I discovered this novel through
my association with the author via social media.
Shoshana released the third in
book in this series under the title Easy as Pie. So, when I saw there
were two previous installments in the series, I dove in with both feet to read Deathly
Waters. It is a story about a sleepy little town in the Midwest featuring
some bizarre events taking place. I loved the setting and the characters, but
what I most enjoyed is the dialog in the story. Shoshana is a master at
bringing characters to life and they were all people very much like those I
have known. As far as the town of Harper's Landing is concerned, her
description of the place and the people make me want to visit there again, and
I would not be opposed to living there despite the danger lurking in the wells,
lakes, and ponds in the area.
I found this story believable,
easily accessible, well researched, and entertaining.
Harper's Landing is a peaceful
town where the residents enjoy a laid-back lifestyle where everyone gets along well
and supports each other in difficult times. The town is alive and growing
slowly and has a personality all its own. The people of Harper's landing are
friendly and open to strangers, giving it a welcoming atmosphere where visitors
often feel compelled to take up residence permanently. One such member of the
community is former big-city police detective Jim Burch, who took on the role of
town's sheriff following the death of his predecessor.
Jim enjoys being a part of the
community. He especially the enjoys food from the diner and the apple pie in
particular. All is well until a dismembered body turns up in one of the local
fishing holes. He will need every bit of his instincts and training to solve
the mystery and must accept paranormal explanations to understand what is
happening around the community. It won't be easy, but he has the support of the
people in Harper's Landing to back him up along the way.
The most developed character in
the story is Sheriff Jim Burch. He came to Harper's Landing as a tourist,
seeking a place to rest from a brief career as a detective, where things
weren't going well for him. During a stop at the local diner, he discovered the
best apple pie he had ever eaten, accompanied by a wedge of cheddar cheese.
When he was told the town had recently lost their sheriff, he surprised himself
by volunteering to take on the position without even thinking about it.
Satisfied he had done the right thing, he soon found himself fitting in as a
member of the community as though born there. During his tenure, he grows into
someone who has learned "the meaning of community, of compassion, of
caring, and of love." Jim became a real person to me and is someone I wish
I could know.
The other character in the
novel I enjoyed was the town of Harper's Landing itself. It isn't often I read
a story where the setting becomes a living character to me. There is one other
author I can think of that does this as well as Shoshana, and that is Stephen
King. The town has a unique personality that seems to attract people needed to
take care of business. Everyone in Harper's Landing fits into their place. It
has a palpable vitality. Even with the danger, I found the town a comforting place
to spend time. The setting is written so well, I couldn't wait to get back
there to continue reading.
My favorite point of plot in Deathly
Waters is how well everyone worked together as various situations presented
themselves. Everyone had a part to play, and they did so with care and
compassion. Even when things are their darkest, everyone continues to do their
part to contribute to the whole.
My takeaways from Deathly
Waters are...
Be aware, no matter how calm
things seem on the surface, there may be insatiable evil lurking just below the
calmness. Be careful and take a long look before you dive in.
And...
A piece of superb apple pie may
seem like just a piece of pie, but it might also be your key to happiness. Slow
down and take in your surroundings.
I loved this story. It has
excellent characters, a pleasant setting, and the story moves at a good pace.
There was never a point at which I was taken out of the story for any reason.
There was also some tension along the way as the characters moved in and out of
danger, but for every moment of stress, there was relief. Shoshana did her
homework to make the story feel authentic. There were a few descriptions of
some graphic details, but they were not over-the-top with gore, and were
appropriate to advance the story.
While the niche it fits into is
Horror Occult Fiction, there are several elements of Science Fiction involved
in the investigative procedures used.
All in all, I would recommend Deathly
Waters to anyone who enjoys a well-paced, fun, and entertaining story. I
look forward to reading future work from Shoshana Edwards, including the second
book in the Occult America series, Madness of Trees, as well as
the third, Easy as Pie. Here's a tip though, I heard Shoshana recommend
reading Easy as Pie first.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Well, there it is...
Qapla!
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