Review: Rings on Water - Madeline Eskedahl

Review: Rings on Water - Book #2 The Matakana Series - Madeline Eskedahl - May 2023

There’s something especially comforting about discovering a New Zealand author who writes mysteries that feel both grounded in place and quietly gripping in their tension, and Madeline Eskedahl has firmly become one of those authors for me. Rings on Water, the second book in The Matakana Series, arrived in my hands as a beautifully thoughtful gift from the author herself, complete with a personalised message and the most delightful magnetic butterfly bookmark. It clips neatly over the page and, in a small but meaningful way, stops me from doing my usual dog-earing of pages. It’s those little touches that make reading feel even more special.

From the opening pages, Madeline Eskedahl wastes no time pulling us back into the world of The Matakana series where calm coastal life is shattered by darkness beneath the surface. A narcotics pick-up at sea goes disastrously wrong, a man is lost overboard, and the ripple effects of that moment begin to spread through the local community like waves that refuse to settle. Then, on a cold winter’s day, a young woman is found dead on a beach, and Sergeant Bill Granger is called in to investigate what initially appears to be a straightforward case. Of course, in true small-town mystery fashion, nothing is ever that simple.

What I particularly enjoyed is how Bill’s investigation slowly unravels a far more complex web of secrets, revenge, and hidden motivations, all while he tries to maintain some sense of normal family life. Working alongside Niko adds a refreshing dynamic to the narrative, and together they are drawn into the dangerous undercurrent of drug distribution and a menacing motorcycle gang.

Meanwhile, the personal storylines woven through Annika and Crystal add emotional depth, reminding us that danger doesn’t only exist in dark alleyways or crime scenes , it can also live quietly within relationships and trust itself.

Madeline Eskedahl has a real talent for portraying small communities where everyone knows everyone, yet no one truly knows the full truth. Secrets here don’t stay buried for long, and when they surface, the consequences are far-reaching.

I thoroughly enjoyed returning to Matakana, and I find myself increasingly invested in these characters and their lives. If Book #1 drew me in, Rings on Water has made me a committed reader of this series. I am already looking forward to Book #3, and seeing what new layers of mystery await.

Amazon: https://shorturl.at/LtQIE