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Dark Water
Psychological drama, Thriller
Nightingale Editions
October 3rd 2016
Kindle
224
Provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Friendship doesn't die, it waits...
A haunting and lyrical novel, Dark Water is a psychologically intense portrait of adolescent yearning and obsession.
When Helena returns to her childhood home in Orkney, she is forced to face memories that she has spent half a lifetime running from. Her best friend, the charismatic Anastasia, disappeared after a swimming incident. But what really happened that night by the wrecks?
What happens when you have to come back to something you’ve run away from your entire life?
Helena has everything. Perfect job in the big city, perfect life. But one phone call changes everything. And she has to come home, in the small place of Orkney. Orkney is her birthplace, her hometown, the place where her mother died, where her father lives. But it is also the place where her best friend disappeared. And the memories are all coming back now.
She has no memory without Anastasia. Anastasia is everywhere, in every house, at every party, in every room of her house. Her childhood best friend, her “sister”, her everything. Her braver “me”. Because Anastasia is all that, the girl who is everything but shy, brave and full of energy. The girl who has the courage to do things that other kids don’t do. The girl who draws attention even after she is not there anymore.
One day the two girls go swimming together, but only Helena comes back on the shore. Anastasia’s disappearance becomes a mystery, her body never appears. The funeral is symbolic, and then the rumours and doubts start spreading among the Orkney people. Is Helena a murderer?
The story goes back in the past when all started and then continues in present. Dark times are all over Orkney. Helena’s memories are coming out. But should they come out or stay in the past? People are not same since then. People are changed, but they continue with their lives. But can Helena continue with her own life?
Not until she finds out what really happened to Anastasia.
Dark and poignant story surrounded by mystery. That is how I can describe this book in one sentence. Very well written, hard to believe it is a debut. Complex and dark characters, mysterious people, secrets everywhere. A story full of drama and mystery. A plot placed in a haunting place on the shore, with a character full of grieve. Great debut story! I’ll definitely be in the search of next books from this author in future.