Tom Meredith
Tom specialised in ancient and early medieval history at university which prepared him perfectly for his career in financial services over the past decade. This has in turn prepared him for a life in writing! He has always had a passion for writing, starting in the underappreciated world of fan fiction and then beginning his first novel at the age of fourteen. Deemed an essential worker during that time, Tom found himself spending mornings and evenings on empty trains writing about the world around him. The fear and unease the world felt during this time underpins his first novel, but the messaging of hope exhibited by the sense of togetherness during the lockdowns is a constant undertone to the fictional threat his characters face.
Why do I write? What are my ambitions?
I am lucky enough to be achieving an ambition simply to be an author, but I want my writing to have an impact on people. I want to measure success not simply through sales, but through the reader experience I create. It is a precious privilege to be able to have a positive impact on another person’s life and I believe authors have the opportunity to do just that. I will strive to keep making that even a small impact on as many people as I can.
During the pandemic, I remember having a conversation with the only other person in the train carriage (socially distanced of course!), who was reading a book for the first time in fifteen years. He wanted a sense of escapism from our own world which had been turned upside down, but not too much escapism that he couldn’t relate to the fear and the thrills of the characters. I want to write books which will resonate with people, due to the parallels in their own lives and world in terms of emotion and stakes.
What are readers saying?
"Tom Meredith makes a bold and compelling debut with Blood in the Water, an action-packed thriller that delivers relentless tension, high-stakes drama, and a chillingly plausible threat. Set in a post-COVID world, the novel captures the lingering unease of global uncertainty while introducing an even greater danger—one that puts the UK on the brink of catastrophe.
From the very first page, Meredith throws readers into a fast-paced narrative where no one is safe. The immediacy of the threat, combined with the novel’s gripping realism, creates an atmosphere of intense suspense. The post-pandemic setting adds another layer of depth, reflecting the anxieties and vulnerabilities that still linger in society. Meredith expertly weaves these real-world fears into his storytelling, making the stakes feel all the more urgent." Heather C, NetGalley Review
"Loved it! 😍
The story was continuously thrilling, keeping my attention and occasionally surprising me with creative plot twists. The characters were mostly well-developed, but Meredith often used overly descriptive language when first introducing each character. However, I really enjoyed how the different narrators allowed readers to experience the story from multiple perspectives. Meredith also did an excellent job of writing interesting fight scenes without being overly gruesome. Meredith’s writing kept me on the edge of my seat, masterfully building on some of the “what ifs” that came out of the Covid-19 pandemic. This was overall a very good mystery thriller book, and I would be interested in learning what happens next to Ben, Ollie, and the rest of the characters.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new mystery book that includes thrilling action scenes. If you enjoy murder mysteries with multiple perspectives and plenty of fight scenes, you should definitely make this book one of your first reads of the new year." Kelsey Cashman, Reedsy Reviewer
