A solid 3 star read! Loved the twist at the end! The narration was great! This would make an excellent movie. I felt like the story was a little drawn out then the ending was too sudden though.

Thank you NetGalley letting me listen to this audiobook arc!

This was not at all what I was expecting after reading the summary. But it was phenomenal for sure! This was definitely more horror than mystery. A road trip gone terribly wrong after what was supposed to be a quick stop at a diner for Lauren and her father. After that the entire book takes on a new turn. Good narration and hard to stop listening.

There is no way to speak in details about this book without potentially ruining it for the next reader, so I'll just say:

1) I started this one late in the evening (perfect setting), and it kept me listening far later than was wise
2) I felt like I was spending time with old favorites, Stephen King and Dean Koontz which is pretty darn good company
3) I will pick up any book Adam Godfrey decides to write
4) I hope a movie will follow
5) Oh boy, I need to re-read to pick up on all those easter eggs I missed

The audio narrator James Babson was PERFECTION.

Well done and a great fall turning dark early, while crispy leaves crunch under your feet, read.

Audio Run Time: 8 hrs, 45 mins
Narrated by: James Babson

So I went into this thinking it was a mystery, but it was more of a horror thriller! The narrator was enjoyable to listen to and the story hooked me by like chapter 2 or 3! Glen and his daughter Lauren are on a trip to reconnect after having drifted apart since the loss of his wife 6 years before. They stop at a diner out in the middle of nowhere and wind up being held hostage inside the building along with a few other patrons. The two men claim that the water is killing people, that it’s alive. Everyone inside the diner knows these guys are either on drugs or drunk out of their minds. But as time goes by and things outside begin to change, you think that maybe these two men aren’t so crazy after all… but if the water is outside and will kill them, how could they possibly survive such a foe? …. This was rather horrifying/terrifying as it moved along and I was riveted!!! At the same time, I felt like something was off and during the story I began to form an idea of what the twist might be, but I was wrong! The ending really got me! And that epilogue… idk what to do with that! The epilogue left my jaw on the floor and my brain screaming WTF?!?!

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for this ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a really interesting idea but I feel like the execution was a bit boring. I loved the beginning, but after they were sitting in the diner for a few chapters it did become a little hard to listen to. Maybe I was just not the intended audience.

Oh wow what an interesting premise! Scary, dark, edge of your seat action. Narrator did a great job on the audio version. Recommend for the Stephen King loving folks!

Loved the idea of this and the mood. It even seemed like it was building up to something interesting as Glen tris to protect his daughter Lauren as danger mounts with the mysterious dangerous water. Unfortunately, for me, the ending spoiled the rest.
Other people may feel differently. Again, the mood setting is creepy and the narrator was perfect for making everything seem believable.

3.75 stars

This is my first book by Adam Godfrey, and I hope it won't be the last. I found this horrific tale pretty fresh and thought provoking.

Glen and his daughter, Lauren, are going on a journey to bond. After the death of their respective wife and mother a few years ago, their relationship has changed markedly. Grief will do that, of course. This trip, though. It's not what anyone anticipated. There are many signs from the jump that things are wrong, and then things go VERY wrong. The good news for you is that you'll be safe in your own comfy chair reading about this while these two will be exploring some real horrors of all kinds.

My two biggest challenges with this genre are slow pacing and predictability, and I didn't experience either to a concerning degree (though the former did cause me some challenges at times). I like that I did not see the end coming exactly as it did, and I like the way the book wraps overall. I suspect this ending could provoke strong feelings from some readers and even become a make or break situation for the book in general, but it worked for me.

This was an intriguing read and I'm looking forward to more from this author.

In his spine-chilling debut, BODY OF WATER, Adam Godfrey immerses readers in a harrowing tale that follows a grieving father and his daughter as they find themselves ensnared in a desolate roadside diner surrounded by a dangerous body of water.

This electrifying narrative, crafted by a fresh voice in fiction, promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats, their breath held in anticipation as they navigate the treacherous currents of its story.

About...

Six years have passed since Glen Masters’ world crumbled with the tragic loss of his wife in a devastating accident. Determined to mend the fragile bond with his daughter, Lauren, he proposes a road trip through the breathtaking Appalachian mountains, a journey steeped in their shared memories of happier times as a family.

As they traverse winding roads, their anticipation builds, but a seemingly innocuous stop at a quaint diner quickly spirals into a harrowing nightmare.

Armed men burst through the doors, their shouts echoing off the diner’s walls as they frantically rave about an enigmatic phenomenon they refer to as the dangerous waters. Fear grips everyone as they struggle to comprehend: what dark force is hidden within this water?

Suddenly, Glen and Lauren find themselves caught in a terrifying ordeal, held hostage alongside the other frightened patrons, trapped in a twisted game of survival.

Tension thickens as panic spreads like wildfire, chilling the air. Outside, a relentless force is determined to engulf everyone in its path, and within the diner’s walls, illusions abound—nothing is as it seems.

This gripping narrative weaves together despair and suspense, drawing readers into a nightmarish reality where survival hinges on unraveling the unsettling truths that lie beneath the surface.

In this desperate fight for survival, Glen must confront the demons of grief that threaten to consume him, while the bond between father and daughter is tested like never before.

My thoughts...

BODY OF WATER not only ignites the imagination but also caters to those who savor the depth and nuance intrinsic to literary fiction. Through a tapestry of intricate metaphors and vivid symbolisms, the narrative weaves an immersive experience that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.

Terrifying and spellbinding, the narrative propels you into an unsettling, claustrophobic setting, keeping you on the edge of your seat, utterly unaware of the story’s impending twists. However, it is toward the end that a monumental and unexpected turn will leave you reeling.

Beneath the haunting layers of horror, intricate mystery, and palpable suspense, and amidst the shadowy, lurking water monsters that threaten to engulf them, emerges a profound and poignant emotional narrative—a story woven from the threads of grief and trauma, where the struggle for survival transforms into a desperate yet breathtaking dance of resilience.

At its heart, this tale delves into the very essence of humanity, illuminating our responses when faced with the crushing weight of tragedy. It reveals the spectral echoes of the past, the ghosts that relentlessly haunt our souls, guiding us—sometimes painfully—along the tumultuous road to healing. With each twist and turn, the journey becomes a testament to the beauty and fragility of life, even in the darkest of times.

In summary, in the relentless quest for survival, BODY OF WATER emerges as an exhilarating thriller filled with twists that will leave readers breathless from a new voice in fiction. I can't wait to see what comes next.

Ideal for engaging book clubs and stimulating discussions, take a moment to explore the Reading Group Guide, delve into a Conversation with the Author, and most importantly, discover the Author’s Note, which unveils the inspiration behind this gripping tale.

Audiobook...

I had the distinct pleasure of delving into the pages of this captivating book, enhanced further by the audiobook narrated by the incredibly talented James Babson. His narration elevates the story to new heights, brilliantly capturing the raw emotion and unyielding struggle for survival. Babson’s compelling performance sets a gripping tone for a thrilling experience, drawing listeners into a whirlwind of unexpected twists and heart-pounding suspense. It’s an immersive journey that engages both the mind and the senses, making it a truly unforgettable experience.

Recs...

BODY OF WATER is a captivating read tailored for enthusiasts of notable authors such as Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Chris Whitaker, and Taylor Adams. It weaves together an intricate tapestry of the unexpected, drawing readers into a world where mystery and suspense intersect with elements of horror and the supernatural.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing the stunning hardcover and digital copy, and Recorded Books for an ALC via Netgalley for my honest thoughts. #CoverLove

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pub Date: Sep 23, 2025
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Adam Godfrey’s Body of Water is not my typical read. It’s a little bit horror, a little bit sci-fi, and a whole lot of freaky, but I ended up loving it, proving that readers/listeners should step out of our comfort zones occasionally. Just when I was wondering how it could possibly wrap-up, Adam Godfrey threw in the ultimate jaw-dropping twist. Body of Water is a must read for lovers of all things weird and strange.

Gripping, thrilling, shocking, and horrific! Whew! This was a fantastic audiobook that had my attention from the very beginning and never let go! The book begins as a father, Glen Masters who is still grieving the loss of his wife, has taken his teenage daughter, Lauren, on a road trip. They are traveling through the Appalachian Mountains, and make a pit stop at a diner to get some dinner.

But it is not the quick meal they had hoped for. Suddenly hysterical armed men rush into the diner warning them about the "living water" that is attacking people. They won't let anyone leave and as the water begins to flow their way...

I had no idea what I was getting into when I began listening to this audiobook. The narration was fantastic, and this book proved to be an atmospheric, thrilling, and tension filled read. I love the 'trapped' feeling in this book. Questions swirled through my mind such as 'what is it with the water?' and 'what is going to happen?' and 'how can they survive this?' As the questions swirled through my mind, the dread, tension and danger intensified.

Then the author knocked my socks off with that TWIST and REVEAL. I can honestly say that I did not see it coming at all and was left thinking 'wait, what?", 'how clever' and 'well played, sir.' Holy Moly, this book turned on a dime and left me with my mouth hanging open. I love it when that happens. Talk about shocking!

A great eerie, atmospheric, dark, and thrilling book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the audiobook.

2.5* The setting of this book was incredibly eerie. Numerous times throughout, I was thinking to myself “I could totally see this becoming a movie.” Unfortunately, the twist ending did not hit the way I’d hoped it would, given the other reviews I’d seen. I really enjoyed the pacing and blew through the book in a single day, which I think was partially because of how much I liked the narrator.