The Rundown
Domestic violence and drug trafficking set off the action in David Rawding’s novel Taking on Water. James and Maya Morrow live in the small coastal town of Newborough, New Hampshire, a community with an ongoing drug problem. James is a social worker. He also volunteers at the town’s recreation center where he meets Kevin Flynn, a teen who shows signs of being abused. James spends some time with the boy’s father, Tucker, to investigate the possibility of abuse. He clears Tucker of suspicion and an unlikely friendship forms.
Maya, a Newborough detective, also becomes involved with the recreation center when a boy dies there of an overdose. Maya is determined to get to the bottom of it, but the good detective and the well-intentioned social worker find themselves up against the wrong kind of people.
Rawding thoroughly brings the small town to life with his descriptions of lobster fishing and coastal living. He conveys an authentic feel to the bar where the local fishermen hang out. The novel’s setting is vivid and charming. Rawding takes great care with his wording, and crafts detailed sentences. He is clearly a skilled writer when it comes to language, but oftentimes loses the story in heavy details.
The first half of the book unfolds slowly. Scenes are over-described at times and the story is not very fluid. The power of the sentence seems to trump storyline and pace. The characters are interesting, but not always realistic. Given their disturbing and tragic roles, they are at least memorable. Action picks up in the second half of the book and the storyline is much stronger than the first half. The second half contains enough intrigue, intensity and dark plot twists to keep readers turning the pages. Once immersed, readers will want to know what happens in the end.
The Recommendation
Taking on Water is for those who enjoy a novel that takes them so deep into a setting that it feels like they’re actually there. Readers with enough patience to get through a sluggish first half will find a captivating finish.
The Rating
3.5 Stars (out of 5): Pretty good. For the right audience, this could be great. Sure, there were some issues, but it was still worth the read.
The Pros & Cons
Pros: Page Turner, Strong World-Building, Surprise EndingCons: Plot Sometimes Jumpy, Starts slow, Wordy
