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outsmartyourshelf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
A book of 13 haunting stories which all involve fishing of some description. Now I'm not the least bit interested in fishing but I do like a book which deals with hauntings & water. These were mostly a mixed bag, with the one about a Victorian serial killer, & another about a group of friends out fishing in a boat with a broken radio being the standouts for me. None of them were particularly chilling but some have the reader tempted to 'bite' only to deliver a sting in the tail. If you are a keen fisher then these may appeal to you a little more.
My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Cranthorpe Millner Publishers, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Cranthorpe Millner Publishers, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
thegrimhobbyist's review
4.5
I got the ARC to be part of a book tour, but the review is my own honest opinion.
I am not at all an angler, I've been fishing probably once or twice as a kid, but that's it. That's okay though, you don't have to be a fisher to enjoy these spooky tales. Though, some of the fishing terms and obsession or excitement about hooking a fish might be lost on you like it was me. That isn't the main focus of the stories though, the main focus are ghostly tales and spooky folklore centered around bodies of water.
Peter Wise is quite skilled at crafting a very atmospheric tale; each short story sucks you into the setting so you can watch the story unfold with your very eyes. Some twists are predictable, others catch me off guard, and every single one of them were thoroughly enjoyable. Even the gruesome or gut-punching stories that you'll encounter in these thirteen short stories were enjoyable. There's a nice eclectic mix of heartwarming (despite the chilling moments) stories, as well as creepy and terrifying.
I can definitely see these being perfect to read by the water at a campfire with friends or yourself (and scare yourself because you'll be by water haha!). The collection comes out on October 31st, the perfect day to treat yourself to a spooky gift on Halloween so that you can read it on the day and through the rest of fall and winter - because there's plenty of stories in this collection that fit the season.
I am not at all an angler, I've been fishing probably once or twice as a kid, but that's it. That's okay though, you don't have to be a fisher to enjoy these spooky tales. Though, some of the fishing terms and obsession or excitement about hooking a fish might be lost on you like it was me. That isn't the main focus of the stories though, the main focus are ghostly tales and spooky folklore centered around bodies of water.
Peter Wise is quite skilled at crafting a very atmospheric tale; each short story sucks you into the setting so you can watch the story unfold with your very eyes. Some twists are predictable, others catch me off guard, and every single one of them were thoroughly enjoyable. Even the gruesome or gut-punching stories that you'll encounter in these thirteen short stories were enjoyable. There's a nice eclectic mix of heartwarming (despite the chilling moments) stories, as well as creepy and terrifying.
I can definitely see these being perfect to read by the water at a campfire with friends or yourself (and scare yourself because you'll be by water haha!). The collection comes out on October 31st, the perfect day to treat yourself to a spooky gift on Halloween so that you can read it on the day and through the rest of fall and winter - because there's plenty of stories in this collection that fit the season.
the_b00kreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Disturbing The Water contains thirteen various stories centered around the topic of fishing. (Not my usual read, I will admit, but it turned out to be quite enjoyable!)
A perfect blend of eerie and emotional, each story has its own little message. Vengeful spirits, lonely anglers and adventurous souls, you name it and this book may just have it.
I enjoyed many of the tales this book held, some more than others, and found myself intruiged as to what the outcome of each may be. There were several little twists in each story, some predictable, others not so much.
One of my favourite stories within this book was that of 'Captain Cochran's Postbox'. There was just something about it that really resonated with me. Could it have been the way the story was told? Or perhaps the way I interpreted it? Or perhaps it was simply the fact that I felt one of the main characters had a real "girlboss" moment? We'll never know....(actually we know...it's the latter, the main character totally girlbossed and I support her for itđ)
Wise is certainly talented in the storytelling department and I must really applaud his use of dialogue in his stories. The conversations felt easy and, in ways, real, as though the conversations were happening right in front of me and I was simply eavesdropping (how nosy of me!).
All in all, I enjoyed this read and would certainly recommend it to anyone who's up for it!
A perfect blend of eerie and emotional, each story has its own little message. Vengeful spirits, lonely anglers and adventurous souls, you name it and this book may just have it.
I enjoyed many of the tales this book held, some more than others, and found myself intruiged as to what the outcome of each may be. There were several little twists in each story, some predictable, others not so much.
One of my favourite stories within this book was that of 'Captain Cochran's Postbox'. There was just something about it that really resonated with me. Could it have been the way the story was told? Or perhaps the way I interpreted it? Or perhaps it was simply the fact that I felt one of the main characters had a real "girlboss" moment? We'll never know....(actually we know...it's the latter, the main character totally girlbossed and I support her for itđ)
Wise is certainly talented in the storytelling department and I must really applaud his use of dialogue in his stories. The conversations felt easy and, in ways, real, as though the conversations were happening right in front of me and I was simply eavesdropping (how nosy of me!).
All in all, I enjoyed this read and would certainly recommend it to anyone who's up for it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
hisghoulfriday's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
This was an amazing collection of 13 short stories! The stories are all very reminiscent of a good old-fashioned ghost story. Each eerie tale centers around fishing or a watery landscape. There's rusalkas, mysterious apparitions appearing by the banks of rivers, and it's got a bit of history woven into the stories.
I loved how each tale seemed to flow nicely into the next one, making the collection hard to put down.
Each story had a fantastic cast of characters; they all seemed to come to life in such a short time.
The best part of this collection is the world-building. Each story is incredibly atmospheric. I felt really uneasy at times, and the prose sucks you into each world, making you feel like you're there with the other characters.
I loved how each tale seemed to flow nicely into the next one, making the collection hard to put down.
Each story had a fantastic cast of characters; they all seemed to come to life in such a short time.
The best part of this collection is the world-building. Each story is incredibly atmospheric. I felt really uneasy at times, and the prose sucks you into each world, making you feel like you're there with the other characters.
adperfectamconsilium's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An atmospheric debut collection of spooky short stories all based around ghosts and the supernatural. Strange and unexplainable occurrences that happen anywhere around fishing, from streams & rivers, to eerie lakes and the sea coast.
While fishing and tales of fishermen is the common theme you don't have to be a keen angler to enjoy these stories. The fishing just acts as a backdrop to set the scene for this varied trove of ghostly treasures, stories from many times and locations.
Some of the stories have real historical facts in them and I think a lot of historical fiction fans would appreciate the research gone into this book where the fact and fiction is skillfully blended.
It's best to go into the anthology without knowing too much so that the surprises and scares come from unexpected directions.
The tales stand up against any collection of traditional ghost stories and with thirteen tales you're sure to come across some new favourites.
I've managed to resist writing any puns about how fishy some circumstances are. You wouldn't appreciate me carping on about it. Instead, perch yourself in a comfy chair and let these yarns reel you in. (Sorry, one of the ghosts made me do it. And believe me, you do what a ghost wants or you might come to a nasty end like one of the fishermen in this book).
From a wreck off the Cornish coast to a lost village in a lake, from World War Two to strange bait ingredients at Glastonbury, you never know where or when the next story will take you.
Whatever you do it's probably safer not to disturb the water.
While fishing and tales of fishermen is the common theme you don't have to be a keen angler to enjoy these stories. The fishing just acts as a backdrop to set the scene for this varied trove of ghostly treasures, stories from many times and locations.
Some of the stories have real historical facts in them and I think a lot of historical fiction fans would appreciate the research gone into this book where the fact and fiction is skillfully blended.
It's best to go into the anthology without knowing too much so that the surprises and scares come from unexpected directions.
The tales stand up against any collection of traditional ghost stories and with thirteen tales you're sure to come across some new favourites.
I've managed to resist writing any puns about how fishy some circumstances are. You wouldn't appreciate me carping on about it. Instead, perch yourself in a comfy chair and let these yarns reel you in. (Sorry, one of the ghosts made me do it. And believe me, you do what a ghost wants or you might come to a nasty end like one of the fishermen in this book).
From a wreck off the Cornish coast to a lost village in a lake, from World War Two to strange bait ingredients at Glastonbury, you never know where or when the next story will take you.
Whatever you do it's probably safer not to disturb the water.
adrihean's review
2.0
âDisturbing the Waterâ by Peter Wise is a book about ghosts in the waters in different places. The fishermen know the lore and spread the spooky tails of the uncommon stories. The book wasnât really my kind of thing, I thought it was a bit boring because there was too much down time.
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