Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this title.

DNF 50%- As much as this looked like a summer confection, I just could not tolerate sticking with it.

The story is about Emma whose daughter inadvertently becomes witness to the murder of the next door neighbor and it would appear Emma’s husband might be involved. While this was a very fast read, I felt myself beginning to skim through the story because Emma was incredibly unlikable and making the most irrational decisions that made her even more unlikable. I figured I would stop and not invest the time to finish it.

“Her best friend is dead. Her daughter filmed the killing. Her husband knows more than he’s revealing. Her secret isn’t safe and neither is she.”

Quick chapters make this easy to devour. Same POV but dual timelines of before and now.

I found the first half to be forced. The constant back and forth each chapter was not well executed and it felt rushed. I wanted more meat in the set up. I didn’t care about the main character in the beginning. However, the 2nd half was intense and I read it all in one sitting! I was anxious and had to find out how the story ended. The main character was unlikable until the 2nd half of the book. Then I was rooting for her. I'm glad I pushed through and kept reading!

This was less about figuring out the murder and more about escaping her situation.

Was this story unrealistic? Yes. Would I recommend it? Also yes. It would be a fantastic domestic thriller for the beach!

This was a very good book! I loved it! It kept me coming back for more. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.

An exciting book that you should read on the beach. This is a suspenseful, masterfully written story that will keep you guessing what will happen next. I loved it.

Emma and Ariella are wealthy neighbors in an exclusive Sydney suburb. But though they seem to have it all, looks can be deceiving, as Emma fears Ariella is caught in a dangerous marriage. She tries to reach out to help her new friend, and just as she manages to win Ariella's trust, the woman is murdered.

The biggest problem is that Emma's young daughter unknowingly filmed the murder while making a YouTube video. And then she uploaded it online.

When Emma's husband Charles returns home in a fury, bundling the family to a secluded island, she suspects he knows more about their neighbor's death than he's letting on. And the longer they remain on the run, the more dangerous Charles becomes to Emma and her children.

This was a really entertaining thriller. I'll be honest, the first half dragged a little; learning about Ariella's marriage and Emma's desire to help her was interesting, but I found myself surprised at how slowly I was making progress in the book, especially as it bounced from a "then" and "now" narrative. The second half, in which Emma finds herself trapped on the island, moved much quicker. I found it extremely tense. There's not much mystery to it, but I thought the author did a nice job making me feel as though I had no idea whether or not this would have a happy ending. And I was never sure whom Emma should trust. Definitely a satisfying read that I would recommend. I would also read more from the author.

Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK, for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a review through NetGalley.

I really don't like stories being told by jumping back and forth in time, and this is the first problem here. When the story finally settles at "now", it gets rather boring, because the plot is really miniscule. The characters are OK, but I prefer a main character to be smart.
Not my kind of book.

I really did not enjoy this book. It was so repetitive. The same things (being a wellness coach, not knowing what happened to Ariella) were repeated over and over again. I wanted more to be revealed and more to happen throughout the book. The two plot lines (Ariella’s death and the women on the island) were so disconnected, it felt like two books. How old are the kids supposed to be? Their ages were so confusing. Kiki is 10 but has a YouTube channel, wears perfume, and is willing to sacrifice herself and swim while Jack is on the raft? Not believable at all. If I had another book with me, I probably wouldn’t have finished this one.

To all my bookish friends…..

I have a PSA

If you have not already request, pre-ordered or heard of this book I am about to share with you, you need to drop what you are doing and RUN on over to request/ pre-order this book.

Holy Freaking Smoke 💨

The Shallows

I know I asked you all to pick my next book and well majority didn’t win in this case 🤣 of course my little squirrel brain had other intentions . I saw the cover and said let’s just read the first chapter and see how it plays out .

Oh no no no …

This is not how it worked out . One chapter turned into 2, turned into 3, ended in finishing this entire book in one sitting (and it’s a big one!)

My mind is completely blown!!!! The narration was done with perfection. The details had me in awe and just the story itself had me completely consumed . I could not get enough!

Teaser :

Her best friend is dead.

Emma and Ariella, neighbours in one of Sydney’s most exclusive suburbs, appear to have it all―perfect homes, perfect husbands, perfect lives. But they both know dark secrets lurk beneath the surface and shallow waters can’t hide Ariella’s. Now she has been found murdered.

Her daughter filmed the killing.

Not knowing what she’s filmed, Emma’s daughter Kiki innocently uploads footage of Ariella’s brutal death. Emma fears the worst―the killer will know what she and Kiki have seen. Their safe suburban lives no longer exist.

Her husband knows more than he’s revealing.

Emma’s husband Charles forces the family to leave their perfect life and escape on their yacht. His dangerous plan to flee means Emma is trapped and desperately seeking answers. What are they hiding from? What did Ariella have to confess? And who else knows Emma’s own secret?

Her secret isn’t safe and neither is she.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.
This is my first title by this author and will read more in the future.
I requested this book as i was drawn in by the cover and thought it looked interesting.
Will recommend this to anyone looking for a thriller.
Thanks again for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3/5 stars

The Shallows was definitely not what I expected. It's not really a mystery thriller but rather a suspense thriller. The reader almost immediately knows who the "bad guys" are. There really is no mystery to solve, no "who did it" to answer. The story follows Emma and her family. New neighbors recently moved in next door, and Emma has made a point of befriending Ariella. Unfortunately, Ariella's husband is quite untrustworthy and questionable, and now, Emma's husband is hanging out with Mateo. After Ariella's murder (which still wasn't really a mystery), Emma's husband kidnaps her and the kids and flees. The rest of the book is a story of strong women and survival. Overall, I didn't enjoy the book. I found the characters to be unlikable, the initial friendship between Ariella and Emma to be unrealistic (to include the notes and odd behaviors), and the pacing to be lacking. The one part of the book I did like was the relationship between the women on the island and the escape planning. The strength of the women was a definite plus for the book.

An intense read about a mother who risks it all to escape!

At first, it seems as though neighbours, Emma and Ariella, have it all - a luxurious lifestyle and high-earning husbands. Unfortunately, these trappings come at a price and soon one of them will be running for her life.

At times I felt like I was holding my breath, anxious to turn the page to see what happened yet also wanting to end the tension causing my heart to beat rapidly. I got so wrapped up in this glamorous, twisty and over-the-top mystery. The secrets were plentiful and the coverup masterful. The route to escape kept me spellbound.

Shallow waters can’t cover up these Sydney, Australia secrets!

I was gifted this copy by Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

I really.good thriller, full.of dangerous secrets and dark history. I read this book in one sitting. Highly recommended xx

I spent the whole day indulging in this book in the sun and that is the perfect way to enjoy it! If you're heading off on a beach holiday then this is a must read! It's glamorous, suspenseful, full of twists and turns and just keeps the reader so invested throughout. The pace is perfect and it feels like you just fly through the story. I couldnt put it down, I was so desperate to know the outcome!! Its more than just a thriller, it's such an amazing read that I'm sure would appeal to most readers! Don't miss it, I can't recommend enough

The master at work!

Holly Craig’s debut novel The Shallows is an action-packed thrill ride!

When Emma’s new neighbour starts passing her notes calling for help, Emma becomes entangled in a criminal world. But she has no idea that following her neighbour’s husband to work will have deadly consequences, forcing Emma and her family away from a crime scene next door.

Running from their neighbourhood, Emma doesn’t yet understand what her family of four and one on the way are running from. But she has so many questions: What happened? Who killed her neighbour? Can she trust her husband? When can she go home? How will she deliver her baby? Will she ever escape?

This story will leave you breathless with anticipation from upper-class Sydney to the shores of tropical North Queensland. It's a page-turner with stunning prose, a well-constructed protagonist, divine descriptions, and all the voice and promise of a writer on her way to becoming a household name!

Emma and Ariella are neighbours who live in an exclusive luxury neighbourhood in Sydney. From the outside, the two women appear to have it all. However, there are many hidden secrets. Ariella winds up murdered. And Emma's daughter unknowingly filmed and uploaded the video of the murder.

Emma's husband begins to freak out and forces the family to leave their home. They escape Sydney on their private yacht. However, on board the yacht, even more secrets are revealed. Who is Emma's husband? And who was Ariella?

This book was fast-paced and a gripping read! I could not put it down. There are so many twists and turns that will keep you satiated until the very end. This was my first read by Ms. Craig. I am looking forward to her next one!

Thank you Thomas & Mercer, Amazon Publishing UK, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Neighbors with dark secrets and now one is dead. The perfect life in the surburbs is no more. Their safe suburban lives no longer exist.
The search for answers begin. What will be revealed. This is a good whodunnit.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

4.5 stars rounded up

The Shallows is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that had me hooked the whole way through. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Holly Craig's work in the future

This was juicy and totally captivating. I enjoyed this immensely and found it to be all consuming. Perfect for a binge read on the beach.

There's something about thrillers that captivate me.
I will devour them and this one was no exception.
This was an action packed novel that kept a quick pace and had enough craziness to keep you entertained.
There wasn't a lot of twists surrounding the murder more so just on surviving against all odds.

I did hate the time jumps, going back and forth and there wasn't a ton of suspense.
It's a quick entertaining read but not one I would pick up twice unfortunately.

Thank you Netgalley, Holly Craig and Amazon Publishing for an arc.