Beware the embrace of the water deep
The darkness pulls you down to sleep
To an early grave you lay
For the rest of your days
Water’s Edge is a murder mystery from beyond the grave. Drawn back to her childhood home by a familiar rhyme about not going near the water, the main character, Gretchen, is compelled to investigate the urban myth behind the rhyme.
Gretchen is a young, supernatural investigator and thinks nothing of entering abandoned buildings looking for ghosts. However, when she discovers some, the fright levels intensify and she drives home like a bat out of hell, too scared to glance at the passenger seat in case something is occupying it!
The story has a young adult, cosy feel to it, with Gretchen’s Mom playing a large part in grounding her, along with her beloved editor, Raz, but it is a ghost story with some horror elements. The insidious, all-pervading feeling of something present watching you is built up expertly by Lieberman’s prose, and I found myself on the edge of my seat as Gretchen raced home.
The basis of the story is about crimes against women that are hidden over the years and become the foundation of local myths and legends. The author plainly lays out the statistics of such crimes and asks us all to pay more attention and seek justice for these tragic, hidden victims. Water’s Edge is an entertaining and informative read that raises awareness of an important subject.
I was given a complimentary copy of Water’s Edge to judge for the SFINCS3 contest. My opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my team.
