From the Bookshelf of Nothing But Reading Challenges…

Into the Water

Paula Hawkins

Start date: August 2, 2018

Finish date: August 31, 2018

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What Members Thought

May 20, 2017 Krissy rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: pgs-300-399, audiobook

There were way too many POVs. Add that to the time jumps from past to present I was lost a lot of the time. By the halfway point I was just ready for it to hurry up and be over.

13 likes · Like · see review

May 18, 2017 Anne OK rated it liked it

Shelves: 2017-reads

After her gangbuster release with The Girl on the Train (GOTT), Paula Hawkins is back again delivering her second riveting psychological suspense. But hang on a minute! All that hype that tries to convince you that “if you liked GOTT, then you’re sure to love Into the Water (ITW),” just doesn't ring true in my opinion. There are many differences. Most notable is the overload of some ten or more points of view. A few of them just seemed unnecessary – even foolish filler. As far as I was concerned After her gangbuster release with The Girl on the Train (GOTT), Paula Hawkins is back again delivering her second riveting psychological suspense. But hang on a minute! All that hype that tries to convince you that “if you liked GOTT, then you’re sure to love Into the Water (ITW),” just doesn't ring true in my opinion. There are many differences. Most notable is the overload of some ten or more points of view. A few of them just seemed unnecessary – even foolish filler. As far as I was concerned, they added no real value to the story, except for being an annoyance and maybe pitching the intrigue without ever finding a fit. If you thought Rachel and the cast in GOTT were bad, you’ll be in for a whole other kettle of fish with this demented, despicable and smelly gathering. They are truly a messed-up bunch with no hope for redemption. When all was said and done, the main difference I found was in the mystery itself. It just didn’t pack the punch or carry the same heightened sense of suspense or psychological thrill as its predecessor.

No spoilers here. I definitely believe that some readers will find this equal to, or better than, GOTT. I’m not willing to ruin another’s experience by blabbing the goods. While I realize I’m being vague and less than forthcoming on story details, I’m willing to admit that I found the idea of the Drowning Pond and the multiple deaths it produced through the years intriguing, and ITW to be a complex thriller where the plotting is quite sinister. Set in the British Isles, with carefully drawn characters who are deeply flawed, along with a huge dose of crazy and creepy. On a more positive note, the author plays her cards close to the vest that keeps the intrigue flowing. She doesn’t solve this mystery until almost the last page and though it wasn’t what I was expecting, it didn’t send me rocketing into fits of amazement either.

The author’s writing is still phenomenal, the vivid wording and descriptive language are both meticulous in creating a scene or mood, and her talent is apparent. But the mysterious wow factor fizzled, and I was left unmoved by a ho-hum ending. While I couldn’t step away from GOTT, the opposite is true for ITW because I could hardly stay with it for more than a couple hours at a time.

By the time I reached the end, I found myself straddling the center of the rating chart. Wasn’t blown away by its greatness, but I didn’t throw things at the wall or shout obscenities in disgust. For me, it was a hard book to maneuver. No chance for a re-read by this girl. If you’re expecting another thrill ride like that found in GOTT, you might be sadly disappointed. ...more

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