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Alastair Stone Chronicles #42
Deep Omen
You Only Wish It Was Alligators In The Sewers
Ren Huxley asks Alastair Stone to investigate suspicious deaths in the Chicago area—oh, and did she mention that witnesses identified the killer as some kind of giant, half-transparent lizard?
Just another day at the office, right?
Stone and Verity head to Chicago to investigate, but soon find far more than they were looking for—including an odd colony of suspiciously long-lived humanoids deep beneath the city’s streets and a potentially perilous extradimensional gateway that might be spitting out far more than oversized, predatory lizards.
Stone’s investigation turns up a shocking connection between the subterranean dwellers, the gateway, and the creatures—but that isn’t even the weirdest part of the whole situation. How long have these underground dwellers been down there, why are they there in the first place, and what do they want?
And, most importantly, why are they dead set against Stone stopping the monsters before they—or something even worse—strike again?
Ren Huxley asks Alastair Stone to investigate suspicious deaths in the Chicago area—oh, and did she mention that witnesses identified the killer as some kind of giant, half-transparent lizard?
Just another day at the office, right?
Stone and Verity head to Chicago to investigate, but soon find far more than they were looking for—including an odd colony of suspiciously long-lived humanoids deep beneath the city’s streets and a potentially perilous extradimensional gateway that might be spitting out far more than oversized, predatory lizards.
Stone’s investigation turns up a shocking connection between the subterranean dwellers, the gateway, and the creatures—but that isn’t even the weirdest part of the whole situation. How long have these underground dwellers been down there, why are they there in the first place, and what do they want?
And, most importantly, why are they dead set against Stone stopping the monsters before they—or something even worse—strike again?
345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2025
31 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
R.L. King
70 books332 followersR. L. King is the author of the Amazon-bestselling urban fantasy series The Alastair Stone Chronicles.
When not doing her best to make life difficult for her characters, she works as a software technical writer for a large Silicon Valley database company.
She also freelances for Catalyst Game Labs, publisher of the popular roleplaying game Shadowrun, where she's contributed fiction and game material to numerous sourcebooks and one full-length adventure, "On the Run," which was included as part of the 2012 Origins-Award-winning "Runners' Toolkit."
Her first novel in the Shadowrun universe, "Borrowed Time," was published in Spring 2015. She's working on her second Shadowrun novel, "Veiled Extraction," which will be released in late 2016 or early 2017.
When not writing or working, she enjoys hanging out with her very understanding spouse and her small herd of cats, and watching way too much Doctor Who.
When not doing her best to make life difficult for her characters, she works as a software technical writer for a large Silicon Valley database company.
She also freelances for Catalyst Game Labs, publisher of the popular roleplaying game Shadowrun, where she's contributed fiction and game material to numerous sourcebooks and one full-length adventure, "On the Run," which was included as part of the 2012 Origins-Award-winning "Runners' Toolkit."
Her first novel in the Shadowrun universe, "Borrowed Time," was published in Spring 2015. She's working on her second Shadowrun novel, "Veiled Extraction," which will be released in late 2016 or early 2017.
When not writing or working, she enjoys hanging out with her very understanding spouse and her small herd of cats, and watching way too much Doctor Who.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 3, 2026
This was more like it. It has been a while since I gave a Stone book 5 stars. Unlike others, I do not give them as a default. The number of 5-star books on GoodReads that were never actually written is mind-boggling. I guess those readers are rating how much they like the author? I have created placeholders for default profiles that have nearly a hundred ratings. Let me say that again...There is no author, and most importantly, NO BOOK! But people are rating it.
Now back to Deep Omen. Several times I meant to just read a quick chapter. I wound up reading several - one time for over three hours! Not exactly a quick one there. I had decided then that the book would most likely get 5 stars. The only way it would have been lowered was if the finale wound up being something like Stephen King’s It. We watched that miniseries from our hotel room. Each night we made sure we were in front of the TV. This was 1990, and even though VCRs had been around for some time by then, unless you were a Radio Shack geek, it wasn’t something to record TV yet. Plus, we had just transferred back to the States. Not a lot of VCRs in hotel rooms. Anyway, the show was amazing. We loved every bit of it until the reveal... Perhaps if the special effects were better back then, it wouldn’t have been such a let-down. So, I was worried that Deep Omen was going to pull a giant spider out of its arse. Thankfully, the story stayed true to form. All of the books that have had Stone working with Ren and the FBI have been a blast, and this was no exception. I would love for R.L. to do a new spin-off focusing on Ren and her group.
There was something that I was surprised to see never addressed.
Can’t wait for the next book. Especially with
Now back to Deep Omen. Several times I meant to just read a quick chapter. I wound up reading several - one time for over three hours! Not exactly a quick one there. I had decided then that the book would most likely get 5 stars. The only way it would have been lowered was if the finale wound up being something like Stephen King’s It. We watched that miniseries from our hotel room. Each night we made sure we were in front of the TV. This was 1990, and even though VCRs had been around for some time by then, unless you were a Radio Shack geek, it wasn’t something to record TV yet. Plus, we had just transferred back to the States. Not a lot of VCRs in hotel rooms. Anyway, the show was amazing. We loved every bit of it until the reveal... Perhaps if the special effects were better back then, it wouldn’t have been such a let-down. So, I was worried that Deep Omen was going to pull a giant spider out of its arse. Thankfully, the story stayed true to form. All of the books that have had Stone working with Ren and the FBI have been a blast, and this was no exception. I would love for R.L. to do a new spin-off focusing on Ren and her group.
There was something that I was surprised to see never addressed.
Can’t wait for the next book. Especially with
January 2, 2026
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Starting off with Alastair Stone once again which is always a treat to read my favorite professor. Deep omen felt very nostalgic while also bringing something new to the series. The story made me feel we were revisiting the forgotten especially dealing with dimensional monsters, makes me wish we had Jason and Harrison to really bring it together. Comparing Alastair and Verity from then to now really makes me feel proud how more capable they’ve become.
Deep Omens brought up old government secrets referencing from Ren agency. This could be another interesting plot line and we’ll finally see who’s the face behind the organization. Honestly I’m surprised Stone didn’t try to find out sooner since they be trying to track his every move for whatever reason.
Anyways once again this book hints the future development of the Surrey portal. FINALLY we’ll have Harrison come back so our dynamic duo can do some dimensional hopping which been teased since FOREVER! Maybe we’ll get some more secrets of the stone family and maybe hints about Harrison’s too since it’s obvious his line knows about dimensional travel (cough cough his DAD!) 👀
Deep Omens brought up old government secrets referencing from Ren agency. This could be another interesting plot line and we’ll finally see who’s the face behind the organization. Honestly I’m surprised Stone didn’t try to find out sooner since they be trying to track his every move for whatever reason.
Anyways once again this book hints the future development of the Surrey portal. FINALLY we’ll have Harrison come back so our dynamic duo can do some dimensional hopping which been teased since FOREVER! Maybe we’ll get some more secrets of the stone family and maybe hints about Harrison’s too since it’s obvious his line knows about dimensional travel (cough cough his DAD!) 👀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2025
Another great adventure
Alastair Stone and Verity Thayer are tasked with investigating lizard like creatures in Chicago murdering homeless people. Will a stone solve the inter dimensional portal instability’s or will the extra dimensional entities win the day?
Book 42 of the series stands on its own well but reading the others does provide context and they are great so why not. A great adventure in the underground’s of Chicago with some amazing world creation. Can’t wait for 43 to see if Mr. Harrison can make sense of the Surry house door with the found item from this book.
Alastair Stone and Verity Thayer are tasked with investigating lizard like creatures in Chicago murdering homeless people. Will a stone solve the inter dimensional portal instability’s or will the extra dimensional entities win the day?
Book 42 of the series stands on its own well but reading the others does provide context and they are great so why not. A great adventure in the underground’s of Chicago with some amazing world creation. Can’t wait for 43 to see if Mr. Harrison can make sense of the Surry house door with the found item from this book.
December 18, 2025
She's done it again
Wow, again, I could not put this book down. R.L. King' ability to draw you in is amazing. I love how we were back on the front lines battling the "bad guys." Stone's willpower and sense of right was back at the forefront and made this story one of my favorites. My only problem... now I have to find something else to read. I will be anxiously awaiting Stone's next adventure. I am sure, however, that Calanar 6 will at least keep me busy when it comes out.
Wow, again, I could not put this book down. R.L. King' ability to draw you in is amazing. I love how we were back on the front lines battling the "bad guys." Stone's willpower and sense of right was back at the forefront and made this story one of my favorites. My only problem... now I have to find something else to read. I will be anxiously awaiting Stone's next adventure. I am sure, however, that Calanar 6 will at least keep me busy when it comes out.
December 18, 2025
Not my favorite in the series. It's a good fun read, no question. But with only a couple exceptions - a reference and the ending - it doesn't relate to or advance the overall story arc. At least, not that I can tell so far. I could definitely be missing cues to future events. Authors are sneaky. Think of it as a cozy mystery with extradimensional horrors. Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. Lol!
January 4, 2026
Deep Omens is another strong entry in the Alastair Stone Chronicles. R. L. King once again delivers great atmosphere, a steady sense of tension, and that familiar “just one more chapter” pull that makes it hard to put down.
Moody, smart, and quietly compelling throughout.
Moody, smart, and quietly compelling throughout.
December 21, 2025
Whoa! Fantastic story!
Ok, no spoilers. Ugh. Super interesting story with seeds for the future!
I can’t wait for the next book!
We are human!
Ok, no spoilers. Ugh. Super interesting story with seeds for the future!
I can’t wait for the next book!
We are human!
December 27, 2025
Loved it!
Another amazing Alastair Stone story. I can't wait for the next one! R.L. King is one of my favorite authors. I'm looking forward to reading her other upcoming books.
Another amazing Alastair Stone story. I can't wait for the next one! R.L. King is one of my favorite authors. I'm looking forward to reading her other upcoming books.
December 29, 2025
Great read!
Another great read! It over before I knew it. The hardest part is waiting for the new one to come out.
Another great read! It over before I knew it. The hardest part is waiting for the new one to come out.
January 4, 2026
Deep Omen
I love every one of these books!.such amazing story telling. Thank you for continuing to entertain! I look forward to the next one😀
I love every one of these books!.such amazing story telling. Thank you for continuing to entertain! I look forward to the next one😀
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews