Darkly captivating from start to finish
By M. Muir
When the seemingly psychotic hallucinations of a 15-year old boy become entangled with mystical Chinese characters from millennia ago, fantasy and reality spin out of control.
The story begins when a group of unenthusiastic mis-fit, mid-teen kids are unwillingly signed up on a 'character building' adventure at sea aboard an ill-named Chinese junk – the 'Good Fortune'. However, when confronted by his vivid imaginings, James struggles to find himself and in doing so involves his friends and shipmates in a dark and sometimes fatal outcome.
A feeling of foreboding builds from the first chapter and slowly creeps over the ship in a veil of palpable fear. During this time James must decide if the images running rampant in his mind are real or not. Collison's superb descriptive prose, natural dialogue, plus evocative similes combine to make this book an unforgettable read.
Brilliantly penned by the author - Collison's extensive research reveals the ritual funerary customs and culture of China's Peacock Throne during the time of the Ming dynasty. The story is magical, enigmatic, haunting, frightening and downright good.
Whether you are 17 or 70, Water Ghosts will grab you and draw you down into a maelstrom of mystery and malevolent spirits sending cold shivers shooting down your spine. I cannot rate this book highly enough.A good read for a variety of age groups.
