Lucy and her family live in a quiet life on the Devon coast. Until her her family yacht is found abandoned and her husband gone. As a storm brews, Lucy and the town reveal suspicious clues.

This book was unique and had an interesting plot. I liked that you had no idea what was going on for a while in the beginning. Don’t worry, it will all make sense. The pacing is not steady. It’s suspenseful in the beginning, slow in the middle, and heart-pounding in the end. There’s no chance of figuring out the twists, so just keep turning the pages and go with it.

“She’d always thought that nothing bad could happen to Daniel while she loved him deeply; that her love could protect him like it protects Billie and Fin. But recently her love hasn’t been enough, even though it’s been just as strong. It hasn’t protected any of them.

The Rising Tide comes out 3/15.

Lucy Locke has come a long way since arriving back to her hometown with a small child in tow. She met the love of her life Daniel, they both started successful businesses, and the two had another beautiful child. But all of it is about to come crashing down when Daniel unexpectedly takes the family boat out just before a storm. The boat is found abandoned and barely afloat, and Daniel is nowhere to be found. As the events take a turn from bad to unimaginable, can DI Abraham Rose piece things together before it’s too late?

I don’t want to say too much more about the plot because this just builds and builds and is full of plenty of twists and turns. And wow does it sink its hooks into you. I’d highly recommend setting aside a large chunk of time before picking this one up, because you absolutely won’t want to put it down, especially after the halfway mark. The Rising Tide is a true psychological thriller: it has that rare blend of pulse pounding action with well-done psychological suspense. I never quite knew where things were going or who to trust, but let me tell you, I *needed* to find out.

This had a very cinematic feel to it and I think it would make for a fantastic movie, but it stands on its own as a novel with amazing action imagery. Flashback snippets of Lucy’s past were woven throughout the story which added depth to the character and the story, and were done very well in my opinion. The characters here felt layered and nuanced, and like real people versus stock characters or mere plot devices. I’m not entirely sure I buy the villain’s motivation/plan, but that’s pretty much my only criticism here. My pulse pounded, my heart broke, and I was thoroughly entertained by this book.

After reading I immediately went to check on the author and was surprised to find this is only his second book. The description of his debut (The Memory Wood) already has me incredibly intrigued. I can’t wait to get my hands on it, as well as any future offerings from Sam Lloyd. You can get your hands on this one March 1, 2022.

CW: There is a very graphic description of a brutal marine hunting technique. In my ARC copy, this is in chapter 20.

Love a high sea adventure. Rising tide is all about high seas, by definition. So, I figured I’d check this one out.
Some families weather storms sturdier than others. Lucy’s family, she thought, was stormproof, until her man disappears during one, apparently with her kids on board.
What’s going on? What’s Daniel playing at? Is this merely crappy weather or something infinitely more sinister?
Daniel is soon found, but the kids remain missing and as the search for them continues amid waning expectations as the worst storm to batter the region rages on, Lucy is going have to rethink her entire life and her choices, because she’ll soon come to realize that what’s happening is indeed very, very personal.
A perfectly decent thriller as far as these things go, improved by presenting dual sides to Lucy and Daniel and playing with readers’ impressions of them by presenting them simultaneous as suspects and victims, and dragged down by its own wordiness.
It isn’t the fattest of thrillers, but arguably it can be slimmed down by about a third. The bulk of this is (many thrillers utilize this technique) details, the entire thing is overpadded with minute details and when that isn’t enough, the author goes into repetition and overexplaination and overbaked sentimentality, specifically the former. The entire denouement is studded with repetition. But at least, it has a decency of doing a nice plot twist to distract you from it.
Overall, decent enough, if too long. The emotional engagement wasn’t there, but the writing was objectively mostly good enough to shoulder the story nicely. Entertaining with reason, but nothing special. Nothing to stand out in the sea of ubiquitously similar thrillers anyway. Thanks Netgalley.

I really struggled getting into this story but I'm so glad I stuck with it. So thrilling, topsy turvy with an explosive ending I did not see coming. Whoa!

This book was very well done with a great cast of well developed characters. Nice storyline and POVs. And wow what an intense ending that I did not see coming!
Highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

An intense thriller. I wasn't sure this was for me, but I enjoyed it. Lloyd write well and this is a well told story with an interesting premise. I think most thriller fans will like this.

Thanks very much for the free ARC for review!!

How have I not ever read anything by Sam Lloyd before?
I need The Memory Wood now!
Talk about a great writer! He is amazing!

The Rising Tide is an an absolute must read. I haven't read a book this good in a bit!
Sam's vivid descriptions bring this story to life.... On a whole new level.
Such an incredible book which I could barely tear myself away from.
The author plotted the story so amazingly and ended up with a novel that’s so unforgettable, intriguing and totally unique.
A tensely plotted and perfectly executed
An absolute great page turner that will keep you wanting more.
Its a clever, precise, dark and moving story with more twists and turns than most, they keep coming and it keeps you on your toes and flicking those pages.

Thank You Scarlet for this outstanding eARC!.
I will post to my platforms closer to pub date!

Ever read a book description and think, okay, this sounds good? You expect to enjoy it, that is a given, but you have no idea that from the first page to the last, you will put off as many obligations as you can, just to find out how it ends. That was me, reading The Rising Tide, and I will gladly take a case of short-term amnesia to enjoy it again for the first time.
It starts when we meet a family, Daniel, Lucy, Billie, and Fin. Sure, their life isn't perfect, money troubles, and two children at different stages of their lives. But there is love here, and loyalty, and a healthy dose of trust. What if one phone call could change all of that? Or was it all smoke and mirrors, with us finally getting a peek behind the illusions.
When Daniel's boat, The Lazy Susan, is brought back to the harbor during a ferocious storm, it devastates Lucy. If Daniel wasn't on board, where is he now? Just as it seems the unimaginable has happened, things get much, much worse. Who is this man Lucy loved and married, and what secrets are hiding behind her grief-stricken eyes?
DI Abraham Rose is determined to uncover the truth, but it will be up to Lucy to untangle the web that has become her life. I could name so many words that expressed my feelings: anger, sadness, disbelief, and betrayal. It wouldn't do this book justice, because they are just my words and don't begin to portray the tension and doubt on every page.
Just clear your calendar, sit back, and be prepared for one hell of a stormy ride. I loved this book, though not necessarily the outcome for all these characters if I didn't mention it.