Teenage girls are going missing across Liverpool. When the body of the third victim is discovered on the banks of the Mersey, the search for the culprit intensifies, and DCI de Silva is called back to work.
Still reeling from the recent suicide of her husband and dragged down by the undertow of PTSD, de Silva has been struggling in self-imposed exile. In her fragile state, is she ready to win in a race against the clock?
This case should have been DS Barclay's opportunity to finally show himself to be more than what everybody assumes an exercise in diversity, a gay man employed to tick boxes.
De Silva and Barclay must exorcise their own demons to stop more victims suffering, all while dealing with a traumatised and escalating killer, who is hellbent on finding somebody from their past.
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Black Water Rising by Sean Watkin was published on 10 April 2025 by Canelo Crime.
Earlier this month, I attended the Newcastle Noir Crime Fiction Festival, it's one of my favourite festivals of the year, and we always make sure that we have tickets. One of my favourite panels during the two days that we were there was Trevor Wood, Daniel Aubrey and Sean Watkins, moderated by Michael Wood. It was fascinating and at times hilarious. I have already read, or own books by all of the authors except for Sean Watkins, so I happily bought a copy of Black Water Rising and had it signed by the man himself.
Well, what to say? What indeed? I've had a difficult reading year in 2025, ill health and various life events have really challenged my ability to concentrate, for the first time in my life. I think Sean Watkin has cured me. This is a precise and thrilling police procedural with a difference. His Liverpool setting takes the reader right into the heart of that wonderful city; and whilst the plot is tense and often dark and chilling, it is the incredible character creation that really won me over.
In DCI Winifred de Silva and DS Ben Barclay are a pair of colleagues whose relationship has been shattered by the past. De Silva is still traumatised by her husband's recent suicide, and will be for a long time, she cannot shake the memory of finding him, ever. Barclay is distressed by how de Silva has treated him since this happened. He thought they were friends. He also struggles with the thoughts taht he only has a job because, being gay, he ticked the boxes. His esteem is pretty low. He doesn't realise the levels of de Silva's feelings of guilt and when she is brought in from sick leave to work with him on the investigation that has rocked the city, he's wary.
Teenage girls are going missing in Liverpool. When the latest body is found by the Mersey, the team know that they have to find this killer. De Silva and Barclay really have to bury their demons, at least for a while, in order to ensure that no other girl dies.
Sean Watkin not only allows his readers into the minds of the investigating officers, we are also privy to the workings of the murderer's brain, how he works, what he does. This is NOT COSY CRIME! It is dark, violent, chilling and deals with the effects of horrific historical abuse and also how this is played out and hurts others.
Well, what to say? What indeed? I've had a difficult reading year in 2025, ill health and various life events have really challenged my ability to concentrate, for the first time in my life. I think Sean Watkin has cured me. This is a precise and thrilling police procedural with a difference. His Liverpool setting takes the reader right into the heart of that wonderful city; and whilst the plot is tense and often dark and chilling, it is the incredible character creation that really won me over.
In DCI Winifred de Silva and DS Ben Barclay are a pair of colleagues whose relationship has been shattered by the past. De Silva is still traumatised by her husband's recent suicide, and will be for a long time, she cannot shake the memory of finding him, ever. Barclay is distressed by how de Silva has treated him since this happened. He thought they were friends. He also struggles with the thoughts taht he only has a job because, being gay, he ticked the boxes. His esteem is pretty low. He doesn't realise the levels of de Silva's feelings of guilt and when she is brought in from sick leave to work with him on the investigation that has rocked the city, he's wary.
Teenage girls are going missing in Liverpool. When the latest body is found by the Mersey, the team know that they have to find this killer. De Silva and Barclay really have to bury their demons, at least for a while, in order to ensure that no other girl dies.
Sean Watkin not only allows his readers into the minds of the investigating officers, we are also privy to the workings of the murderer's brain, how he works, what he does. This is NOT COSY CRIME! It is dark, violent, chilling and deals with the effects of horrific historical abuse and also how this is played out and hurts others.
I am impressed. I am impressed by the detailed storyline, by the sympathetic handling of the detective's own issues and the deep look into how the brain can be altered by what is done to the person. It's clever, dramatic, traumatic and tense. Written with authority and knowledge, I am eager to read book two in the series. Highly recommended.
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Writing at Liverpool John Moores University.
He has been shortlisted for Fresher Writing Award, Book a Break Prize, Bristol Short Story Prize and the McDermid Debut Award.
His writing has been featured in The Gay UK magazine, and The Content Wolf e-zine, as well as other LGBT+ publications.
Sean lives in Liverpool with his partner and two dogs.
www.seanwatkin.co.uk
Author Page on Facebook
Instagram @seanwatkinauthor
Author Page on Facebook
Instagram @seanwatkinauthor
Threads @seanwatkinauthor
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