Backwater

by Sam Sharpe

THE COMMITTEE SEES YOU

On the streets of a gated community, the appearance of a dead body plagues Alex’s world. Its dark, lifeless form wants to draw her back to a past she can scarcely remember. But Alex knows to keep her head down, to turn a blind eye to such insecurities, to never question what came before.

Yet the lives of this idyllic town are soon darkened when shop-assistant Riley unearths a terrible secret, stashed away in a shoebox.

When their worlds become inextricably bound, Alex and Riley embark on a perilous search for answers. And on the outskirts, listening closely, The Committee are preparing their councilmen to stop them.

Perfect for fans of The Truman Show and Shutter Island, Backwater is the first suburban science-fiction novel from Sam Sharpe.

190 pages, Paperback

Published March 7, 2026

About the author

Sam Sharpe was born and raised in South Yorkshire and published his debut novel at the age of 27. Alongside his penchant for small-town mysteries and paranormal storytelling, he achieved a First Class Honours in Film & Media Production which he uses to shape his creativity.

Reviews

[Greg Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great pleasure it was to read such an engrossing debut novel from this talented young author!

Sam Sharpe builds a beautifully descriptive world in Backwater that sparks curiosity in every page - I really appreciated the creative use of imagery throughout that only accentuated the retro future aesthetic, very cool!

This book snapped me out of a reading lull and the ever deepening mystery kept me coming back for more!

[Rachel Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not usually a fan of sci-fi books but thought I'd give this a try as the author is a close friend of mine. I can safely say that this book is a very good read! Couldn't put it down!

[Linda Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my usual genre of reading, but I'm so glad I did. Had me gripped. Left me intrigued and wanting answers. Recommended reading

[Nevaeh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great concept with an interesting plot, it made me want to know more. Why was ‘The Commitee’ so invested in the main characters and their history? A little over descriptive in some aspects but an overall great read

[Rachael Narey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting concept with some great twists. All the mystery made for an easy read & MCs were well written. Maybe a few loose ends but overall a compelling story and a great debut.

[Beverley Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, captivating and intriguing story centred around 2 main characters who are trying to decipher their fragmented memories. However, they soon realise that ‘The Committee’ will stop at nothing to prevent them from finding the answers to the secrets of this community.
Very unique descriptive text which crafts a vivid, eerie sense of unease.