Under Water

by Rachel Callaghan

"Callaghan’s attention to historical accuracy is impressive throughout... [A]n engaging epic about loss, loneliness, and desire that perfectly encapsulates relatable human struggles." ~Kirkus Reviews

Submerged beneath layers of history lies a long-ago buried secret.

During the pandemic lockdown, Iris Pearl impulsively relocates her dulling marriage across the country in a bid to revive it. But renovating their Prerevolutionary Pennsylvania homestead gives Iris more than she bargained for when she makes a gruesome discovery, one that hurtles her and Benny’s haunted past to the present.

Iris is desperately consumed by the desire to know what happened on her property over a century and a half earlier. Her search leads her to Irish immigrant Aoife Sprigett, the wife of Union soldier William. The further she digs into the mystery of Aoife’s fate, the deeper she reaches into her own secret history.

While William serves in the Civil War, Aoife struggles to uphold her vow to maintain their livelihood, their farm, during his absence. Aoife’s only companion is their hired help, Thomas Walker, a freeborn black laborer. Aoife and Thomas develop a warm friendship as they toil side by side in the fields. Together, Aoife and Thomas sow deep seeds that bear deep-rooted
consequences, which are now coming to light.

Will unearthing the truth behind Aoife’s tragic past, which so closely parallels Iris’s own, free her and Benny from their marriage’s haunted history, or will revisiting that dark time destroy it?

Genres: Historical Fiction

333 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2024

Reviews

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book. I’d rate it 4.5 stars. This is told from 3 perspectives and 2 historical timelines.

The author clearly did meticulous research. The dialogue, words and style of writing are different in each time period. I learned several new words from reading the part of the story set in the mid 1800s.

I was interested in all 3 storylines and all the characters. Initially I found myself more interested in the modern story but as the book went on I actually found myself more attached to the historical story.

Thanks to Booksirens and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW: Loss of a child, PTSD

Iris and Benny Pearl purchased a pre-revolutionary home sight unseen except online photos. The photos enticed Iris to convince Benny that they should move from California to Pennsylvania. However, the reality is that the house needs more renovations than captured in any photo. A needed renovation for the pond on the property is a mystery that haunts Iris, too. This mystery is not just about the pond but also brings back memories that forever changed Iris and Benny's relationship.

The novel presents a captivating narrative, alternating between Iris's contemporary life and the historical past of Aoife Sprigett and Thomas Walker from 1861 to 1869. It's a pivotal time in American history. William and Aoife are happily married, living on a farm in Pennsylvania. Yet, the specter of the Civil War looms large, casting a shadow over their idyllic life. Driven by a sense of duty, William is compelled to fight for the end of slavery and the preservation of the Union. With his mother's intervention, he assumes the role of Lieutenant Sprigett, leaving his hired man, Thomas, to promise to stay on the farm and assist Aoife until his return.

The present-day story unearths a mystery, and as the web of the mystery is untangled, emotions from past and present collide. The novel skillfully portrays how a husband and wife, Iris and Benny, perceive their shared past, even when their grief is kept silent. It's a tale of friendship, communication, and the realization that each person's truth of the same experience can vary. The central question is whether, after so many years, each spouse can respect and accept the other's truth. Is such an understanding even possible?

This novel, set against the backdrop of the Civil War and its aftermath, delves into the struggles at home. It vividly portrays loneliness, isolation, and the determination to maintain the homestead in the best possible condition until the husband and employer, William, returns from war. The lingering question is whether William will return from the war.

Hauntingly beautiful.

Thank you to Rachel Callaghan, Empower Press, and LibraryThing for the opportunity to read an eARC of this novel.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story had me hooked, and I didn't want to stop until I knew all the characters and their connections. It is a story of loss , love, understanding , and learning. It is a thought-provoking book that will stay with me. I thank the author for the opportunity to read this book.

[Erzuliet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book this year! The author switches from three families separated by hundreds of years. Is there a connection between these families? The answers are careful and suspenseful.

What I really enjoyed was the extremely specific descriptions of the lives from hundreds of years ago. I learned so much, especially words and phrases from that time. I actually have begun studying that period BECAUSE of this book.

The author obviously has done a tremendous amount of research!

Also, early on, I became fascinated with the characters. Their descriptions are so specific, and her writing style is exceptionally vivid.

[Karma Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book jumps from the present time to the Civil War. The current sections are written in a modern style, with dialogue that felt real and was even a bit witty at times. The scenes set during the Civil War are faster-paced, more in the style of memoir. There is little to no dialogue in these sections, with more being conveyed through internal monologue and memories, shifting between character POVs. It was an interesting choice, and worked surprisingly well.

The Civil War scenes are not so much about the war as about the struggles of people back home. For example, one is the wife of a soldier, trying to keep the farm going despite her snooty family not thinking a woman should work. The farm hand is married to an escaped slave, who is traumatized and severely depressed.

I liked all the characters, even the ones meant to create conflict. Thematically, the book seems to be about the trauma people carry and how it affects their lives. I get the sense this author understands the way people think, and that more than anything made the story for me.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Iris and Benny Pearl bought a house sight unseen, they had no idea that the past and present, and perhaps the future intersect inside the old pond on its property. A secret, sinister and yet tender, is buried under its water, and they long to discover it.
Oscillating between the present time and the Civil War era, the parallel lives of two women meet, to define the laws of geometry.
The water rippled again. Maybe the secret wasn’t Baby Jack, but, instead, the pond. A place from which there are secrets buried so well, you think you’ll never have to face them— only to have them rise, dripping from the depths and covered with muck, into the light.
Under Water is an amalgam of several enticing genres: literary, historical fiction, mystery, and even, to some extent, metafiction. Rachel Callaghan handles the complexity of this book with great aplomb. Highly recommended.

[Alina Rubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What gem of a novel! There's mystery, historical fiction, drama and romance. Both the modern story and the historical timeline are engaging, with fully-fleshed characters I cared for deeply. The writing was beautiful. I was especially impressed how the author's language changed when she was writing about 1880s vs. modern day. Highly recommend. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

[Kimberley H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why didn’t I pick this book up sooner? One of the best historical mysteries I’ve read. As renovations in current times, reveal hidden secrets and tragedies past. Told in present time and generations prior. Deep and full of emotion, reflecting harder times and what may have been. I didn’t want it to end.

[Eric Redmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great novel by Rachel Callaghan. Discoveries from the past weave together a contemporary husband and wife during renovation of a pre-Civil War home in Pennsylvania. A carefully guarded, hidden secret awaits their recovery and ancestral investigation. You will only know after you think you know! A must read!

[Nancy Mazgajewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads for this incredible opportunity to read Under Water by Rachel Callaghan. This is one of the best books that I have read to date in 2024.

Told in dual timelines, it is the story of Iris and Ben who packed up to move to a small town in PA from CA and also the story of William, Aioff and Thomas who work tirelessly to save their farm during the Civil War.

It is a tale of perseverance, unrequited love, racial inequities and the mystery of a still-born baby found in the pond of Iris and Benny's newly renovated 1800's home.

It hit home to me since I lived in NJ not terribly far from the home in question and enjoy reading about the Civil War era.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐

Under Water explores the themes of loss and grief and the consequences of how they are dealt with, or not, through 2 families, one living in the early 1860’s and a couple living in the same home some 160 years later.

The story started strong and piqued my interest early on but eventually became pretty predictable and a bit long winded. Thoughts were interjected in italics here and there whose purpose seemed to be clue the reader in on something but they never really did. Some paragraphs I found myself wondering why they were included. The writing style wasn’t my favorite.

That said, I enjoyed the story itself. I liked being “in the know” when the current day characters were trying to solved the mystery from the past. I liked most of the characters (Iris’s mother was obnoxious to the point of disbelief, but she was very minor). I enjoyed learning about the perspective of a family left behind when the men went off to war and what that could’ve been like.

A couple things I found confusing: The books synopsis says:
Iris is desperately consumed by the desire to know what happened on her property over a century and a half earlier. Her search leads her to Irish immigrant Aoife Sprigett, the wife of Union soldier William. The further she digs into the mystery of Aoife’s fate, the deeper she reaches into her own secret history. However, None of that happened. Iris doesn’t dig into Aoife’s fate at all. In fact, she never finds out about her.

Also, there is no mention of the pond near Aoife’s house until close to the end of the book. I think we were just supposed to assume Aoife’s and Iris’s houses were the same house but the pond was such an important part of the story it was odd that there was no mention of it until so late.

Overall, I liked Under Water and would probably recommend it.

Thanks to LibraryThings for a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

[Mim Eichmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

On something of a whim, I ordered a copy of Rachel Callaghan’s historical fiction novel "Under Water" based on a brief synopsis the author had posted on one of the Facebook writers’ pages I follow. Typically, I’m not fond of dual timeline and/or multiple point-of-view novels simply because I usually find one of the stories and its characters to be interesting and the other(s) rather bland. However, "Under Water" gets you equally invested in both storylines immediately, one occurring during the Civil War and the other present day.

Without resorting to spoilers, early on we do have a pretty good idea given evidence literally unearthed from the 1860s as to what most likely occurred. However, we’re thoroughly invested in both the main and secondary characters at that point and want to see exactly how the entire story plays out. Rich detail may occasionally seem to slow the pacing of the earlier era just slightly. But those details steep us further in the lives of an ‘enslaved’ population, whether born as free men or escaped slaves or simply treated with disdain due to their country of origin. Highly recommend ~ 5*.

[Anne M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down! Under Water is an excellent novel from author Callaghan, with deep, engaging characters, in two different timelines. I don’t usually make book/author comparisons, but, seriously… if you liked Horse or March, by Geraldine Brooks, I do believe you will love this book!

Book Clubs, stand in line, maybe the author will be available. She is a gem herself.

This book is fast paced, yet so deftly written, the reader never has a chance to forget what is happening with Iris, Aoife, or Thomas. The writing is descriptive and memorable with lines and descriptions that engage all your senses yet never slow down the narrative.

The characters do not disappoint. Ones you love, ones you hate, ones that will surprise you! But no spoilers. They are deep, have flaws and emotional scars, their lives complicated enough without a civil war threatening all. Cry, laugh, reflect, on their antics and challenges; and keep turning those pages.

I couldn’t put this one down.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under Water is a dual narrative, one of my favorite storytelling devices. In the first story, we meet Iris, who has recently purchased an old farmhouse in Pennsylvania, which she intends to restore. She soon realizes that the house and the grounds that surround it are more than bricks and boards, grass and trees. Its real history lies in the lives of the people who have inhabited it and whose lives still permeate it, something brought vividly to life when the body of an infant is discovered while cleaning out a pond. Haunted by events of her own life, Iris has to learn the story of the tiny body. Her search leads us to the second narrative, which takes place during the Civil War and focuses on the tragedy of a country torn apart, not just by the violence of war, but also by artificial barriers imposed by class, color, and origin. Gradually we learn the reason for Iris's obsession with the baby and her need to give recognition and closure to his short life. I won't give away any more of the plot. I will say that I enjoyed the book.

[Lucinda Dhavan · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first page, this reader could completely sink into the characters and eras of this novel that takes place in both the present and the past. Each of the three characters whose points of view we get to share felt real and engaging. Both the present day scenes in a Pennsylvania farmhouse in need of TLC, and the scenes set in the same house during the Civil War completely surround the reader with the relevant details, recreating the feeling of those lives.
Added to this is a story--or stories--that sustain interest, and the elements add up to a satisfying read. It would be nit-picking to say that some plot points are predictable, as plot points often are. It's satisfying to read along and be able to say: "I thought that's what was going on!"
Contrasting attitudes toward class and race run through the book, giving food for thought, and interesting historical minutiae keep popping up, adding small epiphanies for the reader. A pleasure to read.

[Louanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai reçu ce livre contre une critique honnête de la part de LIBRARYTHIG.

"Under Water" nous emmène dans la décennie de 1860 aux US, à l'approche imminente de la guerre de Sécession, nous imprégner en profondeur et avec ravissement à la lutte quotidienne que vivaient les fermiers de couleurs, assujettis à leurs patrons l'homme blanc propriétaire terrien en place depuis le colonialisme.

Nous sommes à l'ère Victorienne, et le roman nous offre à la fois un regard sur le XIX aux US, et aujourd'hui à l'ère du Covid. Sur cette même terre, ont vécus et sont mort des personnes de couleur, courageuses et braves, mais aussi un homme blanc. De là, se tisse une histoire riche en couleurs, sensuelle et émouvante, où le sens du Devoir explose à chaque page !

L'énigme soulevée par ce bébé mort depuis cent soixante ans, est le fer de lance de l'intrigue dont le suspens va crescendo jusqu'à l'épilogue. Un bon livre, qui m'a dépaysé et beaucoup plu.

Lisez-le !

[Christoffer Vuolo Junros · Rating 5 out of 5]

As both a reader and a writer, Under Water stayed with me long after I finished it. What struck me most was how naturally the two timelines echoed each other. The past never felt like background. It felt present, alive, waiting to be uncovered.

Callaghan’s historical detail is impressive, but what truly carries the story is the emotional honesty. Aoife, in particular, felt deeply real to me. Her quiet strength, isolation, and resilience made her more than just a character. Iris’s modern journey mirrored that same emotional weight in a way that felt genuine and personal.

What I appreciated most was the patience in the storytelling. Nothing felt rushed or exaggerated. The story unfolds at its own pace, trusting the reader to sit with the characters and their choices.

This is ultimately a story about loss, memory, and how the past lingers in ways we don’t always see. As a writer, I admired the control and care behind it. As a reader, I simply felt it.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with many historical fiction plots, this one has a timeline in the near present and one in the way back. I found myself utterly captivated by the Civil War era lives of William and Alice. I found myself less interested in the goings of our modern day characters. Most of the characters are richly drawn, and I found myself empathizing and rooting for them. The only thing that helped me back from giving this five stars was the ending. After living in these Two worlds for the duration of the book, I wanted to turn that last page with a sense of closure and satisfaction, and instead I turned it and said wait, what? I felt like the author knew her path all the way through to the end and then just kind of riffed. This weakness, however, didn’t hold me back from giving four stars to what is a very successful novel and will bring many satisfying hours of reading to lovers of historical fiction and mysteries. I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[James R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under Water is a beautifully layered novel that stayed with me long after I finished it. I loved how seamlessly the story moves between past and present, with both timelines feeling equally vivid and important rather than one simply supporting the other.

The emotional core of the book is what makes it stand out. The historical detail is strong, but it never overshadows the characters. Aoife felt especially real to me—quietly strong, isolated, and deeply human. Iris’s modern storyline carries a similar emotional weight, and the connection between the two women feels natural and meaningful.

What I appreciated most was the pacing. The story takes its time, allowing moments and emotions to settle without rushing or forcing drama. It trusts the reader to sit with the characters and their experiences.

[Sylvia Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Title:
Under Water

Author:
Rachel Callaghan

Genre:
Historical Fiction

Pub Date:
Jan 30, 2024

Print Length:
333 pages

Book Reviewed By Sylvia J.

This book follows the story of Iris Pearl and her husband Benny as they renovate their pre-revolutionary home during the pandemic.
In this novel, a middle-aged woman uncovers a secret in the backyard of a newly acquired home that has some heritage to it.
This book is a dual time period novel of the present alternating with the Civil War period.
It will hold your interest and one will relate to the human struggles in it.
This novel is a historical epic that explores themes of loss, grief, loneliness and desire and that is why I gave it 5 stars.


.

[Kimberley A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2024
When I got this book from Rachel who lives in the neighborhood I had no idea of what to expect. I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it, and couldn't put it down. Iris, after making a gruesome discovery on her property, needs to find out what happened. While delving into the past, she is forced to deal with her own past. I especially loved the detail of the characters from the 1850's and their relationships, which made that time period and it's struggles in this area much clearer to me. It would make a great movie. I highly recommend it

[Barbara Bray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel Callaghan is a brilliant storyteller. "Under Water" is about Iris and Benny who purchased a farmhouse from the 1860s sight unseen and moved from California to Pennsylvania. As they remodel the farmhouse, they discover evidence that intersects the past and the present.

As the reader learns about the couple's story, the author cleverly folds in the story of Aioff and William in the same house during the Civil War. Unfolding the unconventional relationships during both periods, we learn how the past is related to the present. At the same time, the author weaves attitudes toward race and class throughout the book. I highly recommend this book.

[George Dearsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author cleverly jumps between two centuries to unravel the mystery of a grisly discovery in a family's pond. The well-crafted plot is augmented by meticulous detail to the social and military history of America's Civil War years. I think its real strength is in the dialogue, especially the correct use of historical Irish brogue and the American dialect of the 1860s. And the balance of dialogue and storytelling was spot on. I have to say I think it will appeal more to women but there are enough twists twists and turns for everyone.

[Patti Procopi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dual narratives in two different centuries aren't very easy to pull off, but Rachel Callaghan does it with amazing fluidity - moving from past to present and back. More importantly she creates realistic characters that we care deeply about and worry about. An old house, a pond and a desire for children bonds the characters together. This is a story about love and loss. Grief and guilt. And about forgiveness. There were also a couple of surprises which I really didn't see coming. Don't want to say more. Read this book.

[Elise Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This genre-bending novel is part historical fiction, part mystery, and part family drama. As a fan of mysteries in general, I usually rush through books looking for answers, but the characters in this were so captivating that I found myself slowing down to spend time with them. Aoife in particular captured my heart, and I couldn’t wait to figure out what happened with her.

I also want to point out that Callaghan’s historical accuracy was astounding! However, the real magic here is in the way she yields two timelines, bringing the themes of love, loneliness, and of course, secrecy to the forefront. This a book I will be recommending to everyone I know—not just the history buffs.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dual Timelines aren't easy to pull off. Rachel Callaghan does so with great results in Under Water. She captures the personal loss experienced by Civil War era characters struggling to save a farm while weaving the mystery unearthed during renovations to the property years later during the recent pandemic. The characters from both time periods are engaging, complex, and very human. Callaghan's eye for historical details brings the novel to life. It was a page-turner for me.

[George Stenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good dual timeline historical fiction book. It switches between the Civil War era and current time. There is lots of psychological drama in the characters from both eras. The author does an excellent job of tying the two timelines together. Almost all of the characters are essential to the novel and most have interesting backstories.

[Susan Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books you want to race through, and then go back and read again more slowly. The setting, characters, and mystery were all so well done and believable. The story will stay with you long after you've read it.

[Mark Wooler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sad when it ended. Being a Brit, I didn’t know much about American history at the time and learned a lot. Love takes a lot of different forms and not everything is as it seems, as this novel demonstrates. I loved the language, which was spot on.

[Laz Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooked from the start by its dual timeline slowly unravelling a mysterious intermingling of past and present. Original and pacy. Shocking in places and had me guessing right up until the end. A tour de force from this author.