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Dreaming of Water
A woman’s investigation into her past reveals family secrets and lies in this novel of discovery, redemption, and the mutability of memory by the bestselling author of The Good Neighbor and In Another Light.
Astrid Johansen swore she would never return to Heron Bay, Washington. In that idyllic coastal town, her little sister, Nina, drowned in a reflecting pool under Astrid’s watch seventeen years ago. Though guilt has kept her away, Astrid can’t ignore her aunt Maude’s urgent plea to come back. Maude claims to have found a letter that will change everything about the past.
When Astrid arrives in Heron Bay, she finds Maude unconscious, perhaps the victim of an attack. As Maude lingers in a coma, Astrid uncovers alarming evidence that Nina’s drowning that tragic night was no accident. But in a town rife with secrets, and in a family still fractured by grief, who knows the truth?
Astrid’s investigation leads her down a trail of dark memories, lies, and betrayals that will shatter her perception of everyone she thought she knew—even herself.
Astrid Johansen swore she would never return to Heron Bay, Washington. In that idyllic coastal town, her little sister, Nina, drowned in a reflecting pool under Astrid’s watch seventeen years ago. Though guilt has kept her away, Astrid can’t ignore her aunt Maude’s urgent plea to come back. Maude claims to have found a letter that will change everything about the past.
When Astrid arrives in Heron Bay, she finds Maude unconscious, perhaps the victim of an attack. As Maude lingers in a coma, Astrid uncovers alarming evidence that Nina’s drowning that tragic night was no accident. But in a town rife with secrets, and in a family still fractured by grief, who knows the truth?
Astrid’s investigation leads her down a trail of dark memories, lies, and betrayals that will shatter her perception of everyone she thought she knew—even herself.
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2023
478 people are currently reading
5378 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Banner
8 books1,081 followersA. J. Banner is the USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and #1 Kindle bestselling author of six novels of psychological suspense. She grew up reading Agatha Christie, Daphne du Maurier, and other masters of love and mystery. She always dreamed of writing gripping stories in which nothing is what it seems. She's hard at work on her next novel in her home office overlooking a Pacific Northwest forest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
September 8, 2023
Astrid has done her best to put her family tragedy behind her. Not an easy task…Astrid found her sister in a pond...not breathing. No amount of CPR was going to bring her back. Now the remaining family is irretrievably fractured. And with no support from her parents she realizes she needs to leave Huron Bay and never return.
But never say never!
Astrid receives a curious call from her Aunt Maude, claiming to have information regarding her sister death. Astrid knows it’s time to return home.
But she arrives to find Maude unconscious and the police believe she was attacked.
Who would hurt Aunt Maude? And why?
This was a good, solid thriller that held my attention throughout. I kept thinking this was straightforward and predictable. Then the author would throw a curveball leaving me back at square one in figuring out the murderer. Love that!
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing
But never say never!
Astrid receives a curious call from her Aunt Maude, claiming to have information regarding her sister death. Astrid knows it’s time to return home.
But she arrives to find Maude unconscious and the police believe she was attacked.
Who would hurt Aunt Maude? And why?
This was a good, solid thriller that held my attention throughout. I kept thinking this was straightforward and predictable. Then the author would throw a curveball leaving me back at square one in figuring out the murderer. Love that!
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing
October 16, 2023
Seventeen years ago Astrid Johansen's little sister, Nina, drowned in a reflecting pool on her aunt's neighbour's property in the town of Heron Bay, Washington. Though she swore she'd never return, Astrid can’t ignore her Aunt Maude’s urgent plea for her to return. When she arrives in Heron Bay, Astrid finds Maude unconscious, apparently as the result of a fall. While Maude lingers in a coma, Astrid starts looking into Nina's drowning and discovers information that will shatter her perception of everyone she thought she knew.
The story is told from Astrid's perspective with some flashbacks to the time of her sister's drowning. It's well written although the chapters are a little longer than I like and I found it rather slow moving until close to the end. None of the characters made much of an impression on me and some of Astrid's actions had me rolling my eyes. I honestly feel like I've read too many books recently about the investigation into a murder/disappearance/whatever that occurred a long time ago. But that's my own fault. Astrid had an extremely interesting occupation as a forensic document examiner but it didn't play that much of a role in the story. I previously read "In Another Light" by this author and the protagonist in it also had an unusual occupation as a mortuary cosmetologist. A refreshing change in occupation for characters in a book. 3.5 stars but I'm rounding down because I just wasn't that drawn into the story.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication: October 10, 2023
The story is told from Astrid's perspective with some flashbacks to the time of her sister's drowning. It's well written although the chapters are a little longer than I like and I found it rather slow moving until close to the end. None of the characters made much of an impression on me and some of Astrid's actions had me rolling my eyes. I honestly feel like I've read too many books recently about the investigation into a murder/disappearance/whatever that occurred a long time ago. But that's my own fault. Astrid had an extremely interesting occupation as a forensic document examiner but it didn't play that much of a role in the story. I previously read "In Another Light" by this author and the protagonist in it also had an unusual occupation as a mortuary cosmetologist. A refreshing change in occupation for characters in a book. 3.5 stars but I'm rounding down because I just wasn't that drawn into the story.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication: October 10, 2023
October 8, 2023
Well written, well thought out with a solid mystery.
Astrid Johansen is recently divorced, and her ex-husband and her former best friend are now together. While struggling with this, she receives an urgent phone call from her Aunt Maude asking her to come back to Heron Bay, Washington, a place she hoped never to return to. When she was a teenager, her sister died tragically, and Astrid has also felt guilty.
When she arrives at her aunt Maude's home, she finds her aunt on the floor, the victim of an attack. While her aunt remains hospitalized, Maude finds alarming news about her sister's death.
This was an enjoyable read full of secrets, family secrets, drama, and betrayal. This book had a nice amount of suspense and tension. Like Astrid, I wanted to know why anyone would want to harm Maude. I enjoyed the mystery about why Maude called Astrid to come home, and I enjoyed the insight Astrid gained into her own past actions. I appreciated her growth.
This was a well written, solid mystery that delivered. It was not my favorite book by the author but was still enjoyable and proved to be a fast read.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Astrid Johansen is recently divorced, and her ex-husband and her former best friend are now together. While struggling with this, she receives an urgent phone call from her Aunt Maude asking her to come back to Heron Bay, Washington, a place she hoped never to return to. When she was a teenager, her sister died tragically, and Astrid has also felt guilty.
When she arrives at her aunt Maude's home, she finds her aunt on the floor, the victim of an attack. While her aunt remains hospitalized, Maude finds alarming news about her sister's death.
This was an enjoyable read full of secrets, family secrets, drama, and betrayal. This book had a nice amount of suspense and tension. Like Astrid, I wanted to know why anyone would want to harm Maude. I enjoyed the mystery about why Maude called Astrid to come home, and I enjoyed the insight Astrid gained into her own past actions. I appreciated her growth.
This was a well written, solid mystery that delivered. It was not my favorite book by the author but was still enjoyable and proved to be a fast read.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
October 10, 2023
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
AJ Banner’s short thrillers are always under 300 pages and can easily be read in one day!
Dreaming of Water is a psychological thriller centered around the theme of grief. When Astrid was fourteen, her parents attended a neighbor’s party in Heron Bay while she babysat her three year old sister, Nina. Astrid had her hands full, as Nina often wandered off. When she awoke the next morning, she found her sister drowned in a wading pool on her neighbor’s property. It was deemed a tragic accident, but Astrid blames herself for her sister’s death for the next sixteen years.
Currently, Astrid is struggling to cope with her recent divorce from her husband. To make matters worse, he is dating her best friend. When she receives a cryptic call from her Aunt Maude about mysterious letters, she takes a trip back to Heron Bay to learn what she has found out about her sister’s death. But when she arrives, Aunt Maude is unconscious. What happened to Maude and what has she learned about Nina?
This is the second book that I have recently read that uses a typewriter as a major plot device. I guess old technology is the new rage? Unfortunately, I found the plot of the former book more intriguing. While I didn’t guess all of the twists, it felt like the author didn’t commit to fully answering the ultimate question of what happened to Nina. This was a bit of a let down, as were a few other over the top twists. However, I enjoyed the suspense along the way!
If you are looking for a quick suspenseful read, check out Dreaming of Water!
3.5/5 stars rounded down
Expected publication date: 10/10/23
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union publishing for the ARC of Dreaming of Water in exchange for an honest review.
AJ Banner’s short thrillers are always under 300 pages and can easily be read in one day!
Dreaming of Water is a psychological thriller centered around the theme of grief. When Astrid was fourteen, her parents attended a neighbor’s party in Heron Bay while she babysat her three year old sister, Nina. Astrid had her hands full, as Nina often wandered off. When she awoke the next morning, she found her sister drowned in a wading pool on her neighbor’s property. It was deemed a tragic accident, but Astrid blames herself for her sister’s death for the next sixteen years.
Currently, Astrid is struggling to cope with her recent divorce from her husband. To make matters worse, he is dating her best friend. When she receives a cryptic call from her Aunt Maude about mysterious letters, she takes a trip back to Heron Bay to learn what she has found out about her sister’s death. But when she arrives, Aunt Maude is unconscious. What happened to Maude and what has she learned about Nina?
This is the second book that I have recently read that uses a typewriter as a major plot device. I guess old technology is the new rage? Unfortunately, I found the plot of the former book more intriguing. While I didn’t guess all of the twists, it felt like the author didn’t commit to fully answering the ultimate question of what happened to Nina. This was a bit of a let down, as were a few other over the top twists. However, I enjoyed the suspense along the way!
If you are looking for a quick suspenseful read, check out Dreaming of Water!
3.5/5 stars rounded down
Expected publication date: 10/10/23
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union publishing for the ARC of Dreaming of Water in exchange for an honest review.
January 8, 2024
A tragedy splintered Astrid Johansen's family apart 17 years ago, when her little sister drowned in a pond near her Aunt Maude's house in Heron Bay. Astrid is compelled to return when Maude reaches out to her claiming to have found a letter that will change everything they thought they knew about that time. Only when she gets there, Maude is unconscious, the victim of an attack. Someone wants to keep the past's secrets buried, and Astrid must find out who.
DREAMING OF WATER is part family drama and part mystery that kept me guessing, though the story overall didn't grab me like I'd hoped. It's a slow-burn for sure, and I felt like the characters could have been fleshed out more. I wanted to know details about this mysterious letter, but Maude's coma for a big chunk of the book pushed that to the wayside. I enjoyed the reveal at the end, definitely a surprise, though the conclusion left me wanting more.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
DREAMING OF WATER is part family drama and part mystery that kept me guessing, though the story overall didn't grab me like I'd hoped. It's a slow-burn for sure, and I felt like the characters could have been fleshed out more. I wanted to know details about this mysterious letter, but Maude's coma for a big chunk of the book pushed that to the wayside. I enjoyed the reveal at the end, definitely a surprise, though the conclusion left me wanting more.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
October 15, 2023
What had her aunt found, and why didn't she tell Astrid what it was when they talked on the phone?
If Aunt Maude had told Astrid, maybe Astrid wouldn't have found her unconscious on the floor of the library without a clue what she meant about a letter and a typewriter.
Astrid took a few days off hoping to have some time with Aunt Maude and find out what was going on, but that's not how it turned out.
We follow Astrid as the chapters go back and forth from when she was ten and her sister drowned to present day when she had just divorced her husband, her father had remarried, and her mother was somewhere in Europe with her newest boyfriend.
Seventeen years ago Astrid found her four-year-old sister floating in a shallow pond.
It was ruled an accident, but after all these years did Aunt Maude find something to the contrary? Was Aunt Maude in danger and now Astrid?
Hopefully Aunt Maude wakes up and things will be revealed.
DREAMING OF WATER kept me turning the pages. The writing and the story line are so good.
The twist at the end, and when all the secrets are revealed is great!! 5/5
This is my first book by this author, and I definitely enjoyed DREAMING OF WATER.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
If Aunt Maude had told Astrid, maybe Astrid wouldn't have found her unconscious on the floor of the library without a clue what she meant about a letter and a typewriter.
Astrid took a few days off hoping to have some time with Aunt Maude and find out what was going on, but that's not how it turned out.
We follow Astrid as the chapters go back and forth from when she was ten and her sister drowned to present day when she had just divorced her husband, her father had remarried, and her mother was somewhere in Europe with her newest boyfriend.
Seventeen years ago Astrid found her four-year-old sister floating in a shallow pond.
It was ruled an accident, but after all these years did Aunt Maude find something to the contrary? Was Aunt Maude in danger and now Astrid?
Hopefully Aunt Maude wakes up and things will be revealed.
DREAMING OF WATER kept me turning the pages. The writing and the story line are so good.
The twist at the end, and when all the secrets are revealed is great!! 5/5
This is my first book by this author, and I definitely enjoyed DREAMING OF WATER.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
October 7, 2023
It's been seventeen years since Astrid returned to her Aunt Maude's home in Heron Bay. She left after her little sister Nina drowned in a reflecting pool near Maude's house. But when Maude calls Astrid, saying she's found some mysterious letters relating to Nina's death, Astrid comes back. She finds Maude unconscious and her house a mess.
Of course, as with all thrillers, a woman returning to her past will now start meddling and trying to solve a crime for which she is unqualified to figure out. I will give Astrid a little bit of credit in that she's a forensic document examiner, so she's at least somewhat competent in that area. Also, luckily for us readers, Banner takes this trope and weaves a great story with it.
Told from present day Astrid's point of view once she arrives in Heron Bay, along with memories of Astrid past, DREAMING is fast-paced and suspenseful. Astrid is haunted by Nina's death and blames herself, as she was babysitting Nina that fateful night when she wandered away. She sees the letters as a chance to figured out what really happened. But they cloud her perception of what truly went on and cause her to get pulled in to Heron Bay's small town cast of characters, including someone who wants Astrid to leave town immediately. Banner does a great job of mixing up Astrid's thoughts and casting suspicion on everyone--the rich family who owned the pool where Nina drowned, including their son; Maude's young caretaker; a local policeman; a diver with a checkered past; even Nina's own parents. Each page keeps you guessing.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this atmospheric, tense thriller. 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
Of course, as with all thrillers, a woman returning to her past will now start meddling and trying to solve a crime for which she is unqualified to figure out. I will give Astrid a little bit of credit in that she's a forensic document examiner, so she's at least somewhat competent in that area. Also, luckily for us readers, Banner takes this trope and weaves a great story with it.
Told from present day Astrid's point of view once she arrives in Heron Bay, along with memories of Astrid past, DREAMING is fast-paced and suspenseful. Astrid is haunted by Nina's death and blames herself, as she was babysitting Nina that fateful night when she wandered away. She sees the letters as a chance to figured out what really happened. But they cloud her perception of what truly went on and cause her to get pulled in to Heron Bay's small town cast of characters, including someone who wants Astrid to leave town immediately. Banner does a great job of mixing up Astrid's thoughts and casting suspicion on everyone--the rich family who owned the pool where Nina drowned, including their son; Maude's young caretaker; a local policeman; a diver with a checkered past; even Nina's own parents. Each page keeps you guessing.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this atmospheric, tense thriller. 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
February 14, 2024
4.5/5
Dreaming of Water is my favorite A.J. Banner novel to date, and I almost can't believe how much I loved it! The twists just kept coming, and I was so into it that I finished it in one day and ultimately one sitting. Astrid's mom is a real piece of work, and her character made me so mad! It made it extra hard for Astrid to piece together the night of her sister's death, and I was shocked and appalled by the way her mom acted toward her and the situation as a whole. The mystery kept me glued to the pages and for the longest time, I really had no idea the way things would conclude and tie together.
The audiobook is narrated by Mirai who I have only listened to previously in Island Time by Georgia Clark, but I was very impressed with her narration for this book! She did a great job and completely personified the character of Astrid, so I would definitely recommend listening to this on audio. Family secrets galore lie in the pages of Dreaming of Water and I can tell you I didn't see anything coming before it was revealed. Just an amazingly cunning and engrossing read from Banner, and I can't wait to see what she puts out next!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Dreaming of Water is my favorite A.J. Banner novel to date, and I almost can't believe how much I loved it! The twists just kept coming, and I was so into it that I finished it in one day and ultimately one sitting. Astrid's mom is a real piece of work, and her character made me so mad! It made it extra hard for Astrid to piece together the night of her sister's death, and I was shocked and appalled by the way her mom acted toward her and the situation as a whole. The mystery kept me glued to the pages and for the longest time, I really had no idea the way things would conclude and tie together.
The audiobook is narrated by Mirai who I have only listened to previously in Island Time by Georgia Clark, but I was very impressed with her narration for this book! She did a great job and completely personified the character of Astrid, so I would definitely recommend listening to this on audio. Family secrets galore lie in the pages of Dreaming of Water and I can tell you I didn't see anything coming before it was revealed. Just an amazingly cunning and engrossing read from Banner, and I can't wait to see what she puts out next!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 3, 2023
I know when I picked up one of the authors books I’m getting an engrossing and fast paced read that I can finish in just a few sittings and this one delivered on the expectation. As much as the pacing was swift I would say this was more of a quieter style mystery with lots of long buried family secrets and drama that entertained. Tragedy fractured Astrid’s family with the death of sister and things splintered as a result. I love when an old case comes back to life and the merging of what really happened the night Nina died and present circumstances was interesting and surprising. The author always manages to trick me in the most subtle way and she did it again here, definitely pick this one up if you’re looking for a quick and satisfying read.
May 5, 2023
Little Nina drowns in a reflection pool.
Years later big sister Astrid still deals with grief and uncertainty. She needs closure and for this she needs answers. She needs to know what happened that night, while there was a party going on at the main house with many guests in attendance.
Dreaming of Water is a fast paced psychological thriller with many twists. Set in attractive surroundings, filled with indepth characters. An intriguing read.
Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.
Years later big sister Astrid still deals with grief and uncertainty. She needs closure and for this she needs answers. She needs to know what happened that night, while there was a party going on at the main house with many guests in attendance.
Dreaming of Water is a fast paced psychological thriller with many twists. Set in attractive surroundings, filled with indepth characters. An intriguing read.
Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.
April 23, 2023
I'm a huge fan of Banner's books so was very excited to read this one, and of course it didn't disappoint! Astrid lost her younger sister, Nina to a drowning years ago and she returns to Heron Bay after her divorce from Trent. But her Aunt Maude suffers a fall and is hospitalized as she's in a coma so Astrid stays and tries to find answers to questions she's had for years about the events that are hazy in her mind. Maude alluded to "letters" that would help her solve the mystery surrounding her sister, but there are more questions than answers so she must dig deeper. And that search turns up more than anyone expected! Banner speaks to themes of betrayal, jealousy, friendships, contrition, and SO much more! I read this in one sitting as I couldn't put it down until I knew what transpired!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
November 5, 2023
TITLE: DREAMING OF WATER
AUTHOR: AJ BANNER
PUB DATE: 10.10.2023
A woman’s investigation into her past reveals family secrets and lies in this novel of discovery, redemption, and the mutability of memory.
DREAMING OF WATER is a story set in beautiful Heron Bay, Washington where Astrid Johansen would never want to return to. Astrid is haunted by the death of her sister who drowned in her watch almost two decades ago, though the guilt is still very much in the surface. A recent call from her aunt Maud forces her to come back and what she finds is her aunt was brutally attacked leaving her in a coma, and new info about her sister’s death surface.
I love the mystery, the suspenseful and gripping story as I have come to expect from author AJ Banner.
I am a huge fan of AJ Banner’s writing and books, be sure to check out her other best selling novels in the thriller / mystery genre.
Her first novel, THE GOOD NEIGHBOR, was a #1 Amazon bestseller, THE TWILIGHT WIFE was a USA Today bestseller, AFTER NIGHTFALL as a "gripping psychological thriller, and THE POISON GARDEN a “sharply written and taut psychological thriller.”
AUTHOR: AJ BANNER
PUB DATE: 10.10.2023
A woman’s investigation into her past reveals family secrets and lies in this novel of discovery, redemption, and the mutability of memory.
DREAMING OF WATER is a story set in beautiful Heron Bay, Washington where Astrid Johansen would never want to return to. Astrid is haunted by the death of her sister who drowned in her watch almost two decades ago, though the guilt is still very much in the surface. A recent call from her aunt Maud forces her to come back and what she finds is her aunt was brutally attacked leaving her in a coma, and new info about her sister’s death surface.
I love the mystery, the suspenseful and gripping story as I have come to expect from author AJ Banner.
I am a huge fan of AJ Banner’s writing and books, be sure to check out her other best selling novels in the thriller / mystery genre.
Her first novel, THE GOOD NEIGHBOR, was a #1 Amazon bestseller, THE TWILIGHT WIFE was a USA Today bestseller, AFTER NIGHTFALL as a "gripping psychological thriller, and THE POISON GARDEN a “sharply written and taut psychological thriller.”
May 14, 2023
I read a lot of great reviews for this book and the premise sounded really interesting, but unfortunately it fell short for me. The character development was lacking, and I didn’t find myself invested in what happened to any of them. I kept hoping it would get better, but it was very slow and didn’t really seem to pick up much. Most of the book was spent waiting for Astrid’s Aunt Maude to wake up from a coma. I’ve really enjoyed AJ Banner’s past work and unfortunately was disappointed in this one.
Thank you to NetGalley, AJ Banner, and the publisher for a copy of Dreaming of Water in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, AJ Banner, and the publisher for a copy of Dreaming of Water in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2023
For seventeen years Astrid Johansen has been unsure of what happened the night her little sister drowned. She never knew if it was an accident or if there was someone who captured Nina's attention and lead her to her watery death. Astrid is fresh from a divorce. Her ex is now in a relationship with her best friend. She is filled with emotion and is raw to the touch. Her Aunt Maude calls her back to Heron Bay, Washington. Telling her she has found something that may help clear up the mystery of that night. When Astrid walks into the house, the sounds, the smells, and the joy all come rushing back. Followed by the crushing despair that takes her breath away if she is not careful. She has always blamed herself; she was supposed to be watching Nina that night. Nina tended to wander...
From the first page I was enthralled and riveted by this story. The smells of the sea, the trails leading through the forest by the ocean, the mansion just up the hill, and the deep family secrets that have been hidden for years. Astrid truly does not know who her mother or father were right before or after Nina's death. The letters her aunt found add more questions that need to be answered desperately. The characters are phenomenally written and will stick with you. The number of suspects that keep growing, and the shocking ending that floored me. Thank you to A.J. Banner and Amazon Publishing for my gifted copy of this fantastic read.
From the first page I was enthralled and riveted by this story. The smells of the sea, the trails leading through the forest by the ocean, the mansion just up the hill, and the deep family secrets that have been hidden for years. Astrid truly does not know who her mother or father were right before or after Nina's death. The letters her aunt found add more questions that need to be answered desperately. The characters are phenomenally written and will stick with you. The number of suspects that keep growing, and the shocking ending that floored me. Thank you to A.J. Banner and Amazon Publishing for my gifted copy of this fantastic read.
October 14, 2023
I received this from Netgalley for an honest review. Interesting thriller. Astrid is going back to Heroin Bay. The last place she wanted to be. The loss of her sister there still haunted her. Her Aunt Maude I wished she come and now she is faced with memories, secrets and someone who desperately does not want her there. Solid writing and story was fast paced. Very enjoyable.
August 6, 2023
“Dreaming of Water” by A. J. Banner is an intriguing and captivating novel. The Genres for this book are Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Mystery, and Domestic Thriller. The timeline for this story is set in the present and goes to the past regarding the characters or events. The setting is Heron Bay, Washington. Heron Bay is a small coastal town with deep secrets, mysteries, and suspicious characters. I love how A.J. Banner vividly describes her dramatic characters as complex, complicated, dysfunctional, flawed, and suspicious. A. J. Banner has provided a well-written novel that does provide clues to help guess what has happened. I love how the author describes a typewriter and explains how it almost has its own “DNA” when used for evidence and clues. The protagonist, Astrid Johansen, has promised she will not return to Heron Bay because of tragic memories of her baby sister drowning in a reflective pool years ago. Astrid questions her divorce and betrayal when her Aunt Maud asks her to visit Heron Bay. Maud claims she has evidence that can change many things. When Astrid returns to Heron Bay, she finds Maud unconscious. While Maud is in a coma, Astrid is determined to discover the truth and reveal past secrets. There is danger, and Astrid thinks her aunt’s accident and her sister's death were intentional. Astrid comes from a dysfunctional family, and deep secrets can have severe consequences. When Astrid is in Heron Bay, she can see people from her past. I highly recommend this intense and memorable mystery to readers who enjoy suspenseful novels.
October 10, 2023
After receiving an urgent message from her Aunt, Astrid returns to Heron Bay, a place she swore she’d never return to due to memories of her sister’s death. Upon her return, she finds her Aunt has been attacked and is unconscious. She is left to look for the clues her Aunt hinted at. Memories that have haunted Astrid are brought to the surface.
I am a fan of A.J Banner’s work, so I jumped at the chance to read her latest. I find her work beautifully descriptive and easy for me to vividly picture the story and bring it to life. Unfortunately for me, this storyline fell flat. I found the connection with most of the characters lacking, and their interaction with each other weak. I did find Astrid’s job as a forensic document examiner interesting. Dual timeline 2023/2004, but the 2004 references seem out of touch with the typewriter use during this time. The ending really didn’t give me the closure I was seeking in regard to her dysfunctional parents and her life. This book didn’t grab me and I found it slow moving. Will I read this author again, absolutely! I look forward to her next book.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.
I am a fan of A.J Banner’s work, so I jumped at the chance to read her latest. I find her work beautifully descriptive and easy for me to vividly picture the story and bring it to life. Unfortunately for me, this storyline fell flat. I found the connection with most of the characters lacking, and their interaction with each other weak. I did find Astrid’s job as a forensic document examiner interesting. Dual timeline 2023/2004, but the 2004 references seem out of touch with the typewriter use during this time. The ending really didn’t give me the closure I was seeking in regard to her dysfunctional parents and her life. This book didn’t grab me and I found it slow moving. Will I read this author again, absolutely! I look forward to her next book.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.
December 14, 2023
Astrid never wanted to return to her aunt's house after a tragedy struck when she was a kid. Her sister Nina was found by Astrid after she drowned in a reflection pool at a neighbor's house. Many years later, Astrid is asked by her aunt Maude to come back because she found some mysterious letters that she wants her to read. When Astrid walks in the door, Maude is unconscious, and it looks like someone was looking for something. Astrid begins to investigate and all the unanswered questions from the night Nina died gets answered. This book is almost a cozy mystery because there is some romance and not any real violence happens.
May 1, 2023
Astrid receives a call from her Aunt Maude who's begging her to come to visit - she's found an important letter that she can't tell her about over the phone. Astrid's stayed away from Heron Bay for years because the memories are too painful. That's where her little sister, Nina, drowned at the age of three. But the intrigue of the letter is too great for Astrid to ignore, and she does miss her Aunt, so she decides to make the trip.
Unfortunately, she arrives to find Maude unconscious and seriously injured at her home. Now Astrid is seriously worried about what Maude uncovered and who else might know about the letter. She doesn't believe for one minute that her Aunt accidentally fell. And if someone would attack a vulnerable older widow, they surely would do harm to Astrid, as well. But she has no choice except to investigate on her own - Maude is in a coma and might not wake up. The more Astrid uncovers about the past, the more she worries that she's in danger and she can't trust anyone. How far will someone go to ensure that the past stays buried?
The idea of a mysterious letter hooked me right away, as did Astrid's career as a forensic document examiner. A little convenient when it comes to the letter, as is Maude's coma. The one person who can answer all her questions is unable to communicate. Well, at least it's not amnesia. And it was never explained how Astrid trained to do her job - did she go to college or just take some classes? She was reputable enough that she testified in court, yet somehow worked only when and as needed and could fully support herself.
Some of the characters are quite unlikeable - I really wanted Astrid to tell her mother, Rose, where she could shove it but that sadly didn't happen. Her terrible parenting led to Astrid's lifelong burden of guilt, yet apparently, no one cared about that because Rose was just so beautiful. Seriously, only a slight exaggeration.
The other thing that kept bothering me was that the story takes place in 2023 and the 'past' was only 2004 yet family members in the story not only wrote letters to each other when they were away, but they did so on typewriters. Typewriters! They didn't just pick up their cell phone and call them? Poor cell service doesn't account for jumping back in time to typewriting correspondence, they still had landlines and could easily call people who were away. Why not just set the story a few decades earlier when that would have made sense? So if you can get past that, it's an enjoyable book, and the secrets exposed are satisfyingly scandalous. It was all just a bit too anachronistic for me, though.
Unfortunately, she arrives to find Maude unconscious and seriously injured at her home. Now Astrid is seriously worried about what Maude uncovered and who else might know about the letter. She doesn't believe for one minute that her Aunt accidentally fell. And if someone would attack a vulnerable older widow, they surely would do harm to Astrid, as well. But she has no choice except to investigate on her own - Maude is in a coma and might not wake up. The more Astrid uncovers about the past, the more she worries that she's in danger and she can't trust anyone. How far will someone go to ensure that the past stays buried?
The idea of a mysterious letter hooked me right away, as did Astrid's career as a forensic document examiner. A little convenient when it comes to the letter, as is Maude's coma. The one person who can answer all her questions is unable to communicate. Well, at least it's not amnesia. And it was never explained how Astrid trained to do her job - did she go to college or just take some classes? She was reputable enough that she testified in court, yet somehow worked only when and as needed and could fully support herself.
Some of the characters are quite unlikeable - I really wanted Astrid to tell her mother, Rose, where she could shove it but that sadly didn't happen. Her terrible parenting led to Astrid's lifelong burden of guilt, yet apparently, no one cared about that because Rose was just so beautiful. Seriously, only a slight exaggeration.
The other thing that kept bothering me was that the story takes place in 2023 and the 'past' was only 2004 yet family members in the story not only wrote letters to each other when they were away, but they did so on typewriters. Typewriters! They didn't just pick up their cell phone and call them? Poor cell service doesn't account for jumping back in time to typewriting correspondence, they still had landlines and could easily call people who were away. Why not just set the story a few decades earlier when that would have made sense? So if you can get past that, it's an enjoyable book, and the secrets exposed are satisfyingly scandalous. It was all just a bit too anachronistic for me, though.
October 15, 2023
Dreaming of Water, by A. J. Banner, is a psychological thriller and family drama about a complicated, troubled family with a young daughter who drowns one night while her older sister is babysitting. This is clearly a dysfunctional family. The mother takes the older daughter for granted and treats her quite poorly with little respect or consideration. She seems to only care about herself and is a flirt with the neighborhood men as well. The father has basically checked out and leaves everyone to their own devices. The aunt is so passive that though she steps in to raise her niece, she seems to more-or-less float through life. Though the plot is compelling, the characters seem to only detract from it.
The story begins one night, while the parents are at a neighborhood party, and fourteen year old Astrid has to forgo her plans and babysit her little sister. She slips out of the house in search of her mother and Astrid later finds her drowned in the neighbors’ reflecting pool. No one consoles Astrid, and some place blame on her. Her parents split up and Astrid’s aunt essentially raises her. Astrid is haunted by this experience well into her adult years and continues to blame herself. Years later, when her aunt calls her home with a cryptic message, Astrid arrives to find her aunt knocked unconscious in her home. Astrid is filled with questions and racked with worry and begins to question and investigate what happened to her aunt now, and what happened to her sister all those years ago.
This is an odd story. It felt rather novice and simplistic at times, unreal in both the plot and the characters’ behaviors and reactions. None of the characters felt realistic to me and the mystery felt rather convoluted. I had a difficult time believing the police would be so quick to disregard the discoveries that were made. I couldn’t buy into the romance, which didn’t feel authentic, or even plausible. The parents behavior was abhorrent and truly no one seemed to behave in a responsible, rational manner. The actual mystery was also never fully resolved, which perhaps was intended to feel enigmatic, but instead felt incomplete.
There were elements of this mystery that were compelling and kept me turning the pages to see how it would all play out. Dreaming of Water is a short, quick, suspenseful thriller that will grab your attention. Unfortunately, despite the air of intrigue, the plot wasn’t fleshed out very well, or credible enough to make it a satisfying novel, and ultimately, it fell a bit flat.
The story begins one night, while the parents are at a neighborhood party, and fourteen year old Astrid has to forgo her plans and babysit her little sister. She slips out of the house in search of her mother and Astrid later finds her drowned in the neighbors’ reflecting pool. No one consoles Astrid, and some place blame on her. Her parents split up and Astrid’s aunt essentially raises her. Astrid is haunted by this experience well into her adult years and continues to blame herself. Years later, when her aunt calls her home with a cryptic message, Astrid arrives to find her aunt knocked unconscious in her home. Astrid is filled with questions and racked with worry and begins to question and investigate what happened to her aunt now, and what happened to her sister all those years ago.
This is an odd story. It felt rather novice and simplistic at times, unreal in both the plot and the characters’ behaviors and reactions. None of the characters felt realistic to me and the mystery felt rather convoluted. I had a difficult time believing the police would be so quick to disregard the discoveries that were made. I couldn’t buy into the romance, which didn’t feel authentic, or even plausible. The parents behavior was abhorrent and truly no one seemed to behave in a responsible, rational manner. The actual mystery was also never fully resolved, which perhaps was intended to feel enigmatic, but instead felt incomplete.
There were elements of this mystery that were compelling and kept me turning the pages to see how it would all play out. Dreaming of Water is a short, quick, suspenseful thriller that will grab your attention. Unfortunately, despite the air of intrigue, the plot wasn’t fleshed out very well, or credible enough to make it a satisfying novel, and ultimately, it fell a bit flat.
June 1, 2023
Happy Tuesday Y'all!!
I am bright eyed and bushy tailed after spending a long weekend at the beach. Now, don't get me wrong, I would much rather still be on the beach instead of behind a computer screen but someone has to pay the bills!
It was supposed to be a pretty icky weather weekend here in New Jersey but we lucked out with some 80 degree weather and sunkissed skin! That's a win in my book!
What better book to choose to pack with me than a book titled "Dreaming of Water"
Holy Mother of Moses! What the heck did I just read?
A.J. Banner is a force to be reckoned with and nailed it with her SIXTH publication. If you haven't read Banner before, you are in for a treat. There is not one book of hers that you will not love. The Poison Garden, happens to be one of my favorites of all time.
In Dreaming of Water, there is no shortage of secrets and family drama. I was completely engrossed within chapter one. I sped through this book without even so much as a bathroom break. The plot was incredible, the characters, lovable and multi-dimensional. The twist? Oh Boy! It's a doozie!!!
Before I squeal and ruin the surprise, check out this teaser.
Synopsis :
Astrid Johansen swore she would never return to Heron Bay, Washington. In that idyllic coastal town, her little sister, Nina, drowned in a reflecting pool under Astrid’s watch seventeen years ago. Though guilt has kept her away, Astrid can’t ignore her aunt Maude’s urgent plea to come back. Maude claims to have found a letter that will change everything about the past.
When Astrid arrives in Heron Bay, she finds Maude unconscious, perhaps the victim of an attack. As Maude lingers in a coma, Astrid uncovers alarming evidence that Nina’s drowning that tragic night was no accident. But in a town rife with secrets, and in a family still fractured by grief, who knows the truth?
Astrid’s investigation leads her down a trail of dark memories, lies, and betrayals that will shatter her perception of everyone she thought she knew—even herself.
I am bright eyed and bushy tailed after spending a long weekend at the beach. Now, don't get me wrong, I would much rather still be on the beach instead of behind a computer screen but someone has to pay the bills!
It was supposed to be a pretty icky weather weekend here in New Jersey but we lucked out with some 80 degree weather and sunkissed skin! That's a win in my book!
What better book to choose to pack with me than a book titled "Dreaming of Water"
Holy Mother of Moses! What the heck did I just read?
A.J. Banner is a force to be reckoned with and nailed it with her SIXTH publication. If you haven't read Banner before, you are in for a treat. There is not one book of hers that you will not love. The Poison Garden, happens to be one of my favorites of all time.
In Dreaming of Water, there is no shortage of secrets and family drama. I was completely engrossed within chapter one. I sped through this book without even so much as a bathroom break. The plot was incredible, the characters, lovable and multi-dimensional. The twist? Oh Boy! It's a doozie!!!
Before I squeal and ruin the surprise, check out this teaser.
Synopsis :
Astrid Johansen swore she would never return to Heron Bay, Washington. In that idyllic coastal town, her little sister, Nina, drowned in a reflecting pool under Astrid’s watch seventeen years ago. Though guilt has kept her away, Astrid can’t ignore her aunt Maude’s urgent plea to come back. Maude claims to have found a letter that will change everything about the past.
When Astrid arrives in Heron Bay, she finds Maude unconscious, perhaps the victim of an attack. As Maude lingers in a coma, Astrid uncovers alarming evidence that Nina’s drowning that tragic night was no accident. But in a town rife with secrets, and in a family still fractured by grief, who knows the truth?
Astrid’s investigation leads her down a trail of dark memories, lies, and betrayals that will shatter her perception of everyone she thought she knew—even herself.
October 10, 2023
This book presents a complicated and emotional story of a family in turmoil after a young girl drowns in a neighbor’s reflecting pool. Almost two decades have passed and Astrid, the older sister of young Nina, is loathe to return to Heron Bay but does so when her aunt urgently summons her. The action really begins to pick up and keeps a fast pace once Astrid arrives in Heron Bay and confronts her past and all of the ghosts that haunt her dreams. There is an eerie feeling that something is missing from her memory and Astrid is determined to discover the truth about Nina’s drowning, a tragedy for which Astrid blames herself. As Astrid delves deeper into mysterious letters typed on an old manual typewriter, I was fascinated with the research into how the letters matched the typeset and the expertise of Astrid as one who verifies documents. The entire story flowed seamlessly, even with multiple characters and flashbacks into an illusory, dreamlike past. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense, but I especially liked the clever character development which was slowly revealed and so brilliantly written. The plot was compelling and multi-layered, with secrets hidden by most of the characters and plenty of red herrings to keep me guessing. The drama is intense, the characters are dynamically unique and the entire book is a well-crafted dive into the waters of what you think you know because your subconscious tells you it is true. As the story progresses to the climax, it fairly crackles with tension that captivated me all the way to the stunning conclusion. For fans of suspense that does not waiver and authentic details that are riveting, this novel is perfect!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
October 9, 2023
Dreaming of water.
By AJ Banner..
Psychological fiction
Another fabulous book and I really do mean that..
Banner writes The most fabulous books.
Every single book I have ever read by this author Has been a five star read. I would personally give them each more stars if it was allowed.. Because her work is phenomenal.
Another book I would love to be able to read for the first time... I've only had a few books I can say This about. This Is definitely one of those.
Astrid Johansen,
Received a phone call from her aunt, Back home in. Heron Bay. But when she Returns home things are not what she expected. Her aunt isn't home but in the hospital. Things are not like they should be.
There are things her aunt has told her.. Things that pertain to the past Things that will be Clues.
Things from seventeen years ago. But will she be able to Figure out the order of things. Figure out what really happened all those years ago. What really happened. The key 🔑
death and so much more.
infidelity. Rich people. Things that you never can imagine. And everything else that goes with.
And I absolutely loved the twist this book had...
This was absolutely Phenomenal book. I truly truly Loved this story.
By AJ Banner..
Psychological fiction
Another fabulous book and I really do mean that..
Banner writes The most fabulous books.
Every single book I have ever read by this author Has been a five star read. I would personally give them each more stars if it was allowed.. Because her work is phenomenal.
Another book I would love to be able to read for the first time... I've only had a few books I can say This about. This Is definitely one of those.
Astrid Johansen,
Received a phone call from her aunt, Back home in. Heron Bay. But when she Returns home things are not what she expected. Her aunt isn't home but in the hospital. Things are not like they should be.
There are things her aunt has told her.. Things that pertain to the past Things that will be Clues.
Things from seventeen years ago. But will she be able to Figure out the order of things. Figure out what really happened all those years ago. What really happened. The key 🔑
death and so much more.
infidelity. Rich people. Things that you never can imagine. And everything else that goes with.
And I absolutely loved the twist this book had...
This was absolutely Phenomenal book. I truly truly Loved this story.
October 27, 2023
When Astrid was just a kid, her younger sister do drowned in the town Heron Bay, Washington. She has never returned, but she’s back at the behest of her favorite Aunt Maude. Maude’s reasoning that she has found a letter that will change the last.
But when Astrid arrives, she finds Maude unconscious and calls an ambulance. Now that Maude is an a medical coma, Astrid is trying to find out what happened to Maude, but also sees that her sister’s drowning may not have been so accidental. What else is this small town hiding?
I flew this through this novel! I had to know what happened to Maude and Nina. Their poor parents were never the same after what happened with Nina, but they blamed Astrid and made everyone miserable.
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours @ajbanner and @lakeunionauthors for my gifted ebook.
But when Astrid arrives, she finds Maude unconscious and calls an ambulance. Now that Maude is an a medical coma, Astrid is trying to find out what happened to Maude, but also sees that her sister’s drowning may not have been so accidental. What else is this small town hiding?
I flew this through this novel! I had to know what happened to Maude and Nina. Their poor parents were never the same after what happened with Nina, but they blamed Astrid and made everyone miserable.
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours @ajbanner and @lakeunionauthors for my gifted ebook.
July 19, 2023
Astrid Johansen has dark ties to Heron Bay, Washington, where as a child, under her watch, her younger sister Nina is found to have drowned in a small reflecting pool. 17 years later, with the drowning case an unsolved, Astrid receives an urgent plea from her Aunt Maude to return to Heron Bay as she claims to have found something that sheds light on the unknowns of Nina's drowning. Upon arrival Aunt Maude is found unconscious in a comatose state, Astrid must not only figure out who possible attacked her Aunt, but uncover the mystery behind her sisters death 17 years before.
I unfortunately had to DNF this book at 47%.
This book starts off very slow. Not even 100 pages in and it feels like it hasn’t picked up much. The story, while an interesting concept, seems to suffer from over description at one point giving a description of which drawer the main character was looking through and where she put the drawer when she pulled it out. As a reader I felt that everything was handed to me and it felt so bloated. There seems to be so much filler writing in the book, dialogue that just feels unnecessary, and just things that felt unneeded. . There is a story here, but I just feel like the execution of this one did not work. I wanted to love this so bad and pushed farther into the book hoping my feels would change, but they did not.. The book reads like a WB drama show like “Supernatural” but I have to sit through more than 45 minutes of it. I love descriptive books, but it doesn’t always work for some stories and to hear every single one of Astrid’s thoughts just feels overly drawn out, making relatively uninteresting moments longer than they need to be. Even though this book did not work from me it didn't put me off to exploring more of this authors works, because again there is a story here, but this one I felt could have been much better.
Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review expected publishing date October 10th, 2023
I unfortunately had to DNF this book at 47%.
This book starts off very slow. Not even 100 pages in and it feels like it hasn’t picked up much. The story, while an interesting concept, seems to suffer from over description at one point giving a description of which drawer the main character was looking through and where she put the drawer when she pulled it out. As a reader I felt that everything was handed to me and it felt so bloated. There seems to be so much filler writing in the book, dialogue that just feels unnecessary, and just things that felt unneeded. . There is a story here, but I just feel like the execution of this one did not work. I wanted to love this so bad and pushed farther into the book hoping my feels would change, but they did not.. The book reads like a WB drama show like “Supernatural” but I have to sit through more than 45 minutes of it. I love descriptive books, but it doesn’t always work for some stories and to hear every single one of Astrid’s thoughts just feels overly drawn out, making relatively uninteresting moments longer than they need to be. Even though this book did not work from me it didn't put me off to exploring more of this authors works, because again there is a story here, but this one I felt could have been much better.
Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review expected publishing date October 10th, 2023
June 11, 2024
I loved the Twilight Wife by this author so went into this one with great hopes but found it to be a bit of a slow burn and not flowing well for me. I didn't find it hard to put down as such and felt it took me a while to get through. Mood can definitely play a part and may have played a part in this instance for me. I did like the book so I would recommend you pick it up and give it a go for yourself!
April 25, 2023
Fabulous writing ... fabulous story … This amazing and crafty novel is written with warmth and compassion as Astrid Johansen searches for answers into her sister’s death 17 years ago. Family and friends hidden secrets, lies and omissions draw you in as the story brilliantly unfolds. Twists and turns in the novel lead to a surprising finale. A highly recommended five star read.
June 5, 2023
Enjoyable writing and a promising premise but the novel starts to lag about halfway through and never makes up for it in the end. However, still Interested in exploring future novels by this author.
July 24, 2023
2.5 rounded up.
Contrived. Clumsy. Inquisitive.
😕😐🤨
We are following our MC working as a forensic document authenticator. At the request of their Aunt, they are returning to the town where a family tragedy occurred when they were 14 years old.
Set along the Washington coast in a small town near Seattle, USA.
Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags 🐺🐕:
Good plot and premise but as a reader I felt disconnected and knocked about. As if I was fighting with the author just to enjoy the story. By the 70% mark, I wasn't sure I could power through. I tried to fix the writing with imagination, but the author was inconsistent in information provided so it all came together feeling like a Canadian made-for-TV movie from the '90s.
Written in third person limited POV in present tense. It made mundane actions more noticeable and lack of information more frustrating. At one point our character is rooting through a car for insurance papers, and apparently went in to the house but we aren't told that - the scene just changes without notification when she hops in a shower. For an imaginative reader, this is SO annoying!
All the characters felt flat and one-dimensional. The dialog reads the same regardless of who is talking. Dialog is written without noting who said what. I get that it's understood they each take a turn saying a line. For me, that is effective for when someone is rapidly speaking, angry, excited, or being snarky. But most of the dialog is written this way and it was jarring. I had to come up with my own tone for the characters because otherwise it felt like everyone was spitting words rapidly at each other.
On that note, there is little tone in the dialog. We don't know the emotion, body language, intonation etc. Every so often it is included (like, "Person A said _____ with intrigue") and that was MORE frustrating because I had been reading with a totally different vibe up to that point.
The ending felt rushed and a bit convoluted. It was like multiple people were aware of the truth and some of it wasn't even that big of a secret.
Inconsistency in our MC was also disconnecting for me. Astrid is putting together clues for us by literally telling us about them, then not noticing the obvious. She doesn't experience anxiety or fear - getting direct threats and recognizing danger yet purposefully putting herself in vulnerable settings with said threats...that can work if we have some character development or background but we don't get any. Why is she able to recognize danger but chooses to risk her life or leave items out to be stolen or vandalized? Has she given up? Is she a risk taker? Extremely forgetful?
Mood Reading Match Up
-Contemporary fiction with family history mystery
-Themes about the impact of rejection and emotional neglect on a person
-Low-key you-were-always-here, should-they-or-shouldn't-they romance
-Amateur sleuthing with police pal
-Small town small neighbourhood drama
Content Heads-Up: Narcissistic parent. Parental rejection. Emotional abuse. Stalking/threatening. Infidelity. Death of a child.
Format: Digital advanced review copy from Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley.
Contrived. Clumsy. Inquisitive.
😕😐🤨
We are following our MC working as a forensic document authenticator. At the request of their Aunt, they are returning to the town where a family tragedy occurred when they were 14 years old.
Set along the Washington coast in a small town near Seattle, USA.
Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags 🐺🐕:
Good plot and premise but as a reader I felt disconnected and knocked about. As if I was fighting with the author just to enjoy the story. By the 70% mark, I wasn't sure I could power through. I tried to fix the writing with imagination, but the author was inconsistent in information provided so it all came together feeling like a Canadian made-for-TV movie from the '90s.
Written in third person limited POV in present tense. It made mundane actions more noticeable and lack of information more frustrating. At one point our character is rooting through a car for insurance papers, and apparently went in to the house but we aren't told that - the scene just changes without notification when she hops in a shower. For an imaginative reader, this is SO annoying!
All the characters felt flat and one-dimensional. The dialog reads the same regardless of who is talking. Dialog is written without noting who said what. I get that it's understood they each take a turn saying a line. For me, that is effective for when someone is rapidly speaking, angry, excited, or being snarky. But most of the dialog is written this way and it was jarring. I had to come up with my own tone for the characters because otherwise it felt like everyone was spitting words rapidly at each other.
On that note, there is little tone in the dialog. We don't know the emotion, body language, intonation etc. Every so often it is included (like, "Person A said _____ with intrigue") and that was MORE frustrating because I had been reading with a totally different vibe up to that point.
The ending felt rushed and a bit convoluted. It was like multiple people were aware of the truth and some of it wasn't even that big of a secret.
Inconsistency in our MC was also disconnecting for me. Astrid is putting together clues for us by literally telling us about them, then not noticing the obvious. She doesn't experience anxiety or fear - getting direct threats and recognizing danger yet purposefully putting herself in vulnerable settings with said threats...that can work if we have some character development or background but we don't get any. Why is she able to recognize danger but chooses to risk her life or leave items out to be stolen or vandalized? Has she given up? Is she a risk taker? Extremely forgetful?
Mood Reading Match Up
-Contemporary fiction with family history mystery
-Themes about the impact of rejection and emotional neglect on a person
-Low-key you-were-always-here, should-they-or-shouldn't-they romance
-Amateur sleuthing with police pal
-Small town small neighbourhood drama
Content Heads-Up: Narcissistic parent. Parental rejection. Emotional abuse. Stalking/threatening. Infidelity. Death of a child.
Format: Digital advanced review copy from Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley.
November 8, 2023
When A.J. Banner comes out with a new book I always get excited because I love reading her stories and this one did not disappoint. Dreaming of Water is a mystery that kept me turning the pages. It builds slowly giving you little clues until finally you get the complete picture of how all the events actually happened. This story centers around Astrid Johansen. Years ago back in Heron Bay her little sister Nina drowns in a reflective pool belonging to her rich neighbors. Her parents had somewhat of a rocky marriage which leads you to believe that there might have been infidelity that took place. Nina’s drowning causes a lot of emotional feelings such as guilt and remorse and the need to find out the truth is of utmost importance to both Astrid and her Aunt Maude. There’s threats and scare tactics involved that add to the suspense. But in the end everything is brought out into the open so it all makes sense and peace of mind and forgiveness is achieved. Astrid is left understanding why she has made some of the choices she has and realizes she can now move on with her life. I’d like to thank NetGalley for the arc to read and review. I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it along with all of the authors other books and I’m giving it a 4 star rating.
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