Dark Water Series by Xanthe Walter

Heart-pounding MM romantic suspense thriller set in a dystopian near future where love and loss collide.Dark water. Deadly secrets. Dangerous love.Top homicide detective Josiah Raine hasn't touched another man since his husband's brutal murder seven years ago. Notorious bad boy Alexander Lytton hasn't known peace since he destroyed his privileged life to become Britain's most hated man... moreHeart-pounding MM romantic suspense thriller set in a dystopian near future where love and loss collide.Dark water. Deadly secrets. Dangerous love.Top homicide detective Josiah Raine hasn't touched another man since his husband's brutal murder seven years ago. Notorious bad boy Alexander Lytton hasn't known peace since he destroyed his privileged life to become Britain's most hated man. When Josiah arrests Alex for murder, the last thing he expects is to fall in love…'A masterpiece of romantic suspense that will leave you breathless' - Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐The Dark Water series is a must-read for fans of MM romance, dystopian fiction, and riveting mysteries alike.______________________________________________________________________London, 2095. Sixty years after rising seas drowned the old world, a corrupt system of servitude keeps the new one afloat.Josiah leads a double life. At work, he tracks down killers with ruthless efficiency. At home, he's falling apart as he holds conversations with his dead husband. His frozen existence is turned upside down when a celebrity holophotographer is murdered, and all evidence points to the victim's servant—the beautiful but enigmatic Alexander Lytton.Everyone is convinced of Alex's guilt except Josiah, who finds himself drawn to the sharp-witted young man. He knows Alex is hiding something, but is it murder or an even darker secret?Haunted by memories of his husband's last moments, Josiah is running on empty as he tries to solve the case. As he slowly unravels, he finds an unlikely source of comfort—in the arms of his prime suspect. But in a drowned world where servants are property, falling for Alex could cost him everything. Can he trust instincts numbed by grief, or is he being seduced by a master manipulator?Immerse yourself in Crocodile Tears, the enthralling first novel in the Dark Water series by MM romantic suspense author Xanthe Walter.Tropes:• Enemies to Lovers• Slow Burn• Hurt/Comfort• Forced Proximity• Touch-Starved/Emotional Awakening• Damaged/Traumatized Hero• Forbidden Romance• Second Chance• Detective and Suspect Romance• Murder Mystery/Criminal Investigation• Dystopian/Climate Fiction"Dark Water is a masterful blend of rich world-building, a captivating mystery, and deeply compelling characterisation. Set in a vividly imagined near-future, Walter crafts a world that feels both familiar and hauntingly plausible. The intricate plot keeps readers guessing, while the characters—complex, flawed, and achingly real—drive the story's emotional heart. With its gripping narrative and immersive setting, Dark Water is a must-read for fans of MM romance, dystopian fiction, and riveting mysteries alike." Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ less

He thought he knew everything about his husband's murder. He was wrong.Detective Josiah Raine witnessed his husband's brutal murder seven years ago. He was there that blood-soaked night, and he knows what happened. The murderer is long-since dead. The case closed.But now, Josiah is about to discover a devastating revelation that will drag him back into the darkness he's fought so desperately to escape... moreHe thought he knew everything about his husband's murder. He was wrong.Detective Josiah Raine witnessed his husband's brutal murder seven years ago. He was there that blood-soaked night, and he knows what happened. The murderer is long-since dead. The case closed.But now, Josiah is about to discover a devastating revelation that will drag him back into the darkness he's fought so desperately to escape. Will it shatter his life or help him build a new one?“I was totally drawn in from the beginning as Xanthe is the master of plots, mystery and intrigue, weaving and twisting and taking you in so deep that you just need more.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review of Book One._________________________________________________________________________________Dark water. Deadly secrets. Dangerous love.London, 2095. Sixty years after rising seas drowned the old world, a corrupt system of servitude keeps the new one afloat.Alexander Lytton is now a pawn in his captor's hands. Stripped of his freedom and forced into a life of prostitution in Ghost Eye City, he clings to the memory of who he once was.Meanwhile, Josiah's dogged pursuit of justice forces him to confront the truth about his husband's murder – and his own buried grief. What he uncovers shatters everything he thought he knew.In a searing climax, the consequences of two nights of violence, years ago, collide – and nothing will ever be the same again.Dive into Ghost Eye, the exciting second novel in the gripping dystopian romantic suspense series Dark Water.This book series explores difficult themes and contains intense content intended for mature readers. Please consult the content advisory page listed in the Author’s Notes to make an informed reading decision.The Dark Water series must be read in order, starting with Book One, Crocodile Tears. Each book continues the story directly and cannot be read independently.Tropes:• Second Chance• Forbidden Romance• Enemies to Lovers• Murder Mystery/Criminal Investigation• Touch-Starved/Emotional Awakening less

It’s Time to Justice or Love?Alex Lytton has waited seven long years for justice—now, just as he stands on the precipice of achieving it, fate offers him an impossible complete the mission that has consumed his life or flee with the man who has captured his heart.With time running out, Alex must decide what matters justice or love?Dark Water. Deadly Secrets. Dangerous Love.London, 2095. Sixty years after rising seas drowned the old world, a corrupt system of servitude keeps the new one afloat... moreIt’s Time to Justice or Love?Alex Lytton has waited seven long years for justice—now, just as he stands on the precipice of achieving it, fate offers him an impossible complete the mission that has consumed his life or flee with the man who has captured his heart.With time running out, Alex must decide what matters justice or love?Dark Water. Deadly Secrets. Dangerous Love.London, 2095. Sixty years after rising seas drowned the old world, a corrupt system of servitude keeps the new one afloat.As Alex Lytton unravels the mysteries of Belvedere, he learns the skills he needs to survive. But his greatest test awaits on his return to Ghost Eye City, where he must convince his most dangerous enemy that he's no threat – by surrendering willingly to his demands.Meanwhile, Josiah Raine vows to protect Alex at any cost. But as he works tirelessly to bring two killers to justice, a shadow from Alex's past emerges with a terrifying new agenda.With time running out, the truth leads them to the cold grey waters of a lost zone, where a long-submerged secret holds the key to the future.Plunge into The Lost Zone, the thrilling continuation of the Dark Water saga.Slow Burn. Forced Proximity. Hurt/ComfortThis book series explores difficult themes and contains intense content intended for mature readers. Please consult the content advisory page listed in the Author’s Notes to make an informed reading decision.This series must be read in order, starting with Book One. Each book continues the story directly and cannot be read independently. less