Intrigued to read this sampler after enjoying “the seven deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle”. A very mysterious start introducing us to some of the eclectic travellers due on the seventeenth century Batavia. The journey is already predicted to be a disaster... can’t wait to read more!

A bold, dark and utterly engaging beginning with strong world-building and intriguing characters. Though slightly difficult to grasp at first, the plot quickly thickens with suspense as a sinister warning is given by a leper without any tongue. The story delivered its first punch quickly and hooked me right in. The sampler ended on a note of high suspense and I cannot wait to find out what happens next. I am definitely looking forward to reading the complete book!

Utterly engaging, and immediately gripping. The author has a real talent as a wordsmith, and I can't wait to read the whole novel.

Intriguing start with promises of an adventure at sea. Interested in reading further. Started quite slowly but picked up with the introduction of the leper.

Yes! I LOVED The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle after a student lent me a copy and this looks like it will not disappoint!

Great start - we are thrown straight into the drama and are scrambling to make sense of the world around the characters, just as we were with Seven Deaths.

The characters are engaging and well developed (even this early on!) and I cannot WAIT to read the whole novel!

From Turton's Foreward through to the end of opening chapters, everything about The Devil and the Dark Water has my senses straining at the bit to get stuck in and read more. After the triumph of Seven Deaths, all the hallmarks of a rich and rewarding read to come are present in this sampler.
From the sights, sounds and smells of the docks in 1634 , to the class divisions and the immensely characterful descriptions of the about to be be passengers, right through to the mysterious leper and the rather splendid Governor's wife - everything about this screams 'must read'. Sinister goings on, petty thieves and arrogant masters, it's all here, just please, let's have the rest!

I absolutely loved The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, so when I saw this book I couldn't wait to find out more. A combination of crime novel and historical fiction, it's the perfect choice for me, combining my two favourite genres. From the sampler, I can tell that this is going to be a dark and mysterious story. I have no idea what's going to happen but I can't wait until October when I can finally read more.

The year is 1634 and we meet Samuel Pipps, a criminal known as The Sparrow, who along with his bodyguard Arent Hayes, are travelling in a convoy led by the Governor towards the docks to board the Saardam bound for Amsterdam. At the docks, the procession is met by a leper standing atop a pile of crates shouting for their attention. The governor disgusted at the man orders his immediate execution by fire, but not before then man can utter a chilling warning that the Saardam will not reach Amsterdam, and that all those who board the her will be ruined. As he is immersed in flames Arent assisted by the Governor’s wife tries to save him, but his injuries are too severe and they can only offer him a dignified death. Sammy meanwhile notices that the leper had no tongue yet spoke to them, was clearly lame but had climbed the crates, and showed signs of having been a ships carpenter. There’s clearly questions which need answers, and Sammy begs the Governors wife to stall the ship’s departure and allow him time to examine the body...

Truly this is the best opening chapter I have read in a long time. It’s the 17th century and we are immediately drawn into the atmosphere of a baying crowd, the noise and commotion of the docks, and introduced to incredibly fascinating characters! I adore historical fiction, and especially when it’s combined with elements of mystery and some sinister omens... this is right up my street, and exactly what I’ve been waiting for. This is clearly different from The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, which was an amazing novel, however Turton’s incredible style of writing and ability for a twisty complex plot are evident from the outset. This is story-telling at it’s finest.

5 big stars!

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing U.K./Raven Books for providing a sampler via NetGalley of ‘The Devil and the Dark Water’ by Stuart Turton. It is due to be published on 1 October.

This is one of the most anticipated novels of 2020, so it was great to have this sneak peak. I had been completely wowed by Turton’s debut novel, ‘The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle’, which was one of my favourite books of 2018.

This is a historical mystery set in 1634 focusing upon an eight month sea voyage that we know from history will end in tragedy. In Turton‘s own words: “I wanted the shipwreck, certainly. The heroism, definitely. I also wanted a big mystery. I wanted a prickly Sherlock Holmes figure and a Watson who wasn’t just asking daft questions. I wanted the occult and superstition, because they were such parts of the period. I wanted dread and adventure and the sense of being swept along on an epic journey, almost Tolkien-esque.”

I was leaping with joy reading this statement. I love historical mysteries especially with occult elements as this is an area of special interest for me.

Even though this was only the Prologue and opening two chapters, I was hooked and wanted more.

I have requested the full eARC from the publishers and will wait and see. Still, either way it’s a title that I will be buying as a birthday treat.

’m still not convinced it was a good idea to read this sampler as I don’t know how I can be expected to wait until October. ‘The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle’ was my one of my favourite books of 2018 and I just knew that I would feel the same excitement with ‘The Devil and the Water’. The sampler has proved beyond doubt that Stu Turton will send us on a wild and wacky ride on the Saardam. So many questions to be answered: Why is Samuel Pipps shackled and what did he do? Why is Sara Wessel so dismissive of her husband? How is a leper, with his tongue cut out and a disfigured leg, able to speak or climb a stack of crates? I just know that whatever we think it is, Stu Turton will turn it on its head. I’ve asked for the full copy and can only keep my fingers crossed I’m successful.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing UK/Raven Book and NetGalley for the ARC sampler

Loved this. I would love to read more, I'm so intrigued. What happened to lead up to this moment? What's going to happen next? What's going on?!

I have been really looking forward to this author's next book as I loved The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. I was not disappointed,exciting, dramatic and introducing some great characters. I definitely wanted to read on and find out what happens on The Saardam ! I can't wait until October.

Unfortunately this sample was just not long enough. I am now sitting here in anticipation of reading the full novel when it is released and I cannot wait.

Well this taster sample has well and truly done its work well. I’m already hooked, intrigued and very much looking forward meeting Arent and Pipps as the new, or should it be pre-cursor to Holmes and Watson. Can’t wait to read more.
I loved Seven Deaths and this appears to be equally well written and engaging from the off. It will undoubtedly be a bestseller. Thank you to the author and Bloomsbury for totally whetting my appetite.

This sampler provides the first two chapters to Stuart Turton's new book.

Having really enjoyed his debut for the uniqueness it provided I was unsure how his next book would live up to expectation. Having a sample to read has intrigued me with this next book, I found Turton's writing so easy to read.

I could see the Sherlock Holmes influence in the way Pipps character was figuring things out through observations.

Unfortunately this book doesn't seem like it will be for me. The opening chapters aren't particularly engaging, it's just a whirlwind of characters without much context. It didn't grab me, which is a shame.

As someone who absolutely adored Stuart Turton's debut, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, I have been waiting with baited breath for his next novel! When I heard it was going to be a historical novel, set in the 1600s, I was even more intrigued, And on the basis of this sampler, The Devil and the Dark Water is not going to disappoint!

From the very first page I was swept up in Turton's vivid recreation of the Dutch East Indies colony of Batavia, and in the mystery that promises to lie aboard the ship that will take a motley group of travellers back to Amsterdam.

Samuel Pipps, alchemist and detective, is being taken back to Amsterdam in chains. Protected only by his loyal bodyguard Arent Hayes, it is clear that he is accused of something terrible in Batavia. But what? And to what lengths will Arent be prepared to go in order to prove his friend's innocence?

Noblewoman Sara Wessel, meanwhile, defies her husband, the stern governor general of Batavia, to provide aid to a dying leper whose final words speak of a terrible evil that will befall all who dare to board the ship. But how can a leper whose tongue has been cut out speak such a prophecy? And how does a man with a disfigured leg climb a stack of crates to deliver such chilling words?

Given that all of these mysteries are contained before our cast even sets sail, I am confident that The Devil and the Dark Water will see a return to the mind-bending mysteries and seemingly impossible puzzles that made Evelyn Hardcastle such an engagingly thrilling read!

I’ve given in again and downloaded a sample despite knowing that it will be a tortuous wait for the novel to be published. But this was Stu Turton and having loved Seven Deaths I couldn’t resist.
There was just enough in these opening chapters to grip me. A woman who knew she was alienating her husband to care for someone who was in a lot of pain, a girl who was hidden away by her father ( I’m really looking forward to finding out why), a threat given but one I suspected would be ignored.
Very atmospheric, I almost felt I was there experiencing the fear, the heat and the smell.
Counting down the weeks until Oct 1st.

I probably shouldn’t have downloaded a sample of this book as I was already looking forward to reading this book and now I really am desperate to read the rest! This book is so immersive right from the beginning taking you into another World that feels so far away but so real at the same time. The first few chapters are already full of interesting characters and intrigue. I can’t wait to read more.

Absolutely intrigued. 'Seven Deaths' was my favourite novel of the last 3 years and it blew my mind. So many good, inventive, clever things about it. I've been waiting patiently for Stuart Turton's next and it's finally here. This sampler has me hooked. I can't wait to carry on reading...