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Dark and Lonely Water
“Dark and Lonely Water is aquatic horror at its finest .”— Gingernuts of Horror
When Samantha Ashlyn is forced to return to her home town to write an article on a series of drownings, she initially resists, finding disturbing similarities to her childhood experiences. However, once she starts looking into the assignment, she finds that things are not what they seem. An ancient evil is rising again, aided by what appears to be a centuries-old conspiracy to keep it hidden. With the help of a disgraced police diver, Sam races to stop the nightmare before more lives are lost. Not realising that her investigation has put herself and those she loves in terrible danger.
Set in Northern England, this folk horror novel is perfect for fans of strong female protagonists, dark humour, conspiracies, mythological creatures, dark fantasy, and thrillers.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.
When Samantha Ashlyn is forced to return to her home town to write an article on a series of drownings, she initially resists, finding disturbing similarities to her childhood experiences. However, once she starts looking into the assignment, she finds that things are not what they seem. An ancient evil is rising again, aided by what appears to be a centuries-old conspiracy to keep it hidden. With the help of a disgraced police diver, Sam races to stop the nightmare before more lives are lost. Not realising that her investigation has put herself and those she loves in terrible danger.
Set in Northern England, this folk horror novel is perfect for fans of strong female protagonists, dark humour, conspiracies, mythological creatures, dark fantasy, and thrillers.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.
- GenresHorror
172 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2023
15 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
Graeme Reynolds
20 books226 followersGraeme Reynolds is an exile from the North East of England, hiding out in the South West where he spends his time thinking up new ways to terrify people.
You can read more of his work on his web-site:
http://www.graemereynolds.com
You can read more of his work on his web-site:
http://www.graemereynolds.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
March 18, 2023
DARK AND LONELY WATER is a fast-paced creature-feature/folk horror/gore fest. What fun!
My free time is severely limited right now, so I'm going to leave this review brief. I love creature features and folk horror and this was a great combination of both.
I love the idea of secrets held through multiple generations with the youngest generation being non the wiser. I love to be there at that moment when all is revealed to them, and this time, that moment was a real doozy!
If you're a lover of creature features and local legends come to life, this is the book for you!
*Thank you to Crystal Lake Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
My free time is severely limited right now, so I'm going to leave this review brief. I love creature features and folk horror and this was a great combination of both.
I love the idea of secrets held through multiple generations with the youngest generation being non the wiser. I love to be there at that moment when all is revealed to them, and this time, that moment was a real doozy!
If you're a lover of creature features and local legends come to life, this is the book for you!
*Thank you to Crystal Lake Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
February 25, 2023
This was a fast easy read that was a dark mixing of folklore, creepiness, tension and was reminiscent of old creature feature movies.
Sam Ashlyn is a single mother raising two children. She works as a journalist and her latest assignment takes her back to her hometown to investigate recent drownings. But once her investigation begins, she quickly realizes that these are not typical drownings if they are drownings at all.
She joins forces with Chris, a disgraced police diver and they soon stumble across a decades old conspiracy to keep an ancient evil hidden. She and Chris hope to put an end to this nightmare before it puts an end to anyone else.
This one quickly grabbed my attention and held on to it until the very end. Speaking of the end, I'm still processing it.
This book was creepy and full of tension that ebbed and flowed throughout the book. That alone kept me on my toes, turning the pages. It also had a nice amount of dread in the last part of the book. I could feel the chilling atmosphere as I read. I enjoyed being a silent observer tagging along as Chris and Sam investigated, interviewed, and got closer to the truth.
Gripping and tense, this books packs a punch and kept me on my toes! It can easily be read in one sitting.
3.5 stars
#DarkandLonelyWater #NetGalley #GraemeReynolds
Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Sam Ashlyn is a single mother raising two children. She works as a journalist and her latest assignment takes her back to her hometown to investigate recent drownings. But once her investigation begins, she quickly realizes that these are not typical drownings if they are drownings at all.
She joins forces with Chris, a disgraced police diver and they soon stumble across a decades old conspiracy to keep an ancient evil hidden. She and Chris hope to put an end to this nightmare before it puts an end to anyone else.
This one quickly grabbed my attention and held on to it until the very end. Speaking of the end, I'm still processing it.
This book was creepy and full of tension that ebbed and flowed throughout the book. That alone kept me on my toes, turning the pages. It also had a nice amount of dread in the last part of the book. I could feel the chilling atmosphere as I read. I enjoyed being a silent observer tagging along as Chris and Sam investigated, interviewed, and got closer to the truth.
Gripping and tense, this books packs a punch and kept me on my toes! It can easily be read in one sitting.
3.5 stars
#DarkandLonelyWater #NetGalley #GraemeReynolds
Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
June 8, 2025
This was my first Graeme Reynolds book and it was fairly positive. The creatures had an awesome lore and ghastly appearance, Sam was a good lead character, and through sone twists and turns, we got a pretty darn good horror story. I did see some grammatical errors and read a lot of the other reviews slamming the author’s efforts, but none if it was as glaring as the others claimed. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but honestly, it was fine. The pacing did feel a bit off, as it was a pretty slow first half, but then it picked up like crazy towards the end. I think if there was a little less focus on the victims throughout, it would have moved things along better. The ending, however, did end on a bit of a limp note, however that may just be my personal opinion. It was a satisfying conclusion, but just not how I expected it to happen. Anyway, I enjoyed my experience here and recommend to horror nuts out there looking for something a little different.
February 23, 2023
Dark and Lonely Water is my first time reading Graeme Reynolds. What he gives us is a fast-paced novella centered on Ginny Greenteeth, the river hag from English folklore that drowns and eats the children and elderly.
Sam, a reporter at a London rag, gets an assignment to investigate mysterious disappearances near the waterfront of Preston, her hometown that she hasn’t been back to in many years. She’s not excited about returning to the place where her mother was killed and harbors horrible memories for her, but as a single mom barely making ends meet, she doesn’t have much of a choice. It doesn’t help that her relationship with her two children is rocky, at best, and she doesn’t have childcare for them while she’s on assignment. So, she packs them up, takes them with her, and heads back to her childhood home, where they stay with her estranged Uncle Marcus. Expecting the worst, she’s pleasantly surprised that her uncle’s demeanor is much more pleasant than she remembers, and he’s looking to mend their relationship. Meanwhile, her investigation goes off the rails. More people end up dying. A police diver who came face to face with a monster in the water gets suspended from the force, and the information she gathers isn’t adding up.
Reynolds delivers a fun monster romp full of razor-sharp teeth, an ancient curse, murky underwater depths, and interesting characters with realistic dialogue. Those can all be tricky to do in novella length tales. Dark and Lonely Water is solid, but could always stand a little more fleshing out. I also wasn’t a big fan of Sam’s character. A rude, abrasive personality who had a habit of abandoning her children to go out drinking with her even more obnoxious friend makes it hard to sympathize with her. The story also had present/past tense issues that seemed to flip-flop back and forth, pulling the reader out of the story. Add this to the fact that my review copy from NetGalley had many grammatical errors. It knocked it down a notch for me. If the publisher fixes those before it goes to publication, it’ll raise the level of the story immensely. All in all, a fun story. Reynolds is a talented writer. I need to check out more of his stuff.
3.5 Bloody Duckweed out of 5
Sam, a reporter at a London rag, gets an assignment to investigate mysterious disappearances near the waterfront of Preston, her hometown that she hasn’t been back to in many years. She’s not excited about returning to the place where her mother was killed and harbors horrible memories for her, but as a single mom barely making ends meet, she doesn’t have much of a choice. It doesn’t help that her relationship with her two children is rocky, at best, and she doesn’t have childcare for them while she’s on assignment. So, she packs them up, takes them with her, and heads back to her childhood home, where they stay with her estranged Uncle Marcus. Expecting the worst, she’s pleasantly surprised that her uncle’s demeanor is much more pleasant than she remembers, and he’s looking to mend their relationship. Meanwhile, her investigation goes off the rails. More people end up dying. A police diver who came face to face with a monster in the water gets suspended from the force, and the information she gathers isn’t adding up.
Reynolds delivers a fun monster romp full of razor-sharp teeth, an ancient curse, murky underwater depths, and interesting characters with realistic dialogue. Those can all be tricky to do in novella length tales. Dark and Lonely Water is solid, but could always stand a little more fleshing out. I also wasn’t a big fan of Sam’s character. A rude, abrasive personality who had a habit of abandoning her children to go out drinking with her even more obnoxious friend makes it hard to sympathize with her. The story also had present/past tense issues that seemed to flip-flop back and forth, pulling the reader out of the story. Add this to the fact that my review copy from NetGalley had many grammatical errors. It knocked it down a notch for me. If the publisher fixes those before it goes to publication, it’ll raise the level of the story immensely. All in all, a fun story. Reynolds is a talented writer. I need to check out more of his stuff.
3.5 Bloody Duckweed out of 5
March 11, 2023
First of all, my thanks to Netgalley and Crystal Lake Publishing for allowing me the pleasure of reading this book for an honest review.
I am one day short of publication, but either way, "Congratulations! on the new book!" I'm sure that publishing a book is similar to birthing a baby. A lot of turmoil and crying and screaming, and somewhere in there, hopefully, is good sex.
I really, really enjoyed reading this story. The plot zipped right along, the characters were well written, and the graphic, gory bits were appropriately graphic and gory.
What I really enjoyed was the way that the story all came together at the end in a way that I was completely not expecting. What started as a seemingly reporter/cop friend duo investigating a string of deadly water drownings turned into a centuries-old folk horror with ties going back generations. I quite loved the ending and am now officially enraptured by this new-to-me author. Well done!
P.S. Please fix the itty bitty editing issues towards the end. A clean reader's copy is always a delight!
I am one day short of publication, but either way, "Congratulations! on the new book!" I'm sure that publishing a book is similar to birthing a baby. A lot of turmoil and crying and screaming, and somewhere in there, hopefully, is good sex.
I really, really enjoyed reading this story. The plot zipped right along, the characters were well written, and the graphic, gory bits were appropriately graphic and gory.
What I really enjoyed was the way that the story all came together at the end in a way that I was completely not expecting. What started as a seemingly reporter/cop friend duo investigating a string of deadly water drownings turned into a centuries-old folk horror with ties going back generations. I quite loved the ending and am now officially enraptured by this new-to-me author. Well done!
P.S. Please fix the itty bitty editing issues towards the end. A clean reader's copy is always a delight!
January 24, 2023
I was lucky enough to grab the last ARC of this at FantasyCon last year, just in time to read during spooky season, and I’m very glad I did. It’s dark, it’s creepy, it’s gruesome and it’s gripping. You have Sam, journalist and single mother to eight-year-old twins, Julia and George, sent on assignment to investigate a spate of drownings along the north west of England that are very much not what the police are making them out to be.
One of the things that struck me was just how realistic the lives these characters live is, especially the depiction of the unglamorous, everyday reality of parenting, as well as balancing that with work (especially as a woman!).
The monster is shown right from the start and it's deliciously dark and creepy, but the author keeps you guessing until the end as to what the monster really is and when that reveal comes, it hits well and it hits hard!
As I read the arc and not the finished book I'm aware some changes have been made, which I haven't read, but I really enjoyed it even in it's unpolished form.
There are a few content warnings I feel are necessary, mostly an incident of sexual harassment, references to suicide, rape, war and paedophilia. None of which take away from the enjoyment (not sure that’s the right word for a horror book but then again, I’m weird), but I felt they needed stating as everyone's experience is different.
One of the things that struck me was just how realistic the lives these characters live is, especially the depiction of the unglamorous, everyday reality of parenting, as well as balancing that with work (especially as a woman!).
The monster is shown right from the start and it's deliciously dark and creepy, but the author keeps you guessing until the end as to what the monster really is and when that reveal comes, it hits well and it hits hard!
As I read the arc and not the finished book I'm aware some changes have been made, which I haven't read, but I really enjoyed it even in it's unpolished form.
There are a few content warnings I feel are necessary, mostly an incident of sexual harassment, references to suicide, rape, war and paedophilia. None of which take away from the enjoyment (not sure that’s the right word for a horror book but then again, I’m weird), but I felt they needed stating as everyone's experience is different.
March 13, 2023
Remember the hubub about sharks with laser beams on their heads? This story has that beat.
A woman reporter and her two kids go back to the place of her upbringing so she can write a story about drownings in the area. She finds much more than she bargains for.
A great folklore story that has gruesome mutilations and death, eerie, creepy locations, and a wonderful folklore creature, all descriptively and disgustingly written. I'm sure I held my breath though the last part of the story. Recommend for any horror fan.
A woman reporter and her two kids go back to the place of her upbringing so she can write a story about drownings in the area. She finds much more than she bargains for.
A great folklore story that has gruesome mutilations and death, eerie, creepy locations, and a wonderful folklore creature, all descriptively and disgustingly written. I'm sure I held my breath though the last part of the story. Recommend for any horror fan.
February 18, 2023
An ancient evil lurks below the water's surface and its time is coming once again.
Sam, a widowed mother of twins, is a fledgling reporter just barely managing to scrape out a living in London. Her boss wants Sam to cover a story from her home town and despite having not been back in years, she reluctantly agrees.
With twins in tow Sam quickly starts unraveling a simple drowning story into something that seems far more sinister. With the help of Chris, a suspended police diver, they race to try to figure out what's really going on.
This book is a fast read both in how the story moves along and in page count. While the characters are written well abit more time on them may have helped to flush them out more.
Overall this is a quick moving satisfying creature feature, born from a watery grave.
Review copy provided by NetGalley.
Sam, a widowed mother of twins, is a fledgling reporter just barely managing to scrape out a living in London. Her boss wants Sam to cover a story from her home town and despite having not been back in years, she reluctantly agrees.
With twins in tow Sam quickly starts unraveling a simple drowning story into something that seems far more sinister. With the help of Chris, a suspended police diver, they race to try to figure out what's really going on.
This book is a fast read both in how the story moves along and in page count. While the characters are written well abit more time on them may have helped to flush them out more.
Overall this is a quick moving satisfying creature feature, born from a watery grave.
Review copy provided by NetGalley.
March 22, 2024
Compelling cheapo horror novel set in Scotland about a journalist mother who must take her two children to live with an estranged relative while she investigates a pattern of missing persons surrounding the local river. Feminist conspiracies and fish monster mayhem ensue. It’s pretty short, VERY Scottish, and despite not really having a third act, ties up the themes reasonably well. It’s a solid paranoid mother pulp fish monster book that you can read in just a few hours.
May 10, 2023
Having read the High Moor books, I knew Graeme's writing would be high quality in this one too, and I wasn't wrong.
I would class this as a creature feature/folk horror. There were some genuinely creepy moments, especially towards the end as the story begins to unravel. I loved the lore behind it, and it will have me eyeing bodies of water with slight suspicion from now on.
Alongside the excellent creature part of the story is the realistic characters. You really feel for Sam as a single parent trying to juggle a career and looking after two kids. Chris too, as he reels from his experience in the water, and lack of support from colleagues and friends.
One thing that slightly annoyed me was two characters having the same surname and the context it provided to the reader- I'm surprised Sam and Chris never twigged earlier. I can't go into too much detail as it enters spoiler territory but you'll know when you read it.
Overall though, it was a superb piece of horror that had me engrossed throughout.
I would class this as a creature feature/folk horror. There were some genuinely creepy moments, especially towards the end as the story begins to unravel. I loved the lore behind it, and it will have me eyeing bodies of water with slight suspicion from now on.
Alongside the excellent creature part of the story is the realistic characters. You really feel for Sam as a single parent trying to juggle a career and looking after two kids. Chris too, as he reels from his experience in the water, and lack of support from colleagues and friends.
One thing that slightly annoyed me was two characters having the same surname and the context it provided to the reader- I'm surprised Sam and Chris never twigged earlier. I can't go into too much detail as it enters spoiler territory but you'll know when you read it.
Overall though, it was a superb piece of horror that had me engrossed throughout.
March 30, 2023
A fantastic scary read but I'd expect no less from Graeme Reynolds.
Read this book!
Read this book!
May 25, 2025
Now you know I love a good small town folk horror and this one is no exception. As the tone is set instantly from Chapter one with this underwater tale, almost reminiscent of Stephen King's IT in the way it plays out. The next chapter follows on with the search for Brendan Simms. Police are out in full force in their rescue mission however one police diver, (UCSST) officer. Gets more than he bargained for as he almost drowns claiming something tried to eat him. Needless to say, before chapter two even starts I'm already hooked. A mix of intrigue and fascination, mainly because I always wondered about the side of work involved with search and rescue. But my curiosity is the unknown, that mystery that keeps the reader guessing. Which Graeme does a great job with throughout the story.
Then we meet Sam, who has her own form of trauma stemming back to her home town which is no other than. You guessed it, Preston Fisher gate. Needless to say, when her work brings her back to her old stomping grounds she is less than thrilled. But it was lovely to see her reconnect with her Uncle Marcus. I loved the way Graeme did the dialect change for Marcus as well. In my head I had an image of a proper Yorkshire man, talking to Sam's kids George and Julia. I'm not ashamed to admit that I welled up in some parts. Just the wholesome relationship between Sam and her surrogate father reconnecting was seamless and beautifully written. As we get more context on how both characters reconnect with their past and come to terms with how the grief of the past tragedy affected them.
However the longer Sam spends in Preston though the clearer it becomes that something is very wrong.
That is when Sam crosses paths with Chris, our UCSST officer. Things haven't gone well for him since almost getting nommed. So when Sam enlightens him that his trauma wasn't because of alcohol or oxygen deprivation. Turns out there is a lot of corruption, just like in Jaws everyone is so focused on keeping tourism alive. They do everything they can to cover up the truth, as we get a folktale that has La Llorona/killer mermaid vibes. As Sam continues to uncover the truth and Chris comes along for the journey. This gripping read has me on the edge of my seat. I was completely invested in the back and forth between Chris and Sam. To be honest I was invested in the fates of all those unlucky enough to live near the water's edge. But if you are looking for a happy ending or more wholesome content, it is short lived. As we enter the final chapters of the book all becomes shockingly clear to Sam.
Entering into a Descent meets Dagon style showdown. Graeme makes this story a folk horror that you will find so hard to forget.
Then we meet Sam, who has her own form of trauma stemming back to her home town which is no other than. You guessed it, Preston Fisher gate. Needless to say, when her work brings her back to her old stomping grounds she is less than thrilled. But it was lovely to see her reconnect with her Uncle Marcus. I loved the way Graeme did the dialect change for Marcus as well. In my head I had an image of a proper Yorkshire man, talking to Sam's kids George and Julia. I'm not ashamed to admit that I welled up in some parts. Just the wholesome relationship between Sam and her surrogate father reconnecting was seamless and beautifully written. As we get more context on how both characters reconnect with their past and come to terms with how the grief of the past tragedy affected them.
However the longer Sam spends in Preston though the clearer it becomes that something is very wrong.
That is when Sam crosses paths with Chris, our UCSST officer. Things haven't gone well for him since almost getting nommed. So when Sam enlightens him that his trauma wasn't because of alcohol or oxygen deprivation. Turns out there is a lot of corruption, just like in Jaws everyone is so focused on keeping tourism alive. They do everything they can to cover up the truth, as we get a folktale that has La Llorona/killer mermaid vibes. As Sam continues to uncover the truth and Chris comes along for the journey. This gripping read has me on the edge of my seat. I was completely invested in the back and forth between Chris and Sam. To be honest I was invested in the fates of all those unlucky enough to live near the water's edge. But if you are looking for a happy ending or more wholesome content, it is short lived. As we enter the final chapters of the book all becomes shockingly clear to Sam.
Entering into a Descent meets Dagon style showdown. Graeme makes this story a folk horror that you will find so hard to forget.
February 19, 2023
I mean... I don't even know what to say. What an ending!
While Dark and Lonely Water started out rather slow and took its time picking up speed, it eventually ended up being a very atmospheric, eerie little horror book for me.
Using a figure from actually existing English folklore (yep, I asked Google), Reynolds created a creepy story of a single mother-slash-reporter who's sent back to her home town in order to investigate a series of water-related murders.
There was enough character development to make me feel and root for the protagonists, a good amount of very graphic gore, and, thankfully, a lack of info-dumping on the myth surrounding the creature. I really liked this, though I'm still a little shook by the very surprising ending.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2023
Dark and Lonely Water by Graeme Reynolds checks off all the boxes of what I like in a horror novel. It's a quick read with great creatures and just enough twists to keep you guessing.
What starts out as a rather simple assignment for Sam, a London journalist, becomes a homecoming where she is forced to tackle her past in her old home town.
As she digs deeper into the story of multiple drownings spanning years, she uncovers the local legend of Jenny Greenteeth, a water creature that might actually be more than just a myth.
The story moves along at a great clip and contains some pretty gruesome scenes. I really got a kick out of this one and can't recommend it enough.
What starts out as a rather simple assignment for Sam, a London journalist, becomes a homecoming where she is forced to tackle her past in her old home town.
As she digs deeper into the story of multiple drownings spanning years, she uncovers the local legend of Jenny Greenteeth, a water creature that might actually be more than just a myth.
The story moves along at a great clip and contains some pretty gruesome scenes. I really got a kick out of this one and can't recommend it enough.
April 21, 2023
A combination of a mystery and folktale. This story was interesting, and I loved the descriptions of the land and waterways.
I thought it was pretty interesting having a police diver as a main character, I haven’t seen any featured in a book before. Chris was definitely a decent character. Sam was so-so, I had a love/hate relationship with her and her children. Marcus…. Downright despised him.
The creature was horrifying and finding out the backstory was shocking. The ending was also a shock and I was a bit disappointed, I was hoping for the bad guys to get decimated.
This was a story where all the pieces of the puzzle worked well together, and the pages flew by as I was so immersed.
Thank you to the author for a copy to read & review!
I thought it was pretty interesting having a police diver as a main character, I haven’t seen any featured in a book before. Chris was definitely a decent character. Sam was so-so, I had a love/hate relationship with her and her children. Marcus…. Downright despised him.
The creature was horrifying and finding out the backstory was shocking. The ending was also a shock and I was a bit disappointed, I was hoping for the bad guys to get decimated.
This was a story where all the pieces of the puzzle worked well together, and the pages flew by as I was so immersed.
Thank you to the author for a copy to read & review!
February 14, 2023
Reporter and single mother Samantha is sent to her hometown to write an article on a series of mysterious drownings. She and disgraced policeman, Chris, investigate and discover that an ancient evil has returned. A thrilling read with an unexpected ending.
March 4, 2023
I really love folk horror. There is something about reading a book about any legend or myth that has some truth to it that always draws me in. I was reading right a long hoping things would go good for Sam and Chris when the unthinkable happens. I was not ready for the ending of this story but what an ending it was!
February 12, 2023
The combination of quality characters with a creature feature is so nice. I greatly enjoyed Chris and Sam, and I loved Uncle Marcus. Oh, Uncle Marcus… The monster was excellent as well. At around 200 pages, it was the perfect length for a fast paced thrill ride while leaving space for character development. I have now added another author to my must read list. Bravo! Also, thank you to Crystal Lake Publishing for allowing me to read the book prior to its general release. This was such a fun read.
February 28, 2023
3.25 stars
***Publisher/Editor note: on p58/165 there is a typo in the sentence "She's not religious is any meaningful way..." and on 152/165 there is another typo in the sentence "he a chance, one chance to end this nightmare"***
Publication Date: March 10, 2023
**ARC given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
#DarkandLonelyWater #NetGalley
Basics
genre: horror, fantasy, gore
setting: Preston & London, England
theme: female sorrow & hunger
Characters
Sam (fMC): journalist investigated a string of presumed drownings, widowed mom of twins
Marcus: Sam's uncle who raised her and lets her and her twins stay with him while she investigates
Chris: a member of the Lancashire Police dive unit
Pros
+ creature feature
+ LGBT rep: m/m, gay
+ police diving (cool to see the process, unfortunate that they must often find corpses)
+ Chekov's pond
+ the body count just keeps climbing
+ underdog investigative duo
+ when someone who was emotionally distant in the past is suddenly emotionally better in the present, it always sets my alarms ringing... are they manipulating? Is this a body snatcher?... this time it was... therapy! My jaded, cynical ass... wait! The best friend thinks it's false too! OoooOooh!
+ love when an above-board investigation just goes completely off the rails
+ THAT'S HOW YOU WRITE AN ENDING!!!
Neutral
/ man arghhh!!!! The end was phenomenal BUT the journey there was lacklustre (not enough main character work, too much description elsewhere, lack of upped tension except in the last third). Most books struggle at the end, but this one struggled with the beginning and middle.
Cons
- inattentive parenting is not my favorite thing... when your kids ask you to be around more and sleep in hungover less the answer isn't to go out drinking
- too much description, especially for one-time side characters
- I'm having a hard time connecting to any of the characters & I'm not invested in their survival.
Comp Recs
+ Into the Drowning Deep - Mira Grant
TW: death of a parent (past), drowning, rape (past), physical assault, kidnapping, gore
***Publisher/Editor note: on p58/165 there is a typo in the sentence "She's not religious is any meaningful way..." and on 152/165 there is another typo in the sentence "he a chance, one chance to end this nightmare"***
Publication Date: March 10, 2023
**ARC given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
#DarkandLonelyWater #NetGalley
Basics
genre: horror, fantasy, gore
setting: Preston & London, England
theme: female sorrow & hunger
Characters
Sam (fMC): journalist investigated a string of presumed drownings, widowed mom of twins
Marcus: Sam's uncle who raised her and lets her and her twins stay with him while she investigates
Chris: a member of the Lancashire Police dive unit
Pros
+ creature feature
+ LGBT rep: m/m, gay
+ police diving (cool to see the process, unfortunate that they must often find corpses)
+ Chekov's pond
+ the body count just keeps climbing
+ underdog investigative duo
+ when someone who was emotionally distant in the past is suddenly emotionally better in the present, it always sets my alarms ringing... are they manipulating? Is this a body snatcher?... this time it was... therapy! My jaded, cynical ass... wait! The best friend thinks it's false too! OoooOooh!
+ love when an above-board investigation just goes completely off the rails
+ THAT'S HOW YOU WRITE AN ENDING!!!
Neutral
/ man arghhh!!!! The end was phenomenal BUT the journey there was lacklustre (not enough main character work, too much description elsewhere, lack of upped tension except in the last third). Most books struggle at the end, but this one struggled with the beginning and middle.
Cons
- inattentive parenting is not my favorite thing... when your kids ask you to be around more and sleep in hungover less the answer isn't to go out drinking
- too much description, especially for one-time side characters
- I'm having a hard time connecting to any of the characters & I'm not invested in their survival.
Comp Recs
+ Into the Drowning Deep - Mira Grant
TW: death of a parent (past), drowning, rape (past), physical assault, kidnapping, gore
March 8, 2023
#netgalley
A short, dark story, with interesting-sounding genre blends (from B-grade sea monster horror to southern gothic to cult horror with folk mythology), but these genres don't have the space to weave together and make something coherent. The characters are also created in truncated archetypes, sometimes to such levels that it's impossible to take seriously what's going on on the page. (I'm sorry, but I can't forgive the one small detail that a seasoned journalist wouldn't notice the coincidence of the names of the menacing sergeant and the well-meaning mythology-savvy man.) In addition, there are a few misspellings, nothing too jarring, but a little distracting.
It's adequate for afternoon relaxing reading on a lakeside, but the next day I won't even remember I ever had it in my hands.
A short, dark story, with interesting-sounding genre blends (from B-grade sea monster horror to southern gothic to cult horror with folk mythology), but these genres don't have the space to weave together and make something coherent. The characters are also created in truncated archetypes, sometimes to such levels that it's impossible to take seriously what's going on on the page. (I'm sorry, but I can't forgive the one small detail that a seasoned journalist wouldn't notice the coincidence of the names of the menacing sergeant and the well-meaning mythology-savvy man.) In addition, there are a few misspellings, nothing too jarring, but a little distracting.
It's adequate for afternoon relaxing reading on a lakeside, but the next day I won't even remember I ever had it in my hands.
March 10, 2023
My review of Dark And Lonely Waters: by Graeme Reynolds, in lieu of being published on Kendall Reviews.
"Full disclosure, I've been aware of Graeme Reynolds since I first stepped into the publishing industry. At the time, his Horrific Tales publishing house was establishing a reputation through Reynolds' own High Moor novel, along with other high quality releases from Terry Grimwood, Thana Niveau, Chantal Noordeloos and Kenneth Goldman. The press' increasing reputation for quality and ethics did come at a price, as Reynolds sacrificed his own writing output for the good of the press. Its been a little while since he released a new title, but he is making a change to that.
Dark And Lonely Waters is a novella to be released through another highly respected press: Crystal Lake Publishing. This is another press with a reputation for quality work, and so I had to jump all over this one.
Initially, I entered the first couple of pages with dread and trepidation. It is written in present tense, which I often find pretty difficult to become absorbed in. Not so with this one. Reynolds has created a narrative which rattles along at pace, folding you into the story with an immediacy and urgency that only the very best writers truly master.
The story itself is a simple one. Sam Ashlyn is a single mother and journalist for a small news website. Her husband died in a car wreck, and she has lived alone with her twin children ever since. She is helped out by a cold, haughty mother-in-law, and her vivacious university friend. She is asked to go to Preston to investigate a spate of disappearances, her editor urging her to stay with her uncle, who raised her following the demise of her own mother. Sam is reticent, knowing her uncle to be a cold and surly man. Instead, her editor arranges a room and she makes the trip north. Once she reaches the place, she finds a fleapit which she refuses to stay in. She is, after all, forced to return to the home she was brought up in.
The investigation begins, as she soon finds there is more to the disappearances than first appears. The missing people are found dead, apparently drowned. When Sam meets with thee victims' families however, the truth is far more horrifying. On each of the bodies are horrible mutilations, signs of being mauled. Here, she is told of an old folk tale: Jinny Greenteeth. As Sam digs deeper, she uncovers a conspiracy to silence the news, and so she becomes embroiled in the mystery herself.
Graeme Reynolds is back, and he has presented us with a lovely little story here. He clearly knows the area in the story well, and puts us in the setting very nicely. This tale has a down home feeling, with an undercurrent of threat throughout. The main characters are relatable, if not always likeable. The story is eerily believable, and quintessentially English. The cops, when they appear, have the feeling of 70's TV show characters from shows like The Sweeney. Seriously, this book is a lot of fun. The only real criticism I can find is that this story isn't just a little longer.
So, props to Mister Reynolds for this one. You done a good one."
Paul Flewitt on Kendall Reviews
2023
"Full disclosure, I've been aware of Graeme Reynolds since I first stepped into the publishing industry. At the time, his Horrific Tales publishing house was establishing a reputation through Reynolds' own High Moor novel, along with other high quality releases from Terry Grimwood, Thana Niveau, Chantal Noordeloos and Kenneth Goldman. The press' increasing reputation for quality and ethics did come at a price, as Reynolds sacrificed his own writing output for the good of the press. Its been a little while since he released a new title, but he is making a change to that.
Dark And Lonely Waters is a novella to be released through another highly respected press: Crystal Lake Publishing. This is another press with a reputation for quality work, and so I had to jump all over this one.
Initially, I entered the first couple of pages with dread and trepidation. It is written in present tense, which I often find pretty difficult to become absorbed in. Not so with this one. Reynolds has created a narrative which rattles along at pace, folding you into the story with an immediacy and urgency that only the very best writers truly master.
The story itself is a simple one. Sam Ashlyn is a single mother and journalist for a small news website. Her husband died in a car wreck, and she has lived alone with her twin children ever since. She is helped out by a cold, haughty mother-in-law, and her vivacious university friend. She is asked to go to Preston to investigate a spate of disappearances, her editor urging her to stay with her uncle, who raised her following the demise of her own mother. Sam is reticent, knowing her uncle to be a cold and surly man. Instead, her editor arranges a room and she makes the trip north. Once she reaches the place, she finds a fleapit which she refuses to stay in. She is, after all, forced to return to the home she was brought up in.
The investigation begins, as she soon finds there is more to the disappearances than first appears. The missing people are found dead, apparently drowned. When Sam meets with thee victims' families however, the truth is far more horrifying. On each of the bodies are horrible mutilations, signs of being mauled. Here, she is told of an old folk tale: Jinny Greenteeth. As Sam digs deeper, she uncovers a conspiracy to silence the news, and so she becomes embroiled in the mystery herself.
Graeme Reynolds is back, and he has presented us with a lovely little story here. He clearly knows the area in the story well, and puts us in the setting very nicely. This tale has a down home feeling, with an undercurrent of threat throughout. The main characters are relatable, if not always likeable. The story is eerily believable, and quintessentially English. The cops, when they appear, have the feeling of 70's TV show characters from shows like The Sweeney. Seriously, this book is a lot of fun. The only real criticism I can find is that this story isn't just a little longer.
So, props to Mister Reynolds for this one. You done a good one."
Paul Flewitt on Kendall Reviews
2023
February 7, 2023
Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water…but wait, did you ever really think that? The water has all sorts of terrifying things in it, hiding expectantly, ready to shred. Well, that and Aquaman.
And so, using uniquely British folklore, this story makes you think twice about water. What’s there? So hungry, so ready to devour.
One intrepid journalist is determined to find out. The recent events collide with her traumatic childhood experience in a way she can’t let go off. And so she goes back to her small town and sets off to uncover the truth behind all these people being dragged down into their watery graves.
This was my first time reading Reynolds, and the first impression is solid. The man knows how to tell an exciting well-paced tale. I liked the backstory, the descriptions, the writing style.
On the flip side, I wished the narrative was done in the past tense, for some reason the present tense for this particular story didn’t quite work for me. Didn’t like the ending much. And, most importantly, didn’t much like the protagonist, Sam. Specifically, I found her obnoxious, rude, and annoying. Don’t know how she got anywhere as a journalist. Just a sort of off-putting lead for a book. But overall, it worked well enough, and was a pleasantly quick read and a very decent introduction to the author. Thanks Netgalley.
And so, using uniquely British folklore, this story makes you think twice about water. What’s there? So hungry, so ready to devour.
One intrepid journalist is determined to find out. The recent events collide with her traumatic childhood experience in a way she can’t let go off. And so she goes back to her small town and sets off to uncover the truth behind all these people being dragged down into their watery graves.
This was my first time reading Reynolds, and the first impression is solid. The man knows how to tell an exciting well-paced tale. I liked the backstory, the descriptions, the writing style.
On the flip side, I wished the narrative was done in the past tense, for some reason the present tense for this particular story didn’t quite work for me. Didn’t like the ending much. And, most importantly, didn’t much like the protagonist, Sam. Specifically, I found her obnoxious, rude, and annoying. Don’t know how she got anywhere as a journalist. Just a sort of off-putting lead for a book. But overall, it worked well enough, and was a pleasantly quick read and a very decent introduction to the author. Thanks Netgalley.
February 8, 2023
Awesome horror/thriller short!! I stumbled upon this on Netgalley and decided to go in blind and it preceded my expectations by a huge margin! The story dives into the action quite quickly and continues to build upon it, while also building upon the characters. The writing flows, the dialogue feels so natural and the character development in so few pages is astonishing! I genuinely felt more for some of the people in this novella than I have for protagonists in 600+ word full length door-stop books.
There's thrills and chills, a little bit of mystery and a nice bit of folklore thrown in for good measure. I'll be keeping an eye out for future works of Graeme Reynold's for sure! Highly, highly recommend this one. If you enjoy horror then do yourself a favour and read this story. Huge thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
There's thrills and chills, a little bit of mystery and a nice bit of folklore thrown in for good measure. I'll be keeping an eye out for future works of Graeme Reynold's for sure! Highly, highly recommend this one. If you enjoy horror then do yourself a favour and read this story. Huge thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
March 11, 2023
Sam is trying desperately to make ends meet having to raise two children on her own.
She has also faced tragedy with her mom dying at the childhood farms' pond.
The last place Sam ever wants to go back to is that farm, however she is a journalist that has been given a story to look into. As she interviews the family members of different drowning victims she begins to wonder about her nightmares of her mother's death so long ago.
Will this story give her the closer she actually needs or has she stumbled upon something as old as time?
Great Legend that reminded me of the Grimm tales, before Disney got a hold of them, only more modern.
Enjoy how this author writes and looking forward to more!!
Got this as an ARC but my review is my own.
She has also faced tragedy with her mom dying at the childhood farms' pond.
The last place Sam ever wants to go back to is that farm, however she is a journalist that has been given a story to look into. As she interviews the family members of different drowning victims she begins to wonder about her nightmares of her mother's death so long ago.
Will this story give her the closer she actually needs or has she stumbled upon something as old as time?
Great Legend that reminded me of the Grimm tales, before Disney got a hold of them, only more modern.
Enjoy how this author writes and looking forward to more!!
Got this as an ARC but my review is my own.
February 15, 2023
Found this book thanks to NetGalley and honestly I'm glad I did.
It was such an interesting take on the phrase 'just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water'.. the story follows Sam as she tries to uncover the truth about murders and disappearances. With twist and turns along the way up until the last page.
As much as I wish the ending was different - I'm happy with the ending because it was unexpected to end the way it did.
It was such an interesting take on the phrase 'just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water'.. the story follows Sam as she tries to uncover the truth about murders and disappearances. With twist and turns along the way up until the last page.
As much as I wish the ending was different - I'm happy with the ending because it was unexpected to end the way it did.
June 24, 2023
I was gifted a copy of this book for an honest review. This is my first book by Graeme Reynolds, and I really enjoyed it. Our main character returns home for her job to cover a drowning story. Due to unforseen circumstances, she reunites with her estranged Uncle, who raised her after the death of her mother. As she digs further into the drowning, there seems to be something more sinister going on, and she is determined to find out what that is. It's definitely worth the time, especially if you are looking for a creature feature read!
February 12, 2023
Mr Reynolds does it again!
diverting from his previous werewolf novels (which SHOULD be read!) this delves into the murky, watery shudder inducing world of human munching monsters.
Fast paced, with interesting characters that evolve well - my only little moan is the tense of the narration, not my favourite and i think limits the author in expansion of ideas etc
My imagination ran wild with the "monster" description, even my nose got a whiff!
Would definitely love to see a pre or sequel to this story line!!
diverting from his previous werewolf novels (which SHOULD be read!) this delves into the murky, watery shudder inducing world of human munching monsters.
Fast paced, with interesting characters that evolve well - my only little moan is the tense of the narration, not my favourite and i think limits the author in expansion of ideas etc
My imagination ran wild with the "monster" description, even my nose got a whiff!
Would definitely love to see a pre or sequel to this story line!!
May 15, 2024
I absolutely loved this fantastically written, creepy water horror novel! Graeme has the skill of sucking you in to his stories and keeping you gripped so that you are unable to put them down. I devoured chapter after chapter. Seemed rather fitting what with this she-monsters insatiable appetite!
I had been searching for the perfect book involving a water monster and safe to say, I found it! I loved the characters, rooting for them the whole way through. It was unpredictable and shocking. The ending left me picking up my jaw from the floor. I can't recommend this enough! Check it out 🖤
I had been searching for the perfect book involving a water monster and safe to say, I found it! I loved the characters, rooting for them the whole way through. It was unpredictable and shocking. The ending left me picking up my jaw from the floor. I can't recommend this enough! Check it out 🖤
Read
June 26, 2023This was a lot of fun. I liked the characters and the flow of the story. An enjoyable creature feature that kept me invested.
The audiobook narrator’s voice was a great fit.
The audiobook narrator’s voice was a great fit.
April 25, 2023
I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher
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