Woman in the Water (DS Imogen Grey #6) by Katerina Diamond
Genre: Crime fiction, thriller, police procedural
Read: 10th December 2019
Purchase: Amazon
(publication date: 11th November 2019)
★★★★★ 5 stars
I knew when I requested WOMAN IN THE WATER that was the sixth in the DS Imogen Grey series and, although I prefer to read a series in order and having only read the first book "The Teacher", it didn't deter me from reading it in this case. Why? Because Katerina Diamond always knows how to pack a punch! And I knew it would be worth the read regardless...and I wasn't wrong.
TRIGGER WARNING:
Domestic violence and rape.
DS Adrian Miles was on his way home one evening when he was sequestered by a group of women standing by a bridge. Upon investigating he discovered the body of a woman who had been badly beaten partially submerged in the icy water. What is even more surprising is that she is still alive! She is taken directly to hospital where she remains under police guard but when questioned they discover that she has no recollection of who she is, what happened or how she ended up in the river. But the bruises and marks on her body tell the tale of a woman in an abusive relationship. Having been the one to initially pull her to safety, Adrian feels somewhat responsible for the young woman and pledges to find out who she is and what happened to her.
When the badly mutilated body of a dead male is discovered in the river close by to where their "Jane Doe" was found, Adrian and Imogen are then tasked with the investigation into his murder. The similarities of their wounds and the close proximity in which they were both found leads the pair to believe they are related. After questioning Jane Doe in the hospital once again with the photo of the male, she claims no knowledge as to his identity or how he got there. A short time later, Jane Doe absconds from the hospital and, with no idea who she is or where she has run to (or from), Adrian and Imogen have no way of tracking her down.
When the male is soon identified as missing man Simon Glover, investigations lead them to Leon Quick with whom Simon had worked alongside at a construction company in Exeter some six months previously. But when Adrian and Imogen arrive to question Leon, he is so clearly terrified that instead of revealing why, he picks up a knife and stabs himself in the chest, bleeding out in Imogen's arms. What had Leon so terrified that he would much rather die than tell them?
Deeper digging lead them to Corrigan Construction, where both men were previously employed, and initial questioning at the company point them in the direction of their founder and managing director, Reece Corrigan. When Adrian and Imogen knock on his door they didn't expect to recognise the woman coming down the staircase as their Jane Doe. All traces of her battered body covered by expensive designer clothing, Angela Corrigan pretends to have never seen the two police detectives before. Her face is a mask of stony indifference. Picking up her silent pleas, Adrian and Imogen play along with her charade knowing she must have a very good reason for her pretense.
It is clear from the outset that Angela is a battered wife so the pair know to tread carefully in cases such as these. However, it also strikes somewhat closer to home for Adrian with his own family past and this causes him to take the case personally...especially when it comes to Angela's safety. He still feels responsible for her. So watching the house, they wait for Reece to leave before returning to question Angela alone. But they are up against years of conditioning to even come close to breaking down the walls Angela has built up around herself. And no matter how much they question her, or their promises to keep her safe, Angela refuses to help...knowing that there is nothing anyone can do. This is her life. This is her fate. Helping her will only cost other people dearly...just as it had cost Simon his life.
It is clear from this point on that Reece Corrigan is guilty as sin but the question is how do they get him without putting Angela in harm's way? His obvious methods of abuse have kept her in line for years, he knows she won't step out of it now. The man is a narcissistic piece of work who knows no boundaries when it comes to protecting his status, his life and his position. He really believes he is untouchable...and what's more important is that Angela also believes he is untouchable. When deeper investigations reveal that anyone who tried to befriend or help Angela came off second best...by losing a limb, through an accident on site, or even losing their life. Angela knew this and refused to help police for fear of what that would mean for them.
But Adrian refuses to back down. He will not let a bully like Corrigan intimidate him or get away with abusing his wife. He resolves to find a way to get Corrigan one way or another and sets about digging into his financials, his business and his past. But Adrian has underestimated Corrigan's power, just as Angela had feared he would, and one night when walking home from the pub he senses someone following him. Too late, he is beaten and bundled into a van. Who are these people? What do they want with him? When realisation dawns, Adrian knows he must accept his fate if is to get out of this alive.
In the midst of everything is the relationship between Adrian and Imogen. They are partners, they are best friends and now they are lovers. But it is still secret. Or is it? It seems more than one person has cottoned on to thei "not-so-secret" relationship, so what does this mean for their partnership? Even more so, what does this for their relationship? I did get a little irritated with Imogen constantly second guessing and questioning their relationship. It just seemed to go in circles and never go anywhere. It was a little annoying. But on the other hand, I wish Adrian would confide in Imogen. I really don't see why he doesn't. I know I'm not a man and don't think like they do, but doesn't it go without saying? Especially when they resolved to keep no secrets from each other.
One of my favourite aspects with this series, as well as Diamond's writing style, is that she gives us all aspects of the story while still keeping just enough hidden from full view. I love how we get not only the police procedural side of the investigation but also the various other players in the story. I feel it gives the whole story more depth rather than just a wooden procedural that tells readers nothing else but the investigation. And I especially loved the "alternate" chapters from Angela's perspective as we got to catch a glimpse into her world and just how confining it really is.
While I haven't read any of the books in between I still found WOMAN IN THE WATER easy to follow and completely addictive. I may not have all the backstory of each of the characters and I honestly don't remember DS Adrian Miles had he featured in "The Teacher", but even so, this did not deter my enjoyment of this compelling thriller at all. It has prompted me to try to find time to catch up on them.
A hard-hitting police procedural that pulls no punches, WOMAN IN THE WATER is gripping from the very start. It is fast-paced with short snappy chapters that leave you wanting more as you continue to turn pages long into the night.
It is incredibly difficult to review this book without giving away any spoilers and even though we know who the bad guy is throughout much of the story, we are still treated to a massive twist at the end with a surprise revelation most will not see coming! Admittedly, I had begun to piece it together...but only towards the end...and only through some weird coincidence in thinking that there had to be something else - something so shocking under normal circumstances that would seem right at home in a Katerina Diamond thriller. And she did not disappoint. That was a twist and it was shocking...but it was brilliant!
If you love your thrillers or police procedurals dark, disturbing and twisted, then you will love WOMAN IN THE WATER! It's Katerina Diamond at her best...even though I've only read one other. I loved this book, aside from the few flaws, as I think the rest of the book far outweighs them anyway. I look forward to seeing where her next book in this series takes us.
Highly recommend!!
I would like to thank #KaterinaDiamond, #NetGalley and #AvonBooksUK for an ARC of #WomanInTheWater in exchange for an honest review.
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