From Stuart Turton, author of The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, comes an extraordinary new locked-room murder mystery.

A murder on the high seas. A remarkable detective duo. A demon who may or may not exist.

It’s 1634, and Samuel Pipps, the world’s greatest detective, is being transported to Amsterdam to be executed for a crime he may, or may not, have committed. Traveling with him is his loyal bodyguard, Arent Hayes, who is determined to prove his friend innocent. Among the other guests is Sara Wessel, a noblewoman with a secret.

But no sooner is their ship out to sea than devilry begins to blight the voyage. A strange symbol appears on the sail. A dead leper stalks the decks. Livestock dies in the night.

And then the passengers hear a terrible voice, whispering to them in the darkness, promising three unholy miracles, followed by a slaughter. First an impossible pursuit. Second an impossible theft. And third an impossible murder.

Could a demon be responsible for their misfortunes?

With Pipps imprisoned, only Arent and Sara can solve a mystery that stretches back into their past and now threatens to sink the ship, killing everybody on board.

Shirley Jackson meets Sherlock Holmes in this chilling thriller of supernatural horror, occult suspicion, and paranormal mystery on the high seas.

  • SorteKanin@feddit.dk
    3·
    6 months ago

    I really liked The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle but the ending of The Devil and the Dark Water kinda put me off. Seemed to have come from nowhere and not really foreshadowed. I did like it while reading it though so I’ll definitely be looking for Turton’s next book to see if he produces an ending I’ll like better next time :)

    • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
      2·
      6 months ago

      I think when I read this I was in a “I don’t care who did it (or how/why, etc…), this ride is amazing” mindset. But I understand where you’re coming from.

      I’ve heard good things about The Last Murder at the End of the World from those with ARCs.

  • InfiniteFlow@lemmy.world
    2·
    6 months ago

    A shame it still costs $12 when selling to my country. Because, you know, the shipping costs of bytes over the internet are huge if they travel a lot… *$&$# amazon…