The Man in the Water is a coming-of-age YA thriller set in a rural mining town in Queensland and follows a teenager who launches an investigation into a mysterious dead body which promptly vanishes after he leaves to report it.
The author mentions that this book was based on his time in regional Queensland where he experienced a new and different culture in their mining towns, inspiring its depiction in the form of the issues Shaun and his town face, and how Shaun’s character is developed. It’s an eye-opening read and immediately apparent that the author has written from real life knowledge as the reader is transported to Shaun’s dusty dry hometown, withering away in the oppressive heat and from the loss of resources as profit-driven businesses lay off local workers to invest in casual workers instead.
Shaun knows something of the greedy corporate mindset as his father suffered a debilitating injury due to long hours in unsafe working conditions, leading to him taking his own life out of despair and shame. This background informs how the other characters respond to Shaun, suspecting that his report of a dead body is based on unresolved grief and acting out because he needs help. The topic of mental health is a recurring theme and Shaun’s mother repeatedly brings up therapy, doing her best to enrol Shaun in counselling sessions to help him manage his emotions and behaviour. Of course Shaun is less than impressed as he DID find a dead body, but representation of mental health issues has helped to stigmatise the condition over time and it’s always welcome to see awareness being raised in books aimed at a younger audience. I appreciated that the author also includes a list of resources at the end of the book to assist anyone in need of help.
The murder mystery is tricky and convoluted, throwing up more puzzling questions the deeper the boys dig into it. There’s a ton of intrigue and near-claustrophobic paranoia as the number of suspects pile up, including those in close proximity to Shaun, and it’s a very satisfying conundrum to mull over. I did finally work out the answer, but only on chapter 33 out of 39! The author has a delicate balance to maintain between keeping the mystery confusing enough for readers not to pick it apart early in the book, but also sowing in seeds of information that the teenage boys can investigate and succeed in gaining insight from without it being completely unrealistic. This can’t turn into CS: North Queensland after all! It was handled superbly as Shaun and Will felt wholly believable, pursuing their case in a manner that made sense for teenage boys and getting ahead without simply lucking into clues through sheer plot convenience.
A tentative romance is included in the background, as Shaun’s next main priority besides solving the murder is trying to summon the courage to reveal his feelings to long-time crush Megan. However the focus is more on Shaun’s feelings about Megan rather than developing her as a character in her own right, which makes sense as this book is primarily about Shaun’s emotional journey and his growth shown through the way he interacts with those around him. The friendship between Shaun and Will in particular is heartwarming and endearing, with their light-hearted banter offering a welcome counterpoint to the more serious moments dealing with death and depression.
This is a wonderfully thoughtful and intriguing story that has crossover appeal to adults and younger teenagers, exploring important messages as well as entertaining the reader. A captivating fast-paced read that is recommended for everyone.
The Man in the Water is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
When 16-year-old Shaun discovers a dead body in the lake of a quiet mining town in outback Queensland, he immediately reports it to the police. But when he returns to the site with the constable, the body is gone.
Now his mum and the authorities question whether he saw a body at all.
Determined to show the town the truth, Shaun and his best friend, Will, open their own investigation. But what they discover is far more sinister than a mining mishap or a murder, and reveals a darkness below the surface of their small mining town.
