I love this series and this book had me completely hooked from the first page.  We meet up again with Detectives Imogen Grey and Adrian Miles and learn more about their relationship. The book opens with Adrian finding the body of a partly submerged battered woman in the water.  At first glance he thought she was dead but she was, in fact, still alive.  He then discovered the body of a man further down the river and he was dead.  The woman is taken to hospital but then disappears.  Miles and Grey discover that the dead man was employed by Reece Corrigan, a local businessman, and on interviewing him they discover that his wife is the woman that Adrian rescued from the water.  They realise that he is heavily involved with the death of Simon and with the assault on his wife and realise that he is a very dangerous man.  This book is difficult to read at times as it deals with murder, domestic and physical violence and sexual assault but it is a book that I couldn’t put down and had me gripped until the very last page.  A highly recommended read and I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This another action packed story by Katerina Diamond. Horrific in parts but the action is non stop. A series that works well.

Another in the Imogen Grey and Adrian Miles series, I’ve enjoyed the others and this didn’t disappoint either.
DS Miles finds a woman unconscious in the river, barely alive, he rescues her but she won’t tell them who she is or how she came to be submerged in water. The police, whilst searching the scene find the body of a man nearby - but why were they there and what happened to them? The unknown woman discharged herself and leaves the hospital, and they fear they will never find out who she is.
I won’t add any spoilers, but the story unfolds when DS Grey and Miles call  on a local construction boss to ask some questions and see their Jane Doe at the house. 
This is a hard hitting story of  domestic abuse and cruelty done in a bid to be in total control. Have to admit, the end blew me away.
Can the police finally nail the culprit or will he continue his reign of terror? 
Alongside this is the relationship between the two officers which is blossoming, but is threatened by the horrific violence Adrian is subjected to.
An emotional ride, but I look forward to the next instalment.

I didn't realise when I requested Woman In The Water that it was book number 6 in a procedural series; I do prefer to read this kind of series in chronological order, but given this was an ARC copy and I wanted to leave a timely review, I jumped right in. I will definitely go back and read the others in the series after reading this one, and although I think there would have been more depth and nuance to the characters and their relationships if I'd read the others first, the author writes the book in such a way that prior knowledge of the characters isn't absolutely necessary. 

Woman in the Water begins with the discovery of a woman's body in the river by one of our two protagonists, Detective Adrian Miles. At first, Adrian thinks the woman is dead, but when by some miracle she proves to be alive, she is rushed to hospital. When she comes round, the woman claims amnesia but has injuries consistent with domestic abuse, but before Adrian can investigate further, Jane Doe absconds from the hospital.. 

Close by to where the woman was found, a man's badly mutilated body has also been discovered. When Adrian and his partner, Imogen, investigate, they are shocked to come across Jane Doe as they make their enquiries - only the woman is pretending not to recognise them, and she's tried to hide her injuries. 

The rest of the novel deals with both the police investigation, and with the relationship between Adrian and Imogen. I love when an author knows how to balance the two elements, so that both add to the overall story and one doesn't dominate, and it's managed deftly here. The author doesn't shy away from graphic detail, and there are some very dark elements to the story, but I felt it was all handled well, and tastefully - there was nothing that felt gratuitous or unnecessary. 

I'll certainly be going back to the beginning of this series after finishing this novel - I really enjoyed the relationship between the central characters, and the story was well written and cleverly plotted. I would definitely recommend. 

Thank you to NetGalley, who provided me with a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A woman close to death is found by DS Adrian Miles at the edge of a river. She claims not to remember who she is, but she knows only too well. A few days later she disappears from hospital. I really felt for this unknown woman, right from the start. The irony of being saved by the policeman, but knowing deep down that she could never be saved by the life that entraps her. She was totally petrified of being identified – and found. “Maybe this time I can disappear. I have a head start and he thinks I’m dead,” she thinks. 
Adrian and his partner, Imogen Grey, start investigating their prime suspect, a man who is pure evil. He is so powerful and seemingly untouchable –he terrified me. He causes utter misery. Their investigation leads them to question Leon, one of the suspect’s former employees, which leads to a shocking event which really threw me. And he inflicts such appalling cruelty on Adrian that it comes close to destroying him. This awful assault has huge ramifications for the case and takes its toll on Adrian’s relationship with Imogen. 
I didn’t really warm to Adrian or Imogen, and found their relationship distinctly odd, almost a little unbelievable. This may have been because this was the sixth book in the Detectives Adrian Miles and Imogen Grey series, and I hadn’t read any of the others. The relationship, however, was a mere sub-plot, and the main action was compelling and very readable.

Woman in the Water by Katerina Diamond is the sixth entry in the DS Imogen Grey series but can easily be read as a standalone. DS Adrian Miles is called to the scene of a crime: a woman, barely alive, has been beaten within an inch of her life and left semi-submerged in the river shallows. His partner, DS Imogen Grey, joins him at the hospital where the mystery woman has been taken. The woman soon disappears, leaving the detectives without a clue as to who she is, who did this to her and where she is running to. Their investigation leads them to the home of the Corrigans. It becomes clear that Mr. Corrigan’s entourage live in fear of the man and injuries and missing persons are not uncommon. This mystery is well-written and often surprises the reader with unexpected details and events throughout, including  a very surprising ending. I highly recommend this original police procedural. Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings on this book. Loved the start and was gripped, but then there were sections of the story that seemed dragged out and it lost my focus.  But I’m glad o continued to read. This is one of those books you can put down and pick up again and read over a few days.

Thank you to Netgalley, Katerina Diamond and Avon books for my arc of Woman in the Water in exchange for an honest review. 

Synopsis: When a woman is found in the river Exe, barely alive and with no recollection of who she is and how she got there, Detectives Imogen Grey and Adrian Miles have to investigate. For Adrian especially this case feels personal. Their investigation leads them down a trail of corruption, trauma and pure evil. This might just be their toughest case yet.

Review: This is the 5th instalment in the DS Imogen Grey series. I've loved this series since I first read The Teacher a few years ago. Katerina Diamond immediately made a name for herself in the genre of crime thriller and she continues to thrive with this 5th instalment. This book was probably the best one yet! At first I thought the storyline was going to be a bit flat, the investigation is one in which the person doing the crimes is known to the police but they're trying to get enough evidence to charge, but the mystery instead was at the heart of the story, a story of cruelty, fear, and a huge secret. Katerina Diamond dealt sensitively with a number of serious traumatic experiences and it was very clear she'd done adequate research and showed compassion throughout. At one point in the middle of the novel my heart almost stopped, I couldn't breathe, it takes a lot for a book to affect you like that. I can't wait for the next instalment!

An extremely dark, daring and gripping crime thriller

Detective Adrian Miles is on his way home when he notices a group of people crowding around a riverbank. He investigates and discovers what looks like a corpse dumped in the water, but when he goes in to take a closer look, he is shocked to discover that the young woman he has found is badly beaten but alive. When she goes missing from her hospital bed a few days later, having refused to tell anyone what happened to her even when a second body (this one actually dead) shows up, Adrian and his partner and now girlfriend Imogen Grey have no idea how to track her down. Following their only lead, they end up at the home of the wealthy and powerful but threatening businessman Reece Corrigan, and when his wife walks in the room, they realise that she looks very familiar indeed... What follows is an investigation that will lead the detectives into danger and affect their lives in profound ways, as they struggle to discover what Corrigan is hiding and why the woman in the water doesn’t want to be saved.

This was a great crime thriller that grabs your attention right from the start with a dramatic opening and doesn’t hold off on the tension, excitement and danger throughout the story right until its edge-of-your-seat conclusion – in fact, I read the whole thing in one sitting! The characters were multi-layered and likeable and managed to avoid fitting into any of the lazy stereotypes that are often seen in these kinds of novels. Whilst this was the sixth instalment in a series, I had no problem following the plot and although I obviously had missed some character development (particularly the relationship between Adrian and Imogen), I still empathised with them. The feeling of danger and threatening aura was expertly written and there were enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing throughout the story.

My only criticism of this otherwise excellent book would be that there was one scene, in particular, involving one of the main characters that were extremely graphic and dark. Despite having never really been bothered by descriptions of violence and such, it was even almost too much for me, and would definitely be too disturbing and upsetting for some readers. Additionally, although it did add to the character’s development, some may find the detail included in the scene gratuitous and unnecessary.


Overall, this was a thrilling and unpredictable story that didn’t shy away from its dark subject matter. I will definitely seek out previous instalments in this series and would be up for reading much more by this author.

Daenerys

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for review based upon my honest opinion.

This is the 6th book in the DS Imogen Grey series. I have not read any of the other books, but feel that this did not take away from my enjoyment of this book, it could easily be read as a stand-alone although I felt that knowing more
about the background of the characters would have been helpful.

In this book we find Imogen and her partner DS Miles investigating the case of a woman who is found clinging to life in the water by Miles. The woman claims that she does not know who she is, and their suspicion is further raised when another body, this time a man, is found not far from where hers was in the water this one deceased. This case takes us into some pretty deep and dark areas, with a depraved madman with a sense of over importance. DS Miles finds himself in trying to cope with a life changing, possibly life-shattering incident and try to keep it all together. Imogen starts to wonder if their relationship has come to an end as she starts to doubt their ability to partner one another in a professional, let alone personal manner as he spirals out of control. The ending of the book was twisty and I didn’t see it coming but also didn’t find the overall story held my interest as much as I wanted it to. Maybe if I had read the earlier books I would have felt more invested in the characters.

Cancel all social engagements and get ready to lose sleep because the latest Katerina Diamond novel Woman in the Water has just been released and it’s so addictive, devouring it is the only option.

Detectives Imogen Grey and Adrian Miles are used to being in close proximity to the darker side of human nature, but their latest case might just end up being their most bizarre and terrifying yet. A woman’s body has been found submerged in icy water and much to the police’s shock and horror, she is still alive. Yet, despite the horrors and atrocities which she has endured, the woman refuses to disclose anything about her identity or who might have committed such a heinous act. Even when a second body is discovered, the woman remains silent and refuses to cooperate with the police – and then she disappears. Nobody knows who she is or where she might have gone and as Grey and Miles scramble for clues, they cannot help but wonder just what they might end up stumbling into as they are led down an uncertain and dangerous path.

Grey and Miles have no clues to go on – except for a link to the home of the Corrigans. With this being their only lead into the case, the detectives begin to dig deep, but the more they dig the murkier the picture of the Corrigans’ marriage becomes. Grey and Miles end up with more questions than answers and they are no closer to finding out anything about the woman in the water or the evil monster who had done this to her. What is the Corrigans’ connection to the woman in the water? And what secrets lurk behind closed doors?

As their investigation gets even darker, will Grey and Miles manage to untangle this web of lies and deception? Will they ever manage to uncover the truth? Or will this be a case that will go unsolved?

Katerina Diamond is at her outstanding best with Woman in the Water. A terrific crime thriller full of shocks, chills and twists, Woman in the Water grips like a vise and will leave readers breathless as they find themselves completely and utterly consumed by this book. Shocking, jaw-dropping and absolutely brilliant, Woman in the Water is a first rate thriller from one of the best writers in the business: Katerina Diamond.

Detective Adrian miles is first on the scene of a body in the water which he presumes to be a corpse but just as he is calling it in she grabs his leg she is alive. Taken to hospital she claims to have amnesia and doesn’t know who she is. But Imogen Grey and Adrian think there’s more to this story.
Another body a male one is found further up the river he’s dead severely beaten. Adam & Imogen investigate this body asking the woman if she knows him. Shortly after the woman leaves the hospital. 
Can they find her before something happens to her . A very good read 
Thanks NetGalley

Adrian and Imogen are detectives and partners.  Not long after starting to work together, they found themselves attracted to one another, but aren’t ready to go public with their relationship.

Driving into work early one morning, Adrian is attracted to a group of people staring into the water.  It turns out to be the body of a woman.  At first Adrian thinks she is dead.  When he wades into the water to get her body onshore, he sees her move and realizes she is alive.  She has obviously been badly beaten.  At the hospital, she is examined by Dr. Hadley who is familiar with cases like this.  Adrian is so touched by the poor woman, he is determined to find out who beat her.  She claims to not remember her name, so they call her Jane Doe.  Then she quietly leaves the hospital on her own.

The police then find the body of a male in the water just down from from where Jane Doe was found.  He had also been beaten.  When they investigate the man, they learn his name which brings them to the woman they had found whose name is Angela Corrigan.  Angela is married to the owner of a large construction company.  His demeanor when talking to the detectives is cocky.  Adrian and Imogen know that he must be the one who beat his wife and possibly killed the other man, but how can they pin it on him?

This story at first appeared to be that of a woman who is enduring beatings from her husband, but as the detectives delve further into the Corrigans, they find some sinister things.  

Prepare yourself for a rather shocking event that will certainly disgust you for it is hard to believe that some people can be so evil.  I do think that readers will find this a well-written tale that slowly puts the pieces together to a terrific ending.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book was a journey, it had things I loved and other things that didn’t really catch my attention. There were moments that I couldn’t get myself to keep reading, other times where I wouldn’t stop reading. There were moments where the investigation procedure started to repeat itself, going to try and pry information out of the victim, making the situation worse.

Those moments made me want to put the book down, it got me bored in a way. But later on, there’s a scene that changed the main character completely, they undergo this painful event that really does put them up for a challenge.

The writing style wasn’t my favorite, I found that usually after a scene was done, it would switch to a whole new chapter, or at moments I would forget who was talking and have to go back a few lines and reread the conversation.

I enjoyed reading it overall, but I can’t deny that there were some bland moments where I just needed some action. And then the action would happen all together and leave me distraught. I found myself having to put down the book and digest what had just happened, and try and understand who was involved and how this all happened.

Warning! I am going to be talking about the sexual assault and domestic abuse from this point on.

When it came to the domestic abuse, I found that it was heart wrenching. It felt as if there wasn’t much the detectives could do, since they could only make things worse. And we all know that unless they have solid evidence, like pictures of injuries, or a statement from the victim, they can’t do much. What I found frustrating however was that they hadn’t thought about putting a watch car near the house incase anything went wrong.

However, I do understand that for those types of things it can be tricky and if the abuser knows that they were watching, they would act as if everything was fine.

Switching topics over to the sexual assault, I felt as if it was too detailed. There were moments where I couldn’t continue reading, but as the story went on, the process of recovery was done pretty well. What I loved about it was that in the author notes, the author explains that real victims opened up about their experiences. I think that really helped the story evolve and become so much more than “another book about domestic violence”.

Overall, I think the book was okay, I would’ve liked the investigation to feel more like walking on eggshells, but it handled heavy topics well. For that reason I ended up giving it.

I got this book from netgalley. I really really liked it. There's one scene that completely got to me. It is graphic. It is raw. And it is rare. I read it on an airplane which made it even more difficult. I thought this was your typical detective Thriller but The Twist was definitely different. I was a little disappointed with one small part of the ending. I wanted a different resolve to the main character's story. But, overall, a very entertaining and well-written Thriller.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2988760924

I’ve only read one previous book by this author and after reading this I’m so wanting to go back and read her previous books. This was oh so good. 

A woman is found badly beaten with no memory. A man is found dead nearby. Are they connected? Detectives Adrian Miles and Imogen Grey must find that out. 

I really liked the characters and the storyline. I felt like when I started I was reluctant to put it down. It was the one more chapter kinda read. 

Brilliant read.

I knew when I requested WOMAN IN THE WATER that was the sixth in the DS Imogen Grey series and, although I prefer to read a series in order and having only read the first book "The Teacher", it didn't deter me from reading it in this case. Why? Because Katerina Diamond always knows how to pack a punch! And I knew it would be worth the read regardless...and I wasn't wrong.

TRIGGER WARNING:
Domestic violence and rape.

DS Adrian Miles was on his way home one evening when he was sequestered by a group of women standing by a bridge. Upon investigating he discovered the body of a woman who had been badly beaten partially submerged in the icy water. What is even more surprising is that she is still alive! She is taken directly to hospital where she remains under police guard but when questioned they discover that she has no recollection of who she is, what happened or how she ended up in the river. But the bruises and marks on her body tell the tale of a woman in an abusive relationship. Having been the one to initially pull her to safety, Adrian feels somewhat responsible for the young woman and pledges to find out who she is and what happened to her.

When the badly mutilated body of a dead male is discovered in the river close by to where their "Jane Doe" was found, Adrian and Imogen are then tasked with the investigation into his murder. The similarities of their wounds and the close proximity in which they were both found leads the pair to believe they are related. After questioning Jane Doe in the hospital once again with the photo of the male, she claims no knowledge as to his identity or how he got there. A short time later, Jane Doe absconds from the hospital and, with no idea who she is or where she has run to (or from), Adrian and Imogen have no way of tracking her down.

When the male is soon identified as missing man Simon Glover, investigations lead them to Leon Quick with whom Simon had worked alongside at a construction company in Exeter some six months previously. But when Adrian and Imogen arrive to question Leon, he is so clearly terrified that instead of revealing why, he picks up a knife and stabs himself in the chest, bleeding out in Imogen's arms. What had Leon so terrified that he would much rather die than tell them?

Deeper digging lead them to Corrigan Construction, where both men were previously employed, and initial questioning at the company point them in the direction of their founder and managing director, Reece Corrigan. When Adrian and Imogen knock on his door they didn't expect to recognise the woman coming down the staircase as their Jane Doe. All traces of her battered body covered by expensive designer clothing, Angela Corrigan pretends to have never seen the two police detectives before. Her face is a mask of stony indifference. Picking up her silent pleas, Adrian and Imogen play along with her charade knowing she must have a very good reason for her pretense. 

It is clear from the outset that Angela is a battered wife so the pair know to tread carefully in cases such as these. However, it also strikes somewhat closer to home for Adrian with his own family past and this causes him to take the case personally...especially when it comes to Angela's safety. He still feels responsible for her. So watching the house, they wait for Reece to leave before returning to question Angela alone. But they are up against years of conditioning to even come close to breaking down the walls Angela has built up around herself. And no matter how much they question her, or their promises to keep her safe, Angela refuses to help...knowing that there is nothing anyone can do. This is her life. This is her fate. Helping her will only cost other people dearly...just as it had cost Simon his life.

It is clear from this point on that Reece Corrigan is guilty as sin but the question is how do they get him without putting Angela in harm's way? His obvious methods of abuse have kept her in line for years, he knows she won't step out of it now. The man is a narcissistic piece of work who knows no boundaries when it comes to protecting his status, his life and his position. He really believes he is untouchable...and what's more important is that Angela also believes he is untouchable. When deeper investigations reveal that anyone who tried to befriend or help Angela came off second best...by losing a limb, through an accident on site, or even losing their life. Angela knew this and refused to help police for fear of what that would mean for them. 

But Adrian refuses to back down. He will not let a bully like Corrigan intimidate him or get away with abusing his wife. He resolves to find a way to get Corrigan one way or another and sets about digging into his financials, his business and his past. But Adrian has underestimated Corrigan's power, just as Angela had feared he would, and one night when walking home from the pub he senses someone following him. Too late, he is beaten and bundled into a van. Who are these people? What do they want with him? When realisation dawns, Adrian knows he must accept his fate if is to get out of this alive.

In the midst of everything is the relationship between Adrian and Imogen. They are partners, they are best friends and now they are lovers. But it is still secret. Or is it? It seems more than one person has cottoned on to thei "not-so-secret" relationship, so what does this mean for their partnership? Even more so, what does this for their relationship? I did get a little irritated with Imogen constantly second guessing and questioning their relationship. It just seemed to go in circles and never go anywhere. It was a little annoying. But on the other hand, I wish Adrian would confide in Imogen. I really don't see why he doesn't. I know I'm not a man and don't think like they do, but doesn't it go without saying? Especially when they resolved to keep no secrets from each other.

One of my favourite aspects with this series, as well as Diamond's writing style, is that she gives us all aspects of the story while still keeping just enough hidden from full view. I love how we get not only the police procedural side of the investigation but also the various other players in the story. I feel it gives the whole story more depth rather than just a wooden procedural that tells readers nothing else but the investigation. And I especially loved the "alternate" chapters from Angela's perspective as we got to catch a glimpse into her world and just how confining it really is.

While I haven't read any of the books in between I still found WOMAN IN THE WATER easy to follow and completely addictive. I may not have all the backstory of each of the characters and I honestly don't remember DS Adrian Miles had he featured in "the Teacher", but even so, this did not deter my enjoyment of this compelling thriller at all. It has prompted me to try to find time to catch up on them.

A hard-hitting police procedural that pulls no punches, WOMAN IN THE WATER is gripping from the very start. It is fast-paced with short snappy chapters that leave you wanting more as you continue to turn pages long into the night.

It is incredibly difficult to review this book without giving away any spoilers and even though we know who the bad guy is throughout much of the story, we are still treated to a massive twist at the end with a surprise revelation most will not see coming! Admittedly, I had begun to piece it together...but only towards the end...and only through some weird coincidence in thinking that there had to be something else - something so shocking under normal circumstances that would seem right at home in a Katerina Diamond thriller. And she did not disappoint. That was a twist and it was shocking...but it was brilliant!

If you love your thrillers or police procedurals dark, disturbing and twisted, then you will love WOMAN IN THE WATER! It's Katerina Diamond at her best...even though I've only read one other. I loved this book, aside from the few flaws, as I think the rest of the book far outweighs them anyway. I look forward to seeing where her next book in this series takes us.

Highly recommend!!

I would like to thank #KaterinaDiamond, #NetGalley and #AvonBooksUK for an ARC of #WomanInTheWater in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I have read in this Detective series (this is book 6), I honestly didn’t know that it was apart of a series at first. Woman in the water is a dark and violent crime thriller. It is well written and a book that flows so you move through it quickly but there are plenty of twists and turns. There are definitely some potential trigger subject matters in this book so I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who can’t handle a darker crime thriller. I found some parts a bit hard to read but overall it was an excellent book and really pulled me in. 
I love a book that keeps you wanting to read more from the first few pages! 

Thank you to Net Galley and Avon Books for the advanced reader copy!

I’ve been aware of this author for a while, mainly from seeing their book covers, but not read any of their books until now, something that is going to have to change after reading this book. I loved the sound of the book, the blurb had that intriguing quality that tells you a lot but barely gives anything away. Clearly it worked as I read the book in a day, and I don’t mean 24 hours in total, I mean I started it on Sunday afternoon and was finished by the time I went to bed, so literally one day.

This book is definitely twisty. I’m not going to describe it as action packed or fast paced or anything so dramatic because there are scenes where the police are questioning people and retracing their steps because they hope they’ve missed something, nothing action packed about that. However, there is an underlying tension throughout the book, from the first page I was hooked and wanted to know more. The story starts with the woman being found in the water and instantly that raised so many questions. The writing pulls you in in a way that means you don’t even notice you’re hooked until you are and by then it’s too late to stop or get out, you have to see this through to the end whether you want to or not.

There is something about this book, it’s dark and twisty and when I’d read it I wanted to read something different, something to soothe my troubled brain. Although what I chose was more crime fiction, this time historical, I picked it because it is part of a series I know well and is something I can rely on to not leave me feeling slightly traumatised at the end. I’m not being naive, I’m well aware that the events in this book happen to people everyday, I’ve had experience of some of them myself. However, there’s a difference between being aware of them and reading about them, especially when the events and the characters reactions to them are written as well as they have been in the book.

I’m not sure I’m explaining this very well so I’ll try again. What this book does is draw you in stealthily so you don’t realise it’s happening till it’s too late. It also puts you in the shoes of the characters and makes you view their experiences from their perspectives so you get a deeper understanding of how they feel and why they are reacting the way they are to what is happening/has happened. It then throws out everything you thought was the truth and presents you with a new, unexpected one and then leaves you reeling from what you’ve experienced and with no support as the characters are getting on with their lives and don’t even know you exist. Hence why I went for something familiar and comforting (for me) for my next read. I think that’s a better explanation, if you’re not sure then maybe you should read the book for yourself and see if you can write something more coherent than this……..

My second from this Author ,it certainly won’t be where I stop! This was a quick paced and thrilling ride, twisting and turning in unpredictable ways, and characters that you really will remember!! Buckle your belts, because this is one heck of a ride!