Stuart Turton's 'The Devil and the Dark Water' is an intricately plotted historical mystery set in 1634 aboard a Dutch East India Company ship. As the ship sails from Batavia to Amsterdam, a seemingly impossible locked-room murder occurs, threatening to derail the voyage. Master detective Samuel Pipps is imprisoned below deck, forcing his brilliant bodyguard, Arent Hayes, to investigate a series of increasingly bizarre and terrifying events. Superstition, conspiracy, and the specter of a malevolent demon plague the journey, leaving passengers and crew questioning what is real and what is pure evil. Turton masterfully weaves together suspense, historical detail, and a compelling whodunit, making for a truly unique and thrilling read.