Stranded: A White-Knuckle Adventure Above and Below the Sea

by Beverley Scherberger

Lost at sea. Surrounded by mystery. Can a determined survivor beat the deadly current?Lissy couldn’t resist diving in the crystal-clear waters of Cozumel, Mexico. But when she and her friends are caught in an unrelenting down-current, she counts herself lucky to be one of five survivors washed ashore on a deserted island. Until the tropical paradise reveals itself to be a wilderness populated by monstrous predators…

Besieged by bloodthirsty sharks in the water and carnivorous primates on land, Lissy and the others struggle against devastating odds. And when jealousy creates an ominous rift inside their group, she fears the terrors lurking in the trees will more easily pick them off one by one.

Can Lissy survive this twisted nightmare and lead her small band of castaways to safety?

STRANDED is a pulse-pounding standalone action thriller. If you like whip-smart heroines, nightmarish puzzles, and vicious creatures, then you’ll love Beverley Scherberger’s savage page-turner.

Buy STRANDED to dive into uncharted adventure today!

★★★★★ “I am normally not much of a fiction enthusiast. Perhaps it was all those years as a professor where research was the name of the game, but…I was riveted to STRANDED. It strikes an excellent balance between engaging character development and fast-paced plot suspense. Yes, I read it to the last word, and without giving anything away...the end blew me away.” ~ an Amazon reviewer

Genres: Horror

335 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2016

About the author

I was introduced to writing in the sixth grade when my English teacher told the class we'd be learning how to write short stories. I remember thinking, "Write a short story? I'm just a kid!" But I loved the experience and knew I wanted to keep on doing it.

Attending Miami University of Ohio at age 40 gave me the unique perspective of being older than most of the students and many of my professors. Not interested in who was dating who or what sorority was doing what, I concentrated on my studies and graduated summa cum laude.

After penning over 200 published non-fiction articles for various magazines and newspapers, I tried my hand at fiction and am now hooked. It's what I enjoy reading and have found I enjoy writing it, too.

Currently, I have one full-length novel ("STRANDED") and two novellas ("Saving Serena" and "Legacy of the Fallen Angel") for sale on Amazon. In addition, I have one novella based upon a movie script that will soon be released in theaters ("The Problem with Men"). What am I working on now? A prequel to "STRANDED" and another book based upon a movie script--"The Accidental Filmmaker." Stay tuned!

Reviews

[Lolapaige · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was terrible. We get it- it's Mexico and the guy has an accent but typing it out "ees" very annoying. I could hardly concentrate on the plot (which was also really bad). This was not a "white knuckle adventure" for me it was a headache and a waste of my time.

[Mummy's Naughty Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG one word Big boy. God that monkey got me. The spiders got me. Morley got me. I haven't had a book make me that emotional in a while. I loved that it was the same Island but different people and monkeys. I liked the battle between the apes and how it ended. I loved how the drug affected the whole island from the spiders to the sharks. How the island will stay a secret is beyond me. An excellent read.

[❀ Crystal ✿ - PEACE ☮ LOVE ♥ BOOKS · Rating 5 out of 5]

This damn book has literally gutted me. I have so many thoughts and feels about it and most are so bittersweet I want to curl up in a ball and cry. After the prequel Savage Isle: Beautiful...Isolated...Deadly I had the better sense to not become attached to any characters. Life on this particular island is worse than hell and attachments are likely to be torn, shredded and thrown back in your face. The story takes place decades after the prequel. The experiments have thrived over the years. But there are a few bright spots in the book including the amazing and I can't get enough of orangutan's who stole the show. They were absolutely brilliant and I mean that both literally and figuratively. Having to leave them on the island broke something inside of me. Honestly this book just kept shocking the shit out of me. To have Morley pop back in as an old man was again heartbreaking and bittersweet. After literally everyone he knew was killed by the bad monkeys he's continued living for years on the island... ALONE. Sure other people have washed up over the years but the monkeys made quick work of them. My heart hurts for him so much!

I think the overall idea that these MCs weren't even special really amazes me. They were just lucky enough to make it off the island and thus that is the only reason we get their particular story. I was so happy after knowing ppl had been stranded there for years and being killed finally someone became free. Figures it all happened after the bad monkeys were gone. Living on the island wouldn't be so bad with the threat so diminished and I hated them having to leave the orangutan's there, particularly Big Boy. God was I beyond thrilled when he didn't die, I was so worried about him as soon as he showed up, constantly afraid he'd give his life for a stupid non-deserving human. (Apparently I'm still bitter and torn over this.) I tried so hard to not love any of the characters like it was Game of Thrones all over again. But Big Boy was stole my heart and the show. Him talking in the end, holy shit. That would have had me gathering supplies and going back to live on the island with him lol

I feel like I could rant/rave about this book for awhile. It was truly phenomenal, if yeah, OK- it was rather hard to believe and find plausible at times, but it's fiction who gives a F. The story just sucks you in and does not let you go especially if you're coming right off the destruction of your soul from Savage Isle.. I will say I'm a bit peeved this book cover and title imply something other than what is delivered. Aside from killer (possibly juiced) sharks in the bay and the characters initial desertion, they don't even go in the water at all. There's very little diving as the cover suggests and even less below the sea drama so I'm not sure what that's all about. Needless to say I absolutely LOVED this book. I wouldn't consider this the happiest of endings and I certainly think it needed an epilogue but damn if I am not blown away by this book.

[Deanie Nelder · Rating 4 out of 5]

To start out with, after the first couple of chapters, none of Stranded: A White-Knuckle Adventure Above and Below the Sea actually takes place below the sea. There's plenty of action above the sea, as a group of divers caught in a storm are stranded on a deserted island that's home to giant spiders, carnivorous monkeys, and sweet orangutans.

Reviewing the book without leaving spoilers is challenging... but it's better if you've read Scherberger's first book in the series, Savage Isle: Beautiful...Isolated...Deadly, which explains about the monkeys and orangutans on this deserted island (and more). This book is also a lot more sad than I was expecting, but mostly in a good way. It's an unexpected but interesting book.

[Autumn Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had to start a new shelf called DNF just for this book. Reading the description I was excited and ready for a wild ride, however, when I found out they would be battling MONKEYS… it was over for me. I felt like I was reading an episode of Lost that never got aired(for good reason!) I was 45% done with the book but could just not bear to read another page.

[Maria S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a rather interesting read. I was actually expecting it to go one way and it went in a complete opposite direction. It involved coming together with wildlife (apes) in the favor of humans and what their true capabilities really are, good or bad, with the influence of humans (if that makes any sense). The author took a spin on how things would be like if animals could talk, practically. Their level of understanding human language & the portrayal of emotion & even tears n the face of fear & loss. Overall a good book & was interesting to read on this perspective.

[Tracy D · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just a fun, monster-romp through the ocean and into the jungle. There were a small handful of annoying moments for some of the characters, but nothing that derailed the reading, took away from the story or the suspense.
It was a fun, fast read.

[pam turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda dumb

Spoiler alert. White knuckle? Uh, nope. Below the sea? About 5 minutes. So many stereotypes. Spanish guy speaking with several 'e's' in every word. "I weesh I could keese you". Ugh. This guy is supposed to be handsome, rugged and sexy. Then he starts talking like Speedy Gonzales. (cartoon character) And the women, cowering and sobbing at every turn, wanting to be held and protected by a man's strong arms. Again, ugh. Aren't we over that? The whole monkey\ape thing was ridiculous. Also, for being on a deserted island, they seem to have food and supplies falling at their feet. Need some fish? Oh, there's a Manta Ray, trapped in a pool. Every day. Or, they miraculously grab some fronds and start making hats. Whipped up a waterproof shelter, WITH LOCKING DOORS, in about five minutes. So strong, even rampaging monkeys couldn't break in. Towards the end, one of the women is at the beach, and spots a plane flying over. Screaming, jumping up and down, waving. Total meltdown. Then, she turns around, sobbing and crying, (again), she sees the word 'help' in 10 FOOT letters spelled out with logs, in trenches, that an ape just made. Either that was a super slow plane, or a really fast ape. This could have been a good book, but the silliness and unbelievable meters were just off the chart. All the 'bad monkey's' die when the cave ceiling just happens to fall down on them? Really? No earthquake or anything. Just boom. All gone. How convenient. Sorry, about all the negativity, but after seeing so many 5 star reviews, thought I might interject some reality. I guess the crown jewel would be that none of these people told anyone their travel plans. Yeah, right. People today post EVERYTHING on line. All these people were going diving in a foreign country and didn't even tell friends or family members? Sorry. Don't believe that for a second.

[Boomer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cover and blurb got my attention, so I had high hopes for this novel but it falls spectacularly flat. No spoilers here for those who want to read this. A group of divers end up stranded on a deserted island and find themselves being stalked by the supposedly super intelligent creatures that live there. A good setup that the author fails to capitalize on by making her characters act like idiots. They don't seem at all concerned that they are stranded in the middle of nowhere with no food, water, or supplies with no one knowing where they are - there's barely any conversation or acknowledgment about how perilous their situation is. Instead they build a somehow perfectly secure hut - despite only having a couple of knives - and then settle in, spending their days sunning themselves, making hats, and eating the hundreds of fish, clams and stingrays that magically show up every single morning. Keep in mind they have no fishing gear or nets either. I just couldn't take this seriously. It feels like a camping trip rather then a survival situation.

Things get even sillier when they find themselves under attack by strange creatures. Early on these beasts are built up as being intelligent predators with reasoning and tactical skills, so I was expecting some intense moments. Sadly that whole concept is soon dropped as they throw themselves one at a time at our heroes with all the self preservation of lemmings, allowing the humans to easily dispatch them. Nothing about this book makes sense.

[MugElyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this book and finished it within two days. I thought it progressed quickly, keeping my attention, wanting to know what was going to happen next.
There were a few times I questioned the storyline like when the characters went to the wrecked ship, searching for supplies. In addition to supplies, I thought it would’ve been smart for them to search for some more clothes, a first aid, flares, canned goods, some way to help them being rescued or anything like that.
Also, the part where Lissy & Rusty had that little incident when she was making hats & he kept trying to take hers… I personally thought she was being stubborn and should’ve just let him have it, after all they are protecting the humans, it’s the least she could do. It’s not like she didn’t have plenty of time to make a replacement or anything. I also didn’t love how they primarily saw the orangutans as their protectors & not as living creatures. They almost seemed to take advantage of it & it seemed they felt entitled for the protection. I didn’t care the Joann character.. her reaction to the orangutans throughout the book got a little annoying & there could’ve been some great potential in showing character growth, but I felt like she stayed consistent. I also felt like Rigo was a little whiney, stomping off when he didn’t get his way causing others to be in danger either along with himself. It seemed reckless. Granted these are just my personal opinions and I’m sure the characters were created to create different opinions from readers.
Overall, I did love it. The genuine love and kindness from the orangutans was heartwarming while the details of the crazed monkeys kept me on the edge of my seat, along side the mental visual of the sharks behavior and the other run ins with wildlife. I thought it had a great ending.

[Sue Tidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stranded is a captivating tale of horror and heart!
 
Beverley Scherberger’s book Standed lives up to the blurb on the book’s front cover, “A white-knuckle adventure above and below the sea.” Any considerations for scuba diving in pristine tropical waters have been totally scrapped thanks to the vivid scenes within the book. And, thanks to the horrors found on the enchanted-looking deserted island, tropical vacations are no longer topping my bucket list either.
 
Seriously though, Stranded will have you sitting on the edge of your seat as this surviving group of scuba divers tackle the beastly hazards that await them. As an animal lover, I found the interactions with the creatures of the wild fascinating, even though the story was not real and some of the animals were fictionalized (thank goodness!). What I loved most, however, was the “heart” that was also within the pages…and I’m not talking about a love story between humans. I’m talking about the relationships developed with furry beasts who will do anything to help the humans survive. I found that part of the story absolutely captivating!
 
If you want to go on an adventure that will have you terror-stricken one minute and your heart melting the next, this is the book for you. Be assured, you will never look at primates the same way again.

PS. This is the sequel to Beverley’s Book “Savage Isle”

[François Perreault · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stranded by Beverly Scherberger is a book where 5 characters end up on an island off of the coast of Cozumel, Mexico after a scuba diving incident. The plot that was set up had a lot of potential, but it was over exaggerated at times. For example, characters rarely talk about the dilemma that they are in and it seems like a getaway more than a survival situation at times. This makes the book seem somewhat more unrealistic, as if the situation isn’t already unrealistic. This book loses some points for the over exaggerated emotion.

This book has many realistic challenges and events as well. Once they get to the island, one of the characters dies. This makes it seem like less of a blessing in disguise if they survive this. They meet multiple creatures that they are forced to fight. They adapt with the conditions and survive in the wildlife. Although some of the adaptations are unrealistic, this provides more excitement to the book. This book includes monkeys that are programmed to be evil. They constantly attack the characters, which is unrealistic and makes the book hard to envision. In conclusion, this book has action but is over exaggerated at times.

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

A HIGH FUNCTIONING miniature KING KONG Tale

Entertaining story about what happens when science plays around with nature. In the hands of say, Rudyard Kipling or H.G. Wells, Stephen King, or even Mark Twain, the book would have the potential for a great tale of humans, human-animals and other critters. But in the hands of this writer, the dialogue and actions become silly. When realizing an orangutan can quickly learn words, the narrator decides to use full, compound sentences to discuss what they all will have for dinner and who gets what jobs. They have a full range of human emotions and a couple of gentle romances develop, similar to what happened with the romantic King Kong. Even the sharks are of unusual ability and can soar high enough from the water to attack a helicopter and nearly bring it down. Not everyone is a survivor in this story so you must prepare to shed a tear.
If you feel like some entertainment a little like Planet of the Apes but in a more young adult vein, well then, have a good time.

[Su · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best sequel

Please read this book. If you read Savage Island you are familiar with this island. There are so many dangers, not the least are the carnivorous monkeys. These monkeys have been multiplying through the years and each new generation gets more vicious. But the orangutans have been multiplying also.

This story starts with a diving team going out scuba diving. Most are experienced but its a new site for them. A really bad down draft grabs them and they have to fight to get to the surface where they find a huge storm and no boat. Two small groups are washed up on shore of this island. A total of 5 people.

The story is exciting. The island is dangerous. Luckily, they are befriended by a couple of friendly orangutans. What happens next are some horrible things and some wonderful surprises. I loved this book but there are some sad parts. Bring a box of Kleenex when you get ready to read. But please, read this book. You will be so happy you did!

[Genelle Themann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when I thought it was safe to go near the ocean again...along came this book. A research study on enhanced animals goes terribly wrong when the ship carrying the animals becomes shipwrecked and the specimens escape. Years later a group of divers who are carried away from their dive ship during a terrible storm straggle ashore on an beautiful island in the middle of nowhere. They thank their lucky stars for dry land, adequate fresh water supply, ample food sources, and each other's company. So, it was just a matter of waiting for a passing ship or plane to find them...everything seemed fine. Or was it...

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dive Story like no Other

Wow, what a fantastic read from an author that has experience. It starts with a dive group of 14, almost lost in a rip current underwater and how they come out of it into a vicious storm with no dive boat to be seen. Plus they get separated into groups of 2, 3, & 4, not knowing who survived. This is the story of 5 that became stranded on a beautiful island with many secrets. You really need to read it for the rest of the story. Any thing else said will give it away. Loved the writing, author was very descriptive but not being overboard. But dang I felt like I could see the island and it's inhabitants. Excellent read. 🐒🐟🐛🍌

[Jeanette Despal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Beyond unbelievable. As a scuba diver it was hard to understand why none of the divers thought to inflate their BC in a down current. At least this part of book was exciting. Once on the island it drags on with day after day of fruit eating not a single one thinking or planning how to get rescued. The whole premise is ludicrous man eating monkeys near Cozumel and no sign of any one to get their attention and be rescued. You have no idea how long they are there and finally meet and old hermit that never ate fish in 40 years but was born and raised there? I will waste no more of my time. How this gets over 3 stars is seriously scary.

[Cristy Upshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adventure no one was truly ready for started off with a beautiful sea diving turn tragic. When a storm at sea churns the sky and sea while being under water, what would you do?

No where to go, boat is gone and you're in the middle of the sea life seems hopeless. Survivors find their way to an island but beware of what lurks in the waters and even on the island.

As they try and survive the island and what will become of them? Finding a ship wreck may tell of what has happened on this island of mysteriousness.

Seatbelt yourself in, grab your cup of tea or coffee and enjoy the ride of survival.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A group of friends are left while taken a dive they think will be the dive of a lifetime.
They are abandoned during a violent storm. 5 “lucky” ones wash ashore a, what they think to be, an uninhabited island.
As they begin to adapt they realize they are not alone.
What creatures lies in wait for them in the strange jungle? How will they keep themselves safe? Will they find a way for rescue?

This book had me wanting to keep reading to see what happened next.
It was a book I got completely lost in.
I believe you won’t be disappointed in this strange and mysterious read.

[Ann Topham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stranded on a deserted island

I recently read a true story about deep sea divers and at the beginning of the book I thought it might be another such story. I soon changed my mind as part of the dive group is washed up on an island. I discovered it to be a sequel to "Savage Isle". Discovering the orangutans and flesh eating monkeys took me back to original story. We never know how experiments can change nature!

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book; as a Scuba Diver myself, and it held my attention. The only reason my read start date is so long is that I read multiple books simultaneously on my Kindle. I bounce around and read them with no set time to stop and move to the next one. I thoroughly enjoyed this book; it held my attention, and I loved the characters. I will be reading more of Beverley Scherberger's book. Read it; you will not be disappointed!

[Kari Owen · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. I mistakenly began this book because I had been recommended another book by the same title. Even after I realized my mistake I thought I would give it a try. It started out promising with an intense first couple of chapters, however it became totally ridiculous. I am not one to give rough or harsh reviews but this seriously seemed like a book a 13 year old wrote. It was very poor and cliche writing. When Lissy meets Big Boy I was just done. Way too silly for me.

[Bekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a huge fan of the survival sub genre of thriller/horror this book hit the spot! One of the main componants of this sub-genre is the brutal but selfishly realistic truth of just what some people might do if it meant their own survival and that's what makes it such a suspensful ride. I'm usually not a fan of time jumps but the chapter swaps between timelines here were perfect for this story and had me wanting more after each one. Solid read, will be keeping an eye on this author.

[Whimsyone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exciting albeit slightly unbelievable this book follows the adventures of stranded divers on a remote island. Soon they discover the island is inhabited by chimps that were once part of a science experiment. Will they be friends or does? I enjoyed the adventure and problem solving and would read something similar again.

[David Whaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Spoilers

I love this book so much. If I was one of the ones stranded on the island I don't think I would have been able to leave the orangutans behind. Especially after they became family and help them survive. I would have choose to spend the rest of my days on the Island.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy Stranded as much as Savage Isle but it was still a decent book! Had me wanting to know the end and who would survive!
Rigo/Ringo, whatever his name was, did annoy me A LOT! But I loved the orangutans! I wish there had been a bit more about the other orangutans on the island instead of so much fillers with the people.
Overall a book that I enjoyed. 3.5 🌟

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

Book is poorly written. And the characters are complete idiots.

Morley's character made ZERO sense. This man had no actual shelter, just killed monkeys that viciously hunt in groups for 40 years, and NEVER came across the loyal protective orangutans in over 6 DECADES and then he dies within like 12 hours of meeting him due to old age I guess.

[KerryO · Rating 4 out of 5]

A scientific experiment has gone awry. This is what Lissy, and a group of vacationing divers discover after being abandoned by their boat captain while underwater off the coast of Cozumel, Mexico during a storm. The nightmare that awaits them after the survivors swim to a seemingly uninhabited island will stay with them forever.

[Kenneth Lingenfelter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A scuba diving expedition gone terribly wrong. A group of them end up on an island away from normal air or ship line routes. A scary adventure as they try to survive on this island.
The novel is well written and keeps you guessing what will happen next.

[Jürgen]

This book is about what happens if influencers are stranded on a remote island. Mix it with the narration of an episode of Sex and the city (but without the sex) and the action of a 80' Macgyver episode.