Secrets from the Deep

Devlin Quick Mysteries #3

by Linda Fairstein, Kathleen McInerney (Narrator)

6 Hours and 9 Minutes

In the third Devlin Quick adventure from internationally bestselling author Linda Fairstein, Dev goes to Martha's Vineyard for rest, relaxation...and a hidden pirate treasure!

It's the end of summer, and Devlin Quick is invited to join her best friend Booker's family on vacation at their summer home in Martha's Vineyard. Booker has a science project for school: to take a daily bucket of water from the Vineyard Sound and submit a sample to an oceanographic DNA lab. From that, they can actually tell you what species of fish have been in those waters: striped bass, blues...and sharks! But Devlin comes up with something else in her bucket from the days when pirates hid treasures along New England coastline. With access to the crime DNA lab back in NYC (courtesy of her mother), Dev is going to solve the mystery of this treasure...and figure out all of the secrets Martha's Vineyard is hiding.

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Adventure, Audiobook

Audio CD

First published November 6, 2018

About the author

Linda Fairstein (born 1947) is one of America's foremost legal experts on crimes of violence against women and children. She served as head of the sex crimes unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's office from 1976 until 2002 and is the author of a series of novels featuring Manhattan prosecutor Alexandra Cooper.

Like Fairstein, Alex ('Coop') Cooper is in charge of the Special Victims Unit of the Office. She works closely with NYPD detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace. The 17th book in her best-selling series - DEVIL'S BRIDGE - launches in paperback in June, 2016. The 18th novel - KILLER LOOK - debuts on July 26th.

This year, Fairstein will debut a new series for Middle Grade readers - 8-12 years old. Her kid sleuth, Devlin Quick, appears in INTO THE LION'S DEN in November, 2016. The series is an homage to Nancy Drew, whose books inspired Linda's two careers - in crime fiction and in the law.

Ms. Fairstein is an honors graduate of Vassar College (1969) and the University of Virginia School of Law (1972). She joined the Manhattan District Attorney's office in 1972 as an Assistant District Attorney. She was promoted to the head of the sex crimes unit in 1976. During her tenure, she prosecuted several highly publicized cases, including the "Preppy Murder" case against Robert Chambers in 1986.

Linda Fairstein left the District Attorney's office in 2002, and has continued to consult, write, lecture and serve as a sex crimes expert for a wide variety of print and television media outlets, including the major networks, CNN, MSNBC among others. Ms. Fairstein is often called to provide her opinion on high profile prosecutions including: Michael Jackson's molestation charges in 2004, Kobe Bryant's sexual assault charges, and Scott Peterson's trial. She is also a frequent speaker on issues surrounding domestic abuse.

Ms. Fairstein lives in Manhattan and on Martha's Vineyard with her husband, Michael Goldberg. Her novels draw on Ms. Fairstein's legal expertise as well as her knowledge of and affection for the rich history of the city of New York.

Series:
* Alexandra Cooper Mystery

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've noticed that a lot of reviewers find it hard to separate the book from its author and her previous law career . While I'm neither condoning not condemning her for involvement in the Central Park Five case, I would prefer to look at this book on its own merits. Readers looking for a strong female protagonist who is smart, independent, and thinks for herself with find it in Devlin Quick who is at the center of this and two other previous mysteries starring the fictional daughter of the New York City police commissioner. In this one, she and her best friend Booker find a gold doubloon while collecting a water sample on the beach while vacationing on Martha's Vineyard. Being the good detective that she is, Devlin protects the evidence and then begins sleuthing to see if she can find its owner or determine if it simply washed up to shore after spending decades in the water. At times, it looks as though she might have taken on more than she bargained for as several individuals are willing to go to any lengths to recover--or steal--that rare coin. I enjoyed the interactions between Devlin and Booker and how Devlin often took advantage of her position as the commissioner's daughter in trying to solve the mystery. Although things come together a bit too quickly and coincidentally for my taste, the book will certainly appeal to anyone in search of a mystery or who has an interest in pirates.

[Danielle Wood · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC a couple of years ago. It’s the third in the series so I checked out the first two to read first. Honestly, I wasn’t super impressed. While the third one was definitely a better story, what killed it for me is the author, Linda Fairstein. Before I picked this last book up, which IS her last book, since she’s been dropped by her publishers, I watched a series on Netflix called “When They See Us.” Lo and behold, there’s an actress playing the part of Linda Fairstein, the prosecutor who made it her mission to put those innocent boys behind bars and still to this DAY denies their innocence! (Despite EVIDENCE to prove otherwise!) I went ahead and read this book because I wanted to give a review ... and I couldn’t in good conscience write one without actually reading. But now I’ll throw this copy in the garbage, where it belongs. I found some racist undertones in a conversation between the lead character and the local police woman on Martha Vineyard, so that let’s me know that anything Linda Fairstein writes is unfit for kids. I’m glad she won’t be writing anymore books.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Devlin Quick, daughter of NYC's police commissioner (not sure if that's the right title--chief of police?), is spending some summer time on Martha's Vineyard with her best friend Booker and (I think) his grandmother, who lives there. Also present is a younger boy, Zee, another grandson. Devlin is doing a project for school that requires getting samples of sea water, and Zee is fascinated by sharks, which he follows with an app. When Zee, helping Dev, pulls up a bucket that includes a gold pirate dubloon, it sends Dev and Booker into a search for the owner. They explore Martha's Vineyard's pirate past, run into some bullies and unpleasant coin collectors, and that's just the start.

I thought this was okay, though a bit jumbled. Dev's science experiment got way too much page time in a teacher-y way, especially since it wasn't related to the mystery. It seemed more like interesting facts that the author had researched and wanted to include, unnecessarily. I liked the science and forensics that Dev had access to through her mother (albeit unwittingly), though those results--which we never got--also turned out to be unnecessary. I also had a hard time believing that adults would answer Dev's lawyer-like questions near the end, even with her mother's position. I enjoyed the world-building of Martha's Vineyard, and did think that Dev having police connections was a good way to get around the common problem in kids' mysteries of the kids having no authority. But overall, this was just ok for me.

[Diane Bamford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not having a book when I went to visit my grandchildren for Christmas, I decided to read the three Devlin Quick books I have given my granddaughter for her birthday. I can see why children would be entertained by the settings, the library, an archiological dig and Martha's Vinyard. I was surprised by Devlin Quick's character, smart but brash for a 12 year old girl. I had a chat with my granddaughter and explained to her that children who live in NYC live like she does and not Devlin Quick. The kind of wealth that Devlin's grandmother had was not normal. She belonged to a group called the NY 400, the wealthiest people in NYC. I also explained to her that most parents did not have a mother like Devlin's. It's one thing to encourage children to speak up...politely. It's also important to impress upon children that see crimes (see something, say something) that they should report what they see to a trusted adult. Children don't understand that criminals wouldn't thing twice about hurting someone who got in their way.

It's a toss up. The books are entertaining and my 11 year old granddaughter enjoys them. I think parents need to read these books with their children and discuss them afterwards.

[Laura Cobrinik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Fairstein's mystery "Secrets From The Deep: The Devlin Quick Mysteries" is a lovely book about Devlin Quick and three of her friends who spent a week during their summer vacation at one of her friend's grandmother's house on Martha's Vineyard, where they found what appeared to be a valuable coin from the pirate days.
After finding the coin and returning to New York where Devlin and her friends all live they pursue an intensive investigation to find the rightful owner of the coin. Like little "Detectives" they get help from the NYPD Commissioner's Office, where Devlin's mother works.
A page turner till the bitter end....and what a treat it was to read the court case which Devlin presided over.
A wonderful book for a summer reading list....
A good book for both boys and girls in the middle grades since Devil's friends are both girls and boys.
Laura Cobrinik,
Boonton Township, NJ

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, part of the Devlin Quick Mysteries series, is an excellent mystery read for those young mystery lover readers. It's listed for those aged 8-12. This one takes Devlin to Martha's Vineyard and while there she is collecting a daily sample from the Vineyard Sound for a class assignment and a gold doubloon is found. An investigation ensues. Perfect for the young adventurous soul and mystery lover.

[Lucia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, I think this book was pretty good. The mystery was obviously who's coin it was and where it came from, but they didn't really have a lot of suspects and it was kind of confusing at times what they were going for. I think the stuff going on with the Thaws was kind of interesting. I think it was an interesting mystery and I like the series.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best friends Devlin and Booker are visiting Booker's grandmother on Martha's Vineyard when they accidently find a gold Spanish doubloon. Booker's very smart eight-year-old cousin Zee actually discovered the doubloon; he also knew a great deal about pirates and sharks, which helped them in their investigation. Who did the doubloon belong to and who was trying to steal it?

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun Devlin Quick mystery. I really hope Ms Fairstein will continue writing this series of mysteries.

[aem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still cute...

[aem · Rating 3 out of 5]

More adventures of Devlin Quick

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The other two were better

[Anna McFadden · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Dev and Booker visits his grandma, Becca, they come across a special rare item and the dive into this new mystery to find out who owns and lost it.