Having enjoyed both The Prank and The Twins, I was delighted to read an e-ARC of L.V Matthew’s third psychological thriller. This is another great book!

Jen Harper, a police diver, is called in to help with the search for missing woman Claudia Franklin, who, it is believed, may have drowned in the river. But Jen knows Claudia – at least, she used to. She hasn’t seen her for years. Or has she?

The unusual premise lends itself to a unique perspective – that of a police diver. Matthews has created a cast of fascinating and believable characters and a gripping story. I highly recommend this book – dive in!

Another great book from Matthews! I read The Twins last year and it blew my mind so as soon as I had seen Silent Waters on NetGalley, I knew I had to read it! So thank you to NetGalley, Welbeck Publishing and Matthews for this digital copy!

Here we get insight into the world of police diving, something I’ve not seen much of in books. I found it fascinating to read about and it worked very well in the thriller/mystery genre. This atmospheric story really had me guessing throughout and there were definitely twists I didn’t see coming. Matthews really knows how to craft a gripping story!

* Please research any trigger warnings before reading *

This layered thriller with an unreliable narrator is a book you will pick up and not put down until you are done. What is Claudia to Jen and who really is Jen?

Thank you for NetGalley for providing me with this book for review. This book is amazing, the plot twists and turns will keep you on edge right until the final pages, then you will be left wanting more.

Was a very dark thrilling story. Full of twists and turns and kept you wondering what would come to light next.

I liked the concept of this one as I've never read a book from the perspective of a police diver before and it's always nice to have something a bit different, refreshing within this genre.

I enjoyed the writing style and the dialogue between characters felt realistic and natural.

I would say that the pace in the first half was a bit slow-going, but overall I did enjoy the book and would recommend it.

This is the first novel I've read by the author and it was an uncomfortable read due to a contemporary case of a missing woman.
Jen Harper is a police diver who is called in to dive in the search for a missing woman, Claudia Franklin. Jen doesn't tell her colleagues or manager that she knew Claudia and has a connection to her family.
The novel started off well and I liked the originality of it being told from the point of view of a police diver. However, I found that generally the novel was a little slow paced, the writing didn't flow and I felt that there was too much focus on Jen's sleep disturbance (for me, this is a bit of an over used theme in current thrillers).
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

This was just spellbinding. I was utterly captivated from the start and the book kept me intrigued throughout.

This is one of those cleverly written, layered thrillers that just keep on making your head sping the whole way

The characters are realistically written and 3d. They're complex and don't always opt for the "right" choice. It's that question of how far a person will go to save themselves and protect their own even when it may not be morally right.

The story keeps a good pace throughout, it's quite slow going but it really needs to be for the level of complexity it weaves. There is so much going on and it isn't until the end that you realise just how complicated this tangled Web is. There are so many strands and they all come together flawlessly. There are no plot holes or loose ends, the natural conclusion is just Brought together perfectly.

It's very character led but it never feels boring or stilted. There is this amazingly eerie atmosphere built up throughout and the descriptions underwater make you feel like you are down there with her. It's such a unique plot and premise and the underwater setting gives it a whole new dimension.

A must read

Liv Matthews weaves a masterful plot through the intriguing and murky world of police diving and the competitive backdrop Olympic sport, in a tale of obsession, old friendship and the lengths we go to protect the ones we love.
But Silent Waters is so much than these set pieces. The characters are dark, flawed and nuanced - the relationship between Jen and her young son, Sam, is particularly captivating. The writing is haunting and visceral, with a close eye for detail that makes the prose leap from the page - an image of a dead swan has stuck with me long after the final page. And the pace moves at lightning pace, always one step ahead of the reader.
An original and spell binding book, this is a must read thriller for 2023.

This was an unnerving book to read at this time. A novel about a police diving team looking for the body of a woman in a river strikes a bit too close to home given the current news.

This was a 'read now' book on Netgalley which I don't normally go for however this one really pulled me in. And I am so glad it did. If it is still read now, I would encourage everyone to go and grab a copy.

Such a well paced story, my favourite type of book which slowly drip feeds one little morsel after another leading to a very satisfying ending.

Thanks to Netgalley and Welbeck publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This is honestly the best book I’ve read in a long time! A brilliantly written, intense thriller, with so many twists and turns it compels you to keep on reading.
A crime story from a different perspective - not the usual detective, but a police diver - incredibly interesting and engaging.
I absolutely loved this book!

Silent Waters by L. V. Matthews.
At five a.m. one summer's morning, police diver Jen Harper wakes to find herself submerged in the silt of a river with no memory of how she got there.Forty-eight hours later, she's called to dive in the same river in search of a missing woman, Claudia Franklin.But for Jen, this is no ordinary job. Her and Claudia's families were entangled for decades – there is unresolved resentment between them, unspoken secrets.Jen hasn't seen Claudia for twelve years now. Or has she?
Really good read. I did like Jen. It wasn't who I thought it would be. 4*.