I was blown away by this book! I had the mystery partially right but was still blown away by the conclusion. It's creepy and mysterious, all tied up in a bow. You think you'll have it all figured out but you are completely wrong! From beginning to end, this will have you on the edge of your seat. It also examines how fear and paranoia can be created so easily, with the simple use of misdirection and power of suggestion. I was really blown away!

Thrilling page turner filled with flawed yet relatable characters, great imagery, unique setting (a boat) and enough twists and turns to make a balloon sculpture. Enough historical detail to make it believable without the need to google facts. Felt slightly dissatisfied by the ending.....no spoilers here, but hope it was a set up for future installments.

I absolutely loved this book! In fact, at this point in time, it is my favorite read of 2020. The plot was well constructed and the characters were rich and multifaceted. I loved the mystery element, it was complex but dropped many clues along the way and came to a logical conclusion. I ended up loving the setting; a Dutch merchant ship sailing from Batavia during the 1600s. The author really captured what it must have been like sailing on one of those ships during that time; hot, grimy, and dangerous.

But what really made the book for me was the focus on the dangerous consequences of superstition and the fear that erupts from it. The whole question regarding whether there really is a devil onboard the ship, or if the real devils are the corrupt, greedy people, was captivating. I loved the whole backstory involving witchfinders ruining prominent Dutch families and how that figures into the mysterious events on the ship.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves intelligent historical fiction and complex mysteries.

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton combines the macabre with the mind-bending in this intricate historical detective novel. Having loved The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, I opened the pages a mixture of excitement and trepidation, but immediately knew that Turton was going to work his sorcery again. Although the plot isn't as complicated as Evelyn Hardcastle, the characters are more fully-realised, particularly the female lead, Sara Wessel. Set on a cursed merchant ship sailing from Indonesia to Amsterdam, the story tacks and jibes without losing any its sinister appeal. Witchcraft, demons, shadowy trading companies and cutthroats stalk the narrative and the clever twists kept me bound to the pages.

Readers who love elements of fantasy and mysticism mixed in with well-planned mysteries won’t have to settle when picking up Turton’s latest.

Set in the 1600s, The Devil and the Dark Water opens with a fantastic image: The Saardam, a passenger ship with valuable cargo, is about to set sail when a tongueless leper utters a warning to all who board. The message delivered, he bursts into flames and perishes on the spot.

What ensues is a voyage darkened by greed, misfortune, and revenge. As mysterious events begin to threaten the lives of all onboard, it’s up to Arent Hayes and his unlikely companions to investigate crewmen and nobility alike, entertaining the possibility that one of them may be host to a demonic spirit.

First off, I have to say that having read The 7 ½ Lives of Evelyn Hardcastle provided an excellent primer for what to expect in terms of the style and execution in Turton’s sophomore work. Like its predecessor, The Devil and the Dark Water is a high-stakes mystery that cuts through class boundaries leaving no one above suspicion. Bubbling beneath the looming threat of death aboard the Saardam the novel teases out the interior lives of its passengers, their haunted pasts, and their wicked desires. Among them, a ship captain who chases riches; a servant who aspires to gain the hand of a beautiful courtesan; and a woman who pursues freedom above all else. They say that anything can be achieved by striking a bargain with Old Tom, but are they willing to pay the price?

The Devil and the Dark Water marks a fantastic second entry into Turton’s building canon. By no means your run-of-the-mill detective story, this high seas adventure is a fully stocked arsenal of twists and turns that will have you hooked from start to end.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for this fantastic read!

With The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, Stuart Turton proved his skill at plotting a unique mystery with many moving pieces. Now, with The Devil and the Dark Water, readers unlock several mysteries, while being immersed in an adventure in which dark spirits seem to be at work on the high seas. Right away, the characters of Sara Wessel and Arent Hayes capture readers’ hearts as they come to the aid of a tongueless leper who is miraculously able to speak and spontaneously combust while spreading a message of fear, of a devil called Dark Tom. Concerned by this warning, Sara attempts to convince her husband, Governor General Jan Haan, to delay embarking on The Saardam, a ship leaving this village of Batavia to deliver valuable cargo to Amsterdam, but he will not be persuaded. On this same ship, Arent accompanies his investigative partner, Sammy Pipps, who is being transported to his execution for reasons unknown. Although Arent is used to playing Watson to Pipps’ Holmes, he must join forces with others to investigate while Pipps is imprisoned below deck. While sinister forces seem to be behind strange happenings on the ship, the situation spirals in unexpected ways, with many surprises. The mystery of what forces are behind this, and why, proves to be a satisfying one. An added bonus to the mystery is a view of the hierarchy and intricacies of how people work together to sail a ship. All of these combine to create an extremely satisfying escape read.

This book was a rare treat. Turton sets his second novel on board a Dutch East India ship bound for Amsterdam from present-day Jakarta. As the story opens, we meet all of the fascinating characters who board and begin to learn about the secrets they all carry. Just before departure a leper curses the journey and introduces us to the central conceit— that a devil stalks ship and plans to bring ruin to all aboard. Through storms, mutiny, marital discord, knife fights, and more, this twisty mystery was hard to put down. Fans of the 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle will recognize Turton’s fine writing, and intricate plotting.

Another intricate tale from Stuart Turton tells the story of a detective duo on a ship at sea. Fun characters and a twisty mystery. Readers will not be over-burdened by lingo of the time, as the dialogue is more 20th Century.

This is classic Sherlock and Watson style crime solving duo. Samuel Pipps is manacled and thrown into a cell aboard a ship leaving Batavia. His friend and bodyguard Arent is left trying to protect him but also deal with the increasing deadly and demon summoning mysteries aboard. With Samuel locked up he can't really use his skills so Arent has to find answers elsewhere.

After a fatal threat made against the ship things get stranger, with a mix of noble passengers, musketeers and cutthroat sailors the ship becomes a confined space where the devil is hiding in every shadow. With rations dwindling, increasing violence among the crew and finally a dramatic unexplained murder the ship seems totally under the control of the demon Old Tom.

A claustrophobic tale of demons, murder and suspicion. With so many evil characters to choose from it's sometimes hard to spot who is Old Tom. If you like mysteries then this is a good choice.

Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Seriously that's kind of the best way to describe how I feel about this book. Its a very, very, very long kinda okay historical "thriller" with so very many characters and despite its taking place in the 1600's said characters frequently ask each other "are you okay" and all the women are very ahead of their time (one of my "favorite" things in historical fiction) and we've got the typical giant manly man who's a hardened mercenary but really gentle and kind and lots of people who believe in witchcraft and husbands beating their wives and a million and one reasons for me to never, ever set foot on a boat should time travel become a thing that allows me to travel to afor mentioned 1600's and everything is very dirty and disgusting and so there are pomanders which I very much think we should bring back particularly in the current climate and no one is who they seem and even if it looks like witchcraft clearly there's a logical explanation and DEAR GOD THIS BOOK WAS SOOOOO LONG.

I was excited to read Stuart Turton's new book even though adventures on the seas is something I seldom read about. Turton tackles this tale with compelling characters and twists that keep you reading. I'd highly recommend this to fans of historical fiction, and thrillers and suspense.

QUICK TAKE: Turton's previous book, THE SEVEN AND A HALF DEATHS OF EVELYN HUGO, was one of my favorite books of 2018. The follow-up is also quite good, though not at the level of Hugo. Think Sherlock & Watson solving a mystery that may or may not involve the supernatural set against the backdrop of an East India trade ship in the 1600s. Except Holmes is locked up for most of the book and Watson is forced to do the detective work. A little long, but I liked the strong female characters and really enjoyed the twists and turns (particularly at the end). Turton is one to watch.

Stuart Turton does it again with The Devil and the Dark Water. Like 71/2 deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, this book is captivating and smart. Turton thinks of every detail and leaves no questions at the end of the book. He writes like it is a puzzle and everything only comes together when the last piece is put into place. Set on a ship that is being haunted by the devil himself, at a time when witchcraft was feared, Samuel Pips and his loyal bodyguard Arent are being transferred to Amsterdam where Sammy will be hanged as a traitor. With Pips, the great problem solver, in chains, the only one that can help solve the mystery of who is killing people on board is Arent. This is such a well-written book and unexpected!

Although this is not a bit like The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, it should be another hit for Stuart Turton! I really enjoyed going on this wild ride to a place I'd never really been before--what more can you ask for in a novel? I found this book a little more straightforward and easier to follow than the author's first book (which I also loved), but still with many intricate puzzles to solve. Fans of Mr. Turton's first book will not be disappointed!

I hoped for more. There are enough disparate elements here to capture almost anyone's interest but preserve almost no one's. The tone changed in an interesting way, but not until the story had already spilled her secrets.

One of those rare books that lives up to the description. Ghost ships? Check. Murder on board? Check. In 1630s Batavia in the East Indies, Sammy Pipps and his very large sidekick Arent are on board a ship filled with spices and (probably) murderers back to Amsterdam. There are whispers that a devil called "Old Tom" is behind the killing of a leper who used to be on the ship they're sailing.
I loved the writing, fantastic pacing, and complex puzzles embedded in this historical mystery. Won't be out until the fall, but it was truly fantastic and kept me up late needing to find out what happened next! Thanks Netgalley for the early reader copy.

Ship ahoy! Prepare yourself to have a dangerous intercontinental trip to Europe and feel the vibes of Pirates of Caribbean meets Murder in the Orient Express vibes embellished with supernatural/paranormal elements.

Bring out your pop corns and refreshments because this is going to be unputdownable, addictive, action packed, dazzling, mysterious, twisty experiment and stock your adult diapers because during your read you want to cut your restroom breaks and be fully concentrated on the story, flipping pages. ( I bribed my husband to put a slice of pizza on my mouth and move my mouth up and down to help me chew so I wouldn’t get starved when I focused on this incredibly exciting story! Good thing he accepted my pay in Belgium chocolates!)

Tatatataaaa! The year is 1634 (when I write this review I can hear the voice over of Morgan Freeman in my head which improves my encouragement), an East Indian Company ship named “Saardam” is about to set sail and the passengers slowly arrive to board into the ship including a special passenger- a very famous detective Samuel Pipps: arrested and sent to Amsterdam for his trial accompanied by his devoted best friend& protector Arent Hayes whose only intention is proving Pipps’ innocence to the authorities.

Don’t worry: Pipps doesn’t make stand on the railing of the ship, grabbing Hayes’ arms as he extends them out. There is no line in the book like: “I’m flying” and we don’t hear “My heart will go on” in the background. So their journey seemed a routine and necessary trip till a leper without tongue appears from nowhere, shouting at them: “they’re all gonna die and there is a devil in this ship coming after them” before put himself into the fire. Yes, I called it: that’s how you make a great entrance!

The governor general of Batavia is also on board. Arent asks for his wife Sara for the help after the unexpected and shocking dead of leper. But as we’re introduced with his abuser, arrogant, dangerous husband we realize Sara cannot get his support to solve the mystery. And the leper’s premonition comes true, already three deaths are marked by the devil and it seems like he has no intention to stop. But I’m stopping here because giving any more details may ruin the big twists (they keep coming and you need to sit tight not to collapse after the head spinning, fast paced, intense, action packed, terrifying chapters.)

I have to admit: I enjoyed “7 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” even it burned each grey cells of mine and for one month I could only watch “Kardashians” and “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” because these were the only shows can be watched if you feel like lackwit with a brain cannot function properly.

But this book was way too much better than the first one: it was smart, entertaining, surprising, gripping, adventurous and remarkable. So if I could give five and half stars or six solid stars to that book, I would give it without thinking a second.

This is best fast paced, twisty, exhilarating historical fiction I’ve read this year and I’m so pleased to recommend it to its genre lovers.

Special thanks to NetGalley and dear Cristiana Arreola for sharing the ARC’s widget with me in exchange my honest review. I truly enjoyed it so much!

It's 1634 and a ship is about to set sail for Amsterdam. Amongst the passengers is the prisoner Samuel Pipps, a famous detective and his protector Arent Hayes, Pipps is returning to face trial for a crime only a few know of. Arent his loyal friend is determined to prove Pipps innocence. However, Pipps is not the only important passenger, the govenor general of Batavia is onboard with his wife Sara Wessel. As soon as they set sail unusual occurences happen making all onboard worried that the devil has boarded and the ship will be doomed. With Pipps locked up it falls to Arent to investigate with the help of Sara.

Stuart Turton clearly loves writing novels with twists and turns, look at his previous outing The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. The plot and narrative of The Devil and the Dark Water moves along at pace daring the reader to try and work out whether there is a demon onboard or who is behind the mayhem. I do hope there will be a second outing for these characters as there is so much more he could do with them.

1634 - As passengers arrive to board The Saardam - an East India Company ship, a leper with no tongue, shouts that the ship and all who sail in her will be cursed, before he is engulfed in flames.
As the ship sets sail for Amsterdam with its nervous crew and passengers, the devil marks three people out for death.
Set on the high seas, this is a fast paced historical crime with a few twists and turns that you won't see coming...
This was the first book I've read by Stuart Turton and I absolutely loved it, and would definitely read more if he decides to do another with these characters.