The Water Girls – Book Review
by Tony Stevens
I was very happy to get a review copy of the novel, The Water Girls. I love historical fiction, and the whole premise of this book was really intriguing to me. This was a very enjoyable read, and I’m looking forward to telling you about it in this spoiler-free review.
The Water Girls delves into a part of history that most of us have never thought about and doesn’t want it to be forgotten. Tony Stevens depicts the bigolanti, the ladies who transported fresh water around the city long before pipes and pressure rendered their labor unnecessary. The story takes place in late 19th-century Venice. This is the spine of the book, and Stevens gives it the weight it merits. It’s not just historical data for flavor.
It begins from line one of chapter one with an immersive scene: “The lifeless bodies were laid out on the landing beside the bridge across from the Doge’s Palace.” From here, we learn about our main character, Lina.
Lina Gruber, a young lady learning the craft under her cousin Maria’s supervision, is at the heart of the narrative. It is truly fascinating to watch Lina adjust to the mental geography, social norms, and physical strain of a metropolis that both enchants and alienates her. Here, Venice is not idealized; rather, it is vibrant, weathered, moist, and magnificent. The impression of a metropolis on the verge of change and the silent fear of those whose status in that world is eroding are both captured in the novel.
When a fellow Bigolante is discovered drowning in the lagoon, the story becomes more complex. Stevens skillfully manages this mystery; rather of being a suspenseful thriller, it’s a slow, unnerving disruption that makes Lina reevaluate what she believed to be true. Because the emotional core – loyalty, belonging, and how vulnerable people become when advancement threatens to destroy the work that established their identity – is never overshadowed, the suspense is effective.
The characters are real and relatable, the backdrop is immersive, and the historical details feel honest and accurate. This is a story that draws you in and doesn’t let go until the final page.
Stevens is a master at demonstrating how entire communities are transformed by technological advancement. With each chapter, you can feel the strain of the growing aqueduct – this unseen force advancing toward Lina’s means of subsistence, the women who carried water for centuries, and a way of life that won’t last a century. Nevertheless, the book never succumbs to nostalgia. It is realistic, kind, and incredibly interested in the people that history often ignores.
Since Lina is sincere, smart, and quietly driven, it’s easy to root for her. I wanted to see her succeed and feel happy. The emotional weight of the book comes from her connections, especially with Maria. Here, there is sensitivity, tension, and the painful reality that loyalty and love can occasionally clash.
The Water Girls is successful as historical fiction, a character analysis, and a timeless reflection on progress. Stevens transforms a tale about water bearers into something rather poignant through his careful, sympathetic writing.
Readers who enjoy slow-burning mysteries, evocative historical settings, and well-developed people shaped by forces far greater than themselves will find this book to be highly recommended. It’s five starts from me.
If you’d like to read it for yourself, you can get it on Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats.