I loved the scene of this novel, similar to Outer Banks or Where the Crawdads Sing. I am thrilled to report NOTHING HAPPENS TO THE DOG. You can proceed safely. It was a well wound, well told plot.

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

What is a backwater? A PIECE OF WATER OFF TO THE SIDE OF A RIVER/LAKE –Sabine (17) was accused of starting a fire in a trailer park killing 9 people including her sister and mother. She confesses to the crime, was taken custody and somehow escaped and disappears into the backwaters of her childhood refuge.
Along comes Rachel who is trying to get back into finding out the story of Sabine and get her story about the Trailer Park Murders and enhance her career. But many things happen in that process.
I felt sorry for Sabine – no one knew the whole story (well someone knew but they weren’t talking) and what all happened that night of the fires. When you hear the whole story, you will understand exactly what happened that night but you have to listen to the whole story. Enjoy this great read. I look forward to Ms Wakefield's next book.

The Backwater by Vikki Wakefield is a beautifully written, poignant exploration of life in a small town and the complexities of growing up. Through the lens of her relatable and multi-dimensional characters, Wakefield paints an evocative portrait of isolation, self-discovery, and the tension between escape and belonging.

The novel centers on Sabine, a teenager caught between the stifling environment of her hometown and the pull of the larger world outside. Wakefield’s prose is atmospheric, capturing the quiet struggles and unspoken emotions that simmer beneath the surface of rural life. What stands out the most is Wakefield’s ability to create tension, not just through the plot, but through the sense of place—The Backwater is as much a character in itself as the people who inhabit it.

The narrative is at once a deep dive into the internal landscapes of its characters and a broader commentary on the issues that often define rural communities: the pressure to conform, the search for identity, and the elusive desire for more. The pace is steady, but not without moments of emotional upheaval that keep the reader invested.

What I Loved:
- The layered, realistic characters who feel authentic and raw.
- The quiet, atmospheric setting that feels like a character in itself.
- The emotional depth and nuanced exploration of small-town life.

What Could Be Improved:
- Some readers may find the slower pacing at times a bit too deliberate.
- A few secondary characters could’ve had more development to enrich the storyline.

Overall, The Backwater is a captivating read for anyone who enjoys reflective narratives and complex coming-of-age stories. It’s a book that lingers with you long after the last page.

Excellent crime thriller. I didn't know what to expect but this was amazing. Not usually into crime thriller but this one was good.

So many emotions. What a story this was. Years ago a fire in a trailer park community kills 9 people, including Sabine’s mom and sister. Sabine confesses at the site of the fire but escapes custody and goes on the run. 12 years later a recently divorced out of work journalist spots Sabine and they (kind of) work together to learn what really happened that day. This was an emotional story that was told really well. I absolutely loved the ending. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The Backwater is an excellent crime mystery. The book partially takes place in present day and back at the time of the crime. Years ago, Sabina is accused of setting an explosion that killed multiple people including her mother and sister. Presently, Sabina is on the run and now trying to prove her innocence. Clues are slowly dropped giving lots of suspense that leads up to a satisfying conclusion.

I didn’t know what to expect going into this book, but it was good. This was a good mystery of who started the fires 12 years ago and the after math it caused..

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this arc! Truly a fascinating thriller that made good use of dual pov in a small town concept!
I loved the character growth, the suspense and just everything on how the book flowed to its beautiful ending!

To the River is a strong psychological suspense novel that readers who love reading about strong characters who are prepared to fight for their truth to be heard will appreciate.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Vikki Wakefield for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley

The Backwater was hard to put down. I enjoyed the storyline, the characters were well crafted and the turns that progressed were believable, heartbreaking and unexpected.

I highly recommend this thriller and will definitely recommend to anyone.

Well written characters driven novel. Excellent use of dual POV. Oh, the things that happen in small towns....
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

What a great book! I absolutely loved how twisty and clever this one was! I was totally engrossed from beginning to end and would definitely read from this author again,

This book is slow moving and deep, like the river that runs throughout the book. A woman, on the run, hiding out for the last 12 years decides to tell her story to a freelance reporter, who is looking for purpose in her life. She has been accused of setting a fire that killed nine people including her mother and sister. Strong characters, believable growth in their relationship and a lot of truths about life, about justice and love.

I started reading the first chapter and got confused, I have read this book last year when the title was To The River.
Anyways, I did enjoy reading this book and gave it a 5 ⭐️ on Goodreads.
It was a gripping story and the story was enthralling.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity and to the publisher Poisoned Pen Press.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

This was an intriguing atmospheric story about a young girl, Sabine, accused of murdering her mother and sister. Rachel is a reporter needing a story so she endeavours to reveal the truth about the incident that sent Sabine on the run. While Sabine has been in hiding, now is her chance to set the story straight as to what really happened that night 12 years ago. This story had me hooked by page 1. Sabine’s life was heartbreaking Yet her resourcefulness was what enabled her evade the authorities for 12 years Even Rachel’s life was sad yet not unusual – husband leaves for a younger “model”. But Rachel was going to be independent and continue to work but as a free lance reporter. Watching her piece the incidents to Sabine’s life was interesting. I was cheering them both on when the confrontation with the villain happened. A great story.

What an engaging story. Sabine has been running for 12 years from a terrible tragic event that she says was her fault. Rachel is a reporter who wants the truth and sets out to find Sabine and get some answers. But does she want the truth to help Sabine or to make it big with the story.
I enjoyed the writing and kept reading into the early morning hours. The story is engaging, hopeful and sad all at the same time. The characters are all strongly developed. Sabine wants to share her story and "the truth" on her terms in her own way. This story is told in past and present and has a small group of characters. I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting a good crime mystery.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

It’s only January, and I’ve already picked my top read for the year. <i>The Backwater</i> by Vikki Wakefield is fantastically written, managing to keep you deeply invested. I caught myself wondering about the outcome for Rachel and Sabine anytime I was forced to set the book down.

We follow Sabine, a fugitive on the run and Rachel, a recently divorced journalist, who aims to track Sabine down for the sake of the story- unintentionally unveiling the long buried truth about Sabine’s past.

The twists and turns of <i>The Backwater</i> were masterfully done, leaving you stunned and captivated without losing the organic feel that makes a good thriller great. Much like <i> Dark Places </i> by Gillian Flynn, which can illicit the same feeling in the first read through. The relationships between the characters were believable and fleshed out, not held back by shoehorned stereotypes and forced development for the sake of forward plot movement.

Each unveiling piece of the puzzle felt decadent, giving you just enough (but not too much!) to make you crave more. Even so, I was left satisfied.

And like a cherry on top of a well-decorated dessert- I truly didn’t see the end coming.

I look forward to reading more from Wakefield, both previously written and what’s to come.

Broken families are a good trope and this was no exception. It's intriguing and well paced. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the chance to read this book.