One photo. Seven friends. And a strange face, none of them recognise.

"I loved it - a classy and clever subversion of a country house mystery" Harriet Tyce

** A Sunday Times crime book of the month**

'The end, when it comes, is as unexpected and smart as it gets' READER REVIEW
'I was kept up all night' READER REVIEW
'I loved this book, and read the whole thing in two sittings' READER REVIEW

A group of old friends gather at a remote Scottish castle, one last weekend before Georgie's wedding. Down at the loch, they take a group photo - but what they see stops them cold.

Because there's a stranger behind them.

None of them saw him, and nobody knows where he went. They're miles from the nearest town. Where did he come from, and where did he go?

As the weekend unravels and terrible secrets come to light, it soon becomes clear that their perfect weekend is turning into a perfect nightmare. They're desperate to leave - but someone won't let them.


A page-turning thriller perfect for fans of Catherine Cooper's THE CHALET and Lucy Foley's THE HUNTING PARTY.

Praise for Down By The Water:

"Down By The Water takes the reader on a weekend trip from hell... I loved the classy writing and ever-growing sense of unease in this clever subversion of a classic country house mystery" - Harriet Tyce
"A chilling drama" Sunday Times
"Sinister and atmospheric" - Chris Brookmyre
"Tense, mesmerising and heartbreaking, I was truly gripped" - Susi Holliday
"A gripping mystery." - Nathan Ripley

About the Author
Elle Connel is the pseudonym of Lucy Ribchester, whose previous novels, The Hourglass Factory and The Amber Shadows, were historical thrillers. She has a first class degree in English from the University of St Andrews and a Masters in Shakespeare Studies from Kings College London. Her previous work has won her a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award, a Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowship, and short-listings for the Costa Short Story Award and Manchester Fiction Prize. She lives in Edinburgh with her partner and two sons. Down by the Water is her first book as Elle Connel.

Reviews
A chilling drama * Sunday Times *
All is not as it seems in this classy, clever mystery -- Harriet Tyce
Sinister and atmospheric, peeling back the superficial veneers of friendship to reveal the darker truths that lurk beneath. -- Chris Brookmyre
Tense, mesmerising and heartbreaking, I was truly gripped -- Susi Holliday
A psychological thriller with both depth and drive, Down By The Water is a gripping mystery. * Nathan Ripley *
Down by the Water is a dark and twisty tale of female friendship that commands your attention from start to finish. Elle Connel is a novelist at the top of her game. * Claire L. Heuchan *
Elle Connel picks away the veneer of old friendships in this sinister and compelling tale of sorrow, secrets, and betrayal. * E. S. Thomson *



Book Information
ISBN 9781472272614
Author Elle Connel
Format Paperback
Page Count 416
Imprint Wildfire
Publisher Headline Publishing Group
Weight(grams) 288g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 128mm * 36mm