A gripping mystery about a missing boy and a group of teenagers who know more than they’re telling about the night he disappeared.

On a stormy night…
Thirteen-year-old Henry Weaver disappears from The Shallows, leaving behind his muddy mountain bike at the train station.

Before the storm…
Mason Weaver feels trapped. He doesn’t know who he is or what he’s capable of, and the only thing binding him to this suffocating small town is his younger brother, Henry.

Three months after the storm…
Chloe Baxter is reunited with the friends she and Henry grew up with. She wants answers. Why would Henry run away without telling her? One of Chloe’s friends knows something, and she’s determined to find out the truth.

As Chloe wades into dangerous waters and Mason’s past emerges, a chilling question ripples to the surface: how far would you go to keep a secret?

YA Mystery Thriller
Ages 13+ | 428 pages
ISBN: 9780645332278 (paperback)
ISBN: 9780645332261 (ebook)
Publisher: Fourteen Press
Distributor: Ingram

• Notable Book in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards 2021
• Shortlisted in the Queensland Literary Awards 2020
• Shortlisted in the Davitt Awards for Best Young Adult Crime Novel 2021

“Epstein is an expert in the well-paced unravelling of a mystery, and this novel is filled with edge-of-your-seat tension.”

Books+Publishing

“Clever writing and believable voices. Keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s insightful and engaging.”

Readings

“Deep Water is full of dark twists and turns and relatable characters trying to navigate their way to the truth. An intense mystery.”

Dymocks

“Perfectly pitched for older teens, but adults will still find this an excellent read. Fast-paced and cleverly avoiding any overblown angst.”

Herald Sun

“Written for young adults but would be an equally thrilling read for any adult who enjoys a good suspense/thriller story. I enjoyed every moment in this book. It was riveting and I was kept guessing until the very end.”

Glam Adelaide

“Echoes of Melina Marchetta swim through this story of mysterious small-town secrets and the lengths friends will go to keep them. A wonderful follow-up to Small Spaces — Sarah Epstein proves she’s really in the game.”

Ellie Marney, YA Author

“Full of secrets and lies, Deep Water is a truly complex and brilliantly written puzzle that keeps you guessing until the end.”

Fleur Ferris, YA Author

“Cleverly plotted and compelling, with characters so vivid you can almost hear their hearts beating, Deep Water will get under your skin. I loved this book.”

Rebecca James, YA Author

“I loved this in-depth exploration of what deceit, secret and lies can do to a close-knit group of friends in a small Australian town. Highly recommend this one.”

Katya de Becerra, YA Author

“Epstein is a master of throwing readers off course with red herrings and misinterpreted clues. Beneath the surface, Deep Water is more complex and grounded than initially meets the eye.”

Better Read than Dead

“One of Epstein’s strengths is her ability to maintain and ratchet up the tension and to keep you reading. As the threads all come together, you will not put down this book until the final answer is revealed.”

Sisters in Crime Australia

“Deep Water carries the crystalline Epstein hallmarks of high tension and riveting character play. It’s not easy to maintain a cohesive and believable set of individually strong characters within a mystery setting yet Epstein does so without missing a single beat.”

Kids’ Book Review