Water cover art

Water

A haunting, confronting novel from the author of The Heart’s Invisible Furies

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The first thing Vanessa Carvin does when she arrives on the island is change her name. To the locals, she is Willow Hale, a solitary outsider escaping Dublin to live a hermetic existence in a small cottage, not a notorious woman on the run from her past.

But scandals follow like hunting dogs. And she has some questions of her own to answer. If her ex-husband is really the monster everyone says he is, then how complicit was she in his crimes?

Escaping her old life might seem like a good idea but the choices she has made throughout her marriage have consequences. Here, on the island, Vanessa must reflect on what she did - and did not do. Only then can she discover whether she is worthy of finding peace at all.

©2023 John Boyne (P)2023 Penguin Audio

 Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Small Town & Rural Women's Fiction Marriage Suspense

Critic Reviews

His quietest novel... but one just as powerful as his larger canvases
An intriguing investigation of contemporary trauma... [a] short but powerful book
Boyne does not put a foot wrong in this masterly novella
A perceptive, moving exploration of guilt, grief and complicity
Boyne not only opens up conversations, he writes beautifully and sensitively
Subtle, intelligent and humane
All stars
Most relevant
this book is like a very true account of a woman who dispute all showed resiliency and strength

heart felt story

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A fascinating story with wonderful Irish characters and an insight into how it is to be the innocent partner of a criminal

water

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Another real goodie from one of my favourites! I wish it was longer! Narrator was wonderful too

Looking forward to the next one…

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The main character was downtrodden all her life - without much awareness - but found her voice and herself.

Narrator’s voice is melodic

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I love how the story unfolded and the theme or water throughout the book. A great listen

Not what I expected in a good way

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