Crocodile Tears: An MM Romantic Thriller (Dark Water Book 1)

I'm a slow reader, and I really wanted to savor this book, which is why it took me 2 whole days to read it. Because, if I'd let myself go quickly, I wouldn't have been sleeping, eating, or working until I'd finished it. I have loved Xanthe's writing for years, and I will admit to being worried that maybe one day I'd read something of hers I didn't like. This wasn't it. From page one, I adored the characters. Alex and Joe both have my heart now. Even when I was mad at them for making the choices they were making, I was still loving every second. There were flashbacks inside of flashbacks, so much physical and emotional hurt/comfort, lost loves, lost dreams, duty and loyalty and morality, and just the cutest pup! Xanthe's writing is exquisite, knowing when to hint and when to reveal details, knowing how to grip me tight and keep me feeling deep feelings for the characters. But what Xanthe has always been equally good at is worldbuilding. This near-future world created in the Dark Water series is just futuristic enough to be believable while being close enough to our own to feel relatable. It was such a pleasure to dive in (pun intended?) and explore this version of London and the world after the rising of the sea caused so much destruction, chaos, war, and social upheaval. It's the perfect backdrop to this murder mystery, making so many lovely dynamics and complications possible. The only thing I'm disappointed by is that I now must wait a whole month to find out what…

This story hooked me immediately and kept reeling me in. Intriguing concept, amazing world building, action, danger, drama, twisted and great characters. I'm absolutely looking forward to seeing more from this world.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Crocodile Tears by Xanthe Walter (5 Stars – MM Romantic Suspense / Dystopian Thriller) What an emotional rollercoaster. Crocodile Tears broke my heart more than once and left me clinging to the edge of my seat by the end. I cried, I raged, and I ached—especially for Alexander and Josiah. Set in a near-future dystopian London, the world-building is incredibly vivid, with haunting details of a society rebuilt after environmental collapse. The system of Indentured Servants is disturbing and all too believable. And yet, at its core, this story is about grief, redemption, and connection. Josiah—stoic, haunted, and fiercely competent—is one of the most compelling characters I’ve read. His continued conversations with his dead husband Peter are gut-wrenching. He’s so clearly still in love, and that emotional weight permeates every page. Then there's Alexander. His journey is brutal. I was furious for what he endured. Despite his fall from grace and the horrific consequences of his actions, you can’t help but want him to finally be safe. He’s not perfect—he’s messed up, defensive, and traumatized—but he survived, and you feel every sharp edge of that survival. The romance is slow burn, enemies-to-lovers, with all the aching tension and emotional landmines you'd expect when a homicide detective takes custody of the man he's investigating for murder. I loved every moment of forced proximity, every fragile step toward trust, and every complicated emotion they had to…

I absolutely devoured this four-book series. I started last Wednesday and could barely tear myself away until I finished today. These books pulled me in so completely that everything else in life had to wait. The story is a dark, gripping M/M romance set in a vivid dystopian future. The world-building is both brutal and beautiful, the characters complex and unforgettable, and the emotional tension is intense from start to finish. The romance is raw, tender, and sometimes heartbreaking, but always compelling. If you enjoy dark romance, dystopian settings, and a love story that burns through every obstacle in its path, this series is a must-read. I’m already wishing there were more books in this world.

The MCs are such flawed, tortured men that reading this is a slog. The plot is convoluted without any moments of reprieve. Just one endless chain of unlikable people lying to and betraying those around them. Will not put myself thru 2 more books of this.