Mystery Book Annotation

Author: Christopher Fowler

Title: The Water Room

Genre: Mystery

Publication Date:  2004

Number of Pages: 356

Geographical Setting: London, England

Time Period: The Present

Series: Book 2 of the Bryant and May Mysteries Series

Plot Summary:

John May and Arthur Bryant have been partners for over 50 years.  They run the Peculiar Crimes Unit, which deals with the cases that are too weird for the regular police.  Bryant is called to examine the body of an old friend’s sister, who was found fully dressed for going out, even though she never left the house, and completely dry with river water in her throat.  The coroner found that her heart just stopped, but Bryant is convinced that there was something more too her death.  As the body count and the damp from the endless pouring rains starts to rise, Bryant and May must deal with an old academic friend of May’s who has gotten into some shady business involving London’s forgotten underground rivers, the elusive, local homeless man who seems to know something about what is going on, and a neighborhood street full of people keeping secrets.  Everything keeps leading back to water (the rain, the rivers, the sewers) and they must figure out the connection before the killer strikes again.

Subject Headings:

• Detectives
• Police
• Drowning Victims
• Rivers

Appeal:

• Extremely Detailed
• Humorous
• Dialogue Heavy

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors (From NoveList):

These titles are similar to The Water Room, because of subject headings, appeal factors, and genres.

• Gallows Theif: Bernard Cornwell
• A Conspiracy of Paper: David Liss
• Cruel as the Grave: Sharon Kay Penman

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors:

• London: The Biography: Peter Ackroyd
• London Under: The Secret History Beneath the Streets: Peter Ackroyd
• Mystery Reader’s Walking Guide: Alzina Dale