon as I heard that Turton had penned a second novel, I knew I had to get my hands on it. This tense murder mystery set on the high seas has that same spark of originality, intriguing characters and plot twists that keep you reading late into the night, telling yourself “just one more page”.

Pipps and Arent are a classic detective duo, reminiscent of Holmes and Watson, or Poirot and Hastings. Fellow passenger Sara Wessel is also a stand-out character and I especially enjoyed the chapters from her perspective. Turton employs several detective mystery tropes throughout the novel, and has fun with them - you can clearly tell that he loves the genre he’s writing in.

The only thing keeping me from giving this book 5 stars was the ending, which I’m still undecided on - there’s some great twists, but I felt that tensions between certain characters were wrapped up a bit too easily.

That said, this is another excellent supernatural-tinged mystery and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author!

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Rating: 4 stars | ★★★★✰

Stuart Turton has once again created a fantastic book that ensures you keep turning the pages right until the end.
I was intrigued from the start and the imagery was so good I could imagine myself also on board the ship with the passengers. The main three characters were all likeable; Sammy Pipps, the prisoner, is a detective and he reminded me of Sherlock with the way he deducted his theories. Arent Hayes is his friend and business partner, basically the muscle to get answers and I liked him the most because he had honour. Sara Wessel is the Governor General's wife who showed her heart from the very beginning and knew her own mind and wouldn't let anyone tell her what to do which I really liked about her. Together they have to try and work out what is happening on the ship and stop it before its too late. The whole story really was like a Sherlock case as they tried to discover the devil and what it wanted. The ending was a really big twist which I wasn't expecting at all and although I did get a tiny bit confused with so much information it all becomes clear and the reveal is truly shocking.
I loved this book and recommend it to anyone who loves a mystery that will keep you hooked throughout.

With a heavy heart I have to DNF at 59%. I kept going for so long because I adored the amazing Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, but The Devil and the Dark Water just didn't work for me. Most of the book feels like characters just repeating the same few facts to each other, without the mystery moving forward. A few cool/creepy moments but not enough to keep me going to the end. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Another compelling novel from Stuart Turton! This historical thriller plants the seeds for a complicated plot early on, and it is the reader’s pleasure to watch them grow. The setting is particularly unique, I can’t say I have ever read a novel set on a 17th century Dutch ship before, and that is refreshing. Turton creates an ominous atmosphere filled with demonic symbolism and mysterious characters. A dark delight!

I had high hopes for this novel after reading Turton's debut, and he's exceeded expectations!
Had me guessing right to the end of the novel, and have since recommended others to buy it now it's released (and will be getting myself a hard copy!)

A whole mish-mash of genres in this book – murder, mystery, maritime shenanigans, political intrigue, class and superstitions and the supernatural. With all of this in the mix, I really thought that I'd love this book. It has been given so many good reviews – but – it jwas just 'too much' by way of sub plots and double-dealings and far 'too much' in length for me. I just couldn't personally see what all the fuss was about.

It's 1624 and a fleet of ships of the Dutch East India Company sail from Batavia to Amsterdam. Headed by Governer General, Jan Haan, the Saardam is loaded with a mix of his family, sailors, soldiers, nobility, a mysterious cargo called 'The Folly'. But the two main protagonists are Sammy Phipps, a celebrated crime investigator and his giant side-kick Arent Hayes.

The way the book is written makes you think that this is one in a long series about the cases that Pipps and Hayes have previously solved – I had to keep reminding myself that this was their first literary outing. But it did read very much like a mystery/crime/thriller series.

The drama starts on the dockside as a leper announces to the passengers waiting to board the Saardam that the ship is doomed and everyone will die, before bursting into flames.
Is this a curse bought about by the demonic 'Old Tom' or something less otherwordly?

It takes a looooooong time to get the answer. There was a lot of unneccessary repetition – particularly in Hayes and Sara's questioning of the other passsengers. Whodunnit? Whocares?

I did enjoy the descriptions of life on board the Saardam. Turton manages to capture the claustrophobia, the threats and violence, the smells and filthy living conditions perfectly. Most of my stars are awarded for his writing style rather than the story.

All is revealed at the end. But by the time that I finally limped to the last page, I was too exhausted to care unfortunately. I just wish the book had been much more concise, because there were definitely some good ideas there. They just got swamped in the bilge water.

* Thanks to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for the ARC.

I wanted to like it so bad because I absolutely loved The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, but sadly it was not to be this time.

I felt the story dragged on and on, I struggled to keep my attention and eventually just checked out completely.

I switched to an audio book, and despite the narrator's voice being incredible, the overall story just became a background noise.

Maybe it just wasn't the right time for me and this book.

I was delighted to receive The Devil and the Dark Water from Bloomsbury and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, after the massive success of Turton’s debut.
It took me a while to get into it, but I’m glad I persevered as I thoroughly enjoyed it. A Sherlock Holmes style mystery set on a ship in the 1600s, it has a great cast of characters, a lot of twists and turns and really keeps you guessing right until the end.

"He knew there was no God waiting. No devil. No saints or sinners. There were only people and the stories they told themselves."

Bookworms gather! Gather! It’s time to embark on an unmissable adventure; join the glorious vessel, the Saardam, voyage across the seas that has been marked by the Devil as doomed. Abandon ship?! I think not!

The Devil and the Dark Water was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020 and I’m beyond pleased to say it didn’t disappoint. It’s a beguiling story that is a wonderful addition to the mystery genre and has cemented Stuart Turton as a name never to overlook.

We begin with a sudden death – before we’ve even left port. As the cast of characters get ready to set sail, a leper sets himself on fire and condemns the ship by the will of the Devil to meet a cursed and wrecked fate. Naturally, people are unsettled, but it doesn’t take long for the mass to brush it off as an unfortunate consequence of those suffering leprosy – and board the ship they do and off they go. It doesn’t take long for the curse to appear very real, with more deaths and an ominous symbol appearing everywhere, there’s no escaping that the Devil is after them…

To help us piece together what the Dickens is going on, we have renowned detective Samuel ‘Sammy’ Pips and his sidekick Arent. The only problem? Well, Sammy is in the brig for undisclosed crimes and isn’t at hand to help. So that leaves us with amateur-on-his-own Arent tasked with solving the mystery of what has targeted the ship. And away we go!

On the point of the characters, I’ll begin there. The cast of characters were such an array. They were all so good the more and more they were established, they stood on their own and I didn't forget who anyone was (as often happens with a large character list). Although it was a little hard to work out who was who when the flashback explanations happened. We alternate following Arent, Sara and occasionally from other characters too, which allowed a larger portrayal of the ongoings of the ship and the mystery.

I’d probably say my favourite part of the whole book was the respect I felt Turton gave female characters. They weren't side characters. Instead they were main characters of
equal worth to the male characters. Their development, progression and contribution to the story was equal. Sara, is the trapped the wife of the man Arent considers his Uncle, and their marriage is not one of love and joy, to say the least. It was really enjoyable to read her coming further into her own and not conforming to the role her husband (and many men on board too) desired. Sara teams up with Arent to help the effort to solve what is going on, and their dynamic was really enjoyable and refreshing (as she and other women contributed so much) that actually makes me want to read the whole thing again in the future.

Although, I need to mention, the book did feel a little overly long. There were definitely chapters that could have been cut and wouldn’t have been missed, and there was also some bits of repetition like the theme of Sara and her wish for freedom and Creesjie’s grief over her husband. Creesjie’s in particular I’m certain was word for word repetition of regurgitated sentences.

I relished the historical fiction side through the ships details, the rank of the crew and status of the nobility aboard. I couldn't help but see snippets of Pirates of the Caribbean in my mind as I read about the running of the ship, the way the characters were dressed etc. But obviously this is far, far more menacing in its air. The whole way through the book is bubbling with a sinister presence that made it hard to put the book down.

Regrettably, toward the end, the last 5% lost me. I still don’t feel satisfied with the ending. It was info dump overload that my brain struggled to process it all, it felt rather disjointed from the rest of the story and I ultimately ended up feeling underwhelmed with how it finished. Bamboozled and dissatisfied sadly.
[However, I will add to just be completely fair, I was struggling with my father's terminal cancer diagnosis by the end of the book, so it may just have been my headspace. I don't think it was, but I'll add that in the hope of being fair, in case it was genuinely me and not the book itself.]

But I cannot commend enough how many threads were woven together. It is a testament to Turton’s excellent planning, execution and imagination to pull off a story that interconnects in the ways it did. Some bits I figured out, but I was never fully certain and I didn't predict the entire ending to the mystery. I'm in awe of Turton to be quite frank.

All in all, Stuart Turton knows how to craft an entertaining mystery to get invested in and look forward to reading. I was utterly enthralled. It was a real page turner that plagued my thoughts, it’s just unfortunate I struggled with the ending. Maybe that'll be better when I reread it in future, because I certainly will, as it was too clever and transportive to resist returning to the Saardam again. I will keep an eye on the horizon for Old Tom's mark whatever Turton comes up with next, because with The Devil and the Dark Water, it's guaranteed I'm interested. Don't miss this deadly voyage!

Thank you kindly to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for this honest review.

The Devi and the Dark Water brings mystery to the open sea.




Stuart Turton has brought together so many different elements from murder, supernatural in a historical world. I loved the mixture of characters from different background. Some of the characters gave me a Sherlockian vibe.

One of the leading characters in The Devil and The Dark Water is Arent. He is a giant of a man who is known for his fighting ability and his size than his brain. As the story progress, it was to read as he starts trusting his own intelligence. Arent was a character I liked from the beginning as he seems like a man of honour.

Another leading character is Sara, a noble lady in a loveless marriage. Stuart did a great job of creating a smart, brave, complex woman. Like Arent Sara finally comes into her own throughout the story.

I loved the plot of The Devil and The Dark Water as I never knew what was going to happen. When everything was wrapped up I was taken aback by have clever everything was. Also how everything happens on the ship but how space was used cleverly to create so many different places with different feels to them.

Overall Stuart Turton has created another amazing story that will keep you gripped from beginning to end.




My Rating for The Devil and The Dark Waters is 4.8 out of 5.