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The Woman Underwater
No one disappears without a trace….
Don’t try to tell Victoria Sands that time heals all wounds. It doesn’t work that way for a woman who’s lost her husband the way she did. She was never able to say goodbye. Never able to arrange a memorial. Receive friends at the service. Write thank-you notes for the flowers and donations sent in his name. Because it didn’t happen that way.
Victoria’s husband never returned home at the end of a work day. And no one seems to know what happened to him.
In the seven years since his disappearance, no witnesses have stepped forward and no credible evidence has been collected—not even his car. The few tenuous leads the police had are now ice cold. He simply vanished on a field trip with the private boarding school where he taught behind stone walls—the same school their son now attends.
But someone has to know what happened. And that someone may be closer to Victoria than she realizes.
Don’t try to tell Victoria Sands that time heals all wounds. It doesn’t work that way for a woman who’s lost her husband the way she did. She was never able to say goodbye. Never able to arrange a memorial. Receive friends at the service. Write thank-you notes for the flowers and donations sent in his name. Because it didn’t happen that way.
Victoria’s husband never returned home at the end of a work day. And no one seems to know what happened to him.
In the seven years since his disappearance, no witnesses have stepped forward and no credible evidence has been collected—not even his car. The few tenuous leads the police had are now ice cold. He simply vanished on a field trip with the private boarding school where he taught behind stone walls—the same school their son now attends.
But someone has to know what happened. And that someone may be closer to Victoria than she realizes.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 26, 2022
About the author
Penny Goetjen
8 books622 followersNational multi-award-winning author Penny Goetjen writes mysteries, crime fiction, and suspense novels where the settings are so colorful they become characters in their own right. A self-proclaimed eccentric, she enjoys the serenity of writing with the allure of flickering candlelight often late into the evening, the chaos while perched at a hi-top table in a local coffee shop with half the caffeinated world walking by, and the romance of strolling in a long flowy skirt while observing the world and collecting characters. Seven published novels in and her husband still sleeps with one eye open.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
August 26, 2022
Beautiful cover; very average book.
More contemporary fiction than suspense. There was no "chill up the spine" or rush to turn the pages.
Main character, Victoria would explain something to the reader, then change course. I think that was just bad styling, rather than wishy-washiness, as the same character was used to show both sides of a situation. That said, one often got different vibes from Tori on how she felt, in order to advance the plot. Well spelled out internal conflict would have been good, but that wasn't really evident.
On a positive note, it was nice to read a current novel that wasn't chock full of forced-in "diversity points". The characters were simply characters, without having to go into detail on physical characters or sexuality, which was nice.
Overall, it's a decent beach or cozy read.
More contemporary fiction than suspense. There was no "chill up the spine" or rush to turn the pages.
Main character, Victoria would explain something to the reader, then change course. I think that was just bad styling, rather than wishy-washiness, as the same character was used to show both sides of a situation. That said, one often got different vibes from Tori on how she felt, in order to advance the plot. Well spelled out internal conflict would have been good, but that wasn't really evident.
On a positive note, it was nice to read a current novel that wasn't chock full of forced-in "diversity points". The characters were simply characters, without having to go into detail on physical characters or sexuality, which was nice.
Overall, it's a decent beach or cozy read.
October 7, 2022
One of my favorite things about being so present within the social media book clubs as well as Netgalley is the introductions to authors I would have not known about had it not been for these sites. Penny Goetjen, is a "new to me author" but instantly became one of my most favored authors.
I read The Woman Underwater in one sitting. I was completely consumed by Goetjen's writing style and in awe over the way she was easily able to narrate such an intriquite and deep story. Most of us have to work hard to put our best foot forward, however, with Goetjen, you can tell this is a natural talent.
Since concluding The Woman Underwater, I instantly went on over to Amazon to download 4 other books by Goetjen that sound equally as amazing. I just can not get enough!
The Woman Underwater is filled with twists, turns and plenty of "shock factor" . The amount of detail and research that went into this book shows on every page. The character development was on point, I easily related to Victoria and was rooting for her the entire time. The plot was realistic and not far fetched, as sometimes thrillers tend to be.
The Woman Underwater is an easy 5 star read that will have the creatures of social media chirping for a long time. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to read and review The Woman Underwater in exchange for an honest review!
Great job, Goetjen! You killed it!
I read The Woman Underwater in one sitting. I was completely consumed by Goetjen's writing style and in awe over the way she was easily able to narrate such an intriquite and deep story. Most of us have to work hard to put our best foot forward, however, with Goetjen, you can tell this is a natural talent.
Since concluding The Woman Underwater, I instantly went on over to Amazon to download 4 other books by Goetjen that sound equally as amazing. I just can not get enough!
The Woman Underwater is filled with twists, turns and plenty of "shock factor" . The amount of detail and research that went into this book shows on every page. The character development was on point, I easily related to Victoria and was rooting for her the entire time. The plot was realistic and not far fetched, as sometimes thrillers tend to be.
The Woman Underwater is an easy 5 star read that will have the creatures of social media chirping for a long time. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to read and review The Woman Underwater in exchange for an honest review!
Great job, Goetjen! You killed it!
December 1, 2022
A good plot with uneven pacing and a rushed climax and resolution which left a lot of unexplained points. Initially, the story seemed to follow a day to day/week by week timeline but later on the timeline started jumping forward that it became confusing to keep track of how much time had passed between the incidents. It took Victoria seven years to finally get the answers to her husband's disappearance and I liked how she never gave up even when she was advised to move on. It was good to see her two sons and her lawyer boyfriend also come aboard to help her when they also find clues that raise red flags.
The cover design is quite eye catching; it was what attracted me to the book.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Secret Harbour Press and the author for the e-Arc of the book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫
The cover design is quite eye catching; it was what attracted me to the book.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Secret Harbour Press and the author for the e-Arc of the book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫
July 23, 2022
I didn't like this as much as I thought I would...
The first half of the book was very slow, very detailed, as if the intention was to first create the atmosphere and a sense of the characters without diving much into the plot or character development.
Throughout that part I didn't understand why everything was described as meticulously as it was and to be honest... I still think that most of it could have been left out without having a negative impact on the story.
After the halfway point, I noticed a few inconsistencies in the story and in descriptions, as well as random connections and statements made by characters that really perplexed me. They just seemed to be plucked out of thin air.
Also, the pacing changed. Where in the first half the day to day was over-described, in the second half the chapters seemed more disconnected from each other and skipping actions in the storyline. It felt disorientating and kind of annoying.
Towards the end, the conversations became wooden and unnatural and made it really hard to finish the book. The last chapters felt rushed to tie up last loose ends, and the characters' actions just felt unrealistic and very over the top.
And even thought each character had more or less their distinctive voice, it didn't feel like I read a story but more of an authors cut of the book with additional commentary. Do you know what I mean? There was just too much of the author's knowledge in there.
The whole time I was aware I was reading a book, and I wasn't as captivated by the story as I normally would have been.
I didn't connect with any of the characters, and throughout two thirds of the story I actually forgot this was supposed to be a mystery(?). I'm still not sure about the genre, to be honest.
What I will say, though, if you're somebody who enjoys experiencing a story with all five senses, this book might be for you. If you don't mind a slow-burn and a grand finale, you should give this a go!
Thank you, NetGalley and Secret Harbor Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The first half of the book was very slow, very detailed, as if the intention was to first create the atmosphere and a sense of the characters without diving much into the plot or character development.
Throughout that part I didn't understand why everything was described as meticulously as it was and to be honest... I still think that most of it could have been left out without having a negative impact on the story.
After the halfway point, I noticed a few inconsistencies in the story and in descriptions, as well as random connections and statements made by characters that really perplexed me. They just seemed to be plucked out of thin air.
Also, the pacing changed. Where in the first half the day to day was over-described, in the second half the chapters seemed more disconnected from each other and skipping actions in the storyline. It felt disorientating and kind of annoying.
Towards the end, the conversations became wooden and unnatural and made it really hard to finish the book. The last chapters felt rushed to tie up last loose ends, and the characters' actions just felt unrealistic and very over the top.
And even thought each character had more or less their distinctive voice, it didn't feel like I read a story but more of an authors cut of the book with additional commentary. Do you know what I mean? There was just too much of the author's knowledge in there.
The whole time I was aware I was reading a book, and I wasn't as captivated by the story as I normally would have been.
I didn't connect with any of the characters, and throughout two thirds of the story I actually forgot this was supposed to be a mystery(?). I'm still not sure about the genre, to be honest.
What I will say, though, if you're somebody who enjoys experiencing a story with all five senses, this book might be for you. If you don't mind a slow-burn and a grand finale, you should give this a go!
Thank you, NetGalley and Secret Harbor Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 12, 2022
Thank you so much to PR by the book for the advanced copy of this book to read!
Synopsis:
No one disappears without a trace....
Don't try to tell Victoria Sands that time heals all wounds. It doesn't work that way for a woman who's lost her husband the way she did. She was never able to say goodbye. Never able to arrange a memorial. Receive friends at the service. Write thank-you notes for the flowers and donations sent in his name. Because it didn't happen that way.
Victoria's husband never returned home at the end of a work day. And no one seems to know what happened to him.
The premise of this book sounded so good and the prologue had me captivated; however, for me this book fell flat. There seemed to a lot of other stories and information happening that didn’t seem to have to do with the mystery of the missing husband, but just Victorias day to day life. I found this book dragged for me and it didn’t keep my attention. It took too long to get to the mystery of the story.
#TheWomanUnderwater #contemporaryfiction #mystery #booktok #bookstagram #pennygoetjen #prbythebook #bookstagram #canadianbookstagram
Synopsis:
No one disappears without a trace....
Don't try to tell Victoria Sands that time heals all wounds. It doesn't work that way for a woman who's lost her husband the way she did. She was never able to say goodbye. Never able to arrange a memorial. Receive friends at the service. Write thank-you notes for the flowers and donations sent in his name. Because it didn't happen that way.
Victoria's husband never returned home at the end of a work day. And no one seems to know what happened to him.
The premise of this book sounded so good and the prologue had me captivated; however, for me this book fell flat. There seemed to a lot of other stories and information happening that didn’t seem to have to do with the mystery of the missing husband, but just Victorias day to day life. I found this book dragged for me and it didn’t keep my attention. It took too long to get to the mystery of the story.
#TheWomanUnderwater #contemporaryfiction #mystery #booktok #bookstagram #pennygoetjen #prbythebook #bookstagram #canadianbookstagram
July 13, 2022
I really enjoyed reading The Woman Underwater by author Penny Goetjen. It was my first time reading this author and I found her writing style very easy to read. I’d classify this as a murder mystery that has other elements included such as premonitions that I’d consider paranormal. The main character, Victoria, a mother of 2 teenaged sons, has been dealing with the aftermath of a missing husband. He’s been gone for 7 years with absolutely no trace of where he could be. No body, no car, is he dead or could he still be alive? He disappeared while chaperoning his students on a trip to NYC. He was a history teacher at a private boarding school. It’s the same school where his youngest son now attends and the older one once did. Victoria’s mother, who has come to live with her, is experiencing early signs of Alzheimer’s. It is she that has the premonitions, and she’s usually spot on with what she sees. Victoria herself receives signs or clues through her dreams. I thought it was really clever how the author wrote that into the storyline. I found this to be a very gripping and intense read and I really enjoyed it a lot! I would recommend it to others and I might even purchase a physical copy for myself. I’d like to thank NetGalley for the arc that I found on the Read Now section. This is a very good story and I’m happy that I found a new author to enjoy. I’m giving this a 5 star rating because the story held my interest and kept me wanting to read more!
July 26, 2022
The Woman Underwater is a gripping suspense novel. Penny Goetjen will draw you in with a mystery and keep you with her as more tragedy unfolds. Victoria raised her sons after her husband mysteriously disappeared almost seven years ago. She hopes for his return, keeping one foot in her old life while she allows the world to move on around her. Her long-term boyfriend, Vince, wishes to marry her after her husband is legally declared dead, but Victoria holds back. She becomes entangled with the father of one of her son’s school friends while she cares for her aging, clairvoyant mother and events unfold that lead to an emergency room visit and a set of unsettling feelings that Victoria doesn’t know if she wants to explore.
The suspense unfolded evenly, and I was fascinated by Victoria’s mother. I liked the almost supernatural quality her mother possessed and her charismatic way of dealing with the men in her daughter’s life. The mystery was easily solved, but the book was still interesting, as it seemed a lot like women’s fiction in some ways. Also, Victoria is in her forties, and I enjoy reading books where middle-aged characters are viewed as beautiful people who aren’t limited by their age. I have seen some of Penny Goetjen’s posts during an author takeover, and I was impressed by the descriptions of her novels. The Woman Underwater is a good example of her professional writing, word choice, and storytelling skills. I recommend the book to readers who enjoy mystery and suspense.
The suspense unfolded evenly, and I was fascinated by Victoria’s mother. I liked the almost supernatural quality her mother possessed and her charismatic way of dealing with the men in her daughter’s life. The mystery was easily solved, but the book was still interesting, as it seemed a lot like women’s fiction in some ways. Also, Victoria is in her forties, and I enjoy reading books where middle-aged characters are viewed as beautiful people who aren’t limited by their age. I have seen some of Penny Goetjen’s posts during an author takeover, and I was impressed by the descriptions of her novels. The Woman Underwater is a good example of her professional writing, word choice, and storytelling skills. I recommend the book to readers who enjoy mystery and suspense.
July 26, 2022
Throughout the first part of the book, I wasn't overly fond of Victoria. I thought she was a bit pretentious. But by the end of the book, my heart went out to a woman who never gave up - no matter how ridiculous it made her look or feel. She can come off as being a hover mom who wants a "perfect" exterior. But it's the real Victoria who I admire. The one who I connect with and feel empathy for when the truth begins unraveling.
At first, I didn't understand why Victoria was acting in such a way, other than her behavior was mirroring what was expected of her. Everyone else had moved on from her husband's disappearance, so why couldn't she? I think this gave me perspective on how when something tragic happens and you want to stay in place, but unfortunately, the world keeps spinning, turning you to the next thing.
Once you hit the midway point, things start falling into place and I felt myself immersing in the story. Stick with it, because I completely felt that it was worth every bit of being curious about Victoria's actions. I loved the addition of her mother -- her antics and humor added in smiles that were needed to lower your guard while reading.
I received a complimentary review copy. All opinions are my own.
At first, I didn't understand why Victoria was acting in such a way, other than her behavior was mirroring what was expected of her. Everyone else had moved on from her husband's disappearance, so why couldn't she? I think this gave me perspective on how when something tragic happens and you want to stay in place, but unfortunately, the world keeps spinning, turning you to the next thing.
Once you hit the midway point, things start falling into place and I felt myself immersing in the story. Stick with it, because I completely felt that it was worth every bit of being curious about Victoria's actions. I loved the addition of her mother -- her antics and humor added in smiles that were needed to lower your guard while reading.
I received a complimentary review copy. All opinions are my own.
September 15, 2022
Victoria’s husband Peter disappeared from a school field trip. Seven years later Victoria still had no answers about what happened the day Peter went missing. Victoria still held on to hope that her Peter was still alive and trying to get back to her and their family. After her oldest son checked out google maps and found something odd in the pond near the school her other son attended. The family didn’t want to believe they may have found the car and possibly Peter inside of it. When her son came home from college, they called the police and got a tow truck and they got to work on getting the car out of the water. After what seemed like forever they finally found Peter as it turned out he had been deceased for seven years and he never made it to New York. They found out that the principal of the school her kids had attended had know the whole time where Peter was and lied to her to protect another man.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2022
The Woman Underwater is a poignant story about a woman, Victoria, who is dealing with the mysterious disappearance of her husband, Robert, a history teacher at a prestigious private boarding school. He disappeared during an out-of-state school field trip, in which he was a chaperone. Seven Years later, Victoria and her two sons, Jameson and Harrison, are still determined to find answers or any leads regarding Robert’s disappearance, unfortunately no one has been able to find any evidence, witnesses, or even information. Victoria’s friends and family have told her that after so long, it is in her best interest to move on with her life and relinquish her hopes of Robert coming back home one day.
Victoria is a very practical and anxious person who is devoted to her two sons. When her mother, moves back into her home from an assisted care facility due to her progressing dementia, Victoria has to readjust to having another person living with her and her mother’s outspoken and whimsical personality. As the annual senior school field trip is approaching for her son, Harrison, Victoria becomes increasingly anxious and worried for the safety of her son, since this was the same field trip Robert had disappeared from seven years prior. Slowly, more information regarding Robert’s disappearance comes to light when others find clues and discrepancies.
I liked reading this book and enjoyed the dynamics between all of the characters. Penny Goetjen tells the story with such detailed imagery and does a good job with building the suspense throughout the book. The characters are well-rounded, loveable, yet flawed. The ending is a bit predictable but also unexpected.
A digital copy of this book was given to me in exchange for this review. This does not impact the integrity of my review and rating.
Victoria is a very practical and anxious person who is devoted to her two sons. When her mother, moves back into her home from an assisted care facility due to her progressing dementia, Victoria has to readjust to having another person living with her and her mother’s outspoken and whimsical personality. As the annual senior school field trip is approaching for her son, Harrison, Victoria becomes increasingly anxious and worried for the safety of her son, since this was the same field trip Robert had disappeared from seven years prior. Slowly, more information regarding Robert’s disappearance comes to light when others find clues and discrepancies.
I liked reading this book and enjoyed the dynamics between all of the characters. Penny Goetjen tells the story with such detailed imagery and does a good job with building the suspense throughout the book. The characters are well-rounded, loveable, yet flawed. The ending is a bit predictable but also unexpected.
A digital copy of this book was given to me in exchange for this review. This does not impact the integrity of my review and rating.
July 24, 2026
Robert Sand disappeared seven years ago. He was a teacher who vanished during a school history trip that he was chaperoning, leaving behind his wife, Victoria, and their two young sons. Since then, Victoria has been left to pick up the pieces and carry on with life while coping with an overwhelming grief. Even after all these years, she refuses to give up hope.
Not long after Robert disappeared, Victoria started having recurring dreams. They are always about water. The dreams are so vivid that she cannot shake the feeling that Robert is somehow trying to tell her something.
As the seventh anniversary of Robert's disappearance approaches, strange things begin to happen. Her eldest son, Harrison, becomes convinced that he has found Robert's car on Google Images. Meanwhile, her younger son, Jameson, is about to go on a school trip to the very same place where Robert disappeared years ago.
I have a love and hate relationship with this story. Maybe it is because the pacing is quite slow, or because there are too many small details that kept me occupied without really moving the plot forward. The author was clearly building towards something, but it honestly took about 80 percent of the book before things finally started getting interesting.
What I appreciated the most was Victoria's unwavering hope. Despite the passing years, she never stopped believing that Robert would find his way back to his family one day. Her relationship with her mother, who is living with Alzheimer's disease, was another aspect that stayed with me. Their moments together were touching and gave the story an emotional depth beyond the central mystery. I also liked that Victoria had such a supportive best friend by her side through everything she was going through.
If you enjoy slow burn mysteries with emotional family dynamics, you might want to give this one a try. 3.5 ⭐
Not long after Robert disappeared, Victoria started having recurring dreams. They are always about water. The dreams are so vivid that she cannot shake the feeling that Robert is somehow trying to tell her something.
As the seventh anniversary of Robert's disappearance approaches, strange things begin to happen. Her eldest son, Harrison, becomes convinced that he has found Robert's car on Google Images. Meanwhile, her younger son, Jameson, is about to go on a school trip to the very same place where Robert disappeared years ago.
I have a love and hate relationship with this story. Maybe it is because the pacing is quite slow, or because there are too many small details that kept me occupied without really moving the plot forward. The author was clearly building towards something, but it honestly took about 80 percent of the book before things finally started getting interesting.
What I appreciated the most was Victoria's unwavering hope. Despite the passing years, she never stopped believing that Robert would find his way back to his family one day. Her relationship with her mother, who is living with Alzheimer's disease, was another aspect that stayed with me. Their moments together were touching and gave the story an emotional depth beyond the central mystery. I also liked that Victoria had such a supportive best friend by her side through everything she was going through.
If you enjoy slow burn mysteries with emotional family dynamics, you might want to give this one a try. 3.5 ⭐
July 25, 2022
Penny Goetjen's The Woman Underwater is a stirring novel about loss, love, trust, and family. I honestly went into this thinking that it was a thriller novel, but it felt more like contemporary (women's) fiction.
The premise really hooked me in, sadly, the storytelling itself failed to keep me interested. I dragged through because I really thought it would have some kind of thrill or at least, an air of mystery to it. The first 60% was so dragging and nothing was happening. The dialogue was so robotic at times that it didn't feel like humans talking. Some things in the book didn't contribute to the story at all.
The book kind of redeemed itself in the last 30%, but some things that unfolded didn't make sense. At some point, it felt like the author was just trying to make all the pieces fit.
However, I did like the general message of the story. It's not the best, but it's not bad.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher/author for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
The premise really hooked me in, sadly, the storytelling itself failed to keep me interested. I dragged through because I really thought it would have some kind of thrill or at least, an air of mystery to it. The first 60% was so dragging and nothing was happening. The dialogue was so robotic at times that it didn't feel like humans talking. Some things in the book didn't contribute to the story at all.
The book kind of redeemed itself in the last 30%, but some things that unfolded didn't make sense. At some point, it felt like the author was just trying to make all the pieces fit.
However, I did like the general message of the story. It's not the best, but it's not bad.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher/author for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 25, 2025
Some parts of this book were well written and kept me interested, but then other parts were abrupt and I found myself wondering what just happened? I kept expecting there to be more to the plot and some of the characters were not well developed or believable. It was an okay read.
August 7, 2024
3.5, it was good a little slow moving
June 12, 2022
Reviewed for NetGalley:
Victoria is a newly empty nester, still reeling from the disappearance of her husband, Robert, seven years ago.
Now, having to care for her mother with signs of Alzheimer's, and her youngest son leaving for the school where her missing husband was head of the History Department, Victoria still has wounds to heal.
I think the plot got a bit lost along the way, and somewhat convoluted, but glad to see that disappearance was cleared up.
Victoria is a newly empty nester, still reeling from the disappearance of her husband, Robert, seven years ago.
Now, having to care for her mother with signs of Alzheimer's, and her youngest son leaving for the school where her missing husband was head of the History Department, Victoria still has wounds to heal.
I think the plot got a bit lost along the way, and somewhat convoluted, but glad to see that disappearance was cleared up.
June 10, 2022
Gripping and tense right from the very start, it was a compelling read taht was fast paced and atmospheric. Twisty and unpredictable and kept me guessing until the end.
May 31, 2022
WOW!! literally such a good book i kept on guessing who it was and what had happened to robert, i really was hoping for like a good ending towards the end but instead it was a sad ending and i felt so bad for her, it was slow to figure out who it was. And you dont really know the back stories too much of the other characters as to why an who they are but you find out more about what really did happen to her husband more towards the end. I kept on pointing fingers first i thought it could be her mom to know something but it wasnt even the mom it was more like someone at the school. And it was all because of a gambling problem and how robert was confronting the headmaster but the headmaster worked with emerson to basically kill her husband and hide the body. It was so good the book thank you for the ARC!
July 24, 2022
This book is rollercoaster of twists and turns that will make your head spin. A woman’s husband disappeared seven years ago and her journey in finding out the truth. I was glued to each page and couldn’t wait to find out happened. I was lucky to of won a signed copy from a giveaway and I’m so glad I did. I’m looking forward to reading more of her books. Go get yourself a copy, you will really enjoy it.
July 30, 2022
I loved this book! Penny Goatjen is a fabulous author and I have liked most of her books. While the ending told you all the things you needed to know, I found the epilogue more thoughtful than book related. Kept me wanting more from the author so that was disappointing but still a great book! Looking forward to more books from Penny! Thank you @netgalley for another amazing ARC
December 19, 2022
Though Victoria Sand's husband disappeared without a trace seven years ago on a school trip to New York City, she can't seem to let his memory go without any answers about what happened to him. Even as everyone around her urges her to move on, she feel compelled to search for answers about her husband's last days. And as her younger son perspires to go on the same trip, Victoria, dealing with other personal issues, finds herself questioning everyone around her as she finally feels the truth about her husband is within reach.
I would classify this as more of a domestic drama, rather than a mystery thriller, though there is a good mystery at its core, that of course being, who happened to Robert Sands seven years ago. But the mystery isn't really unabashed central focus of the book. The focus is more on Victoria, and how she is dealing with being left behind with no answers. She struggle with moving on and the decisions she has to make. She is kind of dating, but doesn't know if she should take it more seriously; she doesn't know how to rally reach out to her sons anymore; etc. It's seeing that journey that we connect with the most. And it was really interesting and meaningful to see her grow throughout the novel.
But of course, we do get involved in the mystery of what happened to Robert, and that is something that does get resolved by the end of the book. It wasn't a huge surprise who the responsible person(s) were, but it was a good ending and the clues were all there, so it was great to see all play out.
The only thing that was kind of random was the whole issue with her mom. At first her mother was in an assisted living home with presumed dementia, but then we were led to believe she may not have it, I guess. Then there was an added component that she also hs a bit of psychic ability, like a bit of "Seeing" ability. The whole thing was a little confusing and bizarre.
But overall, I liked this book. It didn't take me long to finish it and I was really invested in the characters, particularly Victoria and her mother, to see how they were going to make it through everything.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a great drama with a bit of mystery thrown in!
I would classify this as more of a domestic drama, rather than a mystery thriller, though there is a good mystery at its core, that of course being, who happened to Robert Sands seven years ago. But the mystery isn't really unabashed central focus of the book. The focus is more on Victoria, and how she is dealing with being left behind with no answers. She struggle with moving on and the decisions she has to make. She is kind of dating, but doesn't know if she should take it more seriously; she doesn't know how to rally reach out to her sons anymore; etc. It's seeing that journey that we connect with the most. And it was really interesting and meaningful to see her grow throughout the novel.
But of course, we do get involved in the mystery of what happened to Robert, and that is something that does get resolved by the end of the book. It wasn't a huge surprise who the responsible person(s) were, but it was a good ending and the clues were all there, so it was great to see all play out.
The only thing that was kind of random was the whole issue with her mom. At first her mother was in an assisted living home with presumed dementia, but then we were led to believe she may not have it, I guess. Then there was an added component that she also hs a bit of psychic ability, like a bit of "Seeing" ability. The whole thing was a little confusing and bizarre.
But overall, I liked this book. It didn't take me long to finish it and I was really invested in the characters, particularly Victoria and her mother, to see how they were going to make it through everything.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a great drama with a bit of mystery thrown in!
November 6, 2022
I feel that I am a patient woman and reader however my patience was tested while reading The Woman Underwater by Penny Goetjen. I really wanted to skip ahead and read the ending to see what was going on.
In The Woman Underwater readers are introduced to Victoria and Robert Sands along with their sons, Harrison and Jameson. Unfortunately we do not get to know Robert very well as he disappears while attending a school trip with the school that he is a history teacher for.
The story mainly focuses on Victoria and how she struggles daily with the disappearance of her husband and how she must go on with the loss as well as raise her sons. The story jumps to seven years after Robert disappears without a trace while on a school trip in New York City. Victoria cannot let go and continues to look for answers. She wants to move forward with her life but is afraid to admit that Robert might be dead and never coming home.
While Victoria is trying to get through her days her sort-of boyfriend who is an attorney, Vince, takes it upon himself to remove Victoria’s mother, Millie, from the assisted living facility she was living in when there were some complaints made against her. Millie is suffering from early stages of dementia and having her live with Victoria will be very hard on both of them.
Readers cannot help but want to jump ahead in The Woman Underwater especially when they reach a certain point in the story…..not only will Victoria be holding her breath but readers will be also. And readers will wonder as to how Goetjen’s mind works as they get lost in this captivating tale….. You may end up staying up well into the night reading, will lose focus on everything around you, may want to call in “sick” to work, and just lock yourself away until you finish reading….and if you need a permission slip signed, I will gladly do that so that you can read this story in peace and quiet.
In The Woman Underwater readers are introduced to Victoria and Robert Sands along with their sons, Harrison and Jameson. Unfortunately we do not get to know Robert very well as he disappears while attending a school trip with the school that he is a history teacher for.
The story mainly focuses on Victoria and how she struggles daily with the disappearance of her husband and how she must go on with the loss as well as raise her sons. The story jumps to seven years after Robert disappears without a trace while on a school trip in New York City. Victoria cannot let go and continues to look for answers. She wants to move forward with her life but is afraid to admit that Robert might be dead and never coming home.
While Victoria is trying to get through her days her sort-of boyfriend who is an attorney, Vince, takes it upon himself to remove Victoria’s mother, Millie, from the assisted living facility she was living in when there were some complaints made against her. Millie is suffering from early stages of dementia and having her live with Victoria will be very hard on both of them.
Readers cannot help but want to jump ahead in The Woman Underwater especially when they reach a certain point in the story…..not only will Victoria be holding her breath but readers will be also. And readers will wonder as to how Goetjen’s mind works as they get lost in this captivating tale….. You may end up staying up well into the night reading, will lose focus on everything around you, may want to call in “sick” to work, and just lock yourself away until you finish reading….and if you need a permission slip signed, I will gladly do that so that you can read this story in peace and quiet.
June 11, 2022
3 Stars
NOTE: I received early access from NetGalley, for this manuscript, in exchange for writing an impartial review. Completed on 6/11/2022.
Pros and cons from my own perspective.
Cons
Throughout a large portion of the novel, it's very sparse on supposed plot line and the mysterious details regarding the disappearance of her husband. So many other trivial day to day events are dealt with instead. Her mother, her love life, her rather selfish, self-contained BFF, her side businesses, etc.
Some may see this and the next one as spoilers, but she never pursues the lead of the young woman and the photos, and the mysterious key, after the young woman is swept away by the head master of the school. Doesn't even show concern that she may possibly be in danger, especially given the way the young woman seems to be sneaking around to get her this info, and the sudden appearance and reaction of the head master at their meeting place.
Calls and leaves a message for the ex-boyfriend, "in case anything happens", and then when he shows up after something happens, she's surprised.
Pros
I really did enjoy the flow of the book for the most part. It was a bit light on the mystery aspect, until the end, but it still held my interest. The writing style carried me along at a good pace, and held my interest enough to complete the book. There was never a time that I felt like abandoning the novel, even if I didn't always agree with the author's chosen formatting of laying the storyline out.
The final wrap-up was worth sticking it out. Much more involved then what I had been anticipating.
The 2 pros alone, made my rating of this very difficult. I vacillated between 2 and 4 stars, and had to put some time and distance between the end, and my final rating.
I ended up going with 3 Stars, which I consider average, because it was a light, entertaining read, of which it provided me with more than a few hours of gratifying recreation.
NOTE: I received early access from NetGalley, for this manuscript, in exchange for writing an impartial review. Completed on 6/11/2022.
Pros and cons from my own perspective.
Cons
Throughout a large portion of the novel, it's very sparse on supposed plot line and the mysterious details regarding the disappearance of her husband. So many other trivial day to day events are dealt with instead. Her mother, her love life, her rather selfish, self-contained BFF, her side businesses, etc.
Some may see this and the next one as spoilers, but she never pursues the lead of the young woman and the photos, and the mysterious key, after the young woman is swept away by the head master of the school. Doesn't even show concern that she may possibly be in danger, especially given the way the young woman seems to be sneaking around to get her this info, and the sudden appearance and reaction of the head master at their meeting place.
Calls and leaves a message for the ex-boyfriend, "in case anything happens", and then when he shows up after something happens, she's surprised.
Pros
I really did enjoy the flow of the book for the most part. It was a bit light on the mystery aspect, until the end, but it still held my interest. The writing style carried me along at a good pace, and held my interest enough to complete the book. There was never a time that I felt like abandoning the novel, even if I didn't always agree with the author's chosen formatting of laying the storyline out.
The final wrap-up was worth sticking it out. Much more involved then what I had been anticipating.
The 2 pros alone, made my rating of this very difficult. I vacillated between 2 and 4 stars, and had to put some time and distance between the end, and my final rating.
I ended up going with 3 Stars, which I consider average, because it was a light, entertaining read, of which it provided me with more than a few hours of gratifying recreation.
June 21, 2022
First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher of this book for providing with an E-ARC to write a review on.
Review:
The Woman Underwater is the story of a woman named Victoria Sanders, whose husband, a history professor at Litchfield Academy, a boarding school for boys, mysteriously disappears while on a school trip to New York City.
Seven years pass, but Victoria is still plagued with nightmares and is unable to accept the fact that her husband is really gone. However, shocking truths start getting uncovered that make Victoria question everything and everybody around her.
The story slowly builds up as one progresses further, and small but relatively insignificant details are revealed along the way. It takes time to piece together how the scraps of information fit together in the large narrative, but the way in which they are conveyed keeps one intrigued. By the end of the book, one is able to connect and sympathise with Victoria Sanders. However, the ending falls short of the suspense that was built throughout the book. It turns predictable, and some of the story arcs are tied up quickly to avoid loose ends. The writing undoubtedly is successful in immersing the reader in the world of Victoria Sanders. However, the reader is left wanting more information to make sense of everything.
Overall, the book has excellent world-building with exciting characters who could have been explored more so that the reader could make sense of the way the events unfolded and the reason behind the manner in which they did.
Review:
The Woman Underwater is the story of a woman named Victoria Sanders, whose husband, a history professor at Litchfield Academy, a boarding school for boys, mysteriously disappears while on a school trip to New York City.
Seven years pass, but Victoria is still plagued with nightmares and is unable to accept the fact that her husband is really gone. However, shocking truths start getting uncovered that make Victoria question everything and everybody around her.
The story slowly builds up as one progresses further, and small but relatively insignificant details are revealed along the way. It takes time to piece together how the scraps of information fit together in the large narrative, but the way in which they are conveyed keeps one intrigued. By the end of the book, one is able to connect and sympathise with Victoria Sanders. However, the ending falls short of the suspense that was built throughout the book. It turns predictable, and some of the story arcs are tied up quickly to avoid loose ends. The writing undoubtedly is successful in immersing the reader in the world of Victoria Sanders. However, the reader is left wanting more information to make sense of everything.
Overall, the book has excellent world-building with exciting characters who could have been explored more so that the reader could make sense of the way the events unfolded and the reason behind the manner in which they did.
February 16, 2023
The main story of this book involves Victoria Sands husband, Robert, who disappeared 7 years ago while on a field trip in NYC with some boys from the private boarding school where he was the head of the history department.. Although there is no trace of Robert or any evidence of him, Victoria cannot accept the fact that he is gone (and will not be coming back). Although she has dated several men, she cannot give up hope that Robert will return. In the meantime, she gave up her career as a flight attendant and has her own cupcake business. He mother was living in an assisted living facility, but the facility needs Victoria to house her as her dementia is interfering with their ability to manage her. Her mother has an interesting sense of "seeing things" and tells Victoria that Robert is nearby.
Their older son, Harrison, graduated from the academy and attends college out of state. Their younger son, Jameson, attends the school and in fact, is planning on going on the same field trip to NYC that his father participated in before he disappeared.
This domestic drama had a clever plot and was unpredictable enough to keep my interest. The first half had a lot of day to day activities that didn't add much to the story, but the last half brought into play several different characters who made a difference in the plot development. I liked the ending and felt that there was some resolution which would allow Victoria and the boys to move on.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the author, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Their older son, Harrison, graduated from the academy and attends college out of state. Their younger son, Jameson, attends the school and in fact, is planning on going on the same field trip to NYC that his father participated in before he disappeared.
This domestic drama had a clever plot and was unpredictable enough to keep my interest. The first half had a lot of day to day activities that didn't add much to the story, but the last half brought into play several different characters who made a difference in the plot development. I liked the ending and felt that there was some resolution which would allow Victoria and the boys to move on.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the author, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 8, 2022
I'm giving this book 3 stars but, in all honesty, would give 2.5 if I could. I'd like to start out by saying the idea of the book was great. Victoria's husband went missing without a trace. Nobody had any ideas about his disappearance. Her mother has a "gift" of being able to sense dangerous happenings and she, herself was having nightmares about water. I was looking forward to a great thriller with paranormal touches. It didn't happen.
It could have been really captivating and intense but it fell flat after the first chapter.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Instead of seeing Victoria go off in search of answers and using her mother's gift to solve the disappearance, we only see her hooking up, (while talking about how much she loves and misses Robert), belittling everyone around her (in her head) and not making time for her sons who were supposed to be so precious to her. Instead, she tells them to "leave her alone" when they need to talk to her. Her best friend only wants to help her out of her melancholy, but instead, Victoria constantly thinks about how her friend is divorced and never had kids and couldn't possibly know anything about love or marriage. She also treats the man in her life like cr@p. In all honesty, she's a horrible person and not very likable, at all.
The mystery does get solved at the end. But it happens quickly and out of nowhere. The story is slow and has too much fluff without enough of the actual mystery.
It could have been really captivating and intense but it fell flat after the first chapter.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Instead of seeing Victoria go off in search of answers and using her mother's gift to solve the disappearance, we only see her hooking up, (while talking about how much she loves and misses Robert), belittling everyone around her (in her head) and not making time for her sons who were supposed to be so precious to her. Instead, she tells them to "leave her alone" when they need to talk to her. Her best friend only wants to help her out of her melancholy, but instead, Victoria constantly thinks about how her friend is divorced and never had kids and couldn't possibly know anything about love or marriage. She also treats the man in her life like cr@p. In all honesty, she's a horrible person and not very likable, at all.
The mystery does get solved at the end. But it happens quickly and out of nowhere. The story is slow and has too much fluff without enough of the actual mystery.
August 11, 2022
The Woman Underwater
By Penny Goetjen
I would certainly consider this a slow burn domestic suspense/thriller and as the plot thickens, so does the thrill. The best way I can describe what my experience reading this book is like riding a roller coaster - you're sitting in the car painstakingly chugging upwards, then there's a moment where you've seem to on a precarious plateau. Any second now, you're going to plummet down the tracks and you're uncomfy and anxious. You knew well before hand that what goes up must come down, but once your car has started its rapid decline it seems like the car is falling faster and faster. Until finally, the ride is over and you're back on solid ground.
This book has nothing to do with roller coasters, but the experience for me was one in the same. Our protagonist Victoria has two sons who she dearly loves. Her husband Robert went missing seven years ago during an annual field trip that the school Robert works for - the school that their son now attends. Victoria has been in grief for the entire seven years and can't let go of Robert - she refuses to move on when it seems like everyone else has. Robert just disappeared with no trace and Victoria is confident that he's still out there somewhere...Someone has to know something and Victoria refuses to give up hope until she gets some answers. Answers that are closer than she, or anyone else, realizes.
Thank you #netgalley and Penny Goetjen for an Arc of The Woman Underwater!
By Penny Goetjen
I would certainly consider this a slow burn domestic suspense/thriller and as the plot thickens, so does the thrill. The best way I can describe what my experience reading this book is like riding a roller coaster - you're sitting in the car painstakingly chugging upwards, then there's a moment where you've seem to on a precarious plateau. Any second now, you're going to plummet down the tracks and you're uncomfy and anxious. You knew well before hand that what goes up must come down, but once your car has started its rapid decline it seems like the car is falling faster and faster. Until finally, the ride is over and you're back on solid ground.
This book has nothing to do with roller coasters, but the experience for me was one in the same. Our protagonist Victoria has two sons who she dearly loves. Her husband Robert went missing seven years ago during an annual field trip that the school Robert works for - the school that their son now attends. Victoria has been in grief for the entire seven years and can't let go of Robert - she refuses to move on when it seems like everyone else has. Robert just disappeared with no trace and Victoria is confident that he's still out there somewhere...Someone has to know something and Victoria refuses to give up hope until she gets some answers. Answers that are closer than she, or anyone else, realizes.
Thank you #netgalley and Penny Goetjen for an Arc of The Woman Underwater!
July 27, 2022
Thank you to Netgally, Secret Harbor Press, and Penny Goetjen for allowing me to read this book and review it.
This was such a quick read for me. It gripped me from the very beginning. The writing, characters, and plot were excellent. Definitely a great, quick, and easy read for any mystery/thriller lovers.
You get to know each character so well throughout the story, even just background characters. Everyone mentioned has some sort of impact in the story line, you just don't know every impact until the very end of the story.
You will think you know everything before the end of the story, but you won't know everything until the very end. There are so many twists and turns throughout the story, but it all wraps up so well at the end.
*******************SPOILERS**********************************
I knew something was wrong with Emerson from the very beginning of him being introduced. He made me so uncomfortable. However, Vince also makes me uncomfortable because of how controlling he is. I know it hints at how him and Victoria were going to work out the control issues now that they can move forward in their relationship, but it still bothers me.
***********************SPOILERS *********************************
This was such a quick read for me. It gripped me from the very beginning. The writing, characters, and plot were excellent. Definitely a great, quick, and easy read for any mystery/thriller lovers.
You get to know each character so well throughout the story, even just background characters. Everyone mentioned has some sort of impact in the story line, you just don't know every impact until the very end of the story.
You will think you know everything before the end of the story, but you won't know everything until the very end. There are so many twists and turns throughout the story, but it all wraps up so well at the end.
*******************SPOILERS**********************************
I knew something was wrong with Emerson from the very beginning of him being introduced. He made me so uncomfortable. However, Vince also makes me uncomfortable because of how controlling he is. I know it hints at how him and Victoria were going to work out the control issues now that they can move forward in their relationship, but it still bothers me.
***********************SPOILERS *********************************
August 7, 2024
Wish I had liked this. I don’t mind slow books, but if I’m going to get a slow book I’d like to learn a lot about the characters while the real action starts. These characters were the epitome of “go girl give us nothing”. I felt no connection to any of them, and more than anything, annoyance towards most of them. The dialogue was always so cordial and polite, i felt like I wasn’t reading about a mother and her kids, or a couple of friends, or mother and daughter, it was all just such a weird dynamic. Kind of off putting how this woman talked to the kids and refereed to them by their whole ass name every single time, not one “honey” or “sweetie” in sight. And this is the pettiest bit but whyyyyy did that grandma had to say “Ha!” After every sentence. Its just the type of thing that takes you out of the story, i was just reading and feeling absolutely nothing for this people.
Few events could’ve been left out and it would have been the same result. Nothing gets done until the last 60 pages. I was never at the edge of my seat dying to know what really happened.
I thought the writing in general was good (minus the dialogues) and the cover was beautiful.
Few events could’ve been left out and it would have been the same result. Nothing gets done until the last 60 pages. I was never at the edge of my seat dying to know what really happened.
I thought the writing in general was good (minus the dialogues) and the cover was beautiful.
November 6, 2025
The Woman Underwater is an intense, suspense, thriller mystery that gripped me right from the very beginning. I was captivated by the story and it was hard to put down. The book is about a woman named Victoria Sands who's husband went missing 7 years ago. He went to work and never came home. No one knows anything, didn't see anything, no clues or ideas what could have happened. Victoria was told to let it go and move on with her life, but instead she never gave up looking for the truth of what happened to her husband.
I easily connected with Victoria, the mother of 2 grown sons and taking care of her elderly mother with beginning of Alzheimer's by herself. The story has strong, emotional reactions, shocking twists, and intensely riveting conclusion. True to life story, and with great storytelling skills.
I am now a big fan of Penny Goetzen, I look forward to reading all her books. I highly recommend.
I easily connected with Victoria, the mother of 2 grown sons and taking care of her elderly mother with beginning of Alzheimer's by herself. The story has strong, emotional reactions, shocking twists, and intensely riveting conclusion. True to life story, and with great storytelling skills.
I am now a big fan of Penny Goetzen, I look forward to reading all her books. I highly recommend.
July 18, 2022
🌊Review🌊
Thank you so much @prbythebook for the gifted copy of THE WOMAN UNDERWATER. Readers can grab a copy on 7/26/22.
“No one disappears without a trace…”
This book is a bit deceiving…the cover and synopsis led me to believe that this book was going to be more of a mystery/thriller. Instead 90% of the book felt like women’s fiction and the last 10% focused mostly on the missing husband.
As a whole, the book didn’t work for me. In addition to the genre differences, I found the book to be slow paced and I didn’t connect with any of the characters. I thought her best friend was rude and none of the love interests were appealing.
I’m sad that this book was so different from what I expected, but I’m sure there are other readers who will enjoy it. I hope you’ll give it a chance and judge for yourself.
2/5 ⭐️
Thank you so much @prbythebook for the gifted copy of THE WOMAN UNDERWATER. Readers can grab a copy on 7/26/22.
“No one disappears without a trace…”
This book is a bit deceiving…the cover and synopsis led me to believe that this book was going to be more of a mystery/thriller. Instead 90% of the book felt like women’s fiction and the last 10% focused mostly on the missing husband.
As a whole, the book didn’t work for me. In addition to the genre differences, I found the book to be slow paced and I didn’t connect with any of the characters. I thought her best friend was rude and none of the love interests were appealing.
I’m sad that this book was so different from what I expected, but I’m sure there are other readers who will enjoy it. I hope you’ll give it a chance and judge for yourself.
2/5 ⭐️
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