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The waterfall
A story about stories within stories, as four interconnected mysteries take the reader through the ages, from Shakespeare’s day to a 19th-century Gothic former Priory, to 1920s Venice, and finally to 1940s California, from the internationally bestselling author of
The Turnglass
.
We begin with the last testament of William Shakespeare as he investigates the real-life murder mystery of his friend, playwright Christopher Marlowe.
The second story is a 19th-century Gothic tale about the discovery of Shakespeare’s manuscript, set in an isolated former Priory, now a clinic for those who cannot sleep.
The third is a lighter Golden Age detective tale set in Venice, where private investigator Honora Feldman looks into a baffling case of theft and murder in the British expat community, with the Gothic story at its heart.
And finally, a 1940s American Noir, as Ken Kourian finds that a serial killer is recreating all the murders in The Waterfall, the companion book to his friend Oliver Tooke’s The Turnglass.
The Waterfall is a beguiling and intricate mystery that cements Gareth Rubin’s position as one of the most original authors writing today.
We begin with the last testament of William Shakespeare as he investigates the real-life murder mystery of his friend, playwright Christopher Marlowe.
The second story is a 19th-century Gothic tale about the discovery of Shakespeare’s manuscript, set in an isolated former Priory, now a clinic for those who cannot sleep.
The third is a lighter Golden Age detective tale set in Venice, where private investigator Honora Feldman looks into a baffling case of theft and murder in the British expat community, with the Gothic story at its heart.
And finally, a 1940s American Noir, as Ken Kourian finds that a serial killer is recreating all the murders in The Waterfall, the companion book to his friend Oliver Tooke’s The Turnglass.
The Waterfall is a beguiling and intricate mystery that cements Gareth Rubin’s position as one of the most original authors writing today.
512 pages, Paperback
Published September 25, 2025
20 people are currently reading
316 people want to read
About the author
Gareth Rubin
12 books44 followersGareth Rubin is a British journalist and author. His journalism covers social affairs, travel, architecture, arts and health. His novel Liberation Square is a mystery thriller set in Soviet-occupied London.
In 2013 he directed a documentary, Images of Bedlam, about the connection between art and mental illness and how art can help people express that which they cannot put into words. It was filmed at the Bethlem Royal Hospital (‘Bedlam’) and interviews artists with a history of psychiatric illness.
He previously worked as an actor on stage and television.
In 2013 he directed a documentary, Images of Bedlam, about the connection between art and mental illness and how art can help people express that which they cannot put into words. It was filmed at the Bethlem Royal Hospital (‘Bedlam’) and interviews artists with a history of psychiatric illness.
He previously worked as an actor on stage and television.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 24, 2025
Thank you so much Simon and Schuster UK for the arc!
„I am who I am right now.
Now he understood what those words truly meant: as the moment changed, so would she.“
- interconnected stories
- multiple timelines
- historical mystery
- unique writing style
What I liked:
- The writing style is so unique! It’s like reading four short stories in different styles and timelines, but in the end, they all connect. You should consider checking out his book The Turnglass too!
- My favorites of the four stories were the Gothic 19th century one about the discovery of Shakespeare’s manuscript and the detective story set in 1930s Venice. I especially loved the isolated former priory that’s now a clinic! Such a perfect Gothic setting!
What I didn’t like:
- I had an especially hard time with the first story which made me worry about the rest of the book. While I was interested in the plot, I couldn’t really connect with the writing style or the characters at all.
- It would definitely be beneficial to read the book with as few breaks as possible so you don’t lose any hints or threads!
Writing style: 3/5
Characters: 3,5/5
Story & Plot: 3/5
Vibes: 4/5
„I am who I am right now.
Now he understood what those words truly meant: as the moment changed, so would she.“
- interconnected stories
- multiple timelines
- historical mystery
- unique writing style
What I liked:
- The writing style is so unique! It’s like reading four short stories in different styles and timelines, but in the end, they all connect. You should consider checking out his book The Turnglass too!
- My favorites of the four stories were the Gothic 19th century one about the discovery of Shakespeare’s manuscript and the detective story set in 1930s Venice. I especially loved the isolated former priory that’s now a clinic! Such a perfect Gothic setting!
What I didn’t like:
- I had an especially hard time with the first story which made me worry about the rest of the book. While I was interested in the plot, I couldn’t really connect with the writing style or the characters at all.
- It would definitely be beneficial to read the book with as few breaks as possible so you don’t lose any hints or threads!
Writing style: 3/5
Characters: 3,5/5
Story & Plot: 3/5
Vibes: 4/5
August 4, 2025
I was really intrigued by the premise of this book, four interlinked mysteries across different time periods, also featuring a book within a book?! I was sold.
The highlight for me was definitely the Shakespeare/Marlow storyline, it had me down a google rabbit hole! It was atmospheric, well paced, and full of clever nods to the Elizabethan era. I found myself wishing the whole book had stayed in that era.
I also loved how all 4 stories are interconnected. The way Rubin weaves threads across centuries is impressive, and the metafictional angle (especially for those of us who have read The Turnglass) adds a fun layer of depth.
That said, I actually found the book overall to be a bit flat. Some parts were less engaging, and I didn’t always feel fully invested in the characters.
The highlight for me was definitely the Shakespeare/Marlow storyline, it had me down a google rabbit hole! It was atmospheric, well paced, and full of clever nods to the Elizabethan era. I found myself wishing the whole book had stayed in that era.
I also loved how all 4 stories are interconnected. The way Rubin weaves threads across centuries is impressive, and the metafictional angle (especially for those of us who have read The Turnglass) adds a fun layer of depth.
That said, I actually found the book overall to be a bit flat. Some parts were less engaging, and I didn’t always feel fully invested in the characters.
October 14, 2025
UN ABISSO DI STORIE
3,5 stelline. Come "The turnglass", dello stesso autore, andrebbe riletto. Stavolta, però, non tanto per godersi i collegamenti alla luce delle rivelazioni finali, bensì per rendersi conto dei vari buchi di trama. Rispetto al primo romanzo, infatti, ho trovato che questo qui fosse leggermente meno coeso. In più, ho la netta sensazione che mi sfugga ancora qualcosa...
Ad ogni modo, non si può negare che "The waterfall" sia una lettura appassionante e dalle molteplici sfaccettature, che impediscono che il lettore possa annoiarsi o distrarsi anche soltanto per un momento. Le atmosfere delle quattro sezioni, completamente lontane le une dalle altre, sono ricreate tutte alla perfezione: dalla tragedia shakespeariana al gotico dell'età vittoriana, per finire con un giallo veneziano e un noir degli anni '40. I quattro racconti funzionano benissimo anche se presi singolarmente, rivelando ognuno un colpevole inaspettato.
Il terzo e il quarto, comunque, sono stati quelli che ho preferito, perché è in essi che il "libro maledetto" ("The waterfall", appunto) diventa centrale per la risoluzione degli omicidi. Nel mistero veneziano,
Ho già messo in luce la mia perplessità riguardo il senso generale della trama unitaria (dovrei rileggere "The turnglass", forse?), soprattutto in merito al ruolo e all'identità di Gabriel. Nemmeno ciò è riuscito però a cancellare la mia fascinazione per questo romanzo, visto il mio debole per gli intrecci complessi e per la tecnica della "storia nella storia". Mi correggo, le storie nelle storie, un gradino più ambizioso anche rispetto al primo libro.
"La storia è piena di echi crudeli, non è vero? [...] È proprio crudele, la storia."
"«Mise en abyme. E cosa significa?»
«Significa ‘collocazione nell'abisso’.»
«Collocazione nell'abisso. Un abisso di storie. Sì, sembra un'espressione appropriata."
3,5 stelline. Come "The turnglass", dello stesso autore, andrebbe riletto. Stavolta, però, non tanto per godersi i collegamenti alla luce delle rivelazioni finali, bensì per rendersi conto dei vari buchi di trama. Rispetto al primo romanzo, infatti, ho trovato che questo qui fosse leggermente meno coeso. In più, ho la netta sensazione che mi sfugga ancora qualcosa...
Ad ogni modo, non si può negare che "The waterfall" sia una lettura appassionante e dalle molteplici sfaccettature, che impediscono che il lettore possa annoiarsi o distrarsi anche soltanto per un momento. Le atmosfere delle quattro sezioni, completamente lontane le une dalle altre, sono ricreate tutte alla perfezione: dalla tragedia shakespeariana al gotico dell'età vittoriana, per finire con un giallo veneziano e un noir degli anni '40. I quattro racconti funzionano benissimo anche se presi singolarmente, rivelando ognuno un colpevole inaspettato.
Il terzo e il quarto, comunque, sono stati quelli che ho preferito, perché è in essi che il "libro maledetto" ("The waterfall", appunto) diventa centrale per la risoluzione degli omicidi. Nel mistero veneziano,
Ho già messo in luce la mia perplessità riguardo il senso generale della trama unitaria (dovrei rileggere "The turnglass", forse?), soprattutto in merito al ruolo e all'identità di Gabriel. Nemmeno ciò è riuscito però a cancellare la mia fascinazione per questo romanzo, visto il mio debole per gli intrecci complessi e per la tecnica della "storia nella storia". Mi correggo, le storie nelle storie, un gradino più ambizioso anche rispetto al primo libro.
"La storia è piena di echi crudeli, non è vero? [...] È proprio crudele, la storia."
"«Mise en abyme. E cosa significa?»
«Significa ‘collocazione nell'abisso’.»
«Collocazione nell'abisso. Un abisso di storie. Sì, sembra un'espressione appropriata."
September 29, 2025
This is a clever and an unusual tale of 4 mysteries that span over hundreds of years & are interconnected with a big reveal at the end.
My favourite story was the beginning-with Shakespeare investigating the murder of Christopher Marlowe, the second is a 19th century gothic tale about the discovery of Shakespeare’s manuscript, the third a 1930s detective story in Venice and the last one set in 1940s America where a detective is investigating a serial killer.
This is a story about stories and stories within stories. My advice is to relax and enjoy the stories and let the mystery surprise you.
Full of intrigue with lots of gothic vibes. A really interesting concept that surprised me.
My favourite story was the beginning-with Shakespeare investigating the murder of Christopher Marlowe, the second is a 19th century gothic tale about the discovery of Shakespeare’s manuscript, the third a 1930s detective story in Venice and the last one set in 1940s America where a detective is investigating a serial killer.
This is a story about stories and stories within stories. My advice is to relax and enjoy the stories and let the mystery surprise you.
Full of intrigue with lots of gothic vibes. A really interesting concept that surprised me.
November 16, 2025
really enjoyed The Turnglass and Holmes and Moriarty, so I was keen to get my hands on a copy of Gareth Rubin’s latest book The Waterfall. If you are looking for a straightforward book then this may not be the one for you, but if you like something that is just that little bit different then I would recommend you add this to you list of reads. The Waterfall is four stories in one ranging from Elizabethan England to 1940’s America with links to the first book by this author.
William Shakespeare finds himself caught up in the mysterious death of his close friend Kit Marlow after he accompanies him to a meeting that does not end well. Knowing that his friend did not die in the way it was being reported he was determined to get to the truth. What he uncovered was a group of people whose beliefs were definitely not in keeping with the times. What Shakespeare would make of all this or even if he truly believed what he found is not clear but with fact and fiction cleverly intertwined it is hard not to drawn into the story and become immersed in sights and sounds of Elizabethan England.
From here we are taken to a former priory in the 19th century where a doctor is experimenting on his patients that are suffering from sleep issues. He is convinced that a book detailing the events that took place in Shakespeare’s time will give him the answers he needs to cure them and make a name for himself. His quest for this information sees an unlikely group of people all reside at the property but when one of their number is found murdered a number of secrets are revealed and the carefully constructed world starts to crumble.
The reader is then transported to 1920’s Venice where the death of a young man after a few break ins once again brings up the question of what is fact and what was fiction. I think this was my favourite story in the book more because of some of the larger-than-life characters in it who took on everyone and everything to get to the bottom of the mystery.
The final story brings us to 1940’s California and reunites readers of the Turnglass to some of the characters that first appeared there. Time has moved on but when murders start happening with links to The Waterfall it is not long before the hunt is on to find the killer and their motives for the murders or why they have targeted certain people, but it is not quite what you expect.
I wont lie when I say that I was a bit confused to begin with when I started this book, not least because it covered different era’s but also different writing styles but by the end it all seemed to make sense. Gareth Rubin always manages to immerse his readers in the settings of his stories that will always have a smattering of facts to make each journey that little bit more believable. With it being quite a long book at over 500 pages it is one you would have to take in several sittings and you may want to have read The Turnglass before picking this one up so that certain events make a little more sense.
William Shakespeare finds himself caught up in the mysterious death of his close friend Kit Marlow after he accompanies him to a meeting that does not end well. Knowing that his friend did not die in the way it was being reported he was determined to get to the truth. What he uncovered was a group of people whose beliefs were definitely not in keeping with the times. What Shakespeare would make of all this or even if he truly believed what he found is not clear but with fact and fiction cleverly intertwined it is hard not to drawn into the story and become immersed in sights and sounds of Elizabethan England.
From here we are taken to a former priory in the 19th century where a doctor is experimenting on his patients that are suffering from sleep issues. He is convinced that a book detailing the events that took place in Shakespeare’s time will give him the answers he needs to cure them and make a name for himself. His quest for this information sees an unlikely group of people all reside at the property but when one of their number is found murdered a number of secrets are revealed and the carefully constructed world starts to crumble.
The reader is then transported to 1920’s Venice where the death of a young man after a few break ins once again brings up the question of what is fact and what was fiction. I think this was my favourite story in the book more because of some of the larger-than-life characters in it who took on everyone and everything to get to the bottom of the mystery.
The final story brings us to 1940’s California and reunites readers of the Turnglass to some of the characters that first appeared there. Time has moved on but when murders start happening with links to The Waterfall it is not long before the hunt is on to find the killer and their motives for the murders or why they have targeted certain people, but it is not quite what you expect.
I wont lie when I say that I was a bit confused to begin with when I started this book, not least because it covered different era’s but also different writing styles but by the end it all seemed to make sense. Gareth Rubin always manages to immerse his readers in the settings of his stories that will always have a smattering of facts to make each journey that little bit more believable. With it being quite a long book at over 500 pages it is one you would have to take in several sittings and you may want to have read The Turnglass before picking this one up so that certain events make a little more sense.
October 1, 2025
Darkly atmospheric, intricate and compelling, The Waterfall is a book about stories within stories that transports us from Shakespere’s Stratford to a 19th century Gothic former priory, to 1920s Venice, and then 1940s California in four interconnected mysteries.
Original, immersive and layered, this captivating story is a unique experience. Beautifully written, cleverly choreographed and rich in historic detail, Gareth Rubin showcases himself as a masterful storyteller with a style that is all his own. From the first pages I felt like I’d stepped back in time, Rubin bringing each era to life with his skillful use of language, vivid imagery and richly drawn characters. I’ll admit, it took me a little time to get used to the language used in the first story, but once I did I was completely lost in the narrative.
I love reading books that merge fact with fiction, so the fact that the first story featured real people and a real murder piqued my interest straight away. Rubin’s reimagining of that mystery and the way that he connected it with the four other stories is nothing short of genius. I loved the concept of four interconnected stories but after reading this first one I couldn’t imagine how he could connect this 16th century murder to the other three timelines but Rubin pulls it off with finesse, expertly interweaving them together to create a story that moves between timelines and narrators. It is so well done that there were times I had to remind myself that the other characters weren’t real people and I was reading a work of fiction, not fact. All of the characters were richly drawn, dynamic and compelling, but my favourite was Pips and I wish there’d been more of her.
There is so much more I’d love to say about this book but that would mean spoilers and I don’t do those! So, I’ll just say that if you’re looking for a well-written historical mystery with a difference, then this is the book for you.
Original, immersive and layered, this captivating story is a unique experience. Beautifully written, cleverly choreographed and rich in historic detail, Gareth Rubin showcases himself as a masterful storyteller with a style that is all his own. From the first pages I felt like I’d stepped back in time, Rubin bringing each era to life with his skillful use of language, vivid imagery and richly drawn characters. I’ll admit, it took me a little time to get used to the language used in the first story, but once I did I was completely lost in the narrative.
I love reading books that merge fact with fiction, so the fact that the first story featured real people and a real murder piqued my interest straight away. Rubin’s reimagining of that mystery and the way that he connected it with the four other stories is nothing short of genius. I loved the concept of four interconnected stories but after reading this first one I couldn’t imagine how he could connect this 16th century murder to the other three timelines but Rubin pulls it off with finesse, expertly interweaving them together to create a story that moves between timelines and narrators. It is so well done that there were times I had to remind myself that the other characters weren’t real people and I was reading a work of fiction, not fact. All of the characters were richly drawn, dynamic and compelling, but my favourite was Pips and I wish there’d been more of her.
There is so much more I’d love to say about this book but that would mean spoilers and I don’t do those! So, I’ll just say that if you’re looking for a well-written historical mystery with a difference, then this is the book for you.
August 24, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Oh I feel so bad writing this review. I so wanted to love it because I love Gareth's previous books The Turnglass and Holmes and Moriarty, but sadly I didn't.
Firstly, I am vocal about my dislike for books over about 400-450 pages as they rarely warrant being this long. But I do love Gareth's work and so was willing to go in with an open mind as I have been surprised by long books before.
We have four stories that do interlink which was an interesting way to write it. Gareth is clearly going to be known for his less-than-normal novel formats and in a world where I read 350+ books a year, it's nice to get something different occasionaly.
But here comes the negative bits I'm afraid...
It doesn't really have chapters, it has sections really, and they're really long and I am a lover of short chapters, so this annoyed me somewhat.
I just really struggled with it. The lure of Gareth Rubin and Shakespeare is what drew me to this book, but this was such hard work and I couldn't really keep up. I really wanted to like it, so much about it was calling my name, but I just didn't. It was too long, too drawn out and too complicated. I felt the stories, whilst hints of a connection, felt too tenuous for them to be part of the same overarching story. For the most part I had no idea what was going on, I couldn't get on with the characters and I just found it really confusing.
I could have stopped reading it several times but I was determined to get to the end in the hope something might perk it up but I didn't get it. I think this will be a divisive book, and some will think it's excellent whilst others, like me, will be stumped. A promising premise but without the proper execution, in my opinion.
Oh I feel so bad writing this review. I so wanted to love it because I love Gareth's previous books The Turnglass and Holmes and Moriarty, but sadly I didn't.
Firstly, I am vocal about my dislike for books over about 400-450 pages as they rarely warrant being this long. But I do love Gareth's work and so was willing to go in with an open mind as I have been surprised by long books before.
We have four stories that do interlink which was an interesting way to write it. Gareth is clearly going to be known for his less-than-normal novel formats and in a world where I read 350+ books a year, it's nice to get something different occasionaly.
But here comes the negative bits I'm afraid...
It doesn't really have chapters, it has sections really, and they're really long and I am a lover of short chapters, so this annoyed me somewhat.
I just really struggled with it. The lure of Gareth Rubin and Shakespeare is what drew me to this book, but this was such hard work and I couldn't really keep up. I really wanted to like it, so much about it was calling my name, but I just didn't. It was too long, too drawn out and too complicated. I felt the stories, whilst hints of a connection, felt too tenuous for them to be part of the same overarching story. For the most part I had no idea what was going on, I couldn't get on with the characters and I just found it really confusing.
I could have stopped reading it several times but I was determined to get to the end in the hope something might perk it up but I didn't get it. I think this will be a divisive book, and some will think it's excellent whilst others, like me, will be stumped. A promising premise but without the proper execution, in my opinion.
November 26, 2025
Following his success with The Turnglass, which I loved, Gareth Rubin’s latest offering is a very clever mystery indeed. As with The Turnglass, his innovative thinking about format will intrigue readers. I guess this is, probably 6 stories in one. the Turnglass as you will recall is a tête-bêche (head to tail - imagine one person sleeping ina bed with their head on the pillow and another stretched out with their feet in the pillow). You can read the book front to middle and then up it upside down to read another story from back to middle - but, the stories are both standalone and add value and insight to each other. Got that?
The first three stories in The Waterfall are independent of each other - first an Elizabethan William Shakespeare investigating the mysterious death of his friend Christopher Marlowe, second a gothic murder in the 19th century set in a priory for treating sleep disorders and about the discovery of Shakespeare’s manuscript (not that I’m suggesting Shakespeare was a cure for insomnia here) and thirdly a 1930 murder in Venice framed again with touches of gothic, but very much in the Golden Age of crime fiction. How does any of this make sense? The fourth story covers a serial killer in 1940s LA and pulls the other five stories together when copies of The Turnglass are left with the victims. It’s creative fiction at its best.
Gareth Rubin writes sparingly and beautifully- there’s a lot of ground covered in 500 pages. Settings are well described with a strong sense of time and place. There’s a good cast of characters, it’s hard to make credible characters when you’re doing it four times over and trying to make every word count. I thoroughly enjoyed puzzling this book out. Perfect for winter reading.
The first three stories in The Waterfall are independent of each other - first an Elizabethan William Shakespeare investigating the mysterious death of his friend Christopher Marlowe, second a gothic murder in the 19th century set in a priory for treating sleep disorders and about the discovery of Shakespeare’s manuscript (not that I’m suggesting Shakespeare was a cure for insomnia here) and thirdly a 1930 murder in Venice framed again with touches of gothic, but very much in the Golden Age of crime fiction. How does any of this make sense? The fourth story covers a serial killer in 1940s LA and pulls the other five stories together when copies of The Turnglass are left with the victims. It’s creative fiction at its best.
Gareth Rubin writes sparingly and beautifully- there’s a lot of ground covered in 500 pages. Settings are well described with a strong sense of time and place. There’s a good cast of characters, it’s hard to make credible characters when you’re doing it four times over and trying to make every word count. I thoroughly enjoyed puzzling this book out. Perfect for winter reading.
September 24, 2025
Having read and loved both The Turnglass and Holmes and Moriarty I was certainly interested in reading Gareth Rubin's The Waterfall, knowing that it would not be the 'norm' in crime fiction and he would put a challenge out there for his readers, and I must say The Waterfall will challenge you. The book deals with 4 historical moments in time where a murder or murders occur and they are all entwined together with The Waterfall (a book within a book within etc). We start with Shakespeare and Kit Marlow's death, move onto Victorian gothic, then into what I would suggest was a rather cosy Venetian 1920's crime caper and ending up in 1940's noir. As you read you come across strands of the puzzle Rubin leaves for you and by the time you are in the noir setting it hits you in the face (unless you have never read Rubin before). I don't like giving plots away but what I would suggest is to read The Turnglass before The Waterfall, it will make things less confusing. There's alot going on in this novel and it leaves me thinking there will be another connected novel on the way. I will say this challenges it's reader with some plots intermingling together which if you aren't following carefully then you may get lost within this puzzle within a puzzle of a read. If I had one negative I felt the weakest part was the Venetian 'cosy' crime didn't quite work for me. I look forward to the next offering from Gareth Rubin Simon and Schuster need to back this author put his name out there, he deserves acknowledgment.
September 20, 2025
Another fascinating format to this book from the author of The Turnglass. This time the book is split into four parts, each almost a book in themselves, each completely different and set in different eras, but all of which have some connections. This is a complex novel, but then so was the last book, so I expected to be scratching my head at points in the book. And I was!
Briefly, The Waterfall, a Testament, set in 1593 and William Shakespeare is investigating the death of Christopher Marlowe. The Angel by M Wetherby, 1892 and Amos Sacher has followed the woman he wants to marry back from Indian to England and Kirchin Priory where his uncle tasks him with researching a manuscript. The Venice Murders by GB Faulkner, 1931 and private investigator Honora Feldman travels to Venice with a companion and soon her little grey cells detect a mystery that needs solving. The Waterfall, Hollywood 1944 and Ken Kouian, (if you read The Turnglass you may recognise this name) realises that murders from The Waterfall are being reinacted!
I read each section in one go and definitely recommend doing this. When you reach part four things start to gel and the threads merge. Like the authors previous book this is going to be a bit of a marmite read. I enjoyed it. The ending was convincing and it was clever how the relationship between the individual stories all fell into place. A complex but satisfying read.
Briefly, The Waterfall, a Testament, set in 1593 and William Shakespeare is investigating the death of Christopher Marlowe. The Angel by M Wetherby, 1892 and Amos Sacher has followed the woman he wants to marry back from Indian to England and Kirchin Priory where his uncle tasks him with researching a manuscript. The Venice Murders by GB Faulkner, 1931 and private investigator Honora Feldman travels to Venice with a companion and soon her little grey cells detect a mystery that needs solving. The Waterfall, Hollywood 1944 and Ken Kouian, (if you read The Turnglass you may recognise this name) realises that murders from The Waterfall are being reinacted!
I read each section in one go and definitely recommend doing this. When you reach part four things start to gel and the threads merge. Like the authors previous book this is going to be a bit of a marmite read. I enjoyed it. The ending was convincing and it was clever how the relationship between the individual stories all fell into place. A complex but satisfying read.
October 1, 2025
I first came across Gareth Rubin’s with his book Holmes & Moriarty which was a very good story centred around two of Conan Doyle’s favourite characters. Consequently when I was asked to review The Waterfall I didn’t hesitate to say “Yes” and I wasn’t disappointed .
The book is divided into four stories which as you progress through them you will find they are linked and the last one ,The Waterfall ,unites them all.
I have to be honest I preferred one of the sections a lot more than the others, though I am not going to say a lot more apart from I struggled to get into the first part. The rest of the book was a lot easier to pick up and follow and will have you questioning what the outcome is going to be and how will they link together.
Some of the characters which Rubin creates are described in intricate detail , which I love as I need their character to feel real. The settings are clever , differing from sheer poverty, where you can almost smell the rank odours from the streets to opulence with their aromas of rich spices and herbs.
Rubin is one of those writers who I am going to have on my “Watch out for “ list as so far he has intrigued with his writings.
The book is divided into four stories which as you progress through them you will find they are linked and the last one ,The Waterfall ,unites them all.
I have to be honest I preferred one of the sections a lot more than the others, though I am not going to say a lot more apart from I struggled to get into the first part. The rest of the book was a lot easier to pick up and follow and will have you questioning what the outcome is going to be and how will they link together.
Some of the characters which Rubin creates are described in intricate detail , which I love as I need their character to feel real. The settings are clever , differing from sheer poverty, where you can almost smell the rank odours from the streets to opulence with their aromas of rich spices and herbs.
Rubin is one of those writers who I am going to have on my “Watch out for “ list as so far he has intrigued with his writings.
October 15, 2025
3,5/4 ⭐️
Quattro racconti molto intriganti e appassionanti SE presi da soli, ma che nell’insieme non hanno nessun senso. Sarebbe stato più onesto da parte dello scrittore e della stessa casa editrice etichettare questo libro come una raccolta di racconti e non come un romanzo. Da lettrice mi sento presa in giro.
Detto questo i racconti sono molto belli e attraversano quattro epoche storiche molto differenti che sanno entusiasmare e regalare dei finali inaspettati con colpi di scena.
La prima parte - The waterfall un testamento -, la seconda - L’angelo - e la terza - Omicidi a Venezia - sono le più belle e meritano 5 stelle. L’ultima parte - The waterfall - ha un risvolto finale piacevole con un colpo di scena apprezzabile ma presenta alcune dimenticanze (tra cui il senso del personaggio di Gabriel) e cose non spiegate. Forse il finale abbozzato serve per allungare la serie con un altro libro?
In conclusione posso azzardare che il senso dell’unità della trama risieda nella tecnica della mise en abyme, ossia il ritorno ciclico dell’elemento del libro The waterfall in ogni capitolo, ma non ne sono sicura.
Quattro racconti molto intriganti e appassionanti SE presi da soli, ma che nell’insieme non hanno nessun senso. Sarebbe stato più onesto da parte dello scrittore e della stessa casa editrice etichettare questo libro come una raccolta di racconti e non come un romanzo. Da lettrice mi sento presa in giro.
Detto questo i racconti sono molto belli e attraversano quattro epoche storiche molto differenti che sanno entusiasmare e regalare dei finali inaspettati con colpi di scena.
La prima parte - The waterfall un testamento -, la seconda - L’angelo - e la terza - Omicidi a Venezia - sono le più belle e meritano 5 stelle. L’ultima parte - The waterfall - ha un risvolto finale piacevole con un colpo di scena apprezzabile ma presenta alcune dimenticanze (tra cui il senso del personaggio di Gabriel) e cose non spiegate. Forse il finale abbozzato serve per allungare la serie con un altro libro?
In conclusione posso azzardare che il senso dell’unità della trama risieda nella tecnica della mise en abyme, ossia il ritorno ciclico dell’elemento del libro The waterfall in ogni capitolo, ma non ne sono sicura.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2025
I am flabbergasted and don't know how to review this book. I can't say anything really without giving it away but what I would say is that you should READ IT and DEVOUR IT.
4 very separate stories that somehow intertwine until by the fourth, your head is ready to explode when the book The Turnkey (also written by Gareth) is mentioned.
I read each section in one go and if you can do that, I think it works as it keeps it all together and helps the stories to blend. There is LOTS of detail about Shakespeare and Marlowe and a very mysterious book. A murderer and an age old mystery. It's a gothic tale, a modern one, a Shakespearean one. But the picture you get after reading all four? MIND BLOWN.
My mind is still tangled from reading this. It's a work out for the brain but once you put the pieces together, well that is quite a moment. Currently standing on a plinth holding a medal and hugging a pic of the author haha.
4 very separate stories that somehow intertwine until by the fourth, your head is ready to explode when the book The Turnkey (also written by Gareth) is mentioned.
I read each section in one go and if you can do that, I think it works as it keeps it all together and helps the stories to blend. There is LOTS of detail about Shakespeare and Marlowe and a very mysterious book. A murderer and an age old mystery. It's a gothic tale, a modern one, a Shakespearean one. But the picture you get after reading all four? MIND BLOWN.
My mind is still tangled from reading this. It's a work out for the brain but once you put the pieces together, well that is quite a moment. Currently standing on a plinth holding a medal and hugging a pic of the author haha.
October 3, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
Fiction | Hardback
Well, I don’t know where to start with this one as I feel a bit baffled.
There are four interconnected stories. The first is set in the late 1500s which follows Shakespeare’s quest to find out what happened to his friend Kit. The second is in the 1890s where a young man goes to work at his uncles house and there are strange going ons. Then there is one in 1931 Venice in which a murder is solved by an amateur sleuth. The fourth is set in Hollywood 1944 where a war hero tries to clear his lover’s name. I could see the links between the stories but I don’t think I understood the big reveal at the end. Maybe I read it too fast? Was there a big reveal?
On the whole I did enjoy reading it but I’m feeling rather confused by it all. Will be puzzling this one out for a while so once I ‘get it’ I am sure I will be back to tell you that I have (and not to let out any spoilers)
Ad-pr gifted by @randomthingstours in exchange for an honest review.
Fiction | Hardback
Well, I don’t know where to start with this one as I feel a bit baffled.
There are four interconnected stories. The first is set in the late 1500s which follows Shakespeare’s quest to find out what happened to his friend Kit. The second is in the 1890s where a young man goes to work at his uncles house and there are strange going ons. Then there is one in 1931 Venice in which a murder is solved by an amateur sleuth. The fourth is set in Hollywood 1944 where a war hero tries to clear his lover’s name. I could see the links between the stories but I don’t think I understood the big reveal at the end. Maybe I read it too fast? Was there a big reveal?
On the whole I did enjoy reading it but I’m feeling rather confused by it all. Will be puzzling this one out for a while so once I ‘get it’ I am sure I will be back to tell you that I have (and not to let out any spoilers)
Ad-pr gifted by @randomthingstours in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2025
For my full sensory review please visit my blog My reviews always offer non-spoilers and this is quite hard to review without explaining too much. I will do my best. First off, I loved it and found the whole layout very accessible.
I think this feels very accessible because it is in four parts, it is very much broken up into three short stories with the final fourth part bringing everything together.
I found this best read over a day or so rather than leaving too long between sittings just so you can keep up and remember details and see how it is all connecting together making the overall reading experience more satisfying.
I found this certainly a different style to the books I have recently read. I feel that Ruben is a very talented storyteller and author and I’m interested to read his other books. I highly recommend The Waterfall.
I think this feels very accessible because it is in four parts, it is very much broken up into three short stories with the final fourth part bringing everything together.
I found this best read over a day or so rather than leaving too long between sittings just so you can keep up and remember details and see how it is all connecting together making the overall reading experience more satisfying.
I found this certainly a different style to the books I have recently read. I feel that Ruben is a very talented storyteller and author and I’m interested to read his other books. I highly recommend The Waterfall.
November 21, 2025
Book: The Waterfall
Author: Gareth Rubin
Stars: 3⭐
My Review: It's the first time that I am reading anything from this author.
Four stories. One secret. Who will unlock the truth
4 books in 1 as the blurb says, but it works really well.
Very cleverly written this book completely drew me in, I had no idea where I was being led but I knew I couldn’t stop reading until I found out.
It hard not to say too much as reading the book is an experience in itself and giving any details may spoil it, so I’ll just say, it’s a fantastic read and I throughly enjoyed it.
Step back in time:
• William Shakespeare's day
• 19th Century Gothic former Proiry
• 1920s Venice - golden age
• 1940s California
@prompt
528 pages
Release date: 25 September 2025
Historical Thriller | Historical Literary Fiction
3.64 on GoodReads
Author: Gareth Rubin
Stars: 3⭐
My Review: It's the first time that I am reading anything from this author.
Four stories. One secret. Who will unlock the truth
4 books in 1 as the blurb says, but it works really well.
Very cleverly written this book completely drew me in, I had no idea where I was being led but I knew I couldn’t stop reading until I found out.
It hard not to say too much as reading the book is an experience in itself and giving any details may spoil it, so I’ll just say, it’s a fantastic read and I throughly enjoyed it.
Step back in time:
• William Shakespeare's day
• 19th Century Gothic former Proiry
• 1920s Venice - golden age
• 1940s California
@prompt
528 pages
Release date: 25 September 2025
Historical Thriller | Historical Literary Fiction
3.64 on GoodReads
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2025
My thoughts
Wow! This book was brilliant. It shows how stories can be linked together over time and how seemingly random events on multiple timelines can be brought together. Although, I can’t imagine that many authors who would pull it off this well. I couldn’t put this down. I read it in two sittings because I didn’t want to stop in the middle of any story. This is expertly crafted and the characters jump off the page from the beginning. They are all totally unique and relatable even in the various styles of storytelling. I could not recommend this more to anyone looking for a story to get lost in. I would suggest you curl up and just enjoy this fantastic read.
With thanks to Anne Cater, the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
Wow! This book was brilliant. It shows how stories can be linked together over time and how seemingly random events on multiple timelines can be brought together. Although, I can’t imagine that many authors who would pull it off this well. I couldn’t put this down. I read it in two sittings because I didn’t want to stop in the middle of any story. This is expertly crafted and the characters jump off the page from the beginning. They are all totally unique and relatable even in the various styles of storytelling. I could not recommend this more to anyone looking for a story to get lost in. I would suggest you curl up and just enjoy this fantastic read.
With thanks to Anne Cater, the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
October 7, 2025
Gareth Rubin’s novel is one of the most unusual that I have read. It is written as a series of short stories in four different styles but woven together and interconnected with each story sitting within another. An enjoyable read which also requires a bit of brain power, especially towards the end as everything converges. The whole premise must have taken some planning, and I admire his skill. I’ve never come across anything like this and would really recommend! Even though this can be read as a standalone, I would be really interested to read his other novel ‘The Turnglass’, as it intersects so much with this one!
October 1, 2025
💙 Blurb-
A story about stories within stories, as four interconnected mysteries take the reader through the ages, from Shakespeare’s day to a 19th-century Gothic former Priory, to 1920s Venice, and finally to 1940s California, from the internationally bestselling author of The Turnglass.
We begin with the last testament of William Shakespeare as he investigates the real-life murder mystery of his friend, playwright Christopher Marlowe.
The second story is a 19th-century Gothic tale about the discovery of Shakespeare’s manuscript, set in an isolated former Priory, now a clinic for those who cannot sleep.
The third is a lighter Golden Age detective tale set in Venice, where private investigator Honora Feldman looks into a baffling case of theft and murder in the British expat community, with the Gothic story at its heart.
And finally, a 1940s American Noir, as Ken Kourian finds that a serial killer is recreating all the murders in The Waterfall, the companion book to his friend Oliver Tooke’s The Turnglass.
The Waterfall is a beguiling and intricate mystery that cements Gareth Rubin’s position as one of the most original authors writing today.
💚 Review -
This is the first book that I have read by the author and I will definitely read more by them in the future. This was such an interesting read. I was intrigued by the four interlinked mystery stories that were told from four different time periods and I found them interesting and entertaining. Also, there were plenty of twists and turns that kept me interested and reading until the end. Overall, a brilliant novel, that I highly recommend to other readers.
💝 Thank you to Random Things Tours, the author and publisher for my proof copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
A story about stories within stories, as four interconnected mysteries take the reader through the ages, from Shakespeare’s day to a 19th-century Gothic former Priory, to 1920s Venice, and finally to 1940s California, from the internationally bestselling author of The Turnglass.
We begin with the last testament of William Shakespeare as he investigates the real-life murder mystery of his friend, playwright Christopher Marlowe.
The second story is a 19th-century Gothic tale about the discovery of Shakespeare’s manuscript, set in an isolated former Priory, now a clinic for those who cannot sleep.
The third is a lighter Golden Age detective tale set in Venice, where private investigator Honora Feldman looks into a baffling case of theft and murder in the British expat community, with the Gothic story at its heart.
And finally, a 1940s American Noir, as Ken Kourian finds that a serial killer is recreating all the murders in The Waterfall, the companion book to his friend Oliver Tooke’s The Turnglass.
The Waterfall is a beguiling and intricate mystery that cements Gareth Rubin’s position as one of the most original authors writing today.
💚 Review -
This is the first book that I have read by the author and I will definitely read more by them in the future. This was such an interesting read. I was intrigued by the four interlinked mystery stories that were told from four different time periods and I found them interesting and entertaining. Also, there were plenty of twists and turns that kept me interested and reading until the end. Overall, a brilliant novel, that I highly recommend to other readers.
💝 Thank you to Random Things Tours, the author and publisher for my proof copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2025
Rubin is the master of creating interesting concepts for his books. Take The Turnglass for instance...it was a topsy turvy book for adults. The Waterfall is stories within a story...four to be precise...with each of them coming together for the final story in the book, which in turn has links back to The Turnglass.
The intrigue and the intricacies got the better of me, and I was hooked after a few chapters.
It's like a jigsaw puzzle in book form! Complex but very satisfying. You need to read it yourself in order to understand the sheer brilliance of it...my words simply don't do it justice!
The intrigue and the intricacies got the better of me, and I was hooked after a few chapters.
It's like a jigsaw puzzle in book form! Complex but very satisfying. You need to read it yourself in order to understand the sheer brilliance of it...my words simply don't do it justice!
October 27, 2025
With thanks to the author, publishers Simon and Schuster UK and NetGalley, for providing me with a DRC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was an interesting concept, where the author tells the story of four interlinked mysteries across four different time periods, but for me it all got a little confusing in the end and I don’t think I completely understood the ending of the book which apparently tied them those stories together.
My issue might have been that it took me so long to get through the entire book, as some of the separate stories were more interesting to me than others, so I was less inclined to pick up the book in the less interesting ones. This may be why the links between some of the stories appeared tenuous at best for me. My recommendation for getting the most out of this book would definitely be to read it through in as short a time as possible, so that the events of one story are still fresh in your mind as you read the next.
This was an interesting concept, where the author tells the story of four interlinked mysteries across four different time periods, but for me it all got a little confusing in the end and I don’t think I completely understood the ending of the book which apparently tied them those stories together.
My issue might have been that it took me so long to get through the entire book, as some of the separate stories were more interesting to me than others, so I was less inclined to pick up the book in the less interesting ones. This may be why the links between some of the stories appeared tenuous at best for me. My recommendation for getting the most out of this book would definitely be to read it through in as short a time as possible, so that the events of one story are still fresh in your mind as you read the next.
October 7, 2025
4 books in 1 as the blurb says, but it works really well.
Very cleverly written this book completely drew me in, I had no idea where I was being led but I knew I couldn’t stop reading until I found out.
It hard not to say too much as reading the book is an experience in itself and giving any details may spoil it, so I’ll just say, it’s a fantastic read and I throughly enjoyed it.
#The Waterfall @gareth.rubin @simonschusteruk @randomthingstours
Very cleverly written this book completely drew me in, I had no idea where I was being led but I knew I couldn’t stop reading until I found out.
It hard not to say too much as reading the book is an experience in itself and giving any details may spoil it, so I’ll just say, it’s a fantastic read and I throughly enjoyed it.
#The Waterfall @gareth.rubin @simonschusteruk @randomthingstours
November 17, 2025
Che delusione 🥲
Anche se scritto bene, inizierei con il dire che, secondo me, la storia poteva essere comunque scritta in metà delle pagine.
Ma la cosa che mi ha convinta meno, sono le quattro storie. Anche se connesse, forse sono troppe per un libro del genere…ogni volta che finiva una storia, facevo fatica a”rientrare” nel libro e questo ha appesantito molto.
Anche se scritto bene, inizierei con il dire che, secondo me, la storia poteva essere comunque scritta in metà delle pagine.
Ma la cosa che mi ha convinta meno, sono le quattro storie. Anche se connesse, forse sono troppe per un libro del genere…ogni volta che finiva una storia, facevo fatica a”rientrare” nel libro e questo ha appesantito molto.
September 18, 2025
I listened to this early courtesy of libro.fm.
If you are listening to the audiobook, keep listening the music stops and the audio gets better. I almost completely gave up in the first few minutes because the background overwhelmed the speaker.
If you are listening to the audiobook, keep listening the music stops and the audio gets better. I almost completely gave up in the first few minutes because the background overwhelmed the speaker.
September 26, 2025
Excellent, gripping and clever. You don’t just get one story you get four and all are interlinked in some way, and also inextricably linked to the first book The Turnglass where all the twists are tied up. Shakespeare + Marlowe + murder mystery ✅ ✅ ✅!!! Would highly recommend.
November 27, 2025
This is a William Shakespeare, Miss Marple/Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes style book, that has been well written and grasping. This has been another one of those books that I could not leave on the one side. I had to see where this was leading and has been an interesting read.
October 3, 2025
This was a fun read, overall, but I didn’t love the way it all got tied together in the last story - I did like the way Rubin played with genres and as a whole it kept me entertained.
September 30, 2025
The premise of this book was so interesting, as if the idea of books within books doesn’t grab your attention, there are links to The Turnglass which I loved.
I loved how all of the stories are interconnected. I intially struggled with the 1st book, but the other three really grabbed my attention and I became more invested.
I feel that this is a book you should go in blind too, I would recommend starting this when you have time to binge it, I read a story a day and feel I may have connected with it more if I read in one sitting.
I will definitely be reading this again together with The Turnglass in the future.
I loved how all of the stories are interconnected. I intially struggled with the 1st book, but the other three really grabbed my attention and I became more invested.
I feel that this is a book you should go in blind too, I would recommend starting this when you have time to binge it, I read a story a day and feel I may have connected with it more if I read in one sitting.
I will definitely be reading this again together with The Turnglass in the future.
September 25, 2025
This is just as good and confusing as Gareth’s previous books, 4 stories in 1 book. But they all link over time and culminate in a murder hunt that seems to be about the book itself - even though it’s not finished at that point.
There’s book one about Shakespeare and the bizarre events that lead to Romeo & Juliet, book 2 is set in a creepy house which contains a sleep study, the third book is in Venice with a bizarre private detective (I found this one my favourite!) and the 4th in the ‘40’s where actors are being targeted by a serial killer recreating The Waterfall story.
Such an intriguing book and a real grabber, you get sucked into each story and wonder where they will lead, who is the killer and whether you’ll understand what has gone on when it ends! So good, if you’re a fan of the author’s previous books, then get this one.
There’s book one about Shakespeare and the bizarre events that lead to Romeo & Juliet, book 2 is set in a creepy house which contains a sleep study, the third book is in Venice with a bizarre private detective (I found this one my favourite!) and the 4th in the ‘40’s where actors are being targeted by a serial killer recreating The Waterfall story.
Such an intriguing book and a real grabber, you get sucked into each story and wonder where they will lead, who is the killer and whether you’ll understand what has gone on when it ends! So good, if you’re a fan of the author’s previous books, then get this one.
October 11, 2025
This is quite a tricky book to review, because it’s one of those stories where the less you know going in, the better the experience. What I can say is that it’s told in four parts: the first three read almost like short stories, and the final section cleverly ties everything together into one overarching narrative. It’s very much a book within a book.
I’d definitely recommend reading this one in one or two sittings. Moving straight from one story into the next really helps you see the threads that weave through them, which makes the revelations in the last part even more satisfying.
The first section takes us back to 1593, with William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe. As Shakespeare investigates the death of his friend, with an interesting twist. Their story revolves around a very mysterious book, and it’s fascinating to see how this plays out. This is named The Waterfall, last testament.
The second section The Angel by M. Wetherby, shifts to 1892, with Amos Sacher aboard the SS Molly returning from India to the north of England. He’s set on courting Miss Cleo Woodleigh, whom he met in India when she accompanied his cousin Jessica Delpont, but staying with his uncle, Sir Elijah Delpont, who wants Amos to research Shakespeare’s work on Romeo and Juliet and its links to Marlowe, had Leon of Prague really existed? This leads to unsettling and gothic turns that don’t quite go as planned.
The third section The Venice Murders by G.B.Faulkner transports the reader to Venice in 1931, where Honora Feldman, accompanied by her companion, hopes for a restorative holiday. However, when unexpected events unfold, Honora—formidable and determined—finds herself drawn into matters she cannot ignore.
Finally, The Waterfall, set in 1944 Hollywood, we meet Ken Kourian a returning character from The Turnglass (one of the author’s previous novels). This is the point where all the stories converge, all centered around the enigmatic book known as The Waterfall.
The last chapters really ratchet up the tension, and I truly didn’t know how it was going to end. But the resolution tied everything together in a way that felt clever and satisfying. From Shakespeare and Marlowe to Hollywood glamour, and mobsters, this novel spans centuries and genres, while keeping you intrigued about how it all connects.
A fascinating, layered read that rewards close attention.
I’d definitely recommend reading this one in one or two sittings. Moving straight from one story into the next really helps you see the threads that weave through them, which makes the revelations in the last part even more satisfying.
The first section takes us back to 1593, with William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe. As Shakespeare investigates the death of his friend, with an interesting twist. Their story revolves around a very mysterious book, and it’s fascinating to see how this plays out. This is named The Waterfall, last testament.
The second section The Angel by M. Wetherby, shifts to 1892, with Amos Sacher aboard the SS Molly returning from India to the north of England. He’s set on courting Miss Cleo Woodleigh, whom he met in India when she accompanied his cousin Jessica Delpont, but staying with his uncle, Sir Elijah Delpont, who wants Amos to research Shakespeare’s work on Romeo and Juliet and its links to Marlowe, had Leon of Prague really existed? This leads to unsettling and gothic turns that don’t quite go as planned.
The third section The Venice Murders by G.B.Faulkner transports the reader to Venice in 1931, where Honora Feldman, accompanied by her companion, hopes for a restorative holiday. However, when unexpected events unfold, Honora—formidable and determined—finds herself drawn into matters she cannot ignore.
Finally, The Waterfall, set in 1944 Hollywood, we meet Ken Kourian a returning character from The Turnglass (one of the author’s previous novels). This is the point where all the stories converge, all centered around the enigmatic book known as The Waterfall.
The last chapters really ratchet up the tension, and I truly didn’t know how it was going to end. But the resolution tied everything together in a way that felt clever and satisfying. From Shakespeare and Marlowe to Hollywood glamour, and mobsters, this novel spans centuries and genres, while keeping you intrigued about how it all connects.
A fascinating, layered read that rewards close attention.
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