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Underwater Investigation Unit #1
Dívka pod hladinou
For a Florida police diver, danger rises to the surface...
Coming from scandalous Florida treasure hunters and drug smugglers, Sloan McPherson is forging her own path, for herself and for her daughter, out from under her family’s shadow. An auxiliary officer for Lauderdale Shores PD, she’s the go-to diver for evidence recovery. Then Sloan finds a fresh kill floating in a canal—a woman whose murky history collides with Sloan’s. Their troubling ties are making Sloan less a potential witness than a suspect. And her colleagues aren’t the only ones following every move she makes. So is the killer.
Stalked by an assassin, pitted against a ruthless cartel searching for a lost fortune, and under watch within her ranks, Sloan has only one ally: the legendary DEA agent who put Sloan’s uncle behind bars. He knows just how deep corruption runs—and the kind of danger Sloan is in. To stay alive, Sloan must stay one step ahead of her enemies—both known and unknown—and a growing conspiracy designed to pull her under.
Coming from scandalous Florida treasure hunters and drug smugglers, Sloan McPherson is forging her own path, for herself and for her daughter, out from under her family’s shadow. An auxiliary officer for Lauderdale Shores PD, she’s the go-to diver for evidence recovery. Then Sloan finds a fresh kill floating in a canal—a woman whose murky history collides with Sloan’s. Their troubling ties are making Sloan less a potential witness than a suspect. And her colleagues aren’t the only ones following every move she makes. So is the killer.
Stalked by an assassin, pitted against a ruthless cartel searching for a lost fortune, and under watch within her ranks, Sloan has only one ally: the legendary DEA agent who put Sloan’s uncle behind bars. He knows just how deep corruption runs—and the kind of danger Sloan is in. To stay alive, Sloan must stay one step ahead of her enemies—both known and unknown—and a growing conspiracy designed to pull her under.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,504 reviews
December 25, 2020
What an exciting, action-packed, whirlwind, gripping roller coaster meets snorkeling ride I had! And the best part of it: we got a new unit named “UIU”: LEGAL PIRATES! Hurray! Ship ahoy! A crime thriller takes place under the sea! This is original concept and get ready to dive in after wearing your swimming gears!
We have the coolest duo: Solar& McPherson. We’re introduced with them at this first journey and first mission of them and I hope we may read more adventures in near future because I haven’t had so much fun lately and this book was as entertaining as watching your favorite action movies.
The author juggles up too many dangerous and heart throbbing subjects including drug smuggling, treasure hunting, cartels, corrupted officers, rotten institutions, competing agencies. In the beginning part: go-to diver police officer Sloane McPherson coming from crooked family ( uncle is in the prison from drug smuggling, father is retired from his famous treasure hunting days.), also mother of lovely little girl finds herself in the middle of the chaos because during her last dive somebody threw a corpse into the water: a woman from her past! And the killer stole her driver license so they know where she lives and even her coworkers give her suspicious looks because of her family history.
The worst part is at the crime scene she meets legendary DEA Agent- now police consultant Sloan who put her uncle behind the bars. She spent her years to hate this man and now he is the only one believes in her innocence and help her getting out of the mess she found herself into.
There are so many action scenes and Sloan’s straightforward, brave, tough, kickass, risk taker attributes and her entertaining inner monologues during the most dangerous and suffocating situations were humorous. And Solar, cool as cucumber, observer, great thinker, strategist and also fair, loyal characteristics help Sloan to be clear from trouble. They are the weirdest, coolest and definitely most enjoyable duo I’ve lately read.
I cut only one star because after a few chapters later I felt like I was overloaded with extreme action scenes and my heart pounded so fast that I couldn’t take no more. But I’m still happy that government gave green light to another case of UIU and I’m looking forward to see more Sloan and Solar adventures (let’s not forget Sloan’s family members: her dad, her devoted criminal uncle, smart daughter Jackie and her ex, supporting longtime boyfriend Run) This is my first waltz with Andrew Mayne’s creative writing but I’m %100 sure, it won’t be the last one!
Overall: Action induced, exciting, fast paced thriller with truly likable characters! I highly recommend to the genre lovers.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas &Mercer for sharing this incredible ARC with me in exchange my honest review.
We have the coolest duo: Solar& McPherson. We’re introduced with them at this first journey and first mission of them and I hope we may read more adventures in near future because I haven’t had so much fun lately and this book was as entertaining as watching your favorite action movies.
The author juggles up too many dangerous and heart throbbing subjects including drug smuggling, treasure hunting, cartels, corrupted officers, rotten institutions, competing agencies. In the beginning part: go-to diver police officer Sloane McPherson coming from crooked family ( uncle is in the prison from drug smuggling, father is retired from his famous treasure hunting days.), also mother of lovely little girl finds herself in the middle of the chaos because during her last dive somebody threw a corpse into the water: a woman from her past! And the killer stole her driver license so they know where she lives and even her coworkers give her suspicious looks because of her family history.
The worst part is at the crime scene she meets legendary DEA Agent- now police consultant Sloan who put her uncle behind the bars. She spent her years to hate this man and now he is the only one believes in her innocence and help her getting out of the mess she found herself into.
There are so many action scenes and Sloan’s straightforward, brave, tough, kickass, risk taker attributes and her entertaining inner monologues during the most dangerous and suffocating situations were humorous. And Solar, cool as cucumber, observer, great thinker, strategist and also fair, loyal characteristics help Sloan to be clear from trouble. They are the weirdest, coolest and definitely most enjoyable duo I’ve lately read.
I cut only one star because after a few chapters later I felt like I was overloaded with extreme action scenes and my heart pounded so fast that I couldn’t take no more. But I’m still happy that government gave green light to another case of UIU and I’m looking forward to see more Sloan and Solar adventures (let’s not forget Sloan’s family members: her dad, her devoted criminal uncle, smart daughter Jackie and her ex, supporting longtime boyfriend Run) This is my first waltz with Andrew Mayne’s creative writing but I’m %100 sure, it won’t be the last one!
Overall: Action induced, exciting, fast paced thriller with truly likable characters! I highly recommend to the genre lovers.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas &Mercer for sharing this incredible ARC with me in exchange my honest review.
July 30, 2020
3.5 stars, rounded up
I was a fan of Andrew Mayne’s The Naturalist series, so I was curious about this new series. Given that I have been granted access to book two of the series through netgalley, I picked up this book from audible.
Sloan is a part time officer in the Lauderdale Shores Police force, working as a recovery diver. On a recreational dive in a canal, she surfaces to find the body of a dead woman having just been dumped. As the niece of a convicted drug trafficker, she soon finds herself a suspect in the eyes of the police. At the same time, she’s being hunted by those behind the crime, which seems to be tied to a large sum of missing cartel money.
This is an entertaining mystery. There are an assortment of colorful characters, including Sloan’s treasure hunting father, the retired detective who arrested her uncle, her ex husband and pre-pubescent daughter. The best part of the book is watching Sloan come to know and trust George Solar, the retired detective.
The book moves at a quick clip, from one action packed scene to another. Mayne has never been known for believability. So, if that’s important to you, steer clear. But if you’re just looking for fun entertainment, this could be the book for you.
Susannah Jones was a good narrator, capturing the excitement of the action.
I was a fan of Andrew Mayne’s The Naturalist series, so I was curious about this new series. Given that I have been granted access to book two of the series through netgalley, I picked up this book from audible.
Sloan is a part time officer in the Lauderdale Shores Police force, working as a recovery diver. On a recreational dive in a canal, she surfaces to find the body of a dead woman having just been dumped. As the niece of a convicted drug trafficker, she soon finds herself a suspect in the eyes of the police. At the same time, she’s being hunted by those behind the crime, which seems to be tied to a large sum of missing cartel money.
This is an entertaining mystery. There are an assortment of colorful characters, including Sloan’s treasure hunting father, the retired detective who arrested her uncle, her ex husband and pre-pubescent daughter. The best part of the book is watching Sloan come to know and trust George Solar, the retired detective.
The book moves at a quick clip, from one action packed scene to another. Mayne has never been known for believability. So, if that’s important to you, steer clear. But if you’re just looking for fun entertainment, this could be the book for you.
Susannah Jones was a good narrator, capturing the excitement of the action.
dnf-lost-interest
April 1, 2020Kindle First Read for April 2020!
"Andrew Mayne is an Edgar nominated author, Thriller Award finalist, star of Shark Week and A&E television’s Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne."
Clearly, Andrew Mayne is an international treasure and we must protect him at all costs. And this book sounds incredible.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
"Andrew Mayne is an Edgar nominated author, Thriller Award finalist, star of Shark Week and A&E television’s Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne."
Clearly, Andrew Mayne is an international treasure and we must protect him at all costs. And this book sounds incredible.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
May 4, 2020
Oh my gosh, have you ever heard of a having a police diver as a main character in a book or series? Sloan McPherson works for Lauderdale Shores PD in Florida as a diver for evidence recovery. One day, instead of evidence, she finds an actual body, and it’s someone with ties to Sloan...
Now Sloan is being watched by an assassin and is racing against a cartel... She only has one person she can trust, the DEA agent who arrested her uncle.
I really loved Sloan as a character. She has secrets and comes from a family with secrets. I loved learning about the police diving. The pacing is strong, and the story is exciting. I definitely want to continue on with the series to follow along with Sloan and her adventures!
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Now Sloan is being watched by an assassin and is racing against a cartel... She only has one person she can trust, the DEA agent who arrested her uncle.
I really loved Sloan as a character. She has secrets and comes from a family with secrets. I loved learning about the police diving. The pacing is strong, and the story is exciting. I definitely want to continue on with the series to follow along with Sloan and her adventures!
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
May 18, 2020
After seeing this recent publication by Andrew Mayne make such a splash across the reviewing platforms, I wanted to have a look for myself. Sloan McPherson has underwater diving in her blood, having grown up with it as her father taught her all there was to know. When she is not contracted out to dive for one of the local police services in Florida, Sloan is scouring the depths on her own. One day while pleasure diving—alone, a major faux pas—Sloan has a body dumped in the water in front of her. Panicked, she resurfaces to see what’s going on, but cannot make out who did the deed. After alerting her colleagues, Sloan realises that she is in deeper trouble than she first thought, as someone has stolen her identification, notifying them where to find her. While Sloan does her best to let the case work itself out, she cannot stand idly by and wait for the answers to surface. Paired with a man who is anything but a family friend, Sloan begins to explore the possibilities that this may not have been a random body dump. Furthermore, it would seem that the likely retribution by a drug cartel might have ties to the locals and feds. Sloan discovers the murky waters that see the Drug Enforcement Agency pairing with the local drug runners and the riches that can be had by turning the other way. Deputised and given a gubernatorial nod towards an underwater investigative service, Sloan learns that there’s a massive payload offshore and she can only hope to blow the whistle, confiscating it before someone makes a pile of money and keeps on killing to keep the secret. With the help of her father, Sloan is going to have to get the answers and make the dive of her life, or fear that she’s the next body to sink to the bottom, food for the fishes. An intriguing novel that pushes the reader to new depths when it comes to police investigating. Recommended to those who love police procedurals that work from unique angles, as well as those who enjoy all things related to the world of diving.
I’ll admit, I knew nothing of Andrew Mayne when I started this book, which might be why I come at it from a different angle than others. While many a review gave some lukewarm sentiments towards this piece, I was quite interested in the angle and delivery by Mayne. Sloan McPherson provides a refreshing look at the protagonist’s role, given a lead in a field that does not usually ‘rise to the top’ of a police procedural. Her love of the water is countered only with that for her young daughter, a product of a relationship that was doomed before it began. Sloan also carries the weight of her family’s reputation with local law enforcement, including an uncle who was charged with drug offences. Sloan battles this and a determination to do all she can, while unable to let those around her grab all the glory while she is exploring the depths of the water. Others complement Sloan’s tenacity throughout this piece, offering her some depth while keeping the story moving along. Mayne does well to introduce the reader to the world of diving and the politics of the Florida Coast with this book, providing a story that moves well and keeps the action going. The terminology seems on point and educates the reader throughout, while this series debut has me wanting a little more to see if an underwater diver within the police force can make for an effective angle of crime fighting. While many have tossed up their hands with this piece, I’m curious and not afraid to say that I seek more from Andrew Mayne in the coming years!
Kudos, Mr. Mayne, for the great lure to a new series. I’ll keep my eyes peeled to see what else you have to offer with Sloan McPherson, as well as checking out some of your other work!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I’ll admit, I knew nothing of Andrew Mayne when I started this book, which might be why I come at it from a different angle than others. While many a review gave some lukewarm sentiments towards this piece, I was quite interested in the angle and delivery by Mayne. Sloan McPherson provides a refreshing look at the protagonist’s role, given a lead in a field that does not usually ‘rise to the top’ of a police procedural. Her love of the water is countered only with that for her young daughter, a product of a relationship that was doomed before it began. Sloan also carries the weight of her family’s reputation with local law enforcement, including an uncle who was charged with drug offences. Sloan battles this and a determination to do all she can, while unable to let those around her grab all the glory while she is exploring the depths of the water. Others complement Sloan’s tenacity throughout this piece, offering her some depth while keeping the story moving along. Mayne does well to introduce the reader to the world of diving and the politics of the Florida Coast with this book, providing a story that moves well and keeps the action going. The terminology seems on point and educates the reader throughout, while this series debut has me wanting a little more to see if an underwater diver within the police force can make for an effective angle of crime fighting. While many have tossed up their hands with this piece, I’m curious and not afraid to say that I seek more from Andrew Mayne in the coming years!
Kudos, Mr. Mayne, for the great lure to a new series. I’ll keep my eyes peeled to see what else you have to offer with Sloan McPherson, as well as checking out some of your other work!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
April 4, 2020
I already knew going into this book that I really liked Andrew Mayne's writing style and his character development. Mayne, never-the-less, surprised me with yet another great thriller, this time set in southern Florida and filled with drug cartels, corrupt politicians, pirates and MORE. Generally I'm not a fan of Florida or water based thriller but from the very first page Mayne had my attention and kept me glued to the pages until the very end. I don't want this to 1 of 2 in a series! I want it to be 1 of 20!
April 14, 2020
Rated 3.5
May 25, 2020
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
The Girl Beneath the Sea (Underwater Investigation Unit Book #1) by Andrew Mayne is the start of a new suspense/thriller series featuring a female law enforcement diver. This book has everything I look for in a thriller: a strong protagonist, realistic fast-paced action and continual escalating threats with surprise twists and turns. This book also has the added intensity of being set in the world of professional divers in south Florida.
Sloan McPherson comes from a long line of scandalous smugglers and treasure hunters, but she has chosen the path of law enforcement. She is an auxiliary officer who dives for evidence recovery to pay her way through school working towards her PhD. and to support herself and young daughter.
She surfaces from a dive, looking for archeological artifacts, to discover the recently murdered body of a childhood acquaintance. The former family ties set up Sloan to be considered a suspect.
As Sloan tries to find out what really happened, she finds herself entangled in a plot that involves dirty public officials, secret government agencies and a ruthless cartel with only one ally; the cop who put her uncle in prison.
This is a new-to-me author who blew me away. I was completely immersed in all the action and intrigue even though I have never scuba dived in my life. All the descriptions made me feel as though I was right there under water with Sloan while never slowing the pace and they never felt like a lecture or info dump.
Sloan is a protagonist that I hope to follow for quite a while. She is intelligent, determined and strong, has an intense need for justice no matter what and is a loving and protective mom. I am also hoping that Run will play a bigger part in her life. This is the first book in the Underwater Investigations Unit (UIU) series and I am looking forward to seeing what investigations Sloan and George Solar get involved in in future books.
I highly recommend this new book and thriller series and I cannot wait for more!
The Girl Beneath the Sea (Underwater Investigation Unit Book #1) by Andrew Mayne is the start of a new suspense/thriller series featuring a female law enforcement diver. This book has everything I look for in a thriller: a strong protagonist, realistic fast-paced action and continual escalating threats with surprise twists and turns. This book also has the added intensity of being set in the world of professional divers in south Florida.
Sloan McPherson comes from a long line of scandalous smugglers and treasure hunters, but she has chosen the path of law enforcement. She is an auxiliary officer who dives for evidence recovery to pay her way through school working towards her PhD. and to support herself and young daughter.
She surfaces from a dive, looking for archeological artifacts, to discover the recently murdered body of a childhood acquaintance. The former family ties set up Sloan to be considered a suspect.
As Sloan tries to find out what really happened, she finds herself entangled in a plot that involves dirty public officials, secret government agencies and a ruthless cartel with only one ally; the cop who put her uncle in prison.
This is a new-to-me author who blew me away. I was completely immersed in all the action and intrigue even though I have never scuba dived in my life. All the descriptions made me feel as though I was right there under water with Sloan while never slowing the pace and they never felt like a lecture or info dump.
Sloan is a protagonist that I hope to follow for quite a while. She is intelligent, determined and strong, has an intense need for justice no matter what and is a loving and protective mom. I am also hoping that Run will play a bigger part in her life. This is the first book in the Underwater Investigations Unit (UIU) series and I am looking forward to seeing what investigations Sloan and George Solar get involved in in future books.
I highly recommend this new book and thriller series and I cannot wait for more!
April 4, 2020
Sloan works as a police diver - a frogman (or frogwoman) as we'd say in the UK. I have no idea if the Americans say the same. She's the one the police call to scrabble around in muddy water looking for knives, guns or bits of dead bodies. And, because she's based in Florida, she's got alligators in a lot of the inland waterways just to keep life more exciting. Sloan's family have a bit of a reputation as pirates and salvagers and her uncle's in prison at the hands of the man - George Solar - who becomes her unwitting partner in non-crime, trying to get to the bottom of why a girl she knew many years before was killed and thrown into a canal whilst Sloan was diving the same waters. Very quickly it's apparent that the girl's death is just one small piece in a much bigger mystery involving international narcotics smuggling, bribery and corruption and enormous amounts of money.
Whenever an author chooses to make their lead character very different from themselves, I wonder 'Why?' especially when a male writer decides to write from the point of view of a woman. In this case, I started reading without checking who the author was but within a few pages I knew this was a man who knew the square root of diddly-squat about women. There is nothing in this book that justifies Sloan being female and nothing at all about the book that reflects any understanding of women.
I'm a sport diver and I also found the writer's determination that his protagonist should knowingly break ALL the rules of SCUBA again and again really annoying. She repeatedly dives solo, takes absurd and unnecessary risks, and when faced with free diving through a barred security gate, she has no contingency plan of how to get out again. Would he have made a male police diver behave so stupidly? I'm not sure. In fact the only point in which the book makes you realise she's supposed to be a woman is when she tries to squeeze through the gate, her boobs get a bit squished on the way through. Seriously? Hmm.
I do like the idea of a series based around a frog-woman solving underwater crime but this books just a bit too silly and superficial for my liking. And the ending is absurdly abrupt and underdeveloped.
Whenever an author chooses to make their lead character very different from themselves, I wonder 'Why?' especially when a male writer decides to write from the point of view of a woman. In this case, I started reading without checking who the author was but within a few pages I knew this was a man who knew the square root of diddly-squat about women. There is nothing in this book that justifies Sloan being female and nothing at all about the book that reflects any understanding of women.
I'm a sport diver and I also found the writer's determination that his protagonist should knowingly break ALL the rules of SCUBA again and again really annoying. She repeatedly dives solo, takes absurd and unnecessary risks, and when faced with free diving through a barred security gate, she has no contingency plan of how to get out again. Would he have made a male police diver behave so stupidly? I'm not sure. In fact the only point in which the book makes you realise she's supposed to be a woman is when she tries to squeeze through the gate, her boobs get a bit squished on the way through. Seriously? Hmm.
I do like the idea of a series based around a frog-woman solving underwater crime but this books just a bit too silly and superficial for my liking. And the ending is absurdly abrupt and underdeveloped.
May 7, 2020
I’ve read all of Andrew Mayne’s book and enjoyed them immensely. One reason I like them is that his lead protagonists are not the usual suspects - detectives, PIs, journalists or ex special forces. Instead we’ve had a computational biologist and a magician, from a long line of magicians, who also happens to be an FBI agent. This book introduces a new character, Sloan McPherson, of the semi-criminal, treasure hunting McPhersons. She is a police officer who specialises in underwater salvage (guns and so on) and body retrievals. I have to admit it took me a while to warm to Sloan and to get into the story. But then, once we were introduced to whole zany cast of characters, it took off and I was fully on board.
Sloan is also doing a PhD in archaeology and her supervisor is keen for her to explore a certain deeper hole in the Florida canals for potential artefacts. Sloan finds more than she bargained for - no artefacts but one dead body is the tally. So that was the splash she heard! It seems the young woman, whose throat was cut was thrown in while Sloan was underwater. Was that deliberate? The victim is soon identified as Stacey Miller, someone Sloan knew as a teenager years ago.. From then on she seems to be target of legitimate and not so legitimate operators who think she knows something about a shady lawyer’s missing millions and incriminating documents. Well she doesn’t, but after a few close shaves she soon realises that finding said funds and documents may be the only way she can stay alive.
Her ragtag team hatch a preposterous plan to find what everyone is looking for and have some pretty exciting adventures at sea and underwater as they try to evade the bad guys. What it lacked in realism it made up in the fun factor. Mayne’s books are always fun to read. 3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer and Andrew Mayne for my review copy.
Sloan is also doing a PhD in archaeology and her supervisor is keen for her to explore a certain deeper hole in the Florida canals for potential artefacts. Sloan finds more than she bargained for - no artefacts but one dead body is the tally. So that was the splash she heard! It seems the young woman, whose throat was cut was thrown in while Sloan was underwater. Was that deliberate? The victim is soon identified as Stacey Miller, someone Sloan knew as a teenager years ago.. From then on she seems to be target of legitimate and not so legitimate operators who think she knows something about a shady lawyer’s missing millions and incriminating documents. Well she doesn’t, but after a few close shaves she soon realises that finding said funds and documents may be the only way she can stay alive.
Her ragtag team hatch a preposterous plan to find what everyone is looking for and have some pretty exciting adventures at sea and underwater as they try to evade the bad guys. What it lacked in realism it made up in the fun factor. Mayne’s books are always fun to read. 3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer and Andrew Mayne for my review copy.
April 4, 2020
This was a good thriller. I am a fan of Andrew Maine’s The Naturalist series and I found by comparison this wasn’t as good.
August 31, 2022
Meet Sloan McPherson, Pirate Cop! I definitely enjoyed meeting her. This was an entertaining tale of a woman with ocean water in her blood and pirates in her family tree. She is trying to forge her own path and separate herself from her family. She stumbles into a huge conspiracy and with the help of a long time family enemy she comes out the other side while protecting those she loves. Several instances of having my heart in my throat made this one a winner for me. See you soon, Sloan!
October 13, 2020
Earlier this year, I read my first book by Andrew Mayne in The Naturalist series, and it is one of the best books I have read this year. This series is qute different from The Naturalist, but just as excellent. I guess I just like Mayne's writing style.
Mayne doesn't waste time on unnecessary descriptions or scenes that slow down the action. Everything happens quickly here, there are many twists and turns and unexpected events. If you like fast-paced thrillers, this is definitely the book for you. Personally, I really like such a lean way of writing with lots of dialogue that sets the pace of the story. The plot is really interesting and suspenseful. I couldn't wait to know what's coming next.
Especially since Mayne is able to simultaneously build believable and multi-dimensional characters without resorting to typical lengthy descriptions. We get to know his characters through their actions and reactions to situations in the story. I love the dynamics in Sloan and Solar's relationship, a story that casts a shadow over their relationship and their current arrangement. This adds an interesting dimension to the story.
But perhaps what I liked the most was the importance of water and the water activities throughout the story. Sloan is a diver and there is no doubt that she loves water and feels deep connection with it. The water, what lies beneath the surface and the entire atmosphere of Florida and the Everglades flow into every part of the story. And this is one of the elements that makes this story stand out the most and that I liked the most.
I look forward to the next book in this series. I definitely recommend it to all fans of fast-paced thrillers and those who like mysterious water-related crimes.
Mayne doesn't waste time on unnecessary descriptions or scenes that slow down the action. Everything happens quickly here, there are many twists and turns and unexpected events. If you like fast-paced thrillers, this is definitely the book for you. Personally, I really like such a lean way of writing with lots of dialogue that sets the pace of the story. The plot is really interesting and suspenseful. I couldn't wait to know what's coming next.
Especially since Mayne is able to simultaneously build believable and multi-dimensional characters without resorting to typical lengthy descriptions. We get to know his characters through their actions and reactions to situations in the story. I love the dynamics in Sloan and Solar's relationship, a story that casts a shadow over their relationship and their current arrangement. This adds an interesting dimension to the story.
But perhaps what I liked the most was the importance of water and the water activities throughout the story. Sloan is a diver and there is no doubt that she loves water and feels deep connection with it. The water, what lies beneath the surface and the entire atmosphere of Florida and the Everglades flow into every part of the story. And this is one of the elements that makes this story stand out the most and that I liked the most.
I look forward to the next book in this series. I definitely recommend it to all fans of fast-paced thrillers and those who like mysterious water-related crimes.
May 10, 2020
Finished reading: May 8th 2020
"Sometimes you don't get to choose your struggles - they choose you."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
May 9, 2020
Action-Packed, engaging, and suspenseful!
In this first installment of the Underwater Investigation Unit series, The Girl Beneath the Sea, Mayne has written an adrenaline-pumping tale featuring the intelligent, impulsive, police diver Sloan Harper who inadvertently becomes a suspect and a target when an old childhood acquaintance winds up dead and her family’s disreputable reputation and history as treasure hunters quickly becomes both an asset and a liability.
The writing is sharp and crisp. The characters are secretive, persistent and ruthless. And the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat with its short, intense chapters that submerge you into a menacing tale full of twists, turns, deception, corruption, mayhem, danger, revelations, power, violence, and murder.
Overall, The Girl Beneath the Sea is a tortuous, intricate, pacey mystery that’s a wonderful start to this new series by Mayne with its well-drawn characterization, nice sense of urgency, and thrilling conclusion.
Thank you to Amazon Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this first installment of the Underwater Investigation Unit series, The Girl Beneath the Sea, Mayne has written an adrenaline-pumping tale featuring the intelligent, impulsive, police diver Sloan Harper who inadvertently becomes a suspect and a target when an old childhood acquaintance winds up dead and her family’s disreputable reputation and history as treasure hunters quickly becomes both an asset and a liability.
The writing is sharp and crisp. The characters are secretive, persistent and ruthless. And the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat with its short, intense chapters that submerge you into a menacing tale full of twists, turns, deception, corruption, mayhem, danger, revelations, power, violence, and murder.
Overall, The Girl Beneath the Sea is a tortuous, intricate, pacey mystery that’s a wonderful start to this new series by Mayne with its well-drawn characterization, nice sense of urgency, and thrilling conclusion.
Thank you to Amazon Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2021
Well... It was not bad, but...
At least she didn't ignore all the warnings... just most of them...
The heroine was the most stupid and reckless one I've ever read about! She so juvenile (and she admits it!!!) that she MUST do anything, even if it's life-threatening, to prove that she's the best!
I likes Solar a little bit better, even if he was almost too manipulative with Sloan. It seemed to me that he knew that she would do abything at all to prove herself and used it to solve the case.
But I cannot deny that it was really, really action-packed! Everything you can think about could happen, actually happened! But, as in the best action movies, our heroes won the day against all odds!
So, because of that, I give it 3 stars. It could be that I'll read the next book, but not right now! :)
At least she didn't ignore all the warnings... just most of them...
The heroine was the most stupid and reckless one I've ever read about! She so juvenile (and she admits it!!!) that she MUST do anything, even if it's life-threatening, to prove that she's the best!
I likes Solar a little bit better, even if he was almost too manipulative with Sloan. It seemed to me that he knew that she would do abything at all to prove herself and used it to solve the case.
But I cannot deny that it was really, really action-packed! Everything you can think about could happen, actually happened! But, as in the best action movies, our heroes won the day against all odds!
So, because of that, I give it 3 stars. It could be that I'll read the next book, but not right now! :)
February 12, 2021
Let me just start off by saying .... what a unique concept. An evidence recovery police diver as the lead character? And, she's female!
I found the first half of the story fairly slow paced but luckily the second half really picked up. I flew through to the end of the book ... was satisfied with the ending. I'm looking forward to the next book, Black Coral.
The Girl Beneath The Sea is the first book in the Underwater Investigation Unit series.
I found the first half of the story fairly slow paced but luckily the second half really picked up. I flew through to the end of the book ... was satisfied with the ending. I'm looking forward to the next book, Black Coral.
The Girl Beneath The Sea is the first book in the Underwater Investigation Unit series.
April 7, 2020
This was a prime first reads and it was excellent. It had all the elements that I love in a book, twists and turns and clues which make you try and guess who did what and to whom.
I read this very quickly as I couldn’t put it down and I wanted to find out who did the crime.
I read this very quickly as I couldn’t put it down and I wanted to find out who did the crime.
January 25, 2021
3.5 Stars
“Sometimes you don’t get to choose your struggles—they choose you.”
― Andrew Mayne, The Girl Beneath the Sea
Sloan McPherson has an interesting family. Treasure hunters and drug smugglers and that is just the modern day McPherson's. Sloan has a daughter and she wants something better for her. To that end she is an auxiliary officer for Lauderdale Shores Police Department, a diver for evidence recovery. She is also going to college working on her degree. The story opens when Sloan is on recreational dive in a canal looking for artifacts for a college professor. She hears a splash and when she surfaces finds the body of a woman. The woman was killed recently and dumped in the canal while Sloan was below. There is a distant connection between Sloan and the dead woman. Instead of being treated as a fellow police officer or witness Sloan feels like she is a suspect. To make matters worse someone stole her drivers license from her SUV while she was diving. Probably the killer. Now he knows where Sloan and her daughter live.
As the story unfolds it turns out that the dead woman is someone Sloan knew when she was a young girl and she may have been seeking out Sloan. There is drug money involved. A lot of money. It is missing and a drug cartel is looking for it. There is also a mysterious government agency involved. And Sloan is in the middle. To stay alive and protect her daughter Sloan decides she must find the money. She has one ally … George Solar, the retired detective who sent her uncle to prison.
It was interesting to watch the relationship and trust develop between Sloan and George. The story is not very believable but it is entertaining. I was going to give this book three stars but as the story developed and the action picked up I had to bump it up a notch. If believability is important you may not like this story but if you are looking for an entertaining yarn this is a good story. The ending is a nice lead into the second book, Black Coral.
“Sometimes you don’t get to choose your struggles—they choose you.”
― Andrew Mayne, The Girl Beneath the Sea
Sloan McPherson has an interesting family. Treasure hunters and drug smugglers and that is just the modern day McPherson's. Sloan has a daughter and she wants something better for her. To that end she is an auxiliary officer for Lauderdale Shores Police Department, a diver for evidence recovery. She is also going to college working on her degree. The story opens when Sloan is on recreational dive in a canal looking for artifacts for a college professor. She hears a splash and when she surfaces finds the body of a woman. The woman was killed recently and dumped in the canal while Sloan was below. There is a distant connection between Sloan and the dead woman. Instead of being treated as a fellow police officer or witness Sloan feels like she is a suspect. To make matters worse someone stole her drivers license from her SUV while she was diving. Probably the killer. Now he knows where Sloan and her daughter live.
As the story unfolds it turns out that the dead woman is someone Sloan knew when she was a young girl and she may have been seeking out Sloan. There is drug money involved. A lot of money. It is missing and a drug cartel is looking for it. There is also a mysterious government agency involved. And Sloan is in the middle. To stay alive and protect her daughter Sloan decides she must find the money. She has one ally … George Solar, the retired detective who sent her uncle to prison.
It was interesting to watch the relationship and trust develop between Sloan and George. The story is not very believable but it is entertaining. I was going to give this book three stars but as the story developed and the action picked up I had to bump it up a notch. If believability is important you may not like this story but if you are looking for an entertaining yarn this is a good story. The ending is a nice lead into the second book, Black Coral.
April 21, 2020
Florida is a great setting for a new series by Andrew Mayne, who lets his curiosity lead beneath the sea in a wetsuit. Sloan MacPherson comes from a family of treasure diving rascals, and while pursuing her Phd. in archaeology also has turned her experience as an experienced diver into a career with the Lauderdale force, retrieving sunken bodies as well as such specimens as tossed weapons. Sloan, who also is sharing parenthood with her daughter's father in a relationship she calls "complicated," is almost superhuman in her fearlessness, but her questionable choices lead her often below the water's surface, a milieu she trusts and respects, and Mayne does a fine job of recreating action in that lightless realm. Being the first in a series, a lot of this book dealt with setting up characters and relationships, preparing for the next installment.
November 23, 2022
Good mystery, with a nice amount of action.
February 28, 2021
Audible reread - this was pretty good as an audiobook too.
Kindle first, you knocked it out of the park! This was thoroughly entertaining! A police diver from a treasure diving family finds herself in the middle of a dangerous search for a hidden half billion dollar stash of drug money.
But that’s not even what’s worth killing for...
Lol, I did have moments of doubt with some of the government conspiracy angles, but they did not bog down the story. Black Coral will be a hard wait.
August 16, 2020
Sloan McPherson is a recovery specialist for the Florida police. She hails from a family with a shady background: salvage specialists, who are not above smuggling. Her uncle is in prison. She is trying to make amends, and while diving for work, a dead body is tossed into the water where she is working. Sloan is tough, but takes a lot of risks, especially with a young daughter and an estranged father. For me at least, this plot was highly implausible, and Sloan's miraculous escapes beyond belief. I liked George Solar, who inexplicably aided Sloan repeatedly, after being the one responsible for putting Sloan's uncle in prison and a pariah to the McPherson family.
April 1, 2022
Sloan works for Lauderdale Shores PD in Florida as an evidence recovery diver . One day, she finds an dead body, and a lot of government agencies seem overly interested in it. A solid and fairly entertaining thriller cum procedural that entertained without enthusing me enough to move on to the second in the series. Give it a try!
June 1, 2020
Sooooo good!
May 21, 2020
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2020/05/21/...
Well, it’s not The Naturalist, but still so good! What’s also pretty awesome is that last summer I caught the author on the Discovery Channel Shark Week special Andrew Mayne: Ghost Diver, and now I can’t help but wonder how much of his experience doing for that show had ended up influencing this book. Plus I believe I read somewhere that Mayne grew up among scuba divers and law enforcement, so when I first learned about The Girl Beneath the Sea, I became curious to see how he would incorporate those ideas and concepts into this new thriller.
As the opening volume to a new series, The Girl Beneath the Sea begins by whisking readers off to the south Florida coast where protagonist Sloan McPherseon works for the Lauderdale Shores police department as an evidence recovery diver. On a routine dive in the canal one day, she comes across a recently dead body in the water—a woman who must have been killed and dumped not moments before Sloan got there. Unfortunately, that timing was just a coincidence too great for the police to ignore, landing Sloan on their suspects list. Of course, it also doesn’t help that she comes from family of eccentric treasure hunters and drug smugglers, with an uncle who’s in prison. Then comes an even greater shock—it turns out that the dead woman had a connection to Sloan’s past, making the authorities even more suspicious.
Now the only one who can help her is the McPhersons’ greatest enemy. George Solar is the DEA agent whose testimony had been pivotal in putting Sloan’s uncle behind bars all those years ago, and the memories of how that had devastated her family are still fresh in her mind. Solar’s history, however, has also been known to be rather shady, which means he may have the knowledge and connections to help Sloan out of her mess, leaving her with no choice but to trust him. As the two of them team up to investigate the murder though, they stumble into a vast conspiracy brewing amidst widespread corruption, and the deeper they dig, the more they may be putting both themselves and their loved ones in possible peril.
While it’s definitely tempting to compare The Girl Beneath the Sea with Mayne’s Naturalist series, I realize it’s not that simple. The two are very different, for one, and quite honestly I think that’s a good thing. Ultimately, I would love to see Underwater Investigation Unit establish its own identity as a series and stand on its own merits, and based on this first installment, I think it’s off to a great start. The good news is that we also don’t sacrifice any of the over-the-top action and thrills that are the hallmarks of the author’s books, though the difference is, The Girl Beneath the Sea reads more like a police procedural in its structure and pacing, emphasizing law enforcement and interagency detective work. The storytelling style itself is very similar to the crime dramas you might see on primetime TV.
Since it’s Florida, there are also gators, sharks, and the drug war. Sloan and Solar’s battle with the cartels and corruption among the ranks might not prove as thrilling for some, but to me the plot was fast-paced and exciting. As well, Sloan is a great character, maybe a bit rough around the edges. Like many of the author’s protagonists, her greatest fault seems to be her impulsivity and tendency to act quickly with little consideration of the consequences (but hey, that’s what makes his books so fun, right?) I ended up liking Sloan, despite the fact she’s a bit of a maverick and one hell of a troublemaker, mainly due to her courageous spirit and her big heart which makes up for her shortcomings. She’s also a single mom in a family with a lot of quirky members and complicated relationships, as you might imagine given the McPhersons’ history with the law and Sloan’s career with the police. Throw in her prickly situation with Solar as well, and you just know there will be no end to the surprises.
What all this means is, if you’re into Andrew Mayne’s clever, funny, and over-the-top style, I think you will also enjoy The Girl Beneath the Sea. In a way, I think the novel’s premise actually makes it more plausible than many of his other works (relatively), but the approach he takes to the crime drama procedural is certainly still unique and very interesting. Bottom line, this was an entertaining adventure and I had a hell of time. It also looks like the sequel Black Coral already has a cover, synopsis, and release date, so I guess I’ll be circling my calendar and waiting not so patiently!
Audiobook Comments: I listened to the audiobook edition, a decision I don’t regret at all. I often find that thrillers are more effective in this format especially when you have a good narrator, and Susannah Jones completely nailed it. Everything about her performance was outstanding, from her voices to her timing. She kept me hanging on every word, ending up making me stay up way past my usual bedtime so I could find out how the book ended. So if you’re considering The Girl Beneath the Sea, I do highly recommend this one in audio.
Well, it’s not The Naturalist, but still so good! What’s also pretty awesome is that last summer I caught the author on the Discovery Channel Shark Week special Andrew Mayne: Ghost Diver, and now I can’t help but wonder how much of his experience doing for that show had ended up influencing this book. Plus I believe I read somewhere that Mayne grew up among scuba divers and law enforcement, so when I first learned about The Girl Beneath the Sea, I became curious to see how he would incorporate those ideas and concepts into this new thriller.
As the opening volume to a new series, The Girl Beneath the Sea begins by whisking readers off to the south Florida coast where protagonist Sloan McPherseon works for the Lauderdale Shores police department as an evidence recovery diver. On a routine dive in the canal one day, she comes across a recently dead body in the water—a woman who must have been killed and dumped not moments before Sloan got there. Unfortunately, that timing was just a coincidence too great for the police to ignore, landing Sloan on their suspects list. Of course, it also doesn’t help that she comes from family of eccentric treasure hunters and drug smugglers, with an uncle who’s in prison. Then comes an even greater shock—it turns out that the dead woman had a connection to Sloan’s past, making the authorities even more suspicious.
Now the only one who can help her is the McPhersons’ greatest enemy. George Solar is the DEA agent whose testimony had been pivotal in putting Sloan’s uncle behind bars all those years ago, and the memories of how that had devastated her family are still fresh in her mind. Solar’s history, however, has also been known to be rather shady, which means he may have the knowledge and connections to help Sloan out of her mess, leaving her with no choice but to trust him. As the two of them team up to investigate the murder though, they stumble into a vast conspiracy brewing amidst widespread corruption, and the deeper they dig, the more they may be putting both themselves and their loved ones in possible peril.
While it’s definitely tempting to compare The Girl Beneath the Sea with Mayne’s Naturalist series, I realize it’s not that simple. The two are very different, for one, and quite honestly I think that’s a good thing. Ultimately, I would love to see Underwater Investigation Unit establish its own identity as a series and stand on its own merits, and based on this first installment, I think it’s off to a great start. The good news is that we also don’t sacrifice any of the over-the-top action and thrills that are the hallmarks of the author’s books, though the difference is, The Girl Beneath the Sea reads more like a police procedural in its structure and pacing, emphasizing law enforcement and interagency detective work. The storytelling style itself is very similar to the crime dramas you might see on primetime TV.
Since it’s Florida, there are also gators, sharks, and the drug war. Sloan and Solar’s battle with the cartels and corruption among the ranks might not prove as thrilling for some, but to me the plot was fast-paced and exciting. As well, Sloan is a great character, maybe a bit rough around the edges. Like many of the author’s protagonists, her greatest fault seems to be her impulsivity and tendency to act quickly with little consideration of the consequences (but hey, that’s what makes his books so fun, right?) I ended up liking Sloan, despite the fact she’s a bit of a maverick and one hell of a troublemaker, mainly due to her courageous spirit and her big heart which makes up for her shortcomings. She’s also a single mom in a family with a lot of quirky members and complicated relationships, as you might imagine given the McPhersons’ history with the law and Sloan’s career with the police. Throw in her prickly situation with Solar as well, and you just know there will be no end to the surprises.
What all this means is, if you’re into Andrew Mayne’s clever, funny, and over-the-top style, I think you will also enjoy The Girl Beneath the Sea. In a way, I think the novel’s premise actually makes it more plausible than many of his other works (relatively), but the approach he takes to the crime drama procedural is certainly still unique and very interesting. Bottom line, this was an entertaining adventure and I had a hell of time. It also looks like the sequel Black Coral already has a cover, synopsis, and release date, so I guess I’ll be circling my calendar and waiting not so patiently!
Audiobook Comments: I listened to the audiobook edition, a decision I don’t regret at all. I often find that thrillers are more effective in this format especially when you have a good narrator, and Susannah Jones completely nailed it. Everything about her performance was outstanding, from her voices to her timing. She kept me hanging on every word, ending up making me stay up way past my usual bedtime so I could find out how the book ended. So if you’re considering The Girl Beneath the Sea, I do highly recommend this one in audio.
May 6, 2022
Another excellent example of Mayne's action and adventure
May 23, 2020
First, a caveat in full disclosure: I met Andrew Mayne when he was a young magician, and we struck up a friendship based on, among other things, the fact that we both wanted to be writers. Flash forward a couple decades after we lost touch, and one of us has written some fifty (?!) books, while the other one of us is a boring lawyer. (Le sigh.) Despite his tremendous success and hugely prolific body of work, I have decided to like Andrew anyway, and I finally got the chance to read one of his books. And damned if it isn't fantastic!
I wasn't sure how I would like the "underwater investigation" aspect of this book, since I'm not particularly interested in deep sea diving, but Mayne is such a great writer that he makes you invested. The plot is a cool one: while deep sea diving alone (which you aren't supposed to do), our heroine Sloan witnesses a dead body being dumped in the water. From then on the plot is packed with action.
Mayne really excels at both plot and dialogue. As a former prosecutor who has been around a lot of cops, one of my pet peeves is when books try too hard at witty hardboiled cop banter and it just doesn't sound realistic. Andrew doesn't have that problem. He's either been hanging out with cops, or is able to get right inside their heads, because his dialogue is spot on and fantastic. Similarly, Sloan is a tough and likable heroine without overdoing the “I’m a tough broad” schtick. She is genuinely cool and strong and the kind of person you’d like to befriend.
4.5 stars. Congrats to Andrew Mayne on a great book and thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I wasn't sure how I would like the "underwater investigation" aspect of this book, since I'm not particularly interested in deep sea diving, but Mayne is such a great writer that he makes you invested. The plot is a cool one: while deep sea diving alone (which you aren't supposed to do), our heroine Sloan witnesses a dead body being dumped in the water. From then on the plot is packed with action.
Mayne really excels at both plot and dialogue. As a former prosecutor who has been around a lot of cops, one of my pet peeves is when books try too hard at witty hardboiled cop banter and it just doesn't sound realistic. Andrew doesn't have that problem. He's either been hanging out with cops, or is able to get right inside their heads, because his dialogue is spot on and fantastic. Similarly, Sloan is a tough and likable heroine without overdoing the “I’m a tough broad” schtick. She is genuinely cool and strong and the kind of person you’d like to befriend.
4.5 stars. Congrats to Andrew Mayne on a great book and thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 27, 2020
3.5 rounded up. Fast-paced action. Innovative (underwater investigation).
October 28, 2023
1.5⭐️s rounded up. Not to be sexist, but I knew it was going to be a bit of a risk reading this when the MC is a woman written by a man. I’ve just seen it done poorly more often than successfully. When I realized it was 1st person my chances coming out on the plus side went down even further. To where they crashed and burned.
I don’t know whether the author just didn’t actually ask any females what their inner dialogue is like or spent very little time around them as a whole, but this was so bizarre I don’t even know what to say other than it was written as if Sloan was a man - definitely missed the mark on being a realistic or believable female character. (Also what woman has ever called HERSELF “dollface”?!)
Add to that, Sloan was a diver who just happened to get a badge/gun when the police division hired her cuz it was cheaper. She wasn’t actually a cop in anything other than a label - her dad called her out for it. Yet she went thru the whole story like she was a full out detective with all the skill, training and authority of a police investigator. It was just so far fetched and unbelievable I found myself repeatedly rolling my eyes.
There was very little character development and depth either. It was mostly either action or diving the entire time and that’s it. It made me feel completely uninvested in any of the characters.
I don’t know whether the author just didn’t actually ask any females what their inner dialogue is like or spent very little time around them as a whole, but this was so bizarre I don’t even know what to say other than it was written as if Sloan was a man - definitely missed the mark on being a realistic or believable female character. (Also what woman has ever called HERSELF “dollface”?!)
Add to that, Sloan was a diver who just happened to get a badge/gun when the police division hired her cuz it was cheaper. She wasn’t actually a cop in anything other than a label - her dad called her out for it. Yet she went thru the whole story like she was a full out detective with all the skill, training and authority of a police investigator. It was just so far fetched and unbelievable I found myself repeatedly rolling my eyes.
There was very little character development and depth either. It was mostly either action or diving the entire time and that’s it. It made me feel completely uninvested in any of the characters.
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