Dark Water by Sara Bailey

Book Description

Friendship doesn’t die, it waits…

A haunting and lyrical novel, Dark Water is a psychologically intense portrait of adolescent yearning and obsession.

When Helena returns to her childhood home in Orkney, she is forced to face memories that she has spent half a lifetime running from. Her best friend, the charismatic Anastasia, disappeared after a swimming incident. But what really happened that night by the wrecks?

Publication Details

Author: Sarah Bailey
Book Title: Dark Water
Publisher: Nightingale Editions – an imprint of Blackbird Books
Publication Date: 3 October 2016
Format: Digital Edition
ISBN: 9781503993204
Pages: 281

About the Author

Dr Sara Bailey is a writer, consultant and lecturer who has been working with authors and screenwriters for many years, in Richmond-upon-Thames, Winchester and Southampton. She has a PhD in Creative and Critical Writing from Bangor University.

Her first book was published by Bloomsbury in 2013, Writing the Horror Movie, which she co-authored whilst hiding behind a cushion. Recently she has returned to her home of Orkney, the setting of her debut novel, Dark Water.

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My Review

MoMo’s Book Diary loved this psychologically intense novel and highly recommends “Dark Water” as an excellent read.

Sara Bailey’s debut novel, Dark Water tells an exceptional and intriguing story set in beautiful, mysterious Orkney.

I was drawn to the book as I have, myself, recently moved to Orkney and love reading fiction set in the islands. I did not know what to expect but was quickly drawn into the powerful story being told. The author describes the eerie ship-wrecks in such a way that you can visualise them – or maybe that’s just because I have seen them so many times. Beautiful as they sound I would not be willing to jump in and swim around them!

Dark Water focuses on Helena’s story, alternating between being a teenager and the adult she is today. Helena grew up in Orkney but left the island after her best friend, Anastasia was lost to the sea on a late night swim. Helena is returning now after her father is taken ill. Returning to the island is difficult for Helena, as much as she loves her dad, she has been running from the memories of her teenage years and losing her best friend, Anastasia. Helena knows as soon as she arrives she will be overwhelmed by memories of that night. The author excellently describes the conflicting feelings of the adolescent years and the insecurities we take with us into adulthood.

I would like to thank the author, Sara Bailey, and Jacqui Lofthouse of Nightingale Editions for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to its release date.

MoMoBookDiary Index

Author
- Sarah Bailey
Title
- Dark Water
Publisher
- Nightingale Editions – an imprint of Blackbird Books
Genre
- Psychological Thriller
Setting
- UK
- Orkney Islands
Source
- Bookbridgr
Read
- 2016
Shared
- Amazon
- Bookbridgr
- Goodreads