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The Drowning Place
Not yet published
Expected 16 Apr 26Brought to you by Penguin.
EVERY PLACE HAS ITS GHOSTS.
Edenscar, a town in the Peak District, has more than most. 17 years ago, its inhabitants were hit by tragedy when a school bus veered off the road and everyone on board drowned. Everyone, that is, except Joseph Ashe. His miraculous survival has haunted him and the town ever since.
Now a Detective Sergeant in the local police, Joe is called to the scene of a brutal and apparently inexplicable crime. The whole town is spooked, but Joe’s new boss, DI Laurie Bower, more used to inner-city police work, has no time for superstition. She just wants to find the very real killer who has left no trace and apparently had no motive.
Joining forces, Joe and Laurie work to uncover the secrets of Edenscar, both past and present.
But when you dig up the dead, expect to get your hands dirty…
The first in a stand-out and haunting new crime series for fans of Vera, Broadchurch and Happy Valley. Set in a town steeped in history and horror, the series follows DS Joseph Ashe, a young man haunted by the ghosts of his past and struggling with survivor’s guilt, and DI Laurie Bower, an outsider fighting to fit in.
‘An astonishingly gifted writer’ MARIAN KEYES
'Hilary is my drop-everything writer; always original, always bang-on psychologically, always gripping' ALEX MARWOOD
Sarah Hilary 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025
EVERY PLACE HAS ITS GHOSTS.
Edenscar, a town in the Peak District, has more than most. 17 years ago, its inhabitants were hit by tragedy when a school bus veered off the road and everyone on board drowned. Everyone, that is, except Joseph Ashe. His miraculous survival has haunted him and the town ever since.
Now a Detective Sergeant in the local police, Joe is called to the scene of a brutal and apparently inexplicable crime. The whole town is spooked, but Joe’s new boss, DI Laurie Bower, more used to inner-city police work, has no time for superstition. She just wants to find the very real killer who has left no trace and apparently had no motive.
Joining forces, Joe and Laurie work to uncover the secrets of Edenscar, both past and present.
But when you dig up the dead, expect to get your hands dirty…
The first in a stand-out and haunting new crime series for fans of Vera, Broadchurch and Happy Valley. Set in a town steeped in history and horror, the series follows DS Joseph Ashe, a young man haunted by the ghosts of his past and struggling with survivor’s guilt, and DI Laurie Bower, an outsider fighting to fit in.
‘An astonishingly gifted writer’ MARIAN KEYES
'Hilary is my drop-everything writer; always original, always bang-on psychologically, always gripping' ALEX MARWOOD
Sarah Hilary 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025
Audible Audio
Expected publication April 16, 2026
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About the author
Sarah Hilary
39 books584 followersSarah’s debut, Someone Else's Skin, won Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year and was a World Book Night selection. The Observer's Book of the Month ("superbly disturbing”) and a Richard & Judy Book Club bestseller, it was a Silver Falchion and Macavity Award finalist in the US. No Other Darkness, the second in the series was shortlisted for a Barry Award. Her DI Marnie Rome series continued with Tastes Like Fear (longlisted for Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year 2017) and Quieter Than Killing (Observer’s Thriller of the Month). Come and Find Me was published in 2018, with Never Be Broken to come in 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
December 8, 2025
With many thanks to Netgalley for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily
The wonderful Sarah Hilary is back with a new police procedural series and what a cracker it is!
The writing is sublime, the descriptive narrative enticing with an eerie feel and the highly original storyline is perfectly paced. Ashe and Bower steal the show as the mismatched police officers, one a formidable senior detective the other living with childhood ghosts. The plot is expertly constructed and the culprit a real surprise. This one had it all, the twists, the characters, the emotions and an excellent concept of combining the mystery with the supernatural. One of her best to date - kudos Ms Hilary and a massive 5⭐️
October 13, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC of Sarah Hilary’s forthcoming novel. The plot immediately captured my attention with its teasing hint of supernatural activity. A family murder forces the local police to work alongside DI Laurie, seconded to the case, and DS Ashe, creating a bittersweet partnership as they navigate the impact of the three linked deaths on the inhabitants of a Peak District village and the constabulary. Ashe, the sole survivor of a coach crash that killed many of his friends, is haunted—quite literally—by the ghosts of that event, which adds an unsettling layer to the investigation. If you enjoy crime fiction with supernatural elements, this quirky and original take on the genre is worth reading; it has a touch of the Randall and Hopkirk flavour. At times the narrative can be confusing, with three-way conversations crossing between the living and the dead, so it’s worth slowing down and re-reading a few paragraphs to follow the flow. Fast-paced and gripping, there’s no room to dawdle.
July 29, 2025
Review of ‘The Drowning Place’ by Sarah Hilary, due to be published on 16 April 2026 by Random House UK, Vintage.
Joe Ashe, sole survivor of a bus crash 17 years ago that killed his school friends, now a DS for the Edenscar Police, trying to make a difference and ease his guilt that he did not drown with his friends.
DI Laurie Bower, on a six month secondment to Edenscar to help her husband with his ailing father.
When the village is rocked by a triple murder, Ashe and Bower must work together to find the culprit, the motive and face a race against time before someone else is fatally injured.
This is a fast paced, gripping thriller, that sets up many possible suspects. It has twists you don’t see coming, touches of humour in the darkest of times and emotional reflections of the past and present. A highly recommended read, heres hoping for more DS Ashe and DI Bower in the future!
Joe Ashe, sole survivor of a bus crash 17 years ago that killed his school friends, now a DS for the Edenscar Police, trying to make a difference and ease his guilt that he did not drown with his friends.
DI Laurie Bower, on a six month secondment to Edenscar to help her husband with his ailing father.
When the village is rocked by a triple murder, Ashe and Bower must work together to find the culprit, the motive and face a race against time before someone else is fatally injured.
This is a fast paced, gripping thriller, that sets up many possible suspects. It has twists you don’t see coming, touches of humour in the darkest of times and emotional reflections of the past and present. A highly recommended read, heres hoping for more DS Ashe and DI Bower in the future!
August 8, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC!
This was a little weird for me. The writing was good, and the actual police mystery felt pretty tight and interesting. I can safely say I didn't see the villain coming, so it was nice to be constantly surprised about what's happening. Unfortunately, I felt unfulfilled regarding where the story went and the characters themselves.
This is the start of a series, and I wouldn't mind, but it felt like I was missing half a book. The characters all felt like they hadn't been fully fleshed out, and the mystery itself felt like it had been half uncovered. Without spoiling anything (obviously), I got to the end and was like '...how is it over?'. We never really get a solid conclusion about what's happening with a big part of the mystery, and I felt like I was missing an extra quarter of the book. Nothing was properly explained to me, and I feel like I got to touch the answer, but nothing more.
In terms of the characters themselves, Joe was the most interesting. He was in a severe accident as a child, which resulted in him being the only survivor with some unusual aftereffects. Given that he lives in a small town, everyone knows his background, and plenty of people are not entirely happy with his presence. Despite that, he's a sturdy figure who doesn't let things get to him, something he's embraced after years of being bullied and ostracised by others. I liked Joe, even if I didn't understand why his backstory was important or his whole 'thing' was happening.
Laurie...I didn't care for her. She's moved to Edenscar from Salford for six months with her husband to help take care of her father-in-law, who has dementia. She's got a lot of negative stereotypes and notions about the place she's moving to, and she lets it show. It makes her a hard character to enjoy, as she seems snobby. Not only that, but her relationship with her husband was poor, and there were repeated mentions of her dead sister. I didn't particularly understand why any of this existed, as none proved important or interesting.
Overall, it was fine, and I'm sure the author can work on something more solid in the future books. But for a first book, this didn't really entice me into wanting to read more. For now, I was just left wondering what the point of most things was.
This was a little weird for me. The writing was good, and the actual police mystery felt pretty tight and interesting. I can safely say I didn't see the villain coming, so it was nice to be constantly surprised about what's happening. Unfortunately, I felt unfulfilled regarding where the story went and the characters themselves.
This is the start of a series, and I wouldn't mind, but it felt like I was missing half a book. The characters all felt like they hadn't been fully fleshed out, and the mystery itself felt like it had been half uncovered. Without spoiling anything (obviously), I got to the end and was like '...how is it over?'. We never really get a solid conclusion about what's happening with a big part of the mystery, and I felt like I was missing an extra quarter of the book. Nothing was properly explained to me, and I feel like I got to touch the answer, but nothing more.
In terms of the characters themselves, Joe was the most interesting. He was in a severe accident as a child, which resulted in him being the only survivor with some unusual aftereffects. Given that he lives in a small town, everyone knows his background, and plenty of people are not entirely happy with his presence. Despite that, he's a sturdy figure who doesn't let things get to him, something he's embraced after years of being bullied and ostracised by others. I liked Joe, even if I didn't understand why his backstory was important or his whole 'thing' was happening.
Laurie...I didn't care for her. She's moved to Edenscar from Salford for six months with her husband to help take care of her father-in-law, who has dementia. She's got a lot of negative stereotypes and notions about the place she's moving to, and she lets it show. It makes her a hard character to enjoy, as she seems snobby. Not only that, but her relationship with her husband was poor, and there were repeated mentions of her dead sister. I didn't particularly understand why any of this existed, as none proved important or interesting.
Overall, it was fine, and I'm sure the author can work on something more solid in the future books. But for a first book, this didn't really entice me into wanting to read more. For now, I was just left wondering what the point of most things was.
September 4, 2025
4* Mismatched cop duo, with a not-likeable female with lots of prejudices - a great quality in a DI, not!! - and a good storyline.
This tale drags quite a bit. I'm not sure I can review without Spoilers, so apologies in advance.
We start off in the past on a school trip, followed by an accident and the drowning of all kids and adults, bar Joe. Who, now aged 28 and a cop, sees, communicates with, and can touch dead people. He's having to keep this a secret from his superiors or he'll have to undergo various assessments and may be deemed unfit for his role. The dead kids he sees are past and present, with all bar Sammi, his BFF and love interest at the time - Joe is bi, calls himself queer - not ageing. Sammi is his eyes, ears and early warning system. But they never address their past or present relationship.
The tale starts with a break-in, then a horrible crime, and things in the village escalate, with unsavoury secrets coming to light. It's hard to know who Joe can trust, but it's all well done and very sadly believable when the killer is revealed. Sins of the father 😪
But, DI Laurie is such an arrogant and unlikeable character. She's wondering if she knew her husband and the man he's becoming, as the poor sod watches his dying dad's dementia deteriorate. She doesn't like her sisters-in-law. She doesn't like her father-in-law - he's unpleasant, yes, his mind is gone, but she doesn't really make allowances. She's a bit of a bully. She expects and demands respect for her position because of the position, but she does nothing to earn it or endear herself to her new team and doesn't attempt to be part of the team. She's clearly of the opinion that being a DI in Salford is more worthy of being a DI in Sleepyville, Peak District. There's mention of her deceased sister, a couple of random sightings of the latter's hands (?), but strangely the partners don't address this.
It was an engrossing tale but it dragged in bits. Too many characters, too many little arcs, too little made of the 'I can see dead people'. I'd still read more of this series but hope that Laurie gets a personality transplant, or that her extended family dumps her.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Harvill Random House Vintage UK, for my reading pleasure.
This tale drags quite a bit. I'm not sure I can review without Spoilers, so apologies in advance.
We start off in the past on a school trip, followed by an accident and the drowning of all kids and adults, bar Joe. Who, now aged 28 and a cop, sees, communicates with, and can touch dead people. He's having to keep this a secret from his superiors or he'll have to undergo various assessments and may be deemed unfit for his role. The dead kids he sees are past and present, with all bar Sammi, his BFF and love interest at the time - Joe is bi, calls himself queer - not ageing. Sammi is his eyes, ears and early warning system. But they never address their past or present relationship.
The tale starts with a break-in, then a horrible crime, and things in the village escalate, with unsavoury secrets coming to light. It's hard to know who Joe can trust, but it's all well done and very sadly believable when the killer is revealed. Sins of the father 😪
But, DI Laurie is such an arrogant and unlikeable character. She's wondering if she knew her husband and the man he's becoming, as the poor sod watches his dying dad's dementia deteriorate. She doesn't like her sisters-in-law. She doesn't like her father-in-law - he's unpleasant, yes, his mind is gone, but she doesn't really make allowances. She's a bit of a bully. She expects and demands respect for her position because of the position, but she does nothing to earn it or endear herself to her new team and doesn't attempt to be part of the team. She's clearly of the opinion that being a DI in Salford is more worthy of being a DI in Sleepyville, Peak District. There's mention of her deceased sister, a couple of random sightings of the latter's hands (?), but strangely the partners don't address this.
It was an engrossing tale but it dragged in bits. Too many characters, too many little arcs, too little made of the 'I can see dead people'. I'd still read more of this series but hope that Laurie gets a personality transplant, or that her extended family dumps her.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Harvill Random House Vintage UK, for my reading pleasure.
August 11, 2025
Sarah Hilary takes an unusual premise in ‘The Drowning Place’ – that of a detective, Joe Ashe, who sees ghosts, in particular, his best friend Sammi who drowned, along with several other class mates, on the day when the school bus plunged into a lake a couple of decades ago. Strangely, Sammi the ghost has aged alongside Joe and so the latter has plenty of conversations with him as the plot develops. It’s a way of the author allowing the reader to understand the inner workings of Joe’s mind as his vulnerabilities and concerns are exposed through these exchanges.
Whilst Joe is Edenscar born and bred, his boss has been drafted in from Salford on a six month secondment so that she can support her husband as he cares for his elderly father who has dementia. DI Laurie Bower is not thrilled to be working in a rural community and, when a triple murder happens on her patch, she can’t help but feel that her talents and experience may come in to play. However, she certainly needs Joe’s local knowledge to fully understand the crime.
I am assuming that ‘The Drowning Place’ has been written as the first of a series. Sarah Hilary gives us plenty of background on both of the central characters, not all of which seems particularly relevant. Possibly this will be developed further in Book 2. Hilary captures both the close-knit community feel and the dull routines and petty grudges arising from a rural life where money is tight and change eyed with suspicion. Whilst I wasn’t wholeheartedly engaged with the characters and the crime to be solved, Hilary’s plot is tight; she builds tension successfully and there are some effective narrative twists. Give it a go if the ghost treatment appeals.
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Whilst Joe is Edenscar born and bred, his boss has been drafted in from Salford on a six month secondment so that she can support her husband as he cares for his elderly father who has dementia. DI Laurie Bower is not thrilled to be working in a rural community and, when a triple murder happens on her patch, she can’t help but feel that her talents and experience may come in to play. However, she certainly needs Joe’s local knowledge to fully understand the crime.
I am assuming that ‘The Drowning Place’ has been written as the first of a series. Sarah Hilary gives us plenty of background on both of the central characters, not all of which seems particularly relevant. Possibly this will be developed further in Book 2. Hilary captures both the close-knit community feel and the dull routines and petty grudges arising from a rural life where money is tight and change eyed with suspicion. Whilst I wasn’t wholeheartedly engaged with the characters and the crime to be solved, Hilary’s plot is tight; she builds tension successfully and there are some effective narrative twists. Give it a go if the ghost treatment appeals.
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
October 23, 2025
A mystery thriller with a sprinkling of the supernatural... yes, please!
From the very first paragraph, this had me utterly transfixed and did not release me until the very last word.
DS Joe Ashe was involved in an accident 17 years ago, an accident that killed everyone else on board, the school coach except him. He never got over the guilt, even though he has no guilt to carry around.
One thing he has had to carry is the ghosts of his school friends. They still walk alongside him, and when he’s around their parents, they can see their child’s spirit as well. One ghost he is happy to walk by his side is his best friend (and young love interest) Sammi, who, for some strange circumstance, has grown in age alongside him.
Now a DS in the Endenscar Police Department in the Peak District, he is called to a horrific murder of a local family, including their one year old son.
Meeting him at the scene is DI Laurie Bower, who is on secondment from Salford for 6 months. Her husband is from Endenscar and has had to move home to look after his father, who has dementia. Laurie was thinking she’d be taking it easy in the country, but arriving at her first case is proving otherwise.
A mismatched pair, Ashe, and Bower are now tasked with forming a very fast working relationship if they are going to catch their killer.
This was one hell of a fast paced novel, but not once did I lose track of the who, what, where, and why’s. The writing style was fantastic!
I adored the location. I love the Peak District so could easily visualise the area, which was a huge tick in my eyes.
I truly hope that this is the start of a magnificent series. Ashe & Bower are a brilliant working couple, and I can already see they have so much more to give!
Huge to Netgalley and Random House UK, Vintage for the ARC.
From the very first paragraph, this had me utterly transfixed and did not release me until the very last word.
DS Joe Ashe was involved in an accident 17 years ago, an accident that killed everyone else on board, the school coach except him. He never got over the guilt, even though he has no guilt to carry around.
One thing he has had to carry is the ghosts of his school friends. They still walk alongside him, and when he’s around their parents, they can see their child’s spirit as well. One ghost he is happy to walk by his side is his best friend (and young love interest) Sammi, who, for some strange circumstance, has grown in age alongside him.
Now a DS in the Endenscar Police Department in the Peak District, he is called to a horrific murder of a local family, including their one year old son.
Meeting him at the scene is DI Laurie Bower, who is on secondment from Salford for 6 months. Her husband is from Endenscar and has had to move home to look after his father, who has dementia. Laurie was thinking she’d be taking it easy in the country, but arriving at her first case is proving otherwise.
A mismatched pair, Ashe, and Bower are now tasked with forming a very fast working relationship if they are going to catch their killer.
This was one hell of a fast paced novel, but not once did I lose track of the who, what, where, and why’s. The writing style was fantastic!
I adored the location. I love the Peak District so could easily visualise the area, which was a huge tick in my eyes.
I truly hope that this is the start of a magnificent series. Ashe & Bower are a brilliant working couple, and I can already see they have so much more to give!
Huge to Netgalley and Random House UK, Vintage for the ARC.
October 20, 2025
Seventeen years ago a school bus veered off the road killing all those on board except Joe Ashe. His survival has made him something of a celebrity in the tight knit community - some people happy that he survived, but others wondering why he did and not their loved ones.
Fast forward to the present time and Joe is a DS in the local police. A new DI is drafted in at the same time a dreadful murder tak es place and a series of unusual events occur. Joe and DI Bower work well together but Joe is also assisted by the ghost of his dead friend, Sammi.
I enjoyed the interaction between the two main characters and the extra character in the form of Sammi, although at times he felt a bit too real to be true and the benefit of second sight was useful. The plot kept moving and for the most part was solid, although I thought the ending came rather abruptly - perhaps a bit more lead in was warranted.
The setting was great. I had a wonderful impression of the remoteness of the place and the tight knit of the community with everyone knowing everyone else's business. I have to say, given all this I was surprised Joe hadn't moved away at the first chance he had and escaped the memories and the despair. But he didn't so we have a fast paced crime story to read.
With thanks the author, Vintage Books and Netgalley for an arc copy in return for an honest review. I should be happy to read the next in the series and see the characters develop.
Fast forward to the present time and Joe is a DS in the local police. A new DI is drafted in at the same time a dreadful murder tak es place and a series of unusual events occur. Joe and DI Bower work well together but Joe is also assisted by the ghost of his dead friend, Sammi.
I enjoyed the interaction between the two main characters and the extra character in the form of Sammi, although at times he felt a bit too real to be true and the benefit of second sight was useful. The plot kept moving and for the most part was solid, although I thought the ending came rather abruptly - perhaps a bit more lead in was warranted.
The setting was great. I had a wonderful impression of the remoteness of the place and the tight knit of the community with everyone knowing everyone else's business. I have to say, given all this I was surprised Joe hadn't moved away at the first chance he had and escaped the memories and the despair. But he didn't so we have a fast paced crime story to read.
With thanks the author, Vintage Books and Netgalley for an arc copy in return for an honest review. I should be happy to read the next in the series and see the characters develop.
October 22, 2025
This is the second time I have come across a police detective who sees and talks to a ghost. The first occurrence was in the Inspector Rutledge series written by Charles Todd. I do not usually like supernatural themed books but in the Rutledge books and in this book the presence of the ghost being related to severe psychological trauma in the past does not seem unreasonable and does not put me off the books at all.
Joe Ashe was the only survivor of a bus crash and apart from survivor guilt he is also resented and viewed as seriously weird by the locals in his small Peak District Village. So he has something in common with his new boss Laurie Bower who struggles to get over the death of her sister.
The two investigate a particularly brutal murder of a family and although there are no obvious reasons at first I liked the way they gradually come to light. Laurie is wary of Joe and struggles to interact with people probably because of the death of her sister and I felt this an unattractive but likely trait of people with unresolved grief. The book explores how disasters affect small communities for decades and those affected are permanently scarred. I liked the understated sparring between Joe and Laurie.
The suspense builds well towards the end and I did not anticipate the identity of the killer in advance. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage for the ARC
Joe Ashe was the only survivor of a bus crash and apart from survivor guilt he is also resented and viewed as seriously weird by the locals in his small Peak District Village. So he has something in common with his new boss Laurie Bower who struggles to get over the death of her sister.
The two investigate a particularly brutal murder of a family and although there are no obvious reasons at first I liked the way they gradually come to light. Laurie is wary of Joe and struggles to interact with people probably because of the death of her sister and I felt this an unattractive but likely trait of people with unresolved grief. The book explores how disasters affect small communities for decades and those affected are permanently scarred. I liked the understated sparring between Joe and Laurie.
The suspense builds well towards the end and I did not anticipate the identity of the killer in advance. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage for the ARC
November 17, 2025
For lovers of seriously dark, seriously spooky crime fiction, Sarah Hilary’s new novel The Drowning Place is as good as it gets.
The fictional town of Edenscar should be idyllic; a tight-knit community in the dramatic landscape of the Dark Peak, a place where “‘full fibre’ were words associated with breakfast not broadband.” But the repercussions of an unthinkable tragedy, the crash of a school bus into a reservoir, have tainted the life of the town for the past seventeen years. The only survivor of the crash was an eleven-year-old boy who is now Detective Sergeant Joseph Ashe. Joe continues to be haunted by the tragedy, and not just by his survivor guilt…
When Joe investigates a horrific, baffling crime on a farmstead, he finds a dreadful echo of the drownings that resurrects his trauma. The new DI, Laurie Bower tells him “sometimes the job isn’t saving other people. It’s saving ourselves.” But the ghosts of Joe’s childhood press ever more insistently on his mind. And then they begin to lead him to the killer…
Sarah Hilary is the maestra of compelling, thought-provoking crime fiction. The Drowning Place delivers psychological depth laced with the supernatural, as well as a heart-stopping final twist. I’ve a premonition that Joe Ashe is on a brilliantly compulsive mission to investigate many more chilling crimes in the Peak District before he’s done.
The fictional town of Edenscar should be idyllic; a tight-knit community in the dramatic landscape of the Dark Peak, a place where “‘full fibre’ were words associated with breakfast not broadband.” But the repercussions of an unthinkable tragedy, the crash of a school bus into a reservoir, have tainted the life of the town for the past seventeen years. The only survivor of the crash was an eleven-year-old boy who is now Detective Sergeant Joseph Ashe. Joe continues to be haunted by the tragedy, and not just by his survivor guilt…
When Joe investigates a horrific, baffling crime on a farmstead, he finds a dreadful echo of the drownings that resurrects his trauma. The new DI, Laurie Bower tells him “sometimes the job isn’t saving other people. It’s saving ourselves.” But the ghosts of Joe’s childhood press ever more insistently on his mind. And then they begin to lead him to the killer…
Sarah Hilary is the maestra of compelling, thought-provoking crime fiction. The Drowning Place delivers psychological depth laced with the supernatural, as well as a heart-stopping final twist. I’ve a premonition that Joe Ashe is on a brilliantly compulsive mission to investigate many more chilling crimes in the Peak District before he’s done.
October 7, 2025
The Drowning Place by Sarah Hilary is a police psychological crime thriller set in the Peak District, it features two police officers, Detective Sergeant Joseph Ashe and DI Laurie Bower, Joe has lived in Edenscar all his life,. 17 years ago he was a passenger on a school bus when the bus veered off the road into the reservoir he was the only survivor. His survival that day has hunted Joe and the whole town.
Joe’s new boss, Di Laurie Bower is more used to working in the inner city and has moved to Endenscar with her husband to help with his father, who has dementia.. they are both called out to a crime scene, one where the husband, wife and child have all been killed, the two adults by shotgun and the young toddler by drowning in the bath.
The two police officers have to work this violent crime scene, while working within a community haunted by the past and deciding who are the victims and who are the hunters.
A new crime series by a formidable author, who is again presenting another psychological thriller series, and this time set in the Peak District.
I will look forward to reading about the two police officers and their colleagues in future books.
I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more in this new series.
Highly recommended
Joe’s new boss, Di Laurie Bower is more used to working in the inner city and has moved to Endenscar with her husband to help with his father, who has dementia.. they are both called out to a crime scene, one where the husband, wife and child have all been killed, the two adults by shotgun and the young toddler by drowning in the bath.
The two police officers have to work this violent crime scene, while working within a community haunted by the past and deciding who are the victims and who are the hunters.
A new crime series by a formidable author, who is again presenting another psychological thriller series, and this time set in the Peak District.
I will look forward to reading about the two police officers and their colleagues in future books.
I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more in this new series.
Highly recommended
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
5 Stars from me
Goodness me I loved this unusual thriller!
Sarah Hilary has absolutely nailed this, which given the storyline is no mean feat. DS Joseph Ashe conveys heavy sadness, and reading scenes with him I felt accompanied by a coldness and could almost hearing the dripping. Superb.
Joe is a deeply troubled young man who does all he can to appear 'normal' to his bosses, and in particular new boss DI Laurie Bower who seemingly has zero tolerance for pretty much everything and especially him.
But the locals know Joe, they know what happened and they know all of the rumours about him. Some believe, some don't. Some fear him, some pity him. All have an opinion about him. And he carries this every moment of every day.
DI Laurie Bower is similarly burdened - but by her attitude. They are the classic mismatched duo with Bower coming across as unlikable as they come, she seemingly resents pretty much everyone and everything and has no intention of cutting any slack.
Hopefully the first in a new series, The Drowing Place is a refreshing read (no pun intended, ok maybe a small one) and I look to reading more about Joe Ashe in the future.
My thanks to the author, Random House UK, Vintage and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Goodness me I loved this unusual thriller!
Sarah Hilary has absolutely nailed this, which given the storyline is no mean feat. DS Joseph Ashe conveys heavy sadness, and reading scenes with him I felt accompanied by a coldness and could almost hearing the dripping. Superb.
Joe is a deeply troubled young man who does all he can to appear 'normal' to his bosses, and in particular new boss DI Laurie Bower who seemingly has zero tolerance for pretty much everything and especially him.
But the locals know Joe, they know what happened and they know all of the rumours about him. Some believe, some don't. Some fear him, some pity him. All have an opinion about him. And he carries this every moment of every day.
DI Laurie Bower is similarly burdened - but by her attitude. They are the classic mismatched duo with Bower coming across as unlikable as they come, she seemingly resents pretty much everyone and everything and has no intention of cutting any slack.
Hopefully the first in a new series, The Drowing Place is a refreshing read (no pun intended, ok maybe a small one) and I look to reading more about Joe Ashe in the future.
My thanks to the author, Random House UK, Vintage and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.
September 4, 2025
Sarah Hilary’s The Drowning Place is the kind of crime novel that lingers long after the final page—equal parts chilling and deeply human. Set in the eerie town of Edenscar, where tragedy and superstition run deep, the story follows DS Joseph Ashe, the lone survivor of a school bus accident seventeen years ago, and DI Laurie Bower, a newcomer with no patience for ghosts or gossip.
What begins as a brutal, inexplicable crime quickly spirals into something far more layered. Hilary masterfully blends psychological tension with atmospheric storytelling, crafting a mystery that’s as much about the scars of the past as it is about solving the present. The dynamic between Joe and Laurie is compelling—two outsiders in their own way, forced to confront the town’s secrets and their own.
With prose that’s sharp and evocative, and a setting that feels almost sentient in its gloom, The Drowning Place doesn’t just tell a story—it immerses you in it. It’s perfect for fans of Broadchurch and Happy Valley, but with a voice that’s distinctly Hilary’s: original, authentic, and quietly devastating.
With thanks to Sarah Hilary, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
What begins as a brutal, inexplicable crime quickly spirals into something far more layered. Hilary masterfully blends psychological tension with atmospheric storytelling, crafting a mystery that’s as much about the scars of the past as it is about solving the present. The dynamic between Joe and Laurie is compelling—two outsiders in their own way, forced to confront the town’s secrets and their own.
With prose that’s sharp and evocative, and a setting that feels almost sentient in its gloom, The Drowning Place doesn’t just tell a story—it immerses you in it. It’s perfect for fans of Broadchurch and Happy Valley, but with a voice that’s distinctly Hilary’s: original, authentic, and quietly devastating.
With thanks to Sarah Hilary, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
September 22, 2025
I loved this book from the opening pages, impeccable scene setting and great writing transporting me to Edenscar in the Peak District, the scene of a horrific triple murder. A good mix of police procedural, drama and tense moments that had me flying through the pages
Seventeen years ago a school bus went off the road into a reservoir killing all but one of its occupants, a young boy.
Now a DS in the local police force, the sole survivor Joe Ashe has never had it easy, haunted by the events of that day the whispers continue and many view him with suspicion. Enter DI Laurie Bower, on secondment from Salford, accompanying her husband who's returning to the area due to his fathers ill health. She's spiky and she's tough but city policing is a far cry from how they do things in a small town community as she soon finds out.
The characters, particularly the partnership between local lad Joe and Laurie are what made this a stand out novel for me. So pleased this is the first in a series, the next will be going straight to the top of my reading list.
My thanks to Random House for the early read, all opinions expressed are my own
Seventeen years ago a school bus went off the road into a reservoir killing all but one of its occupants, a young boy.
Now a DS in the local police force, the sole survivor Joe Ashe has never had it easy, haunted by the events of that day the whispers continue and many view him with suspicion. Enter DI Laurie Bower, on secondment from Salford, accompanying her husband who's returning to the area due to his fathers ill health. She's spiky and she's tough but city policing is a far cry from how they do things in a small town community as she soon finds out.
The characters, particularly the partnership between local lad Joe and Laurie are what made this a stand out novel for me. So pleased this is the first in a series, the next will be going straight to the top of my reading list.
My thanks to Random House for the early read, all opinions expressed are my own
September 26, 2025
I almost gave up on this as soon as I realised Sammi was a ghost communicating with Joe, but decided to stick it out and see what the author did with that. I'm glad I did, because it was a good book and the ghost bits weren't excessive!
DS Joe Ashe survived a bus crash as an 11 year old, the only survivor in a crash that killed many of his classmates and teachers. He has been dealing with the aftermath ever since and the community's reactions to him- some positive and some negative. He joined the police and knows his community really well. I'd like to read more of how the team develop and respond to his quirks. A new DI is brought in to help deal with some very disturbing cases, and she quickly develops a rapport with Joe, although tentative in places. I found that interesting. The cases progress, introducing some likeable characters (Jax) and some not so likeable. Along the way, we find out that the DI is trying to cope with family changes and relocation, as well as Joe's loneliness.
I look forward to seeing how this series moves forward, although it will be a long wait!
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
DS Joe Ashe survived a bus crash as an 11 year old, the only survivor in a crash that killed many of his classmates and teachers. He has been dealing with the aftermath ever since and the community's reactions to him- some positive and some negative. He joined the police and knows his community really well. I'd like to read more of how the team develop and respond to his quirks. A new DI is brought in to help deal with some very disturbing cases, and she quickly develops a rapport with Joe, although tentative in places. I found that interesting. The cases progress, introducing some likeable characters (Jax) and some not so likeable. Along the way, we find out that the DI is trying to cope with family changes and relocation, as well as Joe's loneliness.
I look forward to seeing how this series moves forward, although it will be a long wait!
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
October 12, 2025
Edenscar in the Peak District. Seventeen years ago Joe Ashe was the sole survivor of a bus crash into the local reservoir which killed the rest of his class, including his best friend Sammi. Now he's a detective constable at the local station and Sammi is always at his side - but it's only Joe that can see him.
Laurie Bower is a Detective Inspector in Salford, Greater Manchester but has moved to Edenscar for six months with her husband Adam. Adam grew up in Edenscar and has returned to help his sisters care for his father Peter who is suffering from dementia.
Laurie is expecting her time at Edenscar to be boring compared to the cases she dealt with in Salford but soon a triple murder rocks the village.
Really enjoyed this book which I believe is the first in a new series. Good storyline which kept you guessing to the end - I certainly didn't guess who the guilty party was. Look forward to reading more about DS Ashe and DI Bower in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley, Random House UK and Sarah Hilary for the eARC of this book in return for an honest review
Laurie Bower is a Detective Inspector in Salford, Greater Manchester but has moved to Edenscar for six months with her husband Adam. Adam grew up in Edenscar and has returned to help his sisters care for his father Peter who is suffering from dementia.
Laurie is expecting her time at Edenscar to be boring compared to the cases she dealt with in Salford but soon a triple murder rocks the village.
Really enjoyed this book which I believe is the first in a new series. Good storyline which kept you guessing to the end - I certainly didn't guess who the guilty party was. Look forward to reading more about DS Ashe and DI Bower in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley, Random House UK and Sarah Hilary for the eARC of this book in return for an honest review
October 12, 2025
A really original police investigation taking place in the Peak District, with a young local copper joining forces with a Detective Inspector newly transferred from the big city to solve a local crime. As the net closes on the perpetrators, it becomes apparent that a much darker conspiracy is at play which put the lives of anyone involved at risk.
I really enjoyed the depth and originality of the characters and the backdrop of a community gripped by the aftermath of a terrible tragedy where all the children on a bus drowned except for Joseph Ashe who was the sole survivor and became a Detective Sergeant in his native town.
Joseph carries the grief of a community but also his own guilt at surviving this tragedy. It gives him a special bond to the children who died but also elicits resentment and anger from grieving relatives.
The story builds gradually as the investigation itself unfolds and we witness the toll that it takes on all the protagonists involved as the full reality of the case slowly emerges.
A very accomplished novel and a haunting story.
I really enjoyed the depth and originality of the characters and the backdrop of a community gripped by the aftermath of a terrible tragedy where all the children on a bus drowned except for Joseph Ashe who was the sole survivor and became a Detective Sergeant in his native town.
Joseph carries the grief of a community but also his own guilt at surviving this tragedy. It gives him a special bond to the children who died but also elicits resentment and anger from grieving relatives.
The story builds gradually as the investigation itself unfolds and we witness the toll that it takes on all the protagonists involved as the full reality of the case slowly emerges.
A very accomplished novel and a haunting story.
November 20, 2025
I ended up really enjoying this, even though it took me a while to settle into it. The start felt a bit slow and there are quite a few characters to keep track of, so I needed a moment to get my bearings. But once it finds its rhythm, it gets properly gripping.
Joe Ashe is the heart of the book. His whole backstory with the bus crash is devastating and you really feel the weight he’s been carrying for years. There’s also this paranormal thread with Sammi, his childhood friend. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about that at first, but it actually adds a strange, sad layer that works. It makes Joe’s survival guilt feel even more raw.
Laurie took me longer to warm to. She’s prickly and a bit closed off at the start, but she does grow on you once you understand her world a bit more.
The twist genuinely got me. I had my own theory and it was completely wrong.
The Peak District setting is moody and atmospheric, and once the pace picks up it really keeps you hooked. I’ll definitely read more with DS Ashe and DI Bowyer. They’re a great duo and I want to see where they go next.
Joe Ashe is the heart of the book. His whole backstory with the bus crash is devastating and you really feel the weight he’s been carrying for years. There’s also this paranormal thread with Sammi, his childhood friend. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about that at first, but it actually adds a strange, sad layer that works. It makes Joe’s survival guilt feel even more raw.
Laurie took me longer to warm to. She’s prickly and a bit closed off at the start, but she does grow on you once you understand her world a bit more.
The twist genuinely got me. I had my own theory and it was completely wrong.
The Peak District setting is moody and atmospheric, and once the pace picks up it really keeps you hooked. I’ll definitely read more with DS Ashe and DI Bowyer. They’re a great duo and I want to see where they go next.
October 15, 2025
I received this book as an arc from netgalley.
A fatal accident occurs in the town of Edenscar in the peak district. Every passenger on that school bus dies..... except for one boy.
Joe Ashe decides to become a police officer to give back to others and to attempt to ease some of the crippling guilt he feels at being the sole survivor of the accident.
Years pass and strange things begin to happen in the town. DI Bowers arrives from Salford to assist and uncovers people from the towns secrets past and present.
From the moment I read the blurb for this book I knew it was a little bit of me. I loved it from the start, it had me gripped uncovering how the past is affecting the present. I was totally wrong about what i thought was happening....I really did not see the twist coming at the end at all. I also found the ending really heartfelt, exploring the way that grief and self blame has an affect on people.
A fatal accident occurs in the town of Edenscar in the peak district. Every passenger on that school bus dies..... except for one boy.
Joe Ashe decides to become a police officer to give back to others and to attempt to ease some of the crippling guilt he feels at being the sole survivor of the accident.
Years pass and strange things begin to happen in the town. DI Bowers arrives from Salford to assist and uncovers people from the towns secrets past and present.
From the moment I read the blurb for this book I knew it was a little bit of me. I loved it from the start, it had me gripped uncovering how the past is affecting the present. I was totally wrong about what i thought was happening....I really did not see the twist coming at the end at all. I also found the ending really heartfelt, exploring the way that grief and self blame has an affect on people.
September 19, 2025
The latest novel from Sarah Hilary provides a rich tapestry as she combines introducing two new detectives - Joe and Laurie - who come complete with frailties and their own way to walk in the world. Sraah's writing is rich in description and as Ann Cleeves says - makes the words sing! The Drowning Place refers to an event that takes took place - a bus crash which killed all passengers save for Joe - such sadness in the characters - such humanity. The crime of a family slaughtered is shocking for the small village and a lot of pressure on both Joe and Laurie to bring the perpetrators to justice.
I loved this story - we toggle between viewing Joe and Laurie's professional and personal lives. Lots of depth and interest created and I can't wait to read more of these two and the environment they live. in
I loved this story - we toggle between viewing Joe and Laurie's professional and personal lives. Lots of depth and interest created and I can't wait to read more of these two and the environment they live. in
November 3, 2025
Joe is a policeman in a quiet Peak District town. He has a troubled past. Seventeen years ago he was the sole survivor of a bus crash in which his classmates were killed. Guilt follows him like a shadow, as does his old school friend, Sammi, who was one of the victims of the crash. Sprinkle in a new boss (a city girl with family connections to the town) low life crooks and death and you have the makings of a Happy Valley-type story, as one of the previews suggested.
Sadly, though, I really struggled with this novel. It takes a long time to get going, the characters aren't very interesting or layered. Most of all though, the ghost of Sammi constantly interjecting is very distracting and disconcerting. It didn't work for me, sorry.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
Sadly, though, I really struggled with this novel. It takes a long time to get going, the characters aren't very interesting or layered. Most of all though, the ghost of Sammi constantly interjecting is very distracting and disconcerting. It didn't work for me, sorry.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
Review of advance copy
I absolutely loved The Drowning Place. The sense of place is outstanding — the history and the setting are so vividly drawn that I genuinely felt as though I was wandering through the Peak District while reading. The landscape seeps into the story in a way that’s atmospheric, unsettling, and completely immersive.
The main characters are excellent and feel rich with potential. By the end, I was genuinely gutted to realise the book was over because it’s so easy to imagine how the leads could grow and develop over a series — and I desperately want to follow them further.
Dark, twisted, and relentlessly gripping, this is a crime novel that keeps you guessing right to the end. I found myself reading into the early hours because I simply couldn’t put it down.
A brilliant start to what I truly hope becomes a series — chilling, compelling, and exceptionally well written.
The main characters are excellent and feel rich with potential. By the end, I was genuinely gutted to realise the book was over because it’s so easy to imagine how the leads could grow and develop over a series — and I desperately want to follow them further.
Dark, twisted, and relentlessly gripping, this is a crime novel that keeps you guessing right to the end. I found myself reading into the early hours because I simply couldn’t put it down.
A brilliant start to what I truly hope becomes a series — chilling, compelling, and exceptionally well written.
October 21, 2025
Joe, the sole survivor of a deadly bus crash 17yrs prior, when he was a child, is tasked with the investigation of an horrific triple murder in his rural home town. His new Boss, Laurie, on transfer from the city, leads the investigation while juggling her in-laws. Joe is haunted by his childhood experience but is determined to find the truth. But is that something he or Laurie are able to handle? Then a streetwise child goes missing and there’s a race against time to find him and to determine how this is all connected.
My first time to read a book by this author - brilliantly plotted and superb characters. I hope there is a follow up. Thanks to the author & publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
My first time to read a book by this author - brilliantly plotted and superb characters. I hope there is a follow up. Thanks to the author & publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
November 20, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this quirky take of a police procedural. Ever since he was the sole survivor of a school outing bus crash as a child DS Joe Ashe (nicknamed Dash) sees dead people. He is teamed up with new boss DI Laurie Bower, on secondment to the small village of Edenscar from Salford, to investigate the horrific murder of a young family. It appealed to me from the very beginning- murder, the supernatural element, gothic atmosphere and well written characters. Could this be the start of a great new series?..yes please! Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an advance e-read of 'The Drowning Place'.
Review of advance copy
I was lucky enough to get a proof copy of this at Harrogate last year. It's taken a while to reach the top of the pile, but it's a most fabulous read.
Nothing particularly ground breaking in that it's a police procedural with a flawed detective and a regular cast of station-misfits. You will feel entirely at home here. We follow them as they solve some gruesome rural murders. There is a touch of the supernatural, but it is only light touch and so well executed it shouldn't upset die-hard realists.
Please read, prior to its Netflix-isation (inevitable)
Nothing particularly ground breaking in that it's a police procedural with a flawed detective and a regular cast of station-misfits. You will feel entirely at home here. We follow them as they solve some gruesome rural murders. There is a touch of the supernatural, but it is only light touch and so well executed it shouldn't upset die-hard realists.
Please read, prior to its Netflix-isation (inevitable)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
This was a bit of a slow starter with fleshing out the characters and the area but it is definitely worth persevering.
I really enjoyed the story, it was well thought out and kept me guessing until the end. I didn't find myself warming to Laurie at first but she grew on me a bit towards the end. The author was sensitive around the subject of the original accident and I found myself drawn to Joe and his "issues".
I will be keeping an eye out to see if this becomes a series.
This was a bit of a slow starter with fleshing out the characters and the area but it is definitely worth persevering.
I really enjoyed the story, it was well thought out and kept me guessing until the end. I didn't find myself warming to Laurie at first but she grew on me a bit towards the end. The author was sensitive around the subject of the original accident and I found myself drawn to Joe and his "issues".
I will be keeping an eye out to see if this becomes a series.
September 24, 2025
For some reason I found this a long, slow read.
Although the premise was good, mixing a police procedural with images of ghosts and invisible friends just didn't cut it for me.
I felt that the characters lacked a bit of depth, and the story and timings jumped about a lot. By the end of the book, I was still confused by some of the names and where they fitted in.
Thanks to Sarah Hilary, the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Although the premise was good, mixing a police procedural with images of ghosts and invisible friends just didn't cut it for me.
I felt that the characters lacked a bit of depth, and the story and timings jumped about a lot. By the end of the book, I was still confused by some of the names and where they fitted in.
Thanks to Sarah Hilary, the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2025
A school bus packed with children swerves off the road into water and the only person who doesn’t drown is Joe. 17 years later, still haunted, literally, by those events and now a local police officer Joe is part of the team who need to solve a particularly brutal murder. So, who did it, why, what does Joe really know? A twist at the end which I didn’t see coming but I’m not sure that I was bothered either. My thanks to Net Galley and the author for an ARC.
November 5, 2025
A police procedural featuring a detective who can see the ghosts of some of the children he knew as child himself. An interesting plot, especially as it’s set in Derbyshire and not a big city.
That said it was an ok read but already trailing an second book stole some of the limelight from this one. I’m not sure I’d rush to read another.
I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
That said it was an ok read but already trailing an second book stole some of the limelight from this one. I’m not sure I’d rush to read another.
I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
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