Across the Water by Ingrid Alexander
Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense
Read: 1st August 2021
Published: 9th July 2021
★★ 2 stars
DESCRIPTION:
Secrets can pull you under…
In a remote, boat-access only house, Liz Dawson’s lifeline to the real world is her window, where she watches the people who live in the three identical houses that sit side by side across the creek. But it’s the middle house Liz finds herself drawn to most: the beautiful young mother, Delilah Waters, and her baby.
When Dee and her baby go missing, last seen by the murky waters of Oyster Creek, it is a suspected murder-suicide. After all, it’s no secret that Dee Waters never wanted children. She wasn’t coping with the baby. Everyone in the town believes she leapt to her death, taking her child with her. Everyone except Liz.
Wrestling with her own demons, Liz risks everything to uncover a truth that becomes more complex with every twist. Of all people, Liz knows that just because someone is a reluctant mother, it doesn’t mean they don’t love their child. And it doesn’t mean they’re capable of murder… does it?
The Woman in the Window meets The Hand that Rocked the Cradle, Across the Water explores the darker side of motherhood, the pressure to conform, and how women’s choices shape their fate.
MY REVIEW:
As this book is set in Australia I was immediately drawn to it, but then that doesn't always mean it will make it a good read let alone a good thriller. But the premise gave one that eerie atmospheric chill of a cross between voyeurism and obsessiveness. The tagline promotes "The Woman in the Window meets The Hand that Rocks the Cradle" which promises something of a creepy read. And I couldn't wait to get started.
Newlyweds Adam and Liz Dawson have just arrived in the remote area in the Myall Lakes, some three hours north of Sydney, and soon discover that it is a far cry from the bustling noise of East London to which they are used. But Adam's father has recently passed away and the couple have arrived in the regional town to organise his house that sits alongside a tidal creek in a row of other deserted homes before selling it and returning to the UK. It's a temporary move until they are able to purchase their dream house with money from the estate.
Whilst Liz sorts out his father's effects Adam commutes to Sydney to organise his father's business and legal affairs, but the long days leave Liz feeling alone in the old house. She begins to occupy herself by watching her neighbours on the other side of the creek from the loft window. Across the water, on the inhabited side, are three occupied houses in which Dee, Rob and baby Ruby live next to an older couple Erica and Samir with an adjoining gate to one another's yards. In the third house resides handsome bartender Zac, who has a habit of startling as well as flirting with Liz. He once told her, upon indicating his house, that if she were to scream he would hear.
Liz spends her lonely days and nights watching from her window, even using Adam's father's binoculars which he kept there for bird watching. Even a power blackout amidst a storm doesn't keep her from her new occupation. She becomes hooked on watching the lives of her neighbours, idly wondering what causes the obvious friction between the two women and the pensiveness she sees in an often naked Dee by her window at night, with whom she becomes particularly obsessed. Dee is a struggling new mother with a young baby who is the image of her...and yet Liz often finds herself wondering where is her husband?
And then Dee turns up at her house one night with an obvious slur to her words and the need for company. The two women share a few drinks and when Liz offers to listen should she need to talk, Dee gives her a strange look. Then a ping of a text on her phone and Dee suddenly makes her excuses and is gone before Liz knows what happened. What was that all about?
The following day, Dee and her baby Ruby are missing and Liz is frantic to uncover the truth behind her disappearance. Because, she realises, she must have been the last person to see Dee alive. Who amongst her neighbours is harbouring the secret of what happened to Dee and baby Ruby? And can she discover the truth before it's too late?
Although Liz is the main narrator, the story also unfolds through the perspectives of Dee and Erica though their narratives move back and forth in time leading up to Dee's disappearance. I am used to this type of narrative and timeline, but even I found it a little confusing at times and had to go back to clarify what month, day and time I was actually in now.
ACROSS THE WATER moves at a steady pace and although it isn't mentioned, it bears an uncanny resemblance to Paula Hawkins' "The Girl on the Train" with the voyeuristic nature of its narrative. Unfortunately, I don't think it was as interesting or as engaging as "The Girl on the Train" and I found myself losing interest about halfway. But as it was a quick read, I stayed with it hoping it would improve. It did offer a surprising twist I didn't anticipate which was a refreshing surprise.
I wouldn't call ACROSS THE WATER a thriller as such...more of an atmospheric psychological mystery that has an eerie creepiness that lends itself to the thriller genre.
There was one aspect that I feel I must point out as misleading and incorrect. Plovers. Annoying noisy birds that nest where ever the hell they like and attack you for even venturing near. They are not native to that specific area around the Myall Lakes but are found throughout Australia. We have them here and they are something of a menace. But I guess for the story to work, it had to be such.
Another thing I didn't like was the pure crassness of some of the language. I mean, I can take swearing in books but this was on another scale that I was just uncomfortable with.
Still...if you like atmospheric thrillers that are creepy and claustrophobic, then I'm sure you will like ACROSS THE WATER. For me, I can't rate it past 2 stars.
I would like to thank #IngridAlexander, #Netgalley and #OneMoreChapter for an ARC of #AcrossTheWater in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Her work has previously been long-listed for The Ampersand Prize and while living in London, Ingrid had the privilege of being mentored by the Guardian First Novel Award shortlisted and Nestle Prize winning author Daren King.
THE NEW GIRL was her first psychological thriller, debuting in July 2018. Her second, ACROSS THE WATER, was published on 9th July 2020.
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