This was everything that was promised from the description and cover and was hooked from start to finish. It had that element that I was looking for and thought had that tension that I was looking for from the first page. The characters were so well written and was engaged from the way characters were written and how they worked in this plot. C. Fitton was able to create a strong storyline and was glad I read this.

3.5 stars

Although this was a good read in that I anxiously turned each page to discover what actually happened, and the ending had an unexpected twist, I felt absolutely no empathy for any of the four main characters, and I was just glad the book ended. I received an ARC from NetGalley, and the opinions expressed are my own.

The Body In The Reef by C. Fitton is a tense and atmospheric mystery that pulled me in right away. The setting on the open water added to the suspense, and the unfolding secrets kept me guessing until the very end. It was gripping, well paced, and thoroughly enjoyable. I give it five stars.

Having had the pleasure to read C. Fitton’s first book, Her Dead Boyfriend, I was delighted to have received an advanced reader copy of her second book, The Body in the Reef from Kingsley Publishers.

Scott Wilson and his wife Rebecca are looking forward to a romantic outing on their newly restored boat, Seas the Day. Intending to spend the weekend on the water to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary, their plans change when their brother-in-law, Peter Harrison, invites himself and his wife, Emma, who is Rebecca’s sister, to join them.

Ever since Emma’s marriage to Peter, she’s been distant, and Rebecca hopes to rekindle the deep bond she once had with her younger sister. But Emma has a secret …

Fitton uses symbolism throughout her book, giving the reader a foreshadowing of the tragedy that will soon befall the two couples such as the cracked windshield on the way to the marina, and the renaming of the boat Scott inherited from his uncle from She Got the House to Seas the Day.

The story building is solid and the development of the personalities and their relationships with each other are complex and rich. The four main characters are flawed with pasts they would prefer to remain hidden - with some secrets more deadly than others. All carry a guilty conscience. None are innocent. And the thing they treasure most is what will be lost.

Fitton has an unmistakable style to her writing - nothing is as it seems and whenever you think you have a character figured out, another interesting layer peels away, revealing more nuances.

Like the first book, the story telling is intricate, culminating into an unexpected but fascinating finale.

I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy nail-biting thrillers with plenty of twists and turns.

C.Fitton hands us another great read. after her previous book i had wanted to see what would come next and im so glad this one came along and proved to us this author is gooood.
this book gives us more tension and guessing games of who done it and what done it and why done its.
Scott and his wife are all ready and excited for their romantic time on their boat. they have an important anniversary coming up so are intending to celebrate by being on the water.
i mean i was red flagging when the in-laws invited themselves along, more so on an anniversary lol. but hey families are different. but my flags might have been flagging for a reason because could the change of plans lead to something far more sinister? who's hiding something on this boat? who isn't? and whats been going on with these sisters to make them distant?
the sense of unease settles over you for this one. you are wondering if there will be some big event or just some random fallout from an accident. but you get those chills and that vibe that something is coming. and then you just sit back and enjoy the ride as by now ive quickly and gratefully got to understand that Fitton writes well and so its a joy to be guided.
i like how each of the characters are bringing something to this boat. so you cant really guess which angle, or which person will be the main downer, or cause the biggest stir, or have their secret come out
so when the boat finishes its trip with one missing you a truly in that built tension mode. was it an accident or something more sinister. and why does nothing seem to be aligning or making sense with what the others are giving off.
was nature or nurture the issues at sea?

I unfortunately had to DNF this book at 28% due to triggers and content not seen in blurb. There is a character name I need to avoid that’s not mentioned in the summary.

I also unfortunately did not enjoy the writing style either but the pacing was good!

Please know I’m really picky wuth thrillers. Just because I didn’t love and connect with this one does not mean you won’t,

Thank you for this ARC! I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily.