What do You think about The Water Clock (2003)?
I thought this was a superb novel and I am surprised by the number of negative reviews here. I live in the area where the story is set and the description of the various places and the social life of the fens is spookily accurate. The plot and the various sub plots were cleverly thought through and resolved satisfyingly together. I loved the water theme running throughout the book which is reflective of the preoccupation of most fen dwellers who are engaged in a constant battle against submersion. I only know of one other novel set in the fens - Waterland by Graham Swift - I enjoyed reading a novel by someone who clearly takes a great interest in his home town.
—Ghengis
I'm giving this 4* because I love the sense of place the author evokes. The Fens are a creepy place cross crossed by malignant looking rivers and drainage cuts. I felt the atmosphere throughout the books. The story is a little clunky, true, but I liked the character of the protagonist Philip Dryden. He is a hack, but a likeable one. Not the drunk so often portrayed in fiction. One thing didn't ring true. No local authority private hire inspector would ever licence Humph's car with its bald tyres!
—Cliff
A mystery somewhat reminiscent of P.D. James' works. This is set in the fens near Ely; the location is important because only there would the bogginess of the land mimic the bogginess of people's interior lives. There are mysteries in mysteries here: who rescued reporter Philip Dryden from his car after a crash into a bog, but left his wife to die (although she remains in a coma); what is so important about a crime that occurred 38 years ago; who is visiting his comatose wife and leaving notes under her pillow; is the detective assigned to the current case Dryden is reporting as incompetent as his father and everyone else think? A pretty good story, although the title somewhat gives the game away, if you are paying attention to the descriptions of people's house decor. Still, this is a pretty decent first effort for an author who normally writes for the Financial Times in London! I wonder if he'll bring back Dryden in forthcoming books, or if he'll start anew.
—Cat.
