
The Woman in the Water
The twisty, atmospheric thriller that dares to answer one of literature's unsolved mysteries
Henrietta Mckervey(Author)
Hachette Books Ireland (Publisher)
Published on 5. March 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-1-3997-5004-2 (ISBN)
Description
'Unputdownable' JOSEPH O'CONNOR
'A roller coaster read' LIZ NUGENT
THEY WERE BEST FRIENDS. NOW THEY ARE MURDERER AND WITNESS.
At the heart of the classic novel Rebecca lies a mystery ...
Pearl Day has always lived in the background - companion to her childhood friend, the dazzling and unpredictable Lady Eleanor Nicholson. Their bond was forged at Alderleigh, Eleanor's crumbling country estate, but now they share a sleek London home where Eleanor's life of indulgence is spiralling into chaos.
When Eleanor shoots her lover in a drunken rage, Pearl becomes the key witness in a scandalous murder trial. But she knows more than she's revealed - and with Eleanor behind bars, she sees a chance to escape her quiet desperation. Their connection, once rooted in friendship, is now warped by grief, envy and power. And Eleanor's reach is long.
Set between 1930s London and the windswept Cornwall coast, this taut, gothic thriller dares to answer one of literature's abiding questions: in Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, who is the woman in the water?
'Dark, twisty and gripping' SAM BLAKE
'A roller coaster read' LIZ NUGENT
THEY WERE BEST FRIENDS. NOW THEY ARE MURDERER AND WITNESS.
At the heart of the classic novel Rebecca lies a mystery ...
Pearl Day has always lived in the background - companion to her childhood friend, the dazzling and unpredictable Lady Eleanor Nicholson. Their bond was forged at Alderleigh, Eleanor's crumbling country estate, but now they share a sleek London home where Eleanor's life of indulgence is spiralling into chaos.
When Eleanor shoots her lover in a drunken rage, Pearl becomes the key witness in a scandalous murder trial. But she knows more than she's revealed - and with Eleanor behind bars, she sees a chance to escape her quiet desperation. Their connection, once rooted in friendship, is now warped by grief, envy and power. And Eleanor's reach is long.
Set between 1930s London and the windswept Cornwall coast, this taut, gothic thriller dares to answer one of literature's abiding questions: in Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, who is the woman in the water?
'Dark, twisty and gripping' SAM BLAKE
Reviews / Votes
Intense, mysterious and wonderful * Xiaolu Guo * From the tantalising thread left loose by Daphne du Maurier in Rebecca, Henrietta McKervey has woven a 1930s thriller worthy of a Hitchcock film * Kathleen MacMahon * I loved it. When childhood friends become employer and employee, things can get tricky, but when you throw murder and stolen jewels (timely!) on top of that, you get a roller coaster read that is as intriguing as it is entertaining. Beautifully written too. Having the abdication as backdrop to the story is a stroke of genius! * Liz Nugent * Henrietta McKervey is a master at the art of coming at a story from the most intriguing angle. I always find myself lost in her books and The Woman in the Water was no exception. This is a rollicking good read full of villainous villains, dubious heroes and double-crossing friends. I loved every captivating twist * Jan Carson * A splendidly evocative and unputdownable novel from a writer of breath-taking gifts * Joseph O'Connor * Original, exciting, and beautifully written, The Woman in the Water is an immersive read that will catapult you back to the 1930s. From gripping court room scenes to stolen gems and hidden letters it is a tale of secrets, murder and intrigue, of lost love and the societal power of wealth. McKervey brings us a brilliant new heroine, worthy of a series. Dark, twisty and gripping, The Woman in the Water is perfect for du Maurier fans * Sam Blake * Full of intrigue and suspense, this atmospheric and cinematic novel with all its shadows and shifting light, is a pleasure from start to finish. Henrietta McKervey really knows how to conjure up the past and this story of betrayal and murder in high society and low, brings us right back to the 1930's. A fitting companion piece to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca * Christine Dwyer Hickey * Set in a wonderfully evocative 1930s London, The Woman in the Water is a stylish, vibrant novel about class, betrayal and the dark depths of female friendship that holds its many captivating secrets right until the end * Sarah Gilmartin * The Woman in the Water is a swift, darkly comic Gothic novel ... a tight, compelling Gothic thriller * Irish Times * enjoyable ... immensely satisfying * Irish Independent * Full of intrigue and suspense, this atmospheric and cinematic novel with all its shadows and shifting light, is a pleasure from start to finish. Henrietta McKervey really knows how to conjure up the past and this story of betrayal and murder in high society and low, brings us right back to the 1930's. A fitting companion piece to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca * Christine Dwyer Hickey *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Castleknock
Ireland
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 232 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
499 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3997-5004-2 (9781399750042)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Henrietta Mckervey
The Woman in the Water
The twisty, atmospheric thriller that dares to answer one of literature's unsolved mysteries
E-Book
03/2026
Hachette Books Ireland
€6.49
Available for download
Person
Henrietta McKervey is the author of the acclaimed novels What Becomes of Us, The Heart of Everything, Violet Hill and A Talented Man. She has?a Hennessy First Fiction Award and won the inaugural UCD Maeve Binchy Travel Award. Her Travel Award project, an exploration of the 31 Sea Areas of the Shipping Forecast, featured on BBC Radio 4. She has programmed the ECHOES festival and International Literature Festival Dublin, and contributes to the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Independent and the Brendan O'Connor show on RTE Radio 1.