What do you think?
Rate this book
Deep Sea Predators #1
Megalodon: Bloodbath
A series of bizarre occurrences suddenly plague the island of Cielo Nublado. A dead whale washes ashore riddled with enormous bite marks. A fishing charter is reported missing, jet skiers vanish, and a yacht is found mysteriously ravaged after some kind of enormous impact.
Chief of Police Nico Medrano tries to investigate the matter. His search for answers puts him on a collision course with an 80-foot predator, long thought extinct. Violent and merciless, it has risen to the surface, and seeks to wreak havoc on the small island community.
Things only get worse for Nico after he discovers that a ruthless band of criminals, responsible for the deaths of two Miami cops, are lurking on the island. As the body count mounts, Nico is forced to simultaneously battle two separate Man and Meg.
The result is a bloodbath.
Chief of Police Nico Medrano tries to investigate the matter. His search for answers puts him on a collision course with an 80-foot predator, long thought extinct. Violent and merciless, it has risen to the surface, and seeks to wreak havoc on the small island community.
Things only get worse for Nico after he discovers that a ruthless band of criminals, responsible for the deaths of two Miami cops, are lurking on the island. As the body count mounts, Nico is forced to simultaneously battle two separate Man and Meg.
The result is a bloodbath.
Audible Audio
Published February 15, 2022
181 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
About the author
Michael R. Cole
40 books121 followersMichael R. Cole is an author of creature horror and science fiction. He was born in Toledo, Ohio and grew up in lower Michigan. He has a profound love for monster movies and book as well as the action genre. In addition to writing, his hobbies include martial arts and fishing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
October 5, 2022
I just love the "Megalodon didn't go extinct" trope! It's waay scarier and gorry "fun" instead of the sharks we have today
July 18, 2023
How can you not enjoy a book with Megalodons in it?!
August 25, 2023
Deep Sea Nightmares!
Small backstory:
Nico Medrano who is the Chief of Police on the island of Cielo Nublado has his hands full when things begin to happen on the island that are unexplained, but when a dead whale is found on the beach with bite marks all over its body, Nico becomes worried with wonder of what is going on.
When he finds out that an 80 foot shark is causing havoc within the island waters Nico will need to figure out how to stop it or if he can stop it!
That is about all I can give out on a small backstory, so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This was a great story about a prehistoric shark that goes on an ocean rampage! I have read a couple of other stories by this author and he really knows all there is to know about sharks as he pulls you into his world and plops you right in the middle of the ocean!
There is lots of blood and shark gore floating around in this book so grab your gore suit and get ready to enter the mind of this author as he takes you deep into the ocean depths where you just might come face to face with the Megalodon! Giving this book four "Prehistoric Predator" stars!
Small backstory:
Nico Medrano who is the Chief of Police on the island of Cielo Nublado has his hands full when things begin to happen on the island that are unexplained, but when a dead whale is found on the beach with bite marks all over its body, Nico becomes worried with wonder of what is going on.
When he finds out that an 80 foot shark is causing havoc within the island waters Nico will need to figure out how to stop it or if he can stop it!
That is about all I can give out on a small backstory, so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This was a great story about a prehistoric shark that goes on an ocean rampage! I have read a couple of other stories by this author and he really knows all there is to know about sharks as he pulls you into his world and plops you right in the middle of the ocean!
There is lots of blood and shark gore floating around in this book so grab your gore suit and get ready to enter the mind of this author as he takes you deep into the ocean depths where you just might come face to face with the Megalodon! Giving this book four "Prehistoric Predator" stars!
July 5, 2022
With only a small percent of the worlds oceans explored, it’s safe to say there are many creatures yet to be uncovered. One can then assume the possibility that lurking in the deepest hardest to reach places underwater beings once thought extinct still roam. The events in this book unravel after a decently sized meteor hits down near the Florida keys, stirring things up. The impact has numerous consequences including releasing the Megalodon whose hunting patterns change after seeking new prey. This prehistoric beast instead builds up a hunger for human flesh. A small beachside town is still be reeling from the recent devastation and are in for a shock as they have no idea what hell is hunting the shore. Local police chief Nico is fully dedicated to protecting the towns citizens and tourists. Once a busy police detective Nico enjoys the tranquility of island life but all that is about to change. After a whale swims ashore torn to bits the Chiefs and his ex wife, a marine biologist, must put their past aside along with their differences to save the day. What begins as a normal week in paradise ends with the island bathed in blood and countless shipwrecks covering the ocean floor. The mixture of tension between Nico and his ex add another layer to the story along with the added danger of banks robbers evading the law who use the island as a hideout.
Nico was a decent hero. He’s still really going through it and blames himself for events in the past and he can’t seem to let it go. Facing his past may be hard but in the long run it’s what he needs to have any chance of forgiving himself. While he may be hesitant to believe in the Meg, he never hesitates when it comes to those under his protection ie. jurisdiction. What unravels puts Nico in so many life and death situations he’s forced to be grateful to be alive. The book had a typical horror closing vibe but worked to deliver another bomb till the very end segueing into the next and final book. I enjoyed the book and read via the audio, which was done well, in a few hours.
Nico was a decent hero. He’s still really going through it and blames himself for events in the past and he can’t seem to let it go. Facing his past may be hard but in the long run it’s what he needs to have any chance of forgiving himself. While he may be hesitant to believe in the Meg, he never hesitates when it comes to those under his protection ie. jurisdiction. What unravels puts Nico in so many life and death situations he’s forced to be grateful to be alive. The book had a typical horror closing vibe but worked to deliver another bomb till the very end segueing into the next and final book. I enjoyed the book and read via the audio, which was done well, in a few hours.
August 22, 2023
Loving these sea creature features by Cole. A little formulaic, but I don't care, they're great B horror (which I'm such a junkie of).😆🤷🏼♀️
July 26, 2025
It's Shark Week, y'all! :D
So OF COURSE I had to read a monster shark book, DUH!
This was actually pretty good! We get a tropical "paradise" full of obnoxious tourists, disgruntled locals, a heroic sheriff ... and sudden unexpllainable occurrences. In this particular book, we also get a group of criminals, a hefty amount of drugs and some snarky remarks reminiscent of the best dad jokes. *lol*
What I didn't like too much was that the author used the by now overused trope surrounding the heroic sheriff. And I certainly didn't appreciate how much "screen time" the cop-killing imbecilles stolle from my poor little Brucie (yes, I called the megalodon Bruce, sue me).
However, the action scenes were pretty damn great and plenty of people died - sometimes I just wished we'd get to spend a little more time with the assholes getting chomped on.
The ending was pretty funny, just like the book's explanation for the megalodon suddenly appearing. I can actually see myself continuing ().
All in all, a fun way to spend Shark Week 2025.
So OF COURSE I had to read a monster shark book, DUH!
This was actually pretty good! We get a tropical "paradise" full of obnoxious tourists, disgruntled locals, a heroic sheriff ... and sudden unexpllainable occurrences. In this particular book, we also get a group of criminals, a hefty amount of drugs and some snarky remarks reminiscent of the best dad jokes. *lol*
What I didn't like too much was that the author used the by now overused trope surrounding the heroic sheriff. And I certainly didn't appreciate how much "screen time" the cop-killing imbecilles stolle from my poor little Brucie (yes, I called the megalodon Bruce, sue me).
However, the action scenes were pretty damn great and plenty of people died - sometimes I just wished we'd get to spend a little more time with the assholes getting chomped on.
The ending was pretty funny, just like the book's explanation for the megalodon suddenly appearing. I can actually see myself continuing ().
All in all, a fun way to spend Shark Week 2025.
December 30, 2021
Oh wow!!!!
Once I started reading, I could not stop. Read it straight through. I've already read all oh Michael Cole's books, don't know how I missed this one. Thanks. Now it's time to go to bed.
Once I started reading, I could not stop. Read it straight through. I've already read all oh Michael Cole's books, don't know how I missed this one. Thanks. Now it's time to go to bed.
January 21, 2022
I love sharks
OH BOY, if you think the sea scares you WAIT till you read this book. You will love it.
Have fun reading.
OH BOY, if you think the sea scares you WAIT till you read this book. You will love it.
Have fun reading.
November 27, 2021
They needed a bigger boat!
Fast pace action filled story. It was a new and different take on how the shark arrived in Florida. If you like shark stories then this book is for you. Get the books and leave your reviews.
Fast pace action filled story. It was a new and different take on how the shark arrived in Florida. If you like shark stories then this book is for you. Get the books and leave your reviews.
April 5, 2024
I first came across these ocean horror books a while back, and I think my brother might actually have gotten this for me off my wishlist. I might not have shared this before, but I love shark stuff of any kind. So naturally that includes shark horrors. (Especially).
The backdrop for this one is that a meteor broke up while burning its way through the atmosphere and hit the ocean. It created a giant tidal wave and also unleashed something…
…so when boats end up missing and a giant whale beaches itself to get away from something leaving 7ft crevasses in it, naturally we do NOT close the beaches. We do call in a marine biologist though and this one just so happens to be an ex wife to our lead officer. Go figure.
I know this is set up for a megalodon novel, but there is a giant tidal wave that just literally never gets mentioned again? No damage, no lives lost, no recovery…and the main setting is on an island? I honestly separated that from the book pretty easily, just found it a bit weird that it was included at all.
The problem with stories like these—even though I want to read it—is that there’s no way to not compare them. Especially this one, as it’s very ‘Jaws’ and ‘The Meg’. Although I admit my comparison with the latter is just the movie, I haven’t read the novel it’s based on. The beach not closing, the major police character involvement, and the gang activity (that mirrored the mob) read like the set up to Jaws. The ‘something from the depths was released’ plus the major (obvious) twist 3/4th in, is very The Meg.
I know this probably sounds like I’m just putting the book down, but I enjoyed it, it was a lot of fun and super fast. It just really is Jaws/The Meg smushed together. If you can accept that that is more than likely exactly what you’re looking for, you’re good to go.
The backdrop for this one is that a meteor broke up while burning its way through the atmosphere and hit the ocean. It created a giant tidal wave and also unleashed something…
…so when boats end up missing and a giant whale beaches itself to get away from something leaving 7ft crevasses in it, naturally we do NOT close the beaches. We do call in a marine biologist though and this one just so happens to be an ex wife to our lead officer. Go figure.
I know this is set up for a megalodon novel, but there is a giant tidal wave that just literally never gets mentioned again? No damage, no lives lost, no recovery…and the main setting is on an island? I honestly separated that from the book pretty easily, just found it a bit weird that it was included at all.
The problem with stories like these—even though I want to read it—is that there’s no way to not compare them. Especially this one, as it’s very ‘Jaws’ and ‘The Meg’. Although I admit my comparison with the latter is just the movie, I haven’t read the novel it’s based on. The beach not closing, the major police character involvement, and the gang activity (that mirrored the mob) read like the set up to Jaws. The ‘something from the depths was released’ plus the major (obvious) twist 3/4th in, is very The Meg.
I know this probably sounds like I’m just putting the book down, but I enjoyed it, it was a lot of fun and super fast. It just really is Jaws/The Meg smushed together. If you can accept that that is more than likely exactly what you’re looking for, you’re good to go.
July 6, 2025
4.5 rounded up. Is this book terrible? I mean, kind of, but in the BEST POSSIBLE WAY! I had so much fun with this one that I IMMEDIATELY went to Audible and got book 2 and then borrowed the ebook on KU because this fun might need to be seen and heard! I've been on a Michael Cole, killer animal book binge (this is number 5), and I told myself I was going to take a break after this one, but it was MY FAVORITE! And now I can't stop! These books are every cheesy SyFy killer animal movie in a book, and I'm here for it!
October 17, 2021
There are so many side stories going on that the book is impossible to read. I love a great monster book, this was was shockingly boring!
June 8, 2023
Didn't enjoy as much as Thresher, but still a giant killer shark. Split evenly between the "heroes" and the "bad guys" which backstory on both sides.
July 23, 2025
Fast, bloody, and otherwise very average Megalodon creature feature. Heavily leaning on plot elements of Jaws, with a dash of Meg thrown in. If you don’t know those, read them first.
High body count. It is entertaining enough and the writing is decent, but it‘s shallow and doesn‘t add anything to the genre. Meh, barely worth it.
High body count. It is entertaining enough and the writing is decent, but it‘s shallow and doesn‘t add anything to the genre. Meh, barely worth it.
November 30, 2023
Some books are like dry aged porterhouse steaks from upper Manhattan, or Neapolitan pizza in Naples. They are deep, complex experiences reminiscent of Vivaldi's Four Seasons or Michelangelo's David.
Others, however, are like funnel cake at the fair. They are the songs you've heard at the bowling alley since you were in high school or Saturday morning cartoons. Cheap, fattening experiences that you crave Thursdays on your drive home from work, or hum to when you're stuck in a 2hr Monday meeting.
Michael Cole's books are definitely the second. They are the book equivalent of the SciFy channel's creature features from the 2000's era, and I love them just as much. I love Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin novels. I loved John Steinbeck's East of Eden and all of Cormac McCarthy's novels. I will read and listen to these books for weeks on end.
Cole is none of these authors, but I finish his books in a single day because they are pure entertainment for entertainments sake. They are full of tropes, and you know exactly how the book is going to end, just like you know what the Forth of July fireworks are going to look like, but you will sit and watch that entire show and love every minute of it because you can turn your brain off and just enjoy it.
These creature features are like Reeces peanut butter cups for the mind. They contain no nutritional value, they are full of sugar, and it's probably not even real peanut butter, but you will eat all four in the king sized package before you get home so you don't have to share with the wife.
Enjoy this "mans equivalent of romance novel." You will be too entertained to nitpic all the things he got wrong.
Michael, please keep writing these gotdamn beautiful disasters, because I will keep reading them.
Others, however, are like funnel cake at the fair. They are the songs you've heard at the bowling alley since you were in high school or Saturday morning cartoons. Cheap, fattening experiences that you crave Thursdays on your drive home from work, or hum to when you're stuck in a 2hr Monday meeting.
Michael Cole's books are definitely the second. They are the book equivalent of the SciFy channel's creature features from the 2000's era, and I love them just as much. I love Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin novels. I loved John Steinbeck's East of Eden and all of Cormac McCarthy's novels. I will read and listen to these books for weeks on end.
Cole is none of these authors, but I finish his books in a single day because they are pure entertainment for entertainments sake. They are full of tropes, and you know exactly how the book is going to end, just like you know what the Forth of July fireworks are going to look like, but you will sit and watch that entire show and love every minute of it because you can turn your brain off and just enjoy it.
These creature features are like Reeces peanut butter cups for the mind. They contain no nutritional value, they are full of sugar, and it's probably not even real peanut butter, but you will eat all four in the king sized package before you get home so you don't have to share with the wife.
Enjoy this "mans equivalent of romance novel." You will be too entertained to nitpic all the things he got wrong.
Michael, please keep writing these gotdamn beautiful disasters, because I will keep reading them.
September 24, 2022
On a small community-oriented island, Chief Nico Medrano seems to have found a semblance of solace after enduring a tragedy for which he cannot forgive himself. Other than the tsunami that he helped the residents endure, no lives have been lost, and crime is minimal until the Meg emerges and begins hunting. Soon, a gouged whale washes ashore, and troublesome jetskiers meet their demise. When Nico's ex-wife, Dr. Denise Reta arrives, more chaos ensues, especially when she and Nico become hostages who are caught between desperate thieves and the megalodon.
This book is phenomenal! It is like watching a movie unfold. I became immersed in the happenings at Cielo Nublado and could not put it down. An easy ready, the story developed rather quickly and Michael Cole seamlessly weaves the various storylines together. At no point did I wonder about essential characters. This is the new Jaws, only larger, faster, hungrier, and fiercer.
This book is phenomenal! It is like watching a movie unfold. I became immersed in the happenings at Cielo Nublado and could not put it down. An easy ready, the story developed rather quickly and Michael Cole seamlessly weaves the various storylines together. At no point did I wonder about essential characters. This is the new Jaws, only larger, faster, hungrier, and fiercer.
August 15, 2022
Summary: Cop would rather go to war with an 80ft shark than talk about his feelings.
My favorite character was the Megalodon-- gotta love a fish who supports abolishing the police. He doesn't lick boots, he eats them. Mind you, I didn't pick up this book expecting it to pass the Bechdel test. Most creature features are campy, testosterone-fueled opportunities to show of the author's encyclopedic knowledge of automatic weapons. I've come to expect that. But the rampant homophobia, fatphobia, and sexism of this book distracts from the plot at every turn.
BUT it still gets stars because the shark eats a bunch of fascists.
My favorite character was the Megalodon-- gotta love a fish who supports abolishing the police. He doesn't lick boots, he eats them. Mind you, I didn't pick up this book expecting it to pass the Bechdel test. Most creature features are campy, testosterone-fueled opportunities to show of the author's encyclopedic knowledge of automatic weapons. I've come to expect that. But the rampant homophobia, fatphobia, and sexism of this book distracts from the plot at every turn.
BUT it still gets stars because the shark eats a bunch of fascists.
October 15, 2021
Excellent book by a most excellent author!
Love, love, love this book! This is another great one by this author. I enjoy all shark horror books but I really enjoyed this one for the character development and the side stories around the megalodon. I also enjoyed the characters' humor throughout the storyline. I am really excited that there might be a second book in this series and I look forward to it.
Love, love, love this book! This is another great one by this author. I enjoy all shark horror books but I really enjoyed this one for the character development and the side stories around the megalodon. I also enjoyed the characters' humor throughout the storyline. I am really excited that there might be a second book in this series and I look forward to it.
November 10, 2021
Head The Warning
Michael Cole delivers again. I love his books and have read most of them. Never disappoints good story line, characters, and lots of action. His creatures are believable and you keep reading to find out what happens next. Be prepared this does not end like you think it will. Well done read it and savior it. Looking forward to the next one.
Michael Cole delivers again. I love his books and have read most of them. Never disappoints good story line, characters, and lots of action. His creatures are believable and you keep reading to find out what happens next. Be prepared this does not end like you think it will. Well done read it and savior it. Looking forward to the next one.
February 22, 2025
This was such a fun read! Likeable lead characters, fast paced and a lot of blood. The subtitle isn't Bloodbath for nothing! At times predictable, but still satisfying. For fans of movies like Jaws, Pirrahna, Deep Blue Sea etc. Can't wait to read book two.
January 11, 2022
liked the book
Well written I thought. Page turner wanted to read what would happen next. Will continue to read next book to see what happens next
Well written I thought. Page turner wanted to read what would happen next. Will continue to read next book to see what happens next
February 28, 2022
Great
This was a very fun read, actually made me think of jaws at times. Can't wait for the next one.
This was a very fun read, actually made me think of jaws at times. Can't wait for the next one.
September 19, 2022
Definitely a lot of megalodon and other prehistoric sea creature action. Scenes were brutal and action packed.
November 16, 2024
3.5 stars
December 8, 2024
Needed a round of editing thanks to typos but I'm a sucker for things that are fun and stupid
August 18, 2025
Nothing says “perfect beach read” quite like an eighty-foot prehistoric shark turning jet skiers into hors d’oeuvres. 🦈✨
Really enjoyed this book! It kicks off with a string of bizarre accidents—boats wrecked, people vanishing, a whale washing up with enormous bite marks—and gradually builds into full-on chaos. While Chief of Police Nico Medrano tries to piece things together, a parallel storyline unfolds with ruthless criminals hiding out on the island.
Like all good disaster stories, you’ve got the skeptics who don’t believe until it’s far too late, plus the politics and scapegoating that inevitably follow catastrophe. We don’t actually get to the aftermath here, but you can already see certain arrogant characters digging their own graves (or at least their future demotions).
But let’s be honest—we came for the gore, and this book delivers. Spectacular deaths, plenty of carnage, and a few kills that felt satisfyingly deserved. A bloody, entertaining ride from start to finish. 🦈💥
Really enjoyed this book! It kicks off with a string of bizarre accidents—boats wrecked, people vanishing, a whale washing up with enormous bite marks—and gradually builds into full-on chaos. While Chief of Police Nico Medrano tries to piece things together, a parallel storyline unfolds with ruthless criminals hiding out on the island.
Like all good disaster stories, you’ve got the skeptics who don’t believe until it’s far too late, plus the politics and scapegoating that inevitably follow catastrophe. We don’t actually get to the aftermath here, but you can already see certain arrogant characters digging their own graves (or at least their future demotions).
But let’s be honest—we came for the gore, and this book delivers. Spectacular deaths, plenty of carnage, and a few kills that felt satisfyingly deserved. A bloody, entertaining ride from start to finish. 🦈💥
June 26, 2023
Megalodon: Bloodbath е роман на ужасите от писателя Майкъл Коул. Той е известен с множеството си производения за чудовищни акули, написани в традицията на класиката “Челюсти” от Питър Бенчли, като миналата година ние представихме най-добрите от тях, включително шедьовъра на чудовищния роман Scar. Тази книга не е на същото ниво, но все пак си има силните моменти.
Цялото ми ревю може да прочетете в Цитаделата:
https://citadelata.com/megalodon-bloo...
Цялото ми ревю може да прочетете в Цитаделата:
https://citadelata.com/megalodon-bloo...
July 10, 2025
man these fish are evil
July 27, 2025
Enjoyable and entertaining. Lots of shark interactions. Just what I was looking for in a Shark Week read. Will definitely be reading more from this author.
July 13, 2025
3.75 ⭐
How did that book manage to be so entertaining??? I went into it with the feeling it could be a dnf. And now look at that, I read it in two days. XD
How did that book manage to be so entertaining??? I went into it with the feeling it could be a dnf. And now look at that, I read it in two days. XD
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews