Dead in the Water by John Marrs

A chilling tale about life flashing before your eyes—including terrifying scenes you don’t remember.

When Damon survives a near-drowning, his life flashes before his eyes. Every memory is crystal clear—except one. A dead boy. A face he can’t place. A moment he doesn’t remember living. At first he tells himself it’s a trick of the mind. But everything else he saw was real. So why not this?

With his waking life stalked by the disturbing scene, confusion quickly turns to obsession. Desperate for answers, Damon digs into his fractured past, and becomes convinced that the only way to remember…is to die again. And again. And again. When he meets a perfect stranger who’s all too willing to help, the stage is set for his dice with death.

But if this is what it takes to uncover the truth, maybe some memories are better left buried…

Kindle Edition, 388 pages

Published January 20, 2026 

by Thomas & Mercer

3.5/5 stars

Dead in the Water was my first time reading this author and I have to say the premise immediately pulled me in. Surviving a near-drowning only to realize one memory is missing, and that it involves a dead boy,  was a chilling and clever setup.

I really enjoyed the psychological depth,  watching Damon spiral into obsession, convinced the only way to unlock the truth is to repeatedly bring himself to the brink of death again and again. It made for a dark and unsettling read. It had me reading Just One More Chapter (pun intended) because I needed to know what he wasn’t remembering and why.

There were some clever twists woven throughout, I appreciated how the story slowly unraveled rather than rushing. Though at times the repetition of Damon’s choices felt slightly drawn out, but the overall concept felt fresh and bold. It was twisty and there were moments I had to pause and remember who was who again. But as my first introduction to Marrs it was a solid read.  Dark, twisty and thought-provoking,  I’m sure curious enough to pick up another one of his books.

My thanks to Amazon Publishing UK for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.