Calvin owns a coffee shop/bakery in a Lake District village. He promotes it on social media and suddenly the business takes off beyond his wildest dreams.
A woman starts sending messages, and, being a social media newbie, Calvin communicates with her, which his wife is not happy about.

A man living the life of a hermit is found horrifically drowned, and Detective Imogen Evans has to find his killer.
There is so much more that happens, kidnapping, another murder, accidents, a suicide, and Imogen begins to think that Calvin is at the centre of it all.

Oh wow!
Talk about a thriller! There are so many subplots and they all tie into the main plot in some way.
I feel that Calvin is very naive in the ways of the world, still wracked with grief many years after losing his sister.

Mark Edwards has woven a very intricate murder mystery, dark and twisty, and totally enthralling.

It is a tense thriller that kept me rapt to the end.

thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC of The Darkest Water in exchange for an honest review.

The Darkest Water is one of the most unique thrillers I’ve read in the sense that it is set in present day with social media presence. The main character is a coffee shop and bakery owner and ends up in a web of terror. There is a little back and forth with present day and 1995 when Calvin was a teenager but mostly set in present day. I love reading about the 90s and feel it described the era well.

The story was twisty and I did not see the ending coming. Definitely a unique story, with some interesting characters.

Calvin has finally achieved his dream of opening his own cafe but doesn't yet have the customers. His wife encourages him to start a social media account to drum up some business and it works but it also brings some unwanted attention from another woman. He replies to be polite but things get out of hand quickly. It's a dark book as a body is found on the beach at the beginning and it seems Calvin is involved more than he first thought. Its a really twisty book and I definitely couldn't have predicted how things played out!

Mark Edwards, the bestselling author of "Keep Her Secret," delivers another chilling thriller in "The Darkest Water." Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Lake District, this tale plunges readers into a web of suspense, dark secrets, and unexpected danger.

The story revolves around Calvin, who finally realizes his dream of owning a bakery in an idyllic village. However, the sweetness of success turns sinister when a viral social media clip attracts an obsessive fan, leading to a series of creepy messages that shatter Calvin's newfound happiness. Simultaneously, a local recluse is discovered buried on a beach, setting off a murder investigation that Detective Imogen Evans is determined to unravel.

Edwards skillfully weaves together the threads of an unfolding mystery, creating a tense atmosphere as the community grapples with the shocking death and the unsettling presence of Calvin's obsessive admirer. The narrative is laced with suspense, keeping readers on edge as they navigate through the twists and turns of the plot.

The characters, especially Calvin and Detective Evans, are well-crafted and relatable, adding depth to the story. The author explores themes of trust, the consequences of one's past actions, and the vulnerability that comes with unexpected fame. As events spiral into darkness, Edwards keeps the tension taut, leaving readers guessing until the final pages.

"The Darkest Water" stands out not only for its compelling mystery but also for its exploration of the impact of social media on individuals' lives and the thin line between adoration and obsession. Edwards' writing is immersive, drawing readers into the village and its secrets.

In conclusion, "The Darkest Water" is a gripping thriller that will satisfy fans of the genre. Mark Edwards crafts a tale that keeps readers hooked from start to finish, with its atmospheric setting, well-developed characters, and a plot that skillfully navigates the murky waters of suspense. This is a must-read for those who enjoy a mystery that keeps them guessing until the very end.

Good story with twists and turns. Engaging and hard to put down. I believe this is part of a series but I read it standalone and it didnt impact the story

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the copy of The Darkest Water by Mark Edwards. I loved how the book started with a horrific murder that immediately piqued my interest. Who is the dead man and why was he killed? Then the story changes to Calvin, who’s trying to start a coffee shop. He did seem a little clueless about running a business and about women though! The consequences of the advice he gets to start using social media was believable and I liked how it was woven into his story. This was a fast and fun read because the stories were interesting, and I liked how they all came together in the end. I can see why some people will love the epilogue, but to me it was too predictable and too much of a cliché. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you so much for the early copy.
I must say this book was amazing. I enjoyed it a lot, It toke some time to get to know the writing style because this is the first book I read from this author. It is a not that short for a thriller/Mystery book, in my opinion it was perfect.

Secrets can follow you wherever you go. Mark Edwards latest thriller was a fast paced entry into the "everyman dilemma" type thriller and I really enjoyed this book. Edwards has made the move from supernatural novels to straight thrillers but has retrained his talent for interesting characters and creepy plots. In this book Calvin has just opened a bakery/coffeeshop which was his long time dream. His wife Vicky runs an animal shelter and the couple are happy even though the bakery doesn't have many customers. At the suggestions of their young staffer Tara, Calvin makes some social media posts and draws the attention of a lot of people including a woman named Mel who begins sending him personal messages. At the same time, a man is found buried in the sand and drowned, and Inspector Imogen Evans is under pressure to find out the identity of the man and identify the killer.

As things start to become strange around Calvin (his business is broken into, he fears he was drugged one night, threatening messages etc) we see flashbacks to his life as a teenager when a tragedy happened involving Calvin's sister Freya. Is there a connection between Calvin's past and present?: When Calvin's wife Vicky goes missing both Calvin and Inspector Evans have to search deep to find out what is going on who is responsible. I found this a quick read and really liked Calvin and Vicky and was glad to read about a happy couple for once. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author Mark Edwards for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.

This book was easy to read! It kept me hooked throughout the book. I’m hoping they start a series from this book. I love a good thriller.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for this ARC.
Mark is back to his best. This was absolutely brilliant, I couldn’t put it down.
Characters were great, storyline was back to Mark’s best and I only started to guess towards the end - no spoilers from me.
Absolutely recommend but what do I do now as I’ve read all of Marks books.
5 🌟

When I started reading the book I wasn’t sure if this was a psychological thriller, or a murder mystery - there seemed to be two completely different stories running in parallel. But kudos to the author for tying it all together so well! This book is well written, fast paced and kept me engaged till the end, and the epilogue was amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and definitely recommend it.
Thank you to the publishers Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of the ebook and giving me a chance to review it.

An excellent read. Very hard to put down and a clever plot woven perfectly. I would sat that this is one of his best.

A jaw-dropping start to my 2024 reading year!

In a small coastal village in the Lake District, a local man makes a grisly discovery on the beach – a man buried up to his neck in the sand, death caused by the incoming, unforgiving tide. Remember the 1982 movie Creepshow?

Nearly in the town of Elderbridge. Calvin Matheson is struggling to keep his newly opened café – Therapy – afloat. His wife Vicky suggests a series of social media posts to promote and attract customers. At first Calvin is reluctant, but as his followers grow, and business improves, he relishes the benefits and rewards. But newfound notoriety brings unwanted attention, and Calvin has a lot to hide, secrets from his past that are about to threaten his professional and personal reputationin life-altering and harmful ways.

As a longtime fan of Mark Edwards, I instantly requested The Darkest Water without even reading the synopsis as this author never fails to deliver well-crafted plot twists, and a final sentence that is prone to leave me reeling in shock. And I’m thrilled to report that Mark Edwards latest novel of domestic drama and mystery combined with psychological suspense did not let me down.

I desperately tried to unravel how the body on the beach connected to Calvin’s story arc, to no avail, not even when the clues started rolling in. It sure made for a tense and nerve-wracking final act. You may recognise DI Imogen Evans from Mark Edwards, The Lucky Ones – I didn’t, as I haven’t read it yet, and even though there were minor spoilers in this book, if anything it has me even more intrigued to bump that one up my tbr. Which brings me to my next point, in that there’s a police procedural element to The Darkest Water, from Imogen’s POV, as she and her new partner, Steve Milner, first identify, and then investigate the beach murder victim.

Pre-order The Darkest Water in preparation for release day 16th April 2024, as I read it over a day, which clearly underscores how unputdownable it was.

I’d like to thank Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Mark Edwards for the e-ARC.

Life is looking up for Calvin. His wife Vicki believes in his new bakery and knows that a push on social media will help bring in the customers. She isn’t thrilled about his new employee though. There is just something about Mel that disturbs her. Social media might bring in a lot more than new customers, it can bring some odd people too.
Detective Imogene Evans left her old job after the fame associated with her capturing a notorious serial killer became too much to handle. She has moved to this quieter town, and never would’ve imagined what she will be investigating next. When a man is found dead, killed in a horrific way, she knows she must figure out this puzzling crime and quickly. Then Calvin reports that his wife is missing, and Imogene doesn’t give it her full attention. Soon though Calvin seems linked to the murder. Has Imogene missed a crucial piece in this perplexing puzzle?
How are these two very different events related and does Calvin hold the key to unlocking the mystery? Told from Calvin and Imogene’s POVs, it took me almost to the author reveal to have even an inkling of how these crimes were related. The characters were engaging, there were numerous twists, and a detective I wouldn’t mind seeing again. As always with this author’s writing, it was an enjoyable page flipper.

I have read quite a few novels by Mark Edwards and I always enjoy them, this one was no different, it managed to keep me hooked throughout.

For me, this is Mark Edwards back to his very best! I'm a big fan of the author, my favourites of his being Here To Stay and The Magpies, as they are just about regular people in the most STRESSFUL situations. This book was very much in the same vein as these books, as we follow Calvin as things just go from bad to worse for the poor bloke.

The pacing was really good in this book and as always, I loved the writing style. There were quite a few strands to the story and it was fun trying to connect all the dots as the reader. I would definitely recommend this.

A good thriller. Tense, fast-paced, lots of dodgy characters, impossible to know who to trust. Plenty of twists. Some likeable characters. Typical book of Mark Edwards really, well written and easy to follow.

I always thoroughly enjoy Mark’s writing style. It’s easy to understand and his characters are always relatable. “When bad things happen to normal people” tends to be his MO.

This storyline felt a bit far fetched. How all of the characters came together at the end seemed a bit odd and not realistic. I did however, enjoy the touch of social media and going viral and how it could potentially end badly.

That epilogue though! Mark always ends with a twist. I’m not normally a detective thriller reader, but Imogen Evan’s is enjoyable. Luckily, there were more chapters from Calvin’s perspective.

Mark loves his pets so there were a lot of mentions of dogs and cats. My favorite part of this is that nothing bad ever happens to the pets! Thank you, Mark!

All in all, this was, as usual, a great read. Not one of my favorites from Mark, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Always s brilliant read when it comes from Mark Edward's, great suspense and terrific ending wrapped this book up into a winner!!

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.

Mark Edwards has managed to produce another hit! This thriller drew me in quickly and kept me guessing the full way through.
I’ve read all of his books, and this is definitely one of my favourites.
It’s fast paced, with intriguing characters and plenty of twists.
It certainly more than deserves 5 big fat stars!