Flat Water

by Jeremy Broyles

On a road trip to Flat Water, the home he fled years before, Monty Marinnis must confront the complex and painful loss that drove him away and now demands his family. Called back to California for his sister’s wedding, Monty’s journey from the Midwest to the California Coast is also a journey through memory, one complicated by the presence of his adoring, but increasingly frustrated wife Charlotte, from whom Monty has concealed the horrifying details of his family’s fracture and how he remains haunted by what he witnessed as a teenager. The Marinnis family lost their eldest son in a shocking attack, while Monty watched, helpless. Since that day, he has been obsessed with finding an answer to a question that has why do bad things happen to some people but not others? Why were they selected to suffer? In Flat Water, Monty will be confronted by brutal truths that rise like sharks from the depths. Faced with such realities, Monty will have to choose between acceptance and self-destruction. Jeremy Broyles’s Flat Water is a sensorial and emotionally rich exploration of guilt, shame, the burden of secrets, and the possibility of redemption. -Jenny Irish, Author of I Am Faithful

215 pages, Paperback

Published September 5, 2023

About the author

Jeremy Broyles is an Arizona native, originally from the Cottonwood-Jerome-Sedona high desert. He earned his B.A. from Doane College, now University, his M.A. from Northern Arizona University, and his MFA in fiction from Wichita State University. He is a professor with nearly twenty years of experience teaching in higher education, and he currently serves as the creative writing program director at Mesa Community College where he has taught since 2017. His stories have appeared in The MacGuffin, Santa Clara Review, Rock and a Hard Place Magazine, Pigeon Review, Pembroke Magazine, Red Rock Review, scissors & spackle, Suburbia Journal, and Reckon Review amongst many others. His novella, What Becomes of Ours, was published in 2014 by ELJ Publications. His novel Flat Water--the story of siblings, surfing, and sharks and what happens when those things come together both in and out of the water--was released by Main Street Rag Press in 2023. He is an aging rider of bicycles, a talentless surfer of waves, and a happily mediocre player of guitars.

Reviews

[Pretty Peony Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This eloquent story tells the story of Monty Marinnis, a man haunted by the tragic loss of his brother in a shark attack while surfing during their childhood. The incident, where his brother sacrificed himself to save Monty, left an unforgettable mark on him. When Monty’s sister extends an invitation to her wedding back in his childhood home in California, it stirs up a flood of memories he’d long suppressed. Among them are recollection of an abusive father who was absent from their lives.

I found this story deeply moving. It explored themes of pain, sorrow, and the journey towards acceptance in the face of loss. Despite Monty being an adult, living in the mid-west with his wife, the weight of memories never seems to fade. Confronting them proves just as challenging. The story delves into Monty’s strained relationship with his wife (who was patient with him and did her best to support and help him whenever he needed it) as well as his desire to reconcile with his father. There were moments where it felt as though Monty would come through, but then he’d fall right back into this dark place that only he could work himself out of. This poignant story is a reminder of the inherent unfairness of life’s twists and turns.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This introspective novel follows Monty's life from when he was a young boy to now. Monty has a strange perception at times and sees sharks in people. Is that a reflection of who that person is, or is it unresolved feelings about the death of his brother from a shark attack? His brother's death tore the family apart, and Monty made sure he moved as far away from the water as he could so that he would not have to deal with the painful memories associated with that time in his life. This is classic avoidance, and it is a shame that no one thought to get him counseling so that he could accept that this was a fluke occurrence and it isn't one that happens all the time. 

The book has no chapters, which is my biggest complaint about the book. It is hard to find a decent stopping place, and this was not a book that I wanted to try and finish in one sitting. At least there were some page breaks that made halfway decent stopping places. The book does flashback in time, giving us an insight into Monty's life as a teen with his family and how this impacted his future. 

Monty was not likable in my mind. He wasn't evil, but he had a lot of baggage he was carrying around and not resolving. His wife, Charlotte, is a character, and she puts up with a lot from him. It is because he never told her about his past or his family. He never even told her that his legal name was something other than Monty. I can see why this could cause issues in their relationship. 

This book is intriguing, and it gives the reader a lot to think about. We give this book 3 1/2 paws up.

[Chelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monty hasn't been back to Flat Water nor California since the tragedy of his brothers death. A day that is seared in his memory that he has on repeat in his mind daily as he struggles with questions we all struggle with when the death is a shock and feels it could have been prevented. Carrying the guilt, Monty has never really dealt with the truth that it was not his fault that his brother was attacked by that shark, but he has become obsessed with shark attacks and the statistics that go with them. Which sharks attack more, which areas have more attacks, what areas have higher deaths by sharks? So when his sister is getting married and he has to head back to the west coast to face things head on he isn't sure if he has the strength or if he will fall even more into obsession than he has. So when an attack happens when he is out there, he takes off. Why do these things happen? How do those people become the chosen ones to become attacked? Searching for answers he will never be able to find, Monty continues to spiral as he also connects with those from the past who knew him and his brother. This is a novel that can really resonate with those who struggle with death and grief. I often times understood Monty searching for an answer knowing he won't find one. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Author Marketing Experts for putting this on my radar. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monty left his hometown of Flat Water many years ago, after he lost his brother to a shark attack. Since he’s left, he hasn’t returned. But now his sister, Maggie, is getting married and she has asked for him to return. And rather then return for just the wedding, Monty and his wife, Charlotte, are heading back to Flat Water for the summer. Monty has never told anyone his experience from the horrifying events the day that he lost his brother. Now he must face the truth, the grief, and the horror of that day.

I really enjoy a book that makes me feel something and this one did exactly that. Monty is such a dynamic character, but I felt like most of the time he was just letting life pass him by. He wasn’t really living. I wanted to shake him and tell him to get help. Because of the way that he was living, I thought he wasn’t very nice to his wife. He didn’t seem to really love her. It felt like he chose her because he knew he was expected to get married. And then how he treated her when they were in CA! I was appalled!!

I did also feel really bad for Monty as well. I can’t even imagine being there, seeing your sibling die. I can’t imagine how he become obsessed with shark attacks and how much it affected his life. This was all written so brilliantly.

If you’re looking for a book to take you on an emotional journey, this is the one for you!

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monty and Max were California brothers who loved to surf. It was their thing, always together, until that day Monty felt something different in the water—the day Max was attacked by a shark.

Monty’s grief, guilt, and fears are all expressed very well. He ran away from California to Nebraska, a landlocked state. He never told his family, wife, or old friends the details of those moments in the water with the shark and Max.

But the sharks and the guilt continue to circle in his head.

Monty returns to California for his sister’s wedding; memories confront him like waves crashing on the sand.

As much as I literally shivered whenever Monty flashed back to him and Max in the water that day, I found it a bit hard to like Monty. My heart went out to him, but he was not looking at the people surrounding him, loving him but hurting as well.

A visceral and fascinating dive into grief, survivor’s guilt, and the power of nature.

Thank you @therealbookgal and @_jeremybroyles for a gifted copy.

[Country Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an emotionally deep fiction read for me y’all. This is the story of Monty. Monty lost his brother when he was little due to a shark attack, which doesn’t happen as often as people think. However, Monty’s brother was the one who was making sure that Monty could make it and live on for him. That was a poignant message for me as I did that once when I was giving birth to my own son. I was okay with being done as long as my son could live on after me. Fate thankfully had other plans, and with many doctors’ help I sit writing this review today though!
There is so much in this book about accepting and dealing with grief and loss of a loved one. I have had a very close family member pass away at a young age and it still affects every day of my life and it is very challenging to navigate the loss of someone who has left your life too soon. This was a very good reminder to treasure every minute with your loved ones.

[Emily Malek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I was given a free advance reader copy of this book by Author Marketing Experts in exchange for an honest review.

Content warning: this review discusses trauma and shark attacks.

There are plenty of books that feature an “unlikeable” protagonist. They might do stupid things, treat others poorly, or a combination of both. Having this kind of main character is not a bad thing. If done right, they can be compelling to read, especially with understanding why they do the things they do. A case in point is the protagonist from "Flat Water" by Jeremy Broyles. Monty from this novel is an interesting lead, who is forced to deal with the trauma of witnessing a shark attack on his brother.

To read more of this review, click on this link: https://chick-who-reads-everything.co...

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I would like to express my gratitude to the author for sending this book to me, along with a very nice personalized note. That was a classy thing to do. Because of that, I very much wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, I ended up with mixed feelings about it. The characters were very well developed, but sometimes that development seemed repetitive and/or unnecessary, and that bogged down the story. I particularly liked the flashbacks and the overall storyline. I would have enjoyed this more as a short story comprised of the flashbacks and some of the background information to better understand the characters. A worthwhile read nonetheless, and one that I will pass along to someone else to enjoy. Thank you! {H}

[Kim Wilch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would you believe I was reading this book during the recent shark attack at SPI? It’s true. Talk about putting me right into the story. Yikes! I felt disbelief, fear, and shock. I can’t imagine what it would be like to witness an attack on someone you love. The healing journey is a long and rough road, one that is eloquently written by the author. One that the reader will share in this heartbreaking story. The characters were relatable - and though Monty is the one struggling, I can't say I especially liked him. The only thing I would suggest is shorter chapters. Well done. Sending a wave from Nebraska!