In Deep Water by Elle Blair review

About The Book

Book: In Deep Water
Author: Elle Blair
Standalone or Series: Book 1 in the DI Rachel Harlow series
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date (UK): 2nd July 2026

My Review

This is the debut novel from Blair, who lives in the Newcastle area.

The book introduces flawed (read: very much human) DI Rachel Harlow. Harlow works for Northumbria Police, leading County Lines operations, while juggling life as a single mum to teenage twins. Like Blair, Rachel is based in the Newcastle area, so expect plenty of Northern phrases. I loved reading lines and words like “face like a smacked arse“, “mint“, “mortal” and “boiled her piss“.

When things at work take a turn for the worse, Rachel accepts an invitation from her parents for her and the twins to join them on an upcoming cruise.

The story alternates between present day and the past, with chapters split between “sea” and “land”. At first I was less invested in the land chapters because I wanted to get back to the ship, but stick with them as they become just as compelling and I ended up very invested in the relationships in those sections.

And crime fans, don’t worry: the sea sections aren’t just a “floating old people’s home“. There are dead bodies and the wonderfully claustrophobic setting of a cruise ship, complete with the added complications of maritime law.

I loved the characterisation of both Harlow and her family. She’s an incredibly strong protagonist. Crime fiction has historically featured countless male detectives with questionable relationships to both sex and alcohol, so it was refreshing to see those same flaws in a female lead. They make Rachel relatable and human. She is messy at times but also powerful and she’s just trying her best like we all are. I liked that the title In Deep Water doesn’t just reflect the predicament Rachel finds herself in on board but also her home life too, as the metaphor about keeping her head above water works in both situations.

Another major highlight of the book for me was its Northern charm and humour. Some of my favourite lines include: “Crawling to the end of the week, Rachel was almost ready to put herself in a body bag” and “rather shit in my hands and clap“.

I can’t wait to read the next instalment in the series, In Cold Blood, which is due out next year.