Drowning Not Waving: a completely thrilling new police procedural set in Scarborough

D.C. Donna Morris #2

by Kate Evans

A body pulled from the harbour drags DC Donna Morris into murky waters...

The lives of the people of Scarborough have always been tied to the sea. Often their deaths too. And when the body of a young man is pulled from the harbour, the police investigation has to dive into the tightly knit fishing community there. But DC Donna Morris, halfway through her probationary period in the town, finds very little is at it seems.

Is the killing to do with old rivalries or more contemporary enmities, or is it somehow linked with a shocking murder which took place in the town twenty years ago? Donna does her best to navigate the tides and currents of the place she calls home for now, but finds people are prepared to muddy the truth if it means preserving the past, and old reputations.

Praise for Kate Evans

'Kate Evans delivers a gripping crime debut with a truly original policewoman as the central character. Highly recommended' Irish Independent

'Well written and without any flashiness, this believable police procedural deals with guilt, vengeance, love, a serial killer with a God complex and redemption. . . effective and moving' Literary Review

'Read this book' 5 Stars, Reader Review

'A rich and rewarding police procedural with a candidly portrayed and memorable central character' 5 Stars, Reader Review

'A brilliant read' 5 Stars, Reader Review

384 pages, Paperback

Published May 28, 2024

About the author

Now living by the sea in Scarborough, Kate Evans is a writer of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

She has an MA in Creative Writing from Sussex University. She was tutor-organiser on the Degree in Creative Writing at the University of Hull, Scarborough campus. She trained as a psychotherapeutic counsellor. She is interested in the connection between creativity and wellbeing and runs workshops supporting people to explore their creative sides.

Her book, Pathways Through Writing Blocks in the Academic Environment, was published by Sense Publishers in 2013. She self-published several crime novels and then got a contract with Constable for a crime series in 2020.

The Donna Morris mysteries are based in Scarborough. DC Donna Morris is a woman in her fifties who has moved to the town to be close to her wayward daughter. But Donna has secrets of her own which mean her own life slowly unravels. 'Awake of Crows' and 'Drowning Not Waving' are published in all formats. 'No Justice' has come out as an ebook and in hardback. It will be released in paperback in 2024.

Reviews

[Eva Wadsworth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I unfortunately stopped reading this book half way through, I found it very slow paced and a bit all over the place. It seemed the same things were overly described repetitively.. especially the weather! I would like to have found out what happens at the end bit dis not look forward to reading. It felt more like a chore

[Andy Wormald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in the series to feature DC Donna Morris

Combines both a taut and and well constructed plot with superb characterisation and a gritty narrartive that makes for an absorbing read

I found the plot to be different from the norm which in part is due to the seaside location, but then the author keeps it flowing and moving along, at times it needs Donnas doggedness and determination to uncover the truth, the way the book is written gives the reader plenty of suspects on the face of it any of them could be the killer, here the writing had me second guessing

There are twists within the book which at times change the narrative and keep the reader guessing as to the outcome

Kate Evans writes very relateable characters that are down to earth, Donna has to come to force late in life and that carries its own issues, separated from her husband with a daughter in prison these all play into her health and mind, superbly written though, in someways she come across as an ordinary person, she is though determined to succeed, she is also someone with an interesting past and backstory and we get a little more revealed. Also the book capture the character of those within the fishing industry they are wonderfully drawn out to give them a real sense of who they are, it is in someways a closed knit community and the books captures this

The book also emphasises that it is the teamwork that gets the results it doesn’t necessarily labour the finer points of police work but highlights the key elements to keep the investigation and story moving

In someways it is a book which poses many questions relevant to todays environment, though it doesn’t seek to judge or preach but it does highlight the pollution of the seas, it also isn’t afraid to tackle racism within the police force and community

It is always interesting to read about places that are familiar to you and in this particular case Kate Evans has also brought the fishing community to life in a wonderfully depictive and descriptive way

A read that that had me hooked and engaged from the opening pages, it races along with perfect pacing and builds the tension and drama in the right places, right up to the dramatic ending.

This is growing into an excellent series, there is a real down to earthiness about the books, can’t wait to read the next

5* would recommend to all who love their crime fiction

[Diana Skelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this series so much! This one continues the clever mysteries and complex characterisations from book 1 (A Wake of Crows), but on top of that it threads in several new elements about environmental and social justice with sensitivity and relevance to the plot. Without ever being preachy, the author offers so much food for thought that this feels like a novel of ideas braided together with a fast-paced action caper that keeps the suspense intense right up until the end.

[Rhianna Oakes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started to read this book a while ago, read around a third of it and could not get into it at all it just wasn’t flowing or making sense! Tried to give it another go recently and it just wasn’t enjoyable

[Rog Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book nearly a month ago but I struggled to get it added to Goodreads so I can't remember much about the plot now! I did like the main character though.

[Alecsander Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

She's very good...

[Jocelyne B F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting!

[Chickpea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series. I like the main character, I like the story line be, I like that it is set in an area I know well.
Very well written . Would make a great TV series!

[Alma (retirement at last) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow

[adele]

I’ll try again later

[Jo Culross · Rating 1 out of 5]

It started off well but I soon got bored and frustrated. It was slow and much of the time I found the narrative muddled up, all over the place and unclear.

[Mairi Byatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the books fault ! Read it because ‘Not Waving but drowning ‘ is my favourite Stevie Smith poem! This had nothing to do with the poem! It is also the second book in the series!

[Sarah Field · Rating 1 out of 5]

awful

[Linda Thorsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well done! Complicated cases colliding with a bang.