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In Deep Water: The brand-new in 2026, addictive crime thriller that you won’t be able to put down for fans of Ann Cleeves and Val McDermid
Happy Valley meets The Woman in Cabin 10 in this dark, page-turning thriller from debut author Elle Blair!A murder at sea. One detective. No backup.
DI Rachel Harlow is off duty and stuck aboard a cruise ship with her twin teenagers and uptight parents. Determined to distract herself from the complicated mess – professional and personal – she’s left back at Northumbria Police HQ, she embarks on a flirtatious game with a stranger on board… until she finds him dead the next day.
With no eyewitnesses and no official investigation, Rachel digs into the murder alone, going strictly against the captain’s orders. Dead end after dead end, she’s met with lies and silence from the ship’s crew.
International waters allow people to play by different rules, but Rachel won’t let up. Even when it leads her to a crime ring just as dangerous as the one she’s left behind on land. But at sea, she has no team to back her up …
DI Rachel Harlow is off duty and stuck aboard a cruise ship with her twin teenagers and uptight parents. Determined to distract herself from the complicated mess – professional and personal – she’s left back at Northumbria Police HQ, she embarks on a flirtatious game with a stranger on board… until she finds him dead the next day.
With no eyewitnesses and no official investigation, Rachel digs into the murder alone, going strictly against the captain’s orders. Dead end after dead end, she’s met with lies and silence from the ship’s crew.
International waters allow people to play by different rules, but Rachel won’t let up. Even when it leads her to a crime ring just as dangerous as the one she’s left behind on land. But at sea, she has no team to back her up …
- GenresThriller
388 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 4, 2026
This is the debut novel from Blair, who lives in the Newcastle area.
The book introduces flawed (read: very much human) DI Rachel Harlow. Harlow works for Northumbria Police, leading County Lines operations, while juggling life as a single mum to teenage twins. Like Blair, Rachel is based in the Newcastle area, so expect plenty of Northern phrases. I loved reading lines and words like “face like a smacked arse“, “mint“, “mortal” and “boiled her piss“.
When things at work take a turn for the worse, Rachel accepts an invitation from her parents for her and the twins to join them on an upcoming cruise.
The story alternates between present day and the past, with chapters split between “sea” and “land”. At first I was less invested in the land chapters because I wanted to get back to the ship, but stick with them as they become just as compelling and I ended up very invested in the relationships in those sections.
And crime fans, don’t worry: the sea sections aren’t just a “floating old people’s home“. There are dead bodies and the wonderfully claustrophobic setting of a cruise ship, complete with the added complications of maritime law.
I loved the characterisation of both Harlow and her family. She’s an incredibly strong protagonist. Crime fiction has historically featured countless male detectives with questionable relationships to both sex and alcohol, so it was refreshing to see those same flaws in a female lead. They make Rachel relatable and human. She is messy at times but also powerful and she’s just trying her best like we all are. I liked that the title In Deep Water doesn’t just reflect the predicament Rachel finds herself in on board but also her home life too, as the metaphor about keeping her head above water works in both situations.
Another major highlight of the book for me was its Northern charm and humour. Some of my favourite lines include: “Crawling to the end of the week, Rachel was almost ready to put herself in a body bag” and “rather shit in my hands and clap“.
I can’t wait to read the next instalment in the series, In Cold Blood, which is due out next year.
The book introduces flawed (read: very much human) DI Rachel Harlow. Harlow works for Northumbria Police, leading County Lines operations, while juggling life as a single mum to teenage twins. Like Blair, Rachel is based in the Newcastle area, so expect plenty of Northern phrases. I loved reading lines and words like “face like a smacked arse“, “mint“, “mortal” and “boiled her piss“.
When things at work take a turn for the worse, Rachel accepts an invitation from her parents for her and the twins to join them on an upcoming cruise.
The story alternates between present day and the past, with chapters split between “sea” and “land”. At first I was less invested in the land chapters because I wanted to get back to the ship, but stick with them as they become just as compelling and I ended up very invested in the relationships in those sections.
And crime fans, don’t worry: the sea sections aren’t just a “floating old people’s home“. There are dead bodies and the wonderfully claustrophobic setting of a cruise ship, complete with the added complications of maritime law.
I loved the characterisation of both Harlow and her family. She’s an incredibly strong protagonist. Crime fiction has historically featured countless male detectives with questionable relationships to both sex and alcohol, so it was refreshing to see those same flaws in a female lead. They make Rachel relatable and human. She is messy at times but also powerful and she’s just trying her best like we all are. I liked that the title In Deep Water doesn’t just reflect the predicament Rachel finds herself in on board but also her home life too, as the metaphor about keeping her head above water works in both situations.
Another major highlight of the book for me was its Northern charm and humour. Some of my favourite lines include: “Crawling to the end of the week, Rachel was almost ready to put herself in a body bag” and “rather shit in my hands and clap“.
I can’t wait to read the next instalment in the series, In Cold Blood, which is due out next year.
June 19, 2026
North East grit meets maritime mayhem.
While the series itself is rooted in the North East, this first novel finds Rachel in the middle of the ocean with her parents and teenage twins — where, even on holiday, trouble has a way of finding her.
From the prologue, the story is packed with tension and intrigue. Aboard a cruise ship where her authority counts for very little, Rachel finds herself investigating a murder with limited resources and no official jurisdiction. Faced with an uncooperative captain and crew, she must rely on her instincts to uncover the truth.
Atmospheric, engaging and full of tension In Deep Water is a confident debut that introduces a tenacious and sharp witted detective. I am already looking forward to Rachel’s next case and spending more time with her team at work, Lennon , and of course her dysfunctional - but very real - family!
As another adopted North Easter, I love supporting local authors, and it’s so easy to hype this book up. I’ve genuinely never felt so seen in a crime novel. From the Elnett hairspray and disapproving mothers to the teenage angst, North East twang, grumpy teenage slang and recognisable landmarks, there were so many moments that felt relatable and authentic.
While the series itself is rooted in the North East, this first novel finds Rachel in the middle of the ocean with her parents and teenage twins — where, even on holiday, trouble has a way of finding her.
From the prologue, the story is packed with tension and intrigue. Aboard a cruise ship where her authority counts for very little, Rachel finds herself investigating a murder with limited resources and no official jurisdiction. Faced with an uncooperative captain and crew, she must rely on her instincts to uncover the truth.
Atmospheric, engaging and full of tension In Deep Water is a confident debut that introduces a tenacious and sharp witted detective. I am already looking forward to Rachel’s next case and spending more time with her team at work, Lennon , and of course her dysfunctional - but very real - family!
As another adopted North Easter, I love supporting local authors, and it’s so easy to hype this book up. I’ve genuinely never felt so seen in a crime novel. From the Elnett hairspray and disapproving mothers to the teenage angst, North East twang, grumpy teenage slang and recognisable landmarks, there were so many moments that felt relatable and authentic.
July 26, 2026
I first met Elle 13 years ago and had the pleasure of working as an English teacher with her. As a teacher, a person, and now a writer she is incredible.
I thoroughly enjoyed every second of her debut novel; from the absolute queen that is DI Rachel Harlow, to her hilarious and annoying family / back-up, to the unravelling drama on the HLC Synergy cruise.
I don't want to give any spoilers because you should go and read, and support this amazing powerhouse of a writer, who utilises the backdrop of Newcastle upon Tyne so wonderfully.
I can't wait for the next installment!
I thoroughly enjoyed every second of her debut novel; from the absolute queen that is DI Rachel Harlow, to her hilarious and annoying family / back-up, to the unravelling drama on the HLC Synergy cruise.
I don't want to give any spoilers because you should go and read, and support this amazing powerhouse of a writer, who utilises the backdrop of Newcastle upon Tyne so wonderfully.
I can't wait for the next installment!
June 25, 2026
There was something particularly fun about reading In Deep Water while I was just days away from heading off on a cruise myself. A murder at sea, a detective out of her comfort zone, no back-up, and a ship full of potential suspects? Yes please.
This is the first book in a brand new crime series from Elle Blair, and I’m happy to say it’s off to a very strong start. I really enjoyed this one and I’ll definitely be picking up book two.
From the prologue I was intrigued, and by chapter one I was already chuckling to myself. I loved Elle Blair’s writing style straight away. The humour landed really well for me, as did the tone, and I quickly warmed to DI Rachel Harlow. She’s grumpy, real, relatable and funny, and I loved the little sprinkling of northern colloquial language in her voice too. She felt like a very grounded, believable main character from the off.
The story is told in third person and moves between sea (now) and land (then), which worked really well in building both the mystery on board the cruise ship and the wider context of Rachel’s life back on land. Rachel is meant to be off duty, but instead finds herself trapped on a cruise with her teenage twins and her parents in tow, while also becoming caught up in a murder investigation. The set-up was great and I really enjoyed the cruise ship setting. It gave the story that closed-circle feel, but with the added claustrophobia of being stuck at sea with nowhere to go and no one to properly rely on.
Alongside the crime plot, I really liked the family dynamics in this book. Rachel’s relationships with her children and her parents felt messy, strained and believable, and I think anyone who has raised teenagers, or simply has complicated family relationships, will find something recognisable there. I especially liked how those relationships developed over the course of the novel. They begin the story feeling fractured, but as the tension and danger build, so too does the sense of them pulling together. Barbara in particular wasn’t a character I warmed to straight away, but as her edges softened, so did my feelings towards her.
I also really enjoyed the simmering relationship between Rachel and Lennon. There’s definitely a slow-burn thread running through the book, and while it never overshadows the crime plot, it adds another layer to Rachel’s character and her life outside the investigation. It’s one of those dynamics that leaves you hoping for more in future books, and I’ll be very interested to see where Elle Blair takes it next.
The supporting cast added a lot too. Kevin and Jon were a fantastic addition, and I always appreciate characters who bring warmth and personality into a crime novel without undermining the tension.
In terms of pace, I found the story consistently enjoyable throughout, but it definitely kicked up a gear around the 70% mark and from there I was completely hooked. The mystery becomes increasingly tangled, with more questions, more secrets and more threads to pull at, and I was keen to see how it would all come together. I thought the conclusion was really satisfying too, not just in terms of the central crime, but also in the way it handled Rachel’s personal story and the threads surrounding her past and her relationship with Lennon.
I also read the sneak peek of book two immediately afterwards, which probably tells you everything you need to know about how keen I am to continue with this series.
Overall, In Deep Water is an enjoyable, promising start to a new crime series with a strong lead, plenty of family tension, a compelling murder mystery and a setting that really works. I’ll definitely be back for book two.
Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book in a brand new crime series from Elle Blair, and I’m happy to say it’s off to a very strong start. I really enjoyed this one and I’ll definitely be picking up book two.
From the prologue I was intrigued, and by chapter one I was already chuckling to myself. I loved Elle Blair’s writing style straight away. The humour landed really well for me, as did the tone, and I quickly warmed to DI Rachel Harlow. She’s grumpy, real, relatable and funny, and I loved the little sprinkling of northern colloquial language in her voice too. She felt like a very grounded, believable main character from the off.
The story is told in third person and moves between sea (now) and land (then), which worked really well in building both the mystery on board the cruise ship and the wider context of Rachel’s life back on land. Rachel is meant to be off duty, but instead finds herself trapped on a cruise with her teenage twins and her parents in tow, while also becoming caught up in a murder investigation. The set-up was great and I really enjoyed the cruise ship setting. It gave the story that closed-circle feel, but with the added claustrophobia of being stuck at sea with nowhere to go and no one to properly rely on.
Alongside the crime plot, I really liked the family dynamics in this book. Rachel’s relationships with her children and her parents felt messy, strained and believable, and I think anyone who has raised teenagers, or simply has complicated family relationships, will find something recognisable there. I especially liked how those relationships developed over the course of the novel. They begin the story feeling fractured, but as the tension and danger build, so too does the sense of them pulling together. Barbara in particular wasn’t a character I warmed to straight away, but as her edges softened, so did my feelings towards her.
I also really enjoyed the simmering relationship between Rachel and Lennon. There’s definitely a slow-burn thread running through the book, and while it never overshadows the crime plot, it adds another layer to Rachel’s character and her life outside the investigation. It’s one of those dynamics that leaves you hoping for more in future books, and I’ll be very interested to see where Elle Blair takes it next.
The supporting cast added a lot too. Kevin and Jon were a fantastic addition, and I always appreciate characters who bring warmth and personality into a crime novel without undermining the tension.
In terms of pace, I found the story consistently enjoyable throughout, but it definitely kicked up a gear around the 70% mark and from there I was completely hooked. The mystery becomes increasingly tangled, with more questions, more secrets and more threads to pull at, and I was keen to see how it would all come together. I thought the conclusion was really satisfying too, not just in terms of the central crime, but also in the way it handled Rachel’s personal story and the threads surrounding her past and her relationship with Lennon.
I also read the sneak peek of book two immediately afterwards, which probably tells you everything you need to know about how keen I am to continue with this series.
Overall, In Deep Water is an enjoyable, promising start to a new crime series with a strong lead, plenty of family tension, a compelling murder mystery and a setting that really works. I’ll definitely be back for book two.
Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2026
Life would surely be so much easier if love were rational. Something which you could use your head to account for all the reasons, factors, influences and make a calm, logical decision of how you felt about something, or someone.
But it isn't, and you can't. Which is the best way to explain why I still love my wife after 12 years of marriage, despite her infuriating and seemingly irreversible thought process that if she leaves dirty crockery and cutlery in a bowl of hot water overnight, it will somehow be magically clean by the next morning. And that if she has one of her favourite reality TV programmes on, I can tolerate it for maybe 60 seconds before having to leave the room. If I'm in a particularly good mood.
As you may have already guessed, I'm procrastinating. And that's because I've recently read In Deep Water by Elle Blair. Quite apart from the fact that this is the author's debut novel, and that I'm loathe to criticise it, it's had glowing endorsements just about everywhere you look.
Will Dean is quoted as having called it "dangerously addictive". Abigail Dean - whose latest book has won the Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger Award and made the final six books shortlisted for the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year - calls it "wonderful". And it seems that other readers agree. At the time of my writing this, it has an average rating of 4 stars on Netgalley, 4.25 on Goodreads and 4.6 on Amazon. Hell, if I were ever to finish my debut novel, those are ratings and endorsements that I'd kill for.
But - deep breath - I'm here to talk about my own opinion of the book, and not those of other readers and authors. Which means I have to be honest. I didn't love it. I'm really sorry. And to make it even worse, I'm not sure I can reasonably explain why. I'm left wondering: is it me?
It's certainly not that I thought the book was bad. Quite the opposite. I particularly liked the portrayal of the main character, DI Rachel Harlow. We meet her on a cruise ship, whilst on an enforced period of leave from work and struggling to manage a difficult relationship with her parents and two teenage children. She's far from being a maverick detective - which is good; that's something that has now been tried too often - but she's still wonderfully, delightfully messed up.
I also liked the use of the cruise ship, out in the middle of the ocean, to create a locked room mystery setting. With the added sense of danger that deep, cold water brings. I liked the descriptions of the stark differences between the areas of the ship that the travellers are supposed to see, and the crew cabins, which they aren't. I have no knowledge at all of maritime law, so can't comment on whether the statements made in the book are true, but they certainly gave the impression of the subject having been well-researched. And I really enjoyed the supporting characters of Kevin and Jon, who managed to inject some welcome humour into the storyline without detracting from the tension. That's not an easy balance to find, but Elle Blair has managed it nicely.
A minor gripe for me is the inclusion of a chapter featuring a one-night stand: I won't say between which characters for fear of spoilers. I will say that I accept that it's inclusion was necessary for the plot, and not at variance with the portrayal of the characters in question at that point. But to me, it still felt a bit cheap.
I think though that my main problem was that I didn't feel that this book knew what sub-genre it was trying to be. The isolated setting, and the family eventually coming together to play detectives seemed suited to cosy crime, but that was at variance with the solution to the plot which smacked more of gritty police procedural. Then there's the splendid portrayal of Rachel and her bordering-on-dysfunctional relationship with her family, which wouldn't have been out of place in a psychological thriller. or even in romantic fiction.
I know I've used food analogies multiple times before, but look at it this way. I like a good curry, and I like a roast dinner. But if someone were to serve me a roast dinner with curry sauce poured over it instead of gravy, it wouldn't matter how well-cooked any of it was, the effect for me would be somewhat spoiled.
Your taste, however, may be different to mine. So if you're intrigued by the blurb and encouraged by the multiple other positive reviews - and why wouldn't you be - please go ahead and read it. I hope for the statistically probable outcome that you'll agree with the rest of the internet, and not me.
But it isn't, and you can't. Which is the best way to explain why I still love my wife after 12 years of marriage, despite her infuriating and seemingly irreversible thought process that if she leaves dirty crockery and cutlery in a bowl of hot water overnight, it will somehow be magically clean by the next morning. And that if she has one of her favourite reality TV programmes on, I can tolerate it for maybe 60 seconds before having to leave the room. If I'm in a particularly good mood.
As you may have already guessed, I'm procrastinating. And that's because I've recently read In Deep Water by Elle Blair. Quite apart from the fact that this is the author's debut novel, and that I'm loathe to criticise it, it's had glowing endorsements just about everywhere you look.
Will Dean is quoted as having called it "dangerously addictive". Abigail Dean - whose latest book has won the Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger Award and made the final six books shortlisted for the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year - calls it "wonderful". And it seems that other readers agree. At the time of my writing this, it has an average rating of 4 stars on Netgalley, 4.25 on Goodreads and 4.6 on Amazon. Hell, if I were ever to finish my debut novel, those are ratings and endorsements that I'd kill for.
But - deep breath - I'm here to talk about my own opinion of the book, and not those of other readers and authors. Which means I have to be honest. I didn't love it. I'm really sorry. And to make it even worse, I'm not sure I can reasonably explain why. I'm left wondering: is it me?
It's certainly not that I thought the book was bad. Quite the opposite. I particularly liked the portrayal of the main character, DI Rachel Harlow. We meet her on a cruise ship, whilst on an enforced period of leave from work and struggling to manage a difficult relationship with her parents and two teenage children. She's far from being a maverick detective - which is good; that's something that has now been tried too often - but she's still wonderfully, delightfully messed up.
I also liked the use of the cruise ship, out in the middle of the ocean, to create a locked room mystery setting. With the added sense of danger that deep, cold water brings. I liked the descriptions of the stark differences between the areas of the ship that the travellers are supposed to see, and the crew cabins, which they aren't. I have no knowledge at all of maritime law, so can't comment on whether the statements made in the book are true, but they certainly gave the impression of the subject having been well-researched. And I really enjoyed the supporting characters of Kevin and Jon, who managed to inject some welcome humour into the storyline without detracting from the tension. That's not an easy balance to find, but Elle Blair has managed it nicely.
A minor gripe for me is the inclusion of a chapter featuring a one-night stand: I won't say between which characters for fear of spoilers. I will say that I accept that it's inclusion was necessary for the plot, and not at variance with the portrayal of the characters in question at that point. But to me, it still felt a bit cheap.
I think though that my main problem was that I didn't feel that this book knew what sub-genre it was trying to be. The isolated setting, and the family eventually coming together to play detectives seemed suited to cosy crime, but that was at variance with the solution to the plot which smacked more of gritty police procedural. Then there's the splendid portrayal of Rachel and her bordering-on-dysfunctional relationship with her family, which wouldn't have been out of place in a psychological thriller. or even in romantic fiction.
I know I've used food analogies multiple times before, but look at it this way. I like a good curry, and I like a roast dinner. But if someone were to serve me a roast dinner with curry sauce poured over it instead of gravy, it wouldn't matter how well-cooked any of it was, the effect for me would be somewhat spoiled.
Your taste, however, may be different to mine. So if you're intrigued by the blurb and encouraged by the multiple other positive reviews - and why wouldn't you be - please go ahead and read it. I hope for the statistically probable outcome that you'll agree with the rest of the internet, and not me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A gripping, crime thriller for readers who enjoy -
Addictive, twisty, murder mysteries
⚓️ Isolated settings (cruise ship)
Happy Valley x The Woman in Cabin 10
⚓️ Ann Cleeves & Val McDermid
⭑ Publication Date: 2nd July 2026
⭑ Available In: Paperback, eBook & Audio
⭑ Book 1, DI Rachel Harlow series
⭑ Always remember to check content and trigger warnings before reading.
~ plot ~
In Deep Water follows DI Rachel Harlow and her family as they set sail aboard a luxury cruise for what should be a stress-free escape from work troubles on land. However, when a mysterious death occurs Rachel can’t just sit by and do nothing. But with no backup, no jurisdiction, an uncooperative crew and danger lurking around every corner, Rachel’s dream holiday soon turns into something much, much darker.
~ review ~
In Deep Water is a tense, thrilling, isolated setting mystery that reels you in from the jump.
It features a strong, determined, punchy Detective Inspector FMC, some very messy yet painfully relatable family dynamics, a cruise ship murder mystery with a boat load of uncooperative crew and enough questions, secrets and unease to sink the aforementioned ship. While dark and dangerous, it still has pockets of humour, warmth and some fantastic Northern wit. If this is the starting point for the DI Rachel Harlow series, I’m extremely excited to see what Elle Blair treats us to next!
The book opens with a single paged prologue that does exactly what a prologue should. It catches your attention, sets the scene without giving too much away and leaves you wanting more. For not even a full page of writing to have me firmly seated, feeling tense and intrigued with a head full of questions? Huge tick, very affective, already a fan, highly recommend!
Written in a dual timeline format, the story takes place in the present aboard a luxury cruise ship and in the past back on land. The land chapters do a great job of sharing relevant parts of Rachel’s backstory, giving us a better insight into who she is, how she found herself to be where she is today and the dynamics she shares with her parents, children and work colleagues.
The different settings/moments in time are easily differentiated and easy to follow. Things flowed naturally and I never found myself feeling lost or confused. The pacing progressively built throughout leading to an ending that was both satisfying and surprising.
I’m a huge fan of an isolated setting and the luxury cruise ship was unique, affective and surprisingly fun! The fact there was literally nowhere to run created a constant feeling of unease and suspense and I enjoyed every minute. This was heightened by Elle Blair’s vivid, immersive, engaging writing as it was very easy to place yourself into the story. The feeling that the walls were closing in and danger could be lurking around every corner became very real.
Murder aside… I also really enjoyed the journey Rachel went on with the twins and her parents. The dynamics felt very real and relatable and Elle Blair captured the dysfunctional, chaotic, dramatic ups and downs of family life brilliantly. Is it somewhat unconventional for murder to be the thing that brings people together? Yes, BUT nothing about Rachel was conventional! An extremely progressive example of family bonding if you ask me!
If you enjoy a tense, exciting, edge of your seat reading experience, mark 2nd July on your calendar and add this book to your TBR!
Thank you so much to Caitlin & HQ for the early finished copy of In Deep Water. This is my honest opinion & I’m sharing it voluntarily❣️
Addictive, twisty, murder mysteries
⚓️ Isolated settings (cruise ship)
Happy Valley x The Woman in Cabin 10
⚓️ Ann Cleeves & Val McDermid
⭑ Publication Date: 2nd July 2026
⭑ Available In: Paperback, eBook & Audio
⭑ Book 1, DI Rachel Harlow series
⭑ Always remember to check content and trigger warnings before reading.
~ plot ~
In Deep Water follows DI Rachel Harlow and her family as they set sail aboard a luxury cruise for what should be a stress-free escape from work troubles on land. However, when a mysterious death occurs Rachel can’t just sit by and do nothing. But with no backup, no jurisdiction, an uncooperative crew and danger lurking around every corner, Rachel’s dream holiday soon turns into something much, much darker.
~ review ~
In Deep Water is a tense, thrilling, isolated setting mystery that reels you in from the jump.
It features a strong, determined, punchy Detective Inspector FMC, some very messy yet painfully relatable family dynamics, a cruise ship murder mystery with a boat load of uncooperative crew and enough questions, secrets and unease to sink the aforementioned ship. While dark and dangerous, it still has pockets of humour, warmth and some fantastic Northern wit. If this is the starting point for the DI Rachel Harlow series, I’m extremely excited to see what Elle Blair treats us to next!
The book opens with a single paged prologue that does exactly what a prologue should. It catches your attention, sets the scene without giving too much away and leaves you wanting more. For not even a full page of writing to have me firmly seated, feeling tense and intrigued with a head full of questions? Huge tick, very affective, already a fan, highly recommend!
Written in a dual timeline format, the story takes place in the present aboard a luxury cruise ship and in the past back on land. The land chapters do a great job of sharing relevant parts of Rachel’s backstory, giving us a better insight into who she is, how she found herself to be where she is today and the dynamics she shares with her parents, children and work colleagues.
The different settings/moments in time are easily differentiated and easy to follow. Things flowed naturally and I never found myself feeling lost or confused. The pacing progressively built throughout leading to an ending that was both satisfying and surprising.
I’m a huge fan of an isolated setting and the luxury cruise ship was unique, affective and surprisingly fun! The fact there was literally nowhere to run created a constant feeling of unease and suspense and I enjoyed every minute. This was heightened by Elle Blair’s vivid, immersive, engaging writing as it was very easy to place yourself into the story. The feeling that the walls were closing in and danger could be lurking around every corner became very real.
Murder aside… I also really enjoyed the journey Rachel went on with the twins and her parents. The dynamics felt very real and relatable and Elle Blair captured the dysfunctional, chaotic, dramatic ups and downs of family life brilliantly. Is it somewhat unconventional for murder to be the thing that brings people together? Yes, BUT nothing about Rachel was conventional! An extremely progressive example of family bonding if you ask me!
If you enjoy a tense, exciting, edge of your seat reading experience, mark 2nd July on your calendar and add this book to your TBR!
Thank you so much to Caitlin & HQ for the early finished copy of In Deep Water. This is my honest opinion & I’m sharing it voluntarily❣️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a really cracking read. A fast paced crime fiction that got the heart beating faster with every twist and turn. A great prologue to get you hooked in. And in amongst the questionable morality of police procedure there were some genuinely funny moments in this book.
We meet DI Rachel Harlow, single mother of teenage twins. Her parents have treated them all to a luxury cruise holiday. Rachel is on holiday to escape from a complicated mess that she's left back at Northumbria Police. An investigation that went wrong with significant consequences for Rachel if she is found to have behaved unprofessionally. But life on board the cruise ship takes a deadly twist when she finds a dead body on the ship. There are suspicious circumstances and a cover up amongst the staff and Rachel decides to investigate this alone.
The book is told over a dual timeline. We flip back and forward between events at Sea and events on Land, where we discover the case that Rachel was working on leading up to the mess that has been left behind in Newcastle. I enjoyed the the flip between the two locations. The contrast between the seemingly luxurious life on the cruise and the more grittier life on the streets of Newcastle.
This oozed with northern charm and I loved that a lot of this was set in the area that I live in. All the places that we visit are so familiar to me, even where Rachel lives! I knew exactly where the Land action was taking place and I really enjoyed that. The cruise ship setting was also great and gave a closed in feel about it, added to the claustrophobic vibe that runs throughout the book.
Rachel is a great character, flawed, unpredictable and relatable. I enjoyed the family dynamics in the book. Her relationship with her twins and parents is strained, messy. It added to the tension of the book but I also enjoyed how we see the relationships are developed as the investigations on the ship come to a head.
It was a great twisty book, full of secrets, lies and mots of threads to untangle. A fantastic debut thriller that crime and suspense readers will enjoy.
Thank you to Elle, the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this exciting eARC.
We meet DI Rachel Harlow, single mother of teenage twins. Her parents have treated them all to a luxury cruise holiday. Rachel is on holiday to escape from a complicated mess that she's left back at Northumbria Police. An investigation that went wrong with significant consequences for Rachel if she is found to have behaved unprofessionally. But life on board the cruise ship takes a deadly twist when she finds a dead body on the ship. There are suspicious circumstances and a cover up amongst the staff and Rachel decides to investigate this alone.
The book is told over a dual timeline. We flip back and forward between events at Sea and events on Land, where we discover the case that Rachel was working on leading up to the mess that has been left behind in Newcastle. I enjoyed the the flip between the two locations. The contrast between the seemingly luxurious life on the cruise and the more grittier life on the streets of Newcastle.
This oozed with northern charm and I loved that a lot of this was set in the area that I live in. All the places that we visit are so familiar to me, even where Rachel lives! I knew exactly where the Land action was taking place and I really enjoyed that. The cruise ship setting was also great and gave a closed in feel about it, added to the claustrophobic vibe that runs throughout the book.
Rachel is a great character, flawed, unpredictable and relatable. I enjoyed the family dynamics in the book. Her relationship with her twins and parents is strained, messy. It added to the tension of the book but I also enjoyed how we see the relationships are developed as the investigations on the ship come to a head.
It was a great twisty book, full of secrets, lies and mots of threads to untangle. A fantastic debut thriller that crime and suspense readers will enjoy.
Thank you to Elle, the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this exciting eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
DI Rachel Harlow, awaiting a disciplinary hearing with the Northumbria Police, is reluctantly headed off on a Mediterranean cruise with her uncommunicative teenage twins and critical parents.
Drowning her sorrows on the first night with a member of the crew seems like harmless fun. Until she finds him dead the next day!
But with murky maritime law at play, and a cruise company determined to put its reputation above all else, Rachel finds herself alone in finding out what is going on aboard this “floating labyrinth of lies”!
Oh, this was right up my street! I felt like it was split into 3 different vibes:
We had the few months into the past Rachel, recently promoted to Detective Inspector and leading a police operation where vulnerable teenagers are involved. These sections were gritty and showed the huge responsibility Rachel bears at work and how important it is to her.
Then we had the rogue investigation into the cruise ship death, where Rachel suspects foul play, and is soon working with her family to find out what is really going on on the ship. These sections were really quite heart-warming, as we see Rachel’s struggles to communicate and find common ground with her teenaged twins and her parents start to repair, with an almost cosy crime vibe! Her parents, Bob and Barbara had some total comedy moments! Not to mention Jon and the Gorgeous Kevin! 🤣😍
And finally there was Rachel’s finding herself vibe. From the borderline alcoholism, recklessly sleeping around, and facing disciplinary action at work at the start of the book, to the Rachel at the end of the book who realises her family are genuinely on her team.
I loved the humour in it and the way it was written. It was so moreish! I was very pleased to see an excerpt from book 2 at the end and can’t wait for that! Rachel is a brilliant character - balancing a very serious job with being a single mum in her 30s.
And the chemistry with Lennon! Well, I can’t wait to see how that continues to play out!
This was so full of suspense, and I loved the absolute bombshell of a twist! I feel like it would make a brilliant tv series too!
Drowning her sorrows on the first night with a member of the crew seems like harmless fun. Until she finds him dead the next day!
But with murky maritime law at play, and a cruise company determined to put its reputation above all else, Rachel finds herself alone in finding out what is going on aboard this “floating labyrinth of lies”!
Oh, this was right up my street! I felt like it was split into 3 different vibes:
We had the few months into the past Rachel, recently promoted to Detective Inspector and leading a police operation where vulnerable teenagers are involved. These sections were gritty and showed the huge responsibility Rachel bears at work and how important it is to her.
Then we had the rogue investigation into the cruise ship death, where Rachel suspects foul play, and is soon working with her family to find out what is really going on on the ship. These sections were really quite heart-warming, as we see Rachel’s struggles to communicate and find common ground with her teenaged twins and her parents start to repair, with an almost cosy crime vibe! Her parents, Bob and Barbara had some total comedy moments! Not to mention Jon and the Gorgeous Kevin! 🤣😍
And finally there was Rachel’s finding herself vibe. From the borderline alcoholism, recklessly sleeping around, and facing disciplinary action at work at the start of the book, to the Rachel at the end of the book who realises her family are genuinely on her team.
I loved the humour in it and the way it was written. It was so moreish! I was very pleased to see an excerpt from book 2 at the end and can’t wait for that! Rachel is a brilliant character - balancing a very serious job with being a single mum in her 30s.
And the chemistry with Lennon! Well, I can’t wait to see how that continues to play out!
This was so full of suspense, and I loved the absolute bombshell of a twist! I feel like it would make a brilliant tv series too!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.75 ⭐️
Thank you to @hqstories & @netgalley for this gifted E-book.
Out: 02nd July
I really enjoyed this fast paced murder mystery thriller. A dual-timeline narrative set in the present aboard a cruise ship and in the past, when Rachel’s career took a nosedive. This being the very reason for the cruise. A chance to get away, forget about the wreak of her career and start re-building relationships with her children and parents. But trouble just seems to follow Rachel wherever she goes.
The isolated cruise ship setting was one of my favourite parts to this novel and the crimes taking place kept me engaged throughout and questioning everybody.
Rachel was an interesting character. She was navigating many obstacles and had her fair share of faults, but she certainly made for a colourful FMC and I found myself rooting for her.
I really enjoyed the whole family dynamic to this story and how they all came together and worked to their strengths to try and piece the clues together. It was even quite comical in places. Very much a family bonding experience ... If you don’t mind a spot of murder 😂.
The chapters on Rachel’s background and what happened to her in regard to her career were interesting. I did find the dialouge a little technical at times, but the conclusion of what happened to Rachel definitly left me feeling surprised, which is always a postive for me (who doesn’t love a cheeky twist).
Overall I really enjoyed this read. Both the timelines ran together smoothly adding to the intrigue of the story and the writing was sharp, twisty, and immersive. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Blurb:
DI Rachel Harlow is off duty and stuck aboard a cruise ship with her twin teenagers and her uptight parents. Determined to distract herself from the complicated mess - professional and personal - shes left behind at Northumbria Police HQ, she embarks on a flirtatious game with a stranger on board … until she finds him dead the next day.
Rachel decides to dig into the murder alone, going against the captains orders, and is met with dead end after dead end. But Rachel (and her family) don’t give up.
Thank you to @hqstories & @netgalley for this gifted E-book.
Out: 02nd July
I really enjoyed this fast paced murder mystery thriller. A dual-timeline narrative set in the present aboard a cruise ship and in the past, when Rachel’s career took a nosedive. This being the very reason for the cruise. A chance to get away, forget about the wreak of her career and start re-building relationships with her children and parents. But trouble just seems to follow Rachel wherever she goes.
The isolated cruise ship setting was one of my favourite parts to this novel and the crimes taking place kept me engaged throughout and questioning everybody.
Rachel was an interesting character. She was navigating many obstacles and had her fair share of faults, but she certainly made for a colourful FMC and I found myself rooting for her.
I really enjoyed the whole family dynamic to this story and how they all came together and worked to their strengths to try and piece the clues together. It was even quite comical in places. Very much a family bonding experience ... If you don’t mind a spot of murder 😂.
The chapters on Rachel’s background and what happened to her in regard to her career were interesting. I did find the dialouge a little technical at times, but the conclusion of what happened to Rachel definitly left me feeling surprised, which is always a postive for me (who doesn’t love a cheeky twist).
Overall I really enjoyed this read. Both the timelines ran together smoothly adding to the intrigue of the story and the writing was sharp, twisty, and immersive. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Blurb:
DI Rachel Harlow is off duty and stuck aboard a cruise ship with her twin teenagers and her uptight parents. Determined to distract herself from the complicated mess - professional and personal - shes left behind at Northumbria Police HQ, she embarks on a flirtatious game with a stranger on board … until she finds him dead the next day.
Rachel decides to dig into the murder alone, going against the captains orders, and is met with dead end after dead end. But Rachel (and her family) don’t give up.
July 2, 2026
When I saw this book described as Happy Valley meets The Woman in Cabin 10, I didn’t need any more persuading to give it a read and wow, did this deliver!
Rachel Harlow has a fast paced, demanding job as a DI for Northumbria Police. She can totally handle it though - shrewd, sassy and sharp, Rachel thrives heading up her latest investigation into organised crime, until one decision backfires and threatens to derail her career. Add to this being a single parent of teenage twins, who give her constant grief for the long hours she works, things soon start to feel unsteady to say the least.
The perfect solution - a holiday: time away from the stress, chance to spend much needed quality time with her kids and maybe even rekindle the bond with her well meaning but overbearing parents. Perfect, right? Wrong.
Embracing the lack of responsibility and not wasting any time, Rachel catches the eye of a crew member and decides a little bit of fun never hurt anyone. What wasn’t part of the plan was Rachel finding him dead in his cabin the next day… Her detective instincts immediately kick in and Rachel is instantly thinking like an investigating officer, thoughts of a holiday seemingly forgotten, as she quickly discovers that some members of the crew just don’t seem trustworthy, or even concerned, about a body being held in cold storage on the ship. Can Rachel get to the bottom of what’s going on? Should she even try?
This book is really well written - Rachel is such a likeable main character, in total ownership of her flaws both personally and professionally. Her tricky relationships with her family are entirely relatable, and her firm belief in her own convictions are infectious - can she find harmony with her home life and also manage to expose the guilty party, in just a week on board the cruise?
Huge thanks to author Ellie Blair and Netgalley for landing this one in my lap, I loved it!
Rachel Harlow has a fast paced, demanding job as a DI for Northumbria Police. She can totally handle it though - shrewd, sassy and sharp, Rachel thrives heading up her latest investigation into organised crime, until one decision backfires and threatens to derail her career. Add to this being a single parent of teenage twins, who give her constant grief for the long hours she works, things soon start to feel unsteady to say the least.
The perfect solution - a holiday: time away from the stress, chance to spend much needed quality time with her kids and maybe even rekindle the bond with her well meaning but overbearing parents. Perfect, right? Wrong.
Embracing the lack of responsibility and not wasting any time, Rachel catches the eye of a crew member and decides a little bit of fun never hurt anyone. What wasn’t part of the plan was Rachel finding him dead in his cabin the next day… Her detective instincts immediately kick in and Rachel is instantly thinking like an investigating officer, thoughts of a holiday seemingly forgotten, as she quickly discovers that some members of the crew just don’t seem trustworthy, or even concerned, about a body being held in cold storage on the ship. Can Rachel get to the bottom of what’s going on? Should she even try?
This book is really well written - Rachel is such a likeable main character, in total ownership of her flaws both personally and professionally. Her tricky relationships with her family are entirely relatable, and her firm belief in her own convictions are infectious - can she find harmony with her home life and also manage to expose the guilty party, in just a week on board the cruise?
Huge thanks to author Ellie Blair and Netgalley for landing this one in my lap, I loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Elle Blair’s In Deep Water is an absolutely gripping thriller that completely pulled me into its tense and claustrophobic atmosphere from the very beginning. Set aboard a cruise ship in international waters, the story delivers a fresh and addictive twist on the crime thriller genre, blending sharp detective work with an unsettling sense of isolation and danger.
DI Rachel Harlow is a fantastic lead character — flawed, determined, emotionally layered, and impossible not to root for. What starts as an attempt at escaping the pressures of both work and family life quickly spirals into something far darker when a man she met onboard turns up dead. From that moment onward, the pacing never lets up. Every chapter reveals another layer of secrets, lies, and hidden motives amongst both passengers and crew.
Elle Blair does an excellent job creating tension throughout the novel. The cruise ship setting adds a unique edge to the mystery, making Rachel’s investigation feel even more dangerous as she’s forced to work completely alone without backup or support. The confined setting, combined with the uncertainty of who can be trusted, creates a constant feeling of unease that kept me turning the pages late into the night.
The writing itself is sharp, immersive, and cinematic, with twists that genuinely caught me off guard. Rachel’s personal struggles alongside the murder investigation added depth to the story without slowing the momentum, making her feel realistic and relatable throughout.
Overall, In Deep Water is a fast-paced, twist-filled debut thriller that crime and suspense readers will absolutely devour. Tense, atmospheric, and incredibly addictive, this is a brilliant start to what promises to be an exciting new detective series. I’ll definitely be looking forward to reading more from Elle Blair.
DI Rachel Harlow is a fantastic lead character — flawed, determined, emotionally layered, and impossible not to root for. What starts as an attempt at escaping the pressures of both work and family life quickly spirals into something far darker when a man she met onboard turns up dead. From that moment onward, the pacing never lets up. Every chapter reveals another layer of secrets, lies, and hidden motives amongst both passengers and crew.
Elle Blair does an excellent job creating tension throughout the novel. The cruise ship setting adds a unique edge to the mystery, making Rachel’s investigation feel even more dangerous as she’s forced to work completely alone without backup or support. The confined setting, combined with the uncertainty of who can be trusted, creates a constant feeling of unease that kept me turning the pages late into the night.
The writing itself is sharp, immersive, and cinematic, with twists that genuinely caught me off guard. Rachel’s personal struggles alongside the murder investigation added depth to the story without slowing the momentum, making her feel realistic and relatable throughout.
Overall, In Deep Water is a fast-paced, twist-filled debut thriller that crime and suspense readers will absolutely devour. Tense, atmospheric, and incredibly addictive, this is a brilliant start to what promises to be an exciting new detective series. I’ll definitely be looking forward to reading more from Elle Blair.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In Deep Water is a gripping, salt‑sprayed thriller that takes the classic locked‑room mystery and sets it adrift on open water. DI Rachel Harlow boards a cruise ship hoping for a break from the chaos she’s left behind at Northumbria Police HQ—teenage twins, uptight parents, and a professional mess she hasn’t quite untangled. Instead, she finds herself face‑to‑face with a murder she can’t ignore.
The setup is deliciously tense: a flirtatious encounter one evening, a dead body the next morning, and a ship full of people who would prefer she mind her own business. With no official investigation and a captain determined to keep things quiet, Rachel is forced to rely on her instincts alone. The isolation of international waters adds a brilliant layer of claustrophobia—no backup, no jurisdiction, nowhere to run if she gets too close to the truth.
What makes the novel shine is Rachel herself. She’s sharp, flawed, and deeply human, juggling family tensions with the relentless pull of her own moral compass. Every dead end she hits feels like another door quietly closing around her, and the crew’s evasiveness only deepens the sense that something far bigger is unfolding beneath the surface.
As Rachel digs deeper, the plot widens into a dangerous crime ring that mirrors the one she’s been trying to escape on land. The tension builds beautifully, tightening with each revelation until the ship feels less like a holiday escape and more like a floating trap.
In Deep Water is twisty, atmospheric, and compulsively readable—a perfect blend of police procedural and locked‑at‑sea suspense. A standout debut that proves danger doesn’t need solid ground to find you.
With thanks to Elle Blair, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The setup is deliciously tense: a flirtatious encounter one evening, a dead body the next morning, and a ship full of people who would prefer she mind her own business. With no official investigation and a captain determined to keep things quiet, Rachel is forced to rely on her instincts alone. The isolation of international waters adds a brilliant layer of claustrophobia—no backup, no jurisdiction, nowhere to run if she gets too close to the truth.
What makes the novel shine is Rachel herself. She’s sharp, flawed, and deeply human, juggling family tensions with the relentless pull of her own moral compass. Every dead end she hits feels like another door quietly closing around her, and the crew’s evasiveness only deepens the sense that something far bigger is unfolding beneath the surface.
As Rachel digs deeper, the plot widens into a dangerous crime ring that mirrors the one she’s been trying to escape on land. The tension builds beautifully, tightening with each revelation until the ship feels less like a holiday escape and more like a floating trap.
In Deep Water is twisty, atmospheric, and compulsively readable—a perfect blend of police procedural and locked‑at‑sea suspense. A standout debut that proves danger doesn’t need solid ground to find you.
With thanks to Elle Blair, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
June 28, 2026
In Deep water is an impressive debut crime thriller that makes excellent use of its unique cruise ship setting. The isolated location creates a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere where everyone is a suspect and there's nowhere to escape, making it the perfect backdrop for a gripping mystery.
DI Rachel Harlow is an engaging protagonist. I really liked that she felt like a real person rather than a flawless detective - balancing family tensions, the pressures of being a single mum, and an instinctive need to investigate even when she's technically off duty. She was easy to root for, and I'd happily read more books featuring her.
The story takes a little time to find its footing, with the early chapters introducing Rachel's personal and professional life, but once the murder investigation gets underway, the pace picks up considerably. From that point on, the twists kept coming, and I found myself racing through the pages to discover what was really happening beneath the surface.
The cruise ship setting added an extra layer of suspense, and I enjoyed how the investigation unfolded without Rachel having the usual support of her police colleagues. While I guessed one or two elements before the reveal, there were still enough surprises to keep me invested right through to the end.
Overall, this is a strong, atmospheric debut with an appealing lead character and plenty of potential for a series. If you enjoy crime thrillers with an unusual setting, fast-paced investigations, and a determined female detective, this is well worth reading.
DI Rachel Harlow is an engaging protagonist. I really liked that she felt like a real person rather than a flawless detective - balancing family tensions, the pressures of being a single mum, and an instinctive need to investigate even when she's technically off duty. She was easy to root for, and I'd happily read more books featuring her.
The story takes a little time to find its footing, with the early chapters introducing Rachel's personal and professional life, but once the murder investigation gets underway, the pace picks up considerably. From that point on, the twists kept coming, and I found myself racing through the pages to discover what was really happening beneath the surface.
The cruise ship setting added an extra layer of suspense, and I enjoyed how the investigation unfolded without Rachel having the usual support of her police colleagues. While I guessed one or two elements before the reveal, there were still enough surprises to keep me invested right through to the end.
Overall, this is a strong, atmospheric debut with an appealing lead character and plenty of potential for a series. If you enjoy crime thrillers with an unusual setting, fast-paced investigations, and a determined female detective, this is well worth reading.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC copy.
⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5/5)
In Deep Water took me a little while to fully get into. The opening 50–80 pages felt quite slow and, at times, confusing. I understand the backstory was necessary to build the characters and set up the plot, but I found myself struggling to follow exactly what was going on early on.
Once the events aboard the cruise ship really began, the pacing improved significantly and the story became much more gripping. The murder investigation, combined with the isolated setting at sea, made for an interesting and tense thriller. I especially enjoyed the crime elements and the way the danger escalated as DI Rachel Harlow dug deeper into the case without any official support.
One small issue I had was the occasional use of overly complex vocabulary that didn’t always fit the overall writing style. Words such as “recalcitrance”, “extrapolate”, “obsequiousness”, and “caterwauling” felt a little out of place and pulled me out of the story at times — I even had to Google a few of them.
Overall, though, the crimes themselves were engaging and I liked DI Harlow enough to continue with the series when future books are released. While the beginning was slower than I’d hoped, the second half definitely delivered a much stronger, page-turning thriller experience.
⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5/5)
In Deep Water took me a little while to fully get into. The opening 50–80 pages felt quite slow and, at times, confusing. I understand the backstory was necessary to build the characters and set up the plot, but I found myself struggling to follow exactly what was going on early on.
Once the events aboard the cruise ship really began, the pacing improved significantly and the story became much more gripping. The murder investigation, combined with the isolated setting at sea, made for an interesting and tense thriller. I especially enjoyed the crime elements and the way the danger escalated as DI Rachel Harlow dug deeper into the case without any official support.
One small issue I had was the occasional use of overly complex vocabulary that didn’t always fit the overall writing style. Words such as “recalcitrance”, “extrapolate”, “obsequiousness”, and “caterwauling” felt a little out of place and pulled me out of the story at times — I even had to Google a few of them.
Overall, though, the crimes themselves were engaging and I liked DI Harlow enough to continue with the series when future books are released. While the beginning was slower than I’d hoped, the second half definitely delivered a much stronger, page-turning thriller experience.
June 21, 2026
DI Rachel Harlow , a sex obsessed, quasi-alcoholic, single mother is reluctantly persuaded, along with her 15 year old twins, to join her parents on a cruise. The first evening on board, a very drunk Rachel is giving oral sex to one of the entertainment staff, but when she finds him dead in his cabin, the following day, she realises that something sinister is going on. The story is very slow at the beginning, alternating between the situation at sea and a case that Rachel has been working on at home, where she is under investigation and at risk of losing her job, although no information is shared at this stage, so it all feels quite boring.
Once I was around a third of the way through, the plot and the pace started to pick up, the drinking reduced, the arguing between Rachel and her mother eased up a bit and we started to get into the nitty gritty of some serious crime cover up at sea.
I found it really interesting to read about the jurisdiction that ships at sea are governed by and, having been on a few cruises myself, I was chuckling at some of the descriptions of the onboard antics.
The last third of the book was brilliant and we definitely saw a better side to Rachel, as she and her family pulled together to solve the crime and fight for justice.
3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
Once I was around a third of the way through, the plot and the pace started to pick up, the drinking reduced, the arguing between Rachel and her mother eased up a bit and we started to get into the nitty gritty of some serious crime cover up at sea.
I found it really interesting to read about the jurisdiction that ships at sea are governed by and, having been on a few cruises myself, I was chuckling at some of the descriptions of the onboard antics.
The last third of the book was brilliant and we definitely saw a better side to Rachel, as she and her family pulled together to solve the crime and fight for justice.
3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
June 30, 2026
DI Rachel Harlow, who is currently under investigation, is off duty and having a holiday cruise with her family. Trying to forget about work issues she embarks on flirting with a stranger, but then finds him killed the next day. With no official investigation, she decides to dig into the case alone. But is met by frostiness from the staff. She comes to realise that on international waters different rules apply.
I like taking my chances on debut novels that sound intriguing and this one sounded like an interesting mystery. I’m glad I did take a chance as this ended up being a well executed, well written, gritty debut. The story was told in dual timelines, on sea and land, which worked well and helped build up the main character’s backstory. Even though Rachel felt a bit frustrating at times, she was a strongly written character and felt authentic with her flaws and thoughts.
Although this was an excellent debut, I did find that the first half was overly detailed and slow. There was also a bit of jargon that needed uncovering to help the story flow. Overall though, this was a solid police procedural thriller and a promising start to a new series. I’d certainly be interested to read the next one. 3.5 stars rounded down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
I like taking my chances on debut novels that sound intriguing and this one sounded like an interesting mystery. I’m glad I did take a chance as this ended up being a well executed, well written, gritty debut. The story was told in dual timelines, on sea and land, which worked well and helped build up the main character’s backstory. Even though Rachel felt a bit frustrating at times, she was a strongly written character and felt authentic with her flaws and thoughts.
Although this was an excellent debut, I did find that the first half was overly detailed and slow. There was also a bit of jargon that needed uncovering to help the story flow. Overall though, this was a solid police procedural thriller and a promising start to a new series. I’d certainly be interested to read the next one. 3.5 stars rounded down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
July 14, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and HQ for the ARC of In Deep Water by Elle Blair
This story follows DI Rachel Harlow both in the present as she embarks on a cruise with her family as well as during a recent case that went terribly wrong. Rachel is using the cruise to escape from her fate at the upcoming disciplinary hearing which she thinks will end her career, little does she know an unwise rendezvous with one of the ships entertainers will land her in a new investigation as she fights to find the truth against a host of reluctant and hostile cruise staff who are clearly hiding something under the glamour of the high end cruise.
I cannot believe this is a debut as this was so skilfully written as if by a seasoned author such as Ann Cleeves or similar. The story was so well developed. It blended well together and the inclusion of an older FMC is always welcome (I only have so much time for teenage kickass women!). The story did follow the washed up cop trope but they made the redemption arc work well so it was forgivable. The pacing was good with the story advancing at a good rhythm and twists and misdirections well placed. There were a good amount of characters with the focus being on a select few and others used to flavour the story. One quibble was the ending. Not the twisty bit, the bit usually reserved as an epilogue which spanned quite a few chapters. Don't get me wrong I like ends tied up but it was a lot longer than I enjoy in these sorts of books
An absolutely super first book from this author and I can tell they will go far with how well they write. Gripping, real and addictive, three things essential for a good book!
This story follows DI Rachel Harlow both in the present as she embarks on a cruise with her family as well as during a recent case that went terribly wrong. Rachel is using the cruise to escape from her fate at the upcoming disciplinary hearing which she thinks will end her career, little does she know an unwise rendezvous with one of the ships entertainers will land her in a new investigation as she fights to find the truth against a host of reluctant and hostile cruise staff who are clearly hiding something under the glamour of the high end cruise.
I cannot believe this is a debut as this was so skilfully written as if by a seasoned author such as Ann Cleeves or similar. The story was so well developed. It blended well together and the inclusion of an older FMC is always welcome (I only have so much time for teenage kickass women!). The story did follow the washed up cop trope but they made the redemption arc work well so it was forgivable. The pacing was good with the story advancing at a good rhythm and twists and misdirections well placed. There were a good amount of characters with the focus being on a select few and others used to flavour the story. One quibble was the ending. Not the twisty bit, the bit usually reserved as an epilogue which spanned quite a few chapters. Don't get me wrong I like ends tied up but it was a lot longer than I enjoy in these sorts of books
An absolutely super first book from this author and I can tell they will go far with how well they write. Gripping, real and addictive, three things essential for a good book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DI Rachel Harlow is off duty and stuck aboard a cruise ship with her twin teenagers and uptight parents. Determined to distract herself from the complicated mess - professional and personal - she's left back at Northumbria Police HQ, she embarks on a flirtatious game with a stranger on board.... until she finds him dead the next day. With no eyewitnesses and no official investigation, Rachel digs into the murder alone, going strictly against the Captains orders. Dead end after dead end, she's met with lies and silence from the ship's crew.
This is a good debut novel. Aboard a cruise ship, Rachel finds herself investigating a murder, but she has went against the captain's wishes by doing so. At home, Rachel is a detective inspector in the police.
This is actually a fun read. I was pulled in by the prologue. I quite liked DI Rachel Harlow, she's relatable and grumpy. The pace is fast and the characters are well-developed. The story has a dual timeline that's set between the events that took place at sea - and dry land. This is a well-written and twisted read.
Published 2nd July 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQ #HQDigital and the author #ElleBlair for my ARC of #InDeepWater in exchange for an honest review.
This is a good debut novel. Aboard a cruise ship, Rachel finds herself investigating a murder, but she has went against the captain's wishes by doing so. At home, Rachel is a detective inspector in the police.
This is actually a fun read. I was pulled in by the prologue. I quite liked DI Rachel Harlow, she's relatable and grumpy. The pace is fast and the characters are well-developed. The story has a dual timeline that's set between the events that took place at sea - and dry land. This is a well-written and twisted read.
Published 2nd July 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQ #HQDigital and the author #ElleBlair for my ARC of #InDeepWater in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I absolutely loved this standout series srarter!
In Deep Water is a cleverly executed mix of a gritty police procedural and a claustrophobic, locked-at-sea thriller.
DI Rachel Harlow boards a cruise ship desperate for a break from her troubles at Northumbria Police HQ, but she brings her chaotic personal life right along with her.
What really elevated this for me were the multi-dimensional, deeply relatable characters. The dynamic between her well-meaning but meddling parents and her constantly bickering 15-year-old twins added such a fantastic, authentic layer of humour and tension to the story. They felt like a real family, which made the stakes feel so much higher when things went wrong.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the dual timeline structure, switching seamlessly between the tension on land and the isolation out at sea. It keeps the pacing swift and the atmosphere delightfully tense.
And that ending! The final, totally unexpected reveal caught me completely off guard and has left me absolutely desperate for the next book.
Highly recommended for thriller fans who love a gritty, deeply flawed protagonist with an immense amount of heart placed firmly on her sleeve.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the ARC. This is my own opinion.
In Deep Water is a cleverly executed mix of a gritty police procedural and a claustrophobic, locked-at-sea thriller.
DI Rachel Harlow boards a cruise ship desperate for a break from her troubles at Northumbria Police HQ, but she brings her chaotic personal life right along with her.
What really elevated this for me were the multi-dimensional, deeply relatable characters. The dynamic between her well-meaning but meddling parents and her constantly bickering 15-year-old twins added such a fantastic, authentic layer of humour and tension to the story. They felt like a real family, which made the stakes feel so much higher when things went wrong.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the dual timeline structure, switching seamlessly between the tension on land and the isolation out at sea. It keeps the pacing swift and the atmosphere delightfully tense.
And that ending! The final, totally unexpected reveal caught me completely off guard and has left me absolutely desperate for the next book.
Highly recommended for thriller fans who love a gritty, deeply flawed protagonist with an immense amount of heart placed firmly on her sleeve.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the ARC. This is my own opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In Deep Water is a crime thriller that gives the locked room vibes however it's set upon a cruise ship that's isolated far out in international waters.
The cruise ship setting is pretty genius, escape is impossible, everyone becomes a suspect & claustrophobic atmosphere just raises the stakes. With plenty of twists & secrets, it was difficult to know what the outcome was going to be.
Our MC Rachel is a great protagonist, she realistically flawed, intelligent, & fiercely determined to solve the crime, even if shes off duty & has no power in this territory. She struggles to balance family life whilst wanting to get justice & this adds a level of emotional depth.
I'd say the story starts slow as were introduced to the characters & Rachel's circumstances are established however once the murder has happened the pacing increases & turns into a rather gripping page turner.
Overall it's a promising debut that follows a memorable detective with an original setting & plenty of suspense to keep you interested.
Thank you to Netgalley HQ Digital & the author for a digital ARC.
The cruise ship setting is pretty genius, escape is impossible, everyone becomes a suspect & claustrophobic atmosphere just raises the stakes. With plenty of twists & secrets, it was difficult to know what the outcome was going to be.
Our MC Rachel is a great protagonist, she realistically flawed, intelligent, & fiercely determined to solve the crime, even if shes off duty & has no power in this territory. She struggles to balance family life whilst wanting to get justice & this adds a level of emotional depth.
I'd say the story starts slow as were introduced to the characters & Rachel's circumstances are established however once the murder has happened the pacing increases & turns into a rather gripping page turner.
Overall it's a promising debut that follows a memorable detective with an original setting & plenty of suspense to keep you interested.
Thank you to Netgalley HQ Digital & the author for a digital ARC.
May 4, 2026
ARC review - With thanks to NetGalley, Elle Blair and HQ.
The idea of going on a cruise with fractured family relationships and lingering work stress felt like a nightmare, written in a way I'm sure every reader will have aspects they can relate to.
The shift between past and present made the beginning a little stop-start. However, this did create a good understanding of the lead up to the cruise and a clear image of who Rachel was, her increasing job pressures and the family dynamic.
Cruises are already known to be a huge operation but to consider the seedy nature of what can happen behind the scenes takes them to a whole new level.
Overall, this is a brilliant thriller that keeps you guessing and believing nobody!
A great debut from Elle Blair.
The idea of going on a cruise with fractured family relationships and lingering work stress felt like a nightmare, written in a way I'm sure every reader will have aspects they can relate to.
The shift between past and present made the beginning a little stop-start. However, this did create a good understanding of the lead up to the cruise and a clear image of who Rachel was, her increasing job pressures and the family dynamic.
Cruises are already known to be a huge operation but to consider the seedy nature of what can happen behind the scenes takes them to a whole new level.
Overall, this is a brilliant thriller that keeps you guessing and believing nobody!
A great debut from Elle Blair.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sandwiched between the demands of her teenage children and her difficult parents, policewoman Rachel Harlow is finding that relaxing on their holiday cruise is easier said than done!
And it doesn't get any easier when a man with whom she had a flirty exchange shows up dead. Because there is no way Rachel can ignore a crime - even in a situation where she has no one to help her investigate...
This is a cracking debut, and the writer holds the reader's interest throughout. Look forward to seeing what she comes up with next! This easily gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
And it doesn't get any easier when a man with whom she had a flirty exchange shows up dead. Because there is no way Rachel can ignore a crime - even in a situation where she has no one to help her investigate...
This is a cracking debut, and the writer holds the reader's interest throughout. Look forward to seeing what she comes up with next! This easily gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In deep water was a stunning debut and I'm hoping the start to a series, as the main character Rachel was fantastic. She was very likeable and easy to relate to, especially with her far from perfect life.
I love the setting, having been on cruises myself in the past, it took me right back. Not sure I'd have liked to be on Rachel's cruise though, mine were far less eventful.
The story was split into two parts, land and sea, telling two stories that came together beautifully.
I loved several of the characters, there was really mix. I found the novel to be fast paced and very twisty. I eagerly await more by Elle Blair.
I love the setting, having been on cruises myself in the past, it took me right back. Not sure I'd have liked to be on Rachel's cruise though, mine were far less eventful.
The story was split into two parts, land and sea, telling two stories that came together beautifully.
I loved several of the characters, there was really mix. I found the novel to be fast paced and very twisty. I eagerly await more by Elle Blair.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I found it difficult to engage in the story. It took me some time to get into the book.
The first third of the story was a lot of background information and I was not gripped into the storyline. It also went back and forth to the past which I found made the book not flow so well.
The book did pick up and I liked the character of DI Rachel Harlow, she was determined and strong. I thought the idea of an off duty officer on holiday on a cruise catching a drug deal was an interesting idea and I liked the changing relationship dynamic between Rachel and her children and parents.
I would say if you like police dramas this book is definitely worth a go.
The first third of the story was a lot of background information and I was not gripped into the storyline. It also went back and forth to the past which I found made the book not flow so well.
The book did pick up and I liked the character of DI Rachel Harlow, she was determined and strong. I thought the idea of an off duty officer on holiday on a cruise catching a drug deal was an interesting idea and I liked the changing relationship dynamic between Rachel and her children and parents.
I would say if you like police dramas this book is definitely worth a go.
June 26, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC of In Deep Water.
I love a locked room style story, especially one on a cruise ship. I definitely preferred the sections of the story based at sea. There were so many acronyms and characters in the land chapters that I totally lost track of who everyone was and what was going on.
Luckily, this became clearer the further into the book I got, so I was able to follow it more easily, and actually understand what was going on and how it eventually linked to the story.
I definitely didn’t see the twist coming! A decent read, but didn’t set my world alight.
I love a locked room style story, especially one on a cruise ship. I definitely preferred the sections of the story based at sea. There were so many acronyms and characters in the land chapters that I totally lost track of who everyone was and what was going on.
Luckily, this became clearer the further into the book I got, so I was able to follow it more easily, and actually understand what was going on and how it eventually linked to the story.
I definitely didn’t see the twist coming! A decent read, but didn’t set my world alight.
Did Not Finish
June 23, 2026I really wanted to like this one, but unfortunately I just couldn’t connect with the characters or the story. I made it to around 60% but I was starting to skim read so many chapters, there was just no point in me continuing with it. It was fairly slow paced too, and I wasn’t a massive fan of the way it was written. It was flicking between two timelines of ‘Land’ and ‘Sea’, and sadly for me this writing style just didn’t click with me. I’m sure plenty of people would enjoy this one, this was just a miss for me.
Thank you to the publisher and Negalley for the ARC.
Thank you to the publisher and Negalley for the ARC.
July 8, 2026
This was a fun and fresh feeling thriller. I really liked Rachel as a main character and her snarky internal voice, the changing relationships with her family and the claustrophobic setting of a cruise ship.
Minor quibbles; the romance felt a bit teenage angsty, especially her inner monologue about it, but also I totally want to read the next book after the preview centered the relationship intrigue; I don't believe she'd have been allowed to lead the operation as the ship docked and had to suspend belief a bit.
Minor quibbles; the romance felt a bit teenage angsty, especially her inner monologue about it, but also I totally want to read the next book after the preview centered the relationship intrigue; I don't believe she'd have been allowed to lead the operation as the ship docked and had to suspend belief a bit.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In Deep Water was a gripping, well-paced thriller set partly on a cruise ship and partly in the past.
Rachel Harlow is trying to enjoy her holiday, but quickly finds herself caught up in something far darker. I really enjoyed how the two timelines slowly came together at the end, and the cruise setting added such a tense atmosphere.
Rachel was a strong female lead and I’d definitely love to see more books featuring her.
In Deep Water was a gripping, well-paced thriller set partly on a cruise ship and partly in the past.
Rachel Harlow is trying to enjoy her holiday, but quickly finds herself caught up in something far darker. I really enjoyed how the two timelines slowly came together at the end, and the cruise setting added such a tense atmosphere.
Rachel was a strong female lead and I’d definitely love to see more books featuring her.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Really enjoyed the two storylines, on land and at sea - and the way they tied together at the end .The sort of twist where your shocked, but it was actually there all along. Rachel was funny and trying really hard to be everything to everyone. It was really tense at points on the ship and I was suspecting all the crew and passengers. Looking forward to the next one and seeing what happens back in Newcastle, especially with her love intrwrest 🥵
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rachel is on a cruise with her family, unable to forget the traumatic events she left behind in her job as a Detective Inspector in the police. It becomes even more difficult when one of the entertainers is murdered and she is the person to find him. The stiuation ramps up as she tries to find out what happened, putting her family in danger.
This novel was a little slow to start and I did lose patient with Rachel's out of control behaviour at the beginning. However, once the pace quickened, I was hooked and burned the midnight oil because I wanted to know how it would all resolve. It feels like the beginning of a series.
This novel was a little slow to start and I did lose patient with Rachel's out of control behaviour at the beginning. However, once the pace quickened, I was hooked and burned the midnight oil because I wanted to know how it would all resolve. It feels like the beginning of a series.
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