Henry Weaver is missing
Three months ago, thirteen-year-old Henry disappeared from The Shallows during a violet storm, leaving behind his muddy mountain bike at the train station.
Mason Weaver is trapped
While Mason doesn’t know who he is or what he’s capable of, he knows the one thing binding him to this suffocating small town is his younger brother, Henry.
Chloe Baxter wants answers
Why would Henry run away without telling her? One of Chloe’s friends knows something and she’s determined to find out the truth.
As Chloe wades into dangerous waters and Mason’s past emerges, a chilling question ripples to the surface … How far would you go to keep a secret?
Deep Water is a thrilling and heart-wrenching crime novel by Sarah Epstein. Sarah had a phenomenal debut in Small Spaces, and her sophomore novel more than holds its own.
Deep Water is a contemporary thriller set in the small town of The Shallows, a community that is struggling to find its own feet again after being ravaged by a storm. With Henry Weaver on the verge of being categorised as a long-term missing person, Chloe Baxter takes it upon herself to find out what happened.
Deep Water is primarily told from the perspective of two characters – Chloe and Mason. By having Chloe’s narration told in first person, the reader is privy to her inner most thoughts but also restricted by her biases. Chloe is constantly aware, and is often made aware, of her controlling nature. Her sense of urgency and justice both spurs and stirs those around her.
Mason Weavers viewpoint is shared in third person. Third person narration gives the reader just enough insight into his struggles, while also maintaining a level of distance that fuels the tension of the novel and constantly prompts the reader to share Chloe’s apprehension – how well does anyone really know Mason Weaver? Third person narration also echoes Mason Weavers struggles, as Mason tries to compartmentalise his own feelings and trauma.
Alternating between the two viewpoints fuels the suspense, as just when you think you’re settling into the rhythm of someone’s thought processes, the perspective changes and causes you to question the reliability of what came before.
With an array of fallible characters who are all trying to find their way through collective trauma, Deep Water explores themes of inter-generational trauma and the ever-changing friendship and family dynamics.
Suspenseful and heart-wrenching, Deep Water is a captivating read.
Liz McShane 