Support Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander-owned small businesses
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$3.99 with 79 percent savings
Print List Price: $18.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.

Audiobook Price: $16.22

Save: $8.73 (54%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the authors

Victoria Scott
Follow
Victoria Darke
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The House in the Water: The enchanting historical ghost story, full of secrets and romance, from Victoria Scott Kindle Edition

by Victoria Scott (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 2,132 ratings

Curl up with this rich and spellbinding gothic story of love and war, perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Eve Chase and Lucinda Riley.

'Beautifully written and delightfully unsettling... an evocative read, set in an unusual landscape, that will pull you in from the first page' – Rachel Burton, bestselling author of THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN.

A secluded house. A lost notebook. A wartime secret.

1942: Young Irish nurse Ellen arrives at May Day House, tasked with helping the men there rehabilitate. But there’s something strange about the house, surrounded by water, on its own island in the Thames. And then there are the men: traumatised by their experiences of war, and subject to troubling methods in a desperate race to get them back to duty. As Ellen gets drawn into the world of May Day House, she starts to realise this will be no place to hide away from her own troubles…

2013: Philip and Meredith are the proud new owners of May Day House. Following a string of tragedies, the couple have moved to the area in search of a new start. But all is not what it seems in the riverside community. As their plans for the rundown house meet resistance from the neighbours, Meredith finds herself slowly unravelling: she hears voices on the water, sees figures where there can be no one there. When she finds an old notebook from the war, she seeks solace in the stories about the former patients of the island.

But will shadows from the past threaten her future happiness – and even her life?

Readers LOVE The House on the Water:

‘For readers of the late Lucinda Riley, this book is a great read!’ – Goodreads review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘What a mesmerising Gothic timeslip mystery! I was completely surprised at every turn.’ – Goodreads review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘This was a book I found entirely impossible to put down, reading into the early hours – and when I wasn’t reading, I could think of nothing else.’ – Goodreads review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Edge of your seat reading, The House In The Water has twist after twist right up to the last page.’ – Goodreads review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Totally captivating, brilliant characters both in the present and in the past. Strong, human and warm people that we can all relate to.’ – Goodreads review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'The twists and turns revealed kept me turning pages way longer than I was meant to stay awake.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'It consumed me from the start. It was the first book by Victoria Scott but I certainly she she will write more.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'Atmospheric, gripping, with huge heart and impossible to put down – the very best sort of book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'Beautiful captivating prose, kept me totally engaged in both timelines.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wonderful. My first by this author but not the last. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'This is definitely a spellbinding and unsettling tale with a dash of romance set in WW2 and 2013 that might haunt your dreams and leave you with a lot to think about! A riveting read.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'I was engrossed in the story from the start. It is a great story.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    362 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Boldwood Books
  4. Publication date
    May 27, 2024
  5. File size
    3.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details
Unwell Hydration from Alex Cooper
Hydrate & focus with every sip Shop now

From the Publisher

Victoria Drake
Victoria Drake

Victoria Drake

Victoria Drake

Victoria Drake

The House in the Water
The Storyteller's Daughter
Buying Options
Buying Options
Customer Reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars 2,132
4.5 out of 5 stars 734
Price $3.99 $0.99
eBook ✓ ✓
Audiobook ✓ ✓
Paperback ✓ ✓

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CTDVD1JJ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Boldwood Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 27, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.6 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 362 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1835616949
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 2,132 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Previous page
  1. Victoria Scott

    Victoria Scott

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Victoria writes thought-provoking, life-affirming fiction that keeps you turning the pages.

    Victoria started her career as a broadcast journalist at the BBC, before moving into the freelance world, working for outlets like the Telegraph and Al Jazeera. When she’s not writing novels, she lectures in Journalism at Kingston University and is an enthusiastic (but amateur) singer and gardener.

    Victoria lives on a Thames island with her husband and two children and a cat called Alice.

    You can follow Victoria on X/Twitter @toryscott and on Instagram and TikTok @VictoriaScottAuthor

    See more on the author's page
  2. Victoria Darke

    Victoria Darke

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Victoria began her working life as a broadcast journalist at the BBC, before moving into the freelance world. She’s worked for outlets including the Telegraph, Time Out and Al Jazeera, and spent six-years living and working in Qatar. Nowadays she balances novel writing with lecturing in journalism at Kingston University.

    Victoria is the author of three novels writing as Victoria Scott - Patience, Grace and The Women Who Wouldn’t Leave. Patience, her debut, was the Booksellers’ Association Book of the Month.

    The House in the Water is her first novel writing as Victoria Darke.

    She lives on an island in the Thames with her husband and two children and a cat called Alice.

    You can follow Victoria on X @toryscott and on Instagram and TikTok @VictoriaScottAuthor

    See more on the author's page
Next page

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
2,132 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Top reviews from the United States

  • ACH
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and Unique Story
    Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Lots of interesting twists in this one, like the river it is set on. It is not your typical timeslip WWII romance although that is one element. Ms. Scott added many more layers and complexities to the story. Suspenseful and compelling. You certainly root for the main character(s) to suceed!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Ashley C
    4.0 out of 5 stars Captivating Dual Time Mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2024
    The House in the Water is a captivating dual time novel with a beautiful cover.

    2013: Philip and Meredith purchase a dilapidated house on a river in the Thames, The house has a sad history and was used in WWII to house and treat WWII soldiers who have returned with injuries both physical and mental. Philip is from the area as he was raised there and left after the tragic death of his younger brother. Meredith is recovering from infertillity issues that have take a toll on her mental health. She persuades Philip to buy May Day House with the intention of turning it into their home and a business, hosting weddings and other events. There is some push back from the locals and the counsel that makes things difficult. Philip is a pilot and is gone a lot leaving Meredith home alone. Weird happenings around the estate start to make her nervous and wondering if she is losing her mind. Then she discovers the diary of a nurse that worked at the house in 1943 and is consumed by the past.

    1943: Ellen Quinn is a nurse who has been all over the world treating WWII soldiers. She is assigned to May Day House to assist with the soldiers who are recovering at the house. She meets RAF officer Harry Hennessey and starts an illict love affair with tragic consequences.

    The past and the present collide during a bad flood and Meredith must fight for her life amidst the echoes of the past.

    I enjoyed this book, the descriptions of the island and the community around it was interesting as was the treatment of mental illiness during WWII, let’s just say we have come a long way since then. I look forward to more books from Ms. Darke.

    Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood books and the author for the chance to read and review this book.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book!!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Loved the characters and how it all came together at the end of this book!! Keeps your mind guessing who is right or wrong, good or evil!!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Carmen Gibson
    3.0 out of 5 stars Mystery, timeslip, spooky, sprinkled with history
    Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I loved that it was a timeslip novel. It's like the ghost story at bedtime when you've lost power, cell phone is down, and your imagination takes over.

    Though one timeline is during the war years, it's not exactly a war novel. It's does deal with the impact of war, PTSD, and medical care. I enjoyed the mystery and the various angles presented, preventing calculating the true resolution.

    I couldn't give it more stars because although I couldn't put it down once I started reading it, it was frustratingly repetitive about laying out certain situations and especially problems. How many times does one need to remind themselves their parents are dead or the weight of threatening money issues? It's always there and I don't invite that it requires a daily sitting down to recount today I have this to do, plus don't forget mom and dad are dead and I've got money problems.
    Still, I enjoyed chasing down this mystery.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Stephanie W
    4.0 out of 5 stars Well-written, engaging historical fiction
    Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2024
    This was a well-written historical fiction read, set in a run-down old house on an isolated island in the Thames near Weybridge, England. It’s set in two timelines - 1943 and 2013 - and is set in the same house in both time periods. The story is told from two points of view, Ellen in 1943 when she was a nurse in the house that was used as a hospital to treat injured soldiers with dangerous unproven therapies (ECT) and Meredith, who bought the same house in 2013 to renovate it and start over with her husband after a series of tragedies.

    Both timelines are equally interesting and there are many parallels between them. The female characters are very likeable and the old creepy house and the river are themselves characters. The story moves along at a good pace although it did slow down a bit in the middle. There is lots happening in the story to keep the reader’s interest: a forbidden war-time romance, PTSD, hostile neighbors, secrets from Ellen’s husband’s past, a creepy house with ghost sightings, and natural disasters (dangerous flooding of the Thames - the latter actually happened in 2014).

    This is engaging, easy to read historical fiction that would make for a great read this summer.

    Thanks to Boldwood Books for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Tiffany
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2024
    My favorite thing about this author is her characters. They are fun and cunning yet mysterious. This particular story was much the same, fun and mysterious bringing the past to the present.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Marija
    4.0 out of 5 stars Dual time story that kept my attention
    Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2024
    This engaging historical fiction novel is set in a dilapidated house on a secluded island in the Thames near Weybridge, England, unfolding over two timelines: 1943 and 2013. The narrative alternates between Ellen's perspective in 1943, serving as a nurse in what was then a hospital providing experimental treatments to wounded soldiers, and Meredith's in 2013, who purchases the house to renovate and begin anew after enduring personal losses.

    The story weaves between these eras, drawing intriguing parallels. The characters, particularly the women, are endearing, and the setting—a hauntingly atmospheric house beside the river—becomes a character in its own right. The plot progresses briskly, though it does take a more measured pace midway. There's plenty to captivate readers: a wartime romance that defies the rules, the struggles with PTSD, unfriendly neighbors, hidden aspects of Meredith's husband's history, ghostly encounters in the house, and the real-life peril of the Thames flooding in 2014.

    A touching and accessible piece of historical fiction, this book promises to be a delightful addition to your summer reading list.
    Helpful
     Report
  • JA
    2.0 out of 5 stars Nit much happens
    Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    And I became bored at 50%. Skimmed and was glad because the outcome was just not worth the read. The characters are of vague personalities that change intermittently. All seemed weak in mind and spirit. All in all the book was depressing and stressful.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Diane McKewin
    5.0 out of 5 stars The House in the Water
    Reviewed in Australia on December 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    May Day House 1943: Irish nurse Ellen arrives at May Day House, a house alone on an island in the River Thames. Previously a private home, May Day House in 1943 is a hospital to treat soldiers traumatised by the war. Previously in Egypt and working with a respected and talented Doctor, Ellen discovers that some of the treatments the patients are subjected to are troubling as desperate efforts are made to return the men to active duty.
    May Day House 2013: Meredith and Philip are the new owners of May Day House. Philip is a pilot and spends much of his time away from the island. Meredith and Philip are both suffering loss and Meredith sees the renovation of the house as a new beginning for both of them. When their plans for the renovation are declined by the local Council, Merry and Phil both discover that their neighbours are not what they seem.
    Merry discovers an old notebook and from the time of the war and discovers stories about former patients on the island.
    When she starts to hear voices and see things that cannot possibly be there, Meredith begins to question her own sanity and becomes doubtful of their decision to purchase May Day House and her trust in her husband.
    What began as an interesting little story quickly became a well researched story about the then treatment of what we now know as PTSD. Add to that shocking revelations to what happened to Nurse Ellen Quinn as a child, a spooky old house with many secrets, things that go bump in the night with voices heard and people disappearing within the house, then you have a ghost story that requires explanation.
    This is my first book by this author and I have a couple more I would love to read.
    Report
  • Kaw
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great dual timeline read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 8, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Brilliant two timeline book. I especially enjoyed the historical part of the story and learnt so much. In the modern era part of the story, I was left breathless by the unexpected twists at the end. I didn't see them coming and had to regularly go up for air while reading them. The last line of all was brief, subtle and a fitting end to the stories.
    Report
  • Seafire
    4.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating story - or stories really
    Reviewed in Italy on February 17, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Aa acquaintance of mine bought a house on one of the islands in the Thames - though it had several other houses there. So I was fascinated when I realised the story was based in a similar place. The stories themselves are troubling, particularly the hospital for damaged ex-soldiers. It is horrific to know that these poor men were treated so inhumanely, after all they'd been through. I also feel for the old house on the river. At least most of them will now have been bought and renovated, hopefully lovingly,
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars great
    Reviewed in Canada on February 5, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This is a really good story. I really enjoyed it. It kept wanting to keep reading to see what happens. I sad that it is the end of the story though.
    Report
  • Karen Forbes
    4.0 out of 5 stars not bad
    Reviewed in Australia on February 28, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This is quite a good read. Enough twisting to keep the pages turning. Drags a bit in the middle then ends with a rush
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report