4.5 Stars

The Boatman is a collection of three stories with a common point- the pub Boatman. The blurb calls it a suspenseful read with ghosts. This sums up the book well, though this isn’t a horror or a thriller. 

The writing is descriptive, atmospheric, and strong. It is also steady-paced and keeps the momentum going. The narration is such that you cannot stop midway. You need to know what happens and read till the end. I could become a part of the setting. 

Since I prefer to rate the stories individually, here it goes. This will be vague as even a loose word can spoil the content. 

Who is the traveler, and why? What does the character do what they do? What happens next? Well, I can’t say anything else except that we get a layered MC with ‘ghosts’ haunting them 24*7. The ending is open but apt for the plot. I could feel the pub and the storm in this one. You may feel like you know the story, but the execution takes it to the next level. 

Ella has a story to tell, and it’s about her life. We see her in various phases- as a girl, teen, new adult, and adult. But one thing is common – the ‘ghosts’ that continue to haunt and make her life miserable. In fact, she knows something for certain. So, does it change her life? This is also a psychological tale like the previous one, but with the intensity increasing as the story reaches the end. 

Rona, the bartender at the Boatman, is special. How? Why? What happens? How does this story connect to the previous two? Read to find out! The narration alters between first-person singular, first-person plural, and third-person. Yet, there’s no jerk or bump. While the story doesn’t provide answers, it does give a closure (sort of). 

To summarize, The Boatman is a heart-touching and poignant collection with dark themes artfully presented in an atmospheric setting. Do note that the overall tone is melacholic and heavy. 

The book is less than 130 pages and totally worth it. Paisa vasool, as we say it here. 

My thanks to BookSirens and the author for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

** 

P.S.: An earlier version of the book has been previously published as Our Beautiful Child.