Depths

Southern Watch #2

by Robert J. Crane

Due to disturbing content, this book is intended for MATURE READERS ONLY. The underworld is rising in Midian, Tennessee, a small town and burgeoning hotspot of demonic activity. When a string of savage and horrific murders committed by demons shocks the town, the unsuspecting Sheriff's Department scrambles to track down the culprit. Working outside the bounds of the law is Deputy Archibald "Arch" Stan and demon hunter Lafayette Hendricks. The two of them are keeping watch on Midian, trying to thin the demon population - a heavy task even when there isn't a rising body count to deal with. Their investigation leads them on a twisting path that sends them up against the forces of hell, has them at odds with their significant others and may even cost them their lives. Because a new demon has come to Midian, one that has a taste for death... ...and he may not leave the town standing when he's done.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Horror, Supernatural, Collections, Paranormal, Fiction

261 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2014

About the author

Robert J. Crane was born and raised on Florida's Space Coast before moving to the upper midwest in search of cooler climates and more palatable beer. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in English Creative Writing. He worked for a year as a substitute teacher and worked in the financial services field for seven years while writing in his spare time.

Reviews

[Nicolette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm assuming everyone who's read advanced copies of this book-slash-was-emailing-RJC-vomiting-emoticons was disgusted by the Colleen Incident. Um. Well. Maybe I'm just really fucked in the head as well, because that didn't revolt me. (And TBH even if it had I would have kept reading.)

Anyway. I didn't love Gideon as much as I loved Hollywood but he definitely had the bigger badder bad guy thing going on. RJC was definitely right when he made the 'not for kiddies' disclaimer, but I love it. The characters are so much darker and all this shit gets thrown in that makes me go o.O like the thing at the end with Alison. Like seriously. That was fucking awesome, and I cannot wait to see what kind of badass this woman becomes.
Starling is awesomely creepy as usual, and is she just an angel invading the redhead or something? ARE WE GOING TO GET A HOLY WAR? PLEASE LET US GET A HOLY WAR.

As an aside, I finished this the day before my daughter got the flu, and I was stuck home watching Bubble Guppies on repeat in a snowstorm. I felt like I was destined to run my car into a truck later on that day, so I made my husband go out and do all the driving. He almost crashed into a tractor trailer that had decided to park in the MIDDLE OF THE GORRAM STREET. SELF-FULFILLING SOUTHERN WATCH PROPHECY FTW.

[Marti Kilroy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the story. Great character development and cliffhanger ending. Would have given it 5 stars if not for the overwhelming number of unedited mistakes. It was as if no one had proofread before publishing. There were words missing or in the wrong sequence as well as phrases repeated. Often, I had to reread several times to try to determine what the author intended to say. This lessened my enjoyment of the story.

[Karen ⚜Mess⚜ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better, longer, and darker than the first book.

Those demons are getting nasty! Robert J. Crane turned up the volume in horror in this second installment of Southern Watch series. New types of demons and familiar faces. I love the action and the humor.

[Thomas Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intrigued

Gideons parts in this one were disturbing but the story is gradually getting better. Very pleased with this series as it is unfolding

[Bkwyrm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually liked the story - and the introduction of new characters, especially the two OOC enforcers. But bits of this story got old very quickly, and after a while just felt intrusive and pointless. I did not have trouble with the body horror described, it served a purpose and had a place in the plot. But the multiple descriptions of a demon masturbating just got tedious. We get it, human death flips his triggers. It turns him on. Once or twice would be fine, servers a purpose in the story. But it KEPT HAPPENING. Almost every scene with the demon was just..... the guy jerking off and descriptions of his caustic ejaculate eating through things.
I’m going to read the next one, because I like the worldbuilding, the characters, and the storyline. But honestly, if I want detailed descriptions of masturbation, I’m not looking for it in urban fantasy.

[Anne Monteith · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this series is disturbing on many levels, it is also a series that I am glad that I've read and will continue to read until the brutal, blood end. Many of the characters are flawed, some are just evil and the demons are enough to make any lover of horror stories cringe.

Mr. Crane has said that this is his least popular series and as such is on the back burner in order of writing, publication and release; book 8 was tentatively scheduled for 2019 and has been pushed back until 2020 and I'm disappointed. I'm not sure how many more are planned, but I'd like to finish the series before I die so I hope he'll change his mind.

Mr. Crane, because of this series you have a new fan who plans to read your other series. The next one will be the second least popular.

4.25 Stars

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Depths' was a good addition to a pretty good series. The story line kept me interested throughout. Hendricks is still pretty good at banishing demons. I like his and Erin's dynamin, even if it is only due to their frequent interludes. Erin seems to be quite a bad-ass when it comes to demons and what needs to be done. Arch has become quite the demon slayer. He's still the all-American, but he really fits the part. I loved the twist thrown in. I look forward to reading the next book. A great add to your tbr list.

[Sue Gill · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really not keen on the main bad demon in this book. I know he is a bad guy but his bits where too graphicly written, revealing in the rape and murder porn of it.
I enjoyed the expansion of the two demon civil servants/men in black types. their interactions where nice. Starting continues to intrigue me.
So all in all this one read as a bad extended length chapter linking books 1 and 3. if I didn't have them all downloaded I a trilogy I would never have picked up book 3 after reading this. as it is I was sat down and the next page was in front of me.

[Pam App · Rating 5 out of 5]

So my review of the first in this series basically said that I hadn't started reading these even though I was a huge fan of the author and had already read everything else of his. The first made me want to read the second....I have & now I'm hooked! These are something I'm not used to from RJC but im finding them refreshing in my own weird way. It's all going to hell in Midian thanks to the demons and their afflictions. Hendricks and his band of unlikely allies are there to stop them but I'm probably right in guessing it's going to get a lot worse

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable second book in the Southern Watch series, developing the characters a bit more and introducing two new characters, two "demon cops," via a common problem they share with demon hunter Hendricks and his deputy friend Arch. The events begin shortly after the conclusion of the first book. It's been a while since I read the first book, and I was pleased that Crane dropped just enough memory joggers in this story for me to remember what I needed to without interrupting the flow. The story ends with several questions about the characters and makes me want to read the next installment.

[Darcy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read rouphly 65% of this book. But with every single chapter featuring The main villain either masturbating, obsessing over the thought of masturbating, or raping someone (Every.single.chapter), I had to eventually put this one down.

Just prepubescent nonsense and I'm glad the author knew this books worth by offering it for free. Because it sure as anything was worth any amount of money (or time)

[Sheila Hultgren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, This was a good book with a great lead up to the next one. The Whole sex demon thing was too much for me but I kept reading. I don t mind sex in a book but this was gross. Seemed like the fantasy of an eighth grader. I hope the rest of the books are a little less centered around masturbation etc. seemed like porn to me.

[Pam Bales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this series, but it is pretty graphic so definitely not for the younger set or anyone who objects to that. Good characters, interesting premise. Why would a little town in Midian, Tennessee be a hotspot for Demons? Good question that this series is answering. I'm not sure why it took so long to read, except I have too many irons in the fire and am reading too many books.

[Constance Guillory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impressed!

Another good book. So much action! The weirdest part of this book, well the two weirdest parts, were Geideon and the OOC. Who knew that there was law in their home base?! And Geideon! Weirdest demon ever! And what is Arch? Or his wife for that matter? I can't wait to read the next book. What a cliffhanger? I can't wait to read the next book!.

[Stephanie Serrano Hargrove · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story!

Four stars for the story and the characters are getting to be more in depth. They still need work more background story.
I am beginning to understand some of the guys life and motivation behind who they have become, but book 3 and we still unsure of a lot. Plus the cussing is just ridiculous.

[mary johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Mr. Crane has done it again. This sequel to "Called" was spectacular. It kept me reading it. You just can't put it down. He fleshed out the characters of Arch, Hendricks and Erin well. It is like you know them, especially if you are from a rural area. A good read. Can't wait to read the next installment.

[Jack Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome reading!

I love this series, and each installment just gets better and better. The characters are also so likeable. Their dialogue is so entertaining and humorous at times. Hendricks and Arch are so sexy together, and I love the addition of Duncan and Lerner. Awesome, satisfying read and I can't wait to see what happens next.

[R.A. Falkowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

intriguing plot but GROSS

I liked the heroes storyline, their growth, and how it all comes to together at the end of the book. I didn’t like the gross descriptions of what he demon could do and did to humans. I’m all for horror, but I don’t like gore, and this book had a lot more gore than book 1.
With that said the plot kept me hooked and I read it all the way through.

[R Grisham-Whitehouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

story is interesting

This is still an interesting story, but I feel like the author went off the deep end with a demon doing inappropriate things. Also some of the plot doesn’t make a lot of sense. I’m assuming this is some build up for the next book but I don’t think I’ll be following

[Tammy Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series

It's not my usual read and I had my doubts when it was recommended to me but I'm glad I gave it a shot. This is a really good series. It's set in a small town with small town cops facing off against demons with the help of a demon hunter and a couple of demon cops. Give it a try you'll get hooked too.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

This book is definitely adults only. Lots of cursing, wild sex. Murder and mayhem. Definitely good and almost good against the demons it had anothet surprising ending. Wow

I am looking forward to the next book.

[Thomas Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written but not well edited

This story was strong and compelling but I was often thrown off by the errors in the text. The book also left a couple loose ends that maybe get cleared up in the next book? Hopefully, but still, I am interested.

[Michael Krier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun story but a little depraved to the point of being off putting. The main demon bad guy scenes were very graphic and it felt like it was every other page without giving more attention to other characters. I am not a prude but this was a little much.

[she wolfen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep the ideas coming!

This is good,really good.with an increasing cast of characters that still make some sense ,if one can call demons making sense. The characters are over time fleshing out nicely with room for many more ,let the party begin....

[Dustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fifty shades of ick

It is one thing to describe something in detail but to do it over and over every time that character splurged onto the pages felt a little excessive. Hope the rest of the series isn’t so icky.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again, just an amusing vacation read.

[Natasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome series!

[Kelley Midgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first. Really looked forward to reading this book. I really look forward to reading the next.

[Eddy Faison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where have you been all my life

Only two books into the series and I'm beyond intrigued...so many twist and unanswered questions that you gotta keep reading.

[Barb VanderWel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this & I can't wait for more.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.