Adult

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton – Book Review

Horror, Mystery, Historical Fiction

Rating

Goodreads:

3.87

Novel Fables:

4/5

Buy now:

novelfables earns a small commission at no extra charge for you if you purchase a book through these links.

Book Review

The Devil and the Dark Water

Stuart Turton

4/5

Horror, Mystery, Historical Fiction

(The above links for Amazon and Kobo are affiliate links & I earn a small commission if you purchase a book through them)

The Devil and the Dark Water

Stuart Turton

4/5

Buy a copy:

The above link(s) for Amazon and/or Kobo are affiliate links & I earn a small commission if you purchase a book through them at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.

"

“Cleverness is a type of strength, and they won't accept a woman who's stronger than they are. Their pride won't allow it, and their pride is the thing they hold dearest.”

Synopsis

It’s 1634 and Samuel Pipps, the world’s greatest detective, is being transported to Amsterdam to be executed for a crime he may, or may not, have committed. Traveling with him is his loyal bodyguard, Arent Hayes, who is determined to prove his friend innocent. 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 onboard. A mystery that stretches back into their past and now threatens to sink the ship, killing everybody on board.

Review

This is only the third historical fiction book I’ve read. The last, while it was supposed to be set in the 1920s in Shanghai, it honestly could have been any era. The Devil and the Dark Water, however, is set in 1643 on a merchant ship sailing from Batavia (present-day Indonesia) to Amsterdam and you get that year the whole way through, from the clothing, makeup, politics, misogyny, and dialogue. This is the book that makes me want to read more historical fiction!

Exceptionally written characters, I loved some and hated some. They were all unique and memorable. I was rooting for a love story. The plot was a bit slow in the beginning, but I enjoyed every second of being with these characters and seeing them interact.

This was a murder mystery with some folk horror-is element, and I loved every second of it. It was a bit creepy with some possible devil’s work at play, and a leper is terrorizing the ship. The ending tied everything together quickly with plot twist after plot twist, and I saw that conclusion coming. Bravo!

Best,

Ashley

From novelfables.com

Buy now:

(The above link(s) are affiliate links & I earn a small commission if you purchase a book through them on Amazon or Kobo's websites.)​

Like this review?

Subscribe

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Other Reviews

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.