This powerful thriller is driven by the strength of its plot and the skilful, and at times highly visual quality of the prose. The latter is particularly evident in the descriptions of the weather and the sea. Books are often described as being “a page turner” meaning a desire on the part of the reader to get to the denouement. Here, the writing drives you towards the end, while at the same time you are so caught up in the events that you dread turning that page in anticipation of yet more tension.
From which you will realise that I found this to be a gripping tale from the first page when Lucy Locke, panicking about financial problems with the company she and her husband run, in the coastal town where she had lived until her early teens, is interrupted by a frantic hammering on her door. Their yacht is being towed in to the local harbour having been rescued from almost sinking. Her husband, Danial, had called in a Mayday but is now missing. With horror she then discovers that their son and her daughter by a previous partner (unidentified even by Lucy who had been a bit of a tearaway) are also missing and believed to have been with Daniel on the boat.
In the face of a record breaking storm, she sails out with her ex-boyfriend as part of a flotilla in an attempt to find them. Daniel is rescued by the Coastguard helicopter, but the children remain missing. He tells the police, in the form of Detective Inspector Rose, that he has killed the children to punish ‘that bitch’. Lucy refuses to believe this, although there appear to be potential motives related to problems in both of their pasts, and sets out to solve the puzzle and save the children. Inspector Rose meanwhile is carrying out his own investigation, despite a serious health problem.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

The Rising Tide by Sam Lloyd Pub Date 8 July 2021
Life can change in a heartbeat.
Lucy has everything she could wish for: a beautiful home high on the clifftops, a devoted husband and two beloved children.
Then one morning, time stops. Their family yacht is recovered, abandoned far out at sea. Lucy's husband is nowhere to be found, and as the second's tick by, and she begins to wonder - what if he was the one who took the boat? And if so, where is he now?
As a once-in-a-generation storm frustrates the rescue operation, Lucy pieces together what happened onboard. And then she makes a fresh discovery. One that plunges her into a nightmare more shocking than any she could ever have imagined.
The Rising Tide is a well-written, descriptive and dramatically chilling story that held my interest from the first word to the last. It has many twists and turns that spiral in and out that keep you speculating to the end: compelling characters and an alluring setting beside a raging sea.
The end of the story is heart-breaking. But, would there be the answers needed to understand the actions taken or just pain and loss?
I enjoyed this novel, and I highly recommended it.
I want to the NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and author Sam Lloyd for a pre-publication copy to review.

I’d like to thank Random House UK, Bantam Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Rising Tide’ by Sam Lloyd in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Lucy and Daniel live in their house on the clifftops high above the Devon coast and one morning Daniel’s abandoned boat is found drifting out at sea. Daniel is nowhere to be found and it’s soon realised that their daughter Billie and son Fin are missing too. A search is underway but a severe storm is brewing and lives will be at risk.

I’d not read anything by Sam Lloyd before and from the description of ‘The Rising Tide’ I had great expectations as it sounded my kind of book but right from the start I just couldn’t get into the story. I found the plot slow and confusing, repetitive and hard to follow and I was skipping pages before I was half way through as I realised I had no interest in what was happening or was going to happen, eventually giving up. I’m sorry I couldn’t finish this novel but I’m sure other readers will love it, it’s just not my type of book.

After having read and enjoyed The Memory Wood, I was keen to give Sam Lloyd's next book a go.

I started this book when I went to bed and stayed up until 2 am. Just a few more pages, I said. Just one more chapter, I said. And on and on it went until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.
I hardcore LOVED this book. I didn't know what I was expecting going into it, but it wasn't this. This will stay with me as a favourite of the year, I'm so grateful I got a chance to read an ARC, and I will be buying a copy of this book and forcing it down everyone's throats for the foreseeable future.
Lucy Locke is fire as the protective mother character (if you read and enjoyed The Chain by Adrian McKinty - here you go!) and I could not get enough.

I highly recommend this book. But... Don't blame me if you cry at the end!

This has got to be in the Top 10 thrillers of 2021. It is absolutely extraordinary
From start to finish this story is rollercoaster of fear and emotions that has you gripped to the last page. There are so many twists and turns and just when you think you might be getting it it takes you down another unsuspecting road that just keep you reading into the small hours because you need to know what happens next. The ending will have you on the edge of your seat and so unsuspecting . An absolutely brilliant read that I cannot recommend enough

How to unpack this story and do it justice in a review. It was chilling! Absolutely shot full of deep dark secrets and mystery. When the Huntsman sailed out into the storm, I was terrified. The author painted such an amazing image, I was hanging on for fear of being washed overboard. It was so vivid I could feel my heart racing because I don’t like water!
The thread of evil running through the book was palpable. My heart ached for Lucy and her children but was she as innocent as we thought? Did something lurk in her past and now was payback and what about Daniel?
I loved the character Bibi Trixibelle Carter as well and the lovely calming effect she had on DI Rose.
The end of the story was heart-wrenching. What would happen? Would there be a winner or just pain and loss? You really must read this book. It’s just fabulous.

All is going well in life and marriage for Lucy Locke with her thriving business, The Drift Net cafe and community space, and her husband Daniel’s marine engineering business which he runs with his best friend Nick Povey. Lucy has an 18 year old daughter, Billie, from a previous relationship and a six year old son, Fin, with Daniel.

Their cosy family life comes to an abrupt halt one day when Daniel’s boat, The Lazy Susan, is found adrift off the North Devon coast near their home. No one is on board and the situation worsens when Lucy discovers that Billie and Fin are missing too. A major storm is approaching and many in the community, including Lucy's ex Jake, go out in dangerous conditions as part of the area wide search and rescue mission.

Lucy is convinced that Daniel would not do anything to harm the children but as we learn more about the back stories of Lucy, Daniel and Nick this seems less likely to the reader.

This is a well-written tense drama with a decent conclusion and plenty of twists and turns on the way.

With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was looking forward to reading this, as I found the blurb enticing and the cover appealing. However, it just wasn't for me. I found the present-tense narration clunky, the characters uninteresting (it's so difficult to write child characters without them feeling cloying), and ultimately I just wasn't interested in the story.

I loved this novel. So many twists and turns in an original story. Dark, chilling, shocking and gripping. Interesting characters and an appealing setting in a coastal village beside a stormy sea. Highly recommended. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this novel. This is my unbiased review.

I received a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books.

I loved ‘The Memory Wood’ so I had high expectations for this one.

Ahhhhh I really wanted to like this but I just couldn’t. I didn’t enjoy this at all.

The formatting wasn’t the best. It had mini chapters within each chapter but they didn’t signify a change in character, time period or location.

It constantly changed time period which was sometimes hard to follow. There was never an obvious break in text when this happened, it just ran as one big paragraph.

I felt like the whole book just dragged on forever and it was never ending. I just wasn’t interested but I forced myself to finish it, hoping it would get better.

The only thing I actually liked was the last paragraph, as sad as it was.

It’s such a shame as I absolutely loved ‘The Memory Wood’ and it was very well written!

Another brilliant book from Sam Lloyd. I enjoyed this book as much as his debut. I loved the atmosphere of this book. You could feel the intensity of the story through its location and the raging storm. Knowing the area the book is set in and living near the sea, I could visualise and feel all the tension and action as it was brought to life through the pages of the book. I thought all the characters were very well written and I especially liked Lucy and the Lead detective Abraham. This books has plenty of twists and turns that keep you going right to the end which left me feeling strangely emotional for a crime thriller novel. Definitely a recommended read.

I enjoyed very much the first 2/3 of this book - very good mix of tension and whodunit - the last 1/3 however was a bit of a let down. To make the 'villain' someone who you did not know thought the first 2/3 of the book is always a mistake as its difficult to be shocked or indeed care too much.
I have to say the reasons for committing the crime were not really clearly explained - obviously he was just a nutter but come on - there was no narrative built to understand how or why he really did it.
Finally it all became so far fetched at the end - no real peril as you just knew everyone you wanted to would survive.
Overall it was an ok read - if you read it by the pool on holiday you would happily leave it in the holiday resort for someone else to read. A throwaway book that will find a market.

I was given this book as an advanced reader copy from Netgalley and this is my honest review.

I really liked how twisty this book was, once I thought I had it all figured out then there would be another twist which would send my brain racing once again. I found some of the flashbacks interrupted the pacing of the story a little for me, could be because I read quickly and being an ARC it wasn’t always clear from the layout what was current and what was the past so it got a bit confusing at times. All in all though I would recommend this book to other people looking for a good thriller and I will be checking out more of this authors work.

I must be getting soft but I couldn’t not give this book the full 5 stars! It was so raw and desperate. Thirty seven year old Lucy Locke has left her sketchy past behind and she and husband, Daniel, have their crumbling but much loved home, their two beautiful children and their businesses are thriving. Well Lucy’s business is thriving, she runs the multi purpose Drift Net in the small town of Skentel on the coast of Cornwall. The Drift Net is a cafe, come art space, come community hub. Daniel and his business partner, best friend Nick Povey, run a marine engineering business but there are problems. Nothing that can’t be fixed.

But one day Lucy’s world comes crashing down. Her husband’s yacht, the Lazy Susan has been found drifting out at sea and there is a monster storm brewing. The coast guard has towed the boat back to port but there is no sign of Daniel. Worse is to come. Lucy learns that Daniel has taken their young son, Fin, out of school for a non-existent dental appointment. The mayday call from her husband is non sensical but she can clearly hear Fin Saying “no, daddy!” He is on the yacht - WAS on the yacht with Daniel. Then Lucy learns her 18 year old daughter, Billie is also missing.

Lucy’s fear is palpable. Search and rescue is scrambled, a helicopter joins the search but Lucy needs to be out there too, searching for her family. She persuades her former boyfriend, Jake, to take her out in the worsening weather. The sea is monstrous, repeatedly swamping the sturdy little boat. I felt seasick just reading it! Then suddenly, they see the rescue helicopter. It is winching someone aboard. But Lucy’s joy is short lived. Her husband has been saved but where are her children? And why did Daniel take them out in this wild weather?

Lucy is like an enraged mama bear. She is certain that Daniel loves her and the children but the police won’t even let her talk to him. Why did he do this? Lucy will stop at nothing to save her children but when she finally realises what is going on she is chilled to the bone. This can’t be happening! This book was so tense and intense. It is all about Lucy’s fear and you feel it acutely. As a mother myself I could really relate to it all. Lucy was such an awesome character. A former ‘wild child’ she has found the love of her life and returned to her roots to raise her children. In the end she realises she has to sacrifice everything she held dear to have a chance at redemption.

Wow, what an emotional roller coaster. I highly recommend this book to all thriller lovers. It will leave you breathless. It was my second book in a row featuring a cruel sea and it certainly added an element of drama to an already very dramatic story. I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I've not read any Sam Lloyd books before but after reading "The Rising Tide" I'd definitely be looking out for more. The author writes so well, keeping the action going and you wondering if the characters can be trusted or not. In this book Lucy seems the likeable/trustworthy character but your intuition is put in doubt by some very violent behaviour, and the reaction of her husband Daniel. Coupled with the mystery of her missing children and the race to rescue her family, it is definitely a page-turner.

I absolutely loved Sam Lloyd''s first novel The Memory Wood and so was delighted to receive an advance copy of The Rising Tide. This is the story of Lucy Locke who is married to Daniel with two children. One morning Lucy is shocked to learn that their boat has been found drifting out to sea with nobody aboard. Thngs go from bad to worse when Lucy discovers that not only is her husband missing but their two children were also on the boat and are also missing. Sam Lloyd is a gifted writer who has the ability to make the reader think they know what is happening only to discover that they'd been led up the garden path! I enjoyed this book immensely and await the author's next book with interest.

The opening pages of this book sucked me in and I absolutely loved the style and flow of the authors writing. I was utterly gripped and loved all the twists and turns.

You know when you get a really amazing first novel, which you shout to the rooftops to all your friends and family? And then the author launched their second, and it’s not quite there? Well this most certainly does NOT happen here!!

I adored Memory Wood, but The Rising Tide sweeps it away and replaces it with a throat grabbing tale of love, loss, and betrayal, and a villain you’ll never see coming. Twists, turns, ride-by-the-seat-of-your-pants ending? You’ve got the lot. Sam Lloyd writes stories that take you right to the heart of the action, and make you forget you’re even reading. Or breathing at times! I think he’s my new favourite author.

Don’t hesitate - read this.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“The True end of tragedy is to purify the passions.” Aristotle.

In a way I feel me taking The Rising Tide on was a bit masochistic. I have always had an indescribable fear of the sea. I think it has something to do with how little we know about it. It is a body of swelling emptiness, an ebbing flow of desolation and destruction. Water can give life but it can take it away just as easily. Lucy Locke and her family love the ocean, her children have grown up around it and in it, just what happens when a storm of a lifetime heralds the discovery of their family yacht with her husband, Daniel, nowhere to be found.

Sam Lloyd has a way of delivering recognizable thriller themes and shaking them up and cutting your throat with them. He led us down a path that was unexpected and littered with danger and threatening shadows. The Rising Tide is narrated by Lucy Locke who lives in the coastal town of Skental with her husband, Daniel, and two children, Fin and Billie. Her perfect life is soon turned on its head when Daniel maydays their boat and the shocks and turns catapult from that point onwards. The investigation is led by DI Abraham Rose, an eccentric police officer that is devout to his religion and married to his job.

Lucy is a pillar of the community and her marriage to Daniel is held in high regard. People are envious of their success in both business and love. They have a pretty spectacular house upon Mortis Point (a previous hanging site) Daniel is the joint owner of Locke-Povey Marine and Lucy built up The Drift Net a local art, music, and café venue. Their life together is starting to become unraveled with financial concerns with Locke-Povey Marine.

If you think that the events in The Rising Tide are random or left to chance fear not, Llloyd gives you exactly what you need when you need it. The narrative is smooth and gives an exemplary balance between emotion and action. This story will make you feel deep waves of pain and worry. The author has been able to bridge the gap between reader and story and I felt both conflicted and happy when the story came to a close. So much happened, to overcome, it blew me away.

The Rising Tide utilized the ocean, threatening skies, and storms as the birth of tragedy and purification. DI Rose seems like a force for good in a battle of good vs evil. He refers to biblical quotes to enhance his position and performance. At one point during the story, it felt like we moved from the written word to pure, raw emotion.

The Rising Tide is a story of one woman’s life unraveling, a story of pure escapism that loves to play with your heart, full of buried secrets that will have you guessing to the very end.

After absolutely loving Sam Lloyd's debut The Memory Wood I had rather high hope's for The Rising Tide.
For at least a good two thirds of this book I was disappointed. It felt slow and lacked the intrigue and intensity I had felt for The Memory Wood. I also didn't find any relatable characters but this is not always a problem for me if the thrill of the ride is still there.
I have to admit the pace did pick up in the latter part of the book and this is where the story did get exciting and I was finding myself eager to turn the pages.
But for me there were a few things that lacked depth and left me feeling disappointed, including some of the main reveals at the conclusion of the book.
If you fancy a loss at sea-based mystery and a mother's chase to save the one's she loves with a side helping of broken, honorable cop then you probably will enjoy this. I gave this book a 4 🌟 simply because it was a thrilling read in parts.