The blurb for C.A. Fletcher’s Dead Water refers to a waterborne blight, which led me to believe the story would center around a pathogen in the water. In reality, it’s a zombie-like horror tale with folkloric undertones. Despite the misleading blurb, and the fact that I’m not the target audience for a zombie apocalypse story, I found myself enjoying Fletcher’s writing. 

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Set on a small island off the coast of Scotland, Dead Water starts as a slow-burning character study, introducing nearly every island resident while little actually happens. Though the plot takes its time to emerge, the novel is well-written and atmospheric, with a haunting sense of place and a sinister undercurrent. 

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The zombie action doesn’t kick in until about halfway through the book (and at over 500 pages, that’s quite a wait). The island’s inhabitants gradually transform into the drowned undead, attempting to drag the survivors down into the depths of the surrounding sea with them. Interwoven with the action are shorter chapters referencing an old Norse curse, which (sort of) explains the supernatural events. 

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I probably shouldn’t have finished this book—I didn’t find the zombie storyline particularly convincing, I didn’t care for any of the characters (even the dogs annoyed me), and the ending left me unimpressed. Still, the eerie island setting was compelling, and Fletcher’s writing kept me turning the pages. 

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