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Body of Water
For fans of Stephen King's The Mist and the HBO hit show The Last of Us comes a wildly inventive, sinister thriller following an estranged father and daughter who find themselves trapped in a diner by a living body of water.
Don't let the water drag you down…
It's been six years since Glen Masters lost his wife in a tragic accident. In hopes of reconnecting with his grieving teenage daughter, Lauren, he decides to take her on a road trip through the Appalachian mountains, where he has fond memories of their past as a family. But what was supposed to be a quick diner pit stop suddenly transforms into a nightmare when armed men stumble in, ranting about a mysterious and deadly "living water" that attacked several people up the road. The story the men spin seems to be the rantings of drunken lunatics, but soon Glen, his daughter, and the other diners find themselves hostages to both the gunmen and the inexplicably terrifying entity.
Because there's truly something wrong with the water, and it has no mercy.
Panic grows as the diners play witness to a nature-defying being that seeks only to swallow everything in its path. With help nowhere in sight, the group of strangers must work together to devise an escape, and ultimately, Glen will have to face his worst fears to reconcile with the past or risk losing everything.
A chilling story from a brand-new voice in fiction, Body of Water explores the complicated nature of grief, terror, and the ghosts we must confront to survive.
Don't let the water drag you down…
It's been six years since Glen Masters lost his wife in a tragic accident. In hopes of reconnecting with his grieving teenage daughter, Lauren, he decides to take her on a road trip through the Appalachian mountains, where he has fond memories of their past as a family. But what was supposed to be a quick diner pit stop suddenly transforms into a nightmare when armed men stumble in, ranting about a mysterious and deadly "living water" that attacked several people up the road. The story the men spin seems to be the rantings of drunken lunatics, but soon Glen, his daughter, and the other diners find themselves hostages to both the gunmen and the inexplicably terrifying entity.
Because there's truly something wrong with the water, and it has no mercy.
Panic grows as the diners play witness to a nature-defying being that seeks only to swallow everything in its path. With help nowhere in sight, the group of strangers must work together to devise an escape, and ultimately, Glen will have to face his worst fears to reconcile with the past or risk losing everything.
A chilling story from a brand-new voice in fiction, Body of Water explores the complicated nature of grief, terror, and the ghosts we must confront to survive.
400 pages, Paperback
Published September 23, 2025
48 people are currently reading
19558 people want to read
About the author
Adam Godfrey
4 books76 followersAdam Godfrey has published numerous short stories spanning the genres of horror, thriller, and science fiction, and is the author of the horror novella NARCISSUS. He holds a BA in marketing, MS in cybersecurity, and has worked for the United States Department of Defense as a cybersecurity risk management professional for over twenty-five years. Adam and his family live in Chesapeake, VA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
September 23, 2025
* SPOOKY SEASON PREVIEW *
CREEPY and CLAUSTROPHOBIC
It's been six years since Glen Masters lost his wife in a tragic accident, and with the hope of reconnecting with his grieving teenage daughter, Lauren, he decides to take her on a road trip through the Appalachian mountains.
PERHAPS THE MANY DECAYING ANIMALS ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SHOULD HAVE BEEN THEIR FIRST CLUE THAT ALL WAS NOT RIGHT
Lauren really needs to use a rest room, so Glen pulls into the OCEAN DINER for a quick pit stop-an ODD a name considering the location. Even more odd, it seems to be staffed by one man who is both server and cook.
Fittingly, Reba McEntire’s “If Only I had known” is playing on the radio-another ominous sign…
Two armed men stumble in, claiming that deadly "living water" has attacked several people up the road. The story seems to be the rantings of two drunken men, until the first GRUESOME desiccated corpse floats by.
Glen, Lauren and their fellow diners realize that their only hope is to fortify the diner and hope that help arrives in time. But, with the landline out, no cell service and static on the radio-they have no idea how widespread the threat is-or if anyone else knows.
AND, THE WATER IS HUNGRY
Will they all survive?
If this were a movie, it’s the kind you would watch through splayed fingers, as you hold your hands over your eyes….There is a definite feeling of HOPELESSNESS and IMPENDING DOOM. 🫣
And, then the story takes a surprising turn that I was definitely NOT expecting. Although it seems to be a LOVE IT or HATE IT ending-I thought it was CLEVER-very clever, and it brought my rating up to 4 stars, even though HORROR isn’t really a genre I gravitate toward.
My only critique is that thrillers often feel a bit too drawn out when they are 400 pages long, including this one.
DO read the author’s note where he shares what inspired this book.
NOW AVAILABLE!!
Thank You to Sourcebooks Landmark for the gifted ARC provided through Net Galley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.
CREEPY and CLAUSTROPHOBIC
It's been six years since Glen Masters lost his wife in a tragic accident, and with the hope of reconnecting with his grieving teenage daughter, Lauren, he decides to take her on a road trip through the Appalachian mountains.
PERHAPS THE MANY DECAYING ANIMALS ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SHOULD HAVE BEEN THEIR FIRST CLUE THAT ALL WAS NOT RIGHT
Lauren really needs to use a rest room, so Glen pulls into the OCEAN DINER for a quick pit stop-an ODD a name considering the location. Even more odd, it seems to be staffed by one man who is both server and cook.
Fittingly, Reba McEntire’s “If Only I had known” is playing on the radio-another ominous sign…
Two armed men stumble in, claiming that deadly "living water" has attacked several people up the road. The story seems to be the rantings of two drunken men, until the first GRUESOME desiccated corpse floats by.
Glen, Lauren and their fellow diners realize that their only hope is to fortify the diner and hope that help arrives in time. But, with the landline out, no cell service and static on the radio-they have no idea how widespread the threat is-or if anyone else knows.
AND, THE WATER IS HUNGRY
Will they all survive?
If this were a movie, it’s the kind you would watch through splayed fingers, as you hold your hands over your eyes….There is a definite feeling of HOPELESSNESS and IMPENDING DOOM. 🫣
And, then the story takes a surprising turn that I was definitely NOT expecting. Although it seems to be a LOVE IT or HATE IT ending-I thought it was CLEVER-very clever, and it brought my rating up to 4 stars, even though HORROR isn’t really a genre I gravitate toward.
My only critique is that thrillers often feel a bit too drawn out when they are 400 pages long, including this one.
DO read the author’s note where he shares what inspired this book.
NOW AVAILABLE!!
Thank You to Sourcebooks Landmark for the gifted ARC provided through Net Galley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.
October 23, 2025
BANGER ALERT! BANGER ALERT! Filled with an astounding array of chilling yet emotionally resonant scenes, Body of Water was beyond original—it was downright ingenious. From the quick-off-the-block start to the cerebral yet poignant conclusion, my mind reeled as the cinematic feel of this truly special novel utterly blew me away. You see, not only did it effortlessly blend psychological horror, survival thriller, and mild family drama into one mind-blowing novel, but it did so with a depth that you don’t often find. Immersive, clever, and stunning, the insights into trauma and grief were just as profound as the nature of this storyline. After all, I will be thinking about this one long after finishing the last breathtaking chapter, which f***ed with my head in the best possible way.
What else left me utterly speechless? Well, before I even got to the *chef’s kiss* twist and equally perfect conclusion, the rising sense of foreboding, sinister atmosphere, and realistically compelling father-daughter relationship were everything I could want in a novel. I mean, not only did this book perfectly blend multiple genres, but it did so with ease. Taking a nod from The Mist and twisting it up with a healthy dose of The Last of Us all while adding a very Blake Crouch-like feel, the heady mix left me questioning what it means to be human as I reveled in Mr. Godfrey’s obvious skill. From the eerie supernatural vibe running throughout to the psychologically acute ending, every single part of it was complete and utter perfection.
All said and done, thanks to the remote, claustrophobic setting, palpable tension, and evocative prose, I couldn’t have loved this one more if I tried. Even the small cast of characters was an absolute win. Running the gamut from despicable to endearing, I found a couple to root for and a couple I loved to hate right from the get-go. But it was the last third of this book that won me over completely. Beyond fast-paced and propulsive, the spine-tingling events had me flying through the pages at speed. Leaving me no chance at all to guess what was coming, that ending was, to be frank, without equal. Shocking, moving, and thought-provoking in the extreme, it wrapped up everything perfectly while also leaving it just a little bit open-ended, which I utterly loved. Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
It's been six years since Glen Masters lost his wife in a tragic accident. In hopes of reconnecting with his grieving teenage daughter, Lauren, he decides to take her on a road trip through the Appalachian mountains, where he has fond memories of their past as a family. But what was supposed to be a quick diner pit stop suddenly transforms into a nightmare when armed men stumble in, ranting about a mysterious and deadly "living water" that attacked several people up the road. The story the men spin seems to be the rantings of drunken lunatics, but soon Glen, his daughter, and the other diners find themselves hostages to both the gunmen and the inexplicably terrifying entity.
Because there's truly something wrong with the water, and it has no mercy.
Panic grows as the diners play witness to a nature-defying being that seeks only to swallow everything in its path. With help nowhere in sight, the group of strangers must work together to devise an escape, and ultimately, Glen will have to face his worst fears to reconcile with the past or risk losing everything.
Thank you to Adam Godfrey and Sourcebooks Landmark for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 23, 2025
Content warning: racism, xenophobia, violence, drowning, gun violence, grief
What else left me utterly speechless? Well, before I even got to the *chef’s kiss* twist and equally perfect conclusion, the rising sense of foreboding, sinister atmosphere, and realistically compelling father-daughter relationship were everything I could want in a novel. I mean, not only did this book perfectly blend multiple genres, but it did so with ease. Taking a nod from The Mist and twisting it up with a healthy dose of The Last of Us all while adding a very Blake Crouch-like feel, the heady mix left me questioning what it means to be human as I reveled in Mr. Godfrey’s obvious skill. From the eerie supernatural vibe running throughout to the psychologically acute ending, every single part of it was complete and utter perfection.
All said and done, thanks to the remote, claustrophobic setting, palpable tension, and evocative prose, I couldn’t have loved this one more if I tried. Even the small cast of characters was an absolute win. Running the gamut from despicable to endearing, I found a couple to root for and a couple I loved to hate right from the get-go. But it was the last third of this book that won me over completely. Beyond fast-paced and propulsive, the spine-tingling events had me flying through the pages at speed. Leaving me no chance at all to guess what was coming, that ending was, to be frank, without equal. Shocking, moving, and thought-provoking in the extreme, it wrapped up everything perfectly while also leaving it just a little bit open-ended, which I utterly loved. Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
It's been six years since Glen Masters lost his wife in a tragic accident. In hopes of reconnecting with his grieving teenage daughter, Lauren, he decides to take her on a road trip through the Appalachian mountains, where he has fond memories of their past as a family. But what was supposed to be a quick diner pit stop suddenly transforms into a nightmare when armed men stumble in, ranting about a mysterious and deadly "living water" that attacked several people up the road. The story the men spin seems to be the rantings of drunken lunatics, but soon Glen, his daughter, and the other diners find themselves hostages to both the gunmen and the inexplicably terrifying entity.
Because there's truly something wrong with the water, and it has no mercy.
Panic grows as the diners play witness to a nature-defying being that seeks only to swallow everything in its path. With help nowhere in sight, the group of strangers must work together to devise an escape, and ultimately, Glen will have to face his worst fears to reconcile with the past or risk losing everything.
Thank you to Adam Godfrey and Sourcebooks Landmark for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 23, 2025
Content warning: racism, xenophobia, violence, drowning, gun violence, grief
September 6, 2025
Gripping, thrilling, shocking, and horrific! Whew! This was a fantastic audiobook that had my attention from the very beginning and never let go! The book begins as a father, Glen Masters who is still grieving the loss of his wife, has taken his teenage daughter, Lauren, on a road trip. They are traveling through the Appalachian Mountains, and make a pit stop at a diner to get some dinner.
But it is not the quick meal they had hoped for. Suddenly hysterical armed men rush into the diner warning them about the "living water" that is attacking people. They won't let anyone leave and as the water begins to flow their way...
I had no idea what I was getting into when I began listening to this audiobook. The narration was fantastic, and this book proved to be an atmospheric, thrilling, and tension filled read. I love the 'trapped' feeling in this book. Questions swirled through my mind such as 'what is it with the water?' and 'what is going to happen?' and 'how can they survive this?' As the questions swirled through my mind, the dread, tension and danger intensified.
Then the author knocked my socks off with that TWIST and REVEAL. I can honestly say that I did not see it coming at all and was left thinking 'wait, what?", 'how clever' and 'well played, sir.' Holy Moly, this book turned on a dime and left me with my mouth hanging open. I love it when that happens. Talk about shocking!
A great eerie, atmospheric, dark, and thrilling book!
Thank you to RBmedia | Recorded Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
But it is not the quick meal they had hoped for. Suddenly hysterical armed men rush into the diner warning them about the "living water" that is attacking people. They won't let anyone leave and as the water begins to flow their way...
I had no idea what I was getting into when I began listening to this audiobook. The narration was fantastic, and this book proved to be an atmospheric, thrilling, and tension filled read. I love the 'trapped' feeling in this book. Questions swirled through my mind such as 'what is it with the water?' and 'what is going to happen?' and 'how can they survive this?' As the questions swirled through my mind, the dread, tension and danger intensified.
Then the author knocked my socks off with that TWIST and REVEAL. I can honestly say that I did not see it coming at all and was left thinking 'wait, what?", 'how clever' and 'well played, sir.' Holy Moly, this book turned on a dime and left me with my mouth hanging open. I love it when that happens. Talk about shocking!
A great eerie, atmospheric, dark, and thrilling book!
Thank you to RBmedia | Recorded Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
September 18, 2025
"You do the best you can, best you know how. Ain't nobody perfect, nobody getting it all right in this world, all the time."
FIVE STAR STUNNER ALERT Y'ALL! I was HOOKED from the first chapter and the intensity only builds from there.
I LI-TER-AL-LY could NOT. PUT. THIS. DOWN! Glen is trying to reconnect with his teen daughter six years after the death of his wife (her mother) by taking a road trip. They stop for a quick bite to eat and wind up trapped in a diner with six other people, two of whom are raving about deadly water and waving a gun around. What unfolds next is anxiety inducing, jaw dropping, a little gruesome and entirely UNPREDICTABLE!
What a glorious blend of creature feature, grief horror and survival thriller with the added mastery of poignant depth and moments of reflection that I dare say all of us can relate to. In the midst of an unimaginable and horrifying situation, Adam Godfrey expertly drops nuggets of profound insights on grief, trauma and the nature of being human.
It is SO hard to surprise me and the hits just kept on coming leading up to a brilliantly executed ending that had me SHOOK! Chills and tears broke out simultaneously and as I kept reading, my admiration for the remarkable nature of this story and the writing ability of Godfrey only increased. What an utterly PHENOMENAL read!
BODY OF WATER grabs you by the teeth and doesn't let go while at the same time delivering emotional gut punches. It's terrifying, clever, cerebral, nerve-wracking and will have you pondering long after you've finished. If you love horror thrills with deeper meaning and don't mind losing sleep, I urge you to get your hands on this IMMEDIATELY!
This book gets ALLLLL the stars from me!
____
Notable Quotes:
"Power of the ear, my friend. Strength in listening, understanding. Don't underestimate the power of the simplest things."
"And sometimes there are choices, Dad. Ones we don't know we'll have to make, don't think we'll ever have to make, but then they're there. All of a sudden, things happen. They just do."
"Control is an illusion, my friend. Surety of life, existence, of here, now, tomorrow. You, me, all this. Nothing's certain. Never was, never will be."
____
Massive thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
FIVE STAR STUNNER ALERT Y'ALL! I was HOOKED from the first chapter and the intensity only builds from there.
I LI-TER-AL-LY could NOT. PUT. THIS. DOWN! Glen is trying to reconnect with his teen daughter six years after the death of his wife (her mother) by taking a road trip. They stop for a quick bite to eat and wind up trapped in a diner with six other people, two of whom are raving about deadly water and waving a gun around. What unfolds next is anxiety inducing, jaw dropping, a little gruesome and entirely UNPREDICTABLE!
What a glorious blend of creature feature, grief horror and survival thriller with the added mastery of poignant depth and moments of reflection that I dare say all of us can relate to. In the midst of an unimaginable and horrifying situation, Adam Godfrey expertly drops nuggets of profound insights on grief, trauma and the nature of being human.
It is SO hard to surprise me and the hits just kept on coming leading up to a brilliantly executed ending that had me SHOOK! Chills and tears broke out simultaneously and as I kept reading, my admiration for the remarkable nature of this story and the writing ability of Godfrey only increased. What an utterly PHENOMENAL read!
BODY OF WATER grabs you by the teeth and doesn't let go while at the same time delivering emotional gut punches. It's terrifying, clever, cerebral, nerve-wracking and will have you pondering long after you've finished. If you love horror thrills with deeper meaning and don't mind losing sleep, I urge you to get your hands on this IMMEDIATELY!
This book gets ALLLLL the stars from me!
____
Notable Quotes:
"Power of the ear, my friend. Strength in listening, understanding. Don't underestimate the power of the simplest things."
"And sometimes there are choices, Dad. Ones we don't know we'll have to make, don't think we'll ever have to make, but then they're there. All of a sudden, things happen. They just do."
"Control is an illusion, my friend. Surety of life, existence, of here, now, tomorrow. You, me, all this. Nothing's certain. Never was, never will be."
____
Massive thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
October 1, 2025
I’m on outlier Island again …. Hopefully surrounded by just the normal kind of water.
Glen and his daughter decide to stop at a diner for a quick bite to eat and bathroom break. While there two men come into the diner, talking frantically about water eating people. Consuming people. Killing them. Doing something nefarious to them that water should not do. Neither man is highly respected in the town so no one takes them seriously until they witness it for themselves. Now this group must figure out what is causing the water to do this and how to survive.
This just did not work for me. It seemed too similar to The Mist. It felt like an almost identical set up, just swapping out the bugs with water. It also became quite repetitive and dare I say I was bored. I thought at first I just wasn’t in the mood to read it so I set it down and read something else. Once I circled back to it, I found myself still in the same predicament. I just couldn’t get into it. I wasn’t interested. Finally, I’ve forced myself to finish it because I just knew there was some sort of twist that maybe might change my perspective. So that twist…made me irritable. While I had an idea, that’s where it was going it kind of made the first part even worse.
As I said, I’m definitely an outlier(yet again) so please check out all the other fantastic reviews for this novel.
Glen and his daughter decide to stop at a diner for a quick bite to eat and bathroom break. While there two men come into the diner, talking frantically about water eating people. Consuming people. Killing them. Doing something nefarious to them that water should not do. Neither man is highly respected in the town so no one takes them seriously until they witness it for themselves. Now this group must figure out what is causing the water to do this and how to survive.
This just did not work for me. It seemed too similar to The Mist. It felt like an almost identical set up, just swapping out the bugs with water. It also became quite repetitive and dare I say I was bored. I thought at first I just wasn’t in the mood to read it so I set it down and read something else. Once I circled back to it, I found myself still in the same predicament. I just couldn’t get into it. I wasn’t interested. Finally, I’ve forced myself to finish it because I just knew there was some sort of twist that maybe might change my perspective. So that twist…made me irritable. While I had an idea, that’s where it was going it kind of made the first part even worse.
As I said, I’m definitely an outlier(yet again) so please check out all the other fantastic reviews for this novel.
September 29, 2025
Wow! Mind-blown 🤯🤯🤯
Glen Masters decides to take his daughter, Lauren, on a road trip through the Appalachian Mountains. It’s been six years since he lost his wife and now, he wants some time to re-connect with Lauren.
They decide to stop at a diner for a bite to eat and rest. Then, two men bust through the door and hold them captive, for their own safety. They claim there is water that is flowing in and will kill you. While held up, they learn these men are telling the truth.
Let me just tell you that you will have NO IDEA where this will lead. At ALL! A shocking ending that left me staring at the wall.
This is perfect for fans of The Mist! A story about survival and fear. I loved it!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date - 9/23/25
Glen Masters decides to take his daughter, Lauren, on a road trip through the Appalachian Mountains. It’s been six years since he lost his wife and now, he wants some time to re-connect with Lauren.
They decide to stop at a diner for a bite to eat and rest. Then, two men bust through the door and hold them captive, for their own safety. They claim there is water that is flowing in and will kill you. While held up, they learn these men are telling the truth.
Let me just tell you that you will have NO IDEA where this will lead. At ALL! A shocking ending that left me staring at the wall.
This is perfect for fans of The Mist! A story about survival and fear. I loved it!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date - 9/23/25
August 6, 2025
I am soooooo excited to receive a copy of “body of water”, once I read the synopsis I knew I had to read this book no matter what 😂 and I love the cover illustration it absolutely pulls you in!
The plot follows Glen who is taking his daughter on a road trip through the Appalachian Mountains when they find themselves trapped in a diner and held hostage between armed men and a deadly entity outside in the form of a living body of water the surrounds the diner.
Firstly a deadly body of water that kills? Amazing! Secondly, why is there something just so unnerving about diners, and being trapped in one no less? What about them makes the situation just so much more uncomfortable? Is it the large windows allowing whatever’s outside to see in, or the lack of spaces to take cover and hide? Or is it all the objects inside that can be turned into deadly weapons such as kitchen knives and hot stoves? Either way I LOVE a diner for a trapped room setting.
I loved the side plot where Glen is just a struggling father trying to grieve the loss of his wife and reconnect with his daughter, it added an extra layer and a more serious tone to the book. I definitely rooted for this family and wanted them to get out safely so they could move forward with their lives together.
This was overall such a fun read for me I definitely felt the tension throughout and was excited to read along and try to figure out exactly what the heck was happening here. I would definitely recommend the read!
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Adam Godfrey for the #netgalley #gifted copy
Publish date: September 23rd
The plot follows Glen who is taking his daughter on a road trip through the Appalachian Mountains when they find themselves trapped in a diner and held hostage between armed men and a deadly entity outside in the form of a living body of water the surrounds the diner.
Firstly a deadly body of water that kills? Amazing! Secondly, why is there something just so unnerving about diners, and being trapped in one no less? What about them makes the situation just so much more uncomfortable? Is it the large windows allowing whatever’s outside to see in, or the lack of spaces to take cover and hide? Or is it all the objects inside that can be turned into deadly weapons such as kitchen knives and hot stoves? Either way I LOVE a diner for a trapped room setting.
I loved the side plot where Glen is just a struggling father trying to grieve the loss of his wife and reconnect with his daughter, it added an extra layer and a more serious tone to the book. I definitely rooted for this family and wanted them to get out safely so they could move forward with their lives together.
This was overall such a fun read for me I definitely felt the tension throughout and was excited to read along and try to figure out exactly what the heck was happening here. I would definitely recommend the read!
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Adam Godfrey for the #netgalley #gifted copy
Publish date: September 23rd
September 29, 2025
Intriguing debut!
The premise of this book really grabbed my attention! A father and daughter are trapped in a diner and surrounded by a living body of water. Glen lost his wife six years ago and wants to reconnect with his teenage daughter by taking a road trip through the Appalachian Mountains. What was supposed to be a quick pit stop soon turns into long nightmare, as armed men enter the diner rambling about the mysterious and deadly water that attacked and killed some people up the road. Glen and his daughter soon become hostages to the gunmen and the entity! They must work together to figure out a way to escape.
I listened to the audiobook which is read by James Babson. I really enjoyed this format and highly recommend it.
This book reminded me a lot of Taylor Adam’s thrillers…just with a supernatural twist and a bit less gore. I enjoyed the tenuous relationship between Glen and his daughter Lauren, but I was shocked to learn how old she was, as she came off as annoying and immature. I had heard there was a surprising twist at the end, which I was really looking forward to. Unfortunately, my thriller Spidey senses detected where this was going from the beginning. I really do read too many thrillers! However, it may be more shocking for those new to this genre.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it if you are looking for a thriller with a supernatural twist.
3.5/5 stars rounded up
Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the ARC of Body of Water in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of this book really grabbed my attention! A father and daughter are trapped in a diner and surrounded by a living body of water. Glen lost his wife six years ago and wants to reconnect with his teenage daughter by taking a road trip through the Appalachian Mountains. What was supposed to be a quick pit stop soon turns into long nightmare, as armed men enter the diner rambling about the mysterious and deadly water that attacked and killed some people up the road. Glen and his daughter soon become hostages to the gunmen and the entity! They must work together to figure out a way to escape.
I listened to the audiobook which is read by James Babson. I really enjoyed this format and highly recommend it.
This book reminded me a lot of Taylor Adam’s thrillers…just with a supernatural twist and a bit less gore. I enjoyed the tenuous relationship between Glen and his daughter Lauren, but I was shocked to learn how old she was, as she came off as annoying and immature. I had heard there was a surprising twist at the end, which I was really looking forward to. Unfortunately, my thriller Spidey senses detected where this was going from the beginning. I really do read too many thrillers! However, it may be more shocking for those new to this genre.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it if you are looking for a thriller with a supernatural twist.
3.5/5 stars rounded up
Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the ARC of Body of Water in exchange for an honest review.
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November 11, 202510 to the End
Knocking off (or trying to) those NetGalley titles that have slipped past their pub dates or that have been haunting my shelf a little too long.
My Thriller Era
My thriller era feels like a cursed roller coaster with more free-falls into disappointment than those heart-racing climbs that remind me why I love the genre. Body of Water felt like it might break the curse: a father and daughter trapped in a diner by a living, sentient body of water. Creepy, original, and ambitious.
Where My Mood Flickered
I wanted to love the weirdness, but living water that attacks people? My brain just couldn’t wrap around it. I kept putting it down until I didn’t pick it back up. I had both the audiobook and the eBook from the publisher, but even listening couldn’t keep me hooked.
Witchy Mood Meter
Moody Mismatch — The spell was strange, the vibe unique, but my energy just couldn’t sync with this tide.
Verdict
Maybe it’s not the book, it's my mood. Try this one yourself if you’re craving something eerie and unconventional. As for me, this one slipped through my fingers like water itself.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
Knocking off (or trying to) those NetGalley titles that have slipped past their pub dates or that have been haunting my shelf a little too long.
My Thriller Era
My thriller era feels like a cursed roller coaster with more free-falls into disappointment than those heart-racing climbs that remind me why I love the genre. Body of Water felt like it might break the curse: a father and daughter trapped in a diner by a living, sentient body of water. Creepy, original, and ambitious.
Where My Mood Flickered
I wanted to love the weirdness, but living water that attacks people? My brain just couldn’t wrap around it. I kept putting it down until I didn’t pick it back up. I had both the audiobook and the eBook from the publisher, but even listening couldn’t keep me hooked.
Witchy Mood Meter
Moody Mismatch — The spell was strange, the vibe unique, but my energy just couldn’t sync with this tide.
Verdict
Maybe it’s not the book, it's my mood. Try this one yourself if you’re craving something eerie and unconventional. As for me, this one slipped through my fingers like water itself.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
September 9, 2025
When I saw this book being compared to Stephen King’s “The Mist”, I knew I had to read it. I’ve always loved that story (but not the screen adaptations!) because it’s classic apocalyptic horror mixed in with people and their minds. This book was very similar in that sense; we just have water instead of mist, and while there are no bug monsters in this book, the water itself is a monster that desiccates everything in its wake.
Glen and his daughter Lauren are going on a trip through the Appalachian Mountains, because they’ve lost touch a bit over the past six years. When their wife/mom died, they grew apart and seemed to close themselves off from each other. Glen is hoping this trip will bring them closer, and he sure got his wish there…
After stopping at a diner for a restroom break and some food, they are thrown into a nightmare of epic proportions. Two men come running in telling everyone to stay where they are - there’s something dangerous outside, and they are terrified. When Hank and Jesse tell the others (the diner’s owner, Tony, an elderly couple, Fred and Helen, and a solitary diner, Laj) it’s water, everyone wants to go outside for a look. Hank has a gun though, and nobody is leaving that place as long he’s guarding the door.
Soon they see why, as the water starts to rise and the desiccated corpses start to float by. This then seems more like “The Mist” as they barricade doors and windows, and start planning their escape. The whole book was a 3.5 star read, and I wavered the entire time on whether I would round up or down. The ending was so surprising, and while this author has published short stories and a novella, I believe this is his first novel. For those things, I’m rounding my rating up to four stars.
(Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, Adam Godfrey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released September 23, 2025.)
Glen and his daughter Lauren are going on a trip through the Appalachian Mountains, because they’ve lost touch a bit over the past six years. When their wife/mom died, they grew apart and seemed to close themselves off from each other. Glen is hoping this trip will bring them closer, and he sure got his wish there…
After stopping at a diner for a restroom break and some food, they are thrown into a nightmare of epic proportions. Two men come running in telling everyone to stay where they are - there’s something dangerous outside, and they are terrified. When Hank and Jesse tell the others (the diner’s owner, Tony, an elderly couple, Fred and Helen, and a solitary diner, Laj) it’s water, everyone wants to go outside for a look. Hank has a gun though, and nobody is leaving that place as long he’s guarding the door.
Soon they see why, as the water starts to rise and the desiccated corpses start to float by. This then seems more like “The Mist” as they barricade doors and windows, and start planning their escape. The whole book was a 3.5 star read, and I wavered the entire time on whether I would round up or down. The ending was so surprising, and while this author has published short stories and a novella, I believe this is his first novel. For those things, I’m rounding my rating up to four stars.
(Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, Adam Godfrey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released September 23, 2025.)
August 27, 2025
OMG ADAM GODFREY!!!!! You better be writing another book as we speak because- I am gonna need it ASAP. I haven’t been this invested or in a chokehold with a book in a while and this one had me sat.
The Mist mixed with The Last of Us is a pretty good description for this. It’s cerebral, emotional, suspenseful and all around DAMN INTERESTING. It had me googling biology I haven’t looked up since high school. The whole “locked room” setting made things so dang tense. I don’t want to say anything because this is such a good one to go in blind to. Oh and don’t even with the ending?! Are you freaking kidding me? Mind blown. This was AH-MA-ZING! Hold on to your butts’ folks!
The Mist mixed with The Last of Us is a pretty good description for this. It’s cerebral, emotional, suspenseful and all around DAMN INTERESTING. It had me googling biology I haven’t looked up since high school. The whole “locked room” setting made things so dang tense. I don’t want to say anything because this is such a good one to go in blind to. Oh and don’t even with the ending?! Are you freaking kidding me? Mind blown. This was AH-MA-ZING! Hold on to your butts’ folks!
May 25, 2025
3.5/5 rounded up to 4 stars ⭐️
Whoa, now THIS is how you write a plot twist.
The clues were there from the very first page, yet I still didn’t see it coming.
What I really loved about this book was how atmospheric it was. The world building was incredible, it was so vivid that a movie started playing in my head✨ I also loved the way the author crafted the characters, they were all so unique. You could tell them apart by their antics and the different ways they’d react to situations… which made the plot twist hit me even harder bcs I was actually invested in each of them and their individual journeys 😌😩
I really wish we got to explore more (or maybe get a full side story book that focuses on this world) about the water entity, it actually makes sense in the context of the story, especially with global warming and the idea that “dead” or dormant organisms are now waking up. It has so much potential! 🌊
—
Publication Date: 23 September 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and SourceBooks for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review ♥️
Whoa, now THIS is how you write a plot twist.
The clues were there from the very first page, yet I still didn’t see it coming.
What I really loved about this book was how atmospheric it was. The world building was incredible, it was so vivid that a movie started playing in my head✨ I also loved the way the author crafted the characters, they were all so unique. You could tell them apart by their antics and the different ways they’d react to situations… which made the plot twist hit me even harder bcs I was actually invested in each of them and their individual journeys 😌😩
I really wish we got to explore more (or maybe get a full side story book that focuses on this world) about the water entity, it actually makes sense in the context of the story, especially with global warming and the idea that “dead” or dormant organisms are now waking up. It has so much potential! 🌊
—
Publication Date: 23 September 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and SourceBooks for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review ♥️
September 29, 2025
I had heard great things about this book going into it, but when I started the audio, I did not expect to be fully engrossed in this novel, so much so that I was up late that night finishing it and tired the next day at work, and I’m not sure I have stopped thinking about this book since then. I was immediately hooked on the story, and the more it went on the less I wanted to do anything other than just sit and listen. James Babson did a phenomenal job with the narration, and Adam Godfrey had me feeling like I was really there with folks trapped in the diner watching the water get anything in its path. Let me tell you there were a couple of scenes that had me gasping and holding my breath hoping it would not play out as the characters were thinking it would. AND THEN. THAT ENDING. I am not going to say anything other than that, never in a million years would I have ever guessed that ending and it almost broke me. This will definitely be in my top reads for 2025, and if you have not read it please add it now.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark #partner for the finished copy to review.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark #partner for the finished copy to review.
November 4, 2025
ughhhhhh. it's okaay. The ending? It's a real deal breaker when you read a book, and at the very end, the ending itself, makes you wish you'd never bothered. 😑
September 4, 2025
Special thanks to the publisher and Nergalley for providing an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review
Can't say I was the biggest fan of this one. Around the 20% mark, I was bored, pretty much all the characters were unlikable, and I had a thought of . The writing was just pretty dry and repetitive and I found myself beginning to skim paragraphs and really only reading the dialogue so I could just hurry up and get through it faster.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to finish this book, so I perused other reviews and they were all positively glowing and praising the plot twist. So I persevered. I stopped skimming and I gave it a fair chance because all the good reviews have to mean it's worth it, right? But now I have regrets. Because this big huge plot twist that seemed to have taken everyone by surprise was what I had already guessed at the 20% mark when I wanted to give up. Sort of, anyway. I might not have been dead on in the execution, but the overall thought was still there. There was nothing shocking about the twist for me. I was let down.
Everyone kept mentioning this twist, but nobody was saying what the twist was. And I understand. But if someone would have broken it down in the reviews, I would have stopped reading the book and saves us all my poor rating (as I don't rate my dnfs.) So if you want to know what the twist is, you can read the following spoiler:
Can't say I was the biggest fan of this one. Around the 20% mark, I was bored, pretty much all the characters were unlikable, and I had a thought of . The writing was just pretty dry and repetitive and I found myself beginning to skim paragraphs and really only reading the dialogue so I could just hurry up and get through it faster.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to finish this book, so I perused other reviews and they were all positively glowing and praising the plot twist. So I persevered. I stopped skimming and I gave it a fair chance because all the good reviews have to mean it's worth it, right? But now I have regrets. Because this big huge plot twist that seemed to have taken everyone by surprise was what I had already guessed at the 20% mark when I wanted to give up. Sort of, anyway. I might not have been dead on in the execution, but the overall thought was still there. There was nothing shocking about the twist for me. I was let down.
Everyone kept mentioning this twist, but nobody was saying what the twist was. And I understand. But if someone would have broken it down in the reviews, I would have stopped reading the book and saves us all my poor rating (as I don't rate my dnfs.) So if you want to know what the twist is, you can read the following spoiler:
October 14, 2025
An interestingly weird story that had its moments of intensity and horror. I’m really impressed with the author’s imagination for this book. Monstrous water immediately caught my attention and I was hooked after checking out the synopsis.
I guessed some of the twist pretty early on, so that did change how I perceived the story and characters throughout. I can’t say that I bonded with any of the characters, some were downright unpleasant. I liked the overall concept and plot, especially some of the similarities to “The Mist” by SK (a father and child stuck in one place while a mysterious entity tries to get inside).
Overall, I’d recommend this book to scary story fans, it’s a great read for spooky season or really any other time of the year. I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for more of Adam’s work!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy!
I guessed some of the twist pretty early on, so that did change how I perceived the story and characters throughout. I can’t say that I bonded with any of the characters, some were downright unpleasant. I liked the overall concept and plot, especially some of the similarities to “The Mist” by SK (a father and child stuck in one place while a mysterious entity tries to get inside).
Overall, I’d recommend this book to scary story fans, it’s a great read for spooky season or really any other time of the year. I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for more of Adam’s work!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy!
August 30, 2025
This was an addictive thriller with a hawk dropping twist I did not see coming.
This was so clever. The characters were all intriguing in their own right. The creepy undercurrent really pushed the suspense. This is definitely the kind of book you want to go back and read again because you'll see so many things you missed.
This was so clever. The characters were all intriguing in their own right. The creepy undercurrent really pushed the suspense. This is definitely the kind of book you want to go back and read again because you'll see so many things you missed.
October 1, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ (Rounded up)
Body of Water is a genre-bending thriller with elements of supernatural horror, psychological suspense, and family drama. The predatory element of nature in the story creates an eerie survival-horror vibe reminiscent of Stephen King’s The Mist.
The story follows Glen Masters, still grieving his wife’s death six years earlier, takes his teenage daughter Lauren on a road trip through the Appalachian Mountains in an attempt to reconnect. What should be a simple stop at a roadside diner turns into a nightmare when two armed men burst in, warning that a mysterious “living water” is attacking people nearby. Glen, Lauren, and other patrons of the diner become trapped—hostages of both the gunmen and this bizarre, dangerous water entity.
The literary heart of the story is Glen’s unresolved grief and guilt over his wife’s death and his attempt to reconnect with his daughter, giving the story a lot of emotional depth that isn’t often present in survival horror books. Amidst all the horror, Glen is forced to confront his emotional trauma, and his internal turmoil affects the choices he’s forced to make under pressure, which keeps the tension high—and readers will be furiously turning the pages to see how it all transpires! There’s a lot of disagreement between Glen and the secondary characters in the diner, and most of them are unlikable—at least at the start. As the story goes on, the two armed men become more developed and relatable—so you’ll have to hold your verdict on them until they reveal more about themselves!
The isolated rural town setting, Appalachian backdrop, and closed-in diner setting create a claustrophobic atmosphere for readers, and with the predatory water taking down everything in sight, the story also has an apocalyptic vibe! The “living water” is a very original predator—and the characters come up with all kinds of theories, from government experiments to the supernatural unknown, to try to make sense of the horror they're witnessing! The writing is extremely descriptive and visceral, while simultaneously maintaining a fast-paced, action-packed story—not an easy task for any writer to accomplish! Because there are several reflective scenes mixed in with all the high-intensity scenes, the pacing may feel a bit uneven—but the payoff is that readers get intimately acquainted with Glen and the depth of his grief, and readers are better prepared for the mind-blowing drama and reveals that come later on!
Most of the death scenes are sudden and shocking and all add additional unsettling psychological tension. With the layers of emotional depth, impulsive characters, and constantly changing stakes, this story is very unpredictable and difficult to put down! And just when you think you see some kind of resolution coming, the entire story gets turned upside down—even seasoned thriller readers will have a difficult time guessing the thought-provoking ending! The final chapter is really open to interpretation, and readers will definitely want to discuss it afterwards. For all these reasons, this book is an excellent option for a book club or buddy read!
Overall, Body of Water is a standout debut that will have horror, thriller, and speculative fiction fans talking! It’s haunting, fast-paced, and immersive and offers enough originality (water as a killer, unique emotional stakes) to really stand out. Fans of “The Mist-style” nature-as-predator horror, or anyone who likes stories with equal parts emotional weight, speculative fiction, and locked-room horror, will devour this book!
Body of Water is a genre-bending thriller with elements of supernatural horror, psychological suspense, and family drama. The predatory element of nature in the story creates an eerie survival-horror vibe reminiscent of Stephen King’s The Mist.
The story follows Glen Masters, still grieving his wife’s death six years earlier, takes his teenage daughter Lauren on a road trip through the Appalachian Mountains in an attempt to reconnect. What should be a simple stop at a roadside diner turns into a nightmare when two armed men burst in, warning that a mysterious “living water” is attacking people nearby. Glen, Lauren, and other patrons of the diner become trapped—hostages of both the gunmen and this bizarre, dangerous water entity.
The literary heart of the story is Glen’s unresolved grief and guilt over his wife’s death and his attempt to reconnect with his daughter, giving the story a lot of emotional depth that isn’t often present in survival horror books. Amidst all the horror, Glen is forced to confront his emotional trauma, and his internal turmoil affects the choices he’s forced to make under pressure, which keeps the tension high—and readers will be furiously turning the pages to see how it all transpires! There’s a lot of disagreement between Glen and the secondary characters in the diner, and most of them are unlikable—at least at the start. As the story goes on, the two armed men become more developed and relatable—so you’ll have to hold your verdict on them until they reveal more about themselves!
The isolated rural town setting, Appalachian backdrop, and closed-in diner setting create a claustrophobic atmosphere for readers, and with the predatory water taking down everything in sight, the story also has an apocalyptic vibe! The “living water” is a very original predator—and the characters come up with all kinds of theories, from government experiments to the supernatural unknown, to try to make sense of the horror they're witnessing! The writing is extremely descriptive and visceral, while simultaneously maintaining a fast-paced, action-packed story—not an easy task for any writer to accomplish! Because there are several reflective scenes mixed in with all the high-intensity scenes, the pacing may feel a bit uneven—but the payoff is that readers get intimately acquainted with Glen and the depth of his grief, and readers are better prepared for the mind-blowing drama and reveals that come later on!
Most of the death scenes are sudden and shocking and all add additional unsettling psychological tension. With the layers of emotional depth, impulsive characters, and constantly changing stakes, this story is very unpredictable and difficult to put down! And just when you think you see some kind of resolution coming, the entire story gets turned upside down—even seasoned thriller readers will have a difficult time guessing the thought-provoking ending! The final chapter is really open to interpretation, and readers will definitely want to discuss it afterwards. For all these reasons, this book is an excellent option for a book club or buddy read!
Overall, Body of Water is a standout debut that will have horror, thriller, and speculative fiction fans talking! It’s haunting, fast-paced, and immersive and offers enough originality (water as a killer, unique emotional stakes) to really stand out. Fans of “The Mist-style” nature-as-predator horror, or anyone who likes stories with equal parts emotional weight, speculative fiction, and locked-room horror, will devour this book!
June 6, 2025
No. I refuse. I simply refuse.
Those were my thoughts when the twist was revealed. The were followed by a hefty WTF as well.
I did not like that twist.
Loved the rest of the book. It was eerie, thrilling, and a unique homage to a certain Mr. King's 'The Mist'. I adored our characters, loved reading about our unusual baddie and wanted so much more.
And then...the twist from Hell.
To be fair, it's not out of left field. The author did seed hints to the twist throughout, though I only recognized them after the reveal.
This gets a grudging 4 stars because I really did love the rest of the book. But, man oh man, virtual book hit virtual wall. It wasn't a clever twist, it was an irritating one.
* ARC via Publisher
Those were my thoughts when the twist was revealed. The were followed by a hefty WTF as well.
I did not like that twist.
Loved the rest of the book. It was eerie, thrilling, and a unique homage to a certain Mr. King's 'The Mist'. I adored our characters, loved reading about our unusual baddie and wanted so much more.
And then...the twist from Hell.
To be fair, it's not out of left field. The author did seed hints to the twist throughout, though I only recognized them after the reveal.
This gets a grudging 4 stars because I really did love the rest of the book. But, man oh man, virtual book hit virtual wall. It wasn't a clever twist, it was an irritating one.
* ARC via Publisher
September 12, 2025
I had my eye on this book for a while, so when the audiobook became available, it was an easy choice! This story is not what it seems, and I'm thrilled I got the chance to read it.
Glen Masters takes his daughter Lauren on a road trip to reconnect after losing his wife six years ago. Their diner stop turns into a nightmare when armed men warn of a deadly "living water" that has attacked others. As they become hostages to both the gunmen and this terrifying entity, they must work together to escape. "Body of Water" explores themes of grief, terror, and the need to confront one's past to survive.
The main characters, Glen and his daughter Lauren, are smart, relatable, and well-developed. From the very first chapter, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. I had to know how everything would unfold. As we gradually lose other characters along the way, Glen and Lauren’s determination to survive is hard to watch.
The events are claustrophobic, atmospheric, and genuinely creepy! While the pace starts off moderately, things quickly pick up, and I found myself eager to listen faster. The suspense and everything that transpired were swift and cleverly executed. I never saw the ending or the main twist coming; it hit me like a tidal wave, and I had to pause to catch my breath!
This audiobook was brilliantly crafted, and the entire experience was top-notch! Great choice on the narrator! I had seen reviews circulating but hadn't read any, so I decided to dive in based solely on the captivating cover—I'm not one for blurbs. You won’t see this twist coming! Trust me, you’ll be glad to add this to your TBR list and will likely move it to the top because it’s a perfect read for the upcoming season.
If you enjoy eerie horror without any hints about the outcome and don’t mind delving into grief in unconventional ways—or exploring the terror that a body of water can evoke—this book is just right for you. So, stop scrolling and either place it on hold or pre-order it. I’m new to this author, and this has already become one of my favorites! Whether you run or swim, make sure to grab this one!
Thank you, RB Media and Sourcebooks Landmark, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Glen Masters takes his daughter Lauren on a road trip to reconnect after losing his wife six years ago. Their diner stop turns into a nightmare when armed men warn of a deadly "living water" that has attacked others. As they become hostages to both the gunmen and this terrifying entity, they must work together to escape. "Body of Water" explores themes of grief, terror, and the need to confront one's past to survive.
The main characters, Glen and his daughter Lauren, are smart, relatable, and well-developed. From the very first chapter, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. I had to know how everything would unfold. As we gradually lose other characters along the way, Glen and Lauren’s determination to survive is hard to watch.
The events are claustrophobic, atmospheric, and genuinely creepy! While the pace starts off moderately, things quickly pick up, and I found myself eager to listen faster. The suspense and everything that transpired were swift and cleverly executed. I never saw the ending or the main twist coming; it hit me like a tidal wave, and I had to pause to catch my breath!
This audiobook was brilliantly crafted, and the entire experience was top-notch! Great choice on the narrator! I had seen reviews circulating but hadn't read any, so I decided to dive in based solely on the captivating cover—I'm not one for blurbs. You won’t see this twist coming! Trust me, you’ll be glad to add this to your TBR list and will likely move it to the top because it’s a perfect read for the upcoming season.
If you enjoy eerie horror without any hints about the outcome and don’t mind delving into grief in unconventional ways—or exploring the terror that a body of water can evoke—this book is just right for you. So, stop scrolling and either place it on hold or pre-order it. I’m new to this author, and this has already become one of my favorites! Whether you run or swim, make sure to grab this one!
Thank you, RB Media and Sourcebooks Landmark, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 12, 2025
WHAAAAAAAAT
September 28, 2025
Book Title: Body of Water
Author(s): Adam Godfrey
Publisher(s): Sourcebooks Landmark/Recorded Books
Publication Date: September 23, 2025
Currently Available on KU? 🙅🏼♀️
Audiobook? ✅
🍿 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: What the EFFFFFFFFFFFF did I just read?! This was a wild and crazy ride that made me question everything I knew. I haven’t read King’s The Mist or seen The Last of Us, so my head actually went to P.C. Cast's Into the Mist. If you are a fan of that one like me, I bet you will enjoy this book too.
🤩 𝚃͏𝚑͏𝚎͏ 𝙱͏𝚎͏𝚜͏𝚝͏ 𝙱͏𝚒͏𝚝͏𝚜͏: The eerie atmosphere in Body of Water stole the show for me and Godfrey managed to create a setting that creeped me the f out while also being so vivid that it felt like I was right there. The action was almost immediate, and it didn’t really slow down. I enjoyed the cast of characters (Lauren being my favorite) though I did start to get confused about who was who occasionally, and I probably should have made myself a list. I was thoroughly invested in this creepy story from start to finish and appreciated the emotional side of it as well. Gotta love tearing up during a horror novel!
🎧 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: James Babson was an enthusiastic and articulate narrator who managed to create a different voice for each character that I enjoyed immensely. I did hear some mouth sounds which always bugs me, but not often enough for me to not recommend the audiobook to everyone. He did an amazing job overall, and he made this a treat to listen to.
💭 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: This is another one of those books where I don’t recommend eating while listening to/reading it, and Godfrey sure knows how to shock the reader. The big twist blew my mind, and I don’t think I will ever forget it. The end leaves a bit of an opening (maybe?!) for a future book, and I would love to see this made into a series! Hint, hint… 😉
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🤯💧🔋🔌😲
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
I received a complimentary listening copy of this book through the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Author(s): Adam Godfrey
Publisher(s): Sourcebooks Landmark/Recorded Books
Publication Date: September 23, 2025
Currently Available on KU? 🙅🏼♀️
Audiobook? ✅
🍿 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: What the EFFFFFFFFFFFF did I just read?! This was a wild and crazy ride that made me question everything I knew. I haven’t read King’s The Mist or seen The Last of Us, so my head actually went to P.C. Cast's Into the Mist. If you are a fan of that one like me, I bet you will enjoy this book too.
🤩 𝚃͏𝚑͏𝚎͏ 𝙱͏𝚎͏𝚜͏𝚝͏ 𝙱͏𝚒͏𝚝͏𝚜͏: The eerie atmosphere in Body of Water stole the show for me and Godfrey managed to create a setting that creeped me the f out while also being so vivid that it felt like I was right there. The action was almost immediate, and it didn’t really slow down. I enjoyed the cast of characters (Lauren being my favorite) though I did start to get confused about who was who occasionally, and I probably should have made myself a list. I was thoroughly invested in this creepy story from start to finish and appreciated the emotional side of it as well. Gotta love tearing up during a horror novel!
🎧 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: James Babson was an enthusiastic and articulate narrator who managed to create a different voice for each character that I enjoyed immensely. I did hear some mouth sounds which always bugs me, but not often enough for me to not recommend the audiobook to everyone. He did an amazing job overall, and he made this a treat to listen to.
💭 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: This is another one of those books where I don’t recommend eating while listening to/reading it, and Godfrey sure knows how to shock the reader. The big twist blew my mind, and I don’t think I will ever forget it. The end leaves a bit of an opening (maybe?!) for a future book, and I would love to see this made into a series! Hint, hint… 😉
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🤯💧🔋🔌😲
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
I received a complimentary listening copy of this book through the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 9, 2025
WHAT DID I JUST READ.
I don't know how to describe my thoughts on this book without giving any spoilers, so bear with me. The scifi aspects of this book were SO intriguing to me with the 'the body of water' and how it all worked. It gave Tremor's vibes (if you haven't watched this movie, please stop everything you're doing and watch it) with the way the water moved and 'acted'.
I thought this was such a deceptively deep story of a girl and her father navigating trauma and loss. The way they bonded and grew together as well as individually came off as incredibly thoughtful, especially considering their circumstances.
The ending twist seriously GOT ME. And I truly can't decide if I love it even more because of it or if I need to knock it down a star. It's one of those gotcha moments that kind of makes you slap yourself in the head for not even considering....
Overall, I had such a good time with this and would definitely recommend this to all thriller lovers alike!
I don't know how to describe my thoughts on this book without giving any spoilers, so bear with me. The scifi aspects of this book were SO intriguing to me with the 'the body of water' and how it all worked. It gave Tremor's vibes (if you haven't watched this movie, please stop everything you're doing and watch it) with the way the water moved and 'acted'.
I thought this was such a deceptively deep story of a girl and her father navigating trauma and loss. The way they bonded and grew together as well as individually came off as incredibly thoughtful, especially considering their circumstances.
The ending twist seriously GOT ME. And I truly can't decide if I love it even more because of it or if I need to knock it down a star. It's one of those gotcha moments that kind of makes you slap yourself in the head for not even considering....
Overall, I had such a good time with this and would definitely recommend this to all thriller lovers alike!
January 20, 2026
this was great! review coming soon
September 11, 2025
Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing an ALC.
This apocalyptic supernatural thriller is set in the Application Mountains was haunting, visceral and oppressive. The personal and apocalyptic elements are nicely balanced with the personal elements. The author crafted an intense, emotional supernatural thriller about loss, strength of family and the fight for survival.
3 stars
This apocalyptic supernatural thriller is set in the Application Mountains was haunting, visceral and oppressive. The personal and apocalyptic elements are nicely balanced with the personal elements. The author crafted an intense, emotional supernatural thriller about loss, strength of family and the fight for survival.
3 stars
September 25, 2025
First off I would like to thank Netgalley for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review!
I have to give points for the author for writing such a unique plot, I really loved the idea behind the book. The writing is great but the story drags on a bit. The story was supposed to be focused on him finally stepping up and becoming a father to his daughter but instead it wasn't done in a fulfilling way it would have been great if it was executed a bit better. The ending was really great, I didn't see it coming I was literally open mouthed by the end of the book. The writing style is good, I liked how each character was unique from the other making each character stand out. The symbolism alone is really well done and I see myself reading other books from Adam Godfrey. If the book had faster pace it would have definitely been a 5 star for me. But all in all I enjoyed this book and I think if you are looking for a unique plot then please check this out
I have to give points for the author for writing such a unique plot, I really loved the idea behind the book. The writing is great but the story drags on a bit. The story was supposed to be focused on him finally stepping up and becoming a father to his daughter but instead it wasn't done in a fulfilling way it would have been great if it was executed a bit better. The ending was really great, I didn't see it coming I was literally open mouthed by the end of the book. The writing style is good, I liked how each character was unique from the other making each character stand out. The symbolism alone is really well done and I see myself reading other books from Adam Godfrey. If the book had faster pace it would have definitely been a 5 star for me. But all in all I enjoyed this book and I think if you are looking for a unique plot then please check this out
October 3, 2025
𝘐 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 😅 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥𝘺, 𝘪𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘨𝘰, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘺.
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵-𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴—𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘹 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥.
✨ 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺: 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶—𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘋𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥!
📖 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯. 📖
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵-𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴—𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘹 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥.
✨ 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺: 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶—𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘋𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥!
📖 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯. 📖
July 31, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
A haunting, oppressive and visceral story! When I read the Adam Godfrey’s “Body of Water” synopsis, I was immediately intrigued to read it. However, I was partially apprehensive due to the apocalyptic element. Luckily, I didn’t find it terribly intrusive. Godfrey skillfully balanced the personal and apocalyptic elements.
The plot centered on Glen Masters, who was still grieving his wife’s death six years earlier. He set out on a road trip through the Appalachian Mountains with his teenage daughter, Lauren, hoping to reconnect with her. Their journey took a harrowing turn at a roadside diner when armed men burst in, shouted about a rumored “living water” that destroyed people nearby. What started out as a prank escalated into terror when the diners found themselves on lockdown, trapped between deranged gunmen and a deadly, supernatural entity that appeared to be water itself.
Adam Godfrey delivered both a devastating and deeply human narrative. “Body of Water” pulled me under with grief, love, and fear—and didn’t let go until the very end. I appreciated how Godfrey balanced fear with feeling and therefore created an immersive fusion of psychological, supernatural, and survival horror. Likewise, Godfrey excelled at building unease through sensory detail. I particularly liked how He used sharp and haunting imagery to evoke dread. It made me feel every breath of tension making it an immersive read.
All in all, “Body of Water” wasn’t just a supernatural thriller—it’s an intense, emotionally driven story about loss, the strength of family connections, and the fight to survive. I recommend this for readers who enjoy stories where the paranormal is rooted in emotional trauma, drawn to stories with strong parent-child dynamics, and like claustrophobic, high-stakes survival scenarios.
Thanks Net Galley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advance copy of Adam Godfrey’s “Body of Water” in exchange for my honest review.
A haunting, oppressive and visceral story! When I read the Adam Godfrey’s “Body of Water” synopsis, I was immediately intrigued to read it. However, I was partially apprehensive due to the apocalyptic element. Luckily, I didn’t find it terribly intrusive. Godfrey skillfully balanced the personal and apocalyptic elements.
The plot centered on Glen Masters, who was still grieving his wife’s death six years earlier. He set out on a road trip through the Appalachian Mountains with his teenage daughter, Lauren, hoping to reconnect with her. Their journey took a harrowing turn at a roadside diner when armed men burst in, shouted about a rumored “living water” that destroyed people nearby. What started out as a prank escalated into terror when the diners found themselves on lockdown, trapped between deranged gunmen and a deadly, supernatural entity that appeared to be water itself.
Adam Godfrey delivered both a devastating and deeply human narrative. “Body of Water” pulled me under with grief, love, and fear—and didn’t let go until the very end. I appreciated how Godfrey balanced fear with feeling and therefore created an immersive fusion of psychological, supernatural, and survival horror. Likewise, Godfrey excelled at building unease through sensory detail. I particularly liked how He used sharp and haunting imagery to evoke dread. It made me feel every breath of tension making it an immersive read.
All in all, “Body of Water” wasn’t just a supernatural thriller—it’s an intense, emotionally driven story about loss, the strength of family connections, and the fight to survive. I recommend this for readers who enjoy stories where the paranormal is rooted in emotional trauma, drawn to stories with strong parent-child dynamics, and like claustrophobic, high-stakes survival scenarios.
Thanks Net Galley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advance copy of Adam Godfrey’s “Body of Water” in exchange for my honest review.
October 16, 2025
I will be rereading this just for the analogies, really awesome writer. I want a little book of all the imagery! There were moments where I was like, okay is this going to pick up, getting a little boring but the author almost immediately made it take off which made me feel a little impatient 😂 It’s a weird concept but if you liked The Mist it follows a similar cadence and you really care for these characters that you just met which is hard to do.
October 18, 2025
“Control is an illusion my friend”
What would you do if the water around you became a living entity and it was only interested in killing you? This book is a thrill ride straight from the beginning. It was scary, emotional, and that twist at the end? fantastic. It’s a story about a father, Glen and his daughter, Lauren who go on an adventure to try and heal their relationship after losing her mother 6 years earlier. What happens on this trip is pure eco horror and insanity! There is so much tension and emotion in this book, and that’s just in the father daughter relationship. It was all about survival, but in that survival comes all the raw feelings that Glen and Lauren haven’t dealt with properly. This is the second time in a week I’ve burst into tears because of a parent grappling with the emotions we feel when our children grow up! Just beautiful thrilling and poignant, this one is a winner!!
What would you do if the water around you became a living entity and it was only interested in killing you? This book is a thrill ride straight from the beginning. It was scary, emotional, and that twist at the end? fantastic. It’s a story about a father, Glen and his daughter, Lauren who go on an adventure to try and heal their relationship after losing her mother 6 years earlier. What happens on this trip is pure eco horror and insanity! There is so much tension and emotion in this book, and that’s just in the father daughter relationship. It was all about survival, but in that survival comes all the raw feelings that Glen and Lauren haven’t dealt with properly. This is the second time in a week I’ve burst into tears because of a parent grappling with the emotions we feel when our children grow up! Just beautiful thrilling and poignant, this one is a winner!!
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