𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Dead in the Water by John Marrs
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Psychological Thriller
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: January 13, 2026
376 pages

Unreliable Narrator
Retrograde Amnesia
Twisty Thriller
LGBTQ+ FMC

Dead in the Water was a wild ride from start to finish. The book opens with the main character, Damon, literally drowning. As he fights to make sense of the little boy he keeps hallucinating, he decides the only way to find answers is by making his life flash before his eyes again, by dying and being revived.

This psychological thriller was full of surprises. With so many twists and turns, you'll be on the edge of your seat until the very end. If you love crazy twists and stories with an unreliable narrator, you need to add this book to your reading list!

Thank you so much Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the digital review copy!

4.5⭐️s rounded up
I’m a huge John Marrs fan, and every time I pick up one of his books I know I’m in for sharp twists, a unique plot, clever writing, and plenty of unexpected surprises and this one definitely delivered! This book had me gasping out loud especially chapter 20, and I can’t stress enough don’t skip the epilogue, it’s absolutely worth it. I loved how dark, unsettling, and addictive the story was, and the ending was wrapped up in a way only John Marrs can deliver. He never disappoints.

The story follows Damon, who survives a near-drowning but is haunted by a memory he doesn’t recognize: the face of a dead boy. Convinced the past holds the answers, Damon becomes obsessed with recovering this missing memory by reliving it through death. Again. And again. And again.

John Marrs has done it again.
A chilling, gripping novel with twists you do not see coming. I had been so excited to read this one as John is one of my favourite thriller writers and it certainly did not disappoint.

Honestly, I’m a long-time John Marrs fan, and every time I pick up one of his books I know I’m in for something bold, inventive, and deliciously unsettling. His sci-fi thrillers (The One, The Passengers, What Lies Between Us) blew my mind with their intelligence and razor-sharp twists, so I was curious — and a little nervous — to see him switch gears into something more grounded: a psychological thriller with a heavy dose of dark mystery. Did it work for me? The answer is yes — in a deeply disturbing, claustrophobic, and brilliantly unnerving way that left me thinking about it long after I put it down.

From the very first chapters, Marrs sets a tone that suffocates and unsettles. There are Flatliners-style resuscitation scenes that had me holding my breath and a ghostly “I-see-dead-people” thread that chilled me to the bone. At times, the story felt so dark that I had to put the book down, only to pick it right back up again because I had to know what would happen next. Marrs has always been good at finding those thin cracks between life, death, morality, and obsession — and here he pushes his characters (and readers) to the brink.

While I correctly guessed several of the twists and turns (veteran Marrs readers learn to look for the trapdoors he lays), one massive reveal in the final quarter completely floored me. It was one of those “jaw-drop, did that really just happen?” moments that reminded me exactly why Marrs is such a master of suspense. And then came the biggest shock of all: the reappearance of Laura from The Good Samaritan. To me, Laura is still one of his most terrifying, unforgettable creations, and her connection to Damon’s story is seamlessly woven in — easily the most disturbing and jaw-dropping part of the book. It gave me goosebumps and also made me want to reread The Good Samaritan immediately just to revisit her origin story.

The story itself is as grim and relentless as it sounds. Damon, a 28-year-old supermarket worker and recent divorcé, is dared by his ex-wife/best friend Melissa to step outside his comfort zone. He chooses an ill-fated swim in the icy waters of Brighton Beach, where rip currents nearly claim his life. In those drowning moments, his life flashes before his eyes — but when he comes back, he doesn’t come back alone. He begins seeing visions of a ghostly red-haired boy who haunts him everywhere he goes.

Meanwhile, Melissa is building a new life: discovering her sexuality, moving in with her partner, and even asking Damon to donate sperm so she can start a family. But Damon is unraveling fast. Obsessed with discovering who the boy is, he spirals into increasingly terrifying experiments, begging Melissa to help him die and return — a plea she refuses. Desperate, Damon turns to the one person who should never be trusted: Laura, the so-called “Good Samaritan,” who recognizes his desperation instantly and is more than willing to drag him even deeper into the abyss. From there, the story plunges into uncharted territory about obsession, ghosts (both literal and figurative), and the razor-thin veil between the living and the dead.

What worked best for me was the sheer atmosphere Marrs creates. The haunting tone, the suffocating sense of inevitability, the constant question of whether Damon is truly haunted or just mentally unraveling — it’s classic psychological thriller territory, but injected with Marrs’ signature darkness. I also loved the thematic questions the book raises: Do we really want closure, or is ignorance sometimes bliss? How far would we go to confront our past mistakes, and what if doing so risks our very future?

Yes, some of the twists are predictable, especially the beats connected to Damon’s past, and yes, the book often feels more disturbing than entertaining — but that’s exactly the point. Marrs doesn’t coddle his readers; he drags us through the nightmare and forces us to face its consequences. And while I admit I still prefer his dazzling sci-fi thrillers (my personal sweet spot with him), this genre shift worked better than I expected. It proves Marrs isn’t just a one-lane author — he can scare, shock, and entertain across genres.

Overall: This is a chilling, twisted, and unforgettable thriller, packed with enough scares, moral dilemmas, and jaw-dropping shocks to keep any dark thriller fan hooked. It’s not an easy book — it’s disturbing, nerve-wracking, and often suffocating — but it’s also one of those stories that stays in your head, whispering long after you finish. Fans of The Good Samaritan in particular will be thrilled (and horrified) to see Laura resurface in all her terrifying glory.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars) — for its bold risks, suffocating atmosphere, and Laura’s chilling return.

A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for sharing this intense, nightmarish thriller by one of my all-time favorite authors in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer and of course, John Marrs for giving me the opportunity to read his next release over 4 months before its publication!! This book is absolute perfection. The twists gave me whiplash in the second half and the first half was just as gripping and so beautifully done. The way this delves deep into the psychological aspect of the story is so intriguing and is one of the reasons I loved it so much. Please, please show your support to this amazing author and read Dead in the Water when it is released in January of 2026.

Thank you for allowing me to read this advanced copy. This isn’t my first John Marrs book, I have read 3 or 4 before this one so know what to expect. This did not disappoint! The story is captivating from the get go and I found myself not wanting to put the book down. I guessed many of the twists but was eager to keep reading to see if I was right! There were a couple of shocks in there which kept me even more excited. The pace of the book is great, with a mixture of short and longer chapters and cliff hangers at the end of some chapters all well balanced to keep you inclined to carry on. The story follows multiple points of view very clearly, with a central point of view for the most part. The added view points are used well to further the suspense, intrigue and extreme concern for the main character! It’s a whirlwind but not so much that you can’t follow the events even when th y are presented out of order. The whole read is a thrilling journey with characters you love to hate! Absolutely brilliant!

If you are a John Marrs fan/groupie this is absolutely a must read!! So mark those calendars for January 13, 2026, the expected release date.

I was one of lucky ducks who got the opportunity to snag an ARC. John Marrs usually has me hating the characters and loving the story. However Dead in the Water I loved every single character and the whole story. Each are brilliantly done. Damon the main character has so much of a crazy story. He dives deep into his past when a dead boy appears after a near drowning. The book envelopes you into a self discovery of who Damon truly is. There are surprising and shocking secrets. 🤐 Keeping my word and not spilling the tea. Just take my word for it you don't want to miss out on this book.
Snag it, pre order it, and count down the days.

Thank you John Marrs, his publisher, and Netgalley for this mind blowing opportunity to read this ARC. I'm truly grateful.

Thank you for the ARC of this latest John Marrs novel.

Dead in the Water pulled me in right away and never let go. The story follows Damon, who survives a near-drowning only to be haunted by one missing memory—a dead boy’s face he can’t explain. What starts as confusion quickly becomes obsession, and soon Damon is risking everything to uncover the truth, even if it means facing death again and again.

What really stood out to me was how unpredictable the book was. Just when I thought I knew where it was headed, another twist came out of nowhere and completely changed things.

The pacing is smooth and the flow of the story makes it impossible to stop reading. The characters feel real and layered, and you can’t help but get pulled into their struggles.
The plot itself is dark, original, and full of tension.

It’s not just a thriller—it makes you question how far someone might go for the truth, and whether some memories are better left hidden.

Overall, it’s a gripping, unsettling, and addictive read that kept me hooked from start to finish.

ARC nabbed on NetGalley after seeing Mr Marr’s post on Facebook, and what an ARC it was! Thank you for the opportunity.

Damon has to face death to reveal and piece together his past and seeks help from anyone who is willing.

What he finds changes everything.

Marrs fans who have read his previous books will love the addition of a previous character(or two?!). This was brilliant as they fitted right into their role seamlessly.

I got to 40% and thought, “how on earth can there still be 60% of unravelling to come?”, stupidly I was lulled into thinking it was all figured out. The twists and turns in this book had my mouth agape, I even shouted “no way” very loudly at one point, scaring my husband. And it didn’t stop, right to the very very end.

Incredible, fast paced, short punchy chapters from multiple POVs, and a book I could not put down.

If you love a John Marrs, you’ll love this one. A chapter 39ing wild ride and the longest breath ever held finally being released

John Marrs, King of the Sickological Thriller is back! When Damon nearly drowns at sea, his near death experience shows him parts of his life he doesn’t understand - including a child with a black hole for a mouth. Wanting to find out more, he realises the only way is to get that near death experience again until he can piece together pieces of a puzzle. Initially aided by his ex-wife, chasing answers brings more questions and more personal unrest.
John always writes so cleverly, and his throwbacks to previous books are cleverly inserted. With more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, this is a great book that just cannot be put down!

When Damon is challenged by Melissa to a night swim, he is initially terrified and disagreeable. Perhaps his instincts were right as he is pulled under a rip current and drowns, dying for a few minutes until Melissa brings him back. And he is not alone when he returns, instead bringing life-like visions of a young redheaded boy that he feels like he must have hurt in some way. He quickly dives back into his fraught childhood and past for answers and the road to discovery is treacherous and bumpy.

I have enjoyed John Marrs' work for a while but I did feel like this book had so many twists and turns that it was close to getting convoluted. I also guessed a bunch of the story, which always lets me down a bit. But the novel was filled with an interesting premise and some unforgettable characters.
We even get an appearance from Laura, the angel of death from Marrs' The Good Samaritan. Three and half stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

John Marrs has written quite the page turner with this novel and it was an awesome read. I enjoyed it from the very beginning and it just kept going and going and never let up, but it was well worth it. The twists were awesome, the characters were great and I truly was just along for the ride.

Damon survives a near drowning and his life flashes before his eyes. He sees a dead boy-one he doesn’t remember at all knowing. He starts to realize he is missing chunks of his childhood memories and his life spirals as he goes to great lengths to find the answers.

This book was like a train wreck I couldn’t stop watching. Poor Damon’s life was pretty decent until he started looking for answers to his past. I will never not recommend John Marrs to my reader friends and I think this one is one of my new favorite’s!!

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!! I loved everything about this book! It captured me from the very beginning and didn’t let go until the shocking ending! There were so many twists and surprising turns that kept me thoroughly caught up all the way through. There was also a surprise character in this book that was totally unexpected but made it so much fun! John Marrs definitely knocked it out of the park. It was brilliant!

Completely unhinged and insane. Full of so many twists and things just kept getting crazier as the story went on. I love fast paced and this fit the bill for me. The plot was unique and unlike any other thriller I've read. This one got me out of my reading slump.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK | Thomas & Mercer

Thank you to Netgalley and John Marrs for allowing me an ARC copy of this book.

What a ride it is!
I enjoyed the unique plot and quick chapters, which helped me binge the book in a few sittings!

Whilst the plot was unique, I did feel it dragged slightly in the middle, and Damon’s character could be frustrating to read about. However, as usual with John Marrs’ books, as more was revealed, it all made sense, and I enjoyed the conclusion, especially with the previous character, whom I hated back then and even more now, haha. Sweet revenge for sure!

Definitely one to look out for at the beginning of 2026 if you’re looking for a unique thriller with interesting characters, along with plenty of twists and turns!

When Damon survives a near-drowning, his life flashes before his eyes. He sees familiar scenes from his life, but one “memory” leaves him puzzled. Damon sees a dead boy with red hair that he has no memory of knowing in real life. Everyone in Damon’s life tells him that this could be his mind playing tricks on him but the other flashes he saw were real so what if this one is too? As Damon’s obsession with his past intensifies, he decides the only way to learn more about this mysterious boy is to die again to unlock more pieces of the puzzle. When he finds a stranger who is willing to help him, he begins a journey of self-discovery at great cost to his health and personal relationships.

This was a wild ride! Full of tension and I would say parts of it lean towards the horror genre which was a fun surprise. The story is told from the perspective of Damon and several other main characters. Damon is very complex and as he unlocks more of his past, he becomes more of a puzzle which is interesting as far as character development goes. I wasn’t always rooting for him, but I hoped that he would find peace as he delved into his past. I think this story would make a great movie! Very scary on the silver screen. I adore John Marrs as a person and as an author. I am a forever reader and can’t wait to see what he comes up with next :)

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was beyond excited having the opportunity to read this book before it is published. I will read anything written by John Marrs. Thank you to John Marrs and NetGalley.

Where to begin. So many twists! So many jawdropping moments. So many pages I couldn't turn fast enough.
The storyline, original, the ending, unexpected. John Marrs also promised/hinted at a "surprise" for his following readers and what a surprise it was! #iykyk

Just read it, enjoy it and savour this delicious thriller!
4.5⭐️!!

John Marrs, you have got to be kidding me! This book was chaos in the best way. It kept me second guessing every page. Trust me, it’s one of those thrillers where the less you know going in, the better. Go in blind! The twists creep up on you slowly…then leave you reeling. Just when you think you’ve found your footing, BAM! The truth hits, and it’s an absolute doozy. I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough, and now I’m sitting here questioning everything. If you want a thriller that’s messy, wild, and impossible to put down, this is it!

This book starts with suspense building up and ends with multiple twists that blew my mind! I had to keep reading and couldn’t put it down! I was shocked with every chapter.