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The House in the Water
A secluded house. A lost notebook. A wartime secret.
1942: Young Irish nurse Ellen arrives at May Day House, tasked with helping the men there rehabilitate. But there’s something strange about the house, surrounded by water, on its own island in the Thames. And then there are the traumatised by their experiences of war, and subject to troubling methods in a desperate race to get them back to duty. As Ellen gets drawn into the world of May Day House, she starts to realise this will be no place to hide away from her own troubles…
2013: Philip and Meredith are the proud new owners of May Day House. Following a string of tragedies, the couple have moved to the area in search of a new start. But all is not what it seems in the riverside community. As their plans for the rundown house meet resistance from the neighbours, Meredith finds herself slowly she hears voices on the water, sees figures where there can be no one there. When she finds an old notebook from the war, she seeks solace in the stories about the former patients of the island.
But will shadows from the past threaten her future happiness – and even her life?
1942: Young Irish nurse Ellen arrives at May Day House, tasked with helping the men there rehabilitate. But there’s something strange about the house, surrounded by water, on its own island in the Thames. And then there are the traumatised by their experiences of war, and subject to troubling methods in a desperate race to get them back to duty. As Ellen gets drawn into the world of May Day House, she starts to realise this will be no place to hide away from her own troubles…
2013: Philip and Meredith are the proud new owners of May Day House. Following a string of tragedies, the couple have moved to the area in search of a new start. But all is not what it seems in the riverside community. As their plans for the rundown house meet resistance from the neighbours, Meredith finds herself slowly she hears voices on the water, sees figures where there can be no one there. When she finds an old notebook from the war, she seeks solace in the stories about the former patients of the island.
But will shadows from the past threaten her future happiness – and even her life?
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2024
1309 people are currently reading
939 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Darke
1 book26 followersVictoria Darke has been a journalist for many media outlets including the BBC and The Telegraph. She is the author of three novels as Victoria Scott, published by Head of Zeus. Her first book for Boldwood, a Gothic timeslip novel, The House in the Water, was published in May 2024.
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April 25, 2024
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This is one of my favourite authors, Victoria Scott , writing as Victoria Darke. I have loved every single one of Ms. Scott's books; they all have a 4.26 or higher rating. I recommend you go to her page and check them out, you won't be disappointed.
The author goes in a completely different direction with this story and it worked for me. We have two timelines and two female main characters. Ellen is a nurse in 1943 in an old house and Meredith (Merry) is working on the same house in 2013. We also have Merry reading Ellen's diary and I liked that it was somewhat of an epistolary novel. As is usual for me I loved the older timeline, getting a peek at what it was like to live during that era was amazing. The story has a gothic vibe, a creepy house and a natural disaster and it all comes together perfectly in the end.
Lots of tough topics, miscarriage, grief, PTSD, sexual harassment and lots of secrets revealed. There were some very barbaric practices back then for those suffering from mental health issues and the author has done some impressive research on it. There is such a wonderful backstory to the plot, not just for the older timeline but for a lot of the characters in the present. I really thought the author was going to go one way with the story and it very much surprised me (and made me very happy) that she didn't, I loved the way it ended, Darke weaved everything together seamlessly. As I said, the research is impeccable, the writing is absorbing and the story engrossing.
I recommend you read the author's notes at the end of the book, you'll be glad you did. I also want to mention the cover, it is absolutely gorgeous and I love it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy. And a special thank you to Victoria Darke for asking the publisher to give me a copy.
The Book Review Crew Blog
This is one of my favourite authors, Victoria Scott , writing as Victoria Darke. I have loved every single one of Ms. Scott's books; they all have a 4.26 or higher rating. I recommend you go to her page and check them out, you won't be disappointed.
The author goes in a completely different direction with this story and it worked for me. We have two timelines and two female main characters. Ellen is a nurse in 1943 in an old house and Meredith (Merry) is working on the same house in 2013. We also have Merry reading Ellen's diary and I liked that it was somewhat of an epistolary novel. As is usual for me I loved the older timeline, getting a peek at what it was like to live during that era was amazing. The story has a gothic vibe, a creepy house and a natural disaster and it all comes together perfectly in the end.
Lots of tough topics, miscarriage, grief, PTSD, sexual harassment and lots of secrets revealed. There were some very barbaric practices back then for those suffering from mental health issues and the author has done some impressive research on it. There is such a wonderful backstory to the plot, not just for the older timeline but for a lot of the characters in the present. I really thought the author was going to go one way with the story and it very much surprised me (and made me very happy) that she didn't, I loved the way it ended, Darke weaved everything together seamlessly. As I said, the research is impeccable, the writing is absorbing and the story engrossing.
I recommend you read the author's notes at the end of the book, you'll be glad you did. I also want to mention the cover, it is absolutely gorgeous and I love it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy. And a special thank you to Victoria Darke for asking the publisher to give me a copy.
May 30, 2024
In a Nutshell: A Gothic novel in dual timeline, focussing on some strong themes and incorporating actual events. The character development could have worked better for me, but the research and the fabulous setting of the Thames, were impressive.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Avid historical fiction readers might wonder why to pick up yet another novel with a dual timeline with a journal/diary serving as a link to the past set during WWII. This is a common pattern, right? But there are many features in this story that set it apart from the standard formula.
Bookish Yays:
💙 The strong Gothic feel generated by the enigmatic May Day House and its complicated history.
💙 Each timeline has enough to make it stand on its own, while still being interconnected. The distinct vibe in each provides us with two strong stories within a single novel.
💙 Unlike most dual timelines with old letters or diaries or journals, the contemporary character isn’t obsessed with her discovery. She is curious about the content but also handles her own issues. The link between the two timelines isn't the key focus, though it's important.
💙 I am often puzzled by just how much *journals* reveal about historical events, including details on physical intimacies, but this problem is avoided by the use of third person for the historical timeline, with Ellen’s letters forming only a part of the past narrative. This gives a genuineness to Ellen’s story.
💙 The River Thames is almost a character in this book. It is always present, whether silent in the background or bursting from its banks. The description of the river and the river people feels totally authentic, which isn’t a surprise once you learn about the author’s place of residence from her parting note. I always love it when authors make proper use of a novel location rather than just mentioning it in passing and then forgetting all about it.
💙 Further from the above, I've read other books with river people but all were historical fiction. I never knew that river people are still in Britain. It was eye-opening to learn about them, and how they are looked upon by “land-dwellers”.
💙 Appreciate the incorporation of several real-life events into the fictional plot, both historical and contemporary. The author’s note gives great insight on her writing choices.
💙 Love how mental health is the key focus in both timelines, albeit in different ways. The change in the attitude towards mental issues now and then is interesting to read.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🔷 While the plot and the setting leave a strong mark, the characters (main and secondary), especially in the contemporary timeline, didn’t impress me so much. Their detailing seems somewhat ad hoc. The historical timeline has somewhat better characters, with their moral greys generating intriguing conundrums. But I couldn’t connect with both Ellen and Meredith. I find it tough to root for characters who mistrust their own family instantly but readily believe what strangers tell them.
🔷 There are many intense themes in the story, many of which are handled excellently. However, some of the themes felt superfluous as they don’t directly impact the plot. I wish the themes had been streamlined as the story went into misery overload at times. Some of the topics could be triggering.
🔷 While Ellen is an army nurse, there’s not much direct medical action on the page. We do get to hear procedural details, but only in conversations. I was hoping for a more intimate depiction of the job of a WWII nurse. Then again, I suppose it is better this way than to have an inaccurate representation of medical details. (As happened in Kristin Hannah’s ‘The Women’, where every other patient needed a tracheotomy!)
🔷 Romance has a key role to play in the historical timeline, which is never to my liking. This is a personal preference, and won’t bother those who like romantic tracks in non-romance genres.
🔷 While there were enough twists throughout the book, the final quarter took me by surprise. I thought I had guessed the mystery, but the plot ended up going in a different direction. I am not sure if I liked the resolution, but at least it was not entirely predictable for me.
Bookish Nays:
🔵 The prologue is fabulous and creates great expectations about the paranormal content of the book. However, the rest of the book doesn’t match up. I am not at all happy with the otherworldly instances as they were too convenient to be convincing. Moreover, I am still trying to figure out who exactly the prologue was about.
🔵 A couple of the plot inclusions and character decisions were farfetched.
All in all, this is a good book, with the storyline and the setting creating an appealing combination. I just wish the character detailing, especially in the contemporary timeline, had been more consistent.
Recommended to historical mystery readers as well as contemporary fiction lovers, who would enjoy a story highlighting mental health issues with a dash of romance. The author also writes contemporary fiction under her own name, Victoria Scott. This is her first Gothic mystery under this pseudonym.
3.5 stars, rounding down as the mixed bags are heftier than the yays..
My thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of 'The House in the Water'. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
Content warnings: Mental health issues, PTSD, sexual abuse, pregnancy and related heartbreaks, infidelity, war-related trauma, natural disasters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
2013. Meredith and her husband Philip have just purchased May Day house, a semi-dilapidated historical mansion that served as a hospital during WWII. They intend to restore it and open it up for events. But as the house stands on its own island in the Thames, the riverside community is against any restoration fearing environmental pollution. As the couple struggle to get things going, Meredith begins to hear voices from the river and see strangers in the house. This worsens when she finds an old notebook in a room, detailing what happened at May Day during the war.
1942. Ellen has just arrived at May Day House to serve as a nurse, helping the men there to get over their mental trauma and return soon to duty. However, though she is experienced in handling such patients, she isn’t sure about the approach used by the doctors. Things get further complicated with the arrival of a new patient.
The story comes to us in the third person perspectives of Meredith and Ellen, alternating between the two timelines.
Avid historical fiction readers might wonder why to pick up yet another novel with a dual timeline with a journal/diary serving as a link to the past set during WWII. This is a common pattern, right? But there are many features in this story that set it apart from the standard formula.
Bookish Yays:
💙 The strong Gothic feel generated by the enigmatic May Day House and its complicated history.
💙 Each timeline has enough to make it stand on its own, while still being interconnected. The distinct vibe in each provides us with two strong stories within a single novel.
💙 Unlike most dual timelines with old letters or diaries or journals, the contemporary character isn’t obsessed with her discovery. She is curious about the content but also handles her own issues. The link between the two timelines isn't the key focus, though it's important.
💙 I am often puzzled by just how much *journals* reveal about historical events, including details on physical intimacies, but this problem is avoided by the use of third person for the historical timeline, with Ellen’s letters forming only a part of the past narrative. This gives a genuineness to Ellen’s story.
💙 The River Thames is almost a character in this book. It is always present, whether silent in the background or bursting from its banks. The description of the river and the river people feels totally authentic, which isn’t a surprise once you learn about the author’s place of residence from her parting note. I always love it when authors make proper use of a novel location rather than just mentioning it in passing and then forgetting all about it.
💙 Further from the above, I've read other books with river people but all were historical fiction. I never knew that river people are still in Britain. It was eye-opening to learn about them, and how they are looked upon by “land-dwellers”.
💙 Appreciate the incorporation of several real-life events into the fictional plot, both historical and contemporary. The author’s note gives great insight on her writing choices.
💙 Love how mental health is the key focus in both timelines, albeit in different ways. The change in the attitude towards mental issues now and then is interesting to read.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🔷 While the plot and the setting leave a strong mark, the characters (main and secondary), especially in the contemporary timeline, didn’t impress me so much. Their detailing seems somewhat ad hoc. The historical timeline has somewhat better characters, with their moral greys generating intriguing conundrums. But I couldn’t connect with both Ellen and Meredith. I find it tough to root for characters who mistrust their own family instantly but readily believe what strangers tell them.
🔷 There are many intense themes in the story, many of which are handled excellently. However, some of the themes felt superfluous as they don’t directly impact the plot. I wish the themes had been streamlined as the story went into misery overload at times. Some of the topics could be triggering.
🔷 While Ellen is an army nurse, there’s not much direct medical action on the page. We do get to hear procedural details, but only in conversations. I was hoping for a more intimate depiction of the job of a WWII nurse. Then again, I suppose it is better this way than to have an inaccurate representation of medical details. (As happened in Kristin Hannah’s ‘The Women’, where every other patient needed a tracheotomy!)
🔷 Romance has a key role to play in the historical timeline, which is never to my liking. This is a personal preference, and won’t bother those who like romantic tracks in non-romance genres.
🔷 While there were enough twists throughout the book, the final quarter took me by surprise. I thought I had guessed the mystery, but the plot ended up going in a different direction. I am not sure if I liked the resolution, but at least it was not entirely predictable for me.
Bookish Nays:
🔵 The prologue is fabulous and creates great expectations about the paranormal content of the book. However, the rest of the book doesn’t match up. I am not at all happy with the otherworldly instances as they were too convenient to be convincing. Moreover, I am still trying to figure out who exactly the prologue was about.
🔵 A couple of the plot inclusions and character decisions were farfetched.
All in all, this is a good book, with the storyline and the setting creating an appealing combination. I just wish the character detailing, especially in the contemporary timeline, had been more consistent.
Recommended to historical mystery readers as well as contemporary fiction lovers, who would enjoy a story highlighting mental health issues with a dash of romance. The author also writes contemporary fiction under her own name, Victoria Scott. This is her first Gothic mystery under this pseudonym.
3.5 stars, rounding down as the mixed bags are heftier than the yays..
My thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of 'The House in the Water'. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
Content warnings: Mental health issues, PTSD, sexual abuse, pregnancy and related heartbreaks, infidelity, war-related trauma, natural disasters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
June 2, 2024
3 Stars
One Liner: Got potential but tries to be too many things
1942
Ellen is a young Irish nurse who arrives at the May Day House to help soldiers recover from the trauma of the war and send them back. However, the treatment methods are doubtful, and Ellen is not sure. She also realizes that she has to sort her life first.
2013-14
Meredith falls in love with the half-damaged May Day House. She and Philip put all their money into buying the house and hope for a fresh start. However, things aren’t going as per the plan. Meredith finds comfort in reading a lost notebook from the WWII times but what happens when reality knocks on the door?
The story comes in the third-person POV of Meredith in the contemporary track and Ellen in the past timeline.
My Thoughts:
I enjoy books with dual timelines, even if one track works better than the other. This book promises a blend of history, mystery, drama, gothic atmosphere, and some romance (it is marked as general fiction, historical, and romance on NetGalley).
The results are mixed, so here’s what I liked –
The setting has terrific potential. The initial vibes of an ancient house on a small island in the River Thames are spot on. It is chilly, darkish, and alluring.
The historical timeline deals with war patients but with a twist. Here, those suffering from psychological trauma are ‘healed’ and sent back to fight the war. The focus is not on healing but on doing anything that would make the soldier eligible enough to fight again.
The prologue hooks the reader with a promise of paranormal and mystery. Also, the prologue is not an extract from later chapters but the beginning of the book. That’s how it should be.
The book deals with heavy themes but doesn’t make things graphic. We get enough information about what happened. I appreciate this. No excessive detail to shock the readers.
However, there are quite a few aspects that could have been better –
Characters are the core of the book. We need to connect with or at least feel something for the main characters. Here, it was impossible to do so with Meredith and Philip. I could feel a little for Ellen, but even that wasn’t much. Most of the time, it seems as if they are mediocre actors enacting a script on the stage and mouthing dialogues for the sake of it.
Contemporary thrillers specialize in TSTL heroines. While the book doesn’t belong to that genre, the FMC does. My eyes got more-than-good exercise from all that rolling.
The setting’s potential is not fully exploited. After the gothic feel in the beginning, it becomes just another dilapidated house with too much mess. I couldn’t see why someone would love it so much.
The paranormal touch is another aspect. It’s there but not there, but still there. Confused? Yep, that’s how it is; as if no one was sure if the book should go that route or not. Deciding on this would have helped the book (a lot).
The connection between the two timelines does make sense, but it could have benefitted from more emotion for the main characters. This could have been achieved if the previous aspect had been better handled.
The pacing is uneven, with a slow beginning. Moreover, some characters have a 180-degree change by the end, which almost comes out of nowhere. Similarly, the reveals were just okayish.
The author’s note is informative, though.
To summarize, The House in the Water has an intriguing premise but doesn’t translate to the final output. It tries to be quite a few things at the same time, which dilutes the core. I’m a bit on the outliner island now, so this may appeal to you.
Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheHouseInTheWater
***
TW:
One Liner: Got potential but tries to be too many things
1942
Ellen is a young Irish nurse who arrives at the May Day House to help soldiers recover from the trauma of the war and send them back. However, the treatment methods are doubtful, and Ellen is not sure. She also realizes that she has to sort her life first.
2013-14
Meredith falls in love with the half-damaged May Day House. She and Philip put all their money into buying the house and hope for a fresh start. However, things aren’t going as per the plan. Meredith finds comfort in reading a lost notebook from the WWII times but what happens when reality knocks on the door?
The story comes in the third-person POV of Meredith in the contemporary track and Ellen in the past timeline.
My Thoughts:
I enjoy books with dual timelines, even if one track works better than the other. This book promises a blend of history, mystery, drama, gothic atmosphere, and some romance (it is marked as general fiction, historical, and romance on NetGalley).
The results are mixed, so here’s what I liked –
The setting has terrific potential. The initial vibes of an ancient house on a small island in the River Thames are spot on. It is chilly, darkish, and alluring.
The historical timeline deals with war patients but with a twist. Here, those suffering from psychological trauma are ‘healed’ and sent back to fight the war. The focus is not on healing but on doing anything that would make the soldier eligible enough to fight again.
The prologue hooks the reader with a promise of paranormal and mystery. Also, the prologue is not an extract from later chapters but the beginning of the book. That’s how it should be.
The book deals with heavy themes but doesn’t make things graphic. We get enough information about what happened. I appreciate this. No excessive detail to shock the readers.
However, there are quite a few aspects that could have been better –
Characters are the core of the book. We need to connect with or at least feel something for the main characters. Here, it was impossible to do so with Meredith and Philip. I could feel a little for Ellen, but even that wasn’t much. Most of the time, it seems as if they are mediocre actors enacting a script on the stage and mouthing dialogues for the sake of it.
Contemporary thrillers specialize in TSTL heroines. While the book doesn’t belong to that genre, the FMC does. My eyes got more-than-good exercise from all that rolling.
The setting’s potential is not fully exploited. After the gothic feel in the beginning, it becomes just another dilapidated house with too much mess. I couldn’t see why someone would love it so much.
The paranormal touch is another aspect. It’s there but not there, but still there. Confused? Yep, that’s how it is; as if no one was sure if the book should go that route or not. Deciding on this would have helped the book (a lot).
The connection between the two timelines does make sense, but it could have benefitted from more emotion for the main characters. This could have been achieved if the previous aspect had been better handled.
The pacing is uneven, with a slow beginning. Moreover, some characters have a 180-degree change by the end, which almost comes out of nowhere. Similarly, the reveals were just okayish.
The author’s note is informative, though.
To summarize, The House in the Water has an intriguing premise but doesn’t translate to the final output. It tries to be quite a few things at the same time, which dilutes the core. I’m a bit on the outliner island now, so this may appeal to you.
Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheHouseInTheWater
***
TW:
May 25, 2024
This was a well-written historical fiction read, set in a run-down old house on an isolated island in the Thames near Weybridge, England. It’s set in two timelines - 1943 and 2013 - and is set in the same house in both time periods. The story is told from two points of view, Ellen in 1943 when she was a nurse in the house that was used as a hospital to treat injured soldiers with dangerous unproven therapies (ECT) and Meredith, who bought the same house in 2013 to renovate it and start over with her husband after a series of tragedies.
Both timelines are equally interesting and there are many parallels between them. The female characters are very likeable and the old creepy house and the river are themselves characters. The story moves along at a good pace although it did slow down a bit in the middle. There is lots happening in the story to keep the reader’s interest: a forbidden war-time romance, PTSD, hostile neighbors, secrets from Meredith’s husband’s past, a creepy house with ghost sightings, and natural disasters (dangerous flooding of the Thames - the latter actually happened in 2014).
This is a heartwarming, easy to read historical fiction read that would make for a great read this summer.
Thanks to Boldwood Books for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Both timelines are equally interesting and there are many parallels between them. The female characters are very likeable and the old creepy house and the river are themselves characters. The story moves along at a good pace although it did slow down a bit in the middle. There is lots happening in the story to keep the reader’s interest: a forbidden war-time romance, PTSD, hostile neighbors, secrets from Meredith’s husband’s past, a creepy house with ghost sightings, and natural disasters (dangerous flooding of the Thames - the latter actually happened in 2014).
This is a heartwarming, easy to read historical fiction read that would make for a great read this summer.
Thanks to Boldwood Books for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
May 28, 2024
The House in the Water is a well-written historical fiction dual timeline story. It is set on an isolated island in the Thames, near Weybridge. May Day House is a rundown mansion that was used as a military hospital in 1943, and has just been purchased by a young couple in 2013, with plans to renovate and use it as a wedding venue and for artist retreats. The past storyline is told by a young nurse, Ellen, working at the psychiatric hospital, who falls in love with a patient, and the present story is told by a young wife, Meredith, living in May Day House. With neighbours who aren't happy with their plans, a new friend for Meredith, her husband, a pilot, often out of town and a river boat resident who seems friendly enough but is not liked by Phillip, there is creepy vibes and secrets. With a storm coming, Meredith, her dog and the house could be in danger.
This book took me a bit to get into, but it picked up and the ending was an unexpected twist. I found both timelines interesting, especially about the various treatments of the men with what we now call PTSD. The romance between Emily and Harry was okay, but I found life in the hospital, the questionable "new treatments" and the difference between how male soldiers and females that also saw some terrible things were treated. In the present story, Meredith and Phillip have had several tragedies in the recent past and this is supposed to be a new beginning for them. They are up against the neighbours from the start, and it is hard to get to know anyone because of it. Meredith is at the house alone for several days at a time while her husband is on his trips, and she begins to see and hear things. There have been rumors of ghosts and she is getting more scared all the time. When she finds Emily's journal, she was pulled into her story and that seemed to heighten her hallucinations. I really liked Meredith and wanted things to work out for her and Phillip, but the more she is at the house, the more their relationship seems to unravel. Phillip annoyed me at times as he didn't seem to take Meredith seriously and often ignored her. He had some secrets and Meredith couldn't get him to open up. There was a sinister vibe as this story progressed and I wasn't sure where Victoria Darke was going to take this one. I will say I had my suspicions about what was going on and I was partially right, but there was a lot more that came together for a satisfying ending. In her notes at the end, she shares which parts of the story was based on real events, so I can now do a search to find out more.
This book took me a bit to get into, but it picked up and the ending was an unexpected twist. I found both timelines interesting, especially about the various treatments of the men with what we now call PTSD. The romance between Emily and Harry was okay, but I found life in the hospital, the questionable "new treatments" and the difference between how male soldiers and females that also saw some terrible things were treated. In the present story, Meredith and Phillip have had several tragedies in the recent past and this is supposed to be a new beginning for them. They are up against the neighbours from the start, and it is hard to get to know anyone because of it. Meredith is at the house alone for several days at a time while her husband is on his trips, and she begins to see and hear things. There have been rumors of ghosts and she is getting more scared all the time. When she finds Emily's journal, she was pulled into her story and that seemed to heighten her hallucinations. I really liked Meredith and wanted things to work out for her and Phillip, but the more she is at the house, the more their relationship seems to unravel. Phillip annoyed me at times as he didn't seem to take Meredith seriously and often ignored her. He had some secrets and Meredith couldn't get him to open up. There was a sinister vibe as this story progressed and I wasn't sure where Victoria Darke was going to take this one. I will say I had my suspicions about what was going on and I was partially right, but there was a lot more that came together for a satisfying ending. In her notes at the end, she shares which parts of the story was based on real events, so I can now do a search to find out more.
May 16, 2024
What a mesmerising Gothic timeslip mystery! I was completely surprised at every turn reading The House in the Water by Victoria Darke. I did not know what to expect so it kept me guessing and unsettled. I could not put it down once I started, as it pushed my curiosity level to the max! I was eating my lunch with one hand and flicking through the digital pages as fast as my eyes could follow the words with the other! Be prepared to set aside some time to read this one and keep your pets close!
The dilapidated May Day House is full of mystery and carries its own stories from the past. A diary is found on the premises that sheds light on the activities carried out there during World War II. Every time Meredith sits down to read it, we are ushered back to 1942 where we learn that it has been used as a hospital for traumatised soldiers who are sent there to rehabilitate. Here we learn of the psychiatric practices that have been performed and they are as traumatic as the experience of war. These doctors are carrying on with old practices that some might say are questionable whereas a doctor in Egypt is approaching the mentally wounded with new techniques.
I had great empathy for the young Irish nurse Ellen who came through a horrifying ordeal during the war. In some ways you could say she suffered from PTSD as a result, especially when the war planes made appearance. Despite her fear of being confined, she was courageous in many ways. When she is stationed at May Day House after previously being with the more advanced doctor, she becomes very uncomfortable watching the various treatment approaches. Particularly in one of the patients who has seen some horrific things at war. She becomes close to him and her personal attachment soon affects her ability to take commands. She is uneasy about their use of truth serum and electric shock therapy (ECT). When a man’s safety is threatened by the treatment, she takes matters into her own hands and contacts the doctor in her previous military posting.
I was gripped by ghosts and unsuspecting villains in the 2013 timeline. Held great concern for Meredith, the trusting heroine, who has had her own share of grief and loss. I must admit I was nervous about her pilot husband (as we are meant to be) who is away a lot, of course, due to his job. As a result, she finds herself alone often on the island dealing with some very scary events. Suspicions run high through the story and you wonder, as Meredith, who can be trusted. There is a great cast of supporting characters that had my emotions running all over the place as I followed their seen and unseen activities.
I always enjoy a dual timeline and, in this case, loved both equally. They run perfectly along-side each other in a complimentary fashion. The build-up to the climax was nail-biting and the truth revealed was shocking! But everything came together in a perfect seamless ending.
This is definitely a spellbinding and unsettling tale with a dash of romance set in WW2 and 2013 that might haunt your dreams and leave you with a lot to think about! I enjoyed The House in the Water and feel Ms Darke has delivered a riveting read. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for a review copy.
The dilapidated May Day House is full of mystery and carries its own stories from the past. A diary is found on the premises that sheds light on the activities carried out there during World War II. Every time Meredith sits down to read it, we are ushered back to 1942 where we learn that it has been used as a hospital for traumatised soldiers who are sent there to rehabilitate. Here we learn of the psychiatric practices that have been performed and they are as traumatic as the experience of war. These doctors are carrying on with old practices that some might say are questionable whereas a doctor in Egypt is approaching the mentally wounded with new techniques.
I had great empathy for the young Irish nurse Ellen who came through a horrifying ordeal during the war. In some ways you could say she suffered from PTSD as a result, especially when the war planes made appearance. Despite her fear of being confined, she was courageous in many ways. When she is stationed at May Day House after previously being with the more advanced doctor, she becomes very uncomfortable watching the various treatment approaches. Particularly in one of the patients who has seen some horrific things at war. She becomes close to him and her personal attachment soon affects her ability to take commands. She is uneasy about their use of truth serum and electric shock therapy (ECT). When a man’s safety is threatened by the treatment, she takes matters into her own hands and contacts the doctor in her previous military posting.
I was gripped by ghosts and unsuspecting villains in the 2013 timeline. Held great concern for Meredith, the trusting heroine, who has had her own share of grief and loss. I must admit I was nervous about her pilot husband (as we are meant to be) who is away a lot, of course, due to his job. As a result, she finds herself alone often on the island dealing with some very scary events. Suspicions run high through the story and you wonder, as Meredith, who can be trusted. There is a great cast of supporting characters that had my emotions running all over the place as I followed their seen and unseen activities.
I always enjoy a dual timeline and, in this case, loved both equally. They run perfectly along-side each other in a complimentary fashion. The build-up to the climax was nail-biting and the truth revealed was shocking! But everything came together in a perfect seamless ending.
This is definitely a spellbinding and unsettling tale with a dash of romance set in WW2 and 2013 that might haunt your dreams and leave you with a lot to think about! I enjoyed The House in the Water and feel Ms Darke has delivered a riveting read. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for a review copy.
October 15, 2024
Loved this one. I was addicted from the first page and could put it down. My kind of book. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
June 1, 2024
Every now and then, a book comes along that grabs you from the very beginning, wraps you up in its story, and refuses to let go. This was an entirely gripping and wonderfully handled dual time story, the threads tied together by unexpected links and a stunning sense of place – the contemporary story becoming a psychological thriller with touches of the supernatural, the historical thread both fascinating and disturbing, and so very well researched.
In the present day, after a difficult time in their lives, Meredith and Philip take on the challenge of renovating May Day House, a former hospital on an island in the Thames, and making a fresh start by starting a business. The challenges are considerable – it’s very isolated, only accessible by boat, and the locals don’t exactly welcome them with open arms. And Meredith is often there alone – he’s an airline pilot – when her imagination begins to run away with her. Or might the rumours that the house is haunted be true? The discovery of a journal written by a nurse who worked a the house during World War 2 reveals a fascinating and compelling story, and provides some distraction – but present day issues and problems begin to take over, with things being not quite they seem and with a particular edge of threat and danger.
Ellen arrives at May Day House in 1942, a nurse with disturbing wartime experiences of her own, keen to help with the care and treatment of men suffering with what we now know as PTSD. She expects the methods to reflect her previous experience with a particularly caring doctor in Egypt, but finds that the treatment they administer is considerably more brutal – injections of insulin to induce coma, reliving traumatic experiences, and electric shock therapy – with the aim of returning them to the front. And when one of the men becomes rather more to her than a patient, her life becomes – putting it mildly – increasingly difficult.
The way the perfectly paced stories become entwined makes it such a compelling read, full of the unexpected, shocks and surprises, and echoes from the past. The author is a quite wonderful storyteller, building an exceptional level of sympathy and engagement with both women, making you feel present throughout their experiences – and May Day House itself almost becomes another character in their stories, wonderfully drawn and described, slowly revealing its disturbing secrets.
This was a book I found entirely impossible to put down, reading into the early hours – and when I wasn’t reading, I could think of nothing else. I was so very engaged at an emotional level, and the twists and turns just kept coming all the way to its perfect and wholly satisfying ending. A stunning read – and I really couldn’t recommend it more highly.
In the present day, after a difficult time in their lives, Meredith and Philip take on the challenge of renovating May Day House, a former hospital on an island in the Thames, and making a fresh start by starting a business. The challenges are considerable – it’s very isolated, only accessible by boat, and the locals don’t exactly welcome them with open arms. And Meredith is often there alone – he’s an airline pilot – when her imagination begins to run away with her. Or might the rumours that the house is haunted be true? The discovery of a journal written by a nurse who worked a the house during World War 2 reveals a fascinating and compelling story, and provides some distraction – but present day issues and problems begin to take over, with things being not quite they seem and with a particular edge of threat and danger.
Ellen arrives at May Day House in 1942, a nurse with disturbing wartime experiences of her own, keen to help with the care and treatment of men suffering with what we now know as PTSD. She expects the methods to reflect her previous experience with a particularly caring doctor in Egypt, but finds that the treatment they administer is considerably more brutal – injections of insulin to induce coma, reliving traumatic experiences, and electric shock therapy – with the aim of returning them to the front. And when one of the men becomes rather more to her than a patient, her life becomes – putting it mildly – increasingly difficult.
The way the perfectly paced stories become entwined makes it such a compelling read, full of the unexpected, shocks and surprises, and echoes from the past. The author is a quite wonderful storyteller, building an exceptional level of sympathy and engagement with both women, making you feel present throughout their experiences – and May Day House itself almost becomes another character in their stories, wonderfully drawn and described, slowly revealing its disturbing secrets.
This was a book I found entirely impossible to put down, reading into the early hours – and when I wasn’t reading, I could think of nothing else. I was so very engaged at an emotional level, and the twists and turns just kept coming all the way to its perfect and wholly satisfying ending. A stunning read – and I really couldn’t recommend it more highly.
August 28, 2024
I loved this haunting, gothic timeslip of a novel, thinking it makes for a perfect read for Halloween! It gives the spine-tingling chills and I enjoyed how the writer combines history with mystery and a bit of romance, too.
We are introduced to the amazing property that is known as May Day House. Situated on an island in the middle of the Thames, Meredith is excited about their new venture. Except, as you would expect, things don’t go to plan. With local objections about their planning application and Philip constantly working away leads to a very pressured time for Meredith. Indeed, when she thinks she is seeing ghosts on the island, she feels even more isolated and the stories she reads from a discovered notebook add to her connections with the past.
Turning back to the Second World War, May Day House was a rehabilitation facility, helping soldiers suffering from what we now know as PTSD. The methods taken in “curing” the soldiers was frightful and you really got a sense of this through Ellen’s narrative. The fact that the hospital is surrounded by river water – sometimes a blessing, often a treacherous curse – reinforces the isolation that Ellen, and both Meredith, experience.
As the novel progresses, I liked learning about what happened to Ellen and how this is connected to Meredith’s time in the present. Indeed, when Meredith befriends the locals, she starts to suspect that there is more to her husband’s absences than she first thought. I felt that Darke really played on the setting and was curious about this island on the Thames, plus the other River Dwellers that reside nearby. Although it gives comfort to Meredith that she is not truly alone, you cannot deny the spookiness when she hears voices in the fog and believes someone is in her house…
I enjoyed how parallels are established between the two women as the plot develops. Furthermore, the use of pathetic fallacy makes the story reach a dramatic climax in both timelines and I flew through these chapters, keen to see how the novel would conclude. I could vividly picture the abandoned nature of May Day House and found Darke’s writing atmospheric and intriguing.
This was a great read and a well-crafted tale. It is evident that Darke has undertaken plenty of research and I liked how the story was set in 2014 to reflect the heavy flooding that took place in this area. There were plenty of twists and turns in a narrative that built in intensity until its dramatic conclusion. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
We are introduced to the amazing property that is known as May Day House. Situated on an island in the middle of the Thames, Meredith is excited about their new venture. Except, as you would expect, things don’t go to plan. With local objections about their planning application and Philip constantly working away leads to a very pressured time for Meredith. Indeed, when she thinks she is seeing ghosts on the island, she feels even more isolated and the stories she reads from a discovered notebook add to her connections with the past.
Turning back to the Second World War, May Day House was a rehabilitation facility, helping soldiers suffering from what we now know as PTSD. The methods taken in “curing” the soldiers was frightful and you really got a sense of this through Ellen’s narrative. The fact that the hospital is surrounded by river water – sometimes a blessing, often a treacherous curse – reinforces the isolation that Ellen, and both Meredith, experience.
As the novel progresses, I liked learning about what happened to Ellen and how this is connected to Meredith’s time in the present. Indeed, when Meredith befriends the locals, she starts to suspect that there is more to her husband’s absences than she first thought. I felt that Darke really played on the setting and was curious about this island on the Thames, plus the other River Dwellers that reside nearby. Although it gives comfort to Meredith that she is not truly alone, you cannot deny the spookiness when she hears voices in the fog and believes someone is in her house…
I enjoyed how parallels are established between the two women as the plot develops. Furthermore, the use of pathetic fallacy makes the story reach a dramatic climax in both timelines and I flew through these chapters, keen to see how the novel would conclude. I could vividly picture the abandoned nature of May Day House and found Darke’s writing atmospheric and intriguing.
This was a great read and a well-crafted tale. It is evident that Darke has undertaken plenty of research and I liked how the story was set in 2014 to reflect the heavy flooding that took place in this area. There were plenty of twists and turns in a narrative that built in intensity until its dramatic conclusion. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2024
4.5 stars
The idea of a gothic rundown house in the middle of the Thames grabbed me straight away, and I could definitely see its appeal for Meredith.
The dual timeline works really well in this story - Ellen’s tale is so interesting and emotional. She’d suffered so much so early in her life yet still cared for the patients with such love and compassion. Meredith couldn’t help but become invested in the house’s history and having found the notebook try to understand that little bit more.
The mystery of the shadowy figures and who to trust was cleverly woven into the story of the flooding. It made the whole island feel claustrophobic and unsettling, with that cut off feeling that Meredith experienced.
The idea of a gothic rundown house in the middle of the Thames grabbed me straight away, and I could definitely see its appeal for Meredith.
The dual timeline works really well in this story - Ellen’s tale is so interesting and emotional. She’d suffered so much so early in her life yet still cared for the patients with such love and compassion. Meredith couldn’t help but become invested in the house’s history and having found the notebook try to understand that little bit more.
The mystery of the shadowy figures and who to trust was cleverly woven into the story of the flooding. It made the whole island feel claustrophobic and unsettling, with that cut off feeling that Meredith experienced.
June 8, 2024
May Day house is on an island in the middle of the Thames River. Told in two storylines. In 1942, the house has been turned in to a hospital for soldiers who have been traumatized by war, yet the army hopes to put back on duty. Irish nurse Ellen helps others, yet can’t help with her own troubles. 2013, Meredith and her husband, Phillip, buy the abandoned May Day house to restore and move forward from past heartbreaks. There is such a gothic feel to the story with unsettling feelings of truly what is happening. I was drawn in to the mysteries of this atmospheric read of the spooky renovation, variety of locals, and the medical practices of the 40’s.
The twist and turn secrets had me captivated till the last page.
The twist and turn secrets had me captivated till the last page.
May 11, 2024
I do love a dual timeline!
And this first book by Author Victoria Darke was a pleasure to read.
Set between 1942, in the war years, and 2013, we see the connections build between a young nurse working in a hospital on an island in the Thames, where May Day House sits, and the present era when a young couple decides to invest in said house and island with all manner of ideas, but then strange things start to happen.
Ellen is a nurse, already haunted by what she has seen of the treatment given to men suffering what we now know as PTSD, including electric shock therapy. She is transferred to May Day House, filled with the hope that the humane methods used by the doctor she has worked with previously will be administered here, but she comes in for a shock of her own. All the while, her personal life becomes more and more muddled.
Meredith finds this beautiful but dilapidated house for sale on an Island not far from where her husband, Philip, grew up. She becomes almost obsessed with building their home and business around the property. Her husband being a pilot means she spends increasingly long amounts of time alone as she tries to tidy up, as best she can, decades of ruin and process hidden truths she slowly uncovers while reading a diary she found from 1942 written by a nurse who lived there.
Oh, and ghosts! There had to be hints of ghosts, didn't there?
The twists and turns revealed kept me turning pages way longer than I was meant to stay awake. The way Meredith's mind gets confused as she learns more and more tugged at my heart, and reading Ellen's experiences with her beau and how his mental health was essentially compartmentalized in an era when there wasn't much knowledge was heartwrenching. And I wasn't even aware that the Thames had little islands, like this one!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
And this first book by Author Victoria Darke was a pleasure to read.
Set between 1942, in the war years, and 2013, we see the connections build between a young nurse working in a hospital on an island in the Thames, where May Day House sits, and the present era when a young couple decides to invest in said house and island with all manner of ideas, but then strange things start to happen.
Ellen is a nurse, already haunted by what she has seen of the treatment given to men suffering what we now know as PTSD, including electric shock therapy. She is transferred to May Day House, filled with the hope that the humane methods used by the doctor she has worked with previously will be administered here, but she comes in for a shock of her own. All the while, her personal life becomes more and more muddled.
Meredith finds this beautiful but dilapidated house for sale on an Island not far from where her husband, Philip, grew up. She becomes almost obsessed with building their home and business around the property. Her husband being a pilot means she spends increasingly long amounts of time alone as she tries to tidy up, as best she can, decades of ruin and process hidden truths she slowly uncovers while reading a diary she found from 1942 written by a nurse who lived there.
Oh, and ghosts! There had to be hints of ghosts, didn't there?
The twists and turns revealed kept me turning pages way longer than I was meant to stay awake. The way Meredith's mind gets confused as she learns more and more tugged at my heart, and reading Ellen's experiences with her beau and how his mental health was essentially compartmentalized in an era when there wasn't much knowledge was heartwrenching. And I wasn't even aware that the Thames had little islands, like this one!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
April 18, 2025
1942 - young nurse Ellen arrives at May Day House, which is being used to help soldiers. Not long after being on the house on the island does Ellen realise something is not quite right.
2013 - Meredith and Phillip have bought May Day House to rennovate and have big plans for it. Some of the locals aren't too happy with this and then ghostly things start happening. Meredith also stumbles across a diary that was written in the war and holds some secrets.
I really wanted to love this book, but some parts of it were quite slow. The first 30% it didn't seem to he going anywhere and I almost gave up on it. Once it goes over 50% the story then starts to get good.
2013 - Meredith and Phillip have bought May Day House to rennovate and have big plans for it. Some of the locals aren't too happy with this and then ghostly things start happening. Meredith also stumbles across a diary that was written in the war and holds some secrets.
I really wanted to love this book, but some parts of it were quite slow. The first 30% it didn't seem to he going anywhere and I almost gave up on it. Once it goes over 50% the story then starts to get good.
June 2, 2024
The House in the Lake is a riveting dual timeline novel. Both timelines are set at a house located on an island in the Thames River, and feature strong, brave women whose lives are impacted by the house. There is mystery, there is romance, and there are secrets that threaten the lives of both women. I received an advance copy of the book from the publisher and Net Galley.
September 13, 2025
I did not read the description for this book and just dove in and man did it throw me some curveballs! I was not expecting this book to be so good!
May 23, 2025
This was an interesting 3 star book that I planned on reviewing without trouble… and then I read the end.
The end alone deducted a star from this review for one part in particular, (Spoiler ahead), the attempted r*pe.
Now I now it was done to display realism with this specific character being a bad person but it’s what happened after that left me even more appalled:
“Can we talk? He asks” this is the r*pist talking to the victim. He’s in her house by the way and she’s alone. “Meredith wonders whether it’s safe to speak to him before chastising herself for living in the same sort of melodrama he’s been spouting. Of course he’s safe. He tried to have s*x with her not kill her. She will be fine. Not that she plans to let him close to her again ever. She has learned her lesson.”
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!? Women please if any man ever tries to hurt you HE IS NOT safe!! She told him no and even poured candle wax on him! She fled to a room and moved the whole bed in front of the door to trap him out! And yet she wakes up the next morning says “of course he’s safe” and moves the bed to go talk to him!!!! NO. NO. NO. NO. NO.
I will not stand for any normalization of attempted r*pe, SA, or anything else related.
She laters finds out , while he’s trying to KILL HER, that he drugged her that night as well and ONLY THEN does she acknowledge it as attempted r*pe.
Nope I’m sorry I could not get past that at all and I happen to think I’m being generous giving this book 2 stars instead of just 1.
Before this happened I enjoyed the book mildly with the occasional boredom creeping in. The audiobook narrators were amazing, the setting on the Thames was beautiful, and neither POV was less interesting than the other. The grief of loosing children and wanting children but being unable to have them was the best thing the author explored in this book and she did it really well. The book had lost some potential but it was a solid read considering the difficulty of writing this kind of mystery. I only wish that singular moment didn’t happen and I could have gone on with a short pleasant review of this book.
I doubt anyone’s going to read this review anyways but if you do then I’d have you know that I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone unless they were EXTREMELY, (because none of these topics we actually see a lot of), into early treatments of PTSD, learning to boat, renovations of old manors, or having a pilot for a husband. If you are into these and will look for even the smallest, most boring, taste of them then by all means read it.
The end alone deducted a star from this review for one part in particular, (Spoiler ahead), the attempted r*pe.
Now I now it was done to display realism with this specific character being a bad person but it’s what happened after that left me even more appalled:
“Can we talk? He asks” this is the r*pist talking to the victim. He’s in her house by the way and she’s alone. “Meredith wonders whether it’s safe to speak to him before chastising herself for living in the same sort of melodrama he’s been spouting. Of course he’s safe. He tried to have s*x with her not kill her. She will be fine. Not that she plans to let him close to her again ever. She has learned her lesson.”
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!? Women please if any man ever tries to hurt you HE IS NOT safe!! She told him no and even poured candle wax on him! She fled to a room and moved the whole bed in front of the door to trap him out! And yet she wakes up the next morning says “of course he’s safe” and moves the bed to go talk to him!!!! NO. NO. NO. NO. NO.
I will not stand for any normalization of attempted r*pe, SA, or anything else related.
She laters finds out , while he’s trying to KILL HER, that he drugged her that night as well and ONLY THEN does she acknowledge it as attempted r*pe.
Nope I’m sorry I could not get past that at all and I happen to think I’m being generous giving this book 2 stars instead of just 1.
Before this happened I enjoyed the book mildly with the occasional boredom creeping in. The audiobook narrators were amazing, the setting on the Thames was beautiful, and neither POV was less interesting than the other. The grief of loosing children and wanting children but being unable to have them was the best thing the author explored in this book and she did it really well. The book had lost some potential but it was a solid read considering the difficulty of writing this kind of mystery. I only wish that singular moment didn’t happen and I could have gone on with a short pleasant review of this book.
I doubt anyone’s going to read this review anyways but if you do then I’d have you know that I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone unless they were EXTREMELY, (because none of these topics we actually see a lot of), into early treatments of PTSD, learning to boat, renovations of old manors, or having a pilot for a husband. If you are into these and will look for even the smallest, most boring, taste of them then by all means read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2024
The setting of May Day Island is intriguing. The book has been narrated in dual timeline and dual perspectives. Some characters have facades and every character is harbouring a secret. The stories were deep, touching and evocative. This is a gripping historical mystery.
In 1934, the author has shared the backdrop of war. When Germans attacked on london. While in present, it is 2013. Presently, Meredith and Philip has bought the May Day House to renovate it and moved in while the island people still come across supernatural happenings. The house has its own history, myth and mystery. While in the past, Ellen, a nurse came in May Day House which was used as a hospital to cure soldiers. May Day House is a Victorian Mansion. The people of Island are not how they appear to be. In the past, Ellen was hiding something and Harry mysteriously died on an island. While Meredith finds something in the house that makes her suspicious of Philip. All the unthinkable happenings and hearing shocking things about the mansion from people of the island encourages Meredith to dig in the history of the house. The truths were shocking. The book is filled with unthinkable happenings, secrets, mystery and evocative past that connected the characters.
Thanks to the Publisher
In 1934, the author has shared the backdrop of war. When Germans attacked on london. While in present, it is 2013. Presently, Meredith and Philip has bought the May Day House to renovate it and moved in while the island people still come across supernatural happenings. The house has its own history, myth and mystery. While in the past, Ellen, a nurse came in May Day House which was used as a hospital to cure soldiers. May Day House is a Victorian Mansion. The people of Island are not how they appear to be. In the past, Ellen was hiding something and Harry mysteriously died on an island. While Meredith finds something in the house that makes her suspicious of Philip. All the unthinkable happenings and hearing shocking things about the mansion from people of the island encourages Meredith to dig in the history of the house. The truths were shocking. The book is filled with unthinkable happenings, secrets, mystery and evocative past that connected the characters.
Thanks to the Publisher
May 31, 2024
Meredith and Philip sink all of their money into the dilapidated May Day House but with local opposition renovations are not going to be easy. Meredith spends far too much time alone in the house and with some sinister goings on she pretty much finds that she is isolated and becomes more and more afraid of things that only see can see.
Back in 1942, Ellen, a young Irish nurse, arrives at May Day House to help care for those WW2 soldiers who have been sent to the secluded hospital to recuperate from mental trauma. However, the brutal methods employed by the doctors cause Ellen much distress especially as she is also hiding some traumatic secrets of her own.
This is such an immersive novel that I barely looked up from the page and such was the pull of each time frame that each fitted comfortably within the concept of the story. I was slightly more drawn to the WW2 sections and Ellen's story and yet the modern day setting with Meredith and Philip was filled with such sinister undertones that it kept me on the edge of my seat. I liked the hint of mystery which runs like a thread and i have thoroughly enjoyed watching how all the stands of this complicated story come together. The House in the Water is a fast paced and brooding dual timeline mystery with more than enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.
Back in 1942, Ellen, a young Irish nurse, arrives at May Day House to help care for those WW2 soldiers who have been sent to the secluded hospital to recuperate from mental trauma. However, the brutal methods employed by the doctors cause Ellen much distress especially as she is also hiding some traumatic secrets of her own.
This is such an immersive novel that I barely looked up from the page and such was the pull of each time frame that each fitted comfortably within the concept of the story. I was slightly more drawn to the WW2 sections and Ellen's story and yet the modern day setting with Meredith and Philip was filled with such sinister undertones that it kept me on the edge of my seat. I liked the hint of mystery which runs like a thread and i have thoroughly enjoyed watching how all the stands of this complicated story come together. The House in the Water is a fast paced and brooding dual timeline mystery with more than enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.
June 4, 2024
Edge of your seat reading, The House In The Water has twist after twist right up to the last page. Setting the story on a River Thames island created a sense of isolation, even though the river banks were not far away. The rising and falling river levels and river currents added to the tension in both timelines, ramping up the danger for both heroines. I loved Meredith, 2013, and Ellen, 1943. Both were strong, determined women, each keen to make their mark despite the many challenges they faced. Though this is not a romance, there are strong romantic threads, particularly for Ellen, who has fallen for one of her patients. There are plenty of fabulous characters in this book, many of whom are not quite what they seem, though of course their stories are revealed in the end. The plot is fast-paced, packed with secrets and hints of ghosts and I couldn’t stop reading. Overall this is a thoroughly fascinating book and a great introduction to a new-to-me author. It’s definitely going on my keeper shelf.
April 25, 2025
When a young couple buys a mysterious, old house on a isolated island in the middle of the Thames, with plans to renovate the space to be used as an event venue, they realize they may have bitten off more than they could chew. With the community not altogether welcoming to the couple or their plans, their dreams are on hold, and the isolation begins to take its toll! With the discovery of an old diary from the days of the house being used as a WWII mental hospital, secrets of the past begin to unfold and seem to uncover something not quite right going on in the present, also!
Solid writing quality, engaging plot, and a good twist (actually multiple twists) at the end. Some plot points were a bit of a leap and just arrived a bit randomly, but overall, I enjoyed the story and the writing.
Solid writing quality, engaging plot, and a good twist (actually multiple twists) at the end. Some plot points were a bit of a leap and just arrived a bit randomly, but overall, I enjoyed the story and the writing.
May 17, 2025
Interesting and enthralling
I do like split eras, but ghosts are not usually my thing. Having said that I do love old houses and stories about them and this one on its own island piqued my curiosity. It is well written and grabbed my book visualization (I see when I'm reading - don't read words) from the start. I would have read it in one sitting if I had not started it at midnight. Did finish it the next day.
I also enjoy books set in England during WW2 and learning about treatment for psychological trauma during the war was edifying and horrible. I think we forget what trauma does to people during war or personal loss.
This is a book with twists and turns, as well as surprises and things that go bump in the night. I really enjoyed it. Now I want to see what else this author has written.
I do like split eras, but ghosts are not usually my thing. Having said that I do love old houses and stories about them and this one on its own island piqued my curiosity. It is well written and grabbed my book visualization (I see when I'm reading - don't read words) from the start. I would have read it in one sitting if I had not started it at midnight. Did finish it the next day.
I also enjoy books set in England during WW2 and learning about treatment for psychological trauma during the war was edifying and horrible. I think we forget what trauma does to people during war or personal loss.
This is a book with twists and turns, as well as surprises and things that go bump in the night. I really enjoyed it. Now I want to see what else this author has written.
June 27, 2024
Lovely read
Really enjoyed this book, great story telling. Loved the story, the mystery and the resolution. Can't wait for your next book!
Really enjoyed this book, great story telling. Loved the story, the mystery and the resolution. Can't wait for your next book!
October 24, 2024
Community, mystery, belonging
Delightful story of a house, the people who lived in it and their entangled stories. Writer brought the residents of the river to life in a nice blend of community, mystery and belonging.
Delightful story of a house, the people who lived in it and their entangled stories. Writer brought the residents of the river to life in a nice blend of community, mystery and belonging.
October 29, 2025
Page Turner
Author weaves a delicious, dual-timeline story of wartime love and present day secrets. Easy fast enjoyable read that ties up nicely at the end. Couldn't stop reading!
Author weaves a delicious, dual-timeline story of wartime love and present day secrets. Easy fast enjoyable read that ties up nicely at the end. Couldn't stop reading!
January 5, 2025
I enjoyed this book on a whole but found the plot dragged out a bit until it suddenly sped up and everything unravelled in the last chapter or so.
I found the 2014 plot more interesting than the WWII one and skimmed this last one towards the end just to focus on the modern day plot.
I found the 2014 plot more interesting than the WWII one and skimmed this last one towards the end just to focus on the modern day plot.
January 26, 2025
A story of deep love - beautiful!
An enchanting story of love that I couldn’t put down. Lots of twists and turns to reveal the truth of what happened.
An enchanting story of love that I couldn’t put down. Lots of twists and turns to reveal the truth of what happened.
May 21, 2024
A wonderful fiction book although a few truths are set within this storyline. Most of the book splits into 2 time zones but it’s easy to follow. Ellen is an army nurse who is sent to look after WW2 servicemen who are experiencing PTSD in a large house on an island in the Thames. During her time she gets close to an airman but the question is can anything good come of it. Meredith and Phil buy the same place in 2014 but what happens as the two worlds collide. My first by this author but not the last. Thanks to Victoria and her publisher.
October 5, 2024
THE HOUSE IN THE WATER Victoria Scott
This is my first Victoria Scott book but it won't be the last.
I enjoyed it from start to finish sharing the multitude of emotions, twists and turns along the way.
This is my first Victoria Scott book but it won't be the last.
I enjoyed it from start to finish sharing the multitude of emotions, twists and turns along the way.
April 13, 2024
For readers of the late Lucinda Riley, this book is a great read. Starting out in a hospital set on the Thames, a young traumatized Irish nurse begins a new position helping soldiers recover from shell shocked conditions during WWII. Jump to the present, the reader meets a young couple recovering from their own traumatic experiences. Buying the abandoned house , the couple hopes to renovate the house and begin anew. With her husband frequently away, the main character in the book begins to see unusual things ( Ghosts?) and hears voices that no one else hears. Finding a notebook belonging to the nurse that had worked at the house during the war connects the two storylines. I loved this ! I will recommend this to people who read historical fiction.
June 8, 2024
One house, 2 stories. May Day house has stood on the secluded May Day Island for years. In 1942 we follow Ellen a nurse working at May Day House while it was a psychiatric hospital. In 2013 we meet Meredith who buys the house to do up with her husband after a difficult time in her life. The story switches between the two timelines interlinked by similar experiences the characters have.
Mystery and romance it’s a compelling read with many twists and turns to keep you guessing right till the end. If you’ve enjoyed Kate Morton’s books you’ll enjoy this!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Mystery and romance it’s a compelling read with many twists and turns to keep you guessing right till the end. If you’ve enjoyed Kate Morton’s books you’ll enjoy this!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
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