So, you all know how much I love author Dot Hutchison! Her Collector Series are some of the best modern thrillers, in my opinion! I have read and reviewed all of them!

I was very excited to read this, as it's her first book since finishing The Collector series. The premise sounded interesting, but to be honest I had my reservations. The fact that the story revolved around college-aged women who play vigilante man haters...



I was right. This book just wasn't for me. Don;t get me wrong, I breezed through it in no time because of the amazing writing, but the story line was boring at best.



So much man-hating that I took away from the story. I was so tired of hearing how horrible men are and how every single man was out there just waiting to prey on women. It was too much. It was ridiculous. It made the characters shallow and there wasn't a single main character I even liked.



There were plot twists and exciting instances, the ending wasn't a surprise, but over all it just fell flat for me. Maybe I was just expecting way to much from the author after the amazing previous series?



I look forward to any future book that Dot Hutchison publishes, but I have to give this book 1 star. It just wasn't my cup of tea.



"Deadly Waters" is set to be released September 1, 2020 here in the U.S.



Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me the egalley to read and give my honest review.



Happy Reading!

3.5 stars rounded up.
Being a big fan of this author's Collector series - and if you haven't already read this please do. Start with The Butterfly Garden. So I was quite excited to see this pop up on my feed. I snaffled it up as soon as I saw it and went on to devour it in only one sitting. It drew me in from the off, held me captive throughout, spitting me out at the end shattered but satisfied. That said, it was a bit heavy and over the top in places, hence the rating.
It's a hard hitting tale containing many graphic and gruesome scenes. Set around a college in Florida we follow a dorm of students as they, well, as they basically go out drinking and the shenanigans that entail from that. We also hear from an unknown narrator who, well, let's just say she leads bad boys astray. Off the beaten and safe path. Well, we are in Florida and it's gator courting season so...
It's heavy on the #metoo and he said/she said thing which, although important and heavily entwined in the plot of this book does rather suffocate things. But, that said, this stuff happens. It keeps happening. It keeps getting swept and probably will continue to do so all the time we have entitlement in the ranks. But. This story is all about this and justice and the heaviness is on the whole warranted. You only need to open a newspaper and... well, you get the gist.
The story as it unfolds gets on with itself very well. The narrative flows between the action in college and the parts off campus. Apart from the obvious, the book didn't really deliver me too many shocks as to what was really happening so there wasn't a bit reveal that left me gasping. It did deliver twists and turns along the way though which did reel me a bit. And I wasn't prepared for some of the things that occurred towards the end.
Ok so it is a bit heavy on the - all men are b&&^*&% - thing but that's a key plot point so I gave the author that one. After all, it's a book centered around that sort of behaviour, however it did make it a bit unbalanced overall and I fear that this might cause readers to fall by the wayside along the way rather than sticking with it.
All in all, a decent enough read that did hold my attention and gave me quite a bit of food for thought along the way. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I think.... this was just not for me. I absolutely adored The Butterfly Garden, but this story was over the top man hating and felt like an exaggeration of what was promised in the blurb. As always, I'll be on the look out for future books from this author, but may give the rest of this series a pass.

The premise of Deadly Waters is intriguing - frat bros who have raped or otherwise mistreated women at the University of Florida become alligator bait. Should we care or rejoice? In a country where someone gets only weeks in jail for raping an unconscious woman, perhaps it is time for some vigilante justice? The co-eds at UF certainly agree and start to celebrate Ellie, a "feisty" student who everyone, including the police, thinks must have done it. Her roommate, Rebecca, is also concerned that Ellie is the killer, and here is where the plot execution and the question of the unreliable narrator was a little murky for me, as was the so-called reveal at the end. I'll say no more, but on the whole a decent read, especially if you're nostalgic for your college days of old.

“Deadly Waters” is a well written book dealing with a very sensitive topic. Dot Hutchison’s writing style pulls the reader in and they become invested in the characters. Although I knew who was enacting the revenge, I still couldn’t put the book down.

On a college campus in Florida, young men are dying left and right in alligator attacks... but not by accident. Centered on the timely topic of #metoo, this novel explores the exhausting experience of being a woman in an era where boys and men get away with harassment and sexual assault. While a good read, the author lost me with the perspective that most men are bad and will choose to hurt women. Yes, there are evil men. But most? As a mom of two boys, a wife to an incredible man, and surrounded by stand-up men in my family and friend group, I just can’t get on board with this thinking.

With that said, this book does touch on some very real experiences. Some of the assaults mentioned could be a trigger for survivors, so proceed with caution. Still, a compelling read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Collector series was diversity done right. The characters were all from different backgrounds, religions, races and sexual preferences, and they all felt real. Dot Hutchison’s new book is trying too hard. The characters seem more like stereotypes than real people. The mystery was actually interesting, I liked the ending and I had to revisit some parts after I learned the truth. The rest of the book, however, read mostly like a long rant. Does every woman in the world get sexually assaulted every other week? Maybe, but this just seems too much. The dialogues are repetitive and seem just like the author is preaching to us all. Now, I’m not trying to trivialize anything as horrific as rape, but I need more from a book. Hutchinson is a great writer so I hope next time she gives readers something more.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/ Thomas & Mercer!

This was my first book by the author and I really wanted to like it, but I guess the book wasn’t for me. It took me a little longer to finish it.I liked the cover and founded the synopsis interesting, but it just was to much for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of Deadly Water.

I am a huge fan of this author and this book reminded me why. Well written, this book is more than a mystery. The characters are complex and the story resonates. There is a killer loose and a lot of suspects. I began to suspect the killer early on, however, it didn't take anything away from the experience. And there was still a shock I didn't see coming in that reveal! I'm so glad this is the beginning of a new series. There is a lot to love about this book and I want more of these characters. I feel invested in all of them and that doesn't happen very often. This book will stick with you, and make you think, long after the end. One of the best reads of 2020!

Deadly Waters isn't as similar to The Butterfly Garden as one would hope. Although, it is still a good book. This one focuses on sexual assault on a college campus and those violent co-ed's getting what's coming to them. Set in Florida, frat boy bodies start appearing in alligator-infested waters. They were known to creep on women. Everyone seems to think Ellie has something to do with it because she's been known to threaten men who don't know how to take no for an answer. The novel is actually very thought-provoking as it makes you wonder who the true evil person is; is the killer really so bad? I think I would've enjoyed this more had I adjusted my expectations. Readers who enjoy a thought-provoking vigilante justice type novel, this is a good one to pick up.

I didn't love this book mostly because it seemed like a really extreme version of reality. Every female in this book was a victim of either rape or assault and every male (except one) was a predator. I do think the author wrote about an important topic - young males who assault women and then are categorized as "boys being boys" or who are just given a slap on the wrist because it would a shame to ruin the rest of their life because of one incident (while the unfortunate victim is left scarred for the rest of their life).

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing a copy for review

3.5 stars for this read!

My thoughts on this read are proving difficult to articulate, so please bear with me.

Set to release in September 2020, DEADLY WATERS is the start of Dot Hutchison's newest series. As a relatively new fan of Hutchison's work, I was beyond excited to get my hands on her latest book. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite hit the mark for me.

Seemingly inspired by the #MeToo movement, DEADLY WATERS is centered around the impact of sexual assault and the freedom that can come when survivors choose not to stay quiet any longer. College junior Rebecca Sorley is just like most university students: focused on her grades, crushes, and spending time with her friends and suitemates. While each of her suitemates has their own unique personality within the story, one in particular is known for starting fights with men who make unwanted advances on women, whether she knows the women in question or not. When these men start showing up dead, Ellie is a prime suspect. But, for the women on campus, is it really the worst thing if she is the one doing it?

I truly believe that going into a book with the right expectations can change a reading experience for the better. If I'm honest, I think that's where I went wrong with this book. Having read the first book in Hutchison's Collector series, I was expecting the same style of storytelling: lots of deeply disturbing, visceral descriptions. However, while the subject matter found within the pages of this book is without doubt disturbing, it read more like a YA mystery novel and that just isn't my style. That being said, I do think Dot Hutchsion did a phenomenal job of addressing the sensitive topic of rape/sexual assault and demonstrating the courage it takes to share your story for the audience that this book is likely targeted to. Had I known ahead of time that this would be more of a YA novel, I truly believe I would have gone into it with a different perspective and enjoyed it significantly more.

Without a doubt, the shining element of this book is the cast of characters. While it largely focuses on Rebecca and Ellie, the secondary characters of this book are just as endearing and the type that readers will find themselves rooting for. I definitely have a soft spot for each of the characters after the time I spent with them.

While this wasn't my favorite read, it is one that I would definitely recommend to the right audience. If you're a fan of YA mysteries, tight-knit friend groups, and sprinklings of romance within your crime novels, this read could definitely be right up your alley! Even if not all of those elements are usually your favorites, I would recommend going in with the right expectations and checking this book out at your local library. I, for one, am looking forward to revisiting these characters in the next installment of this series, now that I know what type of read to expect.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion of the book or the content of my review. All opinions my own.

Deadly Waters by Dot Hutchison is not for the faint of heart! It takes place at a college in Florida. Male students accused of sexual misdeeds end up getting killed by alligators. Student Rebecca suspects her friend Ellie. Ellie is violent and loves to go to bars and attack men who make passes at women or harass them. This book felt different to me from the author’s previous works. It seemed more dark. Some people might be turned off or triggered by the violence or sexual assault descriptions. Thank you to the publisher and net galley for the advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

Deadly Waters by Dot Hutchison is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer,  and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Male university students are turning up as alligator meat in local Florida lakes around the university. Other than the fact that they are all university students, they also have something else in common.  They are all scumbags who have shown little respect for women.

Rebecca and her friends aren't too worried about the deaths of these men.  They know that they probably deserved what they got.  Most girls their age have been victims of unwanted attention and abuse by someone in the past.  Unfortunately,  it is nothing new, and they are used to dodging advances, watching their drinks, trying not to be alone.  It is just the norm.  Besides, they are too busy with school,  family, friends, and partying. Oh, and making sure that their friend Ellie doesn't get out of control.  Ellie does have a bit of a temper, and little self-control.  Oh, and she hates men.  People are starting to talk....



My Opinions:

This is a story about abuse, about hate, about revenge.  It is a story about college students who get out of control, both male and female.  A vigilante is on the loose.

I found this a rather heavily slanted tale.  It sounds like there are no male college students that have any respect for women.  I know it's just a story, but the bias was way too much.  It's enough to inspire hate in some.  It also made both male and female students sound like alcoholics.  Yes, alcohol and/or drugs are a part of college life, but I don't think a day goes by without them being drunk.  Not sure how any pass their exams.

On the other hand, it was a very entertaining and well-written read, and although I guessed the perpetrator early on, it wasn't really obvious.  In an era of the #METOO movement, this was a timely read.  And yes, as a girl many moons ago, the atrocities against women haven't really changed.  However, now, and as in the book, women have learned to stand up for themselves, and speak loudly.   However, NOT all boys/men are the idiots portrayed in this book, and women do not walk around in constant fear of being sexually assaulted.

So I'm torn....I actually enjoyed the book (I loved Rebecca and Hafsah)....and hated what almost felt like an exaggeration of a very sensitive topic.  So, I'm back to....it's fiction, and as fiction it was a good book (almost 4 stars)!

Anyway, if this becomes a series and follows Rebecca....I will give it another go.

Despite my excitement to read an early copy of this book, it was just not the book for me. I had heard so many good things about Ms. Hutchison's prior books and I had high expectations for this book, but I just didn't love it.

There were a lot of serious and important issues discussed in this book and I was intrigued with the premise, but I think that the execution of the story just wasn't what I was looking for.

Overall I just didn't connect with the characters, and found them to be over-the-top on many occasions. I liked the description of the book, and the first chapters of the book seemed very promising, but ultimately it just wasn't my type of read. It is my understanding that this is the first in a series, so I am open to seeing where that goes in the hopes that the other books are more appealing to me.

Despite this book not being for me, I am still looking forward to reading Ms. Hutchison's other books, as I have heard really good things and am very willing to give her another shot.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, as well as NetGalley for the early copy of this book for review.

I am DNF-ing at 63%. I usually don't wait this long to tap out but I really wanted to enjoy this because I've never not enjoyed something by this author. That cover is lovely, the synopsis sounded super appealing, like it would be right up my alley. It just didn't deliver. I didn't connect to any of these characters, for a lover of all things Dot I was sorely disappointed. Maybe Butterfly Garden ruined me with this author, but I gave it an honest chance, but I just can't keep going.

This book is so well written and gripping, it's hard to put into words how disturbing the fantasy revenge is; both a thrill ride and a horror played out before you. Like not wanting to look at the horrific accident you pass on a highway, and being highly ashamed that you can't tear your eyes away. This will not be for a lot off people.

Wow this book was so fantastically written! I will say this needs a big Trigger warning, Rape Culture in the college setting and assault are major topics in this book.

I thought it was done well, these girls are so smart, feisty, with huge sense of community and looking out for each other. As male college students death by violent alligator attacks. But there seems to be to many happening and it turns out these students are ones that treat women like they should give them whatever they want, whenever they want it. The atmosphere is almost cheery news. Racheal and Ellie and their suite mates have experience great tragedy from these boys that are out of control at the school. Ellie has an extreme temper when it comes to men, this opens some suspicion about her involvement?


This book is hard to read, in the sense that you know these are things that are happening to these women and it just makes you sick. The idea of a vigilante taking justice into their own hands was intriguing. The writing is just so good, you feel like you know these Women. The conversations are so real and honest. Ellie is the anger inside everyone for the injustice and she just wears it on her sleeve and if she knows you did something, watch out shell kick butt. The killings were interesting, being done mostly by gators, the killer is smart. I had my suspicions on who the killer was but that kept changing, so many people had things to gain by these men being gone. It was an addictive read, what was going to come next, would this end? Will it change the course of history, will they have learned not to take advantage of women?

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for my review copy

I’ve decided I’m not really a fan of this author. I have him a try and I felt the same about the butterfly garden. Too slow for my taste, and the subjects are a little too taboo to relate to.

Deadly waters - Dot Hutchinson


Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for gifting me this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am rating this a 3 out of 5 stars...From the synopsis I thought I'd like this book far kore than I really did. I almost didn't finish it but decided I'll pull through no matter what.

The point of men hate, vulnerability of girls in colleges ... It was all a bit too exaggerated in this book and I really didn't like it...
You can pretty much guess who is the killer relatively soon.
The idea of a vigilante isn't that bad... If only it was a tad less obvious who it was so early in the story...

I hope next book I read from this author will leave a better afterthought.