The Rising Tide

Set on the Devon coast, this uneven thriller from British author Lloyd (The Memory Wood) starts more strongly than it finishes. Lucy Locke has managed to make her business, the Drift Net—a combination live-music venue, gallery space for local artists, and eatery—a mainstay in her community. She’s also found a measure of domestic tranquility with her husband, Daniel; their 12-year-old son, Fin; and her 18-year-old daughter, Billie, from a prior marriage. Then Daniel’s boat is found drifting at sea with no one on board. Lucy is unable to reach her spouse by phone, and her alarm increases when she stops by Fin’s school, only to be told that Daniel had signed the boy out for a nonexistent dental appointment. The police and coast guard begin a massive search, leading to a grim discovery that shakes Lucy to her foundations and exposes a violent episode in her past that may connect with the current tragedy. There are multiple surprising twists en route to the truth about her family, but the ultimate reveal is a letdown and the climax is heavier on gore than suspense. Hopefully, Lloyd will return to form next time. (Mar.)