For fans of pulse-pounding thrillers and intricate police procedurals comes a story that will plunge you into the darkest depths of human nature.
In the misty coastal town of Nightfall, Oregon, Officer Eden Mercer faces her most harrowing case yet. When a fishing charter boat sinks under mysterious circumstances, leaving multiple casualties and one traumatized child survivor, Eden is thrust into a labyrinth of lies, greed, and murderous intent.
As she delves deeper, Eden uncovers a sinister web of financial fraud and deadly secrets, stretching from Nightfall's quaint streets to the treacherous waters of the Pacific. With each revelation, the danger mounts, forcing Eden to confront a killer who will stop at nothing to keep the truth submerged.
The clock is ticking as Eden races to unravel a complex web of deceit that stretches from Nightfall's seemingly peaceful streets to the highest echelons of local power. With each new lead, the list of suspects grows, and Eden soon realizes that in this close-knit coastal community, anyone could be harboring deadly secrets.
When another life hangs in the balance, Eden must risk everything to navigate the treacherous depths of human depravity. Can she unravel the truth before the killer strikes again, or will she find herself dragged under by the weight of Nightfall's darkest secrets?
Dive into "Treacherous Depths" and lose yourself in a heart-stopping tale of suspense, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of justice in the face of unspeakable evil.
Paige Black lives in Portland, OR, where the fog and rain form a perfect backdrop to her love of all things mysterious and thrilling. Often found exploring the misty, dark forests of the Oregon Coast, Paige draws inspiration from the shadowy corners of the world and the secrets they hide.
An escape room enthusiast and true crime aficionado, Paige devours documentaries and loves the challenge of solving puzzles and mysteries. In her free time, she’s on a mission to befriend the crows in her neighborhood via gifts of peanuts. It’s a work in progress, but she’s convinced they’ll come around eventually.
Join Paige for gripping tales of twisted cults, cunning serial killers, and the dedicated law enforcement officers who bring them to justice.
Rated this one 3.75 ⭐️. Truthfully because in this book Shadow is there but the canine isn't involved in much of it. Towards the end he definitely was. But I was just slightly bothered by how these books are a crime series involving a canine as one of the main focuses....annndd he wasn't in this one much. 🤷🏼♀️ Other than that, a very fast and easy to read book!
I enjoy seeing Eden grow towards earning her Detective roll!!
On to the next 💃🏼
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I think the first couple of pages lull you into a false sense of calmness. We’re down the beach, enjoying the sunshine, maybe thinking of taking a dip, then a body is found and it’s like someone just fired a starting pistol. I read this in one sitting because every time I put it down with the vow I needed to go to sleep, I think I lasted maybe a minute before “well maybe just one more chapter…” would be my next thought.
Eden is naturally right at the centre of things along with Shadow, her trusty K-9. A fishing boat-for-hire has gone down in the most unusual of circumstances with almost all hands lost. And the duo race out aboard a commandeered vessel to find a single survivor who isn’t really talking.
Hanks, of course, is right there with her but seems more distant than usual, withdrawn and missing the usual encouragement he has for her. Was it something she said or did? However, Wilder has also got himself attached to the investigation knowing a fair bit about financial crimes which, after finding serious amounts of money in a desk, alongside reports of disgruntled customers, seems to be at the heart of this crime. If they can even prove a crime has happened since the ship shows no sign of sabotage and none of the bodies found show any signs of foul play.
What did happen aboard the fishing vessel? Why is Hanks being strange? And will Wilder and Eden ever manage to get on a date without interruption?
As we near the conclusion of this tale, it raises the stakes still further, and Eden finds herself racing first along darkened roads before jumping on yet another ship to stop a major miscarriage of justice.
This book is sure to get your pulse racing and I already can’t wait to see what the next instalment might have for Eden Mercer and Shadow.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
While I did enjoy this book, I don't think I enjoyed it as much as the previous books. This is mainly because I have come to expect (and require) more from Shadow. The K9 officer was hardly in this book and I didn't feel it did had the edge of the seat tension I have come to anticipate from this thrilling series. Don't get me wrong it is still a good read or listen but not my favourite. I also knew who I wanted the killer to be on first meeting and despite all the suspects there was no twist. I love the characters and think my heart broke a little for the little girls plight. I can't wait for the next book, especially after hearing the blurb.
On a rare day off for Eden she is swept up in another investigation when a boat capsized. The sea was calm and with no obvious reasons why the boat captain would steer them into a treacherous route, Eden and her K9 partner turns to the only survivor, a young girl for help. What caused the boat that killer her father to capsize? With the mother throwing her up road blocks at ever turn and evidence that it wasn't an accident, Eden will have to go against orders to find the truth. Especially when a woman who missed the boat trip is also found dead.
I love the narrator. She is the reason I started this series in the first place but to be honest the series as quickly become one of my favourites and a must read/listen. I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Audiobook Review Treacherous Depth by Paige Black is a gripping fourth installment in the Eden Mercer K-9 Mystery Thriller series that pulls you in from the very first page. What begins as a rare day off at the beach for Eden and Shadow quickly spirals into a heartbreaking tragedy involving a fishing boat accident and a complex web of secrets in Nightfall, Oregon. Officer Eden Mercer’s dedication to the badge is on full display as she and Detective Hanks follow the few leads uncovered, risking her reputation and her life to force a killer out into the open. This story is an addictive mix of intense action and suspense, perfectly balanced by a hint of romance and the ever-heroic Shadow. Each book in this series allows you to get to know these characters better, making the high stakes in this fourth outing feel deeply personal. On the technical side, narrator Hannah Somerville does a solid job maintaining the pace of the mystery. While her delivery is clear, a bit more emotional depth and variation in the performance would have further elevated the heartbreaking and intense nature of the plot. Overall, this is an absolutely awesome addition to the series that holds onto you until the very final word. It is a must-listen for crime enthusiasts who appreciate solid police work and a plot that keeps you guessing. I am already counting down the days until the next book, Twisted Pursuit, to see what happens next in Nightfall.
In the fog-drenched coastal town of Nightfall, Oregon, Officer Eden Mercer finds herself drawn into an investigation that will test her every resolve. When a fishing charter boat sinks under suspicious circumstances, leaving several dead and one traumatized child as the sole survivor, Eden’s pursuit of justice leads her into a murky world of deception and danger.
As she pieces together the events surrounding the tragedy, Eden uncovers a sinister conspiracy of financial fraud, betrayal, and violence, stretching far beyond the town’s quaint facade. The case grows darker with each revelation, pulling Eden into a shadowy network of secrets that extend from Nightfall’s tight-knit community to the powerful figures who profit from its undercurrents.
As the pressure mounts, Eden must navigate growing suspicions, shifting alliances, and the ever-present threat of a killer determined to keep their crimes buried beneath the waves. Time is running out, and Eden soon realizes that the answers lie not only in the town’s dark history but also in her ability to face her own fears.
Tense, atmospheric, and deeply gripping, Treacherous Depths is a story of resilience, moral ambiguity, and the dangerous pursuit of truth.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Treacherous Depths is the twisted and fascinating 4th installment in the Eden Mercer series that keeps you engaged and engrossed from start to finish. Eden’s mind is so interesting, and I love how each novel in the series develops her character more. The author continues to challenge her personally with each new case she takes on, and this one is a doozy! The town of Nightfall sure has some crazy criminal activity, and watching Eden unravel this mystery alongside both her mentor and her crush is too much fun! Given her brilliant mind and social awkwardness from having grown up in a cult, I enjoy when her rebel side comes out. I love how we get to see more of both Wilder and Henks’ personalities, and of course K9 Shadow is always a delight. Eden goes above and beyond to catch the villain, and the ending? Oh yeah!
The narrator brings the drama and action to life, though I would love for her to work on removing the awkward mid-sentence pauses when she is acting out the story. Doing so would smooth out the delivery. They were really distracting in the first book (same narrator for all the books in the series so far), but I’ve gotten used to that delivery trait and sort of block that out now.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have read and enjoyed the previous three in this series following Eden Mercer and her German Shepherd, Shadow increasing in difficulty and showing skills. Shadow's main skill used in this bok seems to be in getting the interest of the only survivor of the shipwreck. Eden shows perseverance and her bravery this time is mainly going against the orders of her superior officer. There are obstacles in the way of the detective team, not least the location being Portland as well as the cosy little town of Nightfall. Suspects abound, but I must be absorbing the author's formula because I guessed the culprit in the first third of the book. There is a dramatic climax and the outcomes are mainly explained before the book ends. Not the full five stars because Shadow not used enough and the red herrings smelt very fishy in this nautical tale. Still eager to read more of this cast.
I received a free copy from the author, and am voluntarily leaving this review.
I’ve really been enjoying following Eden and the different cases she finds herself pulled into and this is another one that kept my attention from start to finish.
What starts with a fishing charter boat sinking and a young girl being the only survivor quickly turns into something much bigger. The deeper Eden digs, the more secrets start coming out and I enjoyed trying to piece everything together right along with her. There were enough twists and questionable characters to keep me second guessing where everything was headed.
I listened to the audiobook and once again really enjoyed Hannah Somerville’s narration. She does such a good job bringing Eden and the other characters to life and keeping me pulled into the investigation.
This series has been such an easy one for me to get lost in. I enjoy Paige Black’s writing style, the pacing of the cases and getting a little more of Eden along the way with each book. Another enjoyable suspenseful listen and I’m definitely continuing the series.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I’ve come to review enjoy the k9 series and have come to appreciate the underlying story during each case we get to follow along. This one had a great twist but it seemed intent on misguiding us in very obvious misdirection.
I was hoping to see more from Shadow but I think instead of expecting heroic rescues every time I have to appreciate he disarms the suspects and, most importantly, the witnesses, so they are more likely to be comfortable opening up.
I’m excited to see more of Mercer’s personal story open up. I appreciate the simple recap the author offers instead of a long drawn out and wordy recap some other authors utilize. And her growth as an officer gaining her comrades trust is pretty bada$$ to see!
I appreciate the narrator as well. She does a good job and is now how Mercer exists in my head.
Looking forward to continuing the series!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
When a fishing charter boat sinks under mysterious circumstances, leaving multiple casualties and one traumatized child survivor, Eden is thrust into a labyrinth of lies, greed, and murderous intent.
As she delves deeper, Eden uncovers a sinister web of financial fraud and deadly secrets, stretching from Nightfall's quaint streets to the treacherous waters of the Pacific. With each revelation, the danger mounts, forcing Eden to confront a killer who will stop at nothing to keep the truth submerged.
Good story and suspense, but the same issues that distract me in the others books keep popping up. That said, I am invested and I hope it gets better.
I am enjoying this series, but, I find myself counting the times Hank calls her "kid" and getting really mad everytime it happens. Also, as a trained K9, I can't see Shadow being that friendly with absolutely everyone.
The audio was good and read well.
PLEASE, STOP WITH THE "KID". It's honestly distracting.
Book 4 in the series has Eden assigned to the case of a charter fishing boat that capsizes killing all on board including the captain. One child survives. Strange circumstances. Not what you would expect. "In the misty coastal town of Nightfall, Oregon, Officer Eden Mercer faces her most harrowing case yet. When a fishing charter boat sinks under mysterious circumstances, leaving multiple casualties and one traumatized child survivor, Eden is thrust into a labyrinth of lies, greed, and murderous intent. As she delves deeper, Eden uncovers a sinister web of financial fraud and deadly secrets, stretching from Nightfall's quaint streets to the treacherous waters of the Pacific. With each revelation, the danger mounts, forcing Eden to confront a killer who will stop at nothing to keep the truth submerged." synopsis copied
I seldom rate a book with 5 stars and I read a lot! If I could, however, I would start my rating at 10 stars and go from there! Normally an author will cover 1 or 2 plot lines, maybe with a twist here and there and with 50% left to read, the reader has it figured out.
Not so with this tale! Right from the start, you know a crime has been committed but then you suspect it's not going to be easily solved. Things continue to jar the pieces of the puzzle until nothing adds up.
Eden ends up being totally pissed off, goes off on her own, can't wait for backup and ends up showing her true colors as a complete badass!
If that's not enough, there's a bit of romance with that Wilder detective from Astoria!
And, PS I thought I had it figured out, but not quite. Enjoy!
A fishing excursion turns into a nightmare, 8 on board all drowned when the boat capsized and sunk. Only a 10 year old girl survives. Another woman is found dead in the bathroom at the motel. Eden and Wilder are following as many clues and talking to as many people as possible. Hanks is doing as much as he can but there is something wrong. He's not his usual self. Searching the office of the cruise owner a big fat envelope is found hidden in a desk drawer with a letter to his wife. Talking to the wife they learn she's sick with mounting medical bills. The others that died on the boat were all clients of a CPA who also drowned. Lots of twists and turns and surprises. !its a must read but I suggest you start with Book 1. You won't be disappointed. Great job. Thank you.
4.5. The saga of Eden Mercer continues. This is the 4th book in the Eden Mercer K9 mystery thriller series.
Officer Eden Mercer investigates when a fishing charter boat sinks under mysterious circumstances, leaving multiple casualties and one traumatized child survivor. Eden is thrust into a case of lies, greed, and murderous intent.
As she delves deeper, Eden uncovers a web of financial fraud and deadly secrets. With each revelation, the danger mounts, forcing her to confront a killer who will stop at nothing to keep the truth submerged.
When another life hangs in the balance, Eden must risk everything to navigate the treacherous depths of human corruption. Can she unravel the truth before the killer strikes again?
A fast-paced story of suspense, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of justice in the face of evil.
Paige Black’s latest book, Treacherous Depths, with Eden Mercer is even better than her previous stories. The whole book is filled with so many clues that make you believe you know who the killer is and why they did it, only to lead you to a dead end. You will be caught up in the excitement of the chases and suspense that make it difficult to stop reading. The additional teasing of a potentially budding romance for Eden is just enough to wonder where it will lead in future stories. No spoilers, but more of Eden’s previous life in the religious cult is revealed giving a better understanding of her personality. And of course Shadow plays a large part in this story and is one reason Eden is so successful and determined in solving mysteries. This is definitely recommended as a good read.
I like this series. Quick reads. The action and story holds my interest, even if sometimes the plot is pretty predictable. Reading these in order, it helps to understand the deeper background stories. The author touches on character histories in each book, but doesn’t go into great detail. No need to repeat the deeper background stories story in each book. As for this particular book, one can figure out plot pretty quickly - the chapter on the boat captain pretty much tells you WHAT happened; it just figuring out the WHO was behind it. And I was able to guess that fairly easily. Not sure how the conflict between the hotel owners added to this story, but maybe it’s setting something up for a future book????? On to book 5….
Eden and her K-9 partner find a drowning victim on a leisure day at the beach. He is one of several who lost their lives, along with the captain, when a charter fishing boat capsized. She is assigned the investigation. Quickly, suspicions arise that the event is not an accident. A young girl is the sole survivor. She was a last-minute replacement for her mother. Eden’s interview of both raises more questions. The fact that there was but one life jacket aboard is highly suspicious. So were the strange actions of the boat’s master and the financial connections of the victims.
Once again, I found this series an entertaining, easy read. I’ll continue with more.
Eden and Shadow are enjoying a rare day off at the beach when tragedy strikes. As the scale of the accident grows so too do the questions as to what really happened on board the fishing boat. There are other mysteries too such as what is wrong with Hanks, is the death of a visitor due to tainted fish alone, and how do all the seemingly random pieces of the puzzle fit together? There is a lot of drama from a host of characters. This is an enjoyable if slightly heartbreaking in places tale, lightened by a hint of romance and the ever delightful and heroic Shadow.
I received an advanced copy of this book and voluntarily leave this review.
This was another 3 stars for me. The first two books 4 stars then the third and now this one a 3. I always get into a rut when I’m reading a long series. However making it to and through book 4 is huge for me as a reader. I normally get bored with the characters so I stop a series then eventually go back to it.
This book was probably my least favorite and the reason it’s not lower is there is still character development going on, which I do like. However this plot was a little less intriguing to me and didn’t really care about the case. So I did skim through some of the story. Not sure if I’m going on to book five now or let some time pass.
All of the books in this series ( Eden Mercer K-9 mysteries) are intense and exciting reads, and this book is no exception. Eden is at the beach when a drowning victim is spotted, and soon she is deeply involved in what seems to have been an avoidable shipwreck in which many people died, the only survivor being the young daughter of the original victim. It takes a lot of unraveling and the murder of yet another associate of the drowned financier, whose clients were the other victims, but Eden solves the case and captures the person who orchestrated the murders in a thrilling finale. Vivid characters and an intricate plot — excellent reading.
Book # 172 2025 "Treacherous Depths" ~ Paige Black ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Would YOU survive the secrets the sea is hiding?” 🌊👀
This book had me hooked from page one. The atmosphere? Chilling. You can practically taste the salt in the air and hear the waves crashing. 🌊
It’s suspense mixed with survival, trust, and secrets that refuse to stay buried. The twists kept me flipping pages, even if a couple were a little predictable.
But what really worked for me? Eden Mercer is flawed, resilient, and totally relatable.
If you love thrillers with stormy vibes, high stakes, and that ‘edge of your seat’ tension, this one’s worth diving into. #thriller #mystery #bookreview #booktok #PaigeBlack
I am so enjoying the characters of Eden Mercer and her police dog, Shadow. In Treacherous Depths she confronts a ship wreck with the drowning of many people. There is also child abuse from parents that reminds her of her own upbringing in the cult. It pulled at my heart. It's a slow burn mystery with lots of possibilities and twists. It has a tense, perfect ending.
The narration of Hannah Somerville is so perfect for these books. She IS the voice of Eden for me. And her Hanks voice is grumpy, but kind, just like him! 5 stars for her, as well.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Great mystery thriller. I enjoyed reading this book. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but this was great as a stand-alone. The storyline was very intriguing and suspenseful and was definitely a roller-coaster ride until the very end. It contained continuous twists and turns, never knowing what was coming next. I loved the protagonist Eden, although I found her as a little firecraker and too forward. This book was quite long, but I finally finished it, as I promised the author a review on booksprout.
✩°。⋆⸜ 🎧✮ Audiobook Review! ✩°。⋆⸜ 🎧✮ This is the fourth book in the Eden Mercer K-9 Mystery Thriller series. Another thrilling addition, it follows Eden’s investigations with plenty of mystery, intrigue, and danger. The plot is well crafted, engaging, and keeps you hooked. Hannah Somerville did an excellent job bringing the story and characters to life. Looking forward to listening to Twisted Pursuit, the next in the series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A relaxing day at the beach ends up with a body washing ashore. Eden brings the body in and then is informed that a boat capsized. This could be one of many aboard. Twists and turns lead Eden, a distracted Hanks and Detective Wilkes from Astoria in circles. Something isn’t right and the lone survivor, 10 year old Sophie is ridiculed by her mother instead of being comforted. The only comfort Sophie gets seems to be from Shadow, the K-9.
It’s a beautiful June day. Shadow and Eden are enjoying a day off at the beach with family and oh so many tourists visiting a local event. Walking along the beach, Eden notices something floating toward shore. It turns out to be a body. A little earlier there’d been reports of a fishing charter boat that’s the tip of the proverbial iceberg in this intriguingly twisty whodunit. Readers are treated to more of the town, plenty of suspects, a more complex and confident Eden and more Wilder but not enough family or enough Shadow for my taste. Rating: 4.75stars
I’m so happy to have found this beautifully talented author! I never know what to write on these reviews without giving anything away.
I will say, the character’s, Eden Mercer, background gives her an edge on solving her cases. A wonderfully clean read, although I wish she wouldn’t take God’s name in vain in the stories. I believe her talent can stand alone without this added language. I’m looking forward to reading the next book, Twisted pursuit.
Not my favorite in the series so far. It was a slow read for me; I just didn’t get sucked into it like the others. I did like that we finally saw more development in her relationship with Wilder (talk about a slow burn) but for being four books into the series it just seems really drawn out. I’m hoping we get more in book five…
The story itself was twisty when it got right now to it and sad. Parts of it just boggled me that some people can be so terrible, but the book gave adequate conclusion and tied up all the loose ends with it.
Officer Eden Mercer of Nightfall, Oregon is entrenched in a complex puzzle of murder and lies. Officer Mercer and Detective Hanks follow the few leads they uncovered until a tentative picture emerges. Officer Mercer puts her job and reputation on the line to force the killer out in the open. Plenty of action and good police work make an enjoyable read for crime enthusiasts!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.