A story about stories that contain stories, as four interconnected mysteries guide the reader across centuries—from the era of William Shakespeare to a 19th-century Gothic former Monastery, in 1920s Venice, and finally, in 1940s California, by the internationally bestselling author of The Turnglass.

We begin with William Shakespeare’s last will and testament as it explores the true murder mystery of his friend, playwright Christopher Marlowe. The second story is a 19th-century Gothic fairy tale about discovering Shakespeare’s manuscript, set in a secluded former Monastery, now a clinic for those who cannot sleep.

The third is a lighter Golden Age detective story set in Venice, where private investigator Honora Feldman investigates a complex case of theft and murder within the British expatriate community, with the Gothic story at its center. And finally, a 1940s American Noir as Ken Kourian uncovers that a serial killer re-enacts all the murders in The Waterfall, the companion book of his friend Oliver Tooke’s The Turnglass.

The Waterfall is a captivating and intricate novel that cements Gareth Rubin’s position as one of the most original writers of our time.

RAVE REVIEWS FOR TURNGLASS, SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER:

‘This is a story about stories and their perspectives, the flow of time and the slow passage of the inevitable. Vivid, resonant, melancholic and beautiful’ JANICE HALLETT

‘Rubin has achieved the difficult feat of writing an ambitious novel that is also an easy, enjoyable read’ THE TIMES, CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH

‘A daring, astonishing piece of writing that successfully achieves its double concept. I doubt I will ever read anything similar, which is the greatest compliment I can give’ STUART TURTON

‘An incredible, clever, truly engaging mystery… a thrilling delight’ CHRIS WHITAKER

‘A complex and absolutely enchanting story of family schemes and scheming spanning multiple generations’ GUARDIAN, THRILLER OF THE YEAR

‘Your initial amazement at the inventiveness pairs with an appreciation for the heart and depth it brings to its stories. A daring idea, beautifully executed’ DAILY TELEGRAPH

Pages: 528, Year of Publication: 0925, Dimensions: 15.3x15.3cm