May 28, 2025
When the TARDIS crash-lands on board a sinking steamship, and the crew are stranded, the Doctor and the few survivors fight for their lives…
Out today, a new solo adventure for the Fifteenth Doctor!
This original novel is written by Emily Cook, a freelance writer, script editor and producer who has worked with Big Finish, BBC Studios and Apple TV. Emily has also written and edited for Doctor Who Magazine and organised the ‘Doctor Who Lockdown’ initiative in 2020 which connected people through online ‘tweetalongs’, involving writers and actors watching and commenting on episodes of Doctor Who alongside fans.
Fear Death by Water is available now in hardback and audiobook - order your copy here.
Read an exclusive extract below...
Grace stepped out of the safety of the lighthouse and into the treacherous wind and rain. Their violence shocked her into a state of high alert. She was tired – she hadn’t slept a wink last night – but adrenalin was filling her entire body.
She helped her father untether the coble from the boatshed, trying her best to hide her nerves, to prove to him that she was every bit as capable as any one of her brothers.
‘We must stay south of the rocks,’ Mr Darling instructed, as they carried their boat down to the water. ‘It’s not the direct course, but will give us some shelter from the currents.’
They pushed the coble into the choppy water. Her mother and father did their best to hold it steady as Grace climbed aboard. It was hard to keep her balance. Their boat was a sturdy little thing, but it was designed for a minimum crew of three strong men. Grace said a short, silent prayer for protection as her father took his position next to her.
‘Godspeed!’ called Mrs Darling, waving them off from the doorway with a handkerchief already damp with tears.
They were at the mercy of the ocean now.
Waves broke ferociously against the coble. Grace and her father held an oar each, but to begin with they mostly let the wind and the tide carry them south through the stretch of water known as Craford’s Gut, until they reached their turning point.
‘We need to row west!’ shouted Mr Darling.
Grace could barely hear him over the roar of the wind and waves, but followed his action instinctively. She clasped her oar with both hands, pushed off with her legs and pulled with all the strength of her upper body, trying to keep in time with her father’s rhythm.
Row. Row. Row.
The North Sea was monstrous. Wild waves towered like dark grey mountains; it was impossible to see above or beyond them. Each one caught the coble, swept it up and held it on the high crest before throwing it back down into the trough of the next wave.
Grace held on grimly but was almost tossed out into the water. Before she could catch her breath, up they swept and down they plunged. Up and down, over and over again.
Suddenly, a flare of bright light from about fifty yards away half-blinded Grace. Sharp pain shot through her temples, scorching the back of her eyes. She blinked hard to reset her vision, but the image didn’t fade.
Through a huge wave, an enormous pair of eyes were glaring at her. The eyes were angry. Bestial. They were yellow, with flashes of red, as though they were on fire.
Fear seared Grace’s heart. However much she wanted to look away, she couldn’t. She was transfixed. Caught in this creature’s tormenting gaze. Until...
The coble came crashing back down with the wave and seawater flooded over the sides. Grace was drenched to the bone and shaken to her core. She searched the sea, but the mysterious eyes had vanished just as quickly as they had appeared.
Find out what happens next in Fear Death By Water, available on hardback and audiobook now - order your copy here.
