The Grateful Water

A compelling, vivid and provocative novel: Women suffer while men escape accountability for their misdeeds in this atmospheric portrayal of 19th-century Dublin… Adelman weaves a compelling tale in this latest contribution to the growing corpus of crime fiction set in a city of social contrasts and political tensions.

-- Conor Brady * Irish Times *

This wonderful atmospheric debut brings 19th-century Dublin and its people to life. I loved it. 

-- Sue Leonard * Irish Examiner *

Juliana Adelman’s ‘The Grateful Water’ is a promising debut, and there’s enough here to keep you guessing.

-- Eoghan O'Sullivan

With incredible attention to detail, Adelman has recreated a very authentic atmospheric tale, with the hardship and struggles of 1860s Dublin almost lifting off the pages. In a time when charlatans were part of life, lack of information was a fact and poverty and shame drove people to do terrible things, The Grateful Water captures the essence of that period in a very visual manner. 

-- Mairéad Hearne * Swirl and Thread *

Sticky with blood, secrets and guilt, this mystery drama set in 1860s Dublin will suck you in until the last page. 

-- Sarah Finnan * Image.ie *

Adelman writes in a fluid style that carries the story along and makes this an easy read despite the subject matter… The senses of taste and smell are evoked throughout the novel, from the animal odours and tang of blood on the butcher to the inquest that smelled of ‘river water and tasted of tainted pork.’ …  This is an accomplished debut novel and one I would highly recommend to readers who enjoy historical crime fiction.

-- Catherine Neville * Writing.