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Submerged
Who can stop a maniacal Russian and his private army? Surely not a handful of Cape Town gangsters and an Investment Banker/ex-scuba diving instructor. Submerged is an international thriller traversing the pirate-controlled waters off the Horn of Africa, the lethal world of Russian organized crime, the buzzing financial capital London, the Rhino slaughter fields of South Africa, the decadence concealed below the brittle veneer of the beautiful City of Cape Town with its adjacent Cape Flats ganglands and the icy, shark-infested waters of the Atlantic.
320 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2016
1 person is currently reading
419 people want to read
About the author
Louis Wiid
9 books20 followersLouis Wiid’s talent as a crime novelist was unearthed when he completed (both with distinction), the “Write a Novel Course” and the “Advanced Write a Novel Course” with SA Writers College. He is an alumnus of Robert McKee’s Story Seminar.
An experienced bank risk specialist and auditor and qualified CA (SA) and CFA, he adds the necessary air of authenticity to his stories with his detailed knowledge of international finance.
South African based, he is well-travelled (visited over 30 countries) and a keen Scuba diver. Many of these destinations and experiences form a thrilling backdrop to his writing.
SUBMERGED is his debut novel.
Google: "Louis Wiid Submerged review."
An experienced bank risk specialist and auditor and qualified CA (SA) and CFA, he adds the necessary air of authenticity to his stories with his detailed knowledge of international finance.
South African based, he is well-travelled (visited over 30 countries) and a keen Scuba diver. Many of these destinations and experiences form a thrilling backdrop to his writing.
SUBMERGED is his debut novel.
Google: "Louis Wiid Submerged review."
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 9, 2017
Coiled between striking covers, ‘Submerged’ is a fast-paced novel of international intrigue, transcontinental crime and high finance.
Reading ‘Submerged’ is a lot like watching a thrilling movie – a furiously fast-paced plot peopled with gripping characters maintains both a keen tension (within the book) and keen attention (within the reader). Wiid creates a mammoth story line, pitting Cape Gangsters against crooked Russian billionaires, a well-educated beach-bum against Corporate London, a wealthy party-girl against, well, everyone. And the reader can expect to visit numerous cities in many countries, as well as a Cape village, a Cape mental institution, an international dive site and several luxury hotels. And a wine cellar in the middle of London…
Wiid is up to the challenge of this huge story, however, and deftly uses his idiosyncratic characters to ensure that the pace of the story does not let up, while allowing the many changes between countries, between scenes, between situations to be fairly seamless – certainly smooth enough that the reader is slickly gathered up into the abundant thrills that make ‘Submerged’ a heck of an exciting read.
Reading ‘Submerged’ is a lot like watching a thrilling movie – a furiously fast-paced plot peopled with gripping characters maintains both a keen tension (within the book) and keen attention (within the reader). Wiid creates a mammoth story line, pitting Cape Gangsters against crooked Russian billionaires, a well-educated beach-bum against Corporate London, a wealthy party-girl against, well, everyone. And the reader can expect to visit numerous cities in many countries, as well as a Cape village, a Cape mental institution, an international dive site and several luxury hotels. And a wine cellar in the middle of London…
Wiid is up to the challenge of this huge story, however, and deftly uses his idiosyncratic characters to ensure that the pace of the story does not let up, while allowing the many changes between countries, between scenes, between situations to be fairly seamless – certainly smooth enough that the reader is slickly gathered up into the abundant thrills that make ‘Submerged’ a heck of an exciting read.
July 17, 2017
Louis Wiid’s debut novel, Submerged, is set on the global stage over the period of five years. It is a fast moving crime thriller filled with an array of characters, a good deal of them shady gangsters and people struggling with various addictions. I was gripped by the story from the first page and thoroughly enjoyed this book, devouring it as my Easter read.
Leon Jacobs is in his late twenties when the story begins and, after his extended student life is terminated by a university professor, he is thrown into the real world. Leon is a character who is somewhat underwhelming as he lacks ambition and drinks too much. We are not given this character’s backstory - or many of the others’- as the tale unravels like a big screen adventure movie that moves forward with pace and purpose.
Popov, the Russian crime boss is repulsive. Sinovich, his chief muscle, a killer with complications and Isabella, the South African lawyer only reveals deeper aspects of her character at the end of the book. Sophia, Popov’s daughter is complicated and broken and her ‘rock bottom’ reveals just how dire addiction can be. The Cape Flats gangsters, led by Franklin Benjamin, a character I loved, were a colourful and complex bunch.
It is clear that Wiid is a highly informed and intelligent person. From piracy on the west coast of Africa to the world of banking in Canary Walk, London, scuba diving in Jameel on the Red Sea, the world of patents, and knowledge of weapons, the author interweaves a range of topical and interesting subplots.
Although the story offers fairly horrifying glimpses into a violent, brutal and corrupt world, Wiid includes some rather off-the-wall zany interludes, such as the gangsters’ reaction to the bungled the job at the beginning of the book, Leon’s encounter with the fat son and father at his hot dog stand, and the inclusion of Hotdog himself. These somewhat comical aspects reveal an original creative writer. The violence is, at times, underplayed and I rather liked this approach. It serves to remind that this is entertainment designed to sweep us along rather than trying to impart views on weighty issues. The action scenes were entertaining and I am not usually a fan of this genre.
My biggest disappointment with Submerged was the editing. As a writer I am acutely aware of how multiple edits by a nit-picking expert can take one’s craft from a good read to an exceptional read. Basic grammatical errors, repetition of words, descriptions that are too long and slow the pace of the plot, loose ends and touches of author convenience (would a Cape Flats gangster really be able to competently scuba dive?) are aspects, I feel, that should be attended to by the editor. Wiid’s big, bold and highly entertaining novel is disrupted in places by irritations that should not be there. This having been said however, I thoroughly enjoyed Submerged and really look forward to seeing what this smart, gutsy author delivers next time.
I do wish that Goodreads would implement half star rating. I give Submerged a well-deserved 4 stars.
Leon Jacobs is in his late twenties when the story begins and, after his extended student life is terminated by a university professor, he is thrown into the real world. Leon is a character who is somewhat underwhelming as he lacks ambition and drinks too much. We are not given this character’s backstory - or many of the others’- as the tale unravels like a big screen adventure movie that moves forward with pace and purpose.
Popov, the Russian crime boss is repulsive. Sinovich, his chief muscle, a killer with complications and Isabella, the South African lawyer only reveals deeper aspects of her character at the end of the book. Sophia, Popov’s daughter is complicated and broken and her ‘rock bottom’ reveals just how dire addiction can be. The Cape Flats gangsters, led by Franklin Benjamin, a character I loved, were a colourful and complex bunch.
It is clear that Wiid is a highly informed and intelligent person. From piracy on the west coast of Africa to the world of banking in Canary Walk, London, scuba diving in Jameel on the Red Sea, the world of patents, and knowledge of weapons, the author interweaves a range of topical and interesting subplots.
Although the story offers fairly horrifying glimpses into a violent, brutal and corrupt world, Wiid includes some rather off-the-wall zany interludes, such as the gangsters’ reaction to the bungled the job at the beginning of the book, Leon’s encounter with the fat son and father at his hot dog stand, and the inclusion of Hotdog himself. These somewhat comical aspects reveal an original creative writer. The violence is, at times, underplayed and I rather liked this approach. It serves to remind that this is entertainment designed to sweep us along rather than trying to impart views on weighty issues. The action scenes were entertaining and I am not usually a fan of this genre.
My biggest disappointment with Submerged was the editing. As a writer I am acutely aware of how multiple edits by a nit-picking expert can take one’s craft from a good read to an exceptional read. Basic grammatical errors, repetition of words, descriptions that are too long and slow the pace of the plot, loose ends and touches of author convenience (would a Cape Flats gangster really be able to competently scuba dive?) are aspects, I feel, that should be attended to by the editor. Wiid’s big, bold and highly entertaining novel is disrupted in places by irritations that should not be there. This having been said however, I thoroughly enjoyed Submerged and really look forward to seeing what this smart, gutsy author delivers next time.
I do wish that Goodreads would implement half star rating. I give Submerged a well-deserved 4 stars.
October 25, 2016
Submerged is a very well written gangster novel. It is complex, very intriguing and extremely violent. All the elements that are required for this type of book. This isn't a pick me up and grab 5 minutes book but one that has to be read in long sessions because of the complexity of the story. This type of novel really gets me too because I can imagine these things happening and it makes me shudder. I took to Leon in the book, him being so naïve to begin with but given the right (or wrong) elements and that changed.
The story itself is very gripping but keep the key players in the forefront of your mind at all times. One other thing that you can expect is very graphic violence. The thing gangsters know how to do is maim and kill viciously. The fight scenes to the death are long, a matter of stamina as much as skill, what you would expect if two people were fighting for their lives. The detail in these scenes is down to every slash, every cut it makes you feel how exhausting it must be.
A very gritty gangster novel that I really enjoyed
The story itself is very gripping but keep the key players in the forefront of your mind at all times. One other thing that you can expect is very graphic violence. The thing gangsters know how to do is maim and kill viciously. The fight scenes to the death are long, a matter of stamina as much as skill, what you would expect if two people were fighting for their lives. The detail in these scenes is down to every slash, every cut it makes you feel how exhausting it must be.
A very gritty gangster novel that I really enjoyed
October 12, 2016
A well written story of love, loss, gangland crime and the russian mafia type business men. Its like three seperate stories that interwine but all pull together at the end culminating in a wonderful finale. I struggled with the africaan but you infer the gist of it from the rsst of thw narrative.
October 16, 2016
Submerged By Louis Wild is a crime thriller read.
Who can stop a maniacal Russian and his private army? Surely not a handful of Cape Town gangsters and an investment banker/ex-scuba diving instructor.
A very good read with good characters. I liked the writing lots of action too. Recommended. 4*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from tbc on fb.
Who can stop a maniacal Russian and his private army? Surely not a handful of Cape Town gangsters and an investment banker/ex-scuba diving instructor.
A very good read with good characters. I liked the writing lots of action too. Recommended. 4*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from tbc on fb.
June 12, 2017
An international crime adventure with a South African
twist; a stylistic cross between Ian Fleming’s James Bond
and Deon Meyer’s more local crime scene: fast-paced,
high-flying, gritty, glamorous and violent.’ – Alex Smith
Who can stop a maniacal Russian and his private army? Surely not a handful of
Cape Town gangsters and an investment banker/ex-scuba diving instructor.
Unemployed Economics graduate Leon Jacobs rescues Sophia Popova, a
beautiful but troubled Russian heiress, during a high-risk scuba dive at one of
the deep dive-sites of the Red Sea. Subsequently, he joins Sophia’s father’s
corrupt investment bank in London.
The love-sick and gullible Leon soon starts drowning in the international
syndicated crime world of Bogdan Popov, famous for the innovative ways he
gets rid of his competitors.
Meanwhile, after a series of shocking events disrupt the solitude of ex-gangster
Franklin Benjamin’s existence in a small fishing village off the West
Coast of South Africa, he has to make the impossible decision: to rise up from
his hibernation and mobilise his gang.
Will Leon escape with his life from the global-reaching claws of Popov?
And where will Sophia find the courage and strength to slay the inner demons
ruling her existence?
Submerged is an international thriller traversing the buzzing financial hub
of London, the beautiful City of Cape Town with its adjacent Cape Flats
ganglands, the pirate-infested waters off the horn of Africa, and the
rhino-slaughter fields of South Africa.
About the Author:
Louis Wiid resides in Pretoria and Sandton, South Africa with his wife
and a bunch of adopted dogs. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant
(SA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and therefore, working as a
bank risk specialist and auditor, has an in-depth knowledge of the international
financial scene and shenanigans. His talent to tell a good story
was unearthed when he completed the ‘Write a Novel Course’ and more
recently the ‘Advanced Write a Novel Course’ with SA Writers College
(both with distinction). Submerged is his first novel.
For me the cover was very intriguing. It certainly draws the person in and makes them curious about what the book could be about. The title is aptly named as a metaphor for what happens to both the characters and the reader. You become submerged in the story.
To see the rest of this review please check out: http://tbbmaniacs.wixsite.com/reviews...
twist; a stylistic cross between Ian Fleming’s James Bond
and Deon Meyer’s more local crime scene: fast-paced,
high-flying, gritty, glamorous and violent.’ – Alex Smith
Who can stop a maniacal Russian and his private army? Surely not a handful of
Cape Town gangsters and an investment banker/ex-scuba diving instructor.
Unemployed Economics graduate Leon Jacobs rescues Sophia Popova, a
beautiful but troubled Russian heiress, during a high-risk scuba dive at one of
the deep dive-sites of the Red Sea. Subsequently, he joins Sophia’s father’s
corrupt investment bank in London.
The love-sick and gullible Leon soon starts drowning in the international
syndicated crime world of Bogdan Popov, famous for the innovative ways he
gets rid of his competitors.
Meanwhile, after a series of shocking events disrupt the solitude of ex-gangster
Franklin Benjamin’s existence in a small fishing village off the West
Coast of South Africa, he has to make the impossible decision: to rise up from
his hibernation and mobilise his gang.
Will Leon escape with his life from the global-reaching claws of Popov?
And where will Sophia find the courage and strength to slay the inner demons
ruling her existence?
Submerged is an international thriller traversing the buzzing financial hub
of London, the beautiful City of Cape Town with its adjacent Cape Flats
ganglands, the pirate-infested waters off the horn of Africa, and the
rhino-slaughter fields of South Africa.
About the Author:
Louis Wiid resides in Pretoria and Sandton, South Africa with his wife
and a bunch of adopted dogs. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant
(SA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and therefore, working as a
bank risk specialist and auditor, has an in-depth knowledge of the international
financial scene and shenanigans. His talent to tell a good story
was unearthed when he completed the ‘Write a Novel Course’ and more
recently the ‘Advanced Write a Novel Course’ with SA Writers College
(both with distinction). Submerged is his first novel.
For me the cover was very intriguing. It certainly draws the person in and makes them curious about what the book could be about. The title is aptly named as a metaphor for what happens to both the characters and the reader. You become submerged in the story.
To see the rest of this review please check out: http://tbbmaniacs.wixsite.com/reviews...
October 14, 2016
I enjoyed the story and the drama of this book but for me it never quite pulled together neatly as a story.
October 16, 2016
I really didn't get this book and while it was well written in found some of the items hard that they used in speech patterns.
the characters were well developed just this book wasn't for me.
the characters were well developed just this book wasn't for me.
July 12, 2017
I received this as a Goodreads giveaway and thoroughly enjoyed this mystery /thriller. There were a lot of strong characters and the author brought them to life for me , I had a certain sympathy for Leon , but Sophia was at times annoying.
The book switches about the world a bit and covers a period of five years so there is a lot for the reader to absorb . I took a while to get hooked in but I read the second half quicker than the first once I got the characters sorted .
So this is a world of violence, drugs , addiction, rape and abuse, and the author has pulled the story together in a well written book .
I will be sharing this with my friends who enjoy a good thriller .
The book switches about the world a bit and covers a period of five years so there is a lot for the reader to absorb . I took a while to get hooked in but I read the second half quicker than the first once I got the characters sorted .
So this is a world of violence, drugs , addiction, rape and abuse, and the author has pulled the story together in a well written book .
I will be sharing this with my friends who enjoy a good thriller .
October 12, 2016
I really struggled to read the first chapter of this book, and didn't really enjoy it. I carried on reading in the vain hope that it would get better. It didn't. Hopefully other people will enjoy this book
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews