The Knowledge Of Water

'Lushly erotic ... The centerpiece of Sarah Smith's elegant period novel is the torrential flood that nearly swept Paris away in 1910 ... An exquisite stylist, Smith observes her characters in the most intimate detail.' New York Times Book Review An enigmatic man haunted by guilt and a dark secret from the past... A beautiful young woman consumed by a desire that could destroy her lifelong dream... A madman who stalks them both in retribution for a murder they know nothing about... A city about to be submerged as passions boil to the surface... 'Intelligent and ambitious. The author's sensual recreation of a waterlogged Paris could be included in a textbook on how to write a historical novel.' Los Angeles Times 'A haunting tale... an accessible mix of historical speculation, literary allusion, and suspense, this novel could become this year's The Name of the Rose.' Entertainment Weekly