Here we are again, my friends. It’s been a pretty interesting two weeks for me since my last post. My normal job had to close again, but we reopen tomorrow (yay!), and I celebrated my 26th birthday. While the birthday was nice, the only other upside of the past two weeks is how much reading I was able to do with nowhere to go. On that note, this week I am reviewing The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton. A novel described as a mix of Stephen King horror, Sherlock Holmes mystery, and Pirates of the Caribbean! For a novel with so many things mixed in, I figured I should pick a drink that matches. Which is why (along with the pun) I chose to make a Red Devil. A cocktail that I describe as a Long Island’s crazier, more booze-filled cousin.
Red Devil Recipe
1.5oz Vodka
1.5oz Sloe Gin
2oz Triple Sec
1.5oz Peach Schnapps
1.5oz Southern Comfort
~2oz Orange Juice
1 splash Grenadine
1 pinch Nutmeg*
*Nutmeg is optional.
In a cocktail shaker with ice, add all ingredients (except nutmeg) and shake for approximately 10 seconds. Then, pour into a collins glass. To finish off, garnish with a pinch of nutmeg sprinkled on top.
This drink was surprisingly good. I thought it was going to be strong and gross because I don’t like SoCo, but I actually enjoyed it. Also, it wasn’t too as strong as you’d think! My special ingredient in the drink this week is nutmeg. The book discusses the spice trade between Batavia (now Jakarta) and Amsterdam, so I decided to add a spice that would have been shipped along that route! The nutmeg honestly didn’t overly change the taste of the drink, but I did find it brought out the SoCo a little more. So, while it wasn’t my favourite drink Tom said it might be his and that has to count for something! Also, this drink is a good one if you want to get very drunk very quickly. Enjoy!
The Devil and the Dark Water Synopsis
(from book cover)
It’s 1634, and Samuel Pipps, the world’s greatest detective, is being transported to Amsterdam to be executed for a crime he may, or may not, have committed. Travelling with him is his loyal bodyguard, Arent Hayes, who’s determined to prove his friend innocent. Among the other guests is Sara Wessel, a noblewoman with a secret.
But no sooner is their ship out to sea than devilry begins to blight the voyage. A strange symbol appears on the sail. A dead leper stalks the decks. Livestock dies in the night. And then the passengers hear a terrible voice, whispering to them in the darkness, promising three unholy miracles, followed by a slaughter. First an impossible pursuit. Second an impossible theft. And third an impossible murder.
Could a demon be responsible for their misfortunes?
With Pipps imprisoned, only Arent and Sara can solve a mystery that stretches back into their past and now threatens to sink the ship, killing everybody on board…
Review
“Some songs weren’t mere songs. They were memories curled tight and set alight. They made you heartsick.”
The Devil and the Dark Water is fun. I mean Sherlock Holmes meets Pirates of the Caribbean—what isn’t fun about that!? But, unfortunately, it isn’t much more than fun. I enjoyed reading this book and liked a lot of aspects of the story, but it was far from perfect. While the plot is unique and the writing is well done, the novel fell flat in some other areas. Specifically, the editing and the ending. But let’s start with the positives.
We start off this novel with a Holmes and Watson-esque duo. But, while there are similarities between the two pairs, Sammy and Arent are unique characters. Sammy maybe less so, but he also isn’t around as much. And, though I do agree with other reviews that the characters weren’t the most original characters ever, this didn’t take much away from the story for me. No they weren’t wholly original, but they weren’t boring or stereotypical either. Also, Turton wrote them well and had me rooting for/against them regardless of their originality! One problem I did have with the characters, however, is that they were all introduced early and quickly, so it was a little hard keeping track of them for the first ~100 pages.
Beyond the characters, I love Turton’s writing style. His first novel, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, was fantastic. And, though these are two completely different novels, Turton’s style is consistent. He’s funny, creative, talented, and doesn’t take himself too seriously, which is made apparent in his notes at the end of the novel and his author biography. He also has a knack for writing fun, fantastical, mysterious novels that truly grip you. Seriously. I read all 450 pages of The Devil and the Dark Water in two days because it had me so excited.
Although I devoured this book, I didn’t love it. There were a lot of glaring editing mistakes—two consistency errors and multiple spelling/grammar mistakes—that took me out of the story. The consistency errors especially turned me off. There were two times I said “wait, how would they know this?” and then two pages later they would find out the information that they seemed to already know pages earlier. So, unfortunately, these problems were unforgivable to me.
I also didn’t like the ending of the novel. I won’t say spoilers, but it was disappointing. Not only did I completely figure it out, which I almost could’ve accepted, it was also underwhelming. The reveal is one thing, but the actual conclusion was truly unremarkable and, honestly, frustrating. It was basically a deus ex machina ending—a quick resolve that wasn’t believable or fulfilling for the reader. So, again, this was unforgivable and left me unhappy.
One complaint I’ve seen a lot is the historical accuracy of The Devil and the Dark Water. And, in this instance, I completely disagree with other reviewers. Personally, I don’t care much for historical accuracy in a novel. I’m not a historian, so I don’t notice some of the little things people pick apart. And I get that the way some characters think/act/speak isn’t very 17th century, but who genuinely wants to read a novel where they do? Adding modern ways of speaking and thinking into novels like this is common these days and is just the author playing with the story and the world they’ve made (as Turton discusses in his author’s apology to history).
A final complaint I have that didn’t really impact my enjoyment of the novel but bugged me is that it is definitely not a horror. This isn’t a huge deal, but it could be disappointing for some readers who want the full thriller/horror experience. Though I will say it was spooky it’s more Scooby Doo than American Horror Story. So, keep that in mind if you prefer a scary read.
Well, kind of a mixed bag on this one. It was fun, the story was creative, and I liked the characters, but was it the best book I’ve ever read? No. But, I enjoyed it and think others would too. So, I definitely do recommend it for an entertaining read if you don’t mind that it isn’t perfect. However, if you want a book with no faults, historical accuracy, and a fulfilling ending then this one probably isn’t for you. As always, I hope you enjoyed the review and consider reading the book or drinking the cocktail (though I recommend only drinking it if you want to be very drunk). Thanks!
My Rating:
Thanks for reading! And, if you read the book or try the cocktail let me know in a comment, on Instagram, or in person (if you know me). Also, if you haven’t yet read my previous reviews, I recommend reading The Pain-Killings at Kingfisher Hill, The Black Shadows, and The Perfect Guest List if you liked this one!
Teghann
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