Aug 1862. Amelia's promise to help Sehnaz in releasing her lover General Rupen from the dreaded Black Waters prison of Andaman Islands is already 5 years old, but not forgotten. Concocting a plan to work as undercover schoolteacher in Andaman, both women jump onto a ship at Calcutta's Hooghly port, only to find Sehnaz in the most wanted list for her role in 1857 great rebel against the British that could attract prison for life. Soon the expedition to free Rupen takes a twist. Survival instinct makes Sehnaz run away when the ship halts at Coco Islands, leaving Amelia alone to complete the task. But not before teaching her how to exploit the secrets of the ship's captain and his wife, both of whom lead a double life.

Andaman Islands welcomes Amelia with its army of malaria, disgruntled guards and tribals who hate anything from outside.

Will Amelia make her way to reach Rupen and help him flee? Even if he could break the shackles, how would he travel 800 miles of vast ocean to the mainland India?

The Black Waters is a sweeping novel that stunningly brings to life the remote Andaman Islands and the people who lived through it -the harsh realities when the notorious prison housed India's freedom fighters. This is a testament of hope, resilience, love and strength of the human to survive the adversity.

If you like rich settings, spicy sex scenes, and explorations of nineteenth-century gender politics, then you'll love A E Spencer's suspense-laden tale.