The old mill on the shores of Sette Water has seen tragedy in the past; the newcomers’ arrival seems to signal new sorrow. Nadianna sees a body in the water; a blackened, almost unrecognizable object without arms or legs. When a police search fails to find the remains, they -- and everyone else -- believe that Nadianna imagined the whole thing. But the undercurrents in this bleak Yorkshire town are leading towards an explosion of violence, and long-held secrets are beginning to surface. A 19th century diary provides additional interest and acts beautifully to form a bridge between past and present.

I found myself caught fast by this complex, multi-layered mystery. Sad Water is written in an almost lyrical style, evoking a setting that is almost another character in itself. Holbrook creates a moody atmosphere in this bleak Yorkshire mill town, and this adds to the suspense as tension builds.

Holbrook also handles multiple points of view, something that often distances me from the characters, and the story, well, and I enjoyed the many small details that made the characters come alive. (The flip side of that is that I don’t really feel that this is a “Gayle Grayson” mystery, as her role is not exactly central, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t find her an interesting character.) All in all, this is a compelling read, likely to appeal to fans of Minette Walters and P.D. James.

--Jeri Wright