I am a sucker for a detective story, especially those that include a brilliant detective who can pick out the minutest detail to help them solve the mystery. Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes are fascinating to read about, and the way they unfold their whole clever theory at the end of the tale delights me. Stuart Turton managed to take that classic story type and twist into something dark and newly fascinating. Let's talk about The Devil and the Dark Water, which is a strong contender as a new favorite book of mine.
The Gist
In 1634, passengers, secret cargo, and the whispers of a demon named Old Tom embark on the Saardam, which is bound for Amsterdam to deliver precious goods to the East India Trading Company. But when mysterious events start happening on the ship, passengers and crew alike begin to suspect the workings of a demon. It's up to a select few passengers, along with the imprisoned detective Samuel Pipps, to discover the culprit behind these events before the fear and horrors devour them all.
The Take
As I mentioned above, I love a good mystery story and don't always feel the need to solve the mystery before it's revealed. The Devil and the Dark Water is a great mystery in its use of many complicated characters pressed into the confines of a ship at sea. And while it is a detective mystery, the detective in question is locked in a cell for much of the story after being arrested for a crime even he is unaware of. There are so many layered questions that have to be answered throughout the story, confusing and worrying the characters we follow in a way that kept the pace for much of the story. In classic mystery fashion, everyone is hiding something and thus becomes a suspect, even the supposed heroes at the forefront of the novel.
I am fine with an unlikable character so long as they are either 1) interesting or 2) terrible for a particular purpose. While some of the characters like Wyck the boatswain or van Schooten the chief merchant are terrible people, they have layers of character that are revealed throughout the story. Even the cruel Governor General Jan Haan shows a loving soft spot in his nephew, which does not redeem him but does give him a kernel of humanity. And instead of bogging the story down with extensive backstory exposition, Turton instead sprinkles in past memories of these characters, which lends the sense that this is a sequel of sorts because these characters are already established in the meat of this story.
It's the 17th century, set at sea, and in service of the East India Trading Company, so the undercurrents of greed and superstition are felt throughout the journey. Haan's whole purpose for sailing to Amsterdam is born out of greed, because delivery of the mysterious Folly guarantees him a seat at the most powerful council in the world. The dread that melts into the pages at the beginning of the story taints this seemingly mundane task into a doomed journey that will take the souls of innocents before it is done. The added layer of seafaring superstition increases the tension of the mystery and threat of Old Tom. Sailors are famously superstitious, and the bad omens witnessed at the beginning of the journey gave such a sickly fear for these characters in the best way.
I can't emphasize enough how layered this story is. While there is the mystery of Old Tom occupying the main characters, Turton adds in small moments like the crew grumbling over Haan offloading half of the food rations or characters mentioning Captain Crauwels keeps the sailors from mutinying. Surrounding the main mystery is the added dread of real issues threatening to arise and cause the downfall of all of the Saardam passengers. The crew's disdain for the passengers and soldiers aboard the ship create a looming threat to the characters as well, and the whole mixture of tension swirls and multiplies until it reaches a head.
My one main drawback is in the final section of the story. Just as the characters are getting close to uncovering the mastermind behind the theft and murders aboard the ship, the story takes a sharp left turn and moves into a completely different plot. This transition results in some uneven pacing, both slowing down and speeding up the conclusion. While it is a jarring disruption of the story thus far, ultimately it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. I do also want to note that there are some descriptions of human waste acts and scents, as well as some descriptive instances of gore. It did not dampen my opinion of the story, but I do feel it is important to note for more squeamish readers to consider.
If you are looking for a creepy mystery with a lot of substance, The Devil and the Dark Water is the story for you. I was happy to discover that Stuart Turton delivered again, as I thoroughly enjoyed The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. While the ending had some pacing and tonal unevenness, overall it is a brilliantly executed mystery story that will keep you guessing.
Rating: 9/10
Memorable Moments
"Everybody on this ship had cause for complaint. Everybody felt mistreated. Everybody wanted what somebody else had. She could only imagine the price these people would pay for a better life."
"Indiamen sail on superstition as much as wind and waves. Won’t be a man on board who doesn’t have a piece of the hull he kisses for luck or a token he swears saved him from some catastrophe on his last voyage."
The terror of Old Tom had me wondering the whole time whether it would be supernatural forces or clever humans causing all this mayhem.
Try It If...
You enjoy mysteries such as Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes.
Stories on ships interest you.
You like stories with a lot of characters.
Avoid It If...
You don't want to read descriptions of bloodshed or human waste.
Whodunit stories do not interest you.
The idea of a demon lurking on a ship terrifies you too much to enjoy the mystery.
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