It’s been six years since Glen Masters lost his wife in a tragic accident. In hopes of reconnecting with his grieving teenage daughter, Lauren, he decides to take her on a road trip through the Appalachian mountains, where he has fond memories of their past as a family. But what was supposed to be a quick diner pit stop suddenly transforms into a nightmare when armed men stumble in, ranting about a mysterious and deadly “living water” that attacked several people up the road. The story the men spin seems to be the rantings of drunken lunatics, but soon Glen, his daughter, and the other diners find themselves hostages to both the gunmen and the inexplicably terrifying entity.
Because there’s truly something wrong with the water, and it has no mercy.
Panic grows as the diners play witness to a nature-defying being that seeks only to swallow everything in its path. With help nowhere in sight, the group of strangers must work together to devise an escape, and ultimately, Glen will have to face his worst fears to reconcile with the past or risk losing everything.
Body of Water is a genre-bending thriller with elements of supernatural horror, psychological suspense, and family drama. The predatory element of nature in the story creates an eerie survival-horror vibe reminiscent of Stephen King’s The Mist.
The story follows Glen Masters, still grieving his wife’s death six years earlier, takes his teenage daughter Lauren on a road trip through the Appalachian Mountains in an attempt to reconnect. What should be a simple stop at a roadside diner turns into a nightmare when two armed men burst in, warning that a mysterious “living water” is attacking people nearby. Glen, Lauren, and other patrons of the diner become trapped—hostages of both the gunmen and this bizarre, dangerous water entity.
The literary heart of the story is Glen’s unresolved grief and guilt over his wife’s death and his attempt to reconnect with his daughter, giving the story a lot of emotional depth that isn’t often present in survival horror books. Amidst all the horror, Glen is forced to confront his emotional trauma, and his internal turmoil affects the choices he’s forced to make under pressure, which keeps the tension high—and readers will be furiously turning the pages to see how it all transpires! There’s a lot of disagreement between Glen and the secondary characters in the diner, and most of them are unlikable—at least at the start. As the story goes on, the two armed men become more developed and relatable—so you’ll have to hold your verdict on them until they reveal more about themselves!
The isolated rural town setting, Appalachian backdrop, and closed-in diner setting create a claustrophobic atmosphere for readers, and with the predatory water taking down everything in sight, the story also has an apocalyptic vibe! The “living water” is a very original predator—and the characters come up with all kinds of theories, from government experiments to the supernatural unknown, to try to make sense of the horror they’re witnessing! The writing is extremely descriptive and visceral, while simultaneously maintaining a fast-paced, action-packed story—not an easy task for any writer to accomplish! Because there are several reflective scenes mixed in with all the high-intensity scenes, the pacing may feel a bit uneven—but the payoff is that readers get intimately acquainted with Glen and the depth of his grief, and readers are better prepared for the mind-blowing drama and reveals that come later on!
Most of the death scenes are sudden and shocking and all add additional unsettling psychological tension. With the layers of emotional depth, impulsive characters, and constantly changing stakes, this story is very unpredictable and difficult to put down! And just when you think you see some kind of resolution coming, the entire story gets turned upside down—even seasoned thriller readers will have a difficult time guessing the thought-provoking ending! The final chapter is really open to interpretation, and readers will definitely want to discuss it afterwards. For all these reasons, this book is an excellent option for a book club or buddy read!
Overall, Body of Water is a standout debut that will have horror, thriller, and speculative fiction fans talking! It’s haunting, fast-paced, and immersive and offers enough originality (water as a killer, unique emotional stakes) to really stand out. Fans of “The Mist-style” nature-as-predator horror, or anyone who likes stories with equal parts emotional weight, speculative fiction, and locked-room horror, will devour this book!
Narrator Performace
The audiobook of Body Of Water is an emotionally intense, thrilling listen narrated by actor and narrator James Babson.
Babson’s clear and commanding voice is very easy to listen to, even in slower or more reflective sections of the story. He manages to keep the tension high and keep listeners engaged, which is really crucial for a survival horror-thriller story. Babson uses a steady, determined voice to portray protagonist Glenn. Even in crisis scenes or during reflective moments of intense grief or guilt, Glenn’s voice sounds grounded, even with increased tension in his tone—this not only helps to maintain a sense of realism but also firmly anchors him as a true reluctant hero who’s very easy to empathize with.
Babson provides distinct voices for the main characters, which helps listeners keep track of who is speaking, especially in high-stakes moments when the character voices change abruptly and frequently. Some of the secondary characters sometimes blend together, but it’s mostly due to them being less distinctive in writing.
Overall, James Babson does a great job creating a claustrophobic atmosphere of dread (perfect for a locked-room thriller), bringing out the emotional weight of the characters, and maintaining tension from start to finish. This is a must-listen for audiobook readers who enjoy atmospheric suspense, small cast, single-location horror stories, and narrator performances that build suspense and sustain dread without overacting!
Narrator Performace
The audiobook of Body Of Water is an emotionally intense, thrilling listen narrated by actor and narrator James Babson.
Babson’s clear and commanding voice is very easy to listen to, even in slower or more reflective sections of the story. He manages to keep the tension high and keep listeners engaged, which is really crucial for a survival horror-thriller story. Babson uses a steady, determined voice to portray protagonist Glenn. Even in crisis scenes or during reflective moments of intense grief or guilt, Glenn’s voice sounds grounded, even with increased tension in his tone—this not only helps to maintain a sense of realism but also firmly anchors him as a true reluctant hero who’s very easy to empathize with.
Babson provides distinct voices for the main characters, which helps listeners keep track of who is speaking, especially in high-stakes moments when the character voices change abruptly and frequently. Some of the secondary characters sometimes blend together, but it’s mostly due to them being less distinctive in writing.
Overall, James Babson does a great job creating a claustrophobic atmosphere of dread (perfect for a locked-room thriller), bringing out the emotional weight of the characters, and maintaining tension from start to finish. This is a must-listen for audiobook readers who enjoy atmospheric suspense, small cast, single-location horror stories, and narrator performances that build suspense and sustain dread without overacting!
The audiobook of Body Of Water is an emotionally intense, thrilling listen narrated by actor and narrator James Babson.
Babson’s clear and commanding voice is very easy to listen to, even in slower or more reflective sections of the story. He manages to keep the tension high and keep listeners engaged, which is really crucial for a survival horror-thriller story. Babson uses a steady, determined voice to portray protagonist Glenn. Even in crisis scenes or during reflective moments of intense grief or guilt, Glenn’s voice sounds grounded, even with increased tension in his tone—this not only helps to maintain a sense of realism but also firmly anchors him as a true reluctant hero who’s very easy to empathize with.
Babson provides distinct voices for the main characters, which helps listeners keep track of who is speaking, especially in high-stakes moments when the character voices change abruptly and frequently. Some of the secondary characters sometimes blend together, but it’s mostly due to them being less distinctive in writing.
Overall, James Babson does a great job creating a claustrophobic atmosphere of dread (perfect for a locked-room thriller), bringing out the emotional weight of the characters, and maintaining tension from start to finish. This is a must-listen for audiobook readers who enjoy atmospheric suspense, small cast, single-location horror stories, and narrator performances that build suspense and sustain dread without overacting!
