Best Seller
Ebook
Published on Sep 17, 2026 | 400 Pages
BLACK WATER RISING SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2025 McDERMID DEBUT AWARD
‘Sean Watkin brings Liverpool to life in all its rich dark colours’ Val McDermid
Sometimes the end is just the beginning.
A young girl is found dead on Southport Pier. Less than an hour later, a patient who recently vanished from a secure mental health facility is discovered in the sand and February snow.
DCI de Silva and DS Barclay are back, but they find themselves pulled back into an all-too familiar nightmare. Is this a tragic series of coincidences, or is it inextricably linked to a conspiracy they once thought contained?
As the snow falls, the duo must navigate a trail that is rapidly growing cold. But when the case hits devastatingly close to home, de Silva and Barclay realise the truth will demand a price neither of them is prepared to pay.
In a heart-pounding race against an unknown enemy, they are headed for a confrontation that will change everything.
A dark and gritty crime thriller, perfect for fans of Luca Veste, M. W. Craven and Russ Thomas.
Praise for Sean Watkin
‘A white-knuckle crescendo that had me frantically turning the pages. It cements Sean Watkin as one of the most compelling, talented, and authentic northern crime writers out there.’ Rob Parker
‘Fascinating characters and shocking crimes… Unmissable!’ Heather Critchlow on Black Water Rising
‘A thrilling good read.’ Reader review.
‘An absolute cracker! A gripping investigation, brilliant characters and another fantastic addition to the series. Definitely one of my favourites.’ Reader review.
‘A novel with huge scope, a large cast of characters and a variety of interconnected storylines. It’s a great read.’ Reader review.
‘5 stars. I read it in 2 days and loved it!’ Reader review.
‘I absolutely LOVE this series and this one didn’t shy away from some incredibly hard hitting topics. I may have let out a small yelp when it ended…’ Reader review.
‘Sean Watkin brings Liverpool to life in all its rich dark colours’ Val McDermid
Sometimes the end is just the beginning.
A young girl is found dead on Southport Pier. Less than an hour later, a patient who recently vanished from a secure mental health facility is discovered in the sand and February snow.
DCI de Silva and DS Barclay are back, but they find themselves pulled back into an all-too familiar nightmare. Is this a tragic series of coincidences, or is it inextricably linked to a conspiracy they once thought contained?
As the snow falls, the duo must navigate a trail that is rapidly growing cold. But when the case hits devastatingly close to home, de Silva and Barclay realise the truth will demand a price neither of them is prepared to pay.
In a heart-pounding race against an unknown enemy, they are headed for a confrontation that will change everything.
A dark and gritty crime thriller, perfect for fans of Luca Veste, M. W. Craven and Russ Thomas.
Praise for Sean Watkin
‘A white-knuckle crescendo that had me frantically turning the pages. It cements Sean Watkin as one of the most compelling, talented, and authentic northern crime writers out there.’ Rob Parker
‘Fascinating characters and shocking crimes… Unmissable!’ Heather Critchlow on Black Water Rising
‘A thrilling good read.’ Reader review.
‘An absolute cracker! A gripping investigation, brilliant characters and another fantastic addition to the series. Definitely one of my favourites.’ Reader review.
‘A novel with huge scope, a large cast of characters and a variety of interconnected storylines. It’s a great read.’ Reader review.
‘5 stars. I read it in 2 days and loved it!’ Reader review.
‘I absolutely LOVE this series and this one didn’t shy away from some incredibly hard hitting topics. I may have let out a small yelp when it ended…’ Reader review.
Author
Sean Watkin
Sean Watkin was born and raised in Liverpool and studied a BA and MA in Creative Writing at Liverpool John Moores University. He has been shortlisted for Fresher Writing Award, Book a Break Prize, Bristol Short Story Prize and the McDermid Debut Award. His writing has been featured in The Gay UK magazine, and The Content Wolf e-zine, as well as other LGBT+ publications. Sean lives in Liverpool with his partner and two dogs.
Learn More about Sean Watkin
