Under Pressure

An Underwater Investigation #4

by Kathy Brandt

When a chartered plane full of Caribbean tourists takes a nosedive next to her boat, Detective Hannah Sampson and her partner, after finding one survivor, launch their own investigation into a case that keeps getting stranger as they dig deeper. Original.

Genres: Mystery

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 6, 2006

About the author

Kathy is the author of Walks on the Margins: A Story of Bipolar Illness, co-authored with her son, Max Maddox. It was a finalist for the Iowa Review Award in Non-Fiction. She also writes the Hannah Sampson Underwater Investigation series.

After her son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1999, Kathy became a vocal advocate for those with mental illness and their families. She has served is on the board of directors for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) most recently as president of the local chapter. She is the recipient of the 2012 NAMI Award for Outstanding Service and the Golden Quill Award for "Walks on the Margins."

Kathy has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Rhetoric and taught writing at the University of Colorado.

Sourced: http://www.kathybrandtauthor.com

Reviews

[Carl Brookins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah Sampson is hot. Well, wouldn’t you be if an inter-island turbo-jet crashed almost in your lap? This is author Brandt’s third outing with detective Hannah Sampson, and it’s a good one, which is not surprising if you’ve read others by this talented writer.

This novel has pace and passion, lust and lechery, murder and mayhem, an exotic location and some really good characters. What’s not to like? Plus readers will be faced with some puzzles not easily unwound.

The setting, the British Virgin Islands in the tropical Caribbean Sea, is an archipelago washed by sun, sea and mostly benign trade winds that blow in almost constantly from somewhere around Africa. Except during hurricane season which is approaching as the story opens. On a Saturday morning, diving detective Hannah Sampson of the Tortola police department is in the water off Tortola’s airport training a young officer in underwater crime scene forensic procedures. Water rescues and underwater recovery is an important part of the department’s operation. The morning flight, a turbo-jet that looks nothing like the plane on the cover, lifts off and almost immediately plunges into the sea a short distance from the police boat. Hannah and her trainee go immediately to the rescue and in a graphic and well-executed tension-filled scene, rescue some of the twelve people aboard. The scene becomes an excellent introduction to most of the important characters.

A large part of the book involves the investigation by Hannah and her partner, Stark, of the crash and whether this was an act of sabotage, or something else entirely. These questions are well-handled and once the facts are established, the change in direction by the two detectives involved is entirely believable. With a looming hurricane as background, it becomes clear that a solution to the murder must come quickly.

The minor characters enrich the book and Brandt nails the best secondary character, ten-year-old Simon, a crash victim who lost his father when the plane went down. I enjoyed this book and the locale, except for the occasional times when Brandt lets her concerns for unchecked development in this island paradise slow things down. It’s clear the author knows these islands and the inhabitants well, just as she knows diving. Even if there are a few preachy scenes, this is a solid, enjoyable read.

[Nicholas Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Kathy's series of books. Found them when I was searching for novels based around diving to read. Part of the inspiration to write Twelve Mile Bank! Thanks Kathy!

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. So sad there are no more books in this series. :(

[Barbara Derksen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fast paced, this book, the fourth In the series, had me reading when I should have been working, or making meals. Hannah Sampson is a believable character who is a detective with the Tortuga Police Department. Realistic island verbiage keeps one immersed in this story while Hannah is immersed in a mystery with many twists. Her personal life with O'Brien gets complicated when he suggests she quit her job and begin a family with him. This book was so interesting, I bought the other three in the series.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite of the four books. I love how Kathy involves the reader to "experience" diving and I love the forensics and murder mystery. She also has sub topics through out all of her books about other marine and ocean conservation!! Well done and a great way to inspire and get the word out to new readers about the importance of these matters! I hope she will consider writing another book! I did pop a note on her FB page...she seems like a wonderful and unique lady! Kudos!

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful scuba diving murder mystery about Detective Hannah Sampson who's now living in the BVI, British Virgin Islands. A planeload of tourists on a puddle jumper crashes into the ocean not far from Hannah's boat. She and her partner are in 60 feet of water, moments later, vying with reef sharks for possible survivors.

Its a very fun read! I loved it!

[Brandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not a diver, but the author of this book is. The setting is in the British Virgin Islands. From the book it sounds like a nice place to visit. Fairly simple story likable main character.

[Genie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first of this series I have read and I definitely enjoyed it, will read more. Not only underwater mysteries but set in the British Virgin Islands so interesting cultural setting.

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really thought this was a good book. This is by far the best in the series so far. Hope she writes more. Really enjoyed the underwater rescue angle of the book.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery and a nice end to the series.