The New York Times Book Review - Olen Steinhauer
Louise Doughty's excellent new novel is a character study, a glimpse at midcentury American civil rights, a thriller, a meditation on the effects of foreign policy on individuals, a modern love story and a portrait of Indonesian unrest in the 20th century. And throughout it's an attempt to explain in dramatic terms how someone lacking the zeal of patriotism might choose a life in the detached, pitiless and barely understood profession we call intelligence. If that sounds like a handful, it is. But Doughty has found an ideal vehicle for her wide-ranging interests: a laconic, aging man, born Nicolaas Den Herder but known to colleagues and strangers alike as John Harper. We've seen his type before—the world-weary spook, half-broken by a lifetime of regrets—but Harper is more than he appears at first glance. He's also less, which is much to the benefit of the novel.
From the Publisher
PRAISE FOR BLACK WATER
“Doughty’s excellent new novel is a character study, a glimpse at mid-century American civil rights, a thriller, a meditation on the effects of foreign policy on individuals, a modern love story and a portrait of Indonesian unrest in the 20th century. . . If it sounds like a handful, it is. But Doughty has found an ideal vehicle for her wide-ranging interests.” —Olen Steinhauer, The New York Times Book Review
“Doughty’s language is punchy, visually striking and emotionally potent . . . This is a compelling and vivid psychological drama, with plenty of bite.” —Leyla Sanai, The Guardian
“Skilfully drawn and compelling . . . This serious novel marks a departure for Doughty, whose psychological thrillers, including Apple Tree Yard, have been so successful. This one strays more into le Carré territory— where she seems equally at home.” —Carla McKay, Daily Mail
“Powerful, probing fiction in the tradition of Graham Greene and John le Carré.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Doughty takes a page from John le Carré, crafting a riveting, psychological, morally ambiguous tale. . . richly detailed . . . [T]he role of mercenaries in world affairs adds a new perspective to the spy novel genre.” —Library Journal (starred review)
“Through Harper, Doughty creates a jarringly realistic backdrop of Indonesia’s violent past, sharply contrasting the menacing atmosphere with a growing romance and Harper’s memories of a vulnerable childhood in 1950s Los Angeles. A tense, contemplative literary thriller and worthy follow-up to Doughty’s critically acclaimed Apple Tree Yard (2013).” —Booklist
"Doughty has created a novel comparable to Graham Greene’s masterpiece The Quiet American in its taut exploration of morality on a geopolitical and personal scale. . . The plot is complex and delves into dark, unjustly forgotten corners of history. . . as much a character study as it is an espionage thriller. . . Black Water is a gripping thriller, incisive character study, a critique of US foreign policy and a love story haunted by the 1965 massacres in Indonesia.” —Shelf Awareness
PRAISE FOR APPLE TREE YARD
“Doughty is a brilliant storyteller who knows how to build the suspense to a breaking point.” —Kate Saunders, The Times (London)
“Doughty writes with consummate pacing and psychological acuity, bringing fresh force to a common regret of adulterous lovers.” —The New Yorker
“A disquieting, perceptive and gripping read.” —Amber Pearson, Daily Mail
“Extraordinary . . . I’ve never read anything like it.” —Ruth Rendell, The Guardian
