Into the Water by Paula Hawkins book review

BLURB

In the last days before her death, Nel called her sister. Jules didn't pick up the phone, ignoring her plea for help.

Now Nel is dead. They say she jumped. And Jules has been dragged back to the one place she hoped she had escaped for good, to care for the teenage girl her sister left behind.

But Jules is afraid. So afraid. Of her long-buried memories, of the old Mill House, of knowing that Nel would never have jumped.

And most of all she's afraid of the water, and the place they call the Drowning Pool . . .


MY THOUGHTS

I finally got round to reading Into the Water by Paula Hawkins at the weekend and I had it finished in just a couple of days. A lot of people will be hoping for another Girl on the Train when they read this, Into the Water isn’t The Girl on the Train but what it does have is that same addictive quality, I have been gripped by both of Paula’s books and I can’t wait to read more from her.

In the beginning we learn that Nel Abbott has died, her body has been found in the river which has defined the village of Beckford over the years; wherever you go in the town you always appear to find yourself close to the waters edge. The river was once used for drowning women accused of witchcraft in the middle ages. But Nel Abbott isn’t the first person who has been found dead in the water in recent years. In the final days prior to her death, Nel has been desperately trying to reach her sister Jules, who has been ignoring her calls. Now Jules feels guilty that she didn't do more to help her sister, what was it that Nel was so desperate to talk to her about? Could Jules have prevented her death?

Into the Water is a novel that you do have to concentrate on when you’re reading it. It can be hard trying to keep up with all the different narratives. But once you get into the story, you soon get to realise who all the characters are and I found every one of them engaging. 

I really liked how Paula keeps you guessing throughout the story and there were some surprising twists and turns, I liked getting to know all the different characters, I think my favourites would have to be Lena and Jules, it was interesting to see how their relationship developed in the wake of Lena’s mother’s death as a lot of tensions in their household ran high.

Outstanding writing from Paula Hawkins and a very enjoyable read.  

Publisher: Doubleday 

Publication date: 2nd May 2017

Print length: 368 pages

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