What do you think?
Rate this book
A Drowning Tide
Merry lives a simple life. For work, she writes cryptic crossword puzzles. For pleasure, she swims in the icy cold sea. And in between she keeps a careful eye on her neighbour, Lucas Manning, the son of her late best friend Julia.
One day Lucas's wife reports him missing. Merry has known Lucas his whole life; he would never walk out like this. Bad things have always hovered around the Manning family. Lucas's abusive criminal father disappeared decades ago, and his brother Sean is in jail. But Lucas is different. A good man. He was the one who turned Sean in to the police, after all. Although Sean has spent every day since professing his innocence.
As she begins to dig into Lucas's life, Merry forms an uneasy alliance with a private investigator doing the same. Gareth was hired by Lucas's employers, who are also desperate to locate him - and the sensitive work project he has absconded with. Merry might be a cryptic crossword mastermind, but reading people is hard. Was she wrong about Lucas? Did the wrong brother go down all those years ago? This is no straightforward disappearing something much more sinister is at play. But as she get closer to the truth, Merry must confront her own dark past with the Manning family, which she has fought so long to keep buried. Who can she trust with her secrets?
One day Lucas's wife reports him missing. Merry has known Lucas his whole life; he would never walk out like this. Bad things have always hovered around the Manning family. Lucas's abusive criminal father disappeared decades ago, and his brother Sean is in jail. But Lucas is different. A good man. He was the one who turned Sean in to the police, after all. Although Sean has spent every day since professing his innocence.
As she begins to dig into Lucas's life, Merry forms an uneasy alliance with a private investigator doing the same. Gareth was hired by Lucas's employers, who are also desperate to locate him - and the sensitive work project he has absconded with. Merry might be a cryptic crossword mastermind, but reading people is hard. Was she wrong about Lucas? Did the wrong brother go down all those years ago? This is no straightforward disappearing something much more sinister is at play. But as she get closer to the truth, Merry must confront her own dark past with the Manning family, which she has fought so long to keep buried. Who can she trust with her secrets?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2024
26 people are currently reading
243 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 8, 2025
Whilst reading this book i was writing the review in my head: really liked this book loved the narrator and her character but wasn’t that interested in the crime she/we were trying to solve. then all of a sudden things picked the hell up and I couldn’t stop thinking about what happened to Lucas. so throughly enjoyed this book a good crime one with a bit of romance and well developed characters
January 12, 2025
A Drowning Tide by Sarah Lawton is a masterclass in gripping, atmospheric mystery. From the very first page, Lawton pulls you into a tangled web of secrets, family dysfunction, and the haunting pull of the past that you just can’t shake.
At the heart of it all is Merry, an unassuming protagonist who appears to live a simple life crafting cryptic crossword puzzles and swimming in the icy sea. But don’t be fooled—beneath her calm exterior lies a storm of trauma and unresolved pain. Lawton peels back the layers of Merry’s life with precision, each reveal more captivating than the last. As Merry struggles to make sense of her present, the shadows of her past loom larger, creating a duality that makes her journey utterly fascinating.
Lawton’s storytelling is razor-sharp. The pacing is spot on, with short, punchy chapters that keep the tension building. This is one of those books you’ll tell yourself you’re only reading “one more chapter”, only to realise you’ve stayed up all night because you have to know what happens next.
Beyond the mystery, the novel dives deep into powerful themes—death, family toxicity, and the dark secrets that fester beneath the surface. Lawton skilfully mirrors these emotional undercurrents with the novel’s coastal setting, crafting a backdrop that feels just as wild and unpredictable as the characters themselves.
Merry herself is unforgettable. Lawton gives us a character who is complex, vulnerable, and deeply human. Even as she battles her inner demons, you can’t help but root for her.
Lawton proves once again she’s a powerhouse in the mystery thriller genre with her unpredictable twists, layered characters, and immersive writing. If you love edge-of-your-seat reads with emotional depth, this one should be at the top of your list.
The crosswords at the start of each chapter are such a clever addition and has made me realise just how terrible I am at them. I highly recommend trying to solve them as you go. I’m sure you’ll be way better at it than I was!
Thanks @sarahlawtonwriter & @bwpublishing for having me on this blog tour.
At the heart of it all is Merry, an unassuming protagonist who appears to live a simple life crafting cryptic crossword puzzles and swimming in the icy sea. But don’t be fooled—beneath her calm exterior lies a storm of trauma and unresolved pain. Lawton peels back the layers of Merry’s life with precision, each reveal more captivating than the last. As Merry struggles to make sense of her present, the shadows of her past loom larger, creating a duality that makes her journey utterly fascinating.
Lawton’s storytelling is razor-sharp. The pacing is spot on, with short, punchy chapters that keep the tension building. This is one of those books you’ll tell yourself you’re only reading “one more chapter”, only to realise you’ve stayed up all night because you have to know what happens next.
Beyond the mystery, the novel dives deep into powerful themes—death, family toxicity, and the dark secrets that fester beneath the surface. Lawton skilfully mirrors these emotional undercurrents with the novel’s coastal setting, crafting a backdrop that feels just as wild and unpredictable as the characters themselves.
Merry herself is unforgettable. Lawton gives us a character who is complex, vulnerable, and deeply human. Even as she battles her inner demons, you can’t help but root for her.
Lawton proves once again she’s a powerhouse in the mystery thriller genre with her unpredictable twists, layered characters, and immersive writing. If you love edge-of-your-seat reads with emotional depth, this one should be at the top of your list.
The crosswords at the start of each chapter are such a clever addition and has made me realise just how terrible I am at them. I highly recommend trying to solve them as you go. I’m sure you’ll be way better at it than I was!
Thanks @sarahlawtonwriter & @bwpublishing for having me on this blog tour.
April 13, 2025
I absolutely loved and devoured this book within 24 hours! Hooked from the first page, I just couldn't put it down.
Merry is a rather abrasive and prickly main character, but i found her rather beguiling. The more I read, the more I liked her. She creates cryptic crossword puzzles for work and swims the icy sea for pleasure.
When her late best friend Julia's son Lucas disappears, Merry takes on a different puzzle to solve, having known Lucas all his life she has to uncover the truth as to what's happened to him.
Sarah Lawton's tension building is exceptional, and the short chapters just kept me turning the pages as more family secrets are revealed, and we learn more about the characters' dark pasts and relationships.
There's a crossword puzzle at the start of each chapter that's not essential but a fun aspect as you read on. My puzzle is still a work in progress, I'm not very good at them, though! 😂
There are so many twists and turns throughout the story and I particularly enjoyed seeing Merry learn to trust in others as she unravels the layers of her complex personality, whilst also trying to protect those that she loves.
A fabulous atmospheric thriller that will stay with me for some time, a definite must-read for thriller fans.
This was released in September 2024, but I received a copy for the stunning paperback release that came out on the 10th of April.
Sorry, I'm a couple of days late with my review, but I wanted to take a picture by the sea.
Merry is a rather abrasive and prickly main character, but i found her rather beguiling. The more I read, the more I liked her. She creates cryptic crossword puzzles for work and swims the icy sea for pleasure.
When her late best friend Julia's son Lucas disappears, Merry takes on a different puzzle to solve, having known Lucas all his life she has to uncover the truth as to what's happened to him.
Sarah Lawton's tension building is exceptional, and the short chapters just kept me turning the pages as more family secrets are revealed, and we learn more about the characters' dark pasts and relationships.
There's a crossword puzzle at the start of each chapter that's not essential but a fun aspect as you read on. My puzzle is still a work in progress, I'm not very good at them, though! 😂
There are so many twists and turns throughout the story and I particularly enjoyed seeing Merry learn to trust in others as she unravels the layers of her complex personality, whilst also trying to protect those that she loves.
A fabulous atmospheric thriller that will stay with me for some time, a definite must-read for thriller fans.
This was released in September 2024, but I received a copy for the stunning paperback release that came out on the 10th of April.
Sorry, I'm a couple of days late with my review, but I wanted to take a picture by the sea.
December 24, 2024
An avid open water swimmer and puzzle setter living on the Isle of Wight becomes embroiled in the search for her missing neighbour. This story was full of twists and turns and headed in totally unexpected directions. I loved the way the plot unfolded. I chose this book because it was advertised as perfect for fans of the BBC show ‘Ludwig’ and it has definitely filled the Ludwig-shaped hole in my life. I hope you enjoy it too!
March 31, 2025
~ Book Review ~
A Drowning Tide By Sarah Lawton
I was recently sent this paperback by Black & White Publishing in honor of celebrating the new paperback edition. It is stunning; it has a shiny cover, and when it catches the light, it looks as if the water is moving. Very eye-catching.
Despite having a TBR pile, I felt compelled to pick this up immediately. The blurb had me intrigued, and I binged on this within a couple of sittings. This book is also crossword-oriented, and at the top of each chapter, it has a crossword puzzle, as well as full crossword puzzles at the back. I haven't fully completed it yet; it's a work in progress.
Sypnosis:
𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕-𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑴𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒛𝒛𝒍𝒆.
𝑴𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝒔𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒄𝒓𝒚𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒘𝒊𝒎𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒂𝒏'𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆. 𝑰𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒚𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒓, 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒔 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝑱𝒖𝒍𝒊𝒂. 𝑼𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚, 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔.
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 - 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝑼𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒘. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒔'𝒔 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉, 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝑴𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈?
This was a highly inviting, cozy, popcorn-type novel. I adored it from start to finish. This is the first book I've read by this author, and I easily fell in love with her writing style and novel composition.
The author told me that Merry is a bit like Marmite, and honestly, I have no idea why because she is a brilliant character. Merry lives an independent, humble, and isolated life. Perhaps a little withdrawn from society, but her quirks are part of her personality. A master at crafting crosswords and a lover of wild swimming, she doesn't feel as though she's missing out on much. Merry has many hidden layers; she may appear harsh, but within the cracks, she has some unresolved pain and is haunted by her past. I found her to be a very memorable, complex, and compelling character.
Lawton captures the art of fictional storytelling with this novel. It is very well-paced, with fantastic suspense. The chapters are short and snappy. It's such a pleasant read, easy to follow, and the type of book you simply immerse yourself in. It's very vivid, atmospheric, and intricately detailed.
This story is very drama-fueled. Once you get into the dark, nitty-gritty side of the Manning family, you realise that this book explores some strong family feuds. They are dysfunctional and toxic, and this novel really draws on the emotional turmoil.
I'd highly recommend pre-ordering this paperback. It's a very underrated story in my eyes and shouldn't be missed. I'm looking forward to what this author brings next.
A Drowning Tide By Sarah Lawton
I was recently sent this paperback by Black & White Publishing in honor of celebrating the new paperback edition. It is stunning; it has a shiny cover, and when it catches the light, it looks as if the water is moving. Very eye-catching.
Despite having a TBR pile, I felt compelled to pick this up immediately. The blurb had me intrigued, and I binged on this within a couple of sittings. This book is also crossword-oriented, and at the top of each chapter, it has a crossword puzzle, as well as full crossword puzzles at the back. I haven't fully completed it yet; it's a work in progress.
Sypnosis:
𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕-𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑴𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒛𝒛𝒍𝒆.
𝑴𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝒔𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒄𝒓𝒚𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒘𝒊𝒎𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒂𝒏'𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆. 𝑰𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒚𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒓, 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒔 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝑱𝒖𝒍𝒊𝒂. 𝑼𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚, 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔.
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 - 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝑼𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒘. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒔'𝒔 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉, 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝑴𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈?
This was a highly inviting, cozy, popcorn-type novel. I adored it from start to finish. This is the first book I've read by this author, and I easily fell in love with her writing style and novel composition.
The author told me that Merry is a bit like Marmite, and honestly, I have no idea why because she is a brilliant character. Merry lives an independent, humble, and isolated life. Perhaps a little withdrawn from society, but her quirks are part of her personality. A master at crafting crosswords and a lover of wild swimming, she doesn't feel as though she's missing out on much. Merry has many hidden layers; she may appear harsh, but within the cracks, she has some unresolved pain and is haunted by her past. I found her to be a very memorable, complex, and compelling character.
Lawton captures the art of fictional storytelling with this novel. It is very well-paced, with fantastic suspense. The chapters are short and snappy. It's such a pleasant read, easy to follow, and the type of book you simply immerse yourself in. It's very vivid, atmospheric, and intricately detailed.
This story is very drama-fueled. Once you get into the dark, nitty-gritty side of the Manning family, you realise that this book explores some strong family feuds. They are dysfunctional and toxic, and this novel really draws on the emotional turmoil.
I'd highly recommend pre-ordering this paperback. It's a very underrated story in my eyes and shouldn't be missed. I'm looking forward to what this author brings next.
November 30, 2024
Murderous secrets, drug gangs, and high-tech antics collide on the Isle of Wight in A Drowning Tide by Sarah Lawton.
Meet Merry (short for Merriweather), whose primary job is creating cryptic crossword puzzles—each chapter begins with one. Her social life is pretty sparse; she doesn’t seem to have much going on besides work and swimming, which serves as both a passion and a coping mechanism for her anxiety. With her parents gone and her best friend and neighbor, Julia Manning, recently passed away, Merry often finds herself alone, watching the neighbors.
The story kicks off when Lucas, Julia’s son and a godson figure to Merry, suddenly goes missing. Recently married, Lucas is a cybersecurity expert who works for a London firm while living on the island. Meanwhile, his older brother Sean is serving a prison sentence for drug smuggling.
Merry is one of those natives who have never left the island, but to help Lucas’s wife, Alison, figure out where he might have gone, she teams up with the caring and charming private detective Gareth Jones. He’s been hired by Lucas’s employer, Sentient Security Systems, to track down their missing employee involved in a secret project.
As the plot unfolds, we delve deeper into Merry’s fragile psychological state, which is tied to her tendency to deny herself both food and meaningful connections.
The story is packed with twists and turns that keep you guessing at every moment. The standout elements of the novel are the Isle of Wight and Merry herself—she's a wonderfully flawed and quirky protagonist, making it impossible not to root for her as the story develops. Lawton truly excels in vividly depicting her setting and crafting nuanced character development.
I’d love to see more adventures featuring Merry and Jones as this unconventional detective duo, and I’m definitely interested in checking out Lawton’s debut novel, All The Little Things .
A Drowning Tide is a fantastic mystery thriller—definitely give it a read!
#pudseyrecommends
Meet Merry (short for Merriweather), whose primary job is creating cryptic crossword puzzles—each chapter begins with one. Her social life is pretty sparse; she doesn’t seem to have much going on besides work and swimming, which serves as both a passion and a coping mechanism for her anxiety. With her parents gone and her best friend and neighbor, Julia Manning, recently passed away, Merry often finds herself alone, watching the neighbors.
The story kicks off when Lucas, Julia’s son and a godson figure to Merry, suddenly goes missing. Recently married, Lucas is a cybersecurity expert who works for a London firm while living on the island. Meanwhile, his older brother Sean is serving a prison sentence for drug smuggling.
Merry is one of those natives who have never left the island, but to help Lucas’s wife, Alison, figure out where he might have gone, she teams up with the caring and charming private detective Gareth Jones. He’s been hired by Lucas’s employer, Sentient Security Systems, to track down their missing employee involved in a secret project.
As the plot unfolds, we delve deeper into Merry’s fragile psychological state, which is tied to her tendency to deny herself both food and meaningful connections.
The story is packed with twists and turns that keep you guessing at every moment. The standout elements of the novel are the Isle of Wight and Merry herself—she's a wonderfully flawed and quirky protagonist, making it impossible not to root for her as the story develops. Lawton truly excels in vividly depicting her setting and crafting nuanced character development.
I’d love to see more adventures featuring Merry and Jones as this unconventional detective duo, and I’m definitely interested in checking out Lawton’s debut novel, All The Little Things .
A Drowning Tide is a fantastic mystery thriller—definitely give it a read!
#pudseyrecommends
August 20, 2024
A Drowning Tide is the second book by Sarah Lawton and is a mystery thriller.
Merry lives a hermit-like lifestyle by choice on the Isle of Wight. Having inherited a cottage, her only occupation is formulating cryptic crosswords. When not doing this, her main hobby is cold water swimming in the sea. Merry’s cottage is very near the ‘big house’ and Merry appears to have an unhealthy interest in the couple who live there, Lucas and Alison Manning.
Then without warning, Alison reports Lucas as missing. Lucas has a few skeletons in his past. He has a rather dodgy brother who is currently in prison and a criminal father who also disappeared ages ago. Merry, however, believes she knows Lucas and is sure he would never disappear of his own free will. She vows to investigate his disappearance herself but is helped/hindered by a private investigator, Gareth. He has been hired to find Lucas by his employer. Merry, though, is not being completely open with Gareth. She has a host of secrets that indelibly connect her to the Mannings and she has promised herself they will never be revealed.
The story has so many twists and turns it takes your breath away. You don’t know which way it is going to go next. The most compelling part of the novel though is Merry herself. She is the perfect, flawed, quirky protagonist. You can’t help but love her and finish by rooting for her at every turn. Merry is a shining example of excellent characterisation from the author.
A Drowning Tide is a perfect mystery thriller and I have no hesitation in giving this one five stars and a recommend to read.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley, Sarah Lawton and Black & White Publishing for the much-appreciated ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
Merry lives a hermit-like lifestyle by choice on the Isle of Wight. Having inherited a cottage, her only occupation is formulating cryptic crosswords. When not doing this, her main hobby is cold water swimming in the sea. Merry’s cottage is very near the ‘big house’ and Merry appears to have an unhealthy interest in the couple who live there, Lucas and Alison Manning.
Then without warning, Alison reports Lucas as missing. Lucas has a few skeletons in his past. He has a rather dodgy brother who is currently in prison and a criminal father who also disappeared ages ago. Merry, however, believes she knows Lucas and is sure he would never disappear of his own free will. She vows to investigate his disappearance herself but is helped/hindered by a private investigator, Gareth. He has been hired to find Lucas by his employer. Merry, though, is not being completely open with Gareth. She has a host of secrets that indelibly connect her to the Mannings and she has promised herself they will never be revealed.
The story has so many twists and turns it takes your breath away. You don’t know which way it is going to go next. The most compelling part of the novel though is Merry herself. She is the perfect, flawed, quirky protagonist. You can’t help but love her and finish by rooting for her at every turn. Merry is a shining example of excellent characterisation from the author.
A Drowning Tide is a perfect mystery thriller and I have no hesitation in giving this one five stars and a recommend to read.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley, Sarah Lawton and Black & White Publishing for the much-appreciated ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
September 8, 2024
I absolutely devoured this on a rainy Sunday in one sitting. Nice, short chapters, a mystery with lots of twists and the bonus of a crossword puzzle to solve too. (This is not an essential, so don't be put off if crosswords are not your thing, it doesn't detract from the story)
I really like Merry, the protagonist. She's prickly, rude and full of self-loathing, but the reasons why are slowly revealed as the story moves on.
Merry lives in a small cottage on the Isle of Wight, next door to a larger house where her best friend and her family live. Almost immediately, her best friend's son, Lucas, disappears and Merry gets caught up in investigating, leading to her falling down a rabbit hole she has been avoiding for years.
It's a book that keeps you guessing, with lots of clever "plot twist" moments that had me gasping out loud. There are some dark subject matters, including drugs and spousal abuse. However, it's also really good fun and it really mad me laugh on occasion.
As mentioned earlier, there are crossword clues at the beginning of every chapter and trying to solve each one was a lot of fun, the words tied in with the story really well. I kept tally of the clues with loads of sticky notes, but there is a full puzzle and all the questions set out at the back of the book. I recommend photocopying if you don't want to deface the book!
All in all an entertaining read - thank you so much to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for my review.
I really like Merry, the protagonist. She's prickly, rude and full of self-loathing, but the reasons why are slowly revealed as the story moves on.
Merry lives in a small cottage on the Isle of Wight, next door to a larger house where her best friend and her family live. Almost immediately, her best friend's son, Lucas, disappears and Merry gets caught up in investigating, leading to her falling down a rabbit hole she has been avoiding for years.
It's a book that keeps you guessing, with lots of clever "plot twist" moments that had me gasping out loud. There are some dark subject matters, including drugs and spousal abuse. However, it's also really good fun and it really mad me laugh on occasion.
As mentioned earlier, there are crossword clues at the beginning of every chapter and trying to solve each one was a lot of fun, the words tied in with the story really well. I kept tally of the clues with loads of sticky notes, but there is a full puzzle and all the questions set out at the back of the book. I recommend photocopying if you don't want to deface the book!
All in all an entertaining read - thank you so much to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for my review.
October 6, 2024
𝘈 𝘋𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘪𝘥𝘦 introduces us to Merry, a red-headed woman in her fifties, living a fairly reclusive life on the Isle of Wight. She creates crossword puzzles for a living and enjoys wild swimming in her spare time.
Merry has a close relationship with her neighbours, Lucas and his wife Alison. She's known Lucas all his life and was close friends with his mother before she passed away. The story opens with a knock at Merry’s door early one morning – it's a detective informing her that Lucas has gone missing. As the investigation unfolds, we learn that Lucas’s father also disappeared many years ago and was never found.
There are definite cosy crime vibes here, but with layers of toxic relationships and family secrets to unravel. One of my favourite features was how each chapter is numbered, accompanied by a crossword puzzle beneath it — the solution of which reveals the chapter's title! I spent a lot of time trying to solve these, often revisiting them after finishing a chapter to see if the contents helped me crack the clue. By the end of the book, all the puzzles come together to form a complete crossword, which I thought was a brilliant touch!
I’d definitely recommend this for fans of cosy crime and mystery.
Thank you to Black&White publishing for gifting me a copy to take part in the blog tour and in exchange for my honest feedback.
Merry has a close relationship with her neighbours, Lucas and his wife Alison. She's known Lucas all his life and was close friends with his mother before she passed away. The story opens with a knock at Merry’s door early one morning – it's a detective informing her that Lucas has gone missing. As the investigation unfolds, we learn that Lucas’s father also disappeared many years ago and was never found.
There are definite cosy crime vibes here, but with layers of toxic relationships and family secrets to unravel. One of my favourite features was how each chapter is numbered, accompanied by a crossword puzzle beneath it — the solution of which reveals the chapter's title! I spent a lot of time trying to solve these, often revisiting them after finishing a chapter to see if the contents helped me crack the clue. By the end of the book, all the puzzles come together to form a complete crossword, which I thought was a brilliant touch!
I’d definitely recommend this for fans of cosy crime and mystery.
Thank you to Black&White publishing for gifting me a copy to take part in the blog tour and in exchange for my honest feedback.
October 4, 2024
💙🌊𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕋𝕠𝕦𝕣 ℙ𝕠𝕤𝕥🌊💙
𝑨 𝑫𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒃𝒚 𝑺𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒉 𝑳𝒂𝒘𝒕𝒐𝒏
AD-PR Product
A gripping mystery set in the Isle of Wight with cryptic crossword clues for each chapter? SIGN ME UP!!
Brilliantly atmospheric and drenched in suspense, I was drawn in as if by the current of the tide.
Merry is quirky, somewhat prickly and at times a little bit rude but as time goes on and you begin to learn all that she has been through and she becomes a very likeable and relatable protagonist.
The tricky (but oh so fun!) crossword puzzles are not the only mysteries to solve here. As hard as I tried, every new twist and turn steered me off course and I did not see all that unfolded coming. There are so many complex layers that are slowly revealed but it doesn't feel overdone and had me captivated!
A great read for lovers of mysteries. Congratulations @sarahlawtonwriter on an excellently crafted twisty read. Thank you @bwpublishing for inviting me to be a part of the tour and sending a copy of the book - such a fabulous cover too! Out now!
Please check out the others tour posts 🥰
#adrowningtide #sarahlawton #bwpublishing #murdermystery #mystery #cosycrime #grippingpageturner
𝑨 𝑫𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒃𝒚 𝑺𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒉 𝑳𝒂𝒘𝒕𝒐𝒏
AD-PR Product
A gripping mystery set in the Isle of Wight with cryptic crossword clues for each chapter? SIGN ME UP!!
Brilliantly atmospheric and drenched in suspense, I was drawn in as if by the current of the tide.
Merry is quirky, somewhat prickly and at times a little bit rude but as time goes on and you begin to learn all that she has been through and she becomes a very likeable and relatable protagonist.
The tricky (but oh so fun!) crossword puzzles are not the only mysteries to solve here. As hard as I tried, every new twist and turn steered me off course and I did not see all that unfolded coming. There are so many complex layers that are slowly revealed but it doesn't feel overdone and had me captivated!
A great read for lovers of mysteries. Congratulations @sarahlawtonwriter on an excellently crafted twisty read. Thank you @bwpublishing for inviting me to be a part of the tour and sending a copy of the book - such a fabulous cover too! Out now!
Please check out the others tour posts 🥰
#adrowningtide #sarahlawton #bwpublishing #murdermystery #mystery #cosycrime #grippingpageturner
November 17, 2024
You know what? I really enjoyed this book. Author Sarah Lawton has created an intriguing mystery, quite suspenseful and atmospheric at times, and a wonderful character in Merry, a woman whose next door neighbour, Lucas, has disappeared in very strange circumstances, and whom, it is quite clear, may be nursing the odd secret or two of her own.
Now Merry is no stranger to puzzles. Her job is to create cryptic crossword puzzles for newspapers, so it is little wonder that Lucas' disappearance becomes a puzzle she cannot resist solving. It sets something in her mind whirring, as it does for readers too, as nothing in what has come about seems to be a straightforward as it first appears. There are so many questions that need to be answered, and not only about what make Lucas want to walk out on his life in such a dramatic way. Is this a breakdown or something more nefarious? Well the introduction of private investigator, Gareth, certainly mixes things up - especially for Merry who has previously been enjoying a pretty uncomplicated life on the Isle of Wight. The sparks are there for all to see, and I loved the back and forth between the pair, Gareth's more laid back persona jarring with Merry's attempts to stay remote and aloof.
I love how the author has used the geography of the island to play a part in some of the more atmospheric and dangerous scenes of the book. Admittedly, some of the landscape has been changed for the sake of dramatic effect, but the isolation that is felt in Merry's little world adds to the sense of drama, especially where, on more than one occasion, you feel that jeopardy and peril being kicked up a few notches. The tension ebbs and flows like the tides that Merry loves to swim in so much, and with a few scenes that indicate a far darker edge to the story than you might first imagine given that swathes of the book feel like golden age cosy crime, the author hints at the chilling twist in this particular tale.
I loved the characteristics in this book, and the mystery and suspense that pervaded the text from the very beginning. The author uses red-herrings to great effect, turning readers attention in the wrong direction until just the perfect moment. The conclusion to Merry's story was just perfect - a dramatic turn with some emotional revelations. Does Merry get the hard earned happy ending that she deserves? Well, you'll only find that out by reading the book, won't you?
Now Merry is no stranger to puzzles. Her job is to create cryptic crossword puzzles for newspapers, so it is little wonder that Lucas' disappearance becomes a puzzle she cannot resist solving. It sets something in her mind whirring, as it does for readers too, as nothing in what has come about seems to be a straightforward as it first appears. There are so many questions that need to be answered, and not only about what make Lucas want to walk out on his life in such a dramatic way. Is this a breakdown or something more nefarious? Well the introduction of private investigator, Gareth, certainly mixes things up - especially for Merry who has previously been enjoying a pretty uncomplicated life on the Isle of Wight. The sparks are there for all to see, and I loved the back and forth between the pair, Gareth's more laid back persona jarring with Merry's attempts to stay remote and aloof.
I love how the author has used the geography of the island to play a part in some of the more atmospheric and dangerous scenes of the book. Admittedly, some of the landscape has been changed for the sake of dramatic effect, but the isolation that is felt in Merry's little world adds to the sense of drama, especially where, on more than one occasion, you feel that jeopardy and peril being kicked up a few notches. The tension ebbs and flows like the tides that Merry loves to swim in so much, and with a few scenes that indicate a far darker edge to the story than you might first imagine given that swathes of the book feel like golden age cosy crime, the author hints at the chilling twist in this particular tale.
I loved the characteristics in this book, and the mystery and suspense that pervaded the text from the very beginning. The author uses red-herrings to great effect, turning readers attention in the wrong direction until just the perfect moment. The conclusion to Merry's story was just perfect - a dramatic turn with some emotional revelations. Does Merry get the hard earned happy ending that she deserves? Well, you'll only find that out by reading the book, won't you?
June 24, 2025
Před týdnem jsem dočetla tuto novinku, která mě ve finále neoslovila tolik, jak jsem doufala. Nakladatelství totiž Návratem Ellie nasadilo laťku vysoká a mě to nedá, takže s tím musím tuto knihu porovnávat. Asi největší mínus jsou za mě postavy, se kterými jsem si nedokázala sednout. Zároveň na mě kniha působila spíš jako román s lehkou kriminální zápletkou, než abych ho mohla považovat přímo za thriller. Nebylo to špatné, v závěru bylo rozhodně dost zvratů, které nadchnou, ovšem na mě to působilo moc přitaženě za vlasy. Ve finále to beru jako takový fajn nadprůměr, který má dokonce i vlastní tajenku, což mi přijde jako fajn obohacení, jen mě autorka svým psaním až tak neoslovila…
June 30, 2025
Pains me to give this a 1 star because I’ve been waiting for another book by this author for at least a year :( Lost me by the 2nd hour and gun to my head my head I could still not tell you anything that happened xoxo
Should have given up but not gunna get my 2025 Goodreads target doing that now would I
Should have given up but not gunna get my 2025 Goodreads target doing that now would I
November 10, 2025
One of the nicest bits about this book was the smooth cover and soft pages which made it a pleasure to read. The story was good, but it could have been better. It was unnecessarily complicated in places and some aspects of the story I still don’t quite understand. But it was written well and kept me intrigued, but for a shorter than usual book for me, it took me a long time to read.
September 9, 2024
What a fantastically absorbing mystery. I read the whole thing in one day; I just didn't want to put it down.
Merry was a brilliantly flawed main character and the plot was twisty, clever and kept me guessing from page to page.
Huge thanks to the publishers for the copy to read and review.
Merry was a brilliantly flawed main character and the plot was twisty, clever and kept me guessing from page to page.
Huge thanks to the publishers for the copy to read and review.
January 8, 2025
I really enjoyed this. Quite similar in tone and style to a few I've read over the recent few years (Think Elinor Oliphant is Not OK, The Cactus, etc).
However, Sarah Lawton is an excellent writer and the descriptions she uses, the way she tells a story is skillful and lovely.
However, Sarah Lawton is an excellent writer and the descriptions she uses, the way she tells a story is skillful and lovely.
January 15, 2025
I really liked the main character in this book and had high hopes when I started reading. Unfortunately the book didn't work for me - I found it dragged a bit - which was a shame as I enjoyed the themes of the book - open water swimming, complicated family relationships, etc.
December 15, 2025
(I did not enjoy the narrator of this audiobook, which probably affected how I felt about it). This mystery seemed to move a bit too slowly, and then rushed into quite an unbelievable ending. I did love the descriptions of open water swimming though.
October 15, 2024
2.5 stars
November 11, 2024
3.5 rounded up.
December 25, 2024
So many secrets to be uncovered in this cleverly plotted murder mystery.
December 27, 2024
I enjoyed this. Likeable character. cozy murder with a crossword puzzle.
December 31, 2024
Not at all what I expected
A well thought out clever mystery with a surprising lead character who turned out better than expected. An enjoyable read.
A well thought out clever mystery with a surprising lead character who turned out better than expected. An enjoyable read.
January 23, 2025
I enjoyed it
August 9, 2025
3.75. Enjoyed most of the story and I liked the descriptions of the Isle of Wight.
August 11, 2025
3.5 - A fairly fun and easy read but I found Merry incredibly irritating.
October 7, 2025
Set on the Isle of Wight , really enjoyed the mystery of the missing husband and father
June 28, 2025
*** Stržená proudem ***
Hodnocení: 3,5/5 ✩
Nádherná obálka i anotace, slibovaly mnohé, své sliby však až tak úplně nedodržela. Navíc ani hlavní postava, Merry, mi bohužel úplně nesedla – působila poměrně nesympaticky, což se promítlo i do mého celkového prožitku z knihy. Přestože mě samotný námět zaujal a příběh měl potenciál, většina dějových zvratů byla spíše očekávaná a nepřinesla takové napětí, jaké bych si přála.
Trochu mě zklamala i uvěřitelnost některých situací a kolísavé tempo vyprávění. Některé pasáže mi přišly zdlouhavé a příliš nevýrazné – spíše jako výplň, kde jsem jen těžko udržela pozornost.
Od příběhu jsem si slibovala o něco víc, zejména co se týče atmosféry, napětí a emocionálního prožitku. Přesto věřím, že si kniha najde své čtenáře, zvlášť pokud jim sedne hlavní postava a styl autorčina vyprávění. V mém případě se tomu tak však nestalo.
Hodnocení: 3,5/5 ✩
Nádherná obálka i anotace, slibovaly mnohé, své sliby však až tak úplně nedodržela. Navíc ani hlavní postava, Merry, mi bohužel úplně nesedla – působila poměrně nesympaticky, což se promítlo i do mého celkového prožitku z knihy. Přestože mě samotný námět zaujal a příběh měl potenciál, většina dějových zvratů byla spíše očekávaná a nepřinesla takové napětí, jaké bych si přála.
Trochu mě zklamala i uvěřitelnost některých situací a kolísavé tempo vyprávění. Některé pasáže mi přišly zdlouhavé a příliš nevýrazné – spíše jako výplň, kde jsem jen těžko udržela pozornost.
Od příběhu jsem si slibovala o něco víc, zejména co se týče atmosféry, napětí a emocionálního prožitku. Přesto věřím, že si kniha najde své čtenáře, zvlášť pokud jim sedne hlavní postava a styl autorčina vyprávění. V mém případě se tomu tak však nestalo.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews