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The Water Doesn't Lie
Even the water can give up its secrets...
When a body is found early on a Sunday morning fully clothed face down in a lake, initial enquiries tend to indicate a tragic accident has occurred.
Detective Sergeant Barry Dalton attends the scene and at first, with no visible marks or injuries on the deceased, all appears to be in order, but a post mortem on the body starts a chain of events that will expose dark secrets from the past that have remained concealed for many years.
DS Dalton and DI Gibb investigate and uncover a series of further deaths that certain people are at pains to be recorded as sudden deaths or accidents to assist the offender and to avenge the previous wrongdoings.
What is the reason why the circumstances of the deaths have been manipulated? Who is responsible and why? What are they trying to conceal?
The more enquiries Dalton and Gibb make, the larger the puzzle gets.
The trigger point to the enquiry lies in the water...
A crime story that will keep you guessing until the end.
When a body is found early on a Sunday morning fully clothed face down in a lake, initial enquiries tend to indicate a tragic accident has occurred.
Detective Sergeant Barry Dalton attends the scene and at first, with no visible marks or injuries on the deceased, all appears to be in order, but a post mortem on the body starts a chain of events that will expose dark secrets from the past that have remained concealed for many years.
DS Dalton and DI Gibb investigate and uncover a series of further deaths that certain people are at pains to be recorded as sudden deaths or accidents to assist the offender and to avenge the previous wrongdoings.
What is the reason why the circumstances of the deaths have been manipulated? Who is responsible and why? What are they trying to conceal?
The more enquiries Dalton and Gibb make, the larger the puzzle gets.
The trigger point to the enquiry lies in the water...
A crime story that will keep you guessing until the end.
403 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 22, 2023
3 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 18, 2023
A body is discovered. Detectives find horrific truth while postmartem. They did deep. They come to know that this is not the first time like this happened.
There are many bodies who have changed after the death.
What's that eerie secret coming out?
Who's doing all this?
What they gain?
It's a fine and detective story
I always loved the no nonsense kind of stories.
Liked this.
There are many bodies who have changed after the death.
What's that eerie secret coming out?
Who's doing all this?
What they gain?
It's a fine and detective story
I always loved the no nonsense kind of stories.
Liked this.
January 27, 2024
Spoilers: Kim Booth’s The Water Doesn’t Lie excels at a mystery that is suspenseful and engaging but is unfortunately investigated by two detectives who so far are interchangeable and completely unidentifiable.
In 1984, Thomas Ferguson, a young boy at the Lannercraig Children’s Home in Glasgow took his own life. Detective Sergeant Douglas Beattie and Detective Constable Jim Callender investigated the death and allegations of sexual and physical abuse at the children’s home. When they found out some prominent people were involved in covering up the allegations, they were ordered to drop the case. However, Callender and especially Beattie never let the case go and it continued to haunt them even into promotion and retirement.
21 years later in Lincoln Central Lincolnshire, a dead man is found and appears to have been physically assaulted and drowned. He is identified as Father Patrick Burman and one of his previous places of employment was, you guessed it, the Lannercraig Children’s Home in Glasgow. Detective Sergeant Barry Dalton and Detective Inspector Alex Gibb investigate Burman’s murder and several other mysterious deaths of people affiliated with the Lannercraig case. They travel to Glasgow to solve the case and maybe deliver some long delayed justice to the perpetrators and their victims.
The mystery in this book is compelling particularly when Dalton and Gibb arrive in Glasgow and pool their resources with Beattie and Callender. There is a sense that this case needed to be resolved and that its victims suffered tremendous pain and trauma not just from the abuse but the long wait for those who hurt them to seek some form of accountability.
The detective’s interviews with the former children, now grown up but still hurting, are some of the most emotional passages. We see these characters deal with their trauma in different ways such as one who fell into a criminal life and saw no honest way out of it. Another tried to live as a successful business executive but it’s only a front for a still traumatized child who hasn’t yet come to terms with what happened. The abuse that they endured left painful physical and emotional scars to the point that the Reader hopes that the ones who hurt them and were murdered suffered horribly before their deaths.
The emotional core is in the murder investigation but the characterization of the investigators leave something to be desired. Dalton and Gibb don't have a lot going for them. There is no discussion of their home lives or any information that makes them distinct. They are both married and one is a father and that's all we know about them. I know Booth probably wanted to move beyond typical detective tropes but that's no reason to make them boring. There really is nothing there about them.
In fact, Water Doesn't Lie has a better investigation team in Beattie and Callender. With Beattie, we have the retiree who still wants to see justice done and is still haunted by that which is still unsolved. With Callender, there is the one still on the inside doing his best in a system that he knows is flawed and corrupt. I fantasized what it might have been like if the mystery involved them and not Dalton and Gibb, even perhaps separated by decades with Beattie taking the investigation in 1984 and Callender instead investigating in modern Glasgow. I am left to wonder, “Did they even need to go to Lincolnshire?”
A strong mystery is a great aspect to Water Doesn't Lie but it needs better detectives and more characterization so Dalton and Gibb don't end up as “One Book Wonders.”
In 1984, Thomas Ferguson, a young boy at the Lannercraig Children’s Home in Glasgow took his own life. Detective Sergeant Douglas Beattie and Detective Constable Jim Callender investigated the death and allegations of sexual and physical abuse at the children’s home. When they found out some prominent people were involved in covering up the allegations, they were ordered to drop the case. However, Callender and especially Beattie never let the case go and it continued to haunt them even into promotion and retirement.
21 years later in Lincoln Central Lincolnshire, a dead man is found and appears to have been physically assaulted and drowned. He is identified as Father Patrick Burman and one of his previous places of employment was, you guessed it, the Lannercraig Children’s Home in Glasgow. Detective Sergeant Barry Dalton and Detective Inspector Alex Gibb investigate Burman’s murder and several other mysterious deaths of people affiliated with the Lannercraig case. They travel to Glasgow to solve the case and maybe deliver some long delayed justice to the perpetrators and their victims.
The mystery in this book is compelling particularly when Dalton and Gibb arrive in Glasgow and pool their resources with Beattie and Callender. There is a sense that this case needed to be resolved and that its victims suffered tremendous pain and trauma not just from the abuse but the long wait for those who hurt them to seek some form of accountability.
The detective’s interviews with the former children, now grown up but still hurting, are some of the most emotional passages. We see these characters deal with their trauma in different ways such as one who fell into a criminal life and saw no honest way out of it. Another tried to live as a successful business executive but it’s only a front for a still traumatized child who hasn’t yet come to terms with what happened. The abuse that they endured left painful physical and emotional scars to the point that the Reader hopes that the ones who hurt them and were murdered suffered horribly before their deaths.
The emotional core is in the murder investigation but the characterization of the investigators leave something to be desired. Dalton and Gibb don't have a lot going for them. There is no discussion of their home lives or any information that makes them distinct. They are both married and one is a father and that's all we know about them. I know Booth probably wanted to move beyond typical detective tropes but that's no reason to make them boring. There really is nothing there about them.
In fact, Water Doesn't Lie has a better investigation team in Beattie and Callender. With Beattie, we have the retiree who still wants to see justice done and is still haunted by that which is still unsolved. With Callender, there is the one still on the inside doing his best in a system that he knows is flawed and corrupt. I fantasized what it might have been like if the mystery involved them and not Dalton and Gibb, even perhaps separated by decades with Beattie taking the investigation in 1984 and Callender instead investigating in modern Glasgow. I am left to wonder, “Did they even need to go to Lincolnshire?”
A strong mystery is a great aspect to Water Doesn't Lie but it needs better detectives and more characterization so Dalton and Gibb don't end up as “One Book Wonders.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2023
Esta historia nos lleva a acompañar a los detectives Dalton y Gibb que acuden a una escena del crimen donde se encontró a un hombre en un lago pero, es claro que no fue un accidente si no que alguien quiso hacerle pasar por un accidente, pronto descubren que el hombre estuvo involucrado 20 años antes en un caso de abuso y maltrato infantil donde otras personas también estuvieron involucradas pero todos quedaron libres y ahora alguien los esta cazando uno por uno así que tienen que trabajar por descubrir quien esta buscando venganza.
Este libro sin duda tiene unas descripciones excelentes, el autor te sumerge por completo en la historia logrando que te enganches y quieras descubrir la verdad, teniendo varios giros y sospechosos logra que la trama bastante compleja se desarrolle espléndidamente, puedes sentir tan reales los procedimientos policiales y te sientes partes de este equipo de detectives tratando de encontrar las pistas que te llevaran al culpable.
Los personajes sin duda se sienten bastante reales y las interacciones entre ellos son muy naturales, con algo de humor entre ellos hacen mucho mas amena la historia sin duda muy bien realizados y me encantaron.
En general una novela policíaca muy interesante con giros y personajes que te mantienen todo el tiempo intrigado queriendo llegar a la conclusión correcta y que al final sin duda te sorprende.
Agradezco mucho al autor y a Booktasters por el envío del libro digital para esta colaboración me gusto mucho.
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This story leads us to accompany detectives Dalton and Gibb who go to a crime scene where a man was found in a lake but, it is clear that it was not an accident but that someone wanted to make him pass off as an accident, they soon discover that the man was involved 20 years earlier in a case of child abuse and mistreatment where other people were also involved but they were all free and now someone is hunting them one by one so they have to work to discover who is seeking revenge.
This book undoubtedly has excellent descriptions, the author completely immerses you in the story, making you hooked and wanting to discover the truth, having several twists and suspects, he manages to make the quite complex plot develop splendidly, you can feel the police procedures so real. and you feel part of this team of detectives trying to find the clues that will lead you to the culprit.
The characters certainly feel quite real and the interactions between them are very natural, with some humor between them they make the story much more enjoyable, undoubtedly very well done and I loved them.
In general, a very interesting detective novel with twists and characters that keep you intrigued all the time, wanting to reach the correct conclusion and that in the end undoubtedly surprises you.
I am very grateful to the author and Booktasters for sending the digital book for this collaboration, I really liked it.
Este libro sin duda tiene unas descripciones excelentes, el autor te sumerge por completo en la historia logrando que te enganches y quieras descubrir la verdad, teniendo varios giros y sospechosos logra que la trama bastante compleja se desarrolle espléndidamente, puedes sentir tan reales los procedimientos policiales y te sientes partes de este equipo de detectives tratando de encontrar las pistas que te llevaran al culpable.
Los personajes sin duda se sienten bastante reales y las interacciones entre ellos son muy naturales, con algo de humor entre ellos hacen mucho mas amena la historia sin duda muy bien realizados y me encantaron.
En general una novela policíaca muy interesante con giros y personajes que te mantienen todo el tiempo intrigado queriendo llegar a la conclusión correcta y que al final sin duda te sorprende.
Agradezco mucho al autor y a Booktasters por el envío del libro digital para esta colaboración me gusto mucho.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This story leads us to accompany detectives Dalton and Gibb who go to a crime scene where a man was found in a lake but, it is clear that it was not an accident but that someone wanted to make him pass off as an accident, they soon discover that the man was involved 20 years earlier in a case of child abuse and mistreatment where other people were also involved but they were all free and now someone is hunting them one by one so they have to work to discover who is seeking revenge.
This book undoubtedly has excellent descriptions, the author completely immerses you in the story, making you hooked and wanting to discover the truth, having several twists and suspects, he manages to make the quite complex plot develop splendidly, you can feel the police procedures so real. and you feel part of this team of detectives trying to find the clues that will lead you to the culprit.
The characters certainly feel quite real and the interactions between them are very natural, with some humor between them they make the story much more enjoyable, undoubtedly very well done and I loved them.
In general, a very interesting detective novel with twists and characters that keep you intrigued all the time, wanting to reach the correct conclusion and that in the end undoubtedly surprises you.
I am very grateful to the author and Booktasters for sending the digital book for this collaboration, I really liked it.
November 2, 2023
I was intrigued by this novel when I read the author's biography. He spent many years working in the Police Force in Lincolnshire, and most of the book is set in Lincoln. Having lived in Lincolnshire myself for over thirty years, I was compelled to read this one.
Chapter One takes the reader back to 1984, to Lannercraig Children's Home on the outskirts of Glasgow. Young Thomas Ferguson, a resident of the home can take no more and the scenes described are emotionally challenging and quite heartbreaking. Thomas' death is officially recognised as suicide, but DS Douglas Beattie has his suspicions, the boy had unexplained bruises on his body.
Fast forward to April 2005, and the CID office at Lincoln Police Station. Dog walkers have found a body in the lake at Hartsholme Park on the edge of the city. It soon becomes clear that this is a murder case and DS Barry Dalton and DI Alex Gibb are on the case. Further investigation into the identity of the body leads them to Glasgow, and to DS Jim Callender who was part of the Lannercraig Children's Home case back in the 80s. It seems that the body found in Lincoln was fully involved in what became a serious and shocking case of child abuse at various children's homes in Scotland, involving the Church.
Working together, these detectives discover that there are more deaths, all linked to the sexual abuse case, but are they all murders? If so, who is doing this, and why?
This is a carefully plotted police procedural that deals with some of the darkest and most sensitive of issues, yet is done with care and empathy. There's no getting away from the crimes that are described, and their impact on lives, but this author skilfully creates a story that is both gripping and intriguing. It feels so authentic, and the author's own history of working in the police has most definitely enabled him to create a plot and characters that the reader can truly believe in. There's a large cast of characters but each one is created with care and attention.
Be prepared for the unexpected and a few twists. It's a fairly long novel at around 400 pages but I raced through it and found it an engrossing and easy read. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
Chapter One takes the reader back to 1984, to Lannercraig Children's Home on the outskirts of Glasgow. Young Thomas Ferguson, a resident of the home can take no more and the scenes described are emotionally challenging and quite heartbreaking. Thomas' death is officially recognised as suicide, but DS Douglas Beattie has his suspicions, the boy had unexplained bruises on his body.
Fast forward to April 2005, and the CID office at Lincoln Police Station. Dog walkers have found a body in the lake at Hartsholme Park on the edge of the city. It soon becomes clear that this is a murder case and DS Barry Dalton and DI Alex Gibb are on the case. Further investigation into the identity of the body leads them to Glasgow, and to DS Jim Callender who was part of the Lannercraig Children's Home case back in the 80s. It seems that the body found in Lincoln was fully involved in what became a serious and shocking case of child abuse at various children's homes in Scotland, involving the Church.
Working together, these detectives discover that there are more deaths, all linked to the sexual abuse case, but are they all murders? If so, who is doing this, and why?
This is a carefully plotted police procedural that deals with some of the darkest and most sensitive of issues, yet is done with care and empathy. There's no getting away from the crimes that are described, and their impact on lives, but this author skilfully creates a story that is both gripping and intriguing. It feels so authentic, and the author's own history of working in the police has most definitely enabled him to create a plot and characters that the reader can truly believe in. There's a large cast of characters but each one is created with care and attention.
Be prepared for the unexpected and a few twists. It's a fairly long novel at around 400 pages but I raced through it and found it an engrossing and easy read. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
September 20, 2023
In 1984 a young boy called Thomas Ferguson can’t take the abuse he receives any longer and hangs himself at Lannercraig Children’s Home in Glasgow. An official verdict of suicide is brought in but DS Douglas Beattie refuses to let the case drop. In 2005 the body of convicted paedophile Father Patrick Burman is found in a lake in Lincoln and when the post mortem indicates murder, Lincoln CID officers, including DS Barry Dalton and DI Alex Gibb, investigate. They soon discover a man who led a sordid life and was overly security conscious. What or who was he scared of? And who wanted him dead? The trail takes the pair of detectives back to Burman’s home of Glasgow where the man was one of six, including priests and nuns, convicted in a huge child abuse case which spanned three church run homes and where another six received a non-proven verdict, something peculiar to Scotland, and not the same as not guilty. They meet DS Jim Callender who was a DC on the case at the time. Under now retired DS Beattie’s encouragement, he has maintained an interest in the defendants and reveals to Gibb and Dalton that he believes they are being systematically murdered, disguised as accidents. Gibb and Dalton will need to prove these were no accidents, but with a huge suspect pool including trial witnesses, abused individuals and their families, just where do they start looking? And if someone is cleaning up and exacting their revenge, how many more might die?
This is a great and well written police procedural from an author who really knows his stuff! The plot is complex and full of twists and surprises as the detectives uncover a dark and murky case spanning decades, guaranteed to have the reader gripped from start to finish. I was certainly engrossed and the mass of suspects had me switching my suspicions back and forth as the story progressed. The team of Dalton and Gibb are extremely likeable with a little humour in their very effective partnership, and I hope to see them in more stories.
This is a great and well written police procedural from an author who really knows his stuff! The plot is complex and full of twists and surprises as the detectives uncover a dark and murky case spanning decades, guaranteed to have the reader gripped from start to finish. I was certainly engrossed and the mass of suspects had me switching my suspicions back and forth as the story progressed. The team of Dalton and Gibb are extremely likeable with a little humour in their very effective partnership, and I hope to see them in more stories.
October 19, 2023
My household includes occasional fans of British detective shows such as Grantchester and Midsomer Murders, and I felt very much like I was viewing one of these programs while reading The Water Doesn't Lie, by Kim Booth. They each include solid and expert detective technique, well developed characters, good plots, and witty exchanges. By the end of this book, the reader has shared a number of telling clues, misdirections, and clever interactions, and has become quite familiar with detectives Gibb, Dalton, and Callender. An especially good author technique was including an occasional meeting in which characters were brought up to speed on the actions of others - every detail of investigation is not shared with the reader, but he/she gains understanding of progress through these summary meetings.
Here's the story - A young boy placed in a children's home called Lannercraig suffers sexual abuse and hangs himself in response. Based upon this and bruises on the child's back which seem unrelated, police detectives Beattie and Callender initiate a case into this and another home called Moorland wherein a number of people are convicted of crimes related to pedophilia. Approximately 20 years later, one of these convicted perpetrators, Father Patrick Burnham, is found floating in a lake, neck broken. Detectives Gibb and Dalton investigate, assisted by the same Detective Callender. It is quickly surmised that the defendants in this 20-year-old abuse case are being murdered. The list of leading suspects bounces from an actor named Anthony Coggins to a police officer named Graves to a convict nicknamed Moose to a nun by the name of Verity. It is even suggested that the Catholic church in Rome might be involved. Thoroughly, painstakingly, and expertly, Gibb and Dalton track down the killer.
It takes a special skill to reveal a clue at a time, gradually unfolding the entire mystery, and Kim Booth has it. Nicely done!
Here's the story - A young boy placed in a children's home called Lannercraig suffers sexual abuse and hangs himself in response. Based upon this and bruises on the child's back which seem unrelated, police detectives Beattie and Callender initiate a case into this and another home called Moorland wherein a number of people are convicted of crimes related to pedophilia. Approximately 20 years later, one of these convicted perpetrators, Father Patrick Burnham, is found floating in a lake, neck broken. Detectives Gibb and Dalton investigate, assisted by the same Detective Callender. It is quickly surmised that the defendants in this 20-year-old abuse case are being murdered. The list of leading suspects bounces from an actor named Anthony Coggins to a police officer named Graves to a convict nicknamed Moose to a nun by the name of Verity. It is even suggested that the Catholic church in Rome might be involved. Thoroughly, painstakingly, and expertly, Gibb and Dalton track down the killer.
It takes a special skill to reveal a clue at a time, gradually unfolding the entire mystery, and Kim Booth has it. Nicely done!
July 8, 2025
"The Water Doesn't Lie" by Kim Booth is a crime novel that delves into the meticulous investigation of current cases intertwined with past crimes. The story is presented from the perspective of a brilliant, insightful, and eccentric detective. This novel goes beyond being just a crime story; it is a true detective work that emphasises gathering evidence, analysing clues, and building a case that traces back to 1984.
Typically, I choose books based on their covers, which I know is quite shallow, but I can't help it. A gorgeous book cover can draw me in without knowing anything about the story. However, this time I chose this book for two reasons: first, the author is a former detective, and second, the setting is in Lincolnshire, where I lived for eight years. I was curious to read a book set in familiar places. Dear Kim Booth, please consider changing the cover, as this story deserves many more readers!
I usually don’t consider myself a fan of detective stories; I often struggle to engage with the investigative process because so many details don’t make sense to me. But that was not the case here! The narrative flowed smoothly, and everything made sense. I couldn't get enough of the investigative work! The background story is heartbreakingly powerful.
This is one of those tales where you don’t want to catch the kiIIer because victims seem to deserve everything that has happened to them.
DS Dalton and DI Gibb investigate a death that seems like an accident. However, as a series of further deaths occur, digging deeper reveals a mysterious death from the past... Is there a serial kiIIer on the loose?
I can't recommend this book enough! If you want a smooth, realistic detective novel with a deep and heartbreaking background story, just grab it! It's so worth it!
Typically, I choose books based on their covers, which I know is quite shallow, but I can't help it. A gorgeous book cover can draw me in without knowing anything about the story. However, this time I chose this book for two reasons: first, the author is a former detective, and second, the setting is in Lincolnshire, where I lived for eight years. I was curious to read a book set in familiar places. Dear Kim Booth, please consider changing the cover, as this story deserves many more readers!
I usually don’t consider myself a fan of detective stories; I often struggle to engage with the investigative process because so many details don’t make sense to me. But that was not the case here! The narrative flowed smoothly, and everything made sense. I couldn't get enough of the investigative work! The background story is heartbreakingly powerful.
This is one of those tales where you don’t want to catch the kiIIer because victims seem to deserve everything that has happened to them.
DS Dalton and DI Gibb investigate a death that seems like an accident. However, as a series of further deaths occur, digging deeper reveals a mysterious death from the past... Is there a serial kiIIer on the loose?
I can't recommend this book enough! If you want a smooth, realistic detective novel with a deep and heartbreaking background story, just grab it! It's so worth it!
November 5, 2025
Kim Booth's remarkable personal biography is strongly reflected in his exceptional police procedural, "The Water Doesn't Lie." Booth's fictional work takes place where he himself had a distinguished police career. It's obvious that Booth loved his work, his colleagues, his partners and friends in his police force. His eye for detail and his meticulous and rigid depiction of how a suspicious death leads to a determination of murder, which in turn leads to an intricate, emotionally explosive plot which traces its roots back to a massive child abuse case decades before.
At first, I was a bit overwhelmed with the task force set up to investigate the original case which seemed, on the surface, to be an accidental drowning. There were too many people, too many departments to digest, and even as a fan of UK law enforcement some of the terms, titles and ranks were unknown to me. BTW, I especially enjoyed the "Ossman Act," something I found fascinating. But, Booth soon cuts through all the people and task forces and concentrates on the two local detectives charged with getting to the bottom of it. The two, DI Gibb and DS Dalton are wonderful together and bounce against each other with humor and occasional tension.
Booth does a great job in detailing the sometimes tedious work that goes into an investigation, and when the reader is somehow going along for the gentle ride--boom! An explosion of events turns the entire story upside down. More than mere twists, it's a world changing event to the investigation and it's told masterfully.
I enjoyed the portrayal of some of the secondary characters, other detectives, witnesses, child abuse victims and the hunted abusers almost as much as the principals. If you like realistic, down to brass tacks police procedural with some dramatic turns, "The Water Doesn't Lie" is an excellent option. Looking forward to the sequel.
At first, I was a bit overwhelmed with the task force set up to investigate the original case which seemed, on the surface, to be an accidental drowning. There were too many people, too many departments to digest, and even as a fan of UK law enforcement some of the terms, titles and ranks were unknown to me. BTW, I especially enjoyed the "Ossman Act," something I found fascinating. But, Booth soon cuts through all the people and task forces and concentrates on the two local detectives charged with getting to the bottom of it. The two, DI Gibb and DS Dalton are wonderful together and bounce against each other with humor and occasional tension.
Booth does a great job in detailing the sometimes tedious work that goes into an investigation, and when the reader is somehow going along for the gentle ride--boom! An explosion of events turns the entire story upside down. More than mere twists, it's a world changing event to the investigation and it's told masterfully.
I enjoyed the portrayal of some of the secondary characters, other detectives, witnesses, child abuse victims and the hunted abusers almost as much as the principals. If you like realistic, down to brass tacks police procedural with some dramatic turns, "The Water Doesn't Lie" is an excellent option. Looking forward to the sequel.
November 9, 2023
From the beginning this book captured my attention. Jumping into the past for an event is always something that intrigues me when reading, as it is similar to a puzzle piece kept off to the side for just the right fit.
The main characters were good.
However, I really wanted to give 5 stars because I do not like tearing downs others’ works but I just couldn’t. My feedback is that although the characters are good and likable, they could’ve been better. Since we follow their journey through the story, I would’ve liked to get to know them better. The main characters only felt mostly fully developed when in regards to police work. It felt like it lacked interpersonal development. The dialogue also felt off to me. I’m not sure if it’s because the book takes place in Europe and I am not used to it, but a lot of the dialogue felt too formal and almost disjointed, as well as repetitive.
The opening scene was a great way to begin the book, but started to feel repetitive as the exposition came over and over again throughout the story.
My last point is that regardless of all the above, I was really excited to see how the story wrapped up. Although we got information, I felt as if it lacked closure and also lacked a connection with the title. I guess maybe I thought there would be more to it.
However, IF this is the first in a series, then I am all in and will definitely read the next book. If this was a one off story, I’m sad to say that I expected more from the end.
Overall, this is a great read and despite my criticisms I would definitely recommend this book to others.
The main characters were good.
However, I really wanted to give 5 stars because I do not like tearing downs others’ works but I just couldn’t. My feedback is that although the characters are good and likable, they could’ve been better. Since we follow their journey through the story, I would’ve liked to get to know them better. The main characters only felt mostly fully developed when in regards to police work. It felt like it lacked interpersonal development. The dialogue also felt off to me. I’m not sure if it’s because the book takes place in Europe and I am not used to it, but a lot of the dialogue felt too formal and almost disjointed, as well as repetitive.
The opening scene was a great way to begin the book, but started to feel repetitive as the exposition came over and over again throughout the story.
My last point is that regardless of all the above, I was really excited to see how the story wrapped up. Although we got information, I felt as if it lacked closure and also lacked a connection with the title. I guess maybe I thought there would be more to it.
However, IF this is the first in a series, then I am all in and will definitely read the next book. If this was a one off story, I’m sad to say that I expected more from the end.
Overall, this is a great read and despite my criticisms I would definitely recommend this book to others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2025
Actually, I really loved the plot! And the story line kept me on the edge of my seat. I wanted to know who the killer was. Who was doing such horrible things to these kids? How could grown people be so callus? Why did it have to follow the stereo-type of Catholic organizations? It made me sad.
The story itself is wonderful! But the writing style left a lot lacking. Too much repetition of the same words where a Thesaurus would have come in handy. For example: in Chapter 35 the word "premises" is used over 4 times in the space of 3-5 sentences.
There were 2 places in the story that I had to stop and take note of because they were priceless!
#1 Its about as much use as an ashtray on a motorcycle! hahahahaha That still makes me laugh!
#2 The other is the story about the "Sammie" in which it was made of the pigs THEN fed to the pigs! So funny!!
I wish I could have given this more stars. I really liked the book and would recommend it to anyone except for the adult content at the beginning. I would have to be more picky about who I suggest it to.
I would really like to read the sequel should there be one written some day!
The story itself is wonderful! But the writing style left a lot lacking. Too much repetition of the same words where a Thesaurus would have come in handy. For example: in Chapter 35 the word "premises" is used over 4 times in the space of 3-5 sentences.
There were 2 places in the story that I had to stop and take note of because they were priceless!
#1 Its about as much use as an ashtray on a motorcycle! hahahahaha That still makes me laugh!
#2 The other is the story about the "Sammie" in which it was made of the pigs THEN fed to the pigs! So funny!!
I wish I could have given this more stars. I really liked the book and would recommend it to anyone except for the adult content at the beginning. I would have to be more picky about who I suggest it to.
I would really like to read the sequel should there be one written some day!
February 24, 2024
A Time Filler
Sharing some of the author’s background, & knowing his pedigree of old anyway, I can vouch for the detailed descriptions in some parts of this book- but for anyone reading who isn’t as familiar with the locations & roles involved, I query how hard going reading some of this will be. Consequently, I struggle to work out the target audience for this book? I also struggled to work out when it was set with career dates & some of the locations indicating a ‘couldn’t be after…’ date, but other things indicating that it would have been set after then. Maybe that’s intentional on the part of the author. It also comes to a sudden but fairly lacking conclusion, which doesn’t fill in all the gaps but doesn’t really work as a cliff hanger either. It does reflect the reality of cases, but they’d have an epilogue which gives you the conclusion this lacks.
Sharing some of the author’s background, & knowing his pedigree of old anyway, I can vouch for the detailed descriptions in some parts of this book- but for anyone reading who isn’t as familiar with the locations & roles involved, I query how hard going reading some of this will be. Consequently, I struggle to work out the target audience for this book? I also struggled to work out when it was set with career dates & some of the locations indicating a ‘couldn’t be after…’ date, but other things indicating that it would have been set after then. Maybe that’s intentional on the part of the author. It also comes to a sudden but fairly lacking conclusion, which doesn’t fill in all the gaps but doesn’t really work as a cliff hanger either. It does reflect the reality of cases, but they’d have an epilogue which gives you the conclusion this lacks.
June 6, 2024
The Water Doesn't Lie by Kim Booth is myst read for all police procedural/detective fiction fans. A suicide in 1980s has a major influence on the events almost 2 decades later and unreveals a string of events. The plot is good, though there are many characters major and minor , each take the story forward and not create confusion. This book is page turner and I loved it for the dtective work, page turner story . Though the end disappointed a little but maybe its a cliff hanger for the sequel. There were a few shirtfalls ( eg. why did Bridges do what he did etc ) but thest are very insignificant.
Looking forward to more from the author
Thanks @ Booktasters for this great book
Looking forward to more from the author
Thanks @ Booktasters for this great book
September 14, 2025
“The Water Doesn’t Lie” is a story about corruption in the church. In the beginning, we learn about a boy named Thomas, who couldn’t bear the terrible things he went through. I liked how the story started off with the scene of Thomas’ body being found, however I feel like it was forgotten about for most of the story until the very end. Overall, the writing style was easy to read and I liked the overall premise of the story. I wasn’t a fan of the ending, I felt like it was written just to have the end of the story written and would have liked to see a different ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2025
The title of the book grabbed my attention! I had many different books in my to-read bucket but chose this book, thinking that I'd get some gripping plot in it. In fact, this is a page-turner book. The author has made sure that the reading shouldn't stop until it is finished. The plot is about a mystery where two detectives go around investigating a dead body they found in a lake. And they find something strange in the deadbody report that will alert them, and they start investigating the death, which happened 20 years ago.
August 27, 2023
This book quickly drew me in and sparked my interest. There was an event quite early on in the book that struck me as harrowing, but that didn't deter me from reading, as I wanted to find out why it happened. I felt quite at home while reading this, as it mentioned some locations I'm familiar with. I also liked the main characters. In places, the book reminded me slightly of Ruth Rendell's Wexford series, which was something that I enjoyed, as I'm a fan of those books.
January 1, 2024
The Water Doesn’t Lie by Kim Booth
This book was a solid old school mystery. It was overall enjoyable even if a bit predictable. It reminded me of some of the old Alex Cross novels I read in middle school. The main duo are delightful and one of my favorites about this story. The side characters are well written and fun. I would overall recommend this to someone who hasn’t read much triller.
3 stars.
This book was a solid old school mystery. It was overall enjoyable even if a bit predictable. It reminded me of some of the old Alex Cross novels I read in middle school. The main duo are delightful and one of my favorites about this story. The side characters are well written and fun. I would overall recommend this to someone who hasn’t read much triller.
3 stars.
July 21, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
From the very beginning, this book intrigued me. This book was amazing. I was unable to put it down!! I tried to figure out who the killer was, and it was maddening, and it's safe to say it's not who I thought it was.... The only reason why this book isn't a 5⭐️ is because they didn't find the killer they know of them but didn't find them as of yet... I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a murder mystery/detective genre. I would like to thank Kim Booth for sending me their outstanding book and Booktasters for making this possible.
From the very beginning, this book intrigued me. This book was amazing. I was unable to put it down!! I tried to figure out who the killer was, and it was maddening, and it's safe to say it's not who I thought it was.... The only reason why this book isn't a 5⭐️ is because they didn't find the killer they know of them but didn't find them as of yet... I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a murder mystery/detective genre. I would like to thank Kim Booth for sending me their outstanding book and Booktasters for making this possible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2023
I couldn’t drop this after starting. Kim Booth really did a good job with it. My first time reading his work and I’m really impressed. It’s 10/10 for me. Would love to read more of this author’s work!
September 15, 2025
The Water Doesn't Lie is a dark and gripping police procedural that combines a modern murder with buried scandals from 1980s Glasgow. Kim Booth creates a gripping and eerily human thriller by fusing real investigative detail with emotional depth.
September 26, 2023
The body of Father Patrick Burman, a convicted paedophile, was discovered in a Lincoln Lake in 2005. After a postmortem confirmed murder, DS Barry Dalton and DI Alex Gibb, initiate an investigation. Soon, they came across a man who lived a sordid life and was overly cautious about security. Of whom or what was he afraid? Who was behind his assassination?
But to get the full picture we must go back to 1984, Thomas Ferguson, a young boy residing in Glasgow's Lannercraig Children's Home, commits suicide after suffering from abuse. Despite the official ruling of suicide, DS Douglas Beattie is determined to continue investigating the case.
Returning to Burman's hometown of Glasgow, the detectives discover that he was one of six people, including priests, nuns, police officers, and lawyers, who were convicted in a large child abuse case that centred around three church-run children's homes.
This police procedural is the work of an author who has had experience handling these cases. The reader is guaranteed to be hooked from start to finish with the detectives uncovering a complex and twist-filled plot in a dark case spanning decades. My suspicions were constantly shifting as the story progressed and the many suspects had me fully engrossed. Their effective partnership, combined with their likeability and humor, makes me want to see Dalton and Gibb in more stories.
The narrative gains a sense of reality with Kim Booth's detective experience, keeping the reader eagerly anticipating the next chapter! This is a very well-written piece!
But to get the full picture we must go back to 1984, Thomas Ferguson, a young boy residing in Glasgow's Lannercraig Children's Home, commits suicide after suffering from abuse. Despite the official ruling of suicide, DS Douglas Beattie is determined to continue investigating the case.
Returning to Burman's hometown of Glasgow, the detectives discover that he was one of six people, including priests, nuns, police officers, and lawyers, who were convicted in a large child abuse case that centred around three church-run children's homes.
This police procedural is the work of an author who has had experience handling these cases. The reader is guaranteed to be hooked from start to finish with the detectives uncovering a complex and twist-filled plot in a dark case spanning decades. My suspicions were constantly shifting as the story progressed and the many suspects had me fully engrossed. Their effective partnership, combined with their likeability and humor, makes me want to see Dalton and Gibb in more stories.
The narrative gains a sense of reality with Kim Booth's detective experience, keeping the reader eagerly anticipating the next chapter! This is a very well-written piece!
April 22, 2024
I have a particular love for the Police procedural and this is a read which fits nicely into that category. The opening certainly grabbed my attention and had a bit f shock value to it, though it does perfectly set up what is follow.
For me this was exquitisley layered plotting executed with aplomb on the page, it takes the classic elements of an investigation without getting bogged down with toomuch of the minute elements, this allowed things to move much faster and kept the pacing of the story flowing
It was interesting to see the way that two forces combined to work together, whilst not always running smoothly it showed a desire to reach the truth, though you get a sense of a clash of personalities from those higher up
A read which kept me guessing, thanks to the author incorporating plenty of red herrings and twists, throwing the suspicion of doubt around.
The book has a lot of strongly written well rounded characters, you get a real sense of who they are, you can see the cameraderie and a respect between Dalton and Gibb, they make for a perfect team
The ending I found particularly intriguing and interesting, it had a certain satisfaction, it wasn’t what I was expecting
This is a read which tackles a difficult subject matter but does so in a way so as not to glorify it but to show the horrors and effects it had on those involved.
The book is not without its moments of dry humour though to counterbalance the darkness
To some degree this felt like a read where the why dunnit and understanding the reasons behind the actions was more important as to the who dunnit
You can also see as you read the author bringing their own experiences to the fore.
Overall this was a read which I fell into, the prologue intrigued and drew me in grabbing my attention after that I was wholly absorbed
The Water Doesn’t Lie if the first in a series to feature DS Dalton and DI Gibb and is one I will definetly follow with interest and look forward to reading more off
Will appeal to all who love a good Police procedural
For me this was exquitisley layered plotting executed with aplomb on the page, it takes the classic elements of an investigation without getting bogged down with toomuch of the minute elements, this allowed things to move much faster and kept the pacing of the story flowing
It was interesting to see the way that two forces combined to work together, whilst not always running smoothly it showed a desire to reach the truth, though you get a sense of a clash of personalities from those higher up
A read which kept me guessing, thanks to the author incorporating plenty of red herrings and twists, throwing the suspicion of doubt around.
The book has a lot of strongly written well rounded characters, you get a real sense of who they are, you can see the cameraderie and a respect between Dalton and Gibb, they make for a perfect team
The ending I found particularly intriguing and interesting, it had a certain satisfaction, it wasn’t what I was expecting
This is a read which tackles a difficult subject matter but does so in a way so as not to glorify it but to show the horrors and effects it had on those involved.
The book is not without its moments of dry humour though to counterbalance the darkness
To some degree this felt like a read where the why dunnit and understanding the reasons behind the actions was more important as to the who dunnit
You can also see as you read the author bringing their own experiences to the fore.
Overall this was a read which I fell into, the prologue intrigued and drew me in grabbing my attention after that I was wholly absorbed
The Water Doesn’t Lie if the first in a series to feature DS Dalton and DI Gibb and is one I will definetly follow with interest and look forward to reading more off
Will appeal to all who love a good Police procedural
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