Beneath Cruel Waters
by Jon Bassoff
A wrenching psychological thriller in the vein of Tana French’s In the Woods, Jon Bassoff’s Beneath Cruel Waters reminds us that the sins of the mothers are the sins of the sons.
Holt Davidson, a Kansas firefighter, hasn’t been back to his hometown of Thompsonville, Colorado, for more than two decades, but when he learns that his estranged mother has taken her own life, he returns for the funeral, hoping to make peace with her memory. He spends the night at his childhood home, rummaging through each room, exploring the past. But instead of nostalgic souvenirs, he discovers a gun, a love letter, and a Polaroid photograph of a man lying in his own blood.
Who is the dead man? Was his mother the one who killed him, and, if so, why? Who sent the love letter? And what role did his sister, institutionalized since she was a teenager, play in this act of violence? As his own traumatic memories begin to resurface, Holt begins an investigation into his mother’s and sister’s pasts—as well as his own.
5 out of 5 fairies
This book opens with a bang and doesn’t let up. Bassoff has a wonderful way with powerful imagery, and it feels like you’re right there watching each scene unfold. The opening chapter leaves us with so many questions, which are answered as new ones are raised in the following chapters. This is a dark read, but such a good one. I have to admit a few times I audibly gasped, but I couldn’t stop turning pages even late into the night. Murder, family secrets, and more await you in this story. (But please be aware there are some darker themes that may be difficult for some readers).
Jon Bassoff is the author of nine novels. His mountain gothic novel, Corrosion, has been translated in French and German and was nominated for the Grand Prix de Litterature Policiere, France’s biggest crime fiction award. His psycho-noir novel, The Disassembled Man, has been adapted for the big screen with a filming date set to begin within the next hundred years. He also wrote the screenplay for Bizarre Love Triangle, which was named semi-finalist at the New York Cinematography Awards and a finalist at the Seattle Film Festival for best short film.
His novels have been lauded by authors like Craig Johnson (Longmire series), James Grady (Six Days of the Condor), Rob Hart (The Warehouse), Paul Trembley (A Headful of Ghosts), S.A. Cosby (Razorblade Tears), Ramsey Campbell (The Hungry Moon), Tom Piccirilli (Last Kind Words), and Marcus Sakey (Brilliance Trilogy). His work has also been featured several times in New York Magazine. For his day job, Bassoff teaches high school English where he is known by students and faculty alike as the deranged writer guy. He is a connoisseur of tequila, hot sauces, psychobilly music, and flea-bag motels.