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Dana Hargrove #4
Deep Zero
It's one a.m. Do you know where your teenagers are? Prosecutor Dana Hargrove makes it a point to know. But one night, in the dead of winter, she should have known more.
In February 2009, Dana is the newly-elected district attorney of a suburban county north of Manhattan, where she lives with her husband, attorney Evan Goodhue, and their two teenage children. The Great Recession has seen a rise in substance abuse and domestic violence. It's also the era of burgeoning social media, an intoxicating lure for wayward and disaffected teens who find new methods of victimization: a game to some, with no thought of the consequences.
During an arctic cold snap, the body of a high school student is discovered, lodged in the ice floes of the Hudson River. People are crying for justice, but there doesn't seem to be a law that fits. Days later, in one hellish night, Dana's children are sucked into a criminal investigation against several of their classmates, making her a convenient target for community outrage.
In Deep Zero, the fourth standalone novel of legal suspense featuring the dynamic prosecutor, Dana walks the tightrope like never before in her tricky balance between professional ethics and family loyalties.
338 pages, Paperback
First published January 25, 2018
5 people are currently reading
323 people want to read
About the author
V.S. Kemanis
26 books134 followersAward-winning author V.S. Kemanis has a professional background in the law and the arts. As a lawyer, she worked many years as a litigator in New York’s criminal justice system and as a supervising editor of decisions for the busiest appellate court in the country. An accomplished dancer of ballet and contemporary styles, Kemanis has performed, choreographed, and taught dance in California, Colorado, and New York.
Short fiction by Ms. Kemanis has been published in literary journals, magazines, and anthologies including Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, The Crooked Road Volume 3, The Best Laid Plans, Me Too Short Stories, and Autumn Noir, among others. Her book, Your Pick: Selected Stories, won the Eric Hoffer Award for best story collection and was a Montaigne Medal Finalist. Other award-winning stories are published in four volumes, Dust of the Universe, Everyone But Us, Malocclusion, and Love and Crime. Legal thrillers Thursday’s List, Homicide Chart, Forsaken Oath, Deep Zero, Seven Shadows, and Power Blind feature prosecutor Dana Hargrove who, like the author, juggles the competing demands of family with a high-powered professional career in the law.
Ms. Kemanis is a member of Mystery Writers of America.
Short fiction by Ms. Kemanis has been published in literary journals, magazines, and anthologies including Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, The Crooked Road Volume 3, The Best Laid Plans, Me Too Short Stories, and Autumn Noir, among others. Her book, Your Pick: Selected Stories, won the Eric Hoffer Award for best story collection and was a Montaigne Medal Finalist. Other award-winning stories are published in four volumes, Dust of the Universe, Everyone But Us, Malocclusion, and Love and Crime. Legal thrillers Thursday’s List, Homicide Chart, Forsaken Oath, Deep Zero, Seven Shadows, and Power Blind feature prosecutor Dana Hargrove who, like the author, juggles the competing demands of family with a high-powered professional career in the law.
Ms. Kemanis is a member of Mystery Writers of America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 14, 2018
Dana Hargrove is the newly elected District Attorney. She will find herself trying to balance her personal life, with her attorney husband and two teenage children, and her professional life taking on the tough subject of bullying.
The body of a high school student is found in the river. Investigation reveals that the victim was the target of bullying and her death is ruled a suicide. The girl's family are screaming for justice for their daughter.
Days later, Dana's children get involved in the criminal investigation against a few of their friends which put them targeted by the angry community. Dana has to deliver justice for the victim.
The book has some other subplots alongside the main story line. As an attorney, the author has been a criminal prosecutor for county and state agencies. She has used her experiences and produced credible characters and story lines.
Although this is 4th in a series, it reads well as a stand-alone. I confess, I have not read the first books, but they are now on my wish list. I liked the character of Dana Hargrove and look forward to seeing where she goes from here.
The author has handled the tough subjects such as bullying, the effects of social media on young minds, and the consequences thereof.
Many thanks to the author /Opus Nine Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this legal mystery. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
The body of a high school student is found in the river. Investigation reveals that the victim was the target of bullying and her death is ruled a suicide. The girl's family are screaming for justice for their daughter.
Days later, Dana's children get involved in the criminal investigation against a few of their friends which put them targeted by the angry community. Dana has to deliver justice for the victim.
The book has some other subplots alongside the main story line. As an attorney, the author has been a criminal prosecutor for county and state agencies. She has used her experiences and produced credible characters and story lines.
Although this is 4th in a series, it reads well as a stand-alone. I confess, I have not read the first books, but they are now on my wish list. I liked the character of Dana Hargrove and look forward to seeing where she goes from here.
The author has handled the tough subjects such as bullying, the effects of social media on young minds, and the consequences thereof.
Many thanks to the author /Opus Nine Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this legal mystery. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 21, 2021
I loved this legal thriller so, so much!!! Dana Hargrove is the newly elected district attorney in a country in upstate New York. She has two children with her husband, who is an attorney. A teen jumps to their death off an icy bridge over the Hudson River in the early morning hours—a teen from the school Dana’s children attend—and it quickly comes out that she was the victim of bullying. This novel had a wonderful ensemble cast and was told from multiple POVs. I enjoyed the family scenes as well as the courtroom scenes. This was the fourth book in the series, but the first one I happened to pick up, and I had no problems jumping in and reading it as a standalone. I will definitely be reading other books in the series!
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
March 25, 2019
What a good story about things Moms go through, with activities teenagers get into and courtroom problems by a District Attorney Mom and her lawyer husband!! I definitely need to read more from this new to me author!!
It is 2009, DA Dana Hargrove is a lawyer working hard with a great team in her office, a wife and a Mom to two teenage children. The laws are behind the times, as the internet is starting to be used by hated bullies to destroy the lives of those they believe do not meet their standards! Such a case develops when a young girl is found, her frozen body recovered in the ice covered river. She was a student at the DA's son's school, and as investigation continues horrible emails from two young women are found! Dana's son Travis is affected, as he recalls the horrific way the young victim was treated...
At the same time Dana's daughter, Natalie, attends a sleepover at a friends house. While they are fooling around they hear noises as the brother, Emjay, enters with some friends after the school dance. Quickly things get out of hand in the home, as Natalie learns from her friend that the parents are Not even here!!
What an intense story with great characters and explanations of both sides of the law.Another plot runs through via SADD, the group at the school attempting to get any home from the dance who need it...
An intriguing story that keeps you involved from start to finish, unable to put the book down without wondering about the events!
I received a copy of this story from Hidden Gems and author V.S.Kemanis, who I thank for an excellent read, and I give you my thoughts in this review so that you may open this book and enjoy.
It is 2009, DA Dana Hargrove is a lawyer working hard with a great team in her office, a wife and a Mom to two teenage children. The laws are behind the times, as the internet is starting to be used by hated bullies to destroy the lives of those they believe do not meet their standards! Such a case develops when a young girl is found, her frozen body recovered in the ice covered river. She was a student at the DA's son's school, and as investigation continues horrible emails from two young women are found! Dana's son Travis is affected, as he recalls the horrific way the young victim was treated...
At the same time Dana's daughter, Natalie, attends a sleepover at a friends house. While they are fooling around they hear noises as the brother, Emjay, enters with some friends after the school dance. Quickly things get out of hand in the home, as Natalie learns from her friend that the parents are Not even here!!
What an intense story with great characters and explanations of both sides of the law.Another plot runs through via SADD, the group at the school attempting to get any home from the dance who need it...
An intriguing story that keeps you involved from start to finish, unable to put the book down without wondering about the events!
I received a copy of this story from Hidden Gems and author V.S.Kemanis, who I thank for an excellent read, and I give you my thoughts in this review so that you may open this book and enjoy.
April 6, 2018
DA Dana Hargrove is a hardworking lawyer, wife, and mother. The year is 2009 and while cyberbullying is a very real issue, legally there are no laws that will provide justice for the victims. When the body of a young girl, Naomi is discovered, the investigation reveals that she was the victim of cyberbullying and chose to end her life. Naomi's devastated family want justice, yet legally, the DA's office can do very little to punish the guilty. While social media can and often is used to bring people together, the flip side is that anyone with access can hide behind their phone and cause irreparable harm with their cruel words.
This is a very relevant topic and not the only one that Deep Zero explores. The author writes with poise and conviction as a town is torn apart. The characters are well written and come to life and I could feel their pain. A disturbing book to me because though this book is fiction, the reality is these types of incidents happen every day. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this though because of its relevance and thoughtful treatment of the subject matter. This is the first book I've read by this author and I am putting her on my author's to read again list.
Thank you V.S.Kemanis, Opus Nine Books and NetGalley for the complimentary e ARC.
This is a very relevant topic and not the only one that Deep Zero explores. The author writes with poise and conviction as a town is torn apart. The characters are well written and come to life and I could feel their pain. A disturbing book to me because though this book is fiction, the reality is these types of incidents happen every day. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this though because of its relevance and thoughtful treatment of the subject matter. This is the first book I've read by this author and I am putting her on my author's to read again list.
Thank you V.S.Kemanis, Opus Nine Books and NetGalley for the complimentary e ARC.
January 27, 2018
“…prescriptions for pain killers and sleep agents are soaring, and overdoses are on the rise…”
Back in 2013 this reader first encountered the gifted author V.S. Kemanis, reading her collection of stories DUST OF THE UNIVERSE and remembering that anthology is pertinent to her DANA HARGROVE LEGAL MYSTERIES of which there are now four to date with this DEEP ZERO. But imbedded in this novel DEEP ZERO is the family theme she so abundantly shared in that first book – ‘Somehow she manages to open dusty old memories of experiences shared in our own family history by concocting this group of stories about the special interactions that happens among family members. And it is only if we are honest about our own familial stories that we can truly appreciate some of the profoundly touching and at other times hilarious tales she walks us through, stories that somehow resemble secrets we'd rather not admit or wonders we are afraid will diminish if we but mention them aloud.’ Now this California native lives in New York and is a respected attorney who is a criminal prosecutor for county and state agencies, argued criminal appeals for the prosecution and defense, and conducted complex civil litigation. Another aspect of her humanity is evident in the her history of being an accomplished dancer who has performed, taught and choreographed in California, Colorado, and New York. A well-rounded humanist who happens to write brilliantly.
Dana Hargrove is an attorney, much like our author, and the intense intuition and knowledge of the law makes Dana a very credible character. ‘On the dot of seven, traffic was still medium light on the parkway, building steadily. Most of the southbound commuters were headed for Manhattan. For Dana and many others, the destination was White Plains, the business hub of this suburban county. She liked to get a jump on the world and beat the worst traffic. By seven thirty, she’d roll into the underground lot at the County Courthouse, happy to leave the clogged parkway behind… Dana held back from changing the station, not because of the quints or the love knots, but to hear the report on substance abuse. Local news programs reflected the pulse of the community, and it behooved her to listen. Of course, there could be interruptions. The Bluetooth was enabled to receive calls from home or the office. There were always plenty of both, spanning a broad spectrum of emergencies.‘
And from this re-introduction to Dana the plot proceeds as follows: ‘It's one a.m. Do you know where your teenagers are? Prosecutor Dana Hargrove makes it a point to know. But one night, in the dead of winter, she should have known more. In February 2009, Dana is the newly-elected district attorney of a suburban county north of Manhattan, where she lives with her husband, attorney Evan Goodhue, and their two teenage children. The Great Recession has seen a rise in substance abuse and domestic violence. It's also the era of burgeoning social media, an intoxicating lure for wayward and disaffected teens who find new methods of victimization: a game to some, with no thought of the consequences. During an arctic cold snap, the body of a high school student is discovered, lodged in the ice floes of the Hudson River. People are crying for justice, but there doesn't seem to be a law that fits. Days later, in one hellish night, Dana's children are sucked into a criminal investigation against several of their classmates, making her a convenient target for community outrage’
Better than the omnipresent television crime shows, DEEP ZERO along with the other installments in this series pleads to be a film. This is informed, thrilling action in and out of the courtroom and few can portray it better than V.S. Kemanis. Highly recommended.
Back in 2013 this reader first encountered the gifted author V.S. Kemanis, reading her collection of stories DUST OF THE UNIVERSE and remembering that anthology is pertinent to her DANA HARGROVE LEGAL MYSTERIES of which there are now four to date with this DEEP ZERO. But imbedded in this novel DEEP ZERO is the family theme she so abundantly shared in that first book – ‘Somehow she manages to open dusty old memories of experiences shared in our own family history by concocting this group of stories about the special interactions that happens among family members. And it is only if we are honest about our own familial stories that we can truly appreciate some of the profoundly touching and at other times hilarious tales she walks us through, stories that somehow resemble secrets we'd rather not admit or wonders we are afraid will diminish if we but mention them aloud.’ Now this California native lives in New York and is a respected attorney who is a criminal prosecutor for county and state agencies, argued criminal appeals for the prosecution and defense, and conducted complex civil litigation. Another aspect of her humanity is evident in the her history of being an accomplished dancer who has performed, taught and choreographed in California, Colorado, and New York. A well-rounded humanist who happens to write brilliantly.
Dana Hargrove is an attorney, much like our author, and the intense intuition and knowledge of the law makes Dana a very credible character. ‘On the dot of seven, traffic was still medium light on the parkway, building steadily. Most of the southbound commuters were headed for Manhattan. For Dana and many others, the destination was White Plains, the business hub of this suburban county. She liked to get a jump on the world and beat the worst traffic. By seven thirty, she’d roll into the underground lot at the County Courthouse, happy to leave the clogged parkway behind… Dana held back from changing the station, not because of the quints or the love knots, but to hear the report on substance abuse. Local news programs reflected the pulse of the community, and it behooved her to listen. Of course, there could be interruptions. The Bluetooth was enabled to receive calls from home or the office. There were always plenty of both, spanning a broad spectrum of emergencies.‘
And from this re-introduction to Dana the plot proceeds as follows: ‘It's one a.m. Do you know where your teenagers are? Prosecutor Dana Hargrove makes it a point to know. But one night, in the dead of winter, she should have known more. In February 2009, Dana is the newly-elected district attorney of a suburban county north of Manhattan, where she lives with her husband, attorney Evan Goodhue, and their two teenage children. The Great Recession has seen a rise in substance abuse and domestic violence. It's also the era of burgeoning social media, an intoxicating lure for wayward and disaffected teens who find new methods of victimization: a game to some, with no thought of the consequences. During an arctic cold snap, the body of a high school student is discovered, lodged in the ice floes of the Hudson River. People are crying for justice, but there doesn't seem to be a law that fits. Days later, in one hellish night, Dana's children are sucked into a criminal investigation against several of their classmates, making her a convenient target for community outrage’
Better than the omnipresent television crime shows, DEEP ZERO along with the other installments in this series pleads to be a film. This is informed, thrilling action in and out of the courtroom and few can portray it better than V.S. Kemanis. Highly recommended.
March 24, 2019
This book takes place in the winter of 2009, just as social media and Facebook are starting out. The recession hit in 2008 and more families are struggling, jobs are harder to keep and substance abuse has rocketed, especially amongst the youth of the area. Dana Hargrove is the newly elected District Attorney, in a county just outside of Manhattan, with a loving husband, also a lawyer and two teenage children, Samantha and Travis.
She has been elected partly on her hard stance against the high levels of drugs, alcohol and substance abuse overtaking the area. Youths milling around with no direction and having boozy parties with no supervision. Now add in the beginning of social media and the ability of young people to post whatever they want to, without any thought of recrimination or the consequences of their actions. A bad case of cyber-bullying is uncovered after the body of a teenage girl is found frozen to a slab of ice in the local river.
There are no laws for this sort of crime, so the DA is up against it, as many parents and students in the area raise their voices in calls for justice. Adding in another large case regarding compensation for the relative of an honour killing, other cases all involving events from a large party after prom, involving booze, underage teens with no adult supervision! Rowdy teens being evicted from the home and fights breaking out, lead to even more charges against both teens and who should have been responsible adults for the household.
Dana’s own daughter and husband are caught up in one event and she also has run-ins with an old rival, but not having read any of the other previous books, I wasn’t really clear what had gone on with these two woman. Teens with too much privilege and no parental sense or boundaries, are the ones to cause trouble and lead others to do the dirty work for them. A tale of be your own person, no matter what. What happens at school shouldn’t rule your life, you have so much more of your life to live after your education phase ends.
A great mixture of legal mystery, with new laws required for cyber-crimes, and various parts of the story interlinking with different threads and people involved. Very intricate and intriguing. A mother’s nightmare on presuming something another adult didn’t make clear, parents losing their child through suicide, others finding their children may have ruined their own futures, often for something they could have avoided. A great read and I shall have to look out for some more of this author’s books. I received an ARC copy of this book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of this book above.
She has been elected partly on her hard stance against the high levels of drugs, alcohol and substance abuse overtaking the area. Youths milling around with no direction and having boozy parties with no supervision. Now add in the beginning of social media and the ability of young people to post whatever they want to, without any thought of recrimination or the consequences of their actions. A bad case of cyber-bullying is uncovered after the body of a teenage girl is found frozen to a slab of ice in the local river.
There are no laws for this sort of crime, so the DA is up against it, as many parents and students in the area raise their voices in calls for justice. Adding in another large case regarding compensation for the relative of an honour killing, other cases all involving events from a large party after prom, involving booze, underage teens with no adult supervision! Rowdy teens being evicted from the home and fights breaking out, lead to even more charges against both teens and who should have been responsible adults for the household.
Dana’s own daughter and husband are caught up in one event and she also has run-ins with an old rival, but not having read any of the other previous books, I wasn’t really clear what had gone on with these two woman. Teens with too much privilege and no parental sense or boundaries, are the ones to cause trouble and lead others to do the dirty work for them. A tale of be your own person, no matter what. What happens at school shouldn’t rule your life, you have so much more of your life to live after your education phase ends.
A great mixture of legal mystery, with new laws required for cyber-crimes, and various parts of the story interlinking with different threads and people involved. Very intricate and intriguing. A mother’s nightmare on presuming something another adult didn’t make clear, parents losing their child through suicide, others finding their children may have ruined their own futures, often for something they could have avoided. A great read and I shall have to look out for some more of this author’s books. I received an ARC copy of this book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of this book above.
February 7, 2018
Deep Zero – V.S. Kemanis
I was fortunate to receive this novel as an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an objective review.
Dana Hargrove is the District Attorney for Westchester County, NY. As she and her office juggle the busy day to day case of the D. A.’s office, unbeknownst to them, a young girl commits suicide by jumping from the river bridge, leaving an enigmatic Facebook post behind…
Once young Naomi’s body is found, The D.A’s office quickly identifies significant cyberbullying as a possible cause for her suicide. But with no cyberbullying laws on the books in New York, and a grieving family demanding prosecution via news outlets, Dana and her fellow attorneys find themselves in a difficult position as they attempt to find justice for Naomi.
Meanwhile, Dana’s young daughter Natalie, asks for permission to go to a friends home for a sleep over. Unbeknownst to Dana, or her daughter, there is no parental supervision at the house that night, and a post-dance high school party turns out of control, leaving two attendees severely injured, and Dana’s daughter Natalie as the only reliable witness.
This book did a great job touching on the topics of teenaged cyberbullying, and polysubstance consumption, and made for a very enjoyable read. The characters are well developed, the circumstances are very believable, and I found it hard to put down!
This was my first introduction to the Dana Hargrove series, but it will not be my last!
I was fortunate to receive this novel as an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an objective review.
Dana Hargrove is the District Attorney for Westchester County, NY. As she and her office juggle the busy day to day case of the D. A.’s office, unbeknownst to them, a young girl commits suicide by jumping from the river bridge, leaving an enigmatic Facebook post behind…
Once young Naomi’s body is found, The D.A’s office quickly identifies significant cyberbullying as a possible cause for her suicide. But with no cyberbullying laws on the books in New York, and a grieving family demanding prosecution via news outlets, Dana and her fellow attorneys find themselves in a difficult position as they attempt to find justice for Naomi.
Meanwhile, Dana’s young daughter Natalie, asks for permission to go to a friends home for a sleep over. Unbeknownst to Dana, or her daughter, there is no parental supervision at the house that night, and a post-dance high school party turns out of control, leaving two attendees severely injured, and Dana’s daughter Natalie as the only reliable witness.
This book did a great job touching on the topics of teenaged cyberbullying, and polysubstance consumption, and made for a very enjoyable read. The characters are well developed, the circumstances are very believable, and I found it hard to put down!
This was my first introduction to the Dana Hargrove series, but it will not be my last!
March 23, 2018
Legal dramas tend to fall into two distinct categories: the first is the crime thriller genre’s John Grisham-esque plucky lawyer taking on the legal system, the police, the government, the mob, at least two assassins, leading to a desperate chase around until the bad guys are varyingly either dead or imprisoned. The second is a the kind with a heavy romance subplot, in which a lawyer battles office politics as much as the justice system, and has a love interest to solve at least half of their problems.
Neither are the case here; instead, we have very credible D.A. Dana Hargrove, a credible collection of cases—hers and those of her colleagues—varyingly related or unrelated to each other, cases themselves credible enough that one almost expects to be able to look them up (many aspects of the story are meticulously researched, in terms of historical accuracy; the kind of things many authors skim over).
If the book has any weak point, I would say that it lies in the characterization; many characters are so deeply characterized as to become caricatures—but then, I have met such people in real life, and I daresay you have too. It’s not sufficient a thing to diminish enjoyment of the story.
All-in-all, a vivid and engaging page-turner with enough going on to keep the most demanding mind interested.
Neither are the case here; instead, we have very credible D.A. Dana Hargrove, a credible collection of cases—hers and those of her colleagues—varyingly related or unrelated to each other, cases themselves credible enough that one almost expects to be able to look them up (many aspects of the story are meticulously researched, in terms of historical accuracy; the kind of things many authors skim over).
If the book has any weak point, I would say that it lies in the characterization; many characters are so deeply characterized as to become caricatures—but then, I have met such people in real life, and I daresay you have too. It’s not sufficient a thing to diminish enjoyment of the story.
All-in-all, a vivid and engaging page-turner with enough going on to keep the most demanding mind interested.
May 24, 2018
The first chapter of this book had me holding my breath as I could see the horror coming. A high school girl who is fat and being bullied in school and online takes her own life. I must say that the author chooses the words in this chapter perfectly. The reader knows what's coming and can do nothing to stop it. The parents of this girl go to the DA who is the main legal person in the book. They want justice, they want revenge.. The DA sends it to the grand jury who agree to try the two girls that did the bullying with relatively minor charges. Unfortunately, the story skips all the investigation and rationale behind this case and just tells the reader the ending of the trial.
The book moves on to some adult trials which weren't very realistic. They also just get thrown out there finished with very little explanation. I was left wondering why these were in the book when no one seemed to care about the trials..
Next, the story turns to high school kids -one group wild with alcohol and drugs and a group that is well behaved and has formed a group that makes themselves available to drive other kids who have been drinking or using drugs or are in some other kind of trouble. (What parent would say yes to their kid for this??? I mean, really, think about that. Young drivers picking up drunk kids and driving them around?) Totally unbelievable. Anyway, of course, there are several disasters that come from this...all of which I found quite interesting.. Several trials, only one of which the author gives any details.
I enjoyed parts of this book very much but others took me forever to get through. I'm not sure if I will look for another Kemanis book. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
The book moves on to some adult trials which weren't very realistic. They also just get thrown out there finished with very little explanation. I was left wondering why these were in the book when no one seemed to care about the trials..
Next, the story turns to high school kids -one group wild with alcohol and drugs and a group that is well behaved and has formed a group that makes themselves available to drive other kids who have been drinking or using drugs or are in some other kind of trouble. (What parent would say yes to their kid for this??? I mean, really, think about that. Young drivers picking up drunk kids and driving them around?) Totally unbelievable. Anyway, of course, there are several disasters that come from this...all of which I found quite interesting.. Several trials, only one of which the author gives any details.
I enjoyed parts of this book very much but others took me forever to get through. I'm not sure if I will look for another Kemanis book. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
January 13, 2018
#DeepZero by V S Kemanis
#NetGalley
1/18/2018
I just finished a truly great novel by an to me unknown author. It is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time and I thank #NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for my unbiased review. DA Dana Hargrove is fairly new in her position and basically ran unopposed on a platform against overprescribing of controlled substances, drinking and driving and vehicular manslaughter. The book covers all of these problems and more as well as cyber bullying which since the book takes place in 2009 is a new phenomenon with no laws in effect yet. Dana’s family also is a very big influence and part of the cases. Her husband is a defense lawyer and her middle school daughter and high school son are both closely involved in a case of underage drinking and driving and the use of prescription medication. The characters are well thought out and they come to feel as part of your own family as they go through all their trials. I was very excited when I learned that there actually three more books in the life of DA Hargrove. I will definitely buy those and will recommend this book to all my friends and family. A truly great read!
#NetGalley
1/18/2018
I just finished a truly great novel by an to me unknown author. It is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time and I thank #NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for my unbiased review. DA Dana Hargrove is fairly new in her position and basically ran unopposed on a platform against overprescribing of controlled substances, drinking and driving and vehicular manslaughter. The book covers all of these problems and more as well as cyber bullying which since the book takes place in 2009 is a new phenomenon with no laws in effect yet. Dana’s family also is a very big influence and part of the cases. Her husband is a defense lawyer and her middle school daughter and high school son are both closely involved in a case of underage drinking and driving and the use of prescription medication. The characters are well thought out and they come to feel as part of your own family as they go through all their trials. I was very excited when I learned that there actually three more books in the life of DA Hargrove. I will definitely buy those and will recommend this book to all my friends and family. A truly great read!
March 18, 2018
How have I only now got to know Kemanis’ work? This book is fantastic, offering a terrific insight into the world of an attorney and all the horror stories that they must face. But this one strikes a bit too close to home and Dana finds herself dealing with the murder of a teenager and finds out that the entire class that her kids attend may have had something to do with it. A book that deals not only with the murder topic but justice and how it affects the life of the communities and those involved, willingly or not. It also sheds some light on the world of social media and how particularly teenagers are immersed in that world and how it can cause serious problems in real life. The story is brilliantly written, going in a crescendo with some plot twists. Dana is a great central character and I can’t wait to put my hands on the other books from the series.
May 26, 2018
I thought this was boring. I only continued reading because I needed this for a challenge. This is about two lawyers and has got a lot of dialogues. There is not enough action for me.
March 17, 2019
I found DEEP ZERO and exceptionally engrossing novel, one I couldn't stop reading, and I am eager to read the earlier novels in the Dana Hargrove series. The characters readily elicited my empathy, and the author diligently illustrates the different sides of the various situations, both criminal and not. The law is also carefully delineated, showing what a fine line both prosecution and defense must walk, and how the goal of Justice is sometimes elusive. Important contemporary issues are addressed: cyberbulling, honor killing, psychological issues. I highly recommend this novel.
April 16, 2018
Short Take: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
*Note - I received a free copy of this book for review.*
What’s with publishers mislabeling books? Deep Zero popped up on my recommended reading shelf under “Mystery and Thriller”, but honestly, it was neither. It was the story of two female attorneys who have long discussions with their families and other attorneys about legal issues.
Seriously.
The basic premise of the story is that DA Dana Hargrove is investigating a case in which a high school girl committed suicide after being bullied by her classmates. (Note: there are only a few paragraphs dedicated to the actual investigation. Followed by long discussions as to whether the mean girls can be charged, what can they be charged with, what is a jury likely to convict them of, etc. Long, tedious discussions.)
It would appear that Dana’s case is jeopardized when a party thrown by another kid in the school gets out of hand, resulting in injuries and property damage. See, both of Dana’s children were barely, tangentially, kind of remotely involved in the incident, which led to them being subjected to long discussions with their parents on legal technicalities, as well as long legal discussions with other attorneys in the DA’s office regarding questioning the kids and so on. The incident also result in like 37 other cases being opened, each one complete with its own series of discussions.
There’s a subplot regarding Dana’s husband, who’s handling a case regarding a convicted killer who wins a medical malpractice suit, and who should get the money from that settlement. It adds absolutely nothing to the main story, other than more lengthy legal discussions. There’s also another main character, Vesma, who occasionally works as a criminal defense attorney. She thinks that kind of work is beneath her, however, so we don’t get to see her in action. Most likely because that might have been kind of interesting. Vesma’s daughter is friends with Dana’s son, which, thank goodness for that, because otherwise, we might have missed out on a few legal discussions about the possible conflicts in all these cases.
As for the multiple cases themselves, there’s no mystery. It’s spelled out pretty clearly who did what. There’s no nuance or buildup or any real tension. There are no contentious courtroom scenes (except for the speeches lifted right out of an 80’s movie slow clap climax. It’s worse than you think.) Deep Zero is a Law & Order episode where all we see are the attorneys sitting around talking to each other.
Oh, and it’s written like a children’s book. Consider this snippet, and keep in mind, this is straight narration, NOT, as you would think, dialogue from a very young character: “Well, the whoops and cries were so loud that Judge Jones had to bang the gavel over and over again! The hammering was forceful, but the judge really didn’t look mad. A big smile was on his face.” (See? 80’s movie slow clap, in book form.)
The Nerd’s Rating: One Happy Neuron (and caffeine. Please send caffeine ASAP.)
*Note - I received a free copy of this book for review.*
What’s with publishers mislabeling books? Deep Zero popped up on my recommended reading shelf under “Mystery and Thriller”, but honestly, it was neither. It was the story of two female attorneys who have long discussions with their families and other attorneys about legal issues.
Seriously.
The basic premise of the story is that DA Dana Hargrove is investigating a case in which a high school girl committed suicide after being bullied by her classmates. (Note: there are only a few paragraphs dedicated to the actual investigation. Followed by long discussions as to whether the mean girls can be charged, what can they be charged with, what is a jury likely to convict them of, etc. Long, tedious discussions.)
It would appear that Dana’s case is jeopardized when a party thrown by another kid in the school gets out of hand, resulting in injuries and property damage. See, both of Dana’s children were barely, tangentially, kind of remotely involved in the incident, which led to them being subjected to long discussions with their parents on legal technicalities, as well as long legal discussions with other attorneys in the DA’s office regarding questioning the kids and so on. The incident also result in like 37 other cases being opened, each one complete with its own series of discussions.
There’s a subplot regarding Dana’s husband, who’s handling a case regarding a convicted killer who wins a medical malpractice suit, and who should get the money from that settlement. It adds absolutely nothing to the main story, other than more lengthy legal discussions. There’s also another main character, Vesma, who occasionally works as a criminal defense attorney. She thinks that kind of work is beneath her, however, so we don’t get to see her in action. Most likely because that might have been kind of interesting. Vesma’s daughter is friends with Dana’s son, which, thank goodness for that, because otherwise, we might have missed out on a few legal discussions about the possible conflicts in all these cases.
As for the multiple cases themselves, there’s no mystery. It’s spelled out pretty clearly who did what. There’s no nuance or buildup or any real tension. There are no contentious courtroom scenes (except for the speeches lifted right out of an 80’s movie slow clap climax. It’s worse than you think.) Deep Zero is a Law & Order episode where all we see are the attorneys sitting around talking to each other.
Oh, and it’s written like a children’s book. Consider this snippet, and keep in mind, this is straight narration, NOT, as you would think, dialogue from a very young character: “Well, the whoops and cries were so loud that Judge Jones had to bang the gavel over and over again! The hammering was forceful, but the judge really didn’t look mad. A big smile was on his face.” (See? 80’s movie slow clap, in book form.)
The Nerd’s Rating: One Happy Neuron (and caffeine. Please send caffeine ASAP.)
January 21, 2018
The hook in the first chapter grabs your attention and pulls you into a plot that promises to be a legal mystery with a couple of interesting cases. Then cyber-bullying takes center stage when a high school student is discovered deceased. Introduction is made to supporting characters struggling with their own cases, one of whom is Vesma, remotely connected to Dana.
As the investigation gets deeper into the subject of cyber-bullying, however, the plot seems to take a one-eighty and concentrate on unattended teenagers with too much freedom, money, and ego. Dialogue genuinely sounds like teen conversation, alright.
Dana is a hands on mother. Vesma is struggling with a case that has kept her broke and she is divorced with Ginger at home. Ginger often shuns an empty home to go to her grandfather's. The characters of more teens involved in the underlying plot illicit sympathy for the most part while examining the problem of underage drinking and illegal prescriptions.
When the climax came, court cases were resolved, victims faced reparation, but almost skipped the original plot device. The subject of cyber-bullying was a fairly new legal discovery in that time frame (2009). Timely issues, but perhaps a bit scattered, and I'm not sure whether more fully directed to parents than their teens.
I downloaded this book from the publisher and NetGalley and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review. Recommended for those interested in legal mysteries.
As the investigation gets deeper into the subject of cyber-bullying, however, the plot seems to take a one-eighty and concentrate on unattended teenagers with too much freedom, money, and ego. Dialogue genuinely sounds like teen conversation, alright.
Dana is a hands on mother. Vesma is struggling with a case that has kept her broke and she is divorced with Ginger at home. Ginger often shuns an empty home to go to her grandfather's. The characters of more teens involved in the underlying plot illicit sympathy for the most part while examining the problem of underage drinking and illegal prescriptions.
When the climax came, court cases were resolved, victims faced reparation, but almost skipped the original plot device. The subject of cyber-bullying was a fairly new legal discovery in that time frame (2009). Timely issues, but perhaps a bit scattered, and I'm not sure whether more fully directed to parents than their teens.
I downloaded this book from the publisher and NetGalley and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review. Recommended for those interested in legal mysteries.
July 25, 2022
Dana Hargrove is a new district attorney just outside of New York City. In the first few weeks of her administration, the body of a teen is discovered in the frozen river, and her family is demanding justice be served to the bullies who drove her to suicide. A few days later, an altercation at a post-dance party gets out of hand, and Dana's young daughter is the main eyewitness. The community isn't super impressed and Dana has to prove she has what it takes to keep the peace in the area.
This is the fourth book in the series (although it is a standalone novel), but it's my first experience with the author and the series. I was very impressed! I realized I read a lot of detective mysteries and a lot of cozy mysteries, but I've had very little exposure to legal mysteries, and it was super fascinating to see cases from that side of things. It was also very well written. Extremely descriptive, good pacing with the plot, and I liked having multiple points of view (they were all third person) to give you different layers to the story. I will definitely be reading more from this author. There was one PG-13 sex scene (not too descriptive, fades out before anything really happens) and a small amount of moderate language plus an f word or two (the teenager's point of view reports the actual words the other teens say whereas the dad's point of view just says the boys said some f bombs), but the amount of bad language overall was minimal. Thanks to NetGalley for the free ebook.
This is the fourth book in the series (although it is a standalone novel), but it's my first experience with the author and the series. I was very impressed! I realized I read a lot of detective mysteries and a lot of cozy mysteries, but I've had very little exposure to legal mysteries, and it was super fascinating to see cases from that side of things. It was also very well written. Extremely descriptive, good pacing with the plot, and I liked having multiple points of view (they were all third person) to give you different layers to the story. I will definitely be reading more from this author. There was one PG-13 sex scene (not too descriptive, fades out before anything really happens) and a small amount of moderate language plus an f word or two (the teenager's point of view reports the actual words the other teens say whereas the dad's point of view just says the boys said some f bombs), but the amount of bad language overall was minimal. Thanks to NetGalley for the free ebook.
March 13, 2018
V. S. Kemanis’, “Deep Zero (A Dana Hargrove Legal Mystery),” is a story of a town that changes overnight when the body of a teenage student is found, pushing the people to look for a scapegoat for the problem. Dana Hargrove is a new district attorney, whose children end up getting involved in the entirety of the investigation, which makes it all the more difficult to truly get to the bottom of what happened to a child. It is very interesting to read the development between the dynamics of the characters, where those who are stuck on one perspective versus those that want to try and understand the truth, no matter how difficult it is to hear. The book doesn’t only focus on the mystery of the loss of the teenager, but also the balancing act of trying to maintain integrity and the work life that Dana has worked so hard to create.
April 5, 2018
A very readable legal thriller with enough real life situations to make it relatable specially regarding the disturbing situation that happened on the Bohrs' house and what Natalie said to her mom, DA Hargrove, that it is so difficult to tell and know what is right anymore. Then there is the case of cyber bullying that led to suicide of the victim. Unfortunately technology has also brought in new versions of crimes that have to be addressed to protect future victims plus every state has its own laws and priorities. The author has also an easy way of writing that I like specially the moments of poetry in her prose. Not just Ginger's efforts but the way she describes her scenes and surroundings.
P.S. ~ "I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review."
P.S. ~ "I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review."
April 24, 2018
Set in 2009, this story happens around the scary life of teenagers with Facebook, the new social media at that time, drugs, alcohol, and legal cases.
It took time to get into the story, but soon after getting to know the characters a little better, the book is really hard to put down. Each major characters is given their own portion of insight, which helps the readers to understand them well and feel their emotions in depth. This book also has vivid insight of how the main adults in the story keep the balance between roles of mother/father, husband/wife, and their work.
This book is written with some slow and mostly fast pace as necessary, has great characters relationship building, and satisfying resolution. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy legal mystery novels.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.
It took time to get into the story, but soon after getting to know the characters a little better, the book is really hard to put down. Each major characters is given their own portion of insight, which helps the readers to understand them well and feel their emotions in depth. This book also has vivid insight of how the main adults in the story keep the balance between roles of mother/father, husband/wife, and their work.
This book is written with some slow and mostly fast pace as necessary, has great characters relationship building, and satisfying resolution. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy legal mystery novels.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.
November 26, 2018
You can read about this book and all it entails on the dustjacket. It covers quite a few current situations, which are addressed in this book from both a human and a legal standpoint. Some of the issues seem to intertwine, much like in real life.
This was a refreshing book for me as I love books with family issues, friend issues, and this one has another one for me; legal issues.
The characters are relatable. The teenagers, whether good or bad, are nicely portrayed. This book addresses the issues of being a teenager in today's society. The writing is smooth and carries you from the first page to the last with no problem.
I will read the other books in this series now and I thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing this copy.
If you like well written real life stories with a twist or two, read this book. You'll be glad you did.
This was a refreshing book for me as I love books with family issues, friend issues, and this one has another one for me; legal issues.
The characters are relatable. The teenagers, whether good or bad, are nicely portrayed. This book addresses the issues of being a teenager in today's society. The writing is smooth and carries you from the first page to the last with no problem.
I will read the other books in this series now and I thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing this copy.
If you like well written real life stories with a twist or two, read this book. You'll be glad you did.
March 13, 2018
Here is a story that pulls the reader in from the very first chapter. The details that are provided really bring this story to life and it’s difficult to put this book down. I found that I was honestly surprised by the details that were given and that I just had to find out what the outcome would be. The author, V.S. Kemanis does a wonderful job of keeping this series alive and I really look forward to reading the other books to this series. The characters are well written and you can easily become part of their world from the main character, Dana, to the high school students and the deceased. I found myself picking this book up every time I set it down loth to leave the mystery unsolved. I just had to find out who did what and how the case would end.
May 29, 2018
3.5 stars. This latest addition to the Dana Hargrove series looks at teenager-type crimes and misdemeanors. It was an engaging read, though not, for me, as propulsive as the first two books in the series, because there was less at stake. While I was reading, though, I realized how much I enjoy spending time with a main character whose primary motivation at all times is to do the right thing. Dana has always been that character, and now, in Deep Zero, she's joined by young Ginger, who has a similar zeal for principles. I look forward to reading Book 5.
January 18, 2018
Deep Zero is a well-written story but I had a difficult time getting interested in it. This book is slow-paced and too wordy with too much description in some passages. There were descriptions that weren't neccesary to the plot of the story. I liked the main characters and the secondary characters too. I appreciated the theme of the book. I just wish the story flowed more smoothly.
I volutarily read an ARC provided to me by NetGalley for an honest review.
I volutarily read an ARC provided to me by NetGalley for an honest review.
September 13, 2018
This is a story of one of today's problems, bullying. A young girl is bullied on the internet until she goes out in a storm and umps off a bridge.. What a job for the fairly new D.A. to handle. Dana has her own children going to the same school. Then there is a party and alcohol is at an after the school dance party. Where do the parents' responsibility begin and end. An interesting way to approach the problems with teens of today.
March 27, 2019
Dana, the newly elected district attorney of Manhattan is working on a case of a murdered high school student. There seems to be some question as to where in the law this crime fits. Then Dana's own children are brought into the criminal investigation of against several of their classmates, making her a convenient target for community outrage. This is not your typical legal thriller! I loved it! Very gripping, and the ending was a surprise. I reviewed a copy of this book from Hidden Gems.
November 5, 2020
I received a free copy from NetGalley. Teenager bullied into committing suicide and the community wants justice but no laws at the time fit. The DA working on the case has her own children and gets pulled into other teenage issues with them involved as witnesses in this case. More of a parenting story than a crime drama or thriller as a parent of teenagers I found it interesting and worth the read.
January 23, 2018
Another wonderful entry in the Dana Hargrove legal mystery series. In this book, there are so many things happening that you are kept on your toes pretty much all the time. The story takes place in 2009, so I had a fun time going down memory lane when Facebook was still so young ...
Full review: https://mysterysequels.com/deep-zero-...
Full review: https://mysterysequels.com/deep-zero-...
March 31, 2018
Deep Zero is the first of the Dana Hargrove series by V. S. Kemanis I have read, but will not be the last. Readers who enjoy legal stories mixed with the lawyers personal lives will find Deep Zero a satisfying story. I was given a copy to review.
April 25, 2018
Where is the mystery? Lots of unnecessary detailing and other blaablaa, not much plot. Did not like.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review
January 19, 2018
While this started off rocky and chaotic it came together in the end.
A good solid story of teens, families and their fights against right and wrong.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A good solid story of teens, families and their fights against right and wrong.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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