If you think a sea voyage sounds relaxing, W.W. Jacobs is here to change your mind. 'Deep Waters' is a short story that proves you don't need epic battles to create a nail-biting read.

The Story

Sam Gunton is a man with a clear goal. After making his fortune abroad, he's booked passage on a steamer back to England to marry his patient fiancée. He’s cheerful, confident, and ready for smooth sailing. But almost immediately, he feels a strange, hostile atmosphere on board. The other passengers seem to avoid him. Whispers follow him. Small, annoying accidents keep happening, and he can't shake the feeling he's being watched. As the voyage continues, this vague unease hardens into a cold certainty: there is a deliberate, malicious plot against him, and he's trapped in the middle of the ocean with it.

Why You Should Read It

Jacobs is famous for 'The Monkey's Paw,' and here he uses that same skill for slow-burn anxiety. The real horror isn't a ghost; it's paranoia and social isolation. You feel Sam's frustration and fear as his perfect world unravels for reasons he can't understand. It’s a brilliant look at how quickly sanity can fray when you're cut off from everyone around you. The setting—a confined ship—becomes a character itself, amplifying every suspicious glance and muttered comment.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect pick for a rainy afternoon. It’s short, sharp, and incredibly effective. If you love psychological stories where the threat is ambiguous, or if you're a fan of classic authors like Saki or Robert Louis Stevenson, you’ll appreciate Jacobs’ clever, chilling craft. It’s a reminder that sometimes the deepest waters are the ones inside our own minds.