This Is The Water

Currents of Loss and Longing

In This Is The Water, award-winning author Yannick Murphy plunges readers into the turbulent world of grief and unexpected connection. When Kate Andrews’s world is shattered by the sudden death of her teenage son, she retreats from her once-vibrant life in Seattle to the fog-shrouded coasts of Washington State. Surrounded by the relentless rhythm of pounding surf and salt-laden air, Kate struggles to keep her family afloat: her husband, adrift in guilt; her daughter, locked behind a veil of silence; and herself, haunted by memories that crash like rogue waves. Murphy’s lyrical prose evokes the raw power of the Pacific Northwest—where every tide carries both the promise of healing and the weight of what has been lost.

Ripples of Unexpected Kinship

When Kate encounters Jonah, a solitary fisherman nursing his own sorrow after a life-altering accident, their chance meeting sets in motion a delicate dance of mutual rescue. He teaches her the ancient art of net-mending, showing her how tangled lines can be woven back together—and how broken hearts may be stitched with kindness. Across moonlit docks and under driftwood shelters, their bond deepens through silent understanding and shared ritual. As seagulls wheel overhead and the scent of kelp drifts on the breeze, Kate and Jonah discover that love can emerge from the most desolate seas, binding two souls adrift on the same dark currents.

Flowing Toward Renewal

As winter storms give way to the first green shoots of spring, Kate must decide whether to remain anchored in the safety of her grief—or to risk setting sail toward an uncertain horizon. In a poignant finale on the windswept beach where memory and hope converge, she learns that healing is not a destination but a journey, and that even the deepest wounds can be soothed by the gentle persistence of water. This Is The Water is a moving testament to resilience, compassion, and the transformative power of human connection.

. Yannick Murphy is an award-winning American novelist celebrated for her evocative storytelling, richly drawn characters, and the seamless blend of lyrical prose with profound emotional insight.