Language English Publication date 1964 Originally published 1964 Preceded by Hand in Glove Genre Detective fiction | Series Roderick Alleyn Media type Print () Followed by Death at the Dolphin Publisher Collins Crime Club | |
 | ||
Similar Ngaio Marsh books, Inspector Alleyn mystery books, Police books | ||
Dead Water is a detective novel by Ngaio Marsh; it is the twenty-third novel to feature Roderick Alleyn, and was first published in 1964.
The plot concerns a murder in a small coastal village, where a local spring believed to have miraculous healing properties is enriching many of the local residents who cater to those seeking healing they can't find elsewhere. Miss Emily Pride, an old teacher of Alleyn's, inherits the place from her sister and comes to inspect her new property with plans to stop what she considers to be the vulgar exploitation of gullible and desperate people. Miss Emily begins receiving anonymous threats, apparently from locals who are upset by the proposed interruption of their new-found prosperity. After Miss Emily is physically attacked, Alleyn arrives to protect his beloved old teacher but soon the situation escalates to murder.