Rising Waters

Crime Daily Podcast

by Aleatha Romig

A dark atmospheric psychological thriller packed with small-town secrets, buried trauma, and shocking twists.
She escaped her past—and the man she never forgot.

Now with two girls missing, she's back into a deadly game she may not survive.

Jillian Thorne built her career making the unreal feel real.
On Hollywood soundstages, she stages murder, kidnapping, and violent crime with chilling authenticity—turning fiction into gripping entertainment.

But nothing she’s created compares to the truth waiting in Blue Gil.

Nearly six years after escaping her small hometown, Jillian is drawn back by the suspicious death of the town’s beloved high school football coach. What first appears to be a tragic loss quickly unravels into something far more sinister—a dark mystery no one is willing to confront.

Because in Blue Gil, secrets aren’t just buried… they’re protected.

As disturbing clues surface and a brutal tragedy strikes dangerously close to home, Jillian finds herself trapped inside a real-life psychological thriller. The instincts that made her successful in Hollywood may be the key to solving the crime—or the very thing clouding her judgment.

Everyone in this small town is hiding something.
Including Jillian.

To uncover the truth, she must break through an unspoken code of silence, deception, and loyalty—and face the past she thought she left behind.

Because some secrets refuse to stay buried.
And in this twisted game of suspense, trusting the wrong person could be deadly.

Have you been Aleatha’d?

*Perfect for fans of Sharp Objects, All Good People Here, and The Last House Guest, Rising Waters is a dark and addictive psychological thriller filled with buried secrets, small-town corruption, twisted family loyalties, and devastating betrayals.

This is a complete 80K stand-alone psychological thriller with a STEM FMC who needs to learn secrets before it’s too late. The only connection to Aleatha’s FEAR OF FLAMES is that our favorite podcasters from Crime Daily Podcastare back, showing the readers another perspective.

*You do not need to read Crime Daily Podcast book one, FEAR OF FLAMES before RISING WATERS.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Ebooks, Emotional, Fiction

414 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 15, 2026

About the author

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis, USA. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she's not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time with her friends and family, including her beloved grandchildren.

Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than a million e-readers. Her next series, INFIDELITY (not about cheating) hit New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-seller lists. Aleatha has since released over fifty novels in multiple genres: dark romance, romantic suspense, thriller, and romantic comedy. She went back to her edge of your seat romantic suspense thrillers with her WEB SERIES trilogies, Devil’s Duet, Kingdom Come, and most recently with her suspense series, the Sin series, ready to binge.

The titles keep coming. Be sure to check out her website to stay up to date.

Aleatha is represented by Danielle Sanchez of SBR Media and PR with Wildfire Marketing.

Reviews

[Kelsey reviews•books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some very interesting plot developments and I enjoyed the podcast feel.

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★.25 out of 5
▹Format: 📱 eReader
I read an advanced copy of this from Hambright PR and Althea Romig in exchange for my honest review. This book comes out June 15, 2026.
─────────────────────────

○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– About: Jillian Thorne built her career on soundstages staging murder, kidnapping, and violent crime with chilling authenticity. But nothing she’s created compares to the truth waiting in Blue Gil. Nearly six years after escaping her small hometown, Jillian is drawn back by the suspicious death of the town’s beloved high school football coach. What first appears to be a tragic loss quickly unravels into something far more sinister—a dark mystery no one is willing to confront. And in this twisted game of suspense, trusting the wrong person could be deadly.
– Location: Michigan
– POV: Single first-person (with podcast POV every couple of chapters)
– Spice: 1 closed-door scene; sex is mentioned a few times, but not in any vulgar way
– Tropes: small town, midwest, community secrets, missing girls, physical attack, sexual attack, search for truth
– Representation: STEM FMC

─────────────────────────

🎯 My Thoughts:

I really felt like I was dropped into a small, midwest town as an unwelcomed outsider. Althea did a fantastic job of creating a fictional town rooted in secrets and hometown pride.

I did find myself wanting more. Either more of the podcast, or more of a trail for the reader to follow. But I will say that I thought I knew where this was going (on top of thinking I knew where the author wanted the reader to think the story was going, because we all know that with thriller there are layers), but I did not.

I feel like the final 20% of the book maybe lost me a bit, but all in all this was a decent thriller from a writer that knows how to flip the script.

─────────────────────────

⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Light/Fluffy———————✧————Heavy/Emotional



•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•

[Shabby -BookBistroBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling and riveting crime thriller that had me on the edge of my seat throughout. Aleatha is back to what he does best, spinning her tale with million threads and you have to have million plus eyes to keep track. No worries, she's got you!!
she drops an anvil on the readers in the first chapter itself, and then you're her slave being led in a stupor. Each clue she drops, each gesture by any character, is a small cog in a big plan which is revealed at the end.
When I jumped in with Craig Gilbert, HS coach in Blue Gil, Michigan, running on trail all by himself...I knew something was gonna happen to him. And it does. A hit & run and Craig is in deep swale, unconscious
Now starts the unraveling. The walk backwards and deciphering of who and why of it all
Then two girls dissappear. One ends up beaten, assaulted, bruised. The other dead.
While jillian Thorne, the prodigal daughter returns home after 6 years, she's right in the midst of a miasma of chilling crime and whole town is mobilized. That's the thing abouts small towns, everybody knows everyone and nothing is secret. The comings & goings are recorded by all and it seems friendly but can be dangerous too. So anybody who stays incognito, like Serena Gilbert, is immediately questioned suspiciously.
We watch what every character endures through Jillian's eyes. Her parents, her sisters, her dark secrets, her childhood friends are all familiar...but who is Keith and why is she attracted to this mysterious danger of a man!!!

“You’re back here because of mine. I’m still here because of yours.”

As usual, aleatha leads you to the path that points straight to obvious criminal, but ultimately the identity of the real culprit had me stunned speechless!
“I did NOT see that coming!!”
The motives I had figured out but the villain...OMG!!

“water under the bridge. There’s a reason water is the subject of that analogy. Once it flows it never returns.”

Well knock me with a Feather and drown me in swale, cause bodies once in water swell up to the surface eventually!
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the mystery, thrum, craziness of it all!!
“5 stars for eyes that oversee ”
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[Jaimie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book from this author and it kept me hooked in wanting to know what was going on! This is a dark, psychological thriller full of strange happenings within a small town.

Our FMC, Jillian, returned home to her small town after the death of the beloved high school football coach. I loved her different career choice, and I felt it brought a different look into what was happening in this town.

I felt like the pacing of this one was good and the story unfolded in a way that gave you just enough information to keep you invested and wanting to know what was going on.

While I had somewhat of an idea of what might be happening, I was partially correct and was still surprised at how everything played out in the end. If you enjoy a good psychological thriller that keeps you guessing, then definitely check this one out! Huge thank you to the author and HambrightPR for the copy to read!

[Amanda Hopwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you nerd fam for the advanced reader copy !

This was absolutely so good !! The whole book was written in a town near me , my actual town and surrounding areas.
It was the coolest thing to read it and picture the areas and places talked about !

This story just sucked me right in from the jump. Small town, murder and some abductions all at the same time…. Say less !

I will definitely be reading more from this author !

[AndaReadsTooMuch · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of this ARC has a sentence asking the reader if they’d been Aleatha’d yet. I did not know what that question was asking me until I finished Rising Waters.

Anyone who’s grown up in a small town knows that small town people are just built different. Outsiders are just that, it doesn't matter if you’ve lived there for 20 years. If your family didn’t come from those lands, you’re still not quite part of the town. Same goes if you leave. Your parents might still be there, but you… you are not. Blue Gil takes that sentiment and builds it into everything it does, despite being a tourist town in the summer months. When a gruesome accidental death brings troves of people to the town to pay respects, that small town feeling makes a hell of a showing. Blue Gil is hiding something and it doesn’t take long for the residents to do their best to make sure they stay where they buried them.

I was blown away with this one. I thought I had an idea, hell I thought I’d figured it out three different times. I didn’t. So, yeah, I got Aleatha’d alright. I was guessing till the very end and even then I didn’t have all the pieces in the right places.

If you need a good twisty thriller, then grab Rising Waters when it hits shelves on June 15.

Huge thank you to Aleatha Romig and Hambright PR for the opportunity to review Rising Waters. All opinions are my own.

#HPRRisingWaters
#AleathaRomig
#HambrightPR

[Tiffany Segal · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review for Hambright PR

I absolutely could not put down Rising Waters. This dark, psychological thrill drew me in from the start, and I was reading a chance I had a free moment.

Jillian returns to her hometown for the first time in six years when she learns the beloved football coach has unexpectedly passed away. Blue Gil has always kept secrets to protect the community and shield the tourists. She is convinced that Coach’s death wasn’t an accident.

She comes back to investigate the coach, but when her sister is attacked, she commits to getting to the bottom of the case. She creates an unlikely partnership with Coach’s brother, Keith, who also happens to be a detective.

There are so many secrets in this town. No one wants to share, but someone must have the answers to help her get to the bottom of three tragedies. As the days go on, unusual things keep happening in Jill’s cabin.

This one will keep you on your toes. There are so many secrets, many people in the community who could be the perpetrator, even though the community is convinced it’s one of the outsiders.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jill left her hometown 6 years ago and has made a life for herself bringing fiction to life on Hollywood soundstages. When her former high school’s football coach is found dead, she returns home looking for answers. From the moment she arrives, it’s clear that the town now considers her an outsider, and is determined to keep its secrets. The more she digs, the more things seem to unravel, and with the disappearance of two high school girls, Jill knows there has to be a connection.

Not knowing who to trust, she forms an unlikely alliance with another outsider, the deceased coach’s brother, a detective looking for answers of his own. As they work together to discover the truth, Jill finds her reality becoming too close to the fiction she’s used to, and the more secrets she reveals, the more she wonders if she will be the next target.

I received an early copy of this book from Hambright PR and I was hooked! Right from the beginning, the author alludes to the fact that there’s some sort of connection between Jill and the coach in her past, but we don’t get the full picture until much later in the story. I loved how this book gave us different suspects at every turn, and just when Ithought I had it figured out, the author threw another twist at us to keep things interesting. The small town setting for this story was perfect, with the typical gossip and mistrust of strangers adding another layer of complexity, making it hard to determine who Jill could trust and whether the warnings she was receiving were based on fact, or just general distrust of outsiders. This book kept me on the edge of my seat, and I can’t wait to see what the author will bring us next.

[Kelly (eclectikollection) Abrams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Hambright PR for the advanced digital copy of Rising Waters.

Jillian Thorne left her small hometown behind years ago and built a career in Hollywood staging crime scenes for film and TV. When the beloved high school football coach in Blue Gil dies under suspicious circumstances, she’s drawn back home—only to find herself pulled into something much darker as secrets start to surface.

This was a 3.5⭐ read for me, but definitely more middle-of-the-road than standout.

The premise really pulled me in—small-town secrets, buried trauma, and a main character who stages crime scenes for a living. There were twists I didn’t fully see coming, and it kept me curious enough to want answers.

But the pacing is where it lost me. It felt very stop-and-go—slow for long stretches, then something big would happen, and then it would slow right back down again. Most of the strongest moments were packed into the final 50 pages, which made the ending feel rushed and a little too clustered.

Overall, it did its job in keeping me invested, but I wish the tension and reveals had been more evenly spread throughout.

[Cheryl Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jill Thorne, a criminal/legal visual-effects researcher returns after six years to her home town of Blue Gil, Michigan after the young, successful high school football coach dies in suspicious circumstances ruled an 'accident'. She wants to learn the truth about his death. She was captain of the high school basketball team and a cheerleader and she thought she knew him well.

“I left this town because of you. I haven’t returned because of you. And now you’re the reason I’m back.”

Aleatha paints an image of small town life complete with rumours, secrets and rites of passage from the point of view of an insider who feels more like an outsider due to her prolonged absence.

Jill will learn more than she anticipated as the coach's death is the catalyst for the more disturbing incidents that follow.

As the book progresses, more questions are raised, the narrative twists and turns new secrets are revealed. A mysterious beginning, a horrifying middle and a satisfying conclusion has me concluding that I have been Aleatha’d once again.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book and am leaving a completely honest review.

[Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕ · Rating 3 out of 5]

No one loves a small town thriller like this girl right here. It's been a while since I've read anything from Aleatha Romig and she still has the ability to suck her readers in. From beginning to end, my mind was a merry go round of who was the real killer and what secrets refused to stay buried and through it all, I still got it wrong!

It's been six years since Jillian Thorne has stepped foot into her small town of Blue Gil but when a beloved high school football coach is found dead, she makes her way back home. On the surface, everything looks the same and although the town is in mourning, something doesn't feel right to her. Deciding to do some investigating on her own, Jillian learns that there is much more to her small town than she could've ever imagined. There's something sinister going on in Blue Gil and there's a killer on the loose who has no intention of slowing down.



Despite a few hiccups, I really did enjoy most of the story and if you're a fan of this author and love psychological thrillers, you may want to give this one a try.

[Sandra Flaishmakher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Aleatha Romig and Hambright PR for the review copy of Rising Waters.

Jill is a successful crime show content expert in California, who travels to her hometown in Michigan after learning about the death of the highschool football coach, a local celebrity of the small town. The truth about her history with the coach is not fully revealed until the end of the book, but she is not the only one keeping secrets.
Soon after her arrival, her younger sister goes missing. As mystery murders and assaults continue to pile up in this seemingly quiet little town, more secrets and lies are unraveled.

This Whodunit is a fun, easy, thrilling read. Despite some questionable decisions, I found Jill to be a likable and relatable character. As she is dealing with past trauma and a very unsupportive family, she also begins to explore some of her own personal issues.

The pace of the story is medium plus. It's not really a popcorn thriller, but the chapters are short and they keep the reader interested enough that it was really hard to put down. I kept saying "one more chapter ..."

Not much of a psychological thriller, but definitely a domestic thriller with some police procedural hints, I fully enjoyed the story and felt immersed in the community. I was not a fan of the brief podcast chapters, as they felt unnecessary and didn't really contribute anything to the development of the plot.

Overall, I think Romig achieved a very satisfying thriller with a good balance of suspense and believable characters. A solid four star read for me.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, my thanks for an ARC copy of this book from the author via Hambright. I gave this book 5 stars and have to say I was surprised by it. I have not read a book like this before from Aleatha but I loved this. I found that it was brilliant. The plot was very twisted and certainly kept me guessing from beginning to end. The writing was impeccable as always and I loved the conversations throughout the book and how real Aleatha made them. This book was intriguing, fascinating and captivating. I found myself not wanting to put it down and at times talking out loud to it. The characters from the MC to all others were wonderfully written and felt like real people to me. This book took me on a roller coaster ride of twists and turns I did not expect. This was an intense psychological thriller with a capital T drawing the reader in and keeping them totally enthralled. I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy dark stories and I am sure all Aleatha fans know what I am saying here. If you have not read this author before and enjoy dark thrillers this is a must read. I am sure you will be blown away by the story and writing and not disappointed at all.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in this impressive series.
Jillian escaped from her past, and the man she left behind, and she now works on Hollywood soundstages, where she stages murder, kidnapping, and violent crime with chilling authenticity. Six years after leaving town Jillian is drawn back home by the mysterious death of the towns beloved football coach. Jillian uses her background to unravel a tragic loss which quickly becomes something more sinister. Keith is the coach’s brother, and he is determined to find his brothers killer as well.
This is a well written slow burn, raw, and gritty story, with family, friendships, emotions, tension, tad angst, loss, grief, danger, suspense, intrigue, secrets, buried truths, suspicious deaths, survival, revelations, loyalty, betrayals, mystery, corruption, and trust, which leads to an entertaining, tragic, haunting, twisted, and unpredictable, dark psychological romance.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

[Miss 80's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this author, and she absolutely kept me guessing from start to finish. I went in thinking I had a solid idea of where the story was headed, and it quickly proved me wrong in the best way.

The story unfolds in a way that feels carefully layered and intentional. Each chapter reveals just enough to keep you invested without ever giving away the full picture, and every time I thought I had things figured out another twist shifted everything again.

While the tension is strong overall, the pacing is a bit uneven at times. Some sections move slowly and take their time setting things up, then the momentum picks up quickly before slowing down again. Even so, the mystery and reveals were engaging enough that I stayed fully invested throughout.

If you enjoy stories that keep you guessing and make you suspicious of just about everybody, this is definitely one to pick up.

Thank you to @hambright_pr and @authoraleatha for this ARC. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kim McFall · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s just something about a psychological thriller that takes place in a small town filled with secrets that immediately pulls me in.

This one started out strong and I was hooked from the very beginning. With so many secrets and lies, I found myself suspicious of everyone.

I enjoyed the slow unraveling of secrets. Every time I thought I had things figured out, a new piece of the puzzle appeared and sent me in a completely different direction.

The writing style and small town setting made the tension, the long buried history, and the sense that everyone knew more than they were willing to admit even better!

Thank you so much to Hambright PR and the author for this advanced reader copy!

[Crystal Sprenkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️


This book kept me on the EDGE of my seat!
This was my first Aleatha Romig book and I will definitely come back for more.

Jill comes back to her small hometown after the “Hero Head Football Coach” is found dead. She is there for her “job” but her job does NOT know this is her hometown. She is there to uncover truths — but does she find out more than she wants to?! 🤗🫢

This book was soooo twisty and this was just the perfect thriller I needed to get out of a slump.

Thank you hambright pr for the ARC!!

Rising Waters vibes:
•small town full of secrets 🤫
•serial killer 🔪
•psychological thriller 🫆


#HPRRisingWaters
#AleathaRomig
#HambrightPR

[Lawren Hadden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jillian Thorne hasn’t been back to her hometown in 6 years. However, the sudden death of the town’s beloved high school football coach has Jill returning to a place she never thought she’d return to. Her return is shadowed with several tragedies. Jill works to figure out who is behind it all before anyone else gets involved.

I truly enjoyed reading this book. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. If you enjoy a good psychological thriller, this is the book for you!

[Book My Imagination · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thrillers are really hitting the mark lately, and this one is yet another that had me barely able to put it down.

🔥...RISING WATERS...🔥
°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•
by: @authoraleatha

I do love a good psychological thriller, where people just can't be relied upon to be who they seem.

The lead fmc Jillian Thorne is a character with a past.
She left her hometown, built a new life and now she is going home after the death of the beloved high school football coach.

The death of the coach has shocked Blue Gil, but it was an accident....wasn't it?

The coach's death isn't the only thing that will shock this town though.
And wow, I didn't think for a second that it would go down like this.
What a fabulously well written small town thriller read this turned out to be.
There were a few moments in here that had me cringing at the implications, and throughout this book, it really delivered on that thriller vibe we love so much.

With a bit of family tension, small town vibes, police inadequacy, secrets, a complicated past, and suspense that delivers, this book is definitely one for the thriller lovers.
And will not be last that I read from this author.

A big thank you to the author and @hambrightpr for sending an earc through. 🥰👏👏👏

[TaleshaReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a decent thriller. Very dark, and kept me guessing!

I really was invested from the beginning, there were plenty of twists and turns that I never saw coming. I swear I was gasping and every new revelation!

Talk about a town and family that can't seem to catch a break! Thank you HambrightPR for my advanced reader copy! I had a great time trying to figure this one out!

[Shannon Babin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The very first chapter detailing Craig’s death drew me in immediately. And once Jillian arrived, I was desperate to figure out the connection between them. The plot was disturbing at times as it was meant to be. Although I determined the perpetrator early on, I still began to doubt myself towards the end. And there were several twists that were unexpected!

What to Expect:
—small town secrets
—suspicious death
—missing girls
—distrust of outsiders

Special thanks to the author and Hambright PR for the advanced copy in exchange for my review.

[Laurie Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say without it being a spoiler? Not much. This was a great read and while the person who killed the Coach was a surprise, the rest fell into place as expected. I would have liked more detailed ending with Jill and Keith, but that is all I am going to say. Enjoy!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first and absolutely not my last by Althea! I could
Not wait to pick this one up and keep reading, I was so entranced by this story, the secrets hidden in this small town and even more so with the outsiders.

[Caleb O'Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rising Waters is everything I want in a psychological thriller—atmospheric, emotionally gripping, and packed with twists that genuinely caught me off guard. The small-town setting is full of tension, and every new revelation makes the mystery even more compelling.

Jillian is a strong, believable protagonist, and watching her confront both buried secrets and her own past added real emotional weight to the story. The pacing is excellent, balancing suspense with character development until the final pages.

If you enjoy dark, twist-filled thrillers where no one can be trusted, Rising Waters is absolutely worth the read.

[Books, Booze & Bon Voyage (Krista Webster) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rising Waters by Aleatha Romig is an intriguing dark psychological thriller set in the small town of Blue Gil in Southern Michigan. How many secrets can a small town have - well you are about to find out!

Craig Gilbert is the high school football coach and they recently won the football state championship again so he has become a celebrity in Blue Gil. Leaving his wife Serena and little boy Joey at home, he goes for his morning run but never returns.

Jillian Thorne is a successful criminal / legal visual effects researcher living in Hollywood. She grew up in Blue Gil with her two sisters and brother. Six years
ago after her high school graduation she left and slowly cut off all connection with her family. She never intended to return home until she received a phone call with information she just couldn’t ignore - the suspicious death of Craig Gilbert.

Can she solve the mystery and discover the truth about his death. The sheriff seems to be content that it was an accident but Jillian is not convinced.
As the locals mourn the loss of a popular member of their community, she finds out someone else is looking into Craig’s death.

A sense of doom and foreboding surrounds her as memories from the past won’t disappear. Then things escalate when two girls go missing from a party. They were seniors and taught by Mr Gilbert so is it a coincidence or is there a connection between the two incidents.

Local gossip is intense as speculation over what happened increases. As the story develops it becomes clear nearly everyone is hiding something and the town is protecting sinister secrets.

I enjoyed all the twists and turns as the author gives us lots of suspects and possible scenarios. Did an outsider create all this devastation or is the perpetrator one of their own.

The podcasters of the Crime Daily Podcast gave a different view and I liked the two romantic interests for Jillian as they added some light to the horrific events that occur.

Things obviously get worse before they get better, in fact quite gruesome at times. Will she work out who is behind everything to stop anyone else being hurt. While Jillian faces a backlash for leaving town and tries to mend fences with her family, she realises she could be the next target.

I thoroughly enjoyed trying to work out everything and liked the surprising reveals which lead to the dramatic ending. Hopefully we will get more in this thrilling series.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOWZA! I haven't read many psychological thrillers, but after reading Rising Waters I think I should, especially if they're written by Aleatha Romig! I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I started this book, but I was immediately pulled into this story by the main female character, Jillian, and the dead man in the ditch! POW! It was clear from the start that her returning to her hometown wasn't going to be the most pleasant experience for her. What an understatement! Apparently the most beloved High School Football Coach, Craig, goes missing and is eventually found...dead. Turns out there's been some dark, shady happenings over the years in Jillian's hometown, and apparently, the dark shadiness continues!

Now, I can't give you too much info since this is a psychological mystery thriller. However, I can tell you that the cast of characters are plentiful, interesting and each one brings a different piece of the puzzle to the story. Ms. Romig weaves her magic and paints a well-written picture of a small town with big secrets. Once you start reading, you'll be hard-pressed to stop. If you do, I can guarantee you'll be carrying the story around in your head trying to come to the correct conclusion about just what is happening in this small town and who is responsible for all of it!

This book has something to offer all who love to read, so even if, like me, you're not a regular mystery reader, I encourage you to grab this thriller and start flipping the pages. I totally enjoyed Rising Waters from beginning to end. It's shady, twisted, dark, creepy with lots of questions and few answers. The mystery was not unraveling easily. I couldn't stop wondering who was responsible for all the evil that had descended on this small town and its people. Of course, I had my guesses along the way and naturally, they were wrong! That's the fun of reading a mystery. It all becomes crystal-clear in the end! Rising Waters will keep your mind spinning with thoughts to the last page. Grab it and enjoy!

[Ann Onimaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an engaging psychological thriller that blends small-town secrets, buried trauma, and layered mysteries. I especially enjoyed following the clues, red herrings, and revelations throughout the story. The mysteries surrounding both the crime and the characters' personal histories were intriguing, with information unfolding gradually as the narrative progressed.
While the novel incorporates several familiar thriller and mystery tropes, I found them entertaining rather than detrimental. However, those genre conventions did make certain plot developments feel somewhat predictable at times. Even so, the suspense and steady unraveling of secrets kept me invested in discovering how everything would connect.
I particularly appreciated the level of detail devoted to the investigation. As someone who enjoys procedural elements and investigative work, I found the explanations, technical terminology, and crime-related details informative and immersive. Readers who appreciate investigative thrillers with a stronger focus on process and evidence may enjoy this aspect, though those details can be quite graphic and extensive at times.
What stood out to me was the story's approach to resolution. Much like real-life cases, not every question receives a perfectly neat answer. While the novel provides enough closure to satisfy the central narrative, the ending doesn't wrap everything up in a clean, tidy package. That ambiguity lends the story a degree of realism, reflecting how complicated people, trauma, and criminal investigations can be.
Although some of the final revelations and ending developments felt somewhat rushed, the novel's true strength lies in its character arcs. The focus ultimately shifts toward healing, self-discovery, and confronting the past, giving the conclusion an emotional resonance that extends beyond simply solving the mystery.It delivers an entertaining blend of psychological suspense, small-town intrigue, and character-driven storytelling. Readers who enjoy investigative thrillers, hidden secrets, and stories centered on personal growth alongside mystery will likely find plenty to enjoy here.

[Inês Afonso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Hambright PR and Aleatha Romig for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rising Waters was an incredibly atmospheric and tension-filled psychological thriller that kept me hooked from the very beginning. Aleatha Romig does a fantastic job creating an unsettling small-town setting where secrets seem to linger beneath every interaction, making it impossible to know who can truly be trusted.

One of my favorite aspects of this story was Jillian as a main character. I really appreciated having such an intelligent and capable FMC, and I liked how her background brought a unique perspective to the investigation unfolding throughout the book. Watching her return to a past she clearly wanted to leave behind added an emotional layer that made the story feel even more compelling.

The suspense in this book was definitely one of its strongest points. I found myself constantly questioning people’s motives and second-guessing where the story was heading, which is exactly what I want from a psychological thriller. The small-town atmosphere combined with buried secrets, past trauma, and growing tension created a story that felt dark and addictive in the best way.

I also really enjoyed how the story balanced the mystery itself with the emotional weight of confronting the past. While there were a few moments where the pacing slowed slightly for me, overall I stayed completely invested and genuinely wanted to keep reading to see how everything would unravel.

Overall, Rising Waters was a gripping and well-crafted thriller full of tension, secrets, and twists that will definitely appeal to readers who enjoy darker psychological suspense stories.

A solid 4-star read for me, and thank you again to Hambright PR for the opportunity to read and review this one early.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#HPRRisingWaters
#AleathaRomig
#HambrightPR

[Page Escapes by J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into Rising Waters expecting a small-town mystery and came out feeling like I’d wandered through a swamp full of secrets, lies, and enough red herrings to stock an entire seafood market.

The real star of this book is Blue Gil itself. The setting feels damp, eerie, and suffocating in the best possible way. Every conversation feels loaded with hidden meaning, every townsperson seems to know more than they’re saying, and the atmosphere practically whispers, “trust no one.”

Jillian was a fascinating protagonist. I loved the irony that she spends her professional life creating fictional crime scenes for Hollywood, only to find herself trapped inside a mystery far messier than anything she’s ever staged. Her complicated history with the town gave the investigation emotional weight, and I found myself rooting for her even when I wasn’t entirely sure she was telling the whole truth.

The pacing is definitely a slow burn at first, but it’s the kind that steadily tightens the screws until suddenly you’re flying through chapters at 1 a.m. muttering, “just one more.” The plot layers suspicion upon suspicion, and every time I thought I’d figured it out, another revelation surfaced and sent me back to square one.

What I enjoyed most was how the book balanced the murder investigation with themes of trauma, memory, loyalty, and the damage communities can do when protecting their own. The twists felt earned rather than thrown in for shock value, and the final stretch delivered several genuinely surprising moments.

If you enjoy atmospheric psychological thrillers filled with buried secrets, unreliable truths, complicated relationships, and a setting that feels as dangerous as the killer, Rising Waters is absolutely worth picking up.

[Samiksha Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

The story revolves around the small town of Blue Gil. Jillian Thorne returns home after six years away when she learns of the suspicious death of the town’s beloved high school football coach. Working in Hollywood creating, analyzing, and staging crime scenes for television, Jill’s professional instincts immediately tell her that something about the incident doesn’t add up.

What initially appears to be an accident quickly spirals into something much bigger. As Jill starts digging deeper, Blue Gil becomes the center of attention, drawing interest from crime podcasts. One incident leads to another, and a series of tragedies and secrets begin surfacing throughout the town.

I absolutely loved Jill as a protagonist. She’s a STEM FMC who is smart, analytical, and determined. Her investigative skills and instincts keep pushing her closer to the truth about Blue Gil and its people. But her journey isn’t only about solving a mystery. Returning home forces her to confront painful memories, unresolved emotions, and secrets from her own past that have kept her away from Blue Gil for years. This personal connection adds another layer of depth to both her character and the story.

From the very first chapter, this book hooked me. Every chapter reveals another layer of mystery, buried secrets, and unexpected connections that keep you guessing. I did have a feeling about the direction the story was heading and was partially correct, but the final twist completely caught me off guard. One more time, I have officially been Aleatha’d again! This is my third book by her, and each one leaves me more impressed than the last.

If you love psychological thrillers filled with secrets, suspense, small-town drama, and jaw-dropping twists, Rising Waters deserves a spot on your TBR!

[Nicole Cruz · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 Stars)

First, thank you to HambrightPR 💙 for providing me with an ARC of Rising Waters by Aleatha Romig.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this psychological thriller 🔍🖤. While I found the pacing a bit slow at times, the atmosphere more than made up for it. Romig did an excellent job creating the feeling of being an outsider in a tight-knit small town 🌧️🏘️, and I felt completely immersed in that setting alongside Jillian.

I did find parts of the story somewhat predictable 🤔, as I had a good idea of where things were headed. However, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment. I was invested in seeing how everything would unfold, and I appreciated the way the pieces ultimately came together 🧩.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was Jillian’s character ❤️. Beyond the thriller elements, there was a strong emotional layer as she was forced to confront parts of her past 🥀. That added depth to the story and made her journey feel more meaningful.

⚠️ A quick note for readers: this book does contain some dark and potentially triggering subject matter. In my opinion, those elements served a purpose within the story and fit the overall tone, but it’s something worth being aware of before diving in.

If you enjoy atmospheric psychological thrillers 🌫️🔪, small-town secrets 🤫, emotional depth 💔, and a touch of predictability that still delivers a satisfying payoff 📖✨, Rising Waters is worth picking up!