3 out of 5 Stars
I’ve been looking for some interesting adult sci fi lately and this one caught my eye. Plus, it was the first book in a series, so even better!
The Blurb
Twelve-thousand feet beneath the Atlantic Ocean . . .
scientists are excavating the most extraordinary undersea discovery ever made. But is it the greatest archaeological find in history—or the most terrifying?
Former naval doctor Peter Crane is urgently summoned to a remote oil platform in the North Atlantic to help diagnose a bizarre medical condition spreading through the rig. But when he arrives, Crane learns that the real trouble lies far below—on “Deep Storm,” a stunningly advanced science research facility built two miles beneath the surface on the ocean floor. The top secret structure has been designed for one purpose: to excavate a recently discovered undersea site that may hold the answers to a mystery steeped in centuries of myth and speculation.
Sworn to secrecy, Dr. Crane descends to Deep Storm. A year earlier, he is told, routine drilling uncovered the remains of mankind’s most sophisticated ancient civilization: the legendary Atlantis. But now that the site is being excavated, a series of disturbing illnesses has begun to affect the operation. Scientists and technicians are experiencing a bizarre array of symptoms—from simple fatigue to violent psychotic episodes. As Crane is indoctrinated into the strange world of Deep Storm and commences his investigation, he begins to suspect that the covert facility conceals something more complicated than a medical mystery.The discovery of Atlantis might, in fact, be a cover for something far more sinister . . . and deadly.
Like Lincoln Child’s spectacular bestsellers coauthored with Douglas Preston (The Book of the Dead, Relic), Deep Storm melds scientific detail and gripping adventure in a superbly imagined, chillingly real journey into unknown territory. Child is a master of suspense, and Deep Storm is his most ambitious novel to date.
My Thoughts
I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed with this novel. The premise was intriguing–a doctor summoned to discover the cause behind a mysterious illnesses plaguing researchers digging for Atlantis! So, I’m expecting an amazing underwater world with spectacular technology, maybe even some amazing creatures… But no. Not quite.
Well, there was plenty of cool technology. I’ll admit, the science part was super interesting. We follow Dr. Crane as he travels to the bottom of the ocean and uses advanced medical imaging and diagnostics to try to get to the bottom of things. But for half the book, he’s kept in the dark about what’s truly going on with this research facility beneath the ocean. The revelations are slow-rolled to the point of frustration. I had to force myself to keep reading for the first half of the book since it took so long to pick up.
It didn’t help that the characters weren’t very likeable. Dr. Crane’s character was just caught up in his own self-importance for the first part of the story, mostly interested in proving his worth to the facility’s female doctor–who herself is wooden and un-likeable. There was maybe one character I really liked through the entire novel.
And the hyper-masculine, military vibe throughout the book was not for me. I can’t stand it when characters blindly follow authority, especially when it’s so obvious that something’s not quite right. It felt very cliched altogether.
But despite all my complaints, I did still enjoy this book overall. It wasn’t what I was expecting, so I was caught off guard by the ending. Although revealed with frustrating slowness, the mystery that comes out in the end is intriguing and thought provoking. And once the action picked up, it was non-stop right up until the end. Definitely a good one for anyone who likes thrillers.
Overall, I’d give Deep Storm Three out of Five Stars. I have a lot of complaints, but the science, tech, and mystery were admittedly very cool. A good one for fans of science fiction thrillers out there 🙂
Happy Reading!
Mage Menagerie 