Deep Steal: A Waterway Chronicle Adventure

by Matthew Gore

Michael Gannon, a former conflict journalist turned underwater photographer and videographer, and his Water Horse crew are on assignment to document the effect of an unexplained warm water mass that has moved into North waters. But the Water Horse crew find themselves deep in a mystery they never Nine billion red king crabs vanished from the Bering Sea and is cripplingly the industry.
The Gannon brothers, Michael and his twin Morgan, a retired DEV group military operator, and the rest of their crew vow to help a devastated fishing community discover the truth about the crabs. Boats, waves, gadgets, and guns drive them to discover that this not climate change, someone is stealing the crabs—in the most unexpected way. And it’s a multi-million dollar steal.
Can Michael, Morgan, and the Water Horse team solve this mystery and save the lifeblood and livelihood of the small community? This is just the beginning for the Water Horse crew in the Waterway Chronicle Adventures. Dive in.

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 27, 2024

About the author

Matthew Gore is a 30-year veteran video director and editor and sought after storyteller whose talents transcend both the screen and the page. His talent has earned him multiple prestigious awards in the world of television and video production. As a seasoned entrepreneur, he brings creativity and innovation to every endeavor.

Self-proclaimed as nautically obsessed, Matthew and his enterprising wife Darla moved aboard their beautiful fantail trawler “Ancient Mariner,” to experience a life tempo unique only to living on the water.

Matthew's love for the sea and adventure shines through in his ocean-based action-adventure “Waterway Chronicle” books. In these gripping tales, readers follow the exploits of Michael and Morgan Gannon, aboard their home, the 140 foot ship the Water Horse, that serves as the base for Water Horse Expeditions. With each page, Matthew takes you along with his cast of characters into a world of thrilling escapades and nautical mysteries that unfold against a backdrop of waves, guns, and gadgets upon the boundless oceans and waterways of the world. Dive into the excitement and shove off with Matthew on his next chase for waterway dreams.

Reviews

[Jill Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Matthew Gore brings his love for water and videography to the page as he plants readers in front of the 8’ by 6’ viewport of the Mark IV submersible on their last day of exploration in the Bering Sea, before their return to the surface. Just as they are enjoying the company of a giant squid, it suddenly darts away, and they are nearly killed by an unknown deep rumbling predator. With water seeping in, and a large gash on the head of the Sea Watcher engineer they are forced to proceed with emergency procedures. What follows, as they narrowly escape the dangers of the sea and dock at Dutch Harbor, further shakes them up as they learn of the disappearance of nine billion red king crab. The missing crab has caused Fish and Wildlife authorities to close the season before it could even begin – a devastating announcement for the local economy.

Owner of the Water Horse, the vessel housing marine biologist Kyle’s Sea Watcher team is Michael Gannon. Mike left a decade long career as a network conflict videographer in search of a dream in underwater videography. Alongside his twin brother, Morgan, a former Navy special warfare tactical field operator with the highly classified DEV group team, the Gannon brothers have brought together an incredible crew aboard Water Horse. But no one can seem to elude the feeling that something more nefarious is going on. Between the submersion incident and now the crab season shut down, the Water Horse team decides to use local Captain Bill’s secret fishing spots to explore what’s truly happening with the crab population.

The passion Gore brings to his craft is apparent throughout this book. From the way he connects readers to the local fishing community, to the nautical detail, vast knowledge of the sea, and the crew on board. “Deep Steal” will leave readers with a new appreciation for the world’s water and wildlife. Whether you ever had dreams of becoming a marine biologist, or just enjoy sea life from a distance, Gore has created a thrilling aquatic mystery.

Off the heels of the 2023 OceanGate submersible, Titan’s devastation, the fear of another submersible incident is ever present in this series opener. Furthermore, those who complete the entirety of this read will find in the Author’s Note the real events of 2022 in which billions of red king crab did disappear. With fantastic detail, realistic crafting, and an entertaining narrative, Gore fills in this mystery in a way only someone with his talent for pen, imagery, and sea could.

[Maxwell Zachs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not terribly written but the storyline was just so trite and convenient. Do you really expect us to believe Kyle set up and sourced an entire king crab hatchery in under one paragraph? Or that Ellie just so happened to have an FBI source to illegally look up people's phone data? The whole thing was underdeveloped. Whether that was laziness or lack of experience I don't know.
Also why was Billy talking into his phone saying, "I'll get it," when he was on the boat to do sabotage? I kept waiting for them to discover what he'd stolen. There were many instances in the book where things didn't quite match up.
What I liked was the well written characters and the realistic camera tech descriptions.

[Frank Rush · Rating 5 out of 5]

A NEW Author with exciting NEW characters leading to NEW mysteries with nautical flair! This first book in the series deals with the mysterious disappearance of King Crabs. Add in Billionaire funding the operation, Sister of Primary Characters as Top Reporter in New York along with the local setting and people in Alaska, Gore weaves an interesting and detailed scenario. At times his writing ( for me ) a little slow and too detailed the overall result is an interesting and fun read.

Gore has established and set up for the future a cast of characters and basis for the Series. I look forward to his next book. Recommended.

Thank you for looking at the Review that I hope you find informative and HELPFUL! 😃

[BJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe a little 'out there'

Recommended by another author, thought I'd give it a try. Gore's characters are nicely introduced, another main character, Michael's boat, plays a solid role. Seems that some mysterious underwater craft can appear then completely disappear at will, and leave a weird track. That cloaking and other modifications are maybe more the author's imagination than currently possible, but, hey, it IS fiction.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Finish

When a book starts with long narrative and descriptive paragraphs, I don’t have high hopes. I like Clancy but realize sometimes I have to skim the filler and glean the plot and action. But… those first paragraphs started a wonderful and believable story that kept me entranced until the end. I’m looking forward to the next adventure.

[Mark Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nautical thriller

Great first book by this author. With obvious knowledge of all things related to boating on the seas, the author crafted a story that captured me from the start. It has a great and unusual plot line with a clever ending. I highly recommend!

[Bud Paton · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, it was excellent read, I’m a slow reader but I couldn’t put the book down and finished in two evenings! I served in the Coast Guard so the events, people, details hit home with this nautical adventure. Great job Matt!

[Yvonne Tyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great new author to follow

An entertaining story that captures your attention from the start. I look forward to more adventures of the waterway chronicles.

[Dawn Suber · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really nice read. Mystery, adventure, and wildlife.

This was a great book to read. It was written with adventure and mystery. I can’t wait to read the next one. Great job Matt!

[KerryO · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love sea adventures and Deep Steal certainly delivers! I cannot wait for the next adventure with the Water Horse!!!