Deep Water by Emma Bamford
The dark side of paradise is exposed when a terrified couple reveals their daunting experience on a remote island to their rescuers - only to realize they’re still in the grips of the island’s secrets - in this intense and startling debut.
When a Navy vessel comes across a yacht in distress in the middle of the vast Indian Ocean, Captain Danial Tengku orders his ship to rush to its aid. On board the yacht is a British couple: a horribly injured man, Jake, and his traumatized wife, Virginie, who breathlessly confesses, ‘It’s all my fault. I killed them’.
Trembling with fear, she reveals their shocking story to Danial. Months earlier, the couple had spent all their savings on a yacht, full of excitement for exploring the high seas and exotic lands together. Jake and Virginie start at the busy harbours of Malaysia and, through word of mouth, they learn about a tiny, isolated island full of unspoiled beaches. When they arrive, they discover they are not the only visitors and quickly become entangled with a motley crew of expat sailors. Soon, Jake and Virginie’s adventurous dream turns into a terrifying nightmare.
Now, it’s up to Danial to determine just how much truth there is in Virginie’s alarming tale. But when his crew make a shocking discovery, he realizes that if he doesn’t act soon, they could all fall under the dark spell of the island.
About the author
Emma Bamford, a freelance journalist, is working on an MA in prose fiction at University of East Anglia, UK. She is the author of Deep Water and the memoirs Casting Off and Untie the Lines. Find out more at EmmaBamford.com.
Review
‘Deep Water’ is a maritime take on a locked room mystery that starts with a naval vessel picking up distress signals in the middle of the Indian Ocean. They find a catamaran drifting with a couple onboard, the husband Jake unconscious and his wife Virgine very distressed and claiming that she killed them all. As she recounts her story we learn that she and Jake have given up their lives back in the UK, bought a boat and decided to sail around the Indian Ocean. But they have heard of nirvana, namely a deserted island 400 miles from anything where like-minded people gather each year. They made their way there and joined in the fun. But soon it becomes claustrophobic and dangerous!
As someone who grew up with a more alternative childhood, the idea of that island sounds like bliss to me! I'm always trying to persuade my friends to live in a commune. I enjoyed reading about Jake and Virginie’s story as it felt real and authentic, especially when it comes to the part about living on the ocean. This comes from the author’s experience and this gives the story substance and credibility. You feel the sun and water as you read about them and it has made me want to get back to the Maldives asap!
This was an enjoyable read that was suspenseful from the get-go right to the end! It reeled you in and I became engrossed in Virginie’s story and loved how it managed to weave past, present and future into one entertaining tale.
Let me know if you pick this one up.
