The Waterman

Derry displays a lovely writing style that was almost poetic at times. I found myself rereading certain passages just to hear how the words rolled off my tongue. Since the story involves a 17th-century waterman, Robert did an outstanding job of using vivid language that brought the reader back time and again to the theme of water. This included everything from references to the sea, sand, salt, boats, and even drowning. Derry never lets the reader forget about the presence and power of water; however, the references were subtle and did not overpower the rest of the story.

I also found the blending of history with modern times to be quite appealing as the reader is given a sense of just how the actions of our ancestors can impact us even these many years later. My brain was in constant motion as I attempted to unravel the mystery on my own; however, this did not happen. In fact, I was stunned at the ending as I did not anticipate the many twists and turns this story would take, and within minutes of completing the book, I messaged Robert to convey this very feeling.