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Sergeant Frank Hardy #4
Lying Under Water
THE WATERS ARE RISING AND SO IS THE BODY COUNT
Marooned amidst rising flood waters on their horse farm, Sergeant Frank Hardy and his pregnant wife Mette shelter two other families. But when Frank finds his own carving knife in someone else's throat, and can't seek help from the police, he must isolate the killer while protecting his family. With suspects including a drug addict, a ticket-of-leave convict, and a Good Templar, and with a farm loaded with real and potential weapons, Frank won't sleep until he solves the case.
TOP 75 FINALIST IN 2020 LAUNCHPAD MANUSCRIPT COMPETITION
Marooned amidst rising flood waters on their horse farm, Sergeant Frank Hardy and his pregnant wife Mette shelter two other families. But when Frank finds his own carving knife in someone else's throat, and can't seek help from the police, he must isolate the killer while protecting his family. With suspects including a drug addict, a ticket-of-leave convict, and a Good Templar, and with a farm loaded with real and potential weapons, Frank won't sleep until he solves the case.
TOP 75 FINALIST IN 2020 LAUNCHPAD MANUSCRIPT COMPETITION
217 pages, ebook
First published May 1, 2020
59 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 26, 2022
I sometimes try to find novels from authors I’m not familiar with, especially if they are writing about places I could learn about. This “detective” novel is written by a contemporary author who grew up in New Zealand. It takes place in the Manawatu district of the North Island of New Zealand on a semi-remote horse farm.
Lying Under Water has a cast drawn from around a hill farm that is threatened by flood waters. Goodreads users rated it well and I thought I’d give it a try. It is difficult to know who this book is really intended for. Although it has a good historical feel to it, I’d almost consider it a YA novel, not something I was looking for. However, it also includes some degree of violence and suggested sexual violence that might not be the thing for younger teens.
My impression of the story is that it is somewhat like the television show The Waltons, but set in New Zealand. It has a “good” couple who are trying to help neighbors left homeless because of flooding, a couple of Maori children and a teenager from an adjacent farm. The remainder of the characters are adults who are flawed and a murderer must be flushed out.
Wilson’s book might appeal to readers who enjoy detective novels in a series, detective stories set in the late 19th century and those interested in the colonial life of that period.
Lying Under Water has a cast drawn from around a hill farm that is threatened by flood waters. Goodreads users rated it well and I thought I’d give it a try. It is difficult to know who this book is really intended for. Although it has a good historical feel to it, I’d almost consider it a YA novel, not something I was looking for. However, it also includes some degree of violence and suggested sexual violence that might not be the thing for younger teens.
My impression of the story is that it is somewhat like the television show The Waltons, but set in New Zealand. It has a “good” couple who are trying to help neighbors left homeless because of flooding, a couple of Maori children and a teenager from an adjacent farm. The remainder of the characters are adults who are flawed and a murderer must be flushed out.
Wilson’s book might appeal to readers who enjoy detective novels in a series, detective stories set in the late 19th century and those interested in the colonial life of that period.
January 18, 2026
A great flood is coming toward Frank Hardy’s horse farm near Feilding, New Zealand. He, his sturdy Danish-born wife Mette, their two adopted Māori sons and their neighbors, the O’Hallorans, are to take shelter in tents high above the homes. A couple caught in the flood and their newly hired coachman take shelter with the motley crew as well.
The group, already anxious because of the flooding, become even more frightened when the drowned body of stern dairy farmer’s young second wife turns up. Yes, she’s literally lying under water, trapped by a willow tree and impossible to rescue until the floods recede, but nearly everyone taking shelter with the Hardys is lying as well. And then there’s a murder….
A suspenseful page-turner readers won’t be able to put down, set in 1880 colonial New Zealand. I can’t wait to start the sequel, Come to Grief.
The group, already anxious because of the flooding, become even more frightened when the drowned body of stern dairy farmer’s young second wife turns up. Yes, she’s literally lying under water, trapped by a willow tree and impossible to rescue until the floods recede, but nearly everyone taking shelter with the Hardys is lying as well. And then there’s a murder….
A suspenseful page-turner readers won’t be able to put down, set in 1880 colonial New Zealand. I can’t wait to start the sequel, Come to Grief.
May 25, 2022
Mette and Sergeant Frank Hardy are trying not to panic as they rush to beat the rising water from the epic flood quickly taking over their rural New Zealand horse farm. Their adopted Maori son and his older brother are also busy helping to prepare to leave. Of course, nothing goes as planned. Mette has to rescue drowning travelers from swirling flood waters, a surly neighbor and his oppressed son add to the calamity, and then, bodies begin showing up. This outstanding mystery will have you questioning everyone's motives and still not figuring out just what's going on. I enjoyed every step of the investigation taking place during a true natural disaster. It was thrilling and all consuming. Wow! What a Fast-Paced, Riveting Tale!!!!!
June 27, 2022
Sergeant Frank Hardy and his pregnant wife Mette and their 2 adopted sons are stranded in their high pasture by the flooded river. Two other families, one a neighbor and the other passing through are stranded with them. When one of the men is murdered Frank has to protect his family and figure out who in their little group did it. The action covers 2 days of high water and several more as the water recedes leaving mud. Mette is unbelievable organizing and caring for the kids in a little tent grouping and 2 weeks from her due date. I like that Frank isn't perfect and can make the wrong choice at times but always for the right reason, but puts himself on the line always for his family.
September 11, 2021
Frank Hardy and his pregnant wife, Meta, are preparing for terrible flooding around their horse farm. After saving a husband and wife and later their worker, a neighbor and his son join them on the high paddock to camp out and wait for the waters to recede. After two people are murdered, it is up to Frank and Meta to find the killer and protect the others. Very exciting!
November 27, 2021
New Zealand Mystery
Taking place in the 1800’s, this story kept me reading avidly to its conclusion. Every time I thought I knew who done it, there was another twist to the plot. The reader learns the background of each character, and that builds the plot until the story breaks into its logical conclusion.
Taking place in the 1800’s, this story kept me reading avidly to its conclusion. Every time I thought I knew who done it, there was another twist to the plot. The reader learns the background of each character, and that builds the plot until the story breaks into its logical conclusion.
May 2, 2022
GrEAt
A classic murder mystery with a group of people forced to stay at one location. Frank and Mette are camping on a hill due to a flood but then one of their guasts must be a murderor.
A classic murder mystery with a group of people forced to stay at one location. Frank and Mette are camping on a hill due to a flood but then one of their guasts must be a murderor.
October 30, 2021
Well plotted and entertaining.. Some profanity, violence, and sexual situations (use FF). The narrator is perfect and adds to the readers enjoyment.
June 3, 2022
This was a very good mystery and extremely claustrophobic.
February 27, 2023
Good story
This was a good story, very full of different layers of suspense. There were some continuity mistakes, which made my brain unhappy, but overall, I enjoyed this book.
This was a good story, very full of different layers of suspense. There were some continuity mistakes, which made my brain unhappy, but overall, I enjoyed this book.
May 15, 2022
1880 Torrential rain has seen floodwaters rising, resulting in the Hardy family marooned with two other families. But one of them is a murderer as a body is soon discovered. Can Hardy determine the murderer before they may kill again.
An entertaining historical mystery, another good addition to this New Zealand series.
An entertaining historical mystery, another good addition to this New Zealand series.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews