Into The Water by Paula Hawkins

The book starts out with the drownings of a few people and the ghost stories that go along with such an event. Danielle is found dead in the drowning pool, a spot along the local river which is known for countless deaths. Her estranged sister, Jules, is left to care for her daughter, Lena, who is already forming an opinion of her aunt. Danielle became obsessed with the drowning pool after her sister almost drown when they were young children enjoying the river. Now as adults, Danielle becomes a photo journalist and uses the spots where bodies are found as focal points for her collection. She seems to have thought that something was pulling victims to the pool, an unseen magnet attracting the victims where they would either fall to their deaths from the cliff side or simply drowned in the water below. She takes photos and writes stories of what she thinks happened based on what the public knows about each victim. When Lena’s friend, Katie, drowns in the pool, Danielle waists no time taking pictures and writing what she thought happened. all of this is known to the village and Katies mother is upset, rightfully so. She goes as far as blaming Danielle. But, is Danielle to blame? Did someone kill Danielle or did she drowning like all the rest? What is going on in this village? Why have so many people, mostly women, died in this river? Does it date back to the witch that was drowned in the river during the witch crusades?

This is one of those books that I don’t want to give to much information as I read. I don’t want to take away from the readers excitement. This isn’t one of those true crime books where I can ramble on about evidence and motives. In all honesty, this book has more of a creepy YA ghost story vibe. But, in a good way. Don’t take that description as one of those B rated stories meant to scare children. This is actually pretty well written so far. But, isn’t that expected when the author has already published best selling books like The Girl On The Train? I’m actually growing more and more excited about the book, the more I read it. I am about 50% of the way through it so far and I am struggling to put it down. The book is also one of those books that seems to be one of those ones where you find yourself speed reading and not on purpose! I like those kinds of books. I do not like feeling like a book is just dragging on.

I am a little disappointed with the ending. I was hoping for a ghost store and it turned out to be a law & order story. Though this book does raise some good points. On a moral compass, you really have to decide who’s side you are on. I do like the added part of Nikki the physics though, I wish she played more a role in the book. But, again that just goes back to me hoping the book was more SIFI than it really was. I like Nikki’s character. I thought she had personality and even if you do not believe in that sort of thing, listening to her would be wise. not because of some ghost honing but because she wanted to tell the truth fo those who had passed and for those who had not yet.

At the end of the day I gave this book a 4 085 5 stars. Not because I was unhappy with the ending or the lack of ghosts. My rating is because the book is hard to follow because there are so many characters in the book and Hawkins tried to give a first person perspective for all of them. This made it a bit confusing and quite honestly, I had to take notes to keep up with who was who. Other wise, I really enjoyed the book.