Disturbing the Water was definitely filled with fishy and ghoulish tales from the water. Horror fans are going to enjoy this collection of fishy campfire like stories.

These collections of stories were really entertaining and enthralling reads. Although the overall feel of the book really leans into the horror genre, each story had its own unique sub-genre that I really found quite compelling. What I especially loved about this book was the fact that all the stories center around the water and fishing. This plays a part in each story and in my opinion, what separates this book from others.
Another thing I really enjoyed was how every bad person really got their comeuppance, something that the author mentioned and delivered on in his introduction.
There is something for everyone who enjoys horror in this book. If you like historical fiction, paranormal romance, or even just enjoy reading about creepy bodies of water then this is the book for you.
Thank you to Netgalley, Cranthorpe Millner Publishers and Peter Wise for my eARC of this book.
All opinions are 100% my own.

Disturbing the Waters was just not the book for me because I found this book to be slow and boring for me. This was about ghost in the waters in different places and how the fisherman knew the lore and spread the spooky tales. Overall I could see how other people might like this but sadly for me I did not enjoy this book. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this book in exchange of my honest review.

It is an atmospheric read with the chilling stories being set in a swampy, watery, and/or fishing area. I agree when I say most of these gave off campfire ghost story vibes but I loved it. While all of them flowed very easily into the other it fell slightly short when trying to really creep me out. Maybe that's not the story's fault and more my overexposure to these. I also really enjoyed how richly built each little world and character felt.

Fairly okay. Not the best, but certainly readable. Some short stories were better than others, but the premise of them was really interesting.
The first story was the one that I liked the best, and the others fell a bit behind that one. But that might just be me and my preferences.

The fact that we live in a world where a book described as "13 ghost stories concerning fish, fishing, and fishy places" exists makes me disproportionately happy.

Just a really cute and clever hidden gem of a book. The stories do all take place around fishing, but the horror related plot points of each were surprisingly varied. The tone of the writing stays pretty quaint and old timey, but also manages to be clever in a tongue in cheek sort of way - particularly regarding the unavoidable pitfalls of human nature. Most stories have a little surprise at the end and convey some type of lesson. Such as, be careful what you wish for, learn from the past, if it's too good to be true, it probably is, etc.

This is not shaking in your boots (waders?) horror, but it's definitely eerie at times and always fun.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

The premise of this book sounds fantastic, a bunch of creepy short stories that are fish/fishing/water related, which as a marine bio girlie that loves all things spooky, sounded right up my alley. That being said, I think that these stories were very hit or miss. I don't know that any of them were truly scary, and most of them were just short stories that tried to have a more "ghostly" scene to them. Overall not bad, not great, but a super quick read nonetheless.

4.5 / 5.

* my TL:DR is at the bottom
** I would like to say a huge special thank you to NetGalley and Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for the opportunity to read the ARC for review.

What a great collection of ghostly stories centered around the art of fishing! I felt like I was there, reliving these stories in their respective time periods. Each feeling of their own urban legend, being passed down through generations. Peter Wise is a fantastic storyteller!

This is a great book for those who love varied ghost stories with hints of history and ethereal world building. It gave me many feelings from pity and sadness to goosebumps and cheering (the revenge story and orphan). If you don’t really care about fishing there are a few stories which do not really involve fishing at all, just a trophy fish or watery landscape may be present. Peter does a great job hooking you into each individually while making you yearn for more of the story once it’s finished.

All of the characters had dimension to them and are extremely relatable. The prose itself is beautiful, the flow and pacing are near perfection for each story. Even the dialogue between characters felt like a real conversation instead of being forced. The time, care, pride, and effort is noticeable.

It felt like the perfect length for an anthology, and I could easily re-read this one in October for years to come. Not only will fishing lovers enjoy it, but it’s a great book to read around a campfire to give everyone a little shiver. I look forward to reading more from this Author!

**There are some trigger warnings with death, child death, assault, violence, suicide.

TL:DR Breakdown
Book: 4.5/5 (I deducted .5 only because I’m not super crazy about fishing but the writing and stories are that good that it still captivated me)
Plots: 4.5/5 (all the curated stories are different and great, some I cared about more than others)
Characters: 5/5 (they feel like real people)
Settings: 5/5 (love the variety and carefully chosen places with history to boot)
Pacing: 5/5 (the stories feel quick to read)
Endings: 5/5 (I wanted more from many of the stories!)
Overall Prose: 5/5 (Such a talent! I am excited to see what he writes next!)
Re-Readability: 5/5 (Easily have a place on my shelf for this book)

"Dive deep into the murky depths of the supernatural with Peter Wise's "Disturbing the Water". For enthusiasts of haunting tales, this collection resonates with echoes of eminent authors like Robert Aickman and Reggie Oliver. At first glance, the intersection of ghost stories with the tranquil world of fishing might seem an unorthodox pairing. However, Wise masterfully intertwines the two, producing narratives that are both serene in ambiance and chilling to the core.

Each story flows with a pastoral elegance, immersing the reader in a landscape that's seemingly calm, yet teeming with spectral undertones. Wise's tales are a delicate balance: they captivate with eerie allure while evoking profound emotions, often in the same breath.

In "Disturbing the Water", one doesn't just read ghost stories; one experiences them, feeling the gentle ripples and sudden jolts in equal measure. Awarding this mesmerizing collection of spectral fiction a deserving 4 stars, I highly recommend it to those looking for a aquatic take on the paranormal genre."

A very interesting and entertaining change from your usual ghost(ly) stories. With fall and Halloween here it's the season to do your best to join in the creepfest atmosphere and these will definitely give you the edge on the story challenge. So gather round the campfire....or fireplace depending on the chill in the air....and share the stories, share the creep and share the eerie that you'll find in any one of these great, true stories.

4 stars

I’ve always had a fascination with stories taking place in/around waterways, So this was obviously a must for me. I loved every story. They were written very well, and were perfectly haunting.

A solid collection of spooky stories. Great authors. Perfect for Halloween. I look forward to buying this to add to my own book collection.

This was very well written. I am not an angler and I appreciated these stories. A few of them reminded me of fishing with my brother or dad a a little girl which were some nice memories to recall. I loved the ghostly and spooky aspect of this book. Not over the top, just a little unsettling. Pretty perfect for an October read. Thank you for the opportunity to read!

A book of 13 haunting stories which all involve fishing of some description. Now I'm not the least bit interested in fishing but I do like a book which deals with hauntings & water. These were mostly a mixed bag, with the one about a Victorian serial killer, & another about a group of friends out fishing in a boat with a broken radio being the standouts for me. None of them were particularly chilling but some have the reader tempted to 'bite' only to deliver a sting in the tail. If you are a keen fisher then these may appeal to you a little more.

My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Cranthorpe Millner Publishers, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

First I can’t tell you how much fun it’s been retelling the spooky stories to my 14 year old brother who’s just got into fishing. Like any good big sister I’ve traumatised him 😆. I love how different this book is the uniqueness, spookiness the lore of a fishermen tales. 13 spooky tales that followed so easily which good characters. I enjoyed the history in some of the stories. It’s a book full of spooky tales, a haunting love. a curse, urban legend. with lots of mystery and a uneasy feel on skin. Will definitely need a flash light if I’m near a fishing lake which I’ll never look at the same👻 I don’t think I could pick a favourite but I’m gonna say Dark Waters Thank you so much @peterwisebooks for this fab ARC Thank you @cranthorpemillner

This is one of the best ghost story collections I’ve read in a while. If you’re a fan of Robert Aickman or Reggie Oliver you will enjoy this book. It’s a strange choice for a theme for a ghost story collection but fishing turns out to be a good one. Pastoral and quiet in tone the tales are consistently gripping and moving in the same measure. A very good book of spectral fiction. Highly recommended.