The Devil's Deep

Devil's Deep #1

by Michael Wallace

Chad Lett is a mute witness to an attempted murder. He suffers from total paralysis, locked within a prison of his own mind. After years of silence, he establishes contact with a young nurse's aid through a single blinking eye, but then she is abducted and a staff member begins to administer dropperfuls of cleaning solution into his communicating eye.

A heart-pounding thriller that will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned, the Devil's Deep is a top rated suspense that travels from the hell of a long-term care facility to the rain forest of Costa Rica. And a crime committed under tropical waters, the dive known as El Bajo del Diablo--the Devil's Deep.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Amazon, Suspense

253 pages, ebook

First published January 19, 2011

About the author

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Michael also welcomes email from readers at m.wallace23(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Reviews

[Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder, mystery, romance, intrigue, a witness, an exotic locale and family dysfunction.

This is a pretty well used formula to write a good thriller/suspense (and sometimes a not-so-good one!). The author sent me a copy of this book early this year and I set it aside because I wasn’t in the mood for a formula book. I picked it up earlier this month when I was in a reading slump and needed to read something to break me out of it.

It worked! Yes, it’s a formula, but ya know, that’s okay. This one had a few little twists and turns added in that left me wondering what was going to be coming at me next. The thing that makes this book so well written is that the author feeds us just enough information to keep the action moving along. I didn’t feel any lull in the story and found myself staying up a little late to find out what happens next.

No grammar or formatting problems that I saw in the kindle version, it’s a clean easy-to-read book. The storyline is fabulous.

My one nitpick on this book is the epilogue. I’m not sure it was needed, and if it was, maybe just half. While I like my books tied up with a little bow, I’m not quite sure it needed this large of a bow. It didn’t ruin the book, not at all, but perhaps gave it a little bit more of a “seriously?” groan from me.

I’d recommend this book to those that like thriller/suspense books and anyone in a reading slump that is looking to bust out of it.

[Emma (M) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Devil's Deep started quite slow for me and I really wasn't getting into it, but at about the halfway mark things started to heat up and I finished it in one session. The really interesting part and what set it apart from others of its type was the storyline surrounding the character of Chad Letts. Caught in a world where he is 'locked in' he is keep it at a facility where he is diagnosed in a vegetative and non-responsive state, unable to communicate to anyone that he is actually alive and mentally aware. Chad has spent time in this facility a prisoner of his body for five years when the story starts. Unfortunately Chad's storyline doesn't really start to develop in the story for quite some way into the book, which is probably why it took me a while to get into into it to start.

I would actually give a rating of 3.5 stars for this book if GR would allow.

[Stefanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Devil's Deep starts out as some kind of medical mystery, becomes a navel-gazing study of a pretentious law school student, and ends as a multi-generational thriller as a cast of infantile adults try to destroy each other's lives while the pretentious law school student steps in to save the day and maybe get laid along the way. I started to get interested about halfway through when the law school student and his boss/love interest go to Costa Rica, but then the entire plot line is revealed shortly after, though the book continues long after in an exhaustive attempt to wrap up loose ends that is destroyed by the bizarre epilogue. I think it has a lot of potential, if all of the dialogue was rewritten to seem like actual human speech and it was about a third of the length.

[Heather Doughty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I cannot get on board with this book. I finished it, but I am more disturbed by it than entertained.

1. the use of the word retard was beyond jolting. Yes, I know the patients are clinically referred to as mentally retarded, but the author's use of the word retarded has other connotations.

2. really? employees have sex in rooms with patients? really? a family member would have sex with someone with his uncle in the same room?

3. there were many questionable facts and statements that led me to stop reading, look it up, and then continue. For example: a woman with an IQ of 9. A man receiving a degree from Cornell in Theatre. These instances made me not trust the author.

4. there were several rushed moments where the reader is expected to just go along with it rather than the author building up the scene so the reader is taken for the ride. Example: a woman is missing, a young college student is curious that she is from the same town he used to spend family vacations, so he just hops on a plan to investigate? This needs more.

5. the writing is rough. The transitions are not good, there aren't too many descriptions, and the flow is jagged and forced at times. There are some formatting issues within the book.

I will say that it was an interesting choice to create a story that takes place in Vermont and Costa Rica. There are strong themes of greed, money, and jealousy. But that's it for me. I finished the book quite disturbed and upset.

[Kaitlin R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo. I wasn't terribly engrossed in the first chapter, but kept on. And then all the sudden I couldn't stop reading. The mystery was great, and I personally didn't figure out what was going on for a long time. It was very convluted, but I think that everything made sense, everyone's motivations were pretty clear cut and we knew, in the end, who did what and why.

The characters were pretty well done. None were stupidly shallow, none way too deep for the genre. I wasn't so engrossed by the romance. In a way, I applaud the author for not giving in to "sweep her off her feet" but in another the disjointedness of the romance (which was purposeful) sort of jilted the prose. Also, the Count of Monte Cristo references made me very happy.

I loved the setting and the author really had a lot of authority with his stuff. He knew what he was talking about with low-functioning patients, working at state facilities, and Costa Rican diving. This is some good stuff and well worth your money and time. Another reader mentions profanity and vulgar content, and they're right, it has both, but they are in character and not over-the-top. Well done book overall.

[Simon Jenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a unique and fascinating thriller with unusual characters and settings surrounding an unusual case. Chad Lett is totally paralyzed and locked within a prison of his own mind. His plight, as a mute witness to an attempted murder, told from his point of view is both fascinating and terrifying. You just have to keep reading to find out whether or not he gets the justice he so dearly deserves. Wes and Becca are the two key characters that carry the story along and unravel the mystery. They are likeable, easy to root for and add a hint of romance to the plot. The unique setting to this book makes you think about an often forgotten part of life but there is also plenty of action to add excitement to this intriguing mystery/thriller.

For some snippets of previously unknown trivia about the author and the book, please check out: http://simonjenner.com/the-devils-deep/.

[Butch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book immensely. Had I borrowed the book from the kindle lending library I would have bought it (like I have done with other books).

In the beginning, the story "seemed" strange because I didn't see what being in Vermont had to do with the title and cover nor how the character (Chad Lett), initially introduced in the story, could have any bearing on deep ocean scuba diving.

Once into it, all the pieces started fitting together. The plot had a lot of twists in it and really kept me guessing. I started trying to guess who the "bad guy/girl" was/were. Was only partially right and was surprised by the rest.

A very good story.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

So you buy a kindle and the first thing you do is browse through the free ebooks because, hey, a book is that much better when it's free, right? That's how I stumbled upon Michael Wallace's The Devil's Deep.
Allow me to say that this book is one of the best that I have ever read. The plot is extremely new, unique, fresh, different. Wallace pulls you in and never lets you go, throughout the entire story. I am extremely impressed by this not-so-well-known author and grateful for discovering his exquisite work. 5 stars well earned!

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just what I would expect from Michael Wallace. Completely unpredictable, well written, and most importantly a book that grabs you, pulls you in and doesn't let go. If you're expecting a story a long the lines of "The Righteous Series", then maybe this isn't the book for you. In it Mr. Wallace branches out and away fron his normal pattern into a whole new world. Mystery, mayhem, sex, murders all in modern society. It's most definitely worth the read. Enjoy!

[Suzanne Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book aloud with my husband on a car trip. Michael Wallace is a talented writer. He kept us guessing, and we often stopped to discuss where a plot turn might be taking us. Although we were able to guess most of the plot turns from his excellent foreshadowing, it was still a page turner, and we finished it as quickly as I could read aloud. I definitely recommend this if you're looking for a thriller with family drama.

[Scott Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time I've read this author and I'm impressed. Great story, though I had most of the characters figured out pretty early on. Still, some great twists I didn't see coming, liked the character development and very descriptive. I'm looking forward to reading more by Mr. Wallace.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were a few places where I got lost, but I kept going because I really wanted to know what happened to Chad, and then everything started falling into place and I was so engrossed I kept reading while I was waiting for my mammogram (TMI, I know). See other comments in my updates.

[sharon marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different

Different

this was a very different type of book...very good once you got into it and then it got you involved

["Avonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thriller that kept me reading!

[DolphinBlue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written and interesting, but lacked that page-turning factor. I cared about the characters, but only somewhat. Sometimes the story jumped ahead when I felt that filling in the gap would have added some meaning. Sometimes it was hard to keep up with the characters. The story had a reasonable amount of suspense and drama, but those moments felt a bit understated. A good story that could have been told slightly better.

[Patt Lisenbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil's Deep

The author spins a great tale, linking being trapped in your mind in a vegetative state to murder 85 feet below the surface of the ocean, from Costa Rica to the U.S. Building roads, solar power, family empires and individual ideals all twine to explain why family members turn on each other. Crack this one open for an intense and great read!
-Taborri Walker, author of the Earth Maid series on Amazon.

[PMM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have given this book 5 stars if it wasn't so wordy. Towards the end, when you knew who had done what and the bad guys were going after Davis, you found yourself screaming to Becca and Wes that their answers are right in front of their faces!

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting mystery about a man in "locked-in" syndrome.

[patndoris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fanrastic

This turned out to be so much better than I anticipated. I truly enjoyed this book. Suspense and intrigue abound.

[Irma Montano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the dynamics of story.

Don't have much time for reading these days but when a story takes me and time disappears...it's a great read. Looking forward to next one.

[Colleen Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit too predictable but still enjoyable.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. A big surprise and multiple bad people. It's a shame this was in my library for 10 years before I got to it!

[Dale Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique view on murder and family.

Wes Pilson wants to find out why his mentally challenged brother has random bruises almost every time he visits Eric at his facility. He discovers a whole lot of killing and cover-up and they are now targeting Wes and Becca.. Very hard story to put down.

[Ruth Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic.

It is gripping and compelling all the way through, never losing urgency and tension. The mystery is revealed so carefully, never too much revealed at a time. I felt invested in the story right from the first page.

Despite it being a thriller, the characters are well drawn, interesting, varied, and believable. The dialog is realistic.

I'm sensitive to the pacing of stories and how much is told v.s. shown. I thought this book kept the balance of both those things perfectly. It's been a long time since I felt so engaged in a story. I was completely engrossed all the way through.

There's a reveal half way through that upped the tension so much and made me care so much that I was reading late into the night, wanting to know how it turned out!

I've never read anything by Michael Wallace before, but I will be reading more of his work in the future. I am definitely a fan now!

[I particularly appreciated the compassionate and humane way that the residents of the mental health facility were portrayed]

[Cecilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This first in a series was a recommendation to me from by Bookbub website. It started out with an interesting premise and developed well into the first 1/3 of the book. Spoiler alert though - I was quickly able to figure out basically who was who and how it would develop. There were a couple of surprises and disappointments too. The main characters have potential to be complex and multi-layered but the author seems to forget where he was going with their progression and motives. One of the four primary "bad guys" never interacts with a close relative (spoiler alert #2) in any kind of realistic fashion.

It was an OK mystery but had so much more potential that I'm wondering whether I should read the second and third in the series - The Devil's Peak and The Devil's Cauldron, respectively. Since I already have the Devil's Peak on my kindle, I'll probably read that one and hope the author improves in his management of the characters and plot.

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inside a man's worst nightmare

Locked inside his own mind, a patient tries to make contact with his nurse's aide. He doesn't remember how he got here, to this nursing home with no familiar faces, but he knows he doesn't belong. When the young worker is taken, Chad is ready to give up. But coincidence offers up one more chance for Chad to gain his freedom and reestablish his connection to the world. The mystery spans from Vermont to Costa Rico and back again.

Full of mystery, murder, intrigue, family feuds, and family loyalty, with some gratuitous romance thrown in, this thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat. The romance was unnecessary and distracting, but the rest was compelling. The author wrapped up most of the loose ends by the time the mystery was solved, and character motivation was believable.

[Will Decker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bottom line to the story held so much promise; a man is ambushed by his own brother, beautiful women go missing, a recalcitrant detective, an unassuming hero, and a doctor doing unspeakable things to a patient trapped by paralyses. Oh, and let's not forget the beautiful woman that assists our unassuming hero. So much potential and yet, it falls short. The characters never quite develop, remaining flat and going through the motions; kinda like poor acting. Right near the end I think the author even lost interest when he talks about the healthy brother (Wes) suffering brain damage during childbirth due to a lack of money and proper medical attention when I think he meant the disabled brother (Eric). Oops, your bad. I gave it a 3 on potential, not effort.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started this book because it was free for my Kindle. I was just looking for something entertaining while I was waiting for some other books on hold.
It took a while to get into the story as the beginning was disorganized with little character development. But then it took off, finally, and I was engaged in the story. It was decent enough, but it seemed to wrap up and jump time without explanation. Almost as if the author was just done writing, and couldn't fill in those missing details.
I was occupied, which was the original intent. But now I've finished reading, and those books on hold still aren't available.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading anything by this author. It was suspensful and kept you wondering where this plot was headed. One of the main characters is completely paralyzed and believed to be in a vegetative state. As he tries to make contact with the world many obstacles are thrown into his path. It is written so well that I actually felt his anxiety and felt his despair when he experienced setbacks. The ending came a little fast for me and seemed to be pretty anti-climatic. However, I thought it was an excellent read and will look for more from Mr. Wallace.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am big fan of this authors Righteous series (Love it!)

I bought this one awhile back as it is so cheap for kindle. I really liked it and the story kept me turning the page. It is everyones worst nightmare (being trapped in your own body and can't communicate) and a unique twist for suspense thriller book. But it seems Michael has a gift to write a good story with all his books.

With out a doubt one of my favorite Indie authors.