
Dead Water
Simon Toyne(Author)
Hemlock Press
Published on 9. April 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-0-00-755174-3 (ISBN)
Description
'As fast flowing and threatening as the Thames itself' Daily Mail
'Packed with danger and suspense ... Loved it!' Sam Holland
'Breathlessly compelling and relentlessly entertaining.' BP Walter
'Simon Toyne is one of the best storytellers writing today' M. W. Craven
A brutal murder
When a headless corpse washes up on the bank of the Thames, DCI Tannahill Khan knows this wasn't accidental - the killer wanted the body found. This is just the beginning.
A deadly warning
The post mortem reveals a shocking discovery. Written on the dead man's arm is Forensic Criminologist Dr Laughton Rees' home address.
A fatal game
With her life in danger and more bodies washing up along the river, Laughton and Tannahill are in a race against time to stop the killer before Laughton's own name reaches the top of his list
Perfect for fans of M.W. Craven, Mark Billingham and Tim Weaver, this is a gripping crime thriller you don't want to miss!
READERS LOVE DEAD WATER
'Kept me guessing all the way through. I loved it'?????
'This is one heck of a thriller'?????
'Wow. What an amazing read'?????
'Simon Toyne is fast becoming one of my favourite authors'?????
'Absolutely brilliant I was hooked!!'?????
'A fast paced read with main characters I've grown to love'?????
'Masterfully plotted and told with verve and humour'?????
'Simon Toyne is a master of the police procedural. 5 stars'?????
'This book has fantastic suspense, gruesome murders, mystery, chilling moments, a fabulous whodunit and some wild twists and turns!'?????
'Packed with danger and suspense ... Loved it!' Sam Holland
'Breathlessly compelling and relentlessly entertaining.' BP Walter
'Simon Toyne is one of the best storytellers writing today' M. W. Craven
A brutal murder
When a headless corpse washes up on the bank of the Thames, DCI Tannahill Khan knows this wasn't accidental - the killer wanted the body found. This is just the beginning.
A deadly warning
The post mortem reveals a shocking discovery. Written on the dead man's arm is Forensic Criminologist Dr Laughton Rees' home address.
A fatal game
With her life in danger and more bodies washing up along the river, Laughton and Tannahill are in a race against time to stop the killer before Laughton's own name reaches the top of his list
Perfect for fans of M.W. Craven, Mark Billingham and Tim Weaver, this is a gripping crime thriller you don't want to miss!
READERS LOVE DEAD WATER
'Kept me guessing all the way through. I loved it'?????
'This is one heck of a thriller'?????
'Wow. What an amazing read'?????
'Simon Toyne is fast becoming one of my favourite authors'?????
'Absolutely brilliant I was hooked!!'?????
'A fast paced read with main characters I've grown to love'?????
'Masterfully plotted and told with verve and humour'?????
'Simon Toyne is a master of the police procedural. 5 stars'?????
'This book has fantastic suspense, gruesome murders, mystery, chilling moments, a fabulous whodunit and some wild twists and turns!'?????
Reviews / Votes
Written with Toyne's practiced flair for suspense, the story is as fast flowing and threatening as the Thames itself * Daily Mail * Rees and Khan are back! Packed with danger and suspense, Dead Water follows a DCI and a forensics expert as they attempt to solve the case when a headless body washes up on the bank of the river Thames. No one is safe in this gritty thriller. Loved it - can't wait for the next! -- Sam Holland Praise for Simon Toyne Nail-biting and as haunting as the forest itself * Daily Mail * Beginning with a creepy abduction that unnerved me to my core, The Clearing follows an unsettling case where old myths and new greed collide. A welcome return for Laughton Rees and DCI Tannahill, getting to know them again as they reach the next stage of their budding relationship -- Sam Holland Everything you would expect from a thriller and then some' * Central Bylines * Scared the bloody daylights out of me. The very definition of haunting. Toyne is a guru of suspense writing, and this is him at the top of his craft. Makes for a breath-taking read -- Helen Fields Simon Toyne is one of the best storytellers writing today, but even by his high standards, The Clearing is something really special ... The pacing is frantic but not rushed, the tension is almost unbearable, and the ending is genuinely one of the most jaw-dropping ones I've read in a long time. Absolutely superb -- M.W. Craven In the spirit of Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta... Toyne makes the most of her creepy setting, and effectively conceals the truth behind the legend of the Cinderman until she's ready to reveal it. Everything here suggests that Rees merits a long series run * Publishers Weekly * A spine-chilling, creepy-suspenseful mystery masterpiece! ... This book had me hooked right to the end. I loved it! -- Steph Broadribb Rees and Khan are back! Packed with danger and suspense, Dead Water follows a DCI and a forensics expert as they attempt to solve the case when a headless body washes up on the bank of the river Thames. No one is safe in this gritty thriller. Loved it - can't wait for the next! -- Sam Holland Breathlessly compelling and relentlessly entertaining. Dead Water is page-turning crime fiction, blending first-rate procedural mystery, a terrific cast of characters and fascinating forensic detail -- BP WalterMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 128 mm
Width: 198 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
264 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-755174-3 (9780007551743)
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

Person
Simon Toyne is the bestselling author of the Sanctus trilogy: Sanctus, The Key and The Tower. He wrote Sanctus after quitting his job as a TV executive to focus on writing. It was the biggest-selling debut thriller of 2011 in the UK and an international bestseller. His books have been translated into 27 languages and published in over 50 countries. Dark Objects is the first book in a new series featuring forensic criminologist Laughton Rees and DCI Tannahill Khan. Simon lives with his family in Brighton and the South of France.