A Study in Drowning

"Of all the books I’ve devoured this year, I’m most surprised by how often I revisit Ava Reid’s quietly stunning gothic fantasy in my mind. On the surface, it’s an unassuming story about Effy Sayre, a young woman who takes up residence in a crumbling, flooded mansion to find out the truth about her favorite author – with help from a handsome but prickly academic rival. But on a much deeper level, it’s a powerful tale about the ways in which women survive the men who dare to use and discard them. With hauntingly careful prose, Reid weaves a compelling tale of trauma and healing. You’ll find yourself drinking in the book with small sips and then choking gulps – ensnared even as the water swallows you whole."