'The Drowning Pool' is Syd Moore's debut novel. However, there is no indication in her writing style that Syd is not a veteran of several titles. The story is set in the ancient fishing village of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. The framework for the plot is based on some well researched history involving a local sea witch,'Sarah Moore'. For the purpose of the book 'Sarah Moore' has been changed to 'Sarah Grey'.
The fictional aspect of the story centres around a recently bereaved widow (also Sarah Grey) who moves to Leigh-on-Sea with her young son. Her intention is to start a new, calm and emotionally secure life. This quest is shattered one night after an 'accidental' seance unleashes ghostly apparitions and materialisations.
Syd Moore has a very talented knack when it comes to making her characters believable and vulnerable. I especially got hooked on Sarah's enigmatic yet malevolent boss, Andrew McWhittard. Syd also manages to capture difficult emotions, such as bereavement and lonliness, with apparent ease.
'The Drowning Pool' is classed as a ghost story and it is. But, the narrative works on several levels as the relationships between friends, work colleagues snd those departed are masterfully explored.
Whilst I was reading this novel I found myself reflecting on little chunks which almost seemed as though they had been written with an insight into my own history, my own feelings. Then I realised that anyone, anywhere in the world, would also be able to relate to their own chunks of personal reflection.
Syd Moore is a talented and empathetic writer who must be very proud of this, her first novel. I am looking forward to her next book 'Afterlife', which I believe will be published in 2012.
