Blackwater (novelette)


Blackwater is a thriller novelette by Conn Iggulden. It was written as part of the Quick Reads initiative of the 2006 World Book Day.
Blackwater is described as a dark, psychological thriller, signalling a change in genre from an author used to writing historical fiction.
On the forum of his website, Conn described the idea behind the book:
I was asked if I wanted to write a novelette of 15-20,000 words, adult themed. That sort of brief is the sort of thing I used to dream about, so I practically bit their hands off, of course. No writer turns down a brief like that, regardless of what else you have on. It'll be £2.99 and I hope to see it stuffed dog-eared into a few back pockets. It is darker in tone and plot than anything else I've done, but to explain how would be to explain all. It's coming out next year - in March, I think. - Conn Iggulden, 26 July 2005
It was also translated into Welsh for the Quick Reads Initiative under the title Dŵr Dwfn.

Plot introduction

"How do you know when you're in too deep? Davey has always lived in the shadow of his older brother, a smiling sociopath who will stop at nothing to protect himself and his family. But when the shadowy figure of Denis Tanter comes into Davey's life, how far will the bond of brotherhood reach?"