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Notes on a Drowning
Alex knows she risks getting fired from her law firm if she takes on another unpaid case, but when she hears Rosa's desperate voice at the other end of the phone, she knows she has to the body of Rosa's shy teenage sister, Natalia, has been dragged, lifeless, from the Thames. Alex can't help but think of her own missing little sister. She knows how a lack of answers can eat you alive.
Kat has worked hard to become Special Adviser to the Home Secretary, and is eager to finally put the dark and tragic part of her past behind her. But when she discovers a series of cover-ups, she begins to wonder whether her seemingly perfect new boss could be involved. Then she she's shocked to discover a letter that raises worrying questions about a girl found drowned in London... Natalia.
There are complex and painful reasons for Alex and Kat not to work together, but when it becomes clear that there are powerful people involved in Natalia's death, and that other girls are at risk, Alex and Kat must overcome their differences to find answers. Will they save the girls and discover the truth? Or will the high-powered players in this game stop Alex and Kat for good?
Kat has worked hard to become Special Adviser to the Home Secretary, and is eager to finally put the dark and tragic part of her past behind her. But when she discovers a series of cover-ups, she begins to wonder whether her seemingly perfect new boss could be involved. Then she she's shocked to discover a letter that raises worrying questions about a girl found drowned in London... Natalia.
There are complex and painful reasons for Alex and Kat not to work together, but when it becomes clear that there are powerful people involved in Natalia's death, and that other girls are at risk, Alex and Kat must overcome their differences to find answers. Will they save the girls and discover the truth? Or will the high-powered players in this game stop Alex and Kat for good?
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 23, 2025
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227 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
January 26, 2025
Notes on a Drowning is described as a legal thriller but it has a strong political focus. Alex is a lawyer frequently in trouble with her boss for not bringing in enough money, instead taking on free/low paid casework for the disadvantaged. Kat Ishida has put her rather grim past behind her and has a successful career as a special advisor to the Home Secretary. Kat and Alex have a difficult history due to past events but when a Freedom of Information request brings them together they have to try and put all animosity behind them and work together to get justice for those who do not have a voice.
The catalyst for the story is the supposed accidental drowning of a young Moldovan girl, Natalia. Her sister Rosa is convinced that her death is suspicious and Alex, putting her own job at risk, is working on a pro-bono basis to help Rosa get answers. She does this against the background of the unsolved disappearance several years before of her younger sister Elisa which still haunts her.
The main plot involves cover ups and deceit from some deeply flawed individuals. This is a fast paced story of corruption – both at home and internationally, betrayal, and abuse, both of women and of power and the shocking lengths people will go to keep their secrets. In trying to expose the guilty, both women put themselves in danger and there are some very tense moments.
This such a powerful and intense story inspired by the author’s work as a human rights and criminal justice solicitor. It is topical, authentic and shockingly believable. Alex and Kat were superb characters – both tenacious in their fight for justice but also compassionate. I’ve always been impressed by Anna’s excellent writing and this latest book continues that standard with dialogue that is sharp and has the odd touch of dark humour. I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping story and look forward to reading more by Anna Sharpe.
The catalyst for the story is the supposed accidental drowning of a young Moldovan girl, Natalia. Her sister Rosa is convinced that her death is suspicious and Alex, putting her own job at risk, is working on a pro-bono basis to help Rosa get answers. She does this against the background of the unsolved disappearance several years before of her younger sister Elisa which still haunts her.
The main plot involves cover ups and deceit from some deeply flawed individuals. This is a fast paced story of corruption – both at home and internationally, betrayal, and abuse, both of women and of power and the shocking lengths people will go to keep their secrets. In trying to expose the guilty, both women put themselves in danger and there are some very tense moments.
This such a powerful and intense story inspired by the author’s work as a human rights and criminal justice solicitor. It is topical, authentic and shockingly believable. Alex and Kat were superb characters – both tenacious in their fight for justice but also compassionate. I’ve always been impressed by Anna’s excellent writing and this latest book continues that standard with dialogue that is sharp and has the odd touch of dark humour. I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping story and look forward to reading more by Anna Sharpe.
January 28, 2025
The book is in the legal thriller genre but I would put it as a crime thriller. When I think of legal thriller I think of a lot of lawyers and courtrooms and while this book does have lawyers it does not have a lot of courtrooms. When a woman is found drowned in the Thames, her death is ruled accidental but her family is not buying it. As the female protagonists investigate they uncover secrets no one wants them to know. I enjoyed the multiple POV and how the chapters were labeled with each character’s POV. I enjoyed the investigation and insight into the police.
January 28, 2025
Alex and Kat haven’t spoken for way over a decade,they have a history…..and do not care to revisit the past,although the past have never really left either of them,much as they tried…..so when a body is found in the Thames and something doesn’t ring quite true for various reasons ( their legal and Home Office jobs mean they can both be involved ) both are ‘on the case’…..and the case looks like it could lead right to the centre of the establishment
A powerful legal drama that was easy to read and become involved with and actually got really intense as the story raced on
From London to Tokyo they,and us, discover what seemed a maybe suspicious drowning has turned into something no one could have envisaged
Good sterling characters,accessible plot and candid dialogue makes this one of those books that you immediately on finishing look up the authors previous work ( under Anna Mazzola )
A powerful legal drama that was easy to read and become involved with and actually got really intense as the story raced on
From London to Tokyo they,and us, discover what seemed a maybe suspicious drowning has turned into something no one could have envisaged
Good sterling characters,accessible plot and candid dialogue makes this one of those books that you immediately on finishing look up the authors previous work ( under Anna Mazzola )
January 27, 2025
Started really well. Good, interesting characters and I liked seeing how the two female leads’ lives intersected with a fascinating backstory in Tokyo.
I liked the insights into law and government too,
But then it got a bit far-fetched with lots of people being added to the investigation team. At one point our intrepid crime solvers posed as caterers at a high class social event and all I could think was: where did you get the canapés?
It’s a shame because some of it was really, really good and I wish I had liked it more.
I liked the insights into law and government too,
But then it got a bit far-fetched with lots of people being added to the investigation team. At one point our intrepid crime solvers posed as caterers at a high class social event and all I could think was: where did you get the canapés?
It’s a shame because some of it was really, really good and I wish I had liked it more.
February 26, 2025
This book started off really promisingly and was gripping. However it descended into (as one reviewer put it) cliche bingo and was very predictable. Cliche bingo included: Russian oligarch, Novichok type poisoning, trafficking young girls, corrupt politicians, high up police and a millionaire, own child kidnapped but miraculously saved despite being surrounded by Russian bodyguards, armed. And then a journalist breaks the story and exposes it all whereby politician resigns, policeman retires, husband comes out of coma unscathed and that’s about it. Feel like you’ve heard/watched similar before? So did I.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2025
Readers looking for a superb thriller that offers characters that’ll make you care and a propulsive narrative threaded with some very disturbing real-life issues should rush to read Notes on a Drowning, the first contemporary tale from British lawyer and author Anna Sharpe, who’s previously written several excellent historical crime and Gothic novels as Anna Mazzola.
In Notes on a Drowning, ‘Sharpe’ masterfully draws us into a twisting, sordid tale of legal intrigue, power and corruption. Already starting to fray due to workplace and personal pressures, determined lawyer Alex is roped into more pro bono work – the bane of her boss’s life, who is trying to keep the firm afloat and needs fee-paying clients. It seems a simple if frustrating request from a pal: could Anna act for the family at an inquest into the drowning in London’s famed Thames River of Natalia, a teenage immigrant from Moldova. A tragic accident fuelled by partying, alcohol and drugs, say the police and others. But resolution isn’t so simple for Natalia’s family, and soon enough the facts and official story don’t add up for Alex, either. Or is she just projecting the trauma and suspicions raised by her own younger sister’s disappearance in Japan, many years ago? A mystery still unsolved.
Past and present collide when Kat, an ambitious special advisor to the British Home Secretary who is trying to forget her own history, becomes involved after stumbling across documents with troubling information that contradicts what she’s been told. But can Alex and Kat trust each other, let alone dig into the truth behind Natalia’s drowning, when many powerful people want the case closed.
While ‘Anna Sharpe’ may be a new name to crime readers, the author has already proven herself a strong storyteller with several terrific historical and Gothic tales, and Notes on a Drowning may take her to an even higher level. It’s an excellent modern-day thriller powered by taut storytelling, several fascinating characters, lots of intrigue, fears, and tough issues. A cracking, if disturbing, tale.
[This review was first written for Deadly Pleasures magazine in the United States]
In Notes on a Drowning, ‘Sharpe’ masterfully draws us into a twisting, sordid tale of legal intrigue, power and corruption. Already starting to fray due to workplace and personal pressures, determined lawyer Alex is roped into more pro bono work – the bane of her boss’s life, who is trying to keep the firm afloat and needs fee-paying clients. It seems a simple if frustrating request from a pal: could Anna act for the family at an inquest into the drowning in London’s famed Thames River of Natalia, a teenage immigrant from Moldova. A tragic accident fuelled by partying, alcohol and drugs, say the police and others. But resolution isn’t so simple for Natalia’s family, and soon enough the facts and official story don’t add up for Alex, either. Or is she just projecting the trauma and suspicions raised by her own younger sister’s disappearance in Japan, many years ago? A mystery still unsolved.
Past and present collide when Kat, an ambitious special advisor to the British Home Secretary who is trying to forget her own history, becomes involved after stumbling across documents with troubling information that contradicts what she’s been told. But can Alex and Kat trust each other, let alone dig into the truth behind Natalia’s drowning, when many powerful people want the case closed.
While ‘Anna Sharpe’ may be a new name to crime readers, the author has already proven herself a strong storyteller with several terrific historical and Gothic tales, and Notes on a Drowning may take her to an even higher level. It’s an excellent modern-day thriller powered by taut storytelling, several fascinating characters, lots of intrigue, fears, and tough issues. A cracking, if disturbing, tale.
[This review was first written for Deadly Pleasures magazine in the United States]
October 13, 2024
Notes on a Drowning is an engaging and very well-plotted story about two women with an awkward shared past who work together to prevent a similar tragedy to the one that first brought them together.
The beginning of the book is a little slower than the ending, as the reader begins to piece together the narrative of the two women, who have complicated lives without the addition of the mystery that reunites them. The mystery itself is complex and grows increasingly dangerous for them. Who can they trust, aside from no one but a very few?
This is a tale of corruption and power and how corrupting such power can be. It is also very current, contending with the persistent 'boys club' mentality that infects politics and the terrible underbelly that goes with it.
Yet, it is also a fast-paced and well-executed read. I devoured it in two sittings.
This is not my usual read. I'm a bit more 'thriller' minded and also more historical or cosy crime, but this is a timely tale of corruption and politics, unputdownable until the last page.
The beginning of the book is a little slower than the ending, as the reader begins to piece together the narrative of the two women, who have complicated lives without the addition of the mystery that reunites them. The mystery itself is complex and grows increasingly dangerous for them. Who can they trust, aside from no one but a very few?
This is a tale of corruption and power and how corrupting such power can be. It is also very current, contending with the persistent 'boys club' mentality that infects politics and the terrible underbelly that goes with it.
Yet, it is also a fast-paced and well-executed read. I devoured it in two sittings.
This is not my usual read. I'm a bit more 'thriller' minded and also more historical or cosy crime, but this is a timely tale of corruption and politics, unputdownable until the last page.
November 4, 2024
This was a fast-paced read that I could easily see being made into a tv drama. Unfortunately, that was also the main problem with the book - it was made up of lots of familiar plotlines.
I started to feel like I was playing cliche bingo - dodgy Russian oligarchs, corruption in the highest levels of government and the Met, improbable rescue from high security premises. There was even a divorcing couple drawn back together in adversity!
The two central female characters were reasonably well developed, but the supporting characters were barely fleshed out. There were far too many convenient connections - investigative journalist best friend, handy group of high level hackers happy to help out, ex detective private eye husband, friends in MI5.
This was a book that was an enjoyable enough read but one that will quickly fade from my memory.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orion publishers for an ARC of this book.
I started to feel like I was playing cliche bingo - dodgy Russian oligarchs, corruption in the highest levels of government and the Met, improbable rescue from high security premises. There was even a divorcing couple drawn back together in adversity!
The two central female characters were reasonably well developed, but the supporting characters were barely fleshed out. There were far too many convenient connections - investigative journalist best friend, handy group of high level hackers happy to help out, ex detective private eye husband, friends in MI5.
This was a book that was an enjoyable enough read but one that will quickly fade from my memory.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orion publishers for an ARC of this book.
March 26, 2025
A meh read for me.The book started out interesting with the discovery of a young girl in the Thames River and a humane solicitor wanted to find out the circumstances of her death . However it escalated into mafia , espionage, trafficking of young girls , corruption and the disappearance of the solicitor’s own sister in Japan years ago. All of a sudden the book became complicated and too far fetched at times .
February 25, 2025
This book was not quite what I was expecting. A slow start and picked up about 3/4 of the way through. Ending felt abrupt and didn’t feel like it tied up the loose ends. Just ok.
April 15, 2025
Alex is a lawyer who is passed a pro-bono case involving a woman who has supposedly drowned in the Thames. But when people are all unwilling to investigate a foreign party girl's death in detail, she starts feeling that there might be a cover-up going on. Her sister, Rosa, is sure she didn't drink or take drugs, so why was Natalia supposedly so drunk that she fell from a boat and drowned? Kat works for the Home Office as a special adviser to the Home Secretary, but she's hiding a dark past in Tokyo. But her squeaky clean boss might well be hiding a few secrets of his own.
This legal/political thriller is a dual narrative story of Alex and Kat. At first they don't appear to be connected in any way, and I couldn't work out why I was reading 2 separate stories in alternating chapters, but eventually it all came together! The plot takes a little while to get going because of this, but when it does, you'll want to keep reading to find out what really happened to Natalia and in turn what happened to Alex's sister.
Notes on a Drowning was an enjoyable read, full of twists and turns and with plenty of action once the momentum picks up.
This legal/political thriller is a dual narrative story of Alex and Kat. At first they don't appear to be connected in any way, and I couldn't work out why I was reading 2 separate stories in alternating chapters, but eventually it all came together! The plot takes a little while to get going because of this, but when it does, you'll want to keep reading to find out what really happened to Natalia and in turn what happened to Alex's sister.
Notes on a Drowning was an enjoyable read, full of twists and turns and with plenty of action once the momentum picks up.
March 1, 2025
“Notes On A Drowning” (NOAD) is the debut novel by author Anna Sharpe (the alter ego of historical fiction writer Anna Mazzola).
When you don’t know who to trust it makes it impossible to know where to turn…so sometimes this means you just have to keep going straight at your goal instead. This is what our two protagonists, Alex and Kat, face in NOAD, a tightly written thriller that is part mystery, part race against time, and part deadly conspiracy.
The main characters are flawed but this adds to their believability and the villains are perfectly and insidiously awful. All blend beautifully together to add to the storyline. The storyline itself is one with multiple twists and turns and highlights that it only takes one small piece of information to be found by just the right person for the cracks in the almost spotless veneer of an entirely hidden and complex network of deceit and subterfuge to become visible.
Sharpe’s writing is engaging, fast paced, and incredibly easy to read, and makes you want to keep reading even when you know you need to turn the light off and get some sleep!
NOAD is a great first up novel by Sharpe and I’m looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
NOAD gets 4 intricate conspiracy theories out of 5.
When you don’t know who to trust it makes it impossible to know where to turn…so sometimes this means you just have to keep going straight at your goal instead. This is what our two protagonists, Alex and Kat, face in NOAD, a tightly written thriller that is part mystery, part race against time, and part deadly conspiracy.
The main characters are flawed but this adds to their believability and the villains are perfectly and insidiously awful. All blend beautifully together to add to the storyline. The storyline itself is one with multiple twists and turns and highlights that it only takes one small piece of information to be found by just the right person for the cracks in the almost spotless veneer of an entirely hidden and complex network of deceit and subterfuge to become visible.
Sharpe’s writing is engaging, fast paced, and incredibly easy to read, and makes you want to keep reading even when you know you need to turn the light off and get some sleep!
NOAD is a great first up novel by Sharpe and I’m looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
NOAD gets 4 intricate conspiracy theories out of 5.
January 13, 2025
4.25⭐️
This was a really captivating read, I really enjoyed following Alex and Kat as their stories intertwined and was kept on the edge of my seat seeing what happened next!
Thank you to the author and publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review
This was a really captivating read, I really enjoyed following Alex and Kat as their stories intertwined and was kept on the edge of my seat seeing what happened next!
Thank you to the author and publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review
January 28, 2025
great read
I really really enjoyed this book despite its heavy subject matter. I liked Alex and I liked Kat. They bounced off each other really nicely
I really really enjoyed this book despite its heavy subject matter. I liked Alex and I liked Kat. They bounced off each other really nicely
February 1, 2025
Notes on a Drowning is the first I've read from Sharpe and I think it's safe to say it's definitely not going to be my last!
It's an up-tempo legal thriller that immediately draws you into the action, and takes you on an unputdownable journey with Alex and Kat as they delve into the seedy underbelly of politics and corruption.
Both women were fantastic characters, each bringing their own personality and strengths to the story.
An intensely good, enjoyable read. Here's to more from Sharpe in the future.
It's an up-tempo legal thriller that immediately draws you into the action, and takes you on an unputdownable journey with Alex and Kat as they delve into the seedy underbelly of politics and corruption.
Both women were fantastic characters, each bringing their own personality and strengths to the story.
An intensely good, enjoyable read. Here's to more from Sharpe in the future.
January 25, 2025
My thanks to Tracy at Compulsive Readers and publishers Orion for the blog tour invite and my gifted review copy of 'Notes On A Drowning' by Anna Sharpe which is published in e-book and hardcover formats on January 25th 2025!
A confession-I don't believe I have read any Anna Mazzola books but after 'Notes On A Drowning', that will be swiftly corrected.
Legal and political thrillers are not always my first choice read as I don't feel I am clever enough to pick apart or work out just what is going on, so it takes quite an author to pull me in and keep me reading to the last page.
And Anna Sharpe is just that author.
The synopsis was intriguing, I am always there for a justice needing to be served for the underdog victim and this takes that story trope and runs off with it into some really interesting directions.
Alex Moreno is a lawyer on the edge of being sacked because she is unable to turn down pro bono cases but her sense of justice means she just cannot ignore wrongdoings-in this case, her colleague Ari has asked her to intervene in the inquest for a young Maldovan girl, fished out of the Thames following a party on a boat, evidence of her intoxication is present in the form of drugs and alcohol in her bloodstream.
Natalia, the young dead girl has a sister who refuses to believe this is the case, her sister would not touch any substances like that as she has a family history of alcoholism which both sisters are determined not to repeat, as well as not being able to swim.
Rosa's all consuming guilt over losing touch with her younger sister, battles with her knowledge of her and this really hits Alex hard and encourages her to try and adjourn the inquest, a request which is denied for no good reason which Alex can see.
On her final warning with her boss about not bringing enough money into the firm, Alex is absolutely invested in bringing closure to Rosa and Natalia, something she has not had in the disappearance of her own sister, Elisa.
Brought into this intriguing story of redemptive justice is Kat Ishida, an advisor to the Home Secretary who receives Alex' Freedom Of Information request for Natalia and recognises the name of the travel agency Natalia used...it's the same one that took Elisa to Japan, which is where Elisa vanished.
These two tenacious and formidable women, driven by a need to succeed as much as their own personalities reluctantly join forces to uncover just what is going on , as Kat's concerns about her Home Secretary boss and the pressure on Alex from her, push them to believe that something bigger is at stake.
Natalia is introduced in the prologue as she is drowning and dying, your start is also the end as her hopes and dreams dissipate into air bubbles that hasten her death. The immediate connection with this dying girl is intense and emotional, so when you start reading how Alex, and Kat in their alternating chapters dance closer to each other, Natalia's ghost is a constant presence waiting for redemption.
Alex and Kat are women who have worked relentlessly in their respective fields to get where they are but their fear of failure is more equally matched by their sense of justice for those who are not privileged by accident of birth, circumstance or patronage.
When combined with their feelings towards a young woman, tossed away, and abandoned by a patriarchal system, their determination is remarkable and this carries you along with them towards their mission for truth.
It is not an easy partnership as both women have things in their past they would rather move on from, but in order to move forward, both need to make their peace with things they could have done, and actions which they did take.
A relentless sense of fairness and justice drives the narrative, both women are formidable protagonists with a very human core, and it is the little details which I absolutely adored like Alex' cat, Steven, and Kat's love of biscuits that grace the pages of 'Notes On A Drowning' with the unmissable touch of a consummate author who knows her characters inside and out.
A confession-I don't believe I have read any Anna Mazzola books but after 'Notes On A Drowning', that will be swiftly corrected.
Legal and political thrillers are not always my first choice read as I don't feel I am clever enough to pick apart or work out just what is going on, so it takes quite an author to pull me in and keep me reading to the last page.
And Anna Sharpe is just that author.
The synopsis was intriguing, I am always there for a justice needing to be served for the underdog victim and this takes that story trope and runs off with it into some really interesting directions.
Alex Moreno is a lawyer on the edge of being sacked because she is unable to turn down pro bono cases but her sense of justice means she just cannot ignore wrongdoings-in this case, her colleague Ari has asked her to intervene in the inquest for a young Maldovan girl, fished out of the Thames following a party on a boat, evidence of her intoxication is present in the form of drugs and alcohol in her bloodstream.
Natalia, the young dead girl has a sister who refuses to believe this is the case, her sister would not touch any substances like that as she has a family history of alcoholism which both sisters are determined not to repeat, as well as not being able to swim.
Rosa's all consuming guilt over losing touch with her younger sister, battles with her knowledge of her and this really hits Alex hard and encourages her to try and adjourn the inquest, a request which is denied for no good reason which Alex can see.
On her final warning with her boss about not bringing enough money into the firm, Alex is absolutely invested in bringing closure to Rosa and Natalia, something she has not had in the disappearance of her own sister, Elisa.
Brought into this intriguing story of redemptive justice is Kat Ishida, an advisor to the Home Secretary who receives Alex' Freedom Of Information request for Natalia and recognises the name of the travel agency Natalia used...it's the same one that took Elisa to Japan, which is where Elisa vanished.
These two tenacious and formidable women, driven by a need to succeed as much as their own personalities reluctantly join forces to uncover just what is going on , as Kat's concerns about her Home Secretary boss and the pressure on Alex from her, push them to believe that something bigger is at stake.
Natalia is introduced in the prologue as she is drowning and dying, your start is also the end as her hopes and dreams dissipate into air bubbles that hasten her death. The immediate connection with this dying girl is intense and emotional, so when you start reading how Alex, and Kat in their alternating chapters dance closer to each other, Natalia's ghost is a constant presence waiting for redemption.
Alex and Kat are women who have worked relentlessly in their respective fields to get where they are but their fear of failure is more equally matched by their sense of justice for those who are not privileged by accident of birth, circumstance or patronage.
When combined with their feelings towards a young woman, tossed away, and abandoned by a patriarchal system, their determination is remarkable and this carries you along with them towards their mission for truth.
It is not an easy partnership as both women have things in their past they would rather move on from, but in order to move forward, both need to make their peace with things they could have done, and actions which they did take.
A relentless sense of fairness and justice drives the narrative, both women are formidable protagonists with a very human core, and it is the little details which I absolutely adored like Alex' cat, Steven, and Kat's love of biscuits that grace the pages of 'Notes On A Drowning' with the unmissable touch of a consummate author who knows her characters inside and out.
January 26, 2025
I am a huge fan of the historical fiction writer Anna Mazzola, so when I heard that she was writing a contemporary crime thriller, I could not wait to read it. It is a real cracker. Tense, fast paced, thrilling and breathtakingly action packed, Notes On A Drowning has everything I look for in a great political thriller.
Politics, corruption at the highest levels, sleaze, sex and danger, this is a great book that has it all. Though the subject matter concerns the inhuman treatment of women, there is warmth in the characters and their personalities, a strong sense of sisterhood and even some cracking humour.
From the outset there is a sense that one of the characters has something really important that she is hiding. What that is becomes clear as the story progresses. Anna Sharpe manages to build the tension, creating a sense of danger, but also of fear and very real trepidation.
Alex and Kat are the two main characters. Alex is a hard-working solicitor with a penchant for taking on the cases that don’t bill well, but which really help people who have nowhere else to turn. This does not go down well with her boss, who is trying to keep the practice afloat. Alex takes on the case of Natalia, an Moldovan girl’s inquest, because her sister, Rosa, does not believe that Natalia’s death was an accidental drowning. Meaning Alex has to be very careful to work under the radar when she’s in the office.
Kat is a Special Adviser at the Home Office. She loves her job working closely with a man she admires, the Home Secretary. She is a very proficient advisor, and like Alex, a bit of a workaholic. But she adores treading the corridors of power; going into meetings with the Prime Minister and other Cabinet Secretaries and she has proved herself to be on top of her brief.
Kat and Alex know each other, but theirs is a fractured relationship, the cause of which goes back some years to when Alex’s sister and Kat were working abroad. Now their paths are set to cross again, when a freedom of information request that Alex has placed in relation to Natalia’s death comes to Kat’s attention. Kat immediately pieces the request together with another piece of information that has crossed her desk and recognises that this raises questions pertinent to Alex’s request. She’d be breaking all sorts of confidentiality rules and probably the Official Secrets act were she to divulge it to Alex, but Kat’s own history causes strong niggles about how these two things could be connected.
So, she takes the plunge and the two arrange a clandestine meeting in a coffee shop. It’s a tricky meeting, given the way they feel about each other, but they nevertheless see the importance of working together to uncover the truth of what is going on.
Anna Sharpe’s writing is indeed sharp and the dialogue is so good that you can picture the conversation between these two women who have reached something of a truculent truce.
When they begin to work together, pulling in Alex’s ex-husband to assist, they soon find themselves up to their necks in a deadly conspiracy which threatens all their lives.
Verdict: Notes on A Drowning is a brilliant read. Smart, well-written with great characters and a fabulous, twisty and surprising plot-line, culminating in an action packed, thrilling denouement. It has some loathsome characters and a real sense of jeopardy throughout. Because you come to care about both Kat and Alex as characters, this makes the tension feel very real and the danger they face is real heart-in-the mouth stuff.
A highly recommended must read from me.
Politics, corruption at the highest levels, sleaze, sex and danger, this is a great book that has it all. Though the subject matter concerns the inhuman treatment of women, there is warmth in the characters and their personalities, a strong sense of sisterhood and even some cracking humour.
From the outset there is a sense that one of the characters has something really important that she is hiding. What that is becomes clear as the story progresses. Anna Sharpe manages to build the tension, creating a sense of danger, but also of fear and very real trepidation.
Alex and Kat are the two main characters. Alex is a hard-working solicitor with a penchant for taking on the cases that don’t bill well, but which really help people who have nowhere else to turn. This does not go down well with her boss, who is trying to keep the practice afloat. Alex takes on the case of Natalia, an Moldovan girl’s inquest, because her sister, Rosa, does not believe that Natalia’s death was an accidental drowning. Meaning Alex has to be very careful to work under the radar when she’s in the office.
Kat is a Special Adviser at the Home Office. She loves her job working closely with a man she admires, the Home Secretary. She is a very proficient advisor, and like Alex, a bit of a workaholic. But she adores treading the corridors of power; going into meetings with the Prime Minister and other Cabinet Secretaries and she has proved herself to be on top of her brief.
Kat and Alex know each other, but theirs is a fractured relationship, the cause of which goes back some years to when Alex’s sister and Kat were working abroad. Now their paths are set to cross again, when a freedom of information request that Alex has placed in relation to Natalia’s death comes to Kat’s attention. Kat immediately pieces the request together with another piece of information that has crossed her desk and recognises that this raises questions pertinent to Alex’s request. She’d be breaking all sorts of confidentiality rules and probably the Official Secrets act were she to divulge it to Alex, but Kat’s own history causes strong niggles about how these two things could be connected.
So, she takes the plunge and the two arrange a clandestine meeting in a coffee shop. It’s a tricky meeting, given the way they feel about each other, but they nevertheless see the importance of working together to uncover the truth of what is going on.
Anna Sharpe’s writing is indeed sharp and the dialogue is so good that you can picture the conversation between these two women who have reached something of a truculent truce.
When they begin to work together, pulling in Alex’s ex-husband to assist, they soon find themselves up to their necks in a deadly conspiracy which threatens all their lives.
Verdict: Notes on A Drowning is a brilliant read. Smart, well-written with great characters and a fabulous, twisty and surprising plot-line, culminating in an action packed, thrilling denouement. It has some loathsome characters and a real sense of jeopardy throughout. Because you come to care about both Kat and Alex as characters, this makes the tension feel very real and the danger they face is real heart-in-the mouth stuff.
A highly recommended must read from me.
June 25, 2025
I love a political thriller but Notes on a Drowning was particularly irresistible because it's the contemporary crime fiction debut of Anna Sharpe, who is currently better known as historical fiction author Anna Mazzola. It's always a little daunting coming to a book I have been eagerly anticipating for a while but this razor-sharp novel was everything I'd hoped for and more.
Anna Sharpe is a natural storyteller and so she doesn't rush the first part of the book as she introduces the main characters, most notably Kat and Alex. Alex is initially the more sympathetic character; she is a lawyer who is under pressure from her boss, Paul, who insists she must stop taking on legal aid cases. Nevertheless, she reluctantly agrees to a request from a colleague to look into the inquest into the drowning of Natalia, a young Moldovan girl who apparently fell from a party boat into the Thames. The post-mortem found there were drugs in her system and so it looks to be a straightforward case but her sister, Rosa insists she never took drugs. Meanwhile, Kat is a Special Advisor to Richard Carmichael, the newly appointed Home Secretary. She is clearly driven and hugely ambitious – without the benefit of a privileged upbringing, she has had to work harder than most for her position and she is good at her job. However, her reaction when she learns that she is expected to join a delegation to Tokyo is bewildering. It's quickly apparent that Kat has some dark secrets but after she accidentally stumbles upon what appears to be Home Office cover-ups, she must confront her shady past – and Alex.
Although the relationship between Kat and Alex is central to proceedings, the dynamics between them and other characters is intriguing too. Alex is a single mother to a teenage daughter, has a complicated relationship with her estranged husband, Jason and is still haunted by the disappearance of her sister, Elisa twelve years ago. Meanwhile, as everything Kat thought she knew is torn away from her, she has to figure out who she can really trust. The convincing dialogue and natural humour of these early chapters allow the characters to develop fluidly and so when the action began to heat up, I was just as invested in their lives as I was in their desperate search for the truth. Both women are carrying a bitter burden of guilt, regret and resentment, and although they realise they have to work together, there's a brittle fragility to their relationship which is fascinating.
This is a novel which is centred on women throughout; sisterhood, friendships, misogyny in the workplace and exploitation all feature here and even at the high-octane, dramatic moments, the storyline is underpinned by its chilling plausibility. Corruption and cowardice at the highest levels result in some terrifying revelations coming to light as Kat, Alex and their loved ones realise just how much danger they are in. As the full extent of the deadly conspiracy is exposed, the unrelenting sense of tension in Notes on a Drowning becomes almost unbearable; this is crime fiction at its most gripping. However, despite her serpentine plot being breathtakingly exciting, Anna Sharpe never forgets the victims and as devastating as the betrayals and fear endured by the two women may be, the real tragedy lies in the knowledge that the exploitative persecution of the most vulnerable members of society happens in real life too.
Shocking, compulsive and deeply moving, Notes on a Drowning is a first-rate thriller and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Anna Sharpe is a natural storyteller and so she doesn't rush the first part of the book as she introduces the main characters, most notably Kat and Alex. Alex is initially the more sympathetic character; she is a lawyer who is under pressure from her boss, Paul, who insists she must stop taking on legal aid cases. Nevertheless, she reluctantly agrees to a request from a colleague to look into the inquest into the drowning of Natalia, a young Moldovan girl who apparently fell from a party boat into the Thames. The post-mortem found there were drugs in her system and so it looks to be a straightforward case but her sister, Rosa insists she never took drugs. Meanwhile, Kat is a Special Advisor to Richard Carmichael, the newly appointed Home Secretary. She is clearly driven and hugely ambitious – without the benefit of a privileged upbringing, she has had to work harder than most for her position and she is good at her job. However, her reaction when she learns that she is expected to join a delegation to Tokyo is bewildering. It's quickly apparent that Kat has some dark secrets but after she accidentally stumbles upon what appears to be Home Office cover-ups, she must confront her shady past – and Alex.
Although the relationship between Kat and Alex is central to proceedings, the dynamics between them and other characters is intriguing too. Alex is a single mother to a teenage daughter, has a complicated relationship with her estranged husband, Jason and is still haunted by the disappearance of her sister, Elisa twelve years ago. Meanwhile, as everything Kat thought she knew is torn away from her, she has to figure out who she can really trust. The convincing dialogue and natural humour of these early chapters allow the characters to develop fluidly and so when the action began to heat up, I was just as invested in their lives as I was in their desperate search for the truth. Both women are carrying a bitter burden of guilt, regret and resentment, and although they realise they have to work together, there's a brittle fragility to their relationship which is fascinating.
This is a novel which is centred on women throughout; sisterhood, friendships, misogyny in the workplace and exploitation all feature here and even at the high-octane, dramatic moments, the storyline is underpinned by its chilling plausibility. Corruption and cowardice at the highest levels result in some terrifying revelations coming to light as Kat, Alex and their loved ones realise just how much danger they are in. As the full extent of the deadly conspiracy is exposed, the unrelenting sense of tension in Notes on a Drowning becomes almost unbearable; this is crime fiction at its most gripping. However, despite her serpentine plot being breathtakingly exciting, Anna Sharpe never forgets the victims and as devastating as the betrayals and fear endured by the two women may be, the real tragedy lies in the knowledge that the exploitative persecution of the most vulnerable members of society happens in real life too.
Shocking, compulsive and deeply moving, Notes on a Drowning is a first-rate thriller and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
December 22, 2024
Well, this book hit the spot. I do love a thriller and, with Notes on a Drowning, Anna Sharpe has created a book which is jam packed with threat, tension and deception. Whilst this is billed as a legal thriller, and one of the lead characters, Alex, is a solicitor, it has perhaps more of a political leaning given that the secondary lead, Kat, works for the Home Office as Special Advisor to the Secretary of State, and one of the instigating events is driven by a freedom of information request placed by Alex in relation to a case she has been handed. Now Alex and Kat have a history, a troubled connection through Alex's younger sister, and one that may have bearing on the case in hand - the unexplained drowning of a young immigrant woman.
I really felt the tension and unease pulsing through this book from the start. The prologue really makes you sit up and take note, its relevance not immediately clear but perhaps soon explained. Anna Sharpe has managed to create a constant rhythm with the story, building the mystery and intrigue with each new revelation and discovery, and amplifying it due to the fractious nature of the relations between Alex and Kat. Despite this, the two work well together and an uneasy truce leads to startling discoveries and the perhaps not quite so shocking discovery that someone in power is trying their best to derail their investigations, unsanctioned and ill advised as they are.
I really liked the characters of Alex and Kat. Kat is the more reluctant of the two, plagued by guilt over events from her past, but still determined to make amends, even if it is by helping the wrong girl. Alex is looking for answers over the disappearance of her sister, and hopes this case may help her. She has a steely determination, and a fire which drives her onwards, at least until those she loves come under real threat. They are two pretty ordinary women, taking on extraordinarily powerful adversaries, but I really bought into their motivations, and the author has not tried to imbue them with super abilities, more a moral code that will not allow them to walk away, even after they come under threat, and Alex's client seems to have disappeared.
Anna Sharpe taps into a scenario that is all too relevant in today's society, and led by the types of characters we have seen time and again in the headlines - those with untold power and influence whose behaviour goes relatively unchecked. It adds an emotional air to the story, alongside the sense of menace. The bad guys ooze charm as easily as their minders leech hostility. And from the corridors of power, to the opulent homes of the rich and shameless, the author creates a sense of time and place that put me in the heart of the story. The pace increases as we hurtle towards the dramatic and high stakes conclusion, proving that even for the good guys, who you know matters. And with a poignant ending, Alex and Kat's unresolved history finally drawn to a close, it is a satisfying, if not entirely happy end to the mystery that has plagued both of their lives.
For a debut thriller, this one ticked all of the boxes - tension, pacing, excitement, threat and two lead characters I could really get behind. I love the authors historical novels as Anna Mazzola, but really look forward to seeing what alter ego Anna Sharpe delivers for us next.
I really felt the tension and unease pulsing through this book from the start. The prologue really makes you sit up and take note, its relevance not immediately clear but perhaps soon explained. Anna Sharpe has managed to create a constant rhythm with the story, building the mystery and intrigue with each new revelation and discovery, and amplifying it due to the fractious nature of the relations between Alex and Kat. Despite this, the two work well together and an uneasy truce leads to startling discoveries and the perhaps not quite so shocking discovery that someone in power is trying their best to derail their investigations, unsanctioned and ill advised as they are.
I really liked the characters of Alex and Kat. Kat is the more reluctant of the two, plagued by guilt over events from her past, but still determined to make amends, even if it is by helping the wrong girl. Alex is looking for answers over the disappearance of her sister, and hopes this case may help her. She has a steely determination, and a fire which drives her onwards, at least until those she loves come under real threat. They are two pretty ordinary women, taking on extraordinarily powerful adversaries, but I really bought into their motivations, and the author has not tried to imbue them with super abilities, more a moral code that will not allow them to walk away, even after they come under threat, and Alex's client seems to have disappeared.
Anna Sharpe taps into a scenario that is all too relevant in today's society, and led by the types of characters we have seen time and again in the headlines - those with untold power and influence whose behaviour goes relatively unchecked. It adds an emotional air to the story, alongside the sense of menace. The bad guys ooze charm as easily as their minders leech hostility. And from the corridors of power, to the opulent homes of the rich and shameless, the author creates a sense of time and place that put me in the heart of the story. The pace increases as we hurtle towards the dramatic and high stakes conclusion, proving that even for the good guys, who you know matters. And with a poignant ending, Alex and Kat's unresolved history finally drawn to a close, it is a satisfying, if not entirely happy end to the mystery that has plagued both of their lives.
For a debut thriller, this one ticked all of the boxes - tension, pacing, excitement, threat and two lead characters I could really get behind. I love the authors historical novels as Anna Mazzola, but really look forward to seeing what alter ego Anna Sharpe delivers for us next.
November 19, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Orion for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I don't think it's a secret that Anna Sharpe is the pseudonym of Anna Mazzola. I have read three of her historical novels - The Clockwork Girl (my favourite), The House of Whispers, and The Book of Secrets - and they've all been so good, and so I was thrilled she was dipping her toe into the world of thrillers. But I admit I was slightly apprehensive. Because some authors can write across genres well, and others have more success in one. Anna is definitely in the first category.
This book grabs you from the first sentence. It is so full on immediately, and you're right in there. You can almost feel yourself drowning (giving the title, I'd say this wasn't a spoiler), alongside the character in question.
There are a lot of characters, locations, hints, clues, subplots. I thought at first it would be too much and I'd never keep up, but it actually all flows very well and I enjoyed all the different stories, as well as the overarching plot.
I didn't like all the characters. They're all written, some with bigger parts than others and so therefore more developed parts than others, and they all work well off each other. But some were more palatable than others, and others (I've managed to get the word 'other' in this sentence 5 times!) were a bit too slimy.
The start of the book is slower than the ending, but that gives us time to get to know everyone, hear their history, and work out what is going to happen. But overall she's got the pacing right; giving us enough time to feel comfortable in this world before gripping us.
It is full of twists and turns and shocks and surprises; some I had an inkling about and others I didn't see coming at all.
It's engaging, atmospheric, well plotted and well paced. How she manages to tie everything together, all the subplots and main plot, all the characters and everything, it's so impressive.
I read it in less than 24 hours, even reading it in bed (which goes against my "only read happy books in bed" rule) because I couldn't face putting it down.
I read a lot of thrillers, it's probably my most read genre, and some are a bit samey. Because, if we're being honest, there's only so many thrilling plots you can write about, but Anna has found something new, her own niche, but infused it with the things that make the genre so great. I could quite easily see this being turned into a TV series.
It's hard to match Anna Sharpe with Anna Mazzola. It's like a completely different voice, and it's thanks to that I think she's got a bright future across both genres.
***The following paragraph contains some topical spoilers, so do not read on if you want to come to it completely fresh. If you choose not to read the following paragraph, then you have reached the end of the review***
It has got a lot of difficult topics: relationship difficulties, affairs, splits, stress, manipulation, fear, death, kidnapping, trafficking, lying, blackmail, abuse, attempted murder. It's heavy; it has some very heavy points to it, but it all works in context and helps bring everything together. It could have felt like too much, too unbelievable, but Anna has found a nice balance in everything.
I don't think it's a secret that Anna Sharpe is the pseudonym of Anna Mazzola. I have read three of her historical novels - The Clockwork Girl (my favourite), The House of Whispers, and The Book of Secrets - and they've all been so good, and so I was thrilled she was dipping her toe into the world of thrillers. But I admit I was slightly apprehensive. Because some authors can write across genres well, and others have more success in one. Anna is definitely in the first category.
This book grabs you from the first sentence. It is so full on immediately, and you're right in there. You can almost feel yourself drowning (giving the title, I'd say this wasn't a spoiler), alongside the character in question.
There are a lot of characters, locations, hints, clues, subplots. I thought at first it would be too much and I'd never keep up, but it actually all flows very well and I enjoyed all the different stories, as well as the overarching plot.
I didn't like all the characters. They're all written, some with bigger parts than others and so therefore more developed parts than others, and they all work well off each other. But some were more palatable than others, and others (I've managed to get the word 'other' in this sentence 5 times!) were a bit too slimy.
The start of the book is slower than the ending, but that gives us time to get to know everyone, hear their history, and work out what is going to happen. But overall she's got the pacing right; giving us enough time to feel comfortable in this world before gripping us.
It is full of twists and turns and shocks and surprises; some I had an inkling about and others I didn't see coming at all.
It's engaging, atmospheric, well plotted and well paced. How she manages to tie everything together, all the subplots and main plot, all the characters and everything, it's so impressive.
I read it in less than 24 hours, even reading it in bed (which goes against my "only read happy books in bed" rule) because I couldn't face putting it down.
I read a lot of thrillers, it's probably my most read genre, and some are a bit samey. Because, if we're being honest, there's only so many thrilling plots you can write about, but Anna has found something new, her own niche, but infused it with the things that make the genre so great. I could quite easily see this being turned into a TV series.
It's hard to match Anna Sharpe with Anna Mazzola. It's like a completely different voice, and it's thanks to that I think she's got a bright future across both genres.
***The following paragraph contains some topical spoilers, so do not read on if you want to come to it completely fresh. If you choose not to read the following paragraph, then you have reached the end of the review***
It has got a lot of difficult topics: relationship difficulties, affairs, splits, stress, manipulation, fear, death, kidnapping, trafficking, lying, blackmail, abuse, attempted murder. It's heavy; it has some very heavy points to it, but it all works in context and helps bring everything together. It could have felt like too much, too unbelievable, but Anna has found a nice balance in everything.
February 1, 2025
When the body of teenager Natalia is discovered in the Thames, was Natalia’s death a tragic accident or something more. Alex and Kat will have to work together to find out?
I've not read a political thriller in a very long time but there was just something about the synopsis of this book that caught my attention. Plus it was also written by an author that I'd not come across before and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Anna Sharpe is a pen name for Anna Mazzola, author of The Clockwork Girl which I loved.
The storyline was filled with intrigue, politics and deceit. It was quite slow paced to begin with which suited the storytelling because it helped to set the scene and introduce the main characters Alex and Kat. The pace did pick up as the story progressed until all was revealed.
I thought Alex and Kat were brilliant characters. They are both strong, independent and professional women who are good at their jobs. Alex is a lawyer who has a heart of gold. She has a soft spot for helping people even if that means taking on unpaid cases. The sheer nature of Kat’s work means that she is heavily involved in politics as she is a Special Adviser to the Home Secretary. What brings the two characters together is the death of Natalia. What appears a straightforward case doesn’t sit right with Alex once she starts to look into what happened and after she speak to Natalia’s sister. There’s more to the case than meets the eye. This leads to Alex and Kat working together.
What I wasn’t sure about when I started to read was how Alex and Kat were connected. As it transpired they weren’t strangers but shared a history that is quite upsetting and tragic, the disappearance of Alex’s sister and Kat’s best friend. It’s due to this that the two haven’t seen each other in many years. I can understand why Alex decides she wants to look into what happened to Natalia. She wants to provide Natalia’s sister with the answers she could never find in relation her own sister’s disappearance. Although there is a little tension between Alex and Nat they quickly put aside their differences and start to work together. What they uncover is a wider conspiracy involving some very important people that nobody was aware of. This also means that they become targets themselves, putting themselves in danger from people who would rather the truth remain buried.
If you like political thrillers then this is one that I would recommend because it certainly kept me on my toes.
I've not read a political thriller in a very long time but there was just something about the synopsis of this book that caught my attention. Plus it was also written by an author that I'd not come across before and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Anna Sharpe is a pen name for Anna Mazzola, author of The Clockwork Girl which I loved.
The storyline was filled with intrigue, politics and deceit. It was quite slow paced to begin with which suited the storytelling because it helped to set the scene and introduce the main characters Alex and Kat. The pace did pick up as the story progressed until all was revealed.
I thought Alex and Kat were brilliant characters. They are both strong, independent and professional women who are good at their jobs. Alex is a lawyer who has a heart of gold. She has a soft spot for helping people even if that means taking on unpaid cases. The sheer nature of Kat’s work means that she is heavily involved in politics as she is a Special Adviser to the Home Secretary. What brings the two characters together is the death of Natalia. What appears a straightforward case doesn’t sit right with Alex once she starts to look into what happened and after she speak to Natalia’s sister. There’s more to the case than meets the eye. This leads to Alex and Kat working together.
What I wasn’t sure about when I started to read was how Alex and Kat were connected. As it transpired they weren’t strangers but shared a history that is quite upsetting and tragic, the disappearance of Alex’s sister and Kat’s best friend. It’s due to this that the two haven’t seen each other in many years. I can understand why Alex decides she wants to look into what happened to Natalia. She wants to provide Natalia’s sister with the answers she could never find in relation her own sister’s disappearance. Although there is a little tension between Alex and Nat they quickly put aside their differences and start to work together. What they uncover is a wider conspiracy involving some very important people that nobody was aware of. This also means that they become targets themselves, putting themselves in danger from people who would rather the truth remain buried.
If you like political thrillers then this is one that I would recommend because it certainly kept me on my toes.
December 26, 2024
Notes on a Drowning is a fantastic legal thriller which moves along at breakneck speed, covering corruption and violence at all levels of society. It is a compelling and gripping read with two strong female leads, Alex and Kat.
Overworked and under pressure lawyer Alex is being pushed to work as many billable hours as she can. She begrudges spending her time helping the mega-rich take action against those who can't afford to fight back. Alex tries to take on pro bono cases when she can, though her boss is not supportive, seeing the effect on the practice's income. Alex is asked to look at the autopsy results for Natalia, a Moldovan 17 year old found drowned in the Thames. Natalia's family believe there was something suspicious about her death and have asked Alex to help. It reminds Alex of her own missing sister who disappeared abroad several years earlier, and has never been heard of since.
Kat is an up and coming political advisor, picked to work with the new Conservative Home Secretary. She is thrilled to be at the heart of the political scene. She is well-respected by her colleagues and the Home Secretary, keen to prove herself as a capable and reliable advisor, she attends high-level events as a matter of course - its so much more than she had ever dreamt of growing up. There are some more unsavory moments in Kat's past but she has managed to hide them and is hoping that they'll stay buried for ever.
One of Kat's tasks is to deal with a mundane Freedom of information request but she realises that she has come across some of the information before in other contexts. Kat recognises that she has some information that could help Alex's investigation, but understands that sharing it may come at a high professional cost.
As Kat and Alex's professional lives become more intertwined and they start to share information, they uncover a huge web of inter-connections and dodgy dealings that goes to the very top as well as internationally.
. Anna Sharpe has addressed some major issues of corruption and human trafficking. I was gripped from the outset and was fully engaged with the twists and turns in the story-telling, I hope that we will hear more from Alex and Kat in future legal thrillers.
Overworked and under pressure lawyer Alex is being pushed to work as many billable hours as she can. She begrudges spending her time helping the mega-rich take action against those who can't afford to fight back. Alex tries to take on pro bono cases when she can, though her boss is not supportive, seeing the effect on the practice's income. Alex is asked to look at the autopsy results for Natalia, a Moldovan 17 year old found drowned in the Thames. Natalia's family believe there was something suspicious about her death and have asked Alex to help. It reminds Alex of her own missing sister who disappeared abroad several years earlier, and has never been heard of since.
Kat is an up and coming political advisor, picked to work with the new Conservative Home Secretary. She is thrilled to be at the heart of the political scene. She is well-respected by her colleagues and the Home Secretary, keen to prove herself as a capable and reliable advisor, she attends high-level events as a matter of course - its so much more than she had ever dreamt of growing up. There are some more unsavory moments in Kat's past but she has managed to hide them and is hoping that they'll stay buried for ever.
One of Kat's tasks is to deal with a mundane Freedom of information request but she realises that she has come across some of the information before in other contexts. Kat recognises that she has some information that could help Alex's investigation, but understands that sharing it may come at a high professional cost.
As Kat and Alex's professional lives become more intertwined and they start to share information, they uncover a huge web of inter-connections and dodgy dealings that goes to the very top as well as internationally.
. Anna Sharpe has addressed some major issues of corruption and human trafficking. I was gripped from the outset and was fully engaged with the twists and turns in the story-telling, I hope that we will hear more from Alex and Kat in future legal thrillers.
February 14, 2025
Anna Mazzola is already a renowned writer of Historical Fiction, The Book Of Secrets was not my number one read last year without it being an exceptional book. Now writing as Anna Sharpe she has proved she can turn her hand to the modern day thriller and knock it out of the park.
The opening prologue had me hooked, you can feel the sense of fear and hopelessness within the character, unwittingly it perfectly set up what was to follow without giving any real hint, a whip-smart read where the characters get under your skin, and storytelling leaves you breathless
Intelligently plotted, seamlessly links the past with the modern day in a pulsating and absorbing read, it is also a read which poses many questions and leads the characters into moral dilemmas where the stakes are high.
The way that the author manages to create an overriding sense of suspense throughout the book and creates fear within her characters is to be applauded, it’s that feeling that made it hard to want to put the book down, there was an urgency in the need to know what was going to happen next
I loved the way that Kat and Alex are written, strongly independent, though you sense a vulnerable side, Alex juggling work with a family life and an estranged husband, Kat hiding a past that is coming back to haunt her. Throughout the book you get a great sense of character that drives the narrative forward. You can see the emotion drawn into the characters
The pace at the beginning had a normal everyday feel to it, however, this soon intensified and by the end it was rattling a long to it’s dramatic finale, where the tension was palpable.
What starts out as a mother just wanting to know the truth sets of a cataclysmic series of events which will twist and turn through the streets of London, it had me gripped and the pages turning,
The story has a real relevance to todays world. I felt as though the book showed how the life we choose to lead or the one that you unwittingly follow can come back to haunt and affect the ones around you, where greed and corruption can run riot. You can see the authors background in the legal profession come across quite strongly, which gives the story a realistic feel
This a standout read, which had me gripped from first to last, drawn in by the powerful writing and compelling storyline, it it a read packed with real heart and emotion. As political thrillers go this is right up there. highly recommend, hugely entertaining.
The opening prologue had me hooked, you can feel the sense of fear and hopelessness within the character, unwittingly it perfectly set up what was to follow without giving any real hint, a whip-smart read where the characters get under your skin, and storytelling leaves you breathless
Intelligently plotted, seamlessly links the past with the modern day in a pulsating and absorbing read, it is also a read which poses many questions and leads the characters into moral dilemmas where the stakes are high.
The way that the author manages to create an overriding sense of suspense throughout the book and creates fear within her characters is to be applauded, it’s that feeling that made it hard to want to put the book down, there was an urgency in the need to know what was going to happen next
I loved the way that Kat and Alex are written, strongly independent, though you sense a vulnerable side, Alex juggling work with a family life and an estranged husband, Kat hiding a past that is coming back to haunt her. Throughout the book you get a great sense of character that drives the narrative forward. You can see the emotion drawn into the characters
The pace at the beginning had a normal everyday feel to it, however, this soon intensified and by the end it was rattling a long to it’s dramatic finale, where the tension was palpable.
What starts out as a mother just wanting to know the truth sets of a cataclysmic series of events which will twist and turn through the streets of London, it had me gripped and the pages turning,
The story has a real relevance to todays world. I felt as though the book showed how the life we choose to lead or the one that you unwittingly follow can come back to haunt and affect the ones around you, where greed and corruption can run riot. You can see the authors background in the legal profession come across quite strongly, which gives the story a realistic feel
This a standout read, which had me gripped from first to last, drawn in by the powerful writing and compelling storyline, it it a read packed with real heart and emotion. As political thrillers go this is right up there. highly recommend, hugely entertaining.
October 13, 2024
Alex knows she risks getting fired from her law firm if she takes on another unpaid case, but when she hears Rosa's desperate voice at the other end of the phone, she knows she has to the body of Rosa's shy teenage sister, Natalia, has been dragged, lifeless, from the Thames. Alex can't help but think of her own missing little sister. She knows how a lack of answers can eat you alive.
Kat has worked hard to become Special Adviser to the Home Secretary, and is eager to finally put the dark and tragic part of her past behind her. But when she discovers a series of cover-ups, she begins to wonder whether her seemingly perfect new boss could be involved. Then she she's shocked to discover a letter that raises worrying questions about a girl found drowned in London... Natalia.
There are complex and painful reasons for Alex and Kat not to work together, but when it becomes clear that there are powerful people involved in Natalia's death, and that other girls are at risk, Alex and Kat must overcome their differences to find answers. Will they save the girls and discover the truth? Or will the high-powered players in this game stop Alex and Kat for good?
A very slow start which failed to draw me in which is a shame because the second half of the book is fast-moving and interesting. I found the interaction between the two main characters very disjointed and Alex seems to be permanently exhausted and depressed which perhaps isn't surprising because of her missing sister but it did become a little wearing. I'm probably being too picky because at heart this is an excellent thriller but it just didn't click with me.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
Kat has worked hard to become Special Adviser to the Home Secretary, and is eager to finally put the dark and tragic part of her past behind her. But when she discovers a series of cover-ups, she begins to wonder whether her seemingly perfect new boss could be involved. Then she she's shocked to discover a letter that raises worrying questions about a girl found drowned in London... Natalia.
There are complex and painful reasons for Alex and Kat not to work together, but when it becomes clear that there are powerful people involved in Natalia's death, and that other girls are at risk, Alex and Kat must overcome their differences to find answers. Will they save the girls and discover the truth? Or will the high-powered players in this game stop Alex and Kat for good?
A very slow start which failed to draw me in which is a shame because the second half of the book is fast-moving and interesting. I found the interaction between the two main characters very disjointed and Alex seems to be permanently exhausted and depressed which perhaps isn't surprising because of her missing sister but it did become a little wearing. I'm probably being too picky because at heart this is an excellent thriller but it just didn't click with me.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
January 21, 2025
The story follows two main characters: Alex and Kat. Alex is a lawyer who has a passion for using the law to help people, however, this often means taking on pro-bono cases and her boss is not too keen on her using her time on unpaid work rather than on clients that actually pay. Alex is approached by Rosa, the sister of a young girl who allegedly drowned in the Thames, with the request that Alex represent her at the inquest as Rosa suspected foul play. This was another pro-bono case and one which Alex has to sneak around to pursue further.
We also follow Kat, who works as a special advisor for the home secretary. It's not clear at the start how these two characters intertwine but what is clear, is that Kat has a past that she has worked really hard to conceal and leave behind.
As the story progresses, the two characters lives collide as they delve into a case that neither of them could have predicted would turn as sinister as it does.
I love a political thriller type of story with corruption and deceit and cover-ups and lies aplenty. The story took a turn which I didn't see coming, and once it become clear what the stakes were for Alex and Kat I was racing through the last half of the book to find out how this was all going to be resolved. The last few chapters are very frantic as the story closes out and I was not disappointed with any part. I felt the story evolved at a good pace throughout, with a very good evolution of the characters. The story is very much about the complicated history between these two characters as it is what brings them together to investigate the drowning of the young girl in the Thames. I will definitely be on the look out to see what this author publishes next and I hope it is along the same genre as this book.
We also follow Kat, who works as a special advisor for the home secretary. It's not clear at the start how these two characters intertwine but what is clear, is that Kat has a past that she has worked really hard to conceal and leave behind.
As the story progresses, the two characters lives collide as they delve into a case that neither of them could have predicted would turn as sinister as it does.
I love a political thriller type of story with corruption and deceit and cover-ups and lies aplenty. The story took a turn which I didn't see coming, and once it become clear what the stakes were for Alex and Kat I was racing through the last half of the book to find out how this was all going to be resolved. The last few chapters are very frantic as the story closes out and I was not disappointed with any part. I felt the story evolved at a good pace throughout, with a very good evolution of the characters. The story is very much about the complicated history between these two characters as it is what brings them together to investigate the drowning of the young girl in the Thames. I will definitely be on the look out to see what this author publishes next and I hope it is along the same genre as this book.
January 22, 2025
Notes on a Drowning follows Alex, a lawyer who's already on thin ice at her firm for taking pro bono cases, when she gets pulled into investigating the drowning of Rosa's teenage sister, Natalia. The case hits close to home since Alex's own sister went missing. Meanwhile, Kat, who's working her way up the political ladder as Special Adviser to the Home Secretary, stumbles upon some sketchy cover-ups that might involve her boss and connect to Natalia's death.
Here's where it gets really good - Alex and Kat have this super complicated past that makes working together about as comfortable as a root canal. But when they realise some seriously powerful people might be behind Natalia's death and other girls could be in danger, they have to get over their drama and team up.
What really worked for me was how the tension kept building throughout the book. Sure, it takes its time getting going and build a solid foundation for the story, but trust me, the payoff is worth it. The way Anna Sharpe weaves Alex and Kat's storylines together is pretty masterful, especially for a debut.
You know what else I loved? How relevant it feels. We've all seen those news stories about powerful people who think they're untouchable, right? Sharpe taps into that perfectly, making the story feel frighteningly real.
The prologue is like this perfect little hook that doesn't make sense at first but pays off later. And the whole dynamic between Alex and Kat adds this extra layer of drama that keeps you turning pages.
For a debut thriller, Sharpe knocked it out of the park. All the buzz this book is getting? Totally deserved. I look forward to more from this author.
Here's where it gets really good - Alex and Kat have this super complicated past that makes working together about as comfortable as a root canal. But when they realise some seriously powerful people might be behind Natalia's death and other girls could be in danger, they have to get over their drama and team up.
What really worked for me was how the tension kept building throughout the book. Sure, it takes its time getting going and build a solid foundation for the story, but trust me, the payoff is worth it. The way Anna Sharpe weaves Alex and Kat's storylines together is pretty masterful, especially for a debut.
You know what else I loved? How relevant it feels. We've all seen those news stories about powerful people who think they're untouchable, right? Sharpe taps into that perfectly, making the story feel frighteningly real.
The prologue is like this perfect little hook that doesn't make sense at first but pays off later. And the whole dynamic between Alex and Kat adds this extra layer of drama that keeps you turning pages.
For a debut thriller, Sharpe knocked it out of the park. All the buzz this book is getting? Totally deserved. I look forward to more from this author.
January 11, 2025
What a great novel. 2am! The time I turned the last page and got some sleep. A really cracking legal and political thriller with two strong female main protagonists. Alex Moreno is a solicitor with a conscience and despite being told to work more billable hours she agrees to look into the death of a young girl, Natalia, whose body was found in the River Thames. Kathryn ‘Kat’ Ishida is a Special Adviser to the Home Secretary, but she has a past she wants to keep where it is, in the past. This was brilliantly written and plotted, which is not a surprise when you realise the author is a pseudonym for Anna Mazzola.
Briefly, Alex and Kat have a troubled history but when Kat has concerns over some classified information she finds she contacts Alex. The two women are still not comfortable with each other but both have a need to investigate further. With help from Alex’s estranged husband and sympathetic journalists their investigations go deep to the root of British politics and various high profile individuals. It soon becomes clear that their investigations are ruffling more than a few feathers and some very dangerous feathers at that.
A fast paced and exciting thriller with a great cast of characters. The book addresses some serious international and domestic issues including people trafficking, political corruption and exploitation just for starters and it is all handled sensitively but honestly. There are some things that can’t be glossed over. There were a few shocks along the way that I hadn’t guessed and some tense moments. I loved it, a fantastic read.
Briefly, Alex and Kat have a troubled history but when Kat has concerns over some classified information she finds she contacts Alex. The two women are still not comfortable with each other but both have a need to investigate further. With help from Alex’s estranged husband and sympathetic journalists their investigations go deep to the root of British politics and various high profile individuals. It soon becomes clear that their investigations are ruffling more than a few feathers and some very dangerous feathers at that.
A fast paced and exciting thriller with a great cast of characters. The book addresses some serious international and domestic issues including people trafficking, political corruption and exploitation just for starters and it is all handled sensitively but honestly. There are some things that can’t be glossed over. There were a few shocks along the way that I hadn’t guessed and some tense moments. I loved it, a fantastic read.
January 29, 2025
Notes On A Drowning was an unputdownable read for me, cleverly combining legal and political to create a gripping story that feels very timely.
Alex is a lawyer who takes on more pro-bono work than her firm would like. Kat, having put her somewhat difficult past behind, has recently been appointed as a Special Adviser to the Home Secretary. Though they haven’t spoken in years, the two have a past history, and when they both become involved in the case of a Moldovan young woman found drowned in the Thames, they find themselves reunited. But can they put the past behind them and work together to get to the bottom of something they soon realise extends far deeper than they could ever have imagined - and risks putting both them and their family and friends in danger.
This is a story of corruption at the highest levels and with a plot that ramps up steadily and feels all too topical, there is no shortage of tension, as well as some surprises along the way. Much of the subject matter may be dark, but there are some clever touches of humour along the way, as well as a surprisingly poignant ending.
In Alex and Kat the author has created two fabulous protagonists. We get to know these two interesting women at the beginning of the book before their stories intertwine and as the pace ramps up and the risks intensify, you find yourself rooting for these tenacious but very human women with a strong sense of justice.
It all makes for an intoxicating combination and a book that I would recommend to any thriller lover.
Alex is a lawyer who takes on more pro-bono work than her firm would like. Kat, having put her somewhat difficult past behind, has recently been appointed as a Special Adviser to the Home Secretary. Though they haven’t spoken in years, the two have a past history, and when they both become involved in the case of a Moldovan young woman found drowned in the Thames, they find themselves reunited. But can they put the past behind them and work together to get to the bottom of something they soon realise extends far deeper than they could ever have imagined - and risks putting both them and their family and friends in danger.
This is a story of corruption at the highest levels and with a plot that ramps up steadily and feels all too topical, there is no shortage of tension, as well as some surprises along the way. Much of the subject matter may be dark, but there are some clever touches of humour along the way, as well as a surprisingly poignant ending.
In Alex and Kat the author has created two fabulous protagonists. We get to know these two interesting women at the beginning of the book before their stories intertwine and as the pace ramps up and the risks intensify, you find yourself rooting for these tenacious but very human women with a strong sense of justice.
It all makes for an intoxicating combination and a book that I would recommend to any thriller lover.
January 21, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the chance to read this book
I will admit I usually try to stay away from any political subjects in books, we have enough of that in daily life don't we, and I would not say any type of "legal" thriller is anywhere near my Genre of book either. But somehow this worked for me, I liked this book VERY much, once I got the hang of all the characters, it was a pretty fast paced read for me. I loved the 2 FMCs, I feel they both had pretty promising careers, they both had quite a bit to lose, and boy did they risk it all!
Sometimes you have to Go all in to right some past wrongs, These girls had every reason to steer clear of each other for all future intents and purposes, But I'm sure glad they did not! I would say they finally got the answers they were looking for and A LOT MORE! Curious if this is a stand alone book or if this will become a kind of series, not sure where they would go from here but it was kind of left open that more could happen in the future! I will be here to read it if that were to happen! For the record if that were to happen, I would like some kind of description or even a picture of Leon's horrendous Jumper! It sounded funny but I couldn't get the full effect not knowing what a jumper is where these people might be from! I feel the world today has 40 different words for what one thing is anymore, it's quite confusing!
I will admit I usually try to stay away from any political subjects in books, we have enough of that in daily life don't we, and I would not say any type of "legal" thriller is anywhere near my Genre of book either. But somehow this worked for me, I liked this book VERY much, once I got the hang of all the characters, it was a pretty fast paced read for me. I loved the 2 FMCs, I feel they both had pretty promising careers, they both had quite a bit to lose, and boy did they risk it all!
Sometimes you have to Go all in to right some past wrongs, These girls had every reason to steer clear of each other for all future intents and purposes, But I'm sure glad they did not! I would say they finally got the answers they were looking for and A LOT MORE! Curious if this is a stand alone book or if this will become a kind of series, not sure where they would go from here but it was kind of left open that more could happen in the future! I will be here to read it if that were to happen! For the record if that were to happen, I would like some kind of description or even a picture of Leon's horrendous Jumper! It sounded funny but I couldn't get the full effect not knowing what a jumper is where these people might be from! I feel the world today has 40 different words for what one thing is anymore, it's quite confusing!
January 26, 2025
Alex knows that she should be focused on making money for her law firm but she just can’t say no to this pro bono case. Rosa is desperate find out the truth about the death of her sister, Natalia. A death that the police are keen to write off as an accident, despite her protestations. Alex knows all too well how far someone would go to uncover the truth, her own sister vanished in Japan years ago, and she has never given up hope of finding her.
Kat has worked so hard to overcome a difficult past and become a special adviser to the Home Secretary. At the heart of UK government she’s finally achieved her dreams, but things quickly turn to a nightmare when she uncovers a series of cover ups which could be linked to her boss. When she comes across a letter raising serious questions about the death of a girl called Natalia, she knows she must act.
Notes On A Drowning is a razor-sharp novel that pulls you under from the very first page! The pace is brisk and the stakes sky-high, making it impossible to put down, but even in the tensest moments, there's a flash humour that keeps things from getting too heavy.
I absolutely loved this political thriller and if you’ve enjoyed novels such as Anatomy Of A Scandal I think you will too. It’s action packed, hugely topical, and full of Anna’s trademark wit (Anna Sharpe is the pen name of historical fiction writer, Anna Mazzola). I really hope that this will be the start of a series, I think there’s a lot more to come from Alex and Kat!
Kat has worked so hard to overcome a difficult past and become a special adviser to the Home Secretary. At the heart of UK government she’s finally achieved her dreams, but things quickly turn to a nightmare when she uncovers a series of cover ups which could be linked to her boss. When she comes across a letter raising serious questions about the death of a girl called Natalia, she knows she must act.
Notes On A Drowning is a razor-sharp novel that pulls you under from the very first page! The pace is brisk and the stakes sky-high, making it impossible to put down, but even in the tensest moments, there's a flash humour that keeps things from getting too heavy.
I absolutely loved this political thriller and if you’ve enjoyed novels such as Anatomy Of A Scandal I think you will too. It’s action packed, hugely topical, and full of Anna’s trademark wit (Anna Sharpe is the pen name of historical fiction writer, Anna Mazzola). I really hope that this will be the start of a series, I think there’s a lot more to come from Alex and Kat!
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