The Man in the Water

The Man in the Water
Written by David Burton
Contemporary, Mystery, Mental Health
256 Pages
Published October 1st 2019
Thank you to UQP
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★★★★☆
When Shaun finds a dead body floating in the lake of a quiet mining town in outback Queensland, he immediately reports it to the police. But when he returns to the site with the constable, the body is gone.

Determined to reveal the truth, Shaun and his best friend, Will, open their own investigation. But what they discover is far more sinister than a mining mishap or a murder, and reveals a darkness below the surface of their small town.
In the small regional town in Queensland, drought and land erosion is prevalent, nonetheless the coal industry continues to thrive. Fourteen year old Shaun relocated from Brisbane with his parents, his dad begun employment in the local mining industry, a prosperous position until his mental health deteriorated, suffering a chronic injury and takes his own life. Shaun refuses counselling despite the insistence of his mother, his unresolved grief begins to resurface when Shaun finds a deceased body washed on the banks of the local reservoir. The nondescript man removing his workboots before having entered the water. Despite his truancy, Shaun reports the body to the local police who are sceptical, so when he accompanies a young officer to the crime scene and the deceased is missing, Shaun is branded a troubled young man and the investigation concluded before it has begun.

His mother believes Shaun harbours the residual effects of the suicide of his father so Shaun enlists the cooperation of best friend Will, a young man who thrives on adventure and together they investigate the death of a young man and their small town that deserves answers.

Shaun is a sensitive and intelligent young man, a friend and the son of a man who took his own life. In the small mining community, Shaun understands the anguish of mental illness and the repercussions of a large corporation financing the local economy. Shaun's single mother is employed at the local supermarket and although she's concerned for Shaun's mental health, she has no alternative means of financial support. Shaun is understandably enraged at the treatment of employees at the Rosewood Mine, treacherous conditions, inadequate support and mismanagement contributing to the suicide of his father.

The investigation is fraught with danger. Shaun and Will believe the young man is a casualty of the Rosewood Mine and begin the search for evidence of negligence.

Woven throughout The Man in the Water is the reoccurring theme of mental health, community responsibility and removing mental illness discrimination, especially in traditionally male dominated workplaces. While Australia strides towards inclusion and equality, toxic masculinity is an issue rarely acknowledged or discussed. Young men are expected to appear stoic and detached and to appear otherwise is often seen as weakness. This is especially prevalent in male dominated workplaces where employees are essentially discouraged from expressing concerns and mental health issues. In the incidents of the Rosewood Mine, employees are separated from their families, exposed to unsafe conditions, unsupported by their employer and intimidated by union delegates.

The Man in the Water encourages discussions surrounding mental health, suicide and neglect within our small town communities. Communities often without mental health professionals and counselling services. The uniquely Australian narrative is authentic and superbly written, the epitome of compassionate and conscientious young adult literature.

17 comments

  1. This is the first I've seen of this one and it sounds so interesting. The setting is a unique one for me (I've read very few novels set in Australia) and the focus on mental health is a plus. I enjoyed your review!

    Tanya @ Girl Plus Books

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    1. Thanks Tanya. It's a brilliant read, intense and the mental illness representation is written so compassionately and authentically. I hope you can pick up a copy soon, I would love to see what you think of it.

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  2. This book sounds really intriguing. I'd be so scared to find a dead body, let alone one that mysteriously disappears!
    Great review, Kelly!

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    1. I can't even begin to imagine, I'm not surprised others around Shaun believe the body was a manifest of a much deeper issue with his mental health. I appreciated how it reiterated that seeing a professional or support for our mental health is so incredibly important, especially for young men who often endure in silence.

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  3. Sounds good, thanks for sharing your thoughts

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    1. It's an amazing read, I'd love to see what you think of it!

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  4. I hadn't heard of this one - which is true of many of the books you review - so thanks for sharing. It sounds like a really well done novel. I love that it focuses on mental health in men, which is something that is sorely lacking in most forms of entertainment.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. It's something rarely discussed. We've created an environment where men's health in general is rarely acknowledged and men's mental wellness or seeking help is seen as a sign of weakness. Just as it's important for parents to discuss consent with their children as it is to talk about mental health.

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  5. I like seeing more focus on mental health issues, and I think it's important to show them along side everyday issues as well, because mental illness does not define you, it is part of your story, but also, part that should not be stigmatized or ignored. The focus on issues facing those in the coal mining industry would be new for me, as I grew up in the NE part of the US, which is not known for coal production.

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    1. It wasn't something I was too familiar with either. The narrative is representative of how so many employees are placed in dangerous situations, their physical safety and mental well being is completely disregarded. It was so wonderfully written with compassion and authenticity, I hope you enjoy this one as much as I have.

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  6. I love the sound of the mental health focus in this one.

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    1. It was so incredibly written, a brilliant read!

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  7. This book was such a treat to read -- I reviewed it for the Children's book Council of Australia. Mental health in small communities like this is so important -- and I'm so thrilled YA (LoveOzYA) is taking this on.

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    1. It truly was wasn't it. Australian authors, especially young adult and middle grade seem far more conscious of social and community issues and it's started to reflect in our reads.

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  8. This sounds like a really important read. I'm always so glad to see more books that focus on mental health. I wish I had had access to books like that when I was growing up.

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    1. I'm so thankful these books exist, I think it's probably partly why so many adults continue to read young adult novels because we can still see ourselves within the narratives and it provides us with understanding and validation.

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  9. Another beautiful review!

    It sounds like the author blended several important issues, along with a mystery, very well.

    Karen @ For What It's worth

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