Under Dark Waters

by Bernadette Calonego

Driven by lingering pain and grief, historian Sonya Werner leaves her home in Switzerland to travel across the world. Officially, she’s tracking down the German author Else Seel, who had left Berlin in the 1920s to marry a Canadian trapper and homestead in the wild woods of British Columbia. But the real reason for her trip is much more difficult to face: three years before, her husband took off to this part of the world on one of his usual mountain-climbing adventures, and never returned. Only after the police brought her word of his death—and the mysterious circumstances in which they found him—did Sonya discover the simultaneous disappearance of her beautiful best friend, Odette, and the possibility that her husband had been lying to her all along.

Now, haunted by sorrow and jealousy, Sonya sets out on a dangerous mission to discover the truth, and to try to put back together the pieces of her broken heart.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Ebooks, Fiction

395 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

I was born and raised in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, on Lake Lucerne, a very picturesque area with mountains and lakes. I grew up in a house full of book lovers. As a child, I sneaked in my brothers' rooms to read their adventure books like "Ivanhoe", "The Leatherstocking Tales", "Treasure Island", "Robinson Crusoe", "Huckleberry Finn". Or I persuaded my mother that I was old enough to read romances (they were really harmless!). To make me happy, I wanted nothing more than read a good book while eating an apple, and to be left alone!

My mother, a poet, encouraged me to try my hand at writing at an early age. My first publication was a fairytale, which appeared in a Swiss newspaper when I was eleven years old.

But I did not turn into a writer right away. I became a teacher, then a reporter and a foreign correspondent.

My career has included working as a reporter/editor for Reuters newsagency in Zurich. My time covering financial news for Reuters inspired my book "The Zurich Conspiracy".

From 1990 to 2000, I was the foreign correspondent for “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, the largest circulation daily newspaper in Germany, reporting from Switzerland. After I had emigrated to Canada, I wrote regularly for newspapers and magazines in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

I now reside and work as a crime novelist near Vancouver, Canada, on the beautiful Sunshine Coast (okay, in winter, it is raining a lot). Visitors in my backyard include black bears, racoons, coyotes and bold eagles. You can also find me often in northern Newfoundland on Canada's east coast which is moose, polar bear and humpback whale territory.
My popular mystery thriller series with intrepid RCMP detective sergeant Calista Gates is set in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Come and read my English blog on my website www.bernadettecalonego.com
You can also contact me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BernadetteCa...
Or Instagram @bernadettecalonegoauthor
Or Tiktok @bernadettecalonego.author

I would love to hear from you!

Reviews

[Heather Fineisen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good but fell short in some areas. This may well be due to the translation from German to English. I often feel as if I'm not doing a writer's words justice by reading them under someone else's interpretation. The story of a widow who travels to Canada to research an immigrant poet and the death of her Mountaineering husband and stepson has much to offer. Adventure, literary reference, and geography. Throw in diamond mining and murder and a missing friend and mystery prevails. This is good, solid writing that kept my interest until the very end. There were just too many subjects to cover. Too many good ideas for one book.

provided by publisher

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that was originally released in Germany a few years ago and now has been translated for US release by Gerald Chapple. I think the author will gain a vast audience in the US for her work as this was a very entertaining read.

There are actually two mysteries in this book. Sonya Werner is a historian who travels to Canada to research the life of a German poet. The poet, Else Seel, is a real-life poet who left Berlin in the 1920’s to marry a Canadian trapper who lived in the wild woods of British Columbia. Interestingly, the chapters dealing with Else Seel’s son, Rubert, and also Alan Blackman, who went to school with Else’s children, and Alice Harrison, one of Else’s neighbors, were taken from actual conversations the author had with these real-life people. The mystery concerning this poet centers on the reason why a poet would leave the interesting life of the literary world in Berlin for the harsh, lonely life in the woods with a man she only knew from a newspaper ad. I found this part of the book to be very interesting and to learn in the author’s postscript that this was based on fact made it even more fascinating.

The second mystery involves the death of Sonya Werner’s husband and step-son several years before her visit to Canada. She was never given a satisfactory account of the plane crash that took their lives so takes the opportunity while researching the poet’s life to try to find out more about their deaths. Her search leads her into dangerous territory and there are some very suspenseful moments. One mystery leads to another and she has no idea who she can trust. Quite an unpredictable roller coaster ride.

This is a well-constructed plot with many twists and turns. I found a few of the sections a bit improbable but that didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the book as a whole.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an Island girl in BC, I really loved the setting. The mystery was good. I didn't see the end coming.

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free ARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Amazon Publishing!
Under Dark Waters combines the real-life story of Else Lübke Seel, a German poet who immigrated to Canada in the early 20th century, with the fictional adventures of Sonya, a Swiss woman who travels to Canada to organize an exhibition on Else Seel. While researching her historical subject, Sonya is also trying to find out what happened to her late husband and stepson, who died in an airplane crash in the Canadian wilderness. In between, there are twists, turns, red herrings, diamond prospectors, seaplane pilots, bears, a lost friend and way too many adventures for my taste. I liked it in general, it just seems like the author didn't know when to stop and sometimes lost my interest. It was still enjoyable and very well researched historically speaking; I just wished the plot had been a little more compact.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!!! I love Bernadette Calonego's books and she is one of my favorite authors. The stories always have so many layers and are never what I expect. There were so many twists and turns. I was constantly scared for Sonya. I thought someone was trying to kill her and didn't want her to find the truth out about what really happened to her husband. She would go off to islands and up in the tundra all by herself or with total strangers. Although, all the Canadian people she met were so nice and helpful. She was drugged on the ferry. That's the one question I still have. Who drugged her and why? Gerti and Helmut gave me the creeps. They always seemed to be exactly where Sonya was and would randomly pop up. Even after Robert warned Sonya about them, she slept in their camper. I was definitely surprised when the truth about them was revealed. The Odette storyline was definitely a mystery. That definitely took an unexpected twist. At times I got a little confused with all the characters and keeping track of who everyone was. I loved the descriptions of the places Sonya visited. It sounded beautiful and would love to visit, probably not the Artic Circle. I never knew Canada was so lucrative in diamonds. Was not expecting the ending. The book ended up not being as dark and scary as I thought it would be.

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the characters, writing style and story. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

[Patricia Bergman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads giveaway.

If you haven't visited British Columbia, after reading this book I will guarantee that it will go on your bucket list. There are two mysteries that the Swiss historian Sonia Werner attempts to solve with this trip. A poet, Else Seel, left Germany in the 1920's to marry a man who advertised for a bride. Secondly, her husband has died in a mysterious plane crash.

This is a story of survival in the wilderness, the death of an adventurer, and the eventual love for a beautiful part of the world. I really enjoyed this book and can enthusiastically recommend it.

[C.E. DeJoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery set in Canada with Swiss main character

A story about a Swiss historian researching a story, but also investigating the plane crash that killed her husband and step-son. Rather involved plot involving numerous characters, but eventually all tied together by the end. About half way through it becomes a page Turner.

[Karen Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok then WOW

This book started off very slow for me. In fact I put it down a couple of times but always found myself picking it back. Every time I picked it back I got a little more into it. About the middle or less I found I couldn't put it down. Was sure glad I kept reading because it ended with a bang. Thank you to the Author.

[Josef Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ist ein typisches Bernadette Calonego Buch !
Spannend vom ersten bis zum letzten Satz mit viel Überraschungen .
Gut geschrieben und nie langweilig .
Der Leser muss sich etwas konzentrieren damit man weis wer wer ist unter den vielen Namen !
Auch die Landschaft in der die Geschichte stattfindet ist gut umschrieben !
Buch ist sehr zu empfehlen!

[Same · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok read

This is the 2nd book by this author I have read. The 1st, Stormy Cove I really enjoyed, this book, I felt read more choppy. It also seemed to have a bit too much going on to be believable. Trying to wrap up a mostly non-plot story at the end, I don't feel was even necessary to address .

[Stacy L. Bishop · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just really didn't understand the whole plot. Could have been a great book but just missed its mark.


Just really didn't understand the whole plot. Could have been a great book but just missed its mark. Just disappointed.

[Rosita Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good novel

I really enjoyed reading this story. It definitely kept me guessing all the way to the end for the most part. I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

[Karen Pettit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stopped reading. Didn’t like it n had typos

[Ashley Eisenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed the book but I felt the ending left too much unanswered. I also spent most of the book confused and trying to keep up with the plot. Definitely keeps you guessing until the very end. Not a book for mindless reading.

[Michelle Formica Holden · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I'm not mistaken this book was released in Germany first and then translated in English, which I think are translation for things are different which is the only fall short I would say about the book.
The wording for things and what they mean,mean a lot different then our thought process.
The book is good and if you could've been a little bit more for me, but given first time that I read from this offer, I would pick another book of hers up and give it a shot.
I finished the book, and that tells you that it perked my interest enough that I would read another one of her books
I believe I got referred to this book from recommendation from a friend or from one of my book clubs.
Either way I have it on my Kindle and I will read it again just to help me with the translation of some parts that I wanted some clarification on. But worth a read like I said not a bad book for states that she need you just have to keep mine said it was translated from German to English

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book as a FirstRead.

Under Dark Waters tells the story of historian Sonya Werner, who goes to British Columbia to research German poet Else Seel for the museum where she works. However, she has a secondary reason for going to Canada: 3 years ago, her husband and step-son died under mysterious circumstances in a plane crash in the same area, and she wants to uncover the truth of what happened. During her trip there, the same people keep popping up over and over again, knowing way too much about her. Who can she trust?

The book had some interesting plot twists and was overall an enjoyable read. However, there were so many subplots within the book that it felt like too much to fit into one book. I think people who enjoy mystery/thriller books will enjoy this one, though.

[Victor Carson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't read many mystery novels, detective, crime, or other, but I was interested in the setting in the Far-Northern sections of British Columbia. The primary character is a Swiss-born woman historian, who visits British Columbia to find out more about the death, three years earlier, of her husband and her stepson in the crash of a small seaplane he was piloting. The author is also a Swiss-born woman, who now lives and writes from her home in British Columbia. The mystery surrounding the death is too elaborate for my sensibilities. The setting and the author's fascination with the B.C. mountains, lakes, forests, and people is much more engaging. The author loves her new homeland and expresses that love quite eloquently. An author worth following, I think.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sonya leaves her Swiss home for Canada - in theory to research into the life of Else Seel, a German poet/writer, but mainly to try and solve the mystery of what happened to her husband, stepson and best friend. When she arrives there is riddle after riddle. Who is this mystery man who seems to be following her and what of the friendly German couple who also seem to be wherever she is? I liked this book. It gives a vivid sense of huge wilderness and how lonely it must be facing the long Canadian winters, where neighbours or indeed even villages and towns are far and few between. Someone could make an exciting film out of this book! Provided by publisher and Netgalley for review.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but I think I took too long to read it. The timeline jumps around and the narrator's voice is not incredibly strong. In order to really get into the book, don't read it like I did! Save it for a vacation when you have time to get into the plot, the mystery and to really follow and pay attention to the clues. The ending was unexpected and I was happily surprised when i didn't figure it out ahead of time. I liked the tie-in between the author's life and the life of the woman she was researching. The historical aspect was well used.

[Brandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book and I absolutely loved the ending. It was super hard to get into but well worth the wait that's for sure. A historian is reeling after the mysterious death of her husband and step son. When an opportunity arises that would take her near the site of the plan crash she jumps for the chance. In Canada she meets some interesting people and slowly but surly starts putting pieces together and figuring out what happened. But when she takes a chance and follows a new friend to a not so traveled place she may fear for her own life.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.3 stars. Very interesting mystery set in Western Canada, with lots of plot twists, history and culture. Some of the passages and dialogue were a bit stilted, probably due to the translation from the original German. There are also some old-fashioned words and phrases thrown in, like you would hear in an old movie from the 40's or 50's (the work of the translator?).

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the end, I enjoyed this book, though it was extremely slow going at first. There were hints that the book would reveal some sort of cover up/mystery/conspiracy, but it took a long time to get to the point where it was really interesting to read. There were a bit too many subplots and characters that took the focus away from the most interesting parts of the story.

[Judie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The historical part of Under Dark Waters,the story of Else Seel, is very well done. Sonya's story rambles a bit and should have been more compact. There are certainly enough twists and turns to make this a good read.

I received this book compliments of Goodreads for my honest review.

[Julie Siemek · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I LOVED this book. It's full of intrigue, suspense and mystery as the pieces of the puzzle fall together at the conclusion. I found Ms. Calonego writing (and the translation) to be well written and easy to read.

[Julie Copp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beware! It's not all totem poles and smoked salmon...

Couldn't guess what would happen next in this novel set in the Canadian Pacific Northwest. Great atmosphere that brings to life the rain and lonely fog that can hide secrets and obscure the truth. A good read right to the end.

[Mary Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Below the surface

Very well done. The characters are complex. The plot is complex. None of it easily guessed. The places so succinctly described you feel the lurch of the ferry and the bite of the cold. The heroine truly emerges a changed but better woman.

[Kirsten Binder · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice to read a book that takes place in BC. Places like Powel River, Campbell River and Prince Rupert are mentioned. I didn´t see the point of the last chapter. She could have left it out.

[Nessa Stanko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, great translation. The book kept my interest throughout, though the ending was just only okay.

[A Reader's Heaven · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Driven by lingering pain and grief, historian Sonya Werner leaves her home in Switzerland to travel across the world. Officially, she’s tracking down the German author Else Seel, who had left Berlin in the 1920s to marry a Canadian trapper and homestead in the wild woods of British Columbia. But the real reason for her trip is much more difficult to face: three years before, her husband took off to this part of the world on one of his usual mountain-climbing adventures, and never returned. Only after the police brought her word of his death—and the mysterious circumstances in which they found him—did Sonya discover the simultaneous disappearance of her beautiful best friend, Odette, and the possibility that her husband had been lying to her all along.
Now, haunted by sorrow and jealousy, Sonya sets out on a dangerous mission to discover the truth, and to try to put back together the pieces of her broken heart.

This was an interesting concept - blending historical figures with a fictional plot - and, for the most part, it worked pretty well.

My biggest plus for this story was the historical investigation of author and poet, Else Seel. That plotline took me in and, if I were to be honest, I would have liked to have read more about that.

The mystery of her missing husband and stepson was a bit of a letdown for me. Too many sub-plots to tie together, too many characters to keep clean and too many adventures/risks to be taken too seriously. It felt like the author thought "What's one more near-death experience?" It all just got a little messy, really.

Overall, a decent mystery and a good historical element to boot.


Paul
ARH

[Becks]

great characters including Alaska

A combination of self-exploration and mystery that keeps you guessing. A bonus is the vivid description of Alaska, truly the last frontier.