Crocodile Tears (Dark Water, #1)

Heart-pounding MM romantic suspense thriller set in a dystopian near future where love and loss collide.

Dark water. Deadly secrets. Dangerous love.

Top homicide detective Josiah Raine hasn't touched another man since his husband's brutal murder seven years ago. Notorious bad boy Alexander Lytton hasn't known peace since he destroyed his privileged life to become Britain's most hated man. When Josiah arrests Alex for murder, the last thing he expects is to fall in love…

'A masterpiece of romantic suspense that will leave you breathless' - Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Dark Water series is a must-read for fans of MM romance, dystopian fiction, and riveting mysteries alike.
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London, 2095. Sixty years after rising seas drowned the old world, a corrupt system of servitude keeps the new one afloat.

Josiah leads a double life. At work, he tracks down killers with ruthless efficiency. At home, he's falling apart as he holds conversations with his dead husband.
His frozen existence is turned upside down when a celebrity holophotographer is murdered, and all evidence points to the victim's servant—the beautiful but enigmatic Alexander Lytton.

Everyone is convinced of Alex's guilt except Josiah, who finds himself drawn to the sharp-witted young man. He knows Alex is hiding something, but is it murder or an even darker secret?

Haunted by memories of his husband's last moments, Josiah is running on empty as he tries to solve the case. As he slowly unravels, he finds an unlikely source of comfort—in the arms of his prime suspect.

But in a drowned world where servants are property, falling for Alex could cost him everything. Can he trust instincts numbed by grief, or is he being seduced by a master manipulator?

Immerse yourself in Crocodile Tears, the enthralling first novel in the Dark Water series by MM romantic suspense author Xanthe Walter.

Tropes:
• Enemies to Lovers
• Slow Burn
• Hurt/Comfort
• Forced Proximity
• Touch-Starved/Emotional Awakening
• Damaged/Traumatized Hero
• Forbidden Romance
• Second Chance
• Detective and Suspect Romance
• Murder Mystery/Criminal Investigation
• Dystopian/Climate Fiction

"Dark Water is a masterful blend of rich world-building, a captivating mystery, and deeply compelling characterisation. Set in a vividly imagined near-future, Walter crafts a world that feels both familiar and hauntingly plausible. The intricate plot keeps readers guessing, while the characters—complex, flawed, and achingly real—drive the story's emotional heart. With its gripping narrative and immersive setting, Dark Water is a must-read for fans of MM romance, dystopian fiction, and riveting mysteries alike." Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐