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jadelidia_'s review against another edition
5.0
A captivating read from start to finish. So many twists and turns that are always present in sarah's work and make it such an engaging read. Loved it and was also a bit broken by the end at the same time
megan_alice's review against another edition
4.0
This book was the perfect Australian small-town mystery. How well do you know the people you've grown up with?
The story is character-driven, switching POV between Chloe and Mason as we learn about the events leading up to Henry's disappearance and how it's affected the town and the people living in it.
The mystery slowly unravels as we get to know Chloe, Mason and their friends. But once I hit the last fifty pages, I couldn't read fast enough!
This is a story of good intentions gone wrong with a bittersweet but satisfying ending. I really enjoyed this one.
The story is character-driven, switching POV between Chloe and Mason as we learn about the events leading up to Henry's disappearance and how it's affected the town and the people living in it.
The mystery slowly unravels as we get to know Chloe, Mason and their friends. But once I hit the last fifty pages, I couldn't read fast enough!
This is a story of good intentions gone wrong with a bittersweet but satisfying ending. I really enjoyed this one.
novelty_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Read with YA Circle Book Club for their May 2020 BOTM
Now THAT'S how you write a mystery!
I've been through it all. I've read New York Times Bestselling mysteries and award winning ones too. None of them captured my attention as much as Deep Water did. This was wonderfully layered and I was constantly intrigued by the mystery of Henry Weaver and even more so, his brother Mason who was even more mysterious than the actual kidnapping case itself.
The book follows Chloe Baxter, a young girl trying to discover what happened to her best friend Henry Weaver and if he really was kidnapped. She sleuths with her friend Raf and as they did deeper they discover secrets that could change everything.
I found the characters wonderfully crafted and I fell in love with each and every one of them. Mason especially who just needed the biggest hug I could muster. Although I loved the characters, it wasn't what made me give the rating I gave this novel. In fact it all came down to the narrative structure that beautifully intertwined different perspectives together to make a coherent and readable mystery that was mesmerising and completely un-put-downable.
Everything came together and I was kept constantly in suspense until the very last page. I would absolutely love a sequel novel to this to see what happened to the characters after that ending. I also hope Mason finds someone who's got his back in more ways than one and that Chloe ends up becoming a detective or something just as reputable.
My only negative is probably Chloe's characterisation. Whilst she was interesting to read from, her narrative voice was dissimilar to other YA characters I read about. I wanted something to show her uniqueness rather than what I was given.
Nevertheless a gripping mystery that I would recommend to everyone!
ACTUAL RATING: 4.3 STARS
Now THAT'S how you write a mystery!
I've been through it all. I've read New York Times Bestselling mysteries and award winning ones too. None of them captured my attention as much as Deep Water did. This was wonderfully layered and I was constantly intrigued by the mystery of Henry Weaver and even more so, his brother Mason who was even more mysterious than the actual kidnapping case itself.
The book follows Chloe Baxter, a young girl trying to discover what happened to her best friend Henry Weaver and if he really was kidnapped. She sleuths with her friend Raf and as they did deeper they discover secrets that could change everything.
I found the characters wonderfully crafted and I fell in love with each and every one of them. Mason especially who just needed the biggest hug I could muster. Although I loved the characters, it wasn't what made me give the rating I gave this novel. In fact it all came down to the narrative structure that beautifully intertwined different perspectives together to make a coherent and readable mystery that was mesmerising and completely un-put-downable.
Everything came together and I was kept constantly in suspense until the very last page. I would absolutely love a sequel novel to this to see what happened to the characters after that ending. I also hope Mason finds someone who's got his back in more ways than one and that Chloe ends up becoming a detective or something just as reputable.
My only negative is probably Chloe's characterisation. Whilst she was interesting to read from, her narrative voice was dissimilar to other YA characters I read about. I wanted something to show her uniqueness rather than what I was given.
Nevertheless a gripping mystery that I would recommend to everyone!
ACTUAL RATING: 4.3 STARS
meegreads's review against another edition
5.0
I admit that I should have read this a little quicker (although shift work often gets in the way) but oh my goodness when I was able to actually give it my full attention I loved this. In a gut-wrenching, I don't want to keep reading but I must kind of way. While it was partly predictable, this book did surprise me in the way you start to feel as though you're with the characters and wanting to know if Henry gets the justice he deserves. Would highly recommend this to anyone wanting an Australian YA thriller.
maree_k's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
Great fast-paced YA thriller
missusb21's review against another edition
Clever blend of genre fiction with layers of contemporary insight.
emiliereadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
abendacott's review against another edition
5.0
Honestly, I was hooked very early in the book. Epstein's writing is quick, clear, and draws you in - I was desperate to know what had happened to Henry, the changes in time/perspective gave nuance to the various characters (and did a brilliant job of pointing out that a narrator can be really wrong, not only about facts but also in regard to their own conduct), and the cleverness of the title and how the theme ran through the whole book...just a fabulous piece of writing.
celinewritesstuff's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 out of 5. I was interested in the story but not gripped until the second half. The start was a lot of alluding to the secrets everyone is hiding, but once you pass that it begins to feel more like a good mystery. I think young adult readers will become hooked by the story and relate to the strong ensemble of characters. All the characters are truly realistic and you can analyse their motives to understand their actions, whether you agree with them or not.
Full review here: https://celwritesstuff.wordpress.com/2020/04/23/deep-water-by-sarah-epstein-review/
Full review here: https://celwritesstuff.wordpress.com/2020/04/23/deep-water-by-sarah-epstein-review/