Overall extremely well-crafted mystery and skilful take on Sherlock Holmes. Stuart Turton is clearly a master at plotting. Pacing dragged a little in the middle section but picked up in the last third.

Having loved “The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle”, I was really excited to hear of a second novel from Stuart Turton.

His second book is set on a merchant ship in the 1600s. As the Saardam is about to set sail, an ominous warning is issued by a burning man - the ship is doomed and a devil is aboard this ship. You are immediately enthralled by a chilling murder with a seemingly supernatural cause.

During the voyage, mysterious symbols appear, impossible events occur and someone is whispering to the passengers, promising their heart’s greatest desire if they make a bargain with the devil.
You get a sense of the claustrophobia and danger on the long voyages and you are never quite sure if there is a devil on board or not. 

It’s difficult to review this book. I enjoyed the spine tingling events that are really creepy and well written but I struggled with the pace of that book. There is a lot of back story, red herrings, dead ends and investigative plot  between the haunting unholy miracles. For me, this meant that the tension didn’t have the chance to build up enough to get under my skin and have me gripped by the plot. I didn’t guess the ending and I was glad as I love to be surprised. The conclusion did wrap up every detail and clue and it was really clever - I wouldn’t have guessed it in a million years. It also revealed the book is perfectly named and I really enjoyed the symbolism in title.

However, we’re told the Saadarm was due to sail for eight months to reach its destination and it felt like I had been reading the book for a similar length of time when it had concluded. For me, the slow pace robbed the ending of some of its impact.  

That said. I look forward to the next novel, it’s clear you can rely on Turton’s books for interesting concepts and shocking endings.

After loving Turton's previous book, I was thrilled to get this one! Another murder mystery, but with Turton's expertise, who knows what would unfold!
This was well written, but the plot and setting didn't engage me and I found it difficult to follow with the different characters, even with the aids at the beginning. I think it may be easier on a physical copy so will endeavour to purchase this book as Turton is a master of storytelling genius!

"Good mysteries so rarely come along, but if you've got a little imagination you can invent as many as you want" - so says one of the main characters as the book concludes, and it's a timely comment on this excellent read.

On board an Indiaman from Batavia to Amsterdam, with a cargo of spices, a riveting cast of crew and passengers are set for a journey of fear, mystery and thrills.

Although the male characters are also beautifully crafted, I particularly loved the women in this book: Sara, wife of the governor general, craving independence and wanting to allow her gifted daughter Lia to shine; Creesjie, a smiling, merry yet enigmatic woman; Isobel, religious and dedicated. Their relationships with the men on board are often deep, often shallow, often thrilling, often dangerous.

I could talk about this a lot longer, but instead recommend you pick it up for yourself!

I loved the beginning, but the formatting issues with the eARC was taking away from my enjoyment of the story - so I am going to put it to one side and buy a finished copy.

Thank you for the opportunity - I am sure it will be a big hit.

Clever detecting wins the day after a very turbulent, mysterious and often creepy sea voyage.  A cast of numerous strong characters, both male and female lead the reader through a tale full of complexity and also baffling situations.  Set in the seventeenth century this mystery keeps you guessing to the very end.  It is well written with a storyline of supernatural happenings, rich characters and settings, full of intrigue, lies and ultimately a moral about greed and power.

Another smash hit from the wonderful Stu Turton. A fantastic second novel. A historical supernatural mystery set at sea and two detectives to solve it. A complex plot, but Stu is the master of complex plots. A fantastic read.

I really enjoyed Stuart Turton's first novel. It was different, clever, and entertaining I was very interested to see what he would come up with next.
This novel is wildly different from his first but without losing any of the style and smarts that characterised it. 
Set on a merchant ship sailing from the provinces to Amsterdam with a mysterious cargo and a passenger list full of people with motives, the mark of a devil calling itself Old Tom starts appearing on the ship and terrible things begin to occur.
The mystery of Old Tom and saving the ship is put to Sammy Pipps, a famous 'thief-taker' or detective who has found himself onboard not through choice and his loyal friend and assistant Arent.
I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a good mystery but with a clever and interesting twist.

Although I am yet to read Stuart Turton’s very successful debut novel The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, I have had a copy of it for a while. I think I just wanted a chunk of time set aside to devote to it and haven’t quite found that urge as of yet. It has been staring at me recently and I will no doubt be giving into it very soon because I’ve just finished his latest mystery and boy, was I shook!

It’s 1634 aboard the Saardam, a ship that has just left the East Indies (modern day Indonesia) bound for Amsterdam. Its crew includes a fantastic detective Sammy Pipps, who is being held prisoner and awaiting execution for a crime he didn’t commit, and his loyal bodyguard Arent Hayes. Not long into the journey, a lame leper inexplicably manages to climb on top of a stack of crates on the deck and burst into flames. Strange symbols begin appearing all over the ship and dark things occur including sightings of this thought-to-be-dead leper. Is there really a demon in their ranks? With the only man likely to solve the mystery in manacles, Arent takes it upon himself to get to the bottom of these bizarre, impossible happenings.

They’re joined by a malevolent governor general Jan Haan, his frustrated wife Sara, their brilliantly clever daughter Lia, Jan’s mistress Creesjie, a Dutch minister Sander Kers, his apprentice Isabel and a band of other officials and sailors. As you might expect in 1634, there is a fair amount of misogyny amongst the male characters but the excellency of the women blast all truth of their remarks right out of the water. In truth, the women of the book do a lot of the actual mystery solving and Turton has written some truly amazing women in this novel, so you’re in for a real treat!

Sara is a woman of noble birth and she has married well but she still bears the brunt of mistreatment and underestimation from men. She was one of my favourite characters and I was so invested in things working out for her in the end. She is incredibly wise and sharp, both qualities that have been passed on to Lia and I had no doubt that her teaming up with Arent would help get the mystery solved. This little line where she complains about the lack of pockets in her dresses made me smile -close to 400 years later, women are still asking for more pockets in their dresses! 

The atmosphere on the ship is one of inevitable doom and anticipation of death. I could almost feel a very heavy black cloak over the whole thing and every room and passage way reeked of curses. Turton is great at evoking this gloomy setting and creating an overwhelming feeling of dread. It’s perfect for this claustrophobic Christie-esque air that haunts the entirety of the book.

Arent and Sammy have a very strong Sherlock and Watson dynamic and I loved it. They have such a wonderful bond and unwavering trust in each other and I would love to read more of their cases. At several points, I did fear for Sammy’s life and I had only Arent’s huge presence to assure me that he’d be ok. Although it seemed like a perfect friendship for most of the narrative, the end revealed that even the closest friends sometimes have secrets between them -much like Sherlock and Watson!

In spite of all its death and skullduggery, the book also has a few rays of light. The mystery was still being fully unravelled in the final pages and I did fear that it would leave some things unanswered or not quite satisfactory. However, it was rounded off on a hopeful note and I was grateful to finally emerge from the tunnel of a very immersive reading experience into the light.

The Devil and the Dark Water is an addictive, wise, twisty mystery that is perfect for curling up with during the upcoming long cold nights. The characters are fantastically developed, the twists just keep on coming and the little jewels of wisdom from centuries ago speak directly to a contemporary audience. Agatha Christie fans will devour this chunk of a book.

I thought Stuart Turton's previous book, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (Agatha Christie crossed with Groundhog Day) was brilliant and highly original, and I wondered what on earth he would write next. The answer is something completely different!
The Devil and the Dark Water is a historical mystery with hints of the supernatural. Set in 1634, the action takes place on board the Saardam on a voyage from Batavia to Amsterdam. Among the passengers is Samuel Pipps (a 17th century Sherlock Holmes) who is being transported to his execution. He's accompanied by his loyal bodyboard, Arent Hayes.  As soon as the ship sets sail, things start going wrong. The ghost of a dead leper stalks the decks, strange symbols appear on the sails and carved into the ship's timbers, and livestock is mysteriously slaughtered. Could there be a demon living amongst the ship's passengers and crew? With Samuel imprisoned below deck, all lives depend on Arent solving the mystery...

The Devil and the Dark Water is thoroughly gripping. I was sucked into the story, reading it very quickly, desperate to find out how it ended. The amount of historical detail about life on board the Saardam is incredible - I was living that voyage along with those unfortunate passengers.  And I loved the rather sweet character of Arent, who keeps his honour when all those about him are losing theirs yet still doubts his ability to solve the mystery without the help of his good friend Samuel.

Anyone who enjoys intricately plotted historical mysteries, with complex characters that leap off the page, will love The Devil and the Dark Water. For me, the only thing that stopped it being a five-star read was what happened after the mystery was solved. That's just a personal niggle because otherwise I thoroughly recommend the book - and that cover is gorgeous!

Thank you to Stuart Turton and Raven Books (Bloomsbury) for my copy of this book, which I requested from NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.

The formidable, award-winning Stuart Turton returns with his next mind-bending, genre-defying historical crime novel shot through with an abundance of mystery, intelligence, and an exquisitely crafted plot, all set against the richly-imagined seventeenth-century backdrop of the merchant ship Saardam. It's 1634 and the Saardam is about to depart Batavia in the Dutch East Indies, heading for Amsterdam, when a leper places a curse on both the boat itself and those aboard her and then swiftly combusts after bursting into flames. It doesn't take too long for more inexplicably odd occurrences to happen on the voyage and things go from bad to worse when evil eye symbols are uncovered all across the ship; the sign represents a demon known as Old Tom who possesses the souls of others and tempts them into doing his dirty work, including murder, by offering them "their hearts desire for a favour". Luckily for the passengers, the worlds foremost Detective, Samuel Pipps, is in custody on the ship for a crime he may, or may not have committed and is travelling alongside bodyguard Arent Hayes. Can they solve the mystery of a malevolent force that threatens to kill everyone on board before it's too late?

This is an exquisitely written, impeccably plotted story, crammed full of intrigue, danger, supernatural strangeness and an intensely creepy and claustrophobic atmosphere on board the ship as it leaves port for Holland; the feeling of disquiet I felt when I knew of all of the bizarre, and later murderous, onboard incidents could be not be escaped due to being at sail on the high seas really got under my skin and into my psyche — this is a riveting, contemporary take on Christie's locked room mystery. It is compulsive reading from the first couple of pages, and I thoroughly enjoyed that Turton toyed with the idea of evil being supernatural as well as human with it being explored in an intriguing manner. The cast of characters is engaging and unique with the relationship between, and depiction of, Pipps and Hayes having similarities to old favourites, Holmes and Watson, where loyalty and sleuthing matter above all else. A refreshingly original and multifaceted story written with beauty and fluidity, a gripping narrative populated by memorable characters with multiple plot twists just springing up one after the other, this is a must-read for all crime connoisseurs. Unmissable and unforgettable. Many thanks to Raven Books for an ARC.

This superb book will take you on a long perilous sea voyage populated with murderous crewmen and  passengers that hide dark secrets. Throw into this incendiary mix - some witchcraft, a stalking ghost  ship , sinister ethereal night whispers promising rich rewards for wicked deeds ,torrential storms and  even the devil himself ,Old Tom, on board creating havoc .

With his  mentor and friend  Samuel Pipps a prisoner on board  on unknown  charges  Arent Hayes must  navigate all these obstacles, not only to save master investigator Pipps from a death sentence,  but also every other  soul on board in dire peril.

Luckily he has his uncle, Governor General Jan Haan, his wife Sara Wessel and  their daughter Lia to help him, but what secrets are they hiding and can they be trusted? What exactly is the ships mysterious cargo  that must reach it’s destination at all costs?

This  is a deeply gripping genuinely creepy, claustrophobic and brutal novel that maintains the suspense  throughout. It keeps the air of mystery right up to the end .  The Holmes and Watson relationship between Pipps and Hayes provide some strategically placed light relief and a well drawn cast of supporting  characters keep the reader guessing as the story moves towards its surprising conclusion in which  none of them escape unscathed.

An impossible murder.
A remarkable detective duo. 
A demon who may or may not exist. 
This book has all the skill and wit of Stuart Turton's debut novel. The period detail is amazing. The story is intriguing right from the beginning and the murder mystery is very satisfying.

Thanks to Bloomsbury for a review copy.
I was very excited when I heard that Stuart Turton had written a second novel but found it hard to believe that ‘The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle’ could possibly be equalled - and yet he has done it again.
The setting is totally different, here we are set firmly in the seventeenth century with no time travelling to upset the normal flow of cause and effect. The story opens in the Dutch colony of Batavia where the Governor General, a thoroughly unpleasant individual by the name of Jan Haans and his family are due to sail back in triumph to Amsterdam where he will take his place as one of the Gentlemen 17, controllers of the all powerful Company which controls the lives of many people through a monopolised trading network. With them is Sammy Pipps, the world’s greatest detective whom Haans has summoned to Batavia to retrieve the mysterious ‘Folly’ – an artefact which has been stolen. Pipps has done this before the story opens but instead of returning in triumph he is bound in chains though none except Haans know why.
As the party arrive at the docks a leper issues a fateful warning about the voyage before bursting into flames. To say more about the plot is almost impossible without including spoilers but the pace never lets up throughout the tale.
We mainly follow Arent Haynes, bodyguard to Sammy Pipps who finds himself the reluctant investigator of the mysterious events which occur aboard ship, helped by Sara, trophy wife of Haans and her daughter Lia. As tragedy unfolds these people, thrown together as misfortune soon turns into terror, need to use all their guile to survive as well as get to the truth of the mystery before hell literally breaks loose aboard.
As with ‘The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle’ it is best to go into the story without any more knowledge than this. Stuart Turton has written a book in which a devil is real (maybe), impossible crimes occur and both human and diabolical agencies may (or may not) be involved and may (or may not) be working together.
There is perhaps a deeper message within the story about the dangers of greed and what lengths people, for whom nothing is ever enough, will go to and what Faustian bargains they may be prepared to make, in order to amass more wealth or power. 
We also get a wonderfully described picture of what life on an East Indiaman must have been like in those days and it is not a pleasant image. Life at sea was hard and Stuart Turton uses consummate skill to paint a vivid portrait of that world without ever seeming to be delivering a history lesson. All of the main characters are brought impeccably to life and we meet some wonderfully nuanced folk amongst the crew whose behaviour we totally understand and sympathise with even if it is pretty unpleasant.
By the end we have been presented with a whole series of interlinked locked room mysteries that surely cannot be explained and yet the end of the story is perfect with not a loose end in sight. Much as in his previous novel Mr Turton must have spent many hours working out his plot and ensuring that all the many strands of the web fitted perfectly.
The book is an utter pleasure from start to finish and I hope that there is a sequel as there is so much more to explore in this wonderful world that he has created.
I found the soundtracks to the video games Dishonored and Dishonored 2 (available on Steam without the need to purchase the game or Itunes) along with the ‘Haunted Sounds of Sanctuary’ CD from the Diablo series of games (also available from iTunes) to be excellent accompaniment to my reading giving just the right eerie tone to the story. The video game ‘Return of the Obra Dinn’ is also an excellent way of playing detective in a haunted (maybe) ship and will appeal to anyone who enjoys a really good puzzle even if they are not a habitual gamer.
I really cannot recommend this highly enough, it is clever, scary, funny, gripping and so much more. My book of the year by far.

I adored The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle so I was thrilled to have the chance to check out Stuart Turton’s new novel!

That synopsis alone is so intriguing, containing so many elements I’m interested in: closed room style mystery, unexplained goings on and an interesting setting.

For the majority of the novel we’re following two main characters. Firstly Arent Hayes, the sort of John Watson to Samuel Pipps Sherlock. He’s the trusty companion who chronicles the famous detective’s cases, but is forced to go alone while Pipps is locked up on board for reasons unknown. And secondly we have Sara Wessel, wife to the governor forced to stay quiet and out of the way for most of her marriage but gets a sort of freedom on the ship (as long as her husband doesn’t find out). They were such interesting and layered characters and they were an absolute joy to read about.

On to the story itself. There’s plenty of strange goings on on the ship, all kicking off before the passengers have even boarded. At the port a leper shouts about the ship being cursed before bursting into flames. It’s then discovered that his tounge had been cut out. So how could he have spoken? This had one of my favourite elements in mysteries where it’s unclear whether the goings on are supernatural or if there’s some other explanation.

In fact, this is a fantastic autumnal read! It’s wonderfuly atmospheric with it’s 1600s isolated setting

This has very much solidified Stuart Turton as a must buy author for me. While both of his novels are very different (this has a liner timeline for example), they have a similar atmosphere and keep you guessing what’s going on.

What a book. I'll be perfectly honest and say that whilst I loved the writing style of SDOEH I was left a little flat from the plot and more specifically the conclusion of the novel. But it didn't put me off trying Turton's latest and I can safely say I'm very glad it didn't. 

From page one I was hooked and drawn into the world of Pipps and Arent, I really enjoyed this sea-voyaging Holmes and Watson duo and watching the story unfold. As much as this novel is about the disgraced detective and his bodyguard, the strong and multi-dimensional female characters truly sucked me in. Turton's characterisation is fantastic. Sara Wessel was an instant hit with me. 

Another aspect of Turton's writing that I love is his ability to create atmosphere and tension. This is what I did love about Evelyn Hardcastle, I could imagine myself in the story and he achieves the same with taking you onboard the Saardam. The creaking, narrow passageways and the sway of the ship are essential to the dark mysteries looking to be unpicked in this novel. Magic, murder and mayhem propel this story along the high seas and the rich tapestry of characters don't disappoint. 

I was left wholly satisfied with this book. I think this book is perfect for the Autumn days ahead.

Anyone familiar with Turton’s debut novel, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, will no doubt have been eagerly anticipating the release of The Devil and the Dark Water since its announcement. Despite the shorter gestation of this follow up, fans can rest assured that it’s still packed full of twists and turns, even if the plot isn’t quite as complicated as the Groundhog Day meets Quantum Leap (Groundhog Leap? Quantum Groundhog?) madness of his Costa Award-winning effort.

One thing that definitely does carry over from Turton’s previous novel, however, is atmosphere. The Saardam, the ship chosen to transport our not-so-merry band of seafarers to Amsterdam from Batavia (modern day Jakarta) positively oozes with it. It’s a richly described vessel, with such incredibly evocative language used that you may well feel like lashing yourself down whilst reading, lest the pitching of the deck unbalance you from your chair. Smells, textures and sounds are all vividly described, contributing to an extremely memorable setting. It’s a ship borne across the waves by the superstitions of its crew, who are likewise extremely well realised. There’s a real charm to them in fact, even the most despicable ones (the brutish Johannes Wyck, for example), with them being broadly drawn yet stopping short of being walking clichés. The realities of ship life, and indeed the life of a sailor, are discussed, serving to add extra colour to the crew too. Their reputed Captain, snappy dresser Adrian Crauwels, is one of the many distinct and interesting supporting characters, alongside the menacing Governor General Jan Haan, the grizzled Guard Captain Jacobi Drecht and more besides.

Against this backdrop of a creaking ship crewed by surly miscreants looms the imposing figure of Lieutenant Arent Hayes. A former soldier turned mercenary, he’s one of the two main characters investigating the strange goings on onboard the Saardam. Ostensibly present to ensure the safety of his imprisoned investigative partner, the renowned Sammy Pipps (a man of Sherlockian deductive brilliance), Arent believes himself to be less than he is. Capable of much more than the brute force and violence which his size and strength often leads him to, he’s a wonderful and unconventional character for this sort of story, a detective who has had the role thrust upon him in the absence of his famous accomplice. This makes him much easier to empathise with as a character, with him tossed in at the deep end (so to speak) as he chases answers and struggles to piece things together. Alongside Arent, we have Sara Wessell, wife of the cruel Governor General. She idolises Pipps, with her daughter Lia and her devouring Arent’s accounts of their cases. Sara leaps at the chance to prove her own abilities, collaborating with Arent on the investigation, lending her considerable intellect and insight, as well as being capable of supporting him in his moments of self-doubt too. She is very much a caged bird, the circumstances finally giving her the chance to soar. For all the supernatural creepiness throughout, the supportive relationship between her and Arent acts as a real anchor for the story (no pun intended).

That supernatural creepiness adds yet another layer of atmosphere to the tale too, and it’s all built on an air of dark foreboding laid out in the first few pages. As a leper prophesises doom to the Saardam before spectacularly immolating on the docks, it’s clear that things are only going to ramp up from this dramatic opening, and Turton doesn’t disappoint. With the mysterious symbol of the demon Old Tom seeming to stalk crew and passengers and terrifying events occurring in its wake, the setting really comes into its own. The Saardam is truly alone at sea; with a jittery crew who are at each other’s throats at the best of times there’s a gradual ramping up of tension, dark promises and dreadful threats stalking them through the narrow, creaking corridors. The many mysteries, both in the histories of the characters and in their present situation, are as satisfyingly juicy as you would hope too, with extremely satisfying resolutions to boot.

With atmosphere in spades, an engaging mystery and a cast of characters so likeable you might well struggle to choose a favourite, The Devil and the Dark Water is a triumphant follow-up to one of the most widely loved novels of the last few years, whose shadow it escapes assuredly. Stuart Turton is truly a master of his craft, with his talent writ large on every darkly forbidding page of this devilishly good novel.

Murder, mystery, magic and mayhem on the high seas from Stuart Turton. What more could you possibly want? This rich tale is impeccably told. It is bold, dazzling, full of derring-do and impossible puzzles. With strong echoes of Conan Doyle in his two principal detectives, Arent Hayes and Samuel Pipps, Turton brings us a 17th Century swashbuckling story replete with characters with missing body parts and strange and fearsome tales to tell.

Is there a devil on the ship? It certainly seems so. With his brilliant partner Pipps locked up in a dank hole below decks, can steadfast Arent Hayes solve this mystery solo? Sara Wessel is travelling with her husband from Batavia to Amsterdam where their fortunes are to be seriously enhanced, but from the outset it is clear that that there is the devil’s work afoot to ensure the voyage of the Saardam is not successful.

Turton does not stint in using his rich, descriptive powers to give us an olfactory tour of the lower decks in this wondrously atmospheric, historical murder mystery. A ship, of course, provides the same opportunities as a locked room when it comes to murder and Turton absolutely makes the most of each and every opportunity to deceive and deflect as his beautiful character populated novel embarks on a most dangerous journey.

As with The Seven Deaths, it is the depth and quality of the characterisation that shines through in this book and there are sufficient intricately drawn characters here to keep our minds busy even as we try to work out which are good and which may be the devil incarnate.

Even as we get nowhere near the solution, this doom laden ship is sailing towards a dramatic event. The motley crew are threatening mutiny when they’re not knifing each other and something nasty is whispering in the ears of anyone who will listen. As an exercise in mass hysteria, it is brilliant to behold.

Turton builds up an enviable cast of characters, some of whom are quite grotesque, complete with backstories, motivation by the bucketful and all in all it feels like we are in the midst of a Matthias Grünewald painting.

You can’t help but be drawn to the principal protagonists though and before the first chapter has ended you are already half in love.

Fantastic prose that I just wanted to wallow in creates a luscious novel that winds itself round your heart and may just squeeze the life out of you before you know you’re caught.

Verdict: Can you tell I loved it? Turton has a delightfully dark and delicious mind that paints in colourful oils all over his pages. This book is rich, vivid and fiendishly clever. Buy it, you will not regret it.

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton
This book is set in 1634 it begins with a dramatic scene where a leper, who has warned of terrible events to take place aboard the Saardam, is set alight.  Enter Arent Hayes a giant of a man who ends his terrible pain and Sara who administers a draught to ease his passing.  These two characters are the mainstay of the novel.  Arent is the protector of Samuel Pipps, the greatest detective he has ever encountered, who has been accused of terrible crimes and is locked up aboard the ship awaiting his executon.
Arent has to prove his friend’s innocence and Sara has to protect her daughter Lia from the wrath of her Husband, the Governor General of Batavia.  There are hints all along that a devil in the shape of Old Tom is stalking the ship and Arent is struggling to discover who or what controls these malign forces.  The plot races along and Stuart Turton, as he did in his previous novel is a master of the convoluted plot and fascinating denouement. 
Unusually for a novel set in this period there are many strong female characters:- Sara Wessel, Lia, Creesjie, Isabel.  I will be recommending this novel to all the readers at my various different book groups and hope that it achieves as much acclaim as the fantastic Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.
Many thanks to the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This book gets all the stars. A Holmes & Watson of the high seas. The first chapter sets the tone for this novel with a climactic ending & it's not the only one with a cliffhanger. I found myself swept along with the action, gasping out loud at times, unwilling to stop reading & get back to normal, boring life when there was action on the Saardam.

I defy anyone not to want to team up with Arent & Sara to discover what devilry is really happening aboard the ship. It has just left me wanting more.

I have only one problem with this book...that's the book hangover I know I'm going to suffer. I genuinely don't know what to read now as nothing will compare.