Honestly I don’t have an interest in reading this book anymore and I want to be more selective with what I request.

When Samuel Pipps, the world’s greatest detective is arrested for a crime he may or may not have committed, his friend and bodyguard Arent seeks to prove him innocent. While being transported back to Amsterdam, the ship they are on starts to experience odd occurrences, devilry, and murder. With Pipps imprisoned, Arent tried works to solve these mysteries himself.

Stuart Turton is a whirlwind of a writer. It’s impossible to even explain every twist and turn he manages to cram in to a book, yet somehow they all make sense and connect. I was a huge fan of his first novel, The 71/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, so when I heard about The Devil and The Dark Water, I knew I needed it. I kind of expected it to be just as good as his first, but I didn’t think it would manage to top Evelyn Hardcastle is mind blowing twists and turns. I was wrong. I can’t even imagine what will come from Turton next.

The characters were delightful, especially Arent. Having the bodyguard become an unwilling detective was such a fun part of the story, and led to some interesting conclusions that other characters wouldn’t have seen. The writing was also excellent surrounding the characters, because you become suspicious of EVERYONE. You move between main and supporting characters, thinking you’ve got everything sorted out, and then things change and all your theories are thrown out the window. You start to feel the frustrations Arent feels with trying to solve such an involved mystery.

I really recommend you read this one with a friend too. Sharing theories about this book is half the fun. Different readers notice different things, and being able to talk about them and work through it made the book extra immersive for me. Even if you don’t feel like reading this with someone though, I can’t recommend this one highly enough. If you’re looking for a thriller with some hints of supernatural, this is it. If you’re the kind of thriller mystery reader who has read it all and needs a book that surprises you, this is going to be it. I guessed a few things, but even then, I was shocked at some of the revelations throughout the story. This will keep you on your toes, and won’t let you put it down until you’re down.

I had high hopes for this one... especially in the beginning, i loved the characters. Arent was my personnal favorite. But i felt like the authors dragged the plot for too long, with too few events happening.

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

This book was an intense, clever and thrilling ride! I couldn’t put it down! I looooved Stuart Turton’s other book, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. It’s now a favorite. Well, I can now say that this is the case for this one too.

We are in 1634, aboard the Saardam, a merchant ship, about to sail from Batavia to Amsterdam with a lot of spice and a mysterious cargo. This includes the famous detective Samuel Pipps, held in manacles and thrown in a prisoner cell, for a crime he may or may not have committed. On the docks, a leper curses the ship before his robe burst into flames and die a painful death but people dismiss the event for a dying madman. Nobody can ignore the devil’s mark on the sail though, nor the fact that a few of them seems linked to it.

On the long travel, there come acts of devilry that cause chaos and panic amongst the passengers and the crew. It seems like the devil is really among them. He whispers promises in the dead of the night to everyone, their true desire offer to them if only they would accept his bargain. And with the threat that everyone who doesn’t bargain with him will be slaughtered after his three miracles done.

The ambiance was perfect, the characters were deep, well done and almost all of them kept dark secrets. I loved how all the characters were somehow linked to the devil. The story was so well written, it kept me hooked from the devil’s mark on the sails and until the end. Each chapter has its cliffhanger that shocked me or hooked me more. I guessed some minors things but the big, real, true thing was very well done and it unravel very nicely. The ending of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was the weakest point to the story but for the Devil’s, it was as strong as the rest. I liked how the multiple intrigues have you racking your brain to remember each details and characters and try to discover the truth and who’s the devil. I completely loved this. It’s nice to see how he has done it again and crafted such an intriguing story.

I will now buy every book he writes in the future without hesitation.

Having loved The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, I was so excited to be given the opportunity to read the eARC of Stuart Turton's latest book, and I was not disappointed.

As with his debut novel, I was captivated by the characters and swept along with the gothic, murderous mayhem. As someone who regularly guesses the ending of a mystery, I was kept on my toes and enjoyed trying to work out how it would end up - is the devil real, if not, who are they?

Thank you to HarperCollins Canada and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this eARC.

THE DEVIL AND THE DARK WATER by Stuart Turton is an interesting blend of historical fiction and detective mystery set on the high seas. The beginning was quite slow for me and overall I didn’t find this story engaging. I found this book to be a bit too long probably just because I didn’t love it and it was taking me longer to finish it. I liked the murder mystery elements and the olden day language since this novel is set in the 1600s. Even though I didn’t love this one I’m still kind of curious to read his other book The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.
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Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for my advance review copy!

Even better than the first book by Turton. Such an unique story and style! Hard to describe without spoiling it, go into it blind as possible and enjoy! A must read!

A twisty eerie mystery full of adventure. It was a very entertaining read that grabbed my interest right from the beginning and quickly had me turning the pages right to the end.  I really enjoy Turtons vivid descriptions, clever plot and his amazing character development.

The Saardam is a 17th century ship that is taking the Governor General of Batavia home to Amsterdam with his family and mistress. There are whispers that a devil called old Tom is behind the killing of a leper aboard the ship they are on. Not to worry one of the passengers is a famous detective, only problem is he is locked in chains accused of a crime. Strange things begin turning up and Arent the famous detectives bodygaurd is left to investigate and discover who is responsible.

Samuel Pipps is the greatest detective of his day . . . but now he’s a prisoner, accused of an unknown crime by one of the world’s most powerful men. Along with his faithful sidekick, Arent Hayes, he’s sailing back to Amsterdam from the East Indies, where he’ll stand trial.

But no sooner are they out to sea than devilry begins to blight the voyage. Still shackled in his cell, Pipps sends Hayes to solve a mystery that connects every passenger on board. All hope is pinned on Hayes solving the mystery, but when he goes missing, Pipps is faced with the most dangerous puzzle of his career. All the while, voices whisper to him in the dark. But are those whispers clues? Warnings? Or the devil himself?

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Wow! This is such an amazing & enthralling book. A spine chilling historical fiction tale set on a 17th century ship, which is up my alley because I love a mystery when the characters are stuck in a certain locale. Honestly I read 200 pages in one sitting I was so engrossed. The book is really more about Hayes & Sara Wessel, the abused but intelligent noble woman, wife to the governor general. Both are rich & fascinating characters to read about. Turton has a crazy talent for weaving intricate mysteries that are filled with many well drawn characters. It’s dark, it’s atmospheric & creepy, I loved it! If you want to get lost in a book or read one that really takes you on an adventure, than look no further. Definitely a good book to read leading up to Halloween, as I know many people like reading darker books this time of year. So far both of Turton’s books have been winners for me & I will anxiously be looking forward to what he does next.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for this gripping, historical/mystery story set on the high seas. The time is 1634 aboard a merchant ship, the Saardam, transporting spices and unknown cargo to Amsterdam from Batavia (Jakarta, Indonesia). This is a perilous 8-month journey and at best of times would be threatened by storms and pirates, and hostility within the crew. The journey has a claustrophobic atmosphere. It is an enthralling, complicated mystery with fascinating characters, occult folklore, and paranormal/supernatural beliefs that bring fear to those onboard who are beset by 17th-century superstition.

While boarding the ship, the passengers hear a fearsome curse. A crippled leper in rags has climbed to a height on the dock. He utters the words that the ship is in danger and people are doomed to die. There is a devil on the ship coming after them. The leper then sets himself on fire and dies. It is learned that his tongue had been cut out, so where did the words originate? Later he is sighted onboard the ship. How can that be?

Onboard the Saardam is the worlds' most famous detective, Sammy Pipps. Much has been written about Sammy's exploits and crimes solved. He is accompanied by his friend and bodyguard, Arent Hayes, a huge ex-mercenary with a kind, gentle nature. There will be plenty of puzzles to be solved on the long voyage. Unfortunately, Sammy is being transported in shackles to Amerstadam to stand trial and punishment for a crime unknown to Arent. Sammy is placed in a small, dark cell and implores his partner to find out what is going on. It is left up to Arent to solve the weird, mysterious occurrences. He has no confidence in his detective ability. His previous investigation found the wrong man guilty. Now he has been commanded to discover if the devil is on board, called 'Old Tom' by the superstitious.

The Governor-General, Jan Haan, is present. He is a wealthy, powerful, and cruel man who seems to be more in control of the ship than its captain. He intimidates and beats his wife, noblewoman Sara. She is a determined woman with a mind of her own who has been suppressed by the lowly role of women in the 17th century. Her daughter, Lia, has been taught to keep her high intelligence secret so as not to insult the men who do not believe women should think for themselves. Sara's husband's mistress, Creesjie is also present. She is a sexy former prostitute and later a courtesan. Sara becomes friends with the cheerful Ceesjie and also with Arent. Sara teams up with Arent due to her curiosity about some frightening sightings and mysterious deaths and to feel independent from her stifling husband.

The ship is peopled with all sorts of diverse, enigmatic characters. There are sinners, scoundrels killers, a dwarf, witchfinders, fearsome musketeers, the powerful and greedy, a cruel boatswain, an elderly holy man, and sailors with secret backgrounds. This sets up a dazzling and exciting plot which includes rivalries, revenge, and betrayals mixed with fearsome events that touch on the supernatural.

I thought the middle was slow-paced with some filler that made it longer than need be (3 Stars). This detracted from its tension and suspense. The clever conclusion was ingenious and rated a 5 star with twists and revelations that I never could have anticipated.