This is a polished independent novel that skillfully blends coming-of-age, mystery, and suspense genre elements. The pacing is excellent and well-wrought, drawing the reader along to share in Jean's terror, frustration, and helplessness, as well as her hope and resolve to escape.
The more mature and disturbing content -- the dehumanizing trials suffered by the protagonist during her institutionalization at a legally suspect facility at the hands of vindictive family and sadistic staff -- is handled organically and, to the extent possible, tastefully, reflecting the lived experiences of the protagonist without resorting to gratuitousness. (Nevertheless, I'd recommend against audiences below 16 years of age.) Similarly, I also found the protagonist's reactions to be realistic most of the time despite the outrageous circumstances in which she finds herself.
Furthermore, the reader must interpret whether the narrator is reliable or not, adding another layer to the novel; en route, we question, alongside the protagonist, if we are accurately perceiving the reality of the situation as the story unfolds. As a bonus, although the setting of Tampa is somewhat secondary to the tale, the author clearly knows the area well and that familiarity adds a nice sense of place.
I only had three minor complaints. The novel is set in the present, which did strike me as somewhat odd, as I at first assumed, given the subject matter, that I would be reading a 20th century historical fiction; admittedly, while this sort of occurrence is hopefully more rare today (and sterilization, once not uncommon by force, is now virtually impossible to obtain for a nulliparous woman under age 40 for any reason whatsoever, consent or not), it would be naive to say it's unthinkable. Second, of the two main antagonists at the facility, the orderly is well characterized as a classic abusive partner with the usual complexities; the nurse, on the other hand, simply seems psychopathic; of course, psychopaths exist and would self-select for employment at shady facilities like Deadwater, but I found myself wanting more from her -- some motivation, a story: something besides unexplained hatred. Third, the ending wasn't entirely as satisfying as the meat of the novel, as the story quickly winds down in a few pages what is built in a hundred. (As an aside, it sent shivers down my spine to imagine that many went through what the protagonist did, and many of them spent the rest of their lives that way.)
In closing, I bought this book last night and stayed up all night to finish reading it -- I was anxious to learn the truth and the outcome. That alone makes it worth 5 stars.
Ms. Will shows talent with plotting, pacing, and character development, and after "Deadwater," I am certainly looking forward to her future releases. In the meantime, I recommend reading "Deadwater" as a thoroughly entertaining excursion.
OR
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From the Publisher
SANDIE WILL, Multi-Award-Winning Author of Psychological Thrillers
"The inspiration for the story came from my beloved father who worked in various psychiatric hospitals during short periods of his career. In the attic of one such hospital, he made a disturbing discovery --- one that bothered me so much, I had to create a story around it. Though fiction, many parts of the book intertwine the patient routines, treatments and outbursts that I learned from my father and other research in a way that makes the story vivid through Jeannie's perspective."
Sandie Will is a multi-award-winning, psychological thriller novelist who lives in Tampa Bay, Florida, and works as a geologist by day. She has been married to her husband, Charlie, for over 30 years and they have two sons. Her favorite place to write is in her back room "treehouse" in the arms of an old oak.
About the author
What a ride
As someone who may (or may not) live on the grounds that was once the old asylum here in Tarpon Springs, I was eager to read the book. It’s written in present tense so the action is poignant and you feel like you’re locked up with the main character. This book plays upon the fears we all have in our loss of freedom. The idea of trying to convince someone you aren’t crazy is terrifying. How would you do it when the situation is beyond belief? You will think about this long after you put this books down. I recommend it.
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