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The Drowning Place

The gripping and atmospheric new thriller from the bestselling author

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The Drowning Place

By: Sarah Hilary
Narrated by: Simon Lawson
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.Every place has its ghosts. Edenscar, a town in the Peak District, has more than most.

17 years ago, its inhabitants were hit by tragedy when a school bus veered off the road and everyone on board drowned. Everyone, that is, except Joseph Ashe. His miraculous survival has haunted him and the town ever since.

Now a Detective Sergeant in the local police, Joe is called to the scene of a brutal and apparently inexplicable crime. The whole town is spooked, but Joe’s new boss, DI Laurie Bower, more used to inner-city police work, has no time for superstition. She just wants to find the very real killer who has left no trace and apparently had no motive.

Joining forces, Joe and Laurie work to uncover the secrets of Edenscar, both past and present.

But when you dig up the dead, expect to get your hands dirty…

'Will chill you to the bone ... fantastic' PAULA HAWKINS
'Brilliant ... a terrific start to a series' MICK HERRON
'An instant crime classic' ERIN KELLY
‘Will take your breath away’ JANICE HALLETT


© Sarah Hilary 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

 Genre Fiction Ghosts Horror Literature & Fiction Mystery Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Police Procedurals Small Town & Rural Women Sleuths Haunted Scary Crime Detective
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Critic reviews

Gorgeously vivid, moody and unsettling – I couldn’t put this down.
A crime fiction masterclass. Sarah Hilary’s latest touches on survivor’s guilt, small towns, murders and driven detectives in prose that rivals the best in the business (STEVE CAVANAGH)
Wonderful, sad and wise. It's a relentless crime drama, a devastating meditation on loss, and a dual character study full of humour and charm. Hilary doesn't just investigate an unspeakable crime; she investigates the human heart. I'll be counting the days until I can get back to Edenscar. (ABIGAIL DEAN)
Will chill you to the bone… Fantastic
Darkly atmospheric and overflowing with humanity, The Drowning Place is both breathtakingly original and an instant crime classic. An career best from the inimitable Sarah Hilary. (ERIN KELLY)
Works on multiple levels: a compelling murder mystery, an examination of the impact of survivor’s guilt, and an empathetic dissection of life in small town Britain. Written with Hilary’s trademark flair for prose, this first episode in a new police procedural series sings with originality and authenticity (VASEEM KHAN)
I've found my favourite new series. The Drowning Place is the first in Sarah Hilary's gothic-tinged, Peak District-set police series, introducing us to an engaging and emotionally-complex cast of characters, with her trademark astute and compelling writing. A moving, gripping and unique exploration of survivor's guilt, and the web of relationships and secrets in a small-town community. Happy Valley, but haunted. I genuinely can't wait for the next book in the series (ANNA MAZZOLA)
Brilliant! A truly impressive piece of work that breaks new ground for the genre - dark, original and quite alarmingly readable. I’m delighted we’ll be seeing more of Sammi, Joe and Laurie - and I hope the gothic world of the Peak District (ANDREW TAYLOR)
Crime novels often feature the detectives' personal lives alongside their professional work but in this book the two truly intertwine with poignant, sometimes shocking results. DS Joe Ashe is a beautifully drawn character to be sympathised with, but never pitied, while the rural Derbyshire landscape, expertly evoked forms a stunning backdrop for a very satisfying mystery. The Drowning Place marks the start of a wonderfully constructed police procedural series, where the crime at the heart of the novel is only part of the very moving story (SINÉAD CROWLEY)
Exceptional. This is impeccable crime fiction from one of the very best writers of her generation: gripping, moving, taut and utterly compelling. DS Joe Ashe and DI Laurie Bower won my heart and I'm counting the days until the next in this superb new series. (JANE CASEY)
All stars
Most relevant
I loved the detectives in this novel and the challenges they face at work and at home. The narrator was great and really brought the story to life! Can’t wait for book 2 next year!

Captivating new series

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Absolutely loved this! A brilliantly dark and clever plot, twisty ending, and characters I desperately want to see more of, DS Ashe and Sammi especially. Wish book two was out already!

A cracking start to the series

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I nearly gave up in the early stages because the action was too slow and too full of ghosts, and because Laurie was so unpleasant.
But it was worth hanging in there!!! Once the action gathered pace it was addictive - very clever plotting culminating in an unexpected reveal the book had been building towards.
I hope this is the start of a series.

Slow start then terrific

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Perfect narration by Derbyshire actor of this story set in the Peak District. Loved it!

Superb narration

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Loved this - absorbing plot, moving characters, original premise, thoroughly well executed. An excellent read if you're into literary crime thrillers.

Terrific twist on a police procedural

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