A Dark and Twisted Tide

A Dark and Twisted Tide follows Lacey Flint, a London police officer who lives on a houseboat and swims in the Thames. After discovering a shrouded body in the river during her morning swim, she becomes entangled in an investigation that connects to London's immigrant communities. The investigation leads Lacey through the dangerous waters of the Thames and into the hidden corners of London. As more bodies surface in the river, she must confront both the rising body count and her own complicated relationship with undercover work. Themes of isolation, survival, and the power of water run through this police procedural. Bolton crafts a story where the Thames itself becomes a central character, reflecting both the city's dark history and its ongoing transformation.

Readers found this thriller engaging but more uneven than earlier books in the Lacey Flint series. The Thames River setting and detailed swimming/diving scenes created strong atmosphere, with one reader noting it made them "feel the cold water and murky depths." Liked: - Complex female protagonist - Vivid London waterfront descriptions - Marine police procedural elements - Fast-paced second half Disliked: - Slow first third - Too many coincidences in plot - Character relationships felt forced - Some found the ending implausible - Multiple readers said earlier books in series were stronger Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (7,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) One frequent criticism from reviews: "The supernatural elements felt out of place in what had been a grounded crime series." Several readers noted they struggled with the book's tonal shift between realistic police work and more fantastical elements.

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🌊 Author Sharon Bolton spent considerable time researching the Thames River Police, London's first police force and the oldest continuously serving police force in the world, which features prominently in the novel. 🏊‍♀️ The book's depiction of wild swimming in the Thames reflects a real-world trend, though experts strongly caution against swimming in certain sections due to dangerous currents and water quality issues. 📚 This is the fourth book in the Lacey Flint series, but Bolton deliberately wrote it so it could be read as a standalone novel. 🗺️ Many of the tunnels and underground waterways described in the book actually exist beneath London, creating a vast subterranean network dating back centuries. 👥 Sharon Bolton originally wrote under the name S.J. Bolton but switched to using her full name starting with this book, marking a significant shift in her professional identity.