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In Deep Water
DI Rachel Harlow (Related to this series)
- Author
- Elle Blair
- Narrator
- Kristin Atherton
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date
- 2 July 2026
- Run Time
- 10 hours 10 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
DI Rachel Harlow is off duty and stuck aboard a cruise ship with her twin teenagers and uptight parents. Determined to distract herself from the complicated mess – professional and personal – she’s left back at Northumbria Police HQ, she embarks on a flirtatious game with a stranger on board… until she finds him dead the next day.
With no eyewitnesses and no official investigation, Rachel digs into the murder alone, going strictly against the captain’s orders. Dead end after dead end, she’s met with lies and silence from the ship’s crew.
International waters allow people to play by different rules, but Rachel won’t let up. Even when it leads her to a crime ring just as dangerous as the one she’s left behind on land. But at sea, she has no team to back her up …
‘A wonderful opening to the Rachel Harlow series' Abigail Dean
'Twisty and entertaining' Sarah Turner
'Dangerously addictive' Will Dean
'More twists and turns than a packet of fusilli' Daily Mirror
'A fast-paced, polished debut by a very talented writer.' Trevor Wood
'A cracking read … You’ll dive into this book!' Ellie Marney
‘Oozing with northern charm and grit … a real page turner.’ Rebecca Philipson
'An absolutely cracking read!' Robert Rutherford
'The scope is intoxicating, the characters compulsive, the pacing and drama absolutely cracking.' Henry Sutton
'Blair crafts a gritty and vivid world – you won’t ever want to sail on a cruise ship again' The Sun
Readers are ADDICTED to Elle Blair!'A superb page turner that will keep you up all night!' ★★★★★
'So skilfully written as if by … Ann Cleeves!' ★★★★★
‘I raced through the book … and I can’t wait to see what Blair comes up with next!’ ★★★★★
'Absolutely loved [Rachel Harlow] … you root for her all the way through the twists and turns!’ ★★★★★
‘WHERE HAS ELLE BLAIR BEEN HIDING? … Had me captivated from the very first page … This book will BLOW YOUR MIND!’
‘I could not put it down. A brilliant unique crime mystery.’
‘A standout debut that proves danger doesn’t need solid ground to find you.’
Critics Review
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‘A wonderful opening to the Rachel Harlow series. It’s great on the morality of police procedure, but it’s even better on the inevitable desires, embarrassments and joys of being a human.’ Abigail Dean
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‘Original and dangerously addictive (with relatable characters). An exciting new voice in crime fiction.’ Will Dean
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‘In Deep Water is a fast-paced, polished debut by a very talented writer which will definitely make a splash!’ Trevor Wood
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'Twisty and entertaining!' Sarah Turner
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'A cracking read – DI Rachel Harlow has a forthright swagger, and there’s plenty of tension to keep the blood pumping in this confident debut. You’ll dive into this book!' Ellie Marney
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'The scope is intoxicating, the characters compulsive, the pacing and drama absolutely cracking. It’s chilling, funny and ultimately very moving. Rachel Harlow is the most striking and memorable DI to have emerged in years, if not decades.’ Henry Sutton
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‘One of the most confident & assured debuts I’ve read in years. In Deep Water has it all – from laugh-out-loud moments to heart-in-mouth cliffhangers. An absolutely cracking read!' Robert Rutherford
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'Oozing with northern charm and grit, this is a real page-turner of a debut.’ Rebecca Philipson
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Elle Blair
- Narrator
- Kristin Atherton
- Duration
- 10 hours 10 minutes
- Release Date
- 2 July 2026
- ISBN
- 9780008798925
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Genre
- Crime and mystery: police procedural, Crime and mystery: women sleuths / detectives, Thriller / suspense fiction
Synopsis
‘Brilliant… SO many twists… The perfect holiday read’ Reader review ★★★★★ A murder at sea. One detective. No backup. DI Rachel Harlow is off duty and stuck aboard a cruise ship with her twin teenagers and uptight parents. Determined to distract herself from the complicated mess – professional and personal – she’s left back at Northumbria Police HQ, she embarks on a flirtatious game with a stranger on board… until she finds him dead the next day. With no eyewitnesses and no official investigation, Rachel digs into the murder alone, going strictly against the captain’s orders. Dead end after dead end, she’s met with lies and silence from the ship’s crew. International waters allow people to play by different rules, but Rachel won’t let up. Even when it leads her to a crime ring just as dangerous as the one she’s left behind on land. But at sea, she has no team to back her up … ‘A wonderful opening to the Rachel Harlow series' Abigail Dean 'Twisty and entertaining' Sarah Turner 'Dangerously addictive' Will Dean 'More twists and turns than a packet of fusilli' Daily Mirror 'A fast-paced, polished debut by a very talented writer.' Trevor Wood 'A cracking read … You’ll dive into this book!' Ellie Marney ‘Oozing with northern charm and grit … a real page turner.’ Rebecca Philipson 'An absolutely cracking read!' Robert Rutherford 'The scope is intoxicating, the characters compulsive, the pacing and drama absolutely cracking.' Henry Sutton 'Blair crafts a gritty and vivid world – you won’t ever want to sail on a cruise ship again' The Sun Readers are ADDICTED to Elle Blair! 'A superb page turner that will keep you up all night!' ★★★★★ 'So skilfully written as if by … Ann Cleeves!' ★★★★★ ‘I raced through the book … and I can’t wait to see what Blair comes up with next!’ ★★★★★ 'Absolutely loved [Rachel Harlow] … you root for her all the way through the twists and turns!’ ★★★★★ ‘WHERE HAS ELLE BLAIR BEEN HIDING? … Had me captivated from the very first page … This book will BLOW YOUR MIND!’ ‘I could not put it down. A brilliant unique crime mystery.’ ‘A standout debut that proves danger doesn’t need solid ground to find you.’
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