The Devil and the Dark Water

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton is a historical nautical mystery that takes an Agatha Christie plot and adds the devil. The plot has so many twist and turns that all make sense. The novel is a fun who done it, with so many suspects that will make you head spin. The standouts for me is the plot, however crazy it gets there's always a plausible reason and character work is so good giving all 20 supporting characters their unique voices who all have their own motives and actions. A quick plot for The Devil and the Dark Water is what if a Sherlock like character was in chains and locked away and his Watson like compatriot who is a sympathetic giant that is more of a bodyguard than a problem solver had to solve a supernatural the crime. This is Stuart Turton's second novel after the excellent 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle that was best described as Agatha Christie on crack! I rarely buy new books when they first come out, but based on his strong debut I did and I was rewarded with a well thought out who done it. The story did not blow me away like The 7 1/2 deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle did, which was my the number one book I read last year, but this is a great book that is easily in my top ten of this year. The Plot: Samuel Pipps is the world's greatest detective in 1634, who has been imprisoned and taken to a ship setting sail for Amsterdam to serve time for his crimes, what ever thy are. Arent Hayes is Samuel's loyal bodyguard determined to protect him and prove his innocence, but before he can do that he has to stop a devil that boarded the transport ship. A leper warns the people boarding the Saaradam that Old Tom/ The Devil is a board this ship as he burns himself alive. When the leper is seen to they find his tongue had been severed and could not talk. Arent finds people willing to help but never knows who to trust as ghost and phantom boats lead to murder plot. What I Liked: Really well written characters, both main and side. I was never confused with characters and there is an awful lot of them. The plot is really captivating and dealing with all the elements on a boat which is. character in it's self. The twist are very layered, I did not guess who the killer or killers was, and was guessing back and forth until it was revealed. That for me is a true sign of a great mystery. Women are written very well and hold there own being very clever at a time when they did not have power. Arent's character really grew on me and you can't help but root for him solving the mystery. It's great to see a big character not dumb who is still a gentle giant but a smart one. The going to the bathroom and what they wiped with on a ship at the time is pretty horrifying. The way the sailors are described - They’re only on this ship because they’d be hanged anywhere else. What I Disliked: The story was always interesting, but it took a little bit for it to really get going. The after the climax ending felt unfinished, I felt the characters would definitively decide what was going to happen next, it left it mostly closed but there was still a crack that was left unclosed. Recommendations: Check out the work of Stuart Turton great characters, really clever plot twist, that will have you guessing who done it until the end. The Devil and Dark Water is less confusing than the 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle which was the main criticism for people who did not like it. This book is a lot more accessible and told in a more traditional mystery way than Hardcastle. I rated The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton 5 out of 5 stars. It is a little too soon to call Turton the king of new mystery, but he's off to a great start I eagerly anticipate his next work. I have rated all his works 5 out of 5 stars.

Set in 1634 on board an East India Company merchant vessel, this novel is a locked room mystery named a Best Book of 2020 by several publications. The Governor General of Batavia is returning home to Amsterdam to take his place among the Gentlemen 17, the elite who rule Amsterdam’s commerce. With him are his wife Sara, daughter Lia, and mistress Cressjie. Unknown to them, a demon named Old Tom also slipped on board and is hiding among the passengers and crew. As livestock is slaughtered and unholy storms beset the ship, nearly everyone on board hears Old Tom whispering in the night, promising their fondest dreams in return for obedience to him. The only man capable of solving the mystery is Sammy Pipps, who is locked in the brig for an unknown crime. It falls to his bodyguard, Arent Hayes, and Sara to uncover the identity of the person possessed by Old Tom before everyone on board is doomed. This is the second book by the author of The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle which, if you’ve read many of my reviews, I hold up as the gold standard for mysteries. This is not the same book. I don’t say that scathingly – they are simply very different books. And that’s where my compare and contrast ends so I can focus on this novel. I am not well versed on sailing, or Batavia, or merchant vessels, or , to some extent, this time period. Despite the fact that the author admits he changed several historical facts to fit the story, and I’m a historic novelist who shudders when I see something historically inaccurate, I didn’t bat an eye. I’d have to say he made the right decision because I was swept up in the story from start to finish with nothing jumping out at me that I felt the need to Google (this is actually a common occurrence for me when reading historical fiction). From a leper being set alight on the docks, to a mysterious eighth ship that joins the convoy, to a truly unexpected shipwreck, this was an intriguing read. The historic details were there, but they were sprinkled in expertly enough that they didn’t overwhelm the main course. The author didn’t have to explain anything, I could see it. And that’s always key to my reading enjoyment. As for the characters – there’s a lot of them, all with their own rich backstories and driven by their own devils. Without throwing out a spoiler, I will advise you not to get too attached to any of them since a lot of them don’t make it to the end. I loved the spin on Sammy, a 17th century Sherlock Holmes. I’d also like to see a spin-off novel for Lia when she’s older. My gripes? Only a few. The author played fast and loose with POV occasionally, weaving between characters in some chapters or scenes but not in others, and then moving to a more omniscient narrator a few paragraphs later. I rolled with it but it was jarring in the beginning. Also, while the reveal tied up all the loose ends, it all happened in one chapter/scene and almost felt like a convenient set up just to spit it all out. I actually have a little more to say about how that last scene played out, but I’d be throwing out a spoiler so I won’t. Suffice it to say the ending was not quite as fulfilling as I’d hoped, but I was far from throwing the book against the wall. Final word, I couldn’t have kept all those plot strings/back stories/MOs in the air, then ironed them all out at the end, so I have to applaud anyone who does. I’ll continue to look for more by this author.

3.5* - it took me a while to finish. Reading slumps suck. I do think it's a little too long. I didn't guess the ending. I rarely ever do.

Eine Seereise, die um die halbe Welt geht. Ein dunkles Geheimnis, das irgendwo im Schiffsraum verborgen ist. Ein Machtmensch,der alles daran setzt, um noch mehr Macht zu erhalten. Ein brillanter Detektiv, beschützt von einem Söldner, der aus unerfindlichen Gründen gefangen gehalten wird. Und ein unsichtbares Grauen, das bald ein Leben nach dem anderen fordert... Der atmosphärische Thriller der Extraklasse vereint die Düsternis von Dan Simmons "Terror" mit der beklemmenden Sozialanalyse von Niklas Natt och Dag in "1794". Die Hierarche auf einem holländischen Handelsschiff des 17. Jahrhunderts war unerbittlich, das Überleben oftmals eine Kombination aus List und Grausamkeit-und dennoch bewahren manche Charaktere ihre Menschlichkeit. Die Auflösung kommt völlig unerwartet, wird aber plausibel dargestellt. Ein meisterhaft geschriebener Roman für alle Freunde der gehobenen Thriller-Kunst!

I had been looking forward to read this book ever since Turton announced it, given how delightful his first book, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, was! While The Devil and the Deep Water is not as complex and jaw-dropping as his first book, it’s still a surprising story, is a page turner from the first page to the last and ends satisfyingly! The story is set on a ship, The Sardaam, which is transporting cargo from Batavia to Amsterdam for the United East India Company. Governor General Jan Haan is the senior-most official on board and is carrying some personal secret consignments. He is accompanied by his wife, Sara Wessels, his daughter, Lia, and his mistress Creesjie Jens – all of them accomplished women but forced to hide behind a veil of mediocrity in keeping with the times. A famous investigator, Samuel Pipps, is a prisoner on board and his journey from being a hero a short while ago to a prisoner is shrouded in mystery. Arent Hayes is his bodyguard and sidekick and in the absence of Pipps’ freedom, takes on a more central role in the proceedings. The mysteries begin from the end of the first chapter itself. And as the story moves forward, tales of fear, greed, betrayal and revenge emerge, framed in the backdrop of a devil called Old Tom, as various characters get killed off. The “dark water” of the title could refer to the sea around the ship or could refer to the evil in the souls of men. Besides the mysteries of the various protagonists, there is a strong supernatural element through the book and after the experience with Turton’s first book, it is impossible to decide whether this element is imaginary or not. Like all good mystery novels, this one is a page turner right until the end. And has a big surprise towards the end. And ties up all the loose ends and the questions raised through the book, neatly. There are several references to the period in which the story is based but as Turton pens in an “apology” at the end, he has sacrificed some of the historical realism to befit the narrative. The absolute ending is perhaps a trifle glib and convenient. And this book is nowhere as jaw-dropping as his first book. But that does not take away from the fact that this is an extremely enjoyable book. I now can’t wait for his third book! Pros: Page-turner, satisfying and surprising denouement, well-written Cons: A trifle convenient ending perhaps

Well that was a bit of a surprise! I first became aware of this book whilst watching an episode of Sara Cox’s BBC Between The Covers. The wonderful Mr Turton gave a brief synopsis and I absentmindedly added Devil to my Goodreads list, in appreciation of an unabashed nerd. It would appear you didn’t need Big Phil to spread the word, let her be so that she may grow and nurture Little Phil... Devil is doing fine whilst she focuses on what’s important! So, Devil.... I don’t do history books. I don’t do Hornblower wind powered epics. I don’t do sailing books. It’s really rather lucky, as setting aside Devil is NONE of these. It is a bloody good story, told very well. Could the same story have worked in any other era, or setting? Probably, but 1634 on an EIC Indiaman just works. It works because it’s different, because it immerses the story in the unfamiliar whilst bashing your senses wicked. I could actually taste my own bile whilst reading about the barley broth! (I hope I never require it’s sustenance to confirm my existence!) Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson? Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings? Jessica Fletcher and, well any number of Cabot Cove residents? This book is not purely about the mystery, about the whodunnit, although I was pleased with figuring out at least 75% before the final chapters. No, this book is all about the journey you take and the characters you meet as the thread of the story is woven into such a wonderful tale. So, get a copy. Read it. Enjoy it. Well done Mr Turton, a damn fine book worthy of a pint!

recomendable

The '7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle' is one the best books I have ever read. While not being on quite the same level, 'The Devil and the Dark Water' is also a work of brilliance. If you have an imagination, and a sense of wonder, read Stuart Turton's novels!