Dark Water Dive

An Underwater Investigation #2

by Kathy Brandt

Homicide detective Hannah Sampson has traded the chill of the Colorado Rockies for the sunnier climes of the British Virgin Islands to become the only underwater CSI for the Tortola Police Department. But a murdered tourist and colleagues eager to sink her career have left Hannah navigating the stormy waters of betrayal, greed, and murder as cold as the deep blue sea... EDITORIAL REVIEWS “Exhilarating . . . readers will want to take a trip to the Caribbean to see if it is as wonderful as it sounds. The protagonist is a tough, feisty and spunky individual whose honesty, tenacity and intuition make her a good police officer . . . so exciting readers will finish it in one sitting.” —Midwest Book Review “The challenges of underwater crime scene investigation are expertly portrayed in this riveting mystery set in the British Virgin Islands. The feisty but vulnerable Hannah and a well-constructed plot make this a mystery that is sure to please.” —Romantic Times “For an authentic tropical twist to your mystery reading, try the Underwater Investigation series by Kathy Brandt, a diver with experience. Swimming with the Dead was a smart start and Dark Water Dive proves again that the secrets underwater and on the shore in the British Virgin Islands can be as deadly as the Denver homicide scuba team from which Hannah Sampson retired. Smart, sure and totally absorbing.” —Mystery Lovers Newsletter “In a chilling climax, Brandt takes the readers on a hair-raising dive that describes the splendor and the danger of the beautiful Caribbean Sea. This deftly plotted page-turner, a follow-up to Swimming with the Dead, is enhanced with a riveting description of the underwater world. A great book—I can’t wait for the next installment!” —The Best Reviews “Once again, Brandt plunges the reader into the pristine waters of the British Virgin Islands with homicide detective Hannah Sampson. Readers will feel the sun on their backs and the sand between their toes. Brandt weaves the fragility of the Caribbean ecosystem into the plot, providing oceanic depth to this fast-pasted mystery. Anyone who enjoys great writing will devour Dark Water Dive.” —Springs Magazine

Genres: Mystery

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Kathy is the author of Walks on the Margins: A Story of Bipolar Illness, co-authored with her son, Max Maddox. It was a finalist for the Iowa Review Award in Non-Fiction. She also writes the Hannah Sampson Underwater Investigation series.

After her son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1999, Kathy became a vocal advocate for those with mental illness and their families. She has served is on the board of directors for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) most recently as president of the local chapter. She is the recipient of the 2012 NAMI Award for Outstanding Service and the Golden Quill Award for "Walks on the Margins."

Kathy has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Rhetoric and taught writing at the University of Colorado.

Sourced: http://www.kathybrandtauthor.com

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this police procedural series -- there's lots of action, a great Caribbean setting, and accessible writing. In this book, the second of the series, the detective/police officer/dive specialist investigates the murder of a tourist. The reader gets to experience sailboat culture and underwater exploration. My only complaint is that one of the elements that allows the detective to solve the case is simply too unrealistic -- and I'm generally willing to let most coincidences pass.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining installment in this diving mystery. I enjoyed the setting in the Virgin Islands and getting to know Hannah's new colleagues. I will be seeking out the next book in the series.

[Derek Mcknight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in the series with Hannah Sampson giving up her in life in Denver for the good life in BVI. But her work with the police quickly becomes serious when a series of robberies becomes linked with a missing person and then a murder. Good read, fast paced and a good thrilling ending. Predictable but and enjoyable read.

[Barbara Derksen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kathi Brandt's Underwater Investigation Series keeps one reading long past lights out. Hannah Sampson changes environments in the series as she works as an investigative diver for Denver's Police Department and then the police force in the BVI, British Virgin Islands.  Her near death experiences, new and old friendships, and her intense love of the environment make for some edge of your seat reading. Detrimental to the work, however, is the writer's need to use God's name as a swear word. Hannah appears, because of her irreverent language, as a hard women and that aspect of her character doesn't change much from the first book to the fourth. It leaves little for the reader to sympathize with. The writer's obvious knowledge of scuba diving takes her readers into the beauty of the underwater environment and the hazards that divers fac

[Shadallark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in this series and the second book that I have read by Kathy Brandt. Another enjoyable light read with a bit of a SCUBA diving background to appeal to the diver I like to think is in me.

The main character continues to grow and develop in her new environment. The descriptions of the British Virgin Islands sound beautiful and make me want to head down there for some diving. Without putting too much thought into it the story progressed through some nice twists and believable resolutions. Many characters are introduced during this book although not all of them are developed fully (likely a setup for the coming books).

I look forward to what is going to happen in the remaining books in the series.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark Water Dive is the second in a series of 4, but the only one that I've read. I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not having read the first one yet. The series features Hannah Sampson, who works as a police scuba diver, and has just moved from Colorado to the beautiful British Virgin Islands. There was a lot of cool information about scuba diving, a subject about which I know next to nothing. Sounds scary!!
Warning for sensitive animal lovers: there was some really awful stuff about sharks in the book. I know this sort of thing happens in the world, but I just prefer not to read about it b/c it makes me feel sad. I don't like to think about animals suffering.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so hooked on scuba diving, that I just can't get enough of it. What fun to find an author who writes wonderful stories about diving in the British Virgin Islands.

Hannah is a detective from Denver who moves to the BVI to start a new life. She reports for duty to the sleepy Tortola Police Department, and immediately finds herself with a murdered tourist whose corpse is found the day his wife reports him missing after a night of partying ...

It grabs you around the throat and won't let go! What a great, fun read!

[Patricia Gulley · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Hannah Sampson moved from Colorado to the BVI, and the murder mystery is as interesting and twisting as ever. I'm really enjoying this series. Mainly because I have taken dive lessons and experienced both cold and tropical waters.
Last time it was wreck diving, this time it is cave diving, and always deep diving.
Oh, and there is interesting data on the slaughter of sharks in this book. We cannot afford to lose these predators to soup.

[BJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent followup to the first in this series which I read some time ago. I like the main character, Hannah. Even though she has nightmares and sometimes near panic attacks about diving, she lost someone close to her in a diving accident, she still dives as part of the underwater rescue team. She is strong, yet not perfect. I already have the next 2 in this series in my library. Unfortunately, the author only wrote 4 books in this series.

[Angie crosby · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. Something missing though. Maybe it was all the dive and sailing talk, which I don't get, nor care about. The story line moved okay, and the ending was a surprise and decent. Hannah, a police scuba diver, leaves Colorado for the British Virgin Islands. Doesn't take long before she's involved in solving a murder, after a dead missing guy turns up

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book.
It was nice to read an author that really knows diving and sailing, two of my favorite subjects that will attract me to a book in a heartbeat.
I like the main character, Hannah who has a good combination of cynicism and vulnerability.
This is one series where I will probably end up reading all the books as they become available.

[Sarah A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book caught me! I know nothing about deep sea diving or scuba swimming at all. This was a page turner, a mystery that had me hooked and I am on my way to look for more! Nice balance of interesting characters - looking forward to seeing what happens next!

[Dawn Mateo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about a dive investigation!!! I love diving so I thought this book was written very very well. It was a page turner.

[Wenonah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the diving references. Great read, however, I was able to determine the ending early on. But that might be because I read mysteries all the time.

[Genie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am totally enjoying this author's work- this is the second I have read. Just an enjoyable read.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Quick easy read.

[Belva Shelor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. Makes you feel like you are at the beach

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

very much enjoying these underwater thrillers...:)