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A Deep Thing
What was her husband hiding in the jungles of Mexico?
Rocked by her husband’s tragic death, Kendall Jackson strives to put her life back together. But Ryder, her nineteen-year-old stepson, is bitter and wants nothing to do with her. And she can’t keep the grief at bay. Sometimes, it’s so strong, she wonders if life is worth living.
A call from a cave diver in Mexico gives her hope of mending the relationship with her stepson. Before his death, her husband arranged a diving expedition as a birthday gift for his son. Kendall persuades Ryder to honor his father’s last wish.
From the campus of Western Maryland College to the woods of Camp David and the caves of the Yucatán, Kendall and Ryder take a journey to discover what her husband worked so hard to hide, and to protect his treasured secrets from falling into the wrong hands. The choices they make will decide their fate and the future of others. Will they risk everything for the truth?
Rocked by her husband’s tragic death, Kendall Jackson strives to put her life back together. But Ryder, her nineteen-year-old stepson, is bitter and wants nothing to do with her. And she can’t keep the grief at bay. Sometimes, it’s so strong, she wonders if life is worth living.
A call from a cave diver in Mexico gives her hope of mending the relationship with her stepson. Before his death, her husband arranged a diving expedition as a birthday gift for his son. Kendall persuades Ryder to honor his father’s last wish.
From the campus of Western Maryland College to the woods of Camp David and the caves of the Yucatán, Kendall and Ryder take a journey to discover what her husband worked so hard to hide, and to protect his treasured secrets from falling into the wrong hands. The choices they make will decide their fate and the future of others. Will they risk everything for the truth?
372 pages, Paperback
Published December 19, 2016
47 people are currently reading
1376 people want to read
About the author
A.K. Smith
2 books118 followersA.K. Smith is the author of debut fiction novel, "A Deep Thing" and the upcoming novel "Pseudocide". She loves all things jungly, beachy and mysterious. Her mission is to write thrillers, suspense, and romance, that have the power to make you stay up late.
Her new book Pseudocide; Sometimes you have to die to survive is on pre-order and release date of June 24 2021. A twisty YA suspense novel.
A new scuba diver, she counts diving in a cenote (underwater caves in the Yucatan) and surviving-- one of her biggest achievements. Mexico has a special place in her heart; it’s where she escaped after walking out on Corporate America and where she fell in love on a sailboat.
She is a graduate of Shippensburg University (BA) and has a Master of Arts from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. A.K. has written for various national and international publications and blogs including Flight Network, Examiner.com and has been a monthly travel columnist for Rocky Point Times Newspaper for the last six years. Published in various print publications including two cover features in Mexico Living Magazine she continues to trek the world to experience off-the-beaten-road destinations.
A.K. loves seeing the world; Her goal is to step foot on every continent on Planet Earth (maybe even the moon)—she’s slowly getting there. She treasures her family, friends, and kindness. Check out her website at www.aksmithauthor.com or find her on Twitter, and Facebook. @aksmithbook
Her new book Pseudocide; Sometimes you have to die to survive is on pre-order and release date of June 24 2021. A twisty YA suspense novel.
A new scuba diver, she counts diving in a cenote (underwater caves in the Yucatan) and surviving-- one of her biggest achievements. Mexico has a special place in her heart; it’s where she escaped after walking out on Corporate America and where she fell in love on a sailboat.
She is a graduate of Shippensburg University (BA) and has a Master of Arts from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. A.K. has written for various national and international publications and blogs including Flight Network, Examiner.com and has been a monthly travel columnist for Rocky Point Times Newspaper for the last six years. Published in various print publications including two cover features in Mexico Living Magazine she continues to trek the world to experience off-the-beaten-road destinations.
A.K. loves seeing the world; Her goal is to step foot on every continent on Planet Earth (maybe even the moon)—she’s slowly getting there. She treasures her family, friends, and kindness. Check out her website at www.aksmithauthor.com or find her on Twitter, and Facebook. @aksmithbook
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 7, 2017
A lovely exciting read that you should take the time to read. It deserves the 5 stars I am giving it because it stayed with me and kept me picking back up the book time and again. When you can't walk away from a book, it is a real winner.
I am posting the full review on The Page Turner during Mystery Thriller Week which takes place in February. MTW is the annual event to celebrate mystery and thriller authors, bloggers, and fans.
I am posting the full review on The Page Turner during Mystery Thriller Week which takes place in February. MTW is the annual event to celebrate mystery and thriller authors, bloggers, and fans.
December 5, 2016
He was gone and all Kendall had were the memories of one of the finest men she had ever known, her best friend, her safe place from the storm of life. Tim died in a freak diving accident and with him went much of Kendall’s will to live until a call came from Mexico. That call would present Kendall with a challenge and a reason to live again, as she discovers there was so much about her husband he had kept hidden. He had planned a diving expedition that Kendall would now use to hopefully repair the relationship between herself and her estranged stepson. Little did she know she would find herself in fear for her life from danger and in fear for her heart from love.
Who was the man she knew as her husband? What secrets did he keep from her? What message did he try to leave her when he was gone? The mystery deepens as Kendall becomes a guest to a secret government agency, but how does it relate to the cenotes in Mexico? As Kendall and Ryder put their lives in the hands of the cenote guide, Scout, she finds she is also placing her heart in his hands, another gift from beyond from Tim or Fate smiling down on a woman trapped in a quagmire of secrets?
A.K. Smith’s A DEEP THING colors the blues of the tropical waters in richness, while the darkness of uncovered mysteries are veiled in ominous shadows. Visualize the deadly beauty of the depths of the sea, hear the sounds of the water and experience the terror of the unknown through Kendall’s eyes as one once broken woman finds her inner strength again and awakens to a world she never knew existed. Filled with suspense, the feeling of not knowing where to turn and the chaos it took to bring a lonely woman back to life, while seeing a future that is filled with joy.
I received an ARC edition from A.K. Smith in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc (December 19, 2016)
Publication Date: December 19, 2016
Genre: Suspense
Print Length: 278 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Who was the man she knew as her husband? What secrets did he keep from her? What message did he try to leave her when he was gone? The mystery deepens as Kendall becomes a guest to a secret government agency, but how does it relate to the cenotes in Mexico? As Kendall and Ryder put their lives in the hands of the cenote guide, Scout, she finds she is also placing her heart in his hands, another gift from beyond from Tim or Fate smiling down on a woman trapped in a quagmire of secrets?
A.K. Smith’s A DEEP THING colors the blues of the tropical waters in richness, while the darkness of uncovered mysteries are veiled in ominous shadows. Visualize the deadly beauty of the depths of the sea, hear the sounds of the water and experience the terror of the unknown through Kendall’s eyes as one once broken woman finds her inner strength again and awakens to a world she never knew existed. Filled with suspense, the feeling of not knowing where to turn and the chaos it took to bring a lonely woman back to life, while seeing a future that is filled with joy.
I received an ARC edition from A.K. Smith in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc (December 19, 2016)
Publication Date: December 19, 2016
Genre: Suspense
Print Length: 278 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
August 10, 2021
I received this complimentary copy of A Deep Thing from the author via Voracious Readers Only, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Holy shit, where do I start. This is a new author for me, and I am speechless. This is truly a wonderful story that I could see made into a movie! I was hooked, right from the start, and I truly could not put this book down. The suspense, the drama, a mystery inside a mystery. A love lost. Who are your friends? Who can you trust? This is a book you just have to read, cause I’m not giving anything away!
Holy shit, where do I start. This is a new author for me, and I am speechless. This is truly a wonderful story that I could see made into a movie! I was hooked, right from the start, and I truly could not put this book down. The suspense, the drama, a mystery inside a mystery. A love lost. Who are your friends? Who can you trust? This is a book you just have to read, cause I’m not giving anything away!
December 19, 2016
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Readers Copy of this book.
What a fabulous debut novel! This was a beautiful, mysterious, and thrilling ride. A.K. Smith expertly wove this story together, dropping little morsels of secrets and past moments shared with Tim that I savored while wondering if it was a clue to the mystery surrounding this special dive trip. She laid an intricate web of intrigue that kept me guessing who to trust and what was to be discovered till the very moments all was revealed in the final chapters.
I was immediately drawn into the lives of the characters. The pain of loss hit me hard from the start. My heart hurt for Kendall and Ryder who continued to struggle with their loss all these months later, never fully letting go of their pain until the truth was revealed. I loved how real everyone was. Kendall struggled with opening herself back up to the world. Ryder was an angry teenager fighting against a relationship with Kendall. It was clear from the start he resented her relationship with his father and the distance it caused in their own relationship, so why would he want to have anything to do with her now that Tim was gone? I also liked the secondary players - Scout, Steve, Conrad, and Andrew. Throughout the story, it was clear everyone had their own agenda, but the question was whether they wanted to help or hurt Kendall in discovering the truth behind Tim's deception and death.
It's been a while since I've read something filled with government conspiracies, fantastical beliefs, and deception from those closest to you. As the author alluded to in the book, it was like reading an Indiana Jones adventure. While we got closer on the puzzle Kendall was trying to solve, there was still a question as to what would happen down the road. And in the end, I was left wondering what Ryder's intentions were. Was he as fame and money hungry as his mother and the rest of the vultures they were fighting against, or did he want to find a way to identify those who wanted to fulfill the mission his father put him on?
What a fabulous debut novel! This was a beautiful, mysterious, and thrilling ride. A.K. Smith expertly wove this story together, dropping little morsels of secrets and past moments shared with Tim that I savored while wondering if it was a clue to the mystery surrounding this special dive trip. She laid an intricate web of intrigue that kept me guessing who to trust and what was to be discovered till the very moments all was revealed in the final chapters.
I was immediately drawn into the lives of the characters. The pain of loss hit me hard from the start. My heart hurt for Kendall and Ryder who continued to struggle with their loss all these months later, never fully letting go of their pain until the truth was revealed. I loved how real everyone was. Kendall struggled with opening herself back up to the world. Ryder was an angry teenager fighting against a relationship with Kendall. It was clear from the start he resented her relationship with his father and the distance it caused in their own relationship, so why would he want to have anything to do with her now that Tim was gone? I also liked the secondary players - Scout, Steve, Conrad, and Andrew. Throughout the story, it was clear everyone had their own agenda, but the question was whether they wanted to help or hurt Kendall in discovering the truth behind Tim's deception and death.
It's been a while since I've read something filled with government conspiracies, fantastical beliefs, and deception from those closest to you. As the author alluded to in the book, it was like reading an Indiana Jones adventure. While we got closer on the puzzle Kendall was trying to solve, there was still a question as to what would happen down the road. And in the end, I was left wondering what Ryder's intentions were. Was he as fame and money hungry as his mother and the rest of the vultures they were fighting against, or did he want to find a way to identify those who wanted to fulfill the mission his father put him on?
March 16, 2017
I thought this book was excellent. Beautiful descriptions of the landscapes and very suspenseful. I did not suspect the ending.
November 17, 2017
A good read!
I could not put this book down. Although it was largely predictable, I couldn't help myself trying to get to the end to see if I was right. Lovely characters. I found the book highly entertaining!
I could not put this book down. Although it was largely predictable, I couldn't help myself trying to get to the end to see if I was right. Lovely characters. I found the book highly entertaining!
July 10, 2017
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book! You can find my full review at https://spinesinaline.wordpress.com
This one is billed as a thriller but something in it stuck out to me that really made this book stand out in its genre. Maybe it was that I was able to connect more with the characters than I find in more traditional thrillers, where so much of the writing is focused on the fast-paced adventures. Here, the author gives us time to understand and learn about who's involved in the story, and it almost gives the air of a more contemporary fiction read along with the thriller aspects.
There's a lot about diving in this book but that really shouldn't put you off if you're not knowledgeable in this area (I'm definitely not). Most of these terms and scenes are described in a "teaching" style so it's quite easy to understand even if you've never done it yourself. It also helps that the author writes about diving with so much passion, it's clear she's a fan if not a diver herself!
Bonus: This book is also billed as a romance and I normally shy away from this genre but I found it was really tastefully done. I especially liked that there weren’t really any love triangles or anything, which would’ve only detracted from the story.
This book gets 4.5 stars from me, my only real issue being with some of the environmental debates that come up later in the book. This comes off a bit preachy to me and while I understand the importance of keeping our earth safe, I don't think the full scientific argument was given here.
This one is billed as a thriller but something in it stuck out to me that really made this book stand out in its genre. Maybe it was that I was able to connect more with the characters than I find in more traditional thrillers, where so much of the writing is focused on the fast-paced adventures. Here, the author gives us time to understand and learn about who's involved in the story, and it almost gives the air of a more contemporary fiction read along with the thriller aspects.
There's a lot about diving in this book but that really shouldn't put you off if you're not knowledgeable in this area (I'm definitely not). Most of these terms and scenes are described in a "teaching" style so it's quite easy to understand even if you've never done it yourself. It also helps that the author writes about diving with so much passion, it's clear she's a fan if not a diver herself!
Bonus: This book is also billed as a romance and I normally shy away from this genre but I found it was really tastefully done. I especially liked that there weren’t really any love triangles or anything, which would’ve only detracted from the story.
This book gets 4.5 stars from me, my only real issue being with some of the environmental debates that come up later in the book. This comes off a bit preachy to me and while I understand the importance of keeping our earth safe, I don't think the full scientific argument was given here.
December 27, 2016
A Deep Thing is a very compelling story of love, loss and the pursuit of truth. One of those stories you cannot guess what’s coming up. I was engrossed in the story and felt almost a part of it. A well-paced story that made me appreciate how real the characters were, especially how Kendall and Ryder would not let go until they knew the truth about the death of Tim (wife and son, respectively). Who should be trusted in helping Kendall getting to the truth about her husband’s death. Secrets there are, but not the typical secret that one would expect while reeling through the pages. Kendall has no choice but to trust along the way in her quest to find the truth about the mysterious death of the love of her life, all because of a call from Mexico. This brought Kendall some hope after she was in a desolate place not able to come to terms with her tragic loss.
The writing is crisp and the story well told with beautiful descriptions of the locations, taking you all the way from the USA to Mexico, Yucatan in particular. This is well recommended.
The writing is crisp and the story well told with beautiful descriptions of the locations, taking you all the way from the USA to Mexico, Yucatan in particular. This is well recommended.
January 3, 2017
This novel by A.k. Smith hit me hard right from the first chapter. I experienced the same situation a few years back. My dad passed away three months after he remarried, and left me with my step mom. Therefore, I am really familiar with the tension from the broken relationship between Kendall and Ryder.
Having such personal attachment with the story triggered my curiosity of how the relationship between those two would go on. However, that is not the main point of the book. The main focus is to reveal the mystery behind the death of Tim, Kendall's late husband. And, as I kept on reading, I couldn't stop wondering what would I find at the end. I gotta give credit to the author for his expertise in describing the natural places throughout the book. I've never been to Mexico, but I could visualize some places, and it was a good feeling to have your imagination running wild while you are reading. In overall, I enjoyed reading A Deep Thing by A.K. Smith.
Having such personal attachment with the story triggered my curiosity of how the relationship between those two would go on. However, that is not the main point of the book. The main focus is to reveal the mystery behind the death of Tim, Kendall's late husband. And, as I kept on reading, I couldn't stop wondering what would I find at the end. I gotta give credit to the author for his expertise in describing the natural places throughout the book. I've never been to Mexico, but I could visualize some places, and it was a good feeling to have your imagination running wild while you are reading. In overall, I enjoyed reading A Deep Thing by A.K. Smith.
February 22, 2017
GNAB I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, A. K. Smith, and Wild Rose Press, Inc in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all, for sharing your hard work with me.
A Deep Think is an intricate dance of cause and effect, the mystery surrounding the cenotes in Belize and Mexico, and the concept of family love. It does not read like a first novel - A. K. Smith does a really good job of catching and holding our attention with this fast paced tale of daring do. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a little romance tossed in. After you have finished this novel, I recommend that you find and view a short IMAX film titled MacGillivray Freeman's Journey into Amazing Caves. It can take you there.
pub date Jan 15, 2017
Wild Rose Press, Inc.
A Deep Think is an intricate dance of cause and effect, the mystery surrounding the cenotes in Belize and Mexico, and the concept of family love. It does not read like a first novel - A. K. Smith does a really good job of catching and holding our attention with this fast paced tale of daring do. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a little romance tossed in. After you have finished this novel, I recommend that you find and view a short IMAX film titled MacGillivray Freeman's Journey into Amazing Caves. It can take you there.
pub date Jan 15, 2017
Wild Rose Press, Inc.
October 5, 2017
Wow. The author's masterful descriptions of the underground caves of the Yucatan were so powerful, this book made me want to go there, despite the dangers in the plot! I felt like I was right there with Kendall, the main character, as she cave-dives, searching for clues to her husband's supposed death. The mystery was also very well-executed. There were so many twists and turns, the book had me guessing what happened right up until the end!
March 4, 2017
I truly enjoyed this story that educated me about the underwater caves in the Yucatan. The characters were true to life and it was easy to relate to their situation. As the story is revealed you are challenged to figure out and solve the mystery behind a freak diving death. A great first time work!
November 12, 2017
I usually read science fiction. This was a good diversion.
(Also, I would be more inclined to write a review if you did not have a minimal word requirement .)
(Also, I would be more inclined to write a review if you did not have a minimal word requirement .)
February 8, 2017
Not a traditional romance, Kendall’s relationship with her late husband is what binds the mystery together.
Read full review in the 2017 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2017 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.
August 25, 2018
**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** I really did not like much about this at all. To start, the book begins with the main character Kendall trying to take her own life - without success - because her husband died 14 months ago. When she realises she is still alive, she sees this as a "sign" to start living again and her grief/suicidal urges are cured. This felt very cheap to me and soured me right from the start.
When Kendall finds her husband Tim's in-case-of-emergency letter and then his briefcase, she is taken on a trail of breadcrumbs laid out by him that then lead her to discoveries about the double life he led. Everything Kendall does is fuelled by her "This is what Tim would have wanted" mantra - and because of this, she has no agency as a character. She has no personal struggles to overcome, no arc, no growth. She follows the path laid out for her, and when shady third-parties get involved trying to claim Tim's secrets, she just tells them she doesn't know anything and keeps going. What a thrill.
The only element of internal conflict Kendall ever has is her attraction to their diving guide - "Scout" - a one-dimensional addition to the story that ultimately served no purpose. She snogged him once then felt conflicted so backpedals hard -- fair enough. But Scout -- enraptured by her "blue eyes" and "sexy smile" and literally nothing to do with her personality, pines for her and eventually confesses he took her to the wrong cenote on purpose. Caught between government agencies and a covenant-like entity, both of which have bugged her house, Kendall leaves on a plane for Central America again - which, really, should have led everyone straight to her - and suits up to dive again. Then, due to her step-son's incompetence which is why Scout didn't want to attempt the more complex dive in the first place, they all get caught up in a panic underwater. Kendall blacks out. When she wakes up, her husband is alive and they are together in an idyllic paradise. Tim explains that he managed to save her, and his dipshit son -- but not Scout. Tim then explains he's a descendant of a society that has been living there for millennia to protect their magical, life-span increasing water supply. Tim tells Kendall that if she were to go back to the real world, she can never return. Again, Kendall experiences no struggle or inner-conflict - she agrees immediately to stay, because her whole character, her whole life, her whole state of being is dependent upon Tim. Without Tim, Kendall is nothing. She is a nothing character.
To add insult to injury, the book is littered with tired tropes and cliches. At one point, Kendall's smart professor buddy does some data crunching for her and realises that the photos on her husband's zip-drive (that all contain black and white still images of U.S. presidents) all have a figure in the photo bearing a circular birthmark. I hope I don't have to explain that this is an exhausted trope that doesn't fit the tone of a serious mystery story dealing with a widow's grief. My eyes rolled so far back into my head I could see my brain - which, incidentally, was shriveling back into itself in response to the pages before me.
In the final pages, the novel reaches a wavering crescendo of stupidity by having Tim's irredeemable reality TV-star son walk into a board meeting to deliver a pitch - yet another tired cliche. And in this last page, quivering in conceit and pretense, the book spits in your face one final time. He delivers the pitch of a movie called "A Deep Thing"... about the dilemma of discovering magical curative water, and the implications of what you would do with it.
What is even more astounding about this closing line is that Kendall never once considers the ramifications of this magical water, and what her discovering it would mean for everyone. Should she have even risked going back to Central America? What if her husband was actually a secret asshole - it's already been established he hid a lot of things from her and led a double life. And bringing his stupid son along? What if the government traced her boarding pass and just turned up and fucking shot everyone to cover it up? Wouldn't that be extremely irresponsible? Did she encrypt her laptop files? Does her laptop even have a password? No. None of that is even briefly considered for an instant - Kendall is on a mission. A mission to find her husband, who she loves.
1/10
When Kendall finds her husband Tim's in-case-of-emergency letter and then his briefcase, she is taken on a trail of breadcrumbs laid out by him that then lead her to discoveries about the double life he led. Everything Kendall does is fuelled by her "This is what Tim would have wanted" mantra - and because of this, she has no agency as a character. She has no personal struggles to overcome, no arc, no growth. She follows the path laid out for her, and when shady third-parties get involved trying to claim Tim's secrets, she just tells them she doesn't know anything and keeps going. What a thrill.
The only element of internal conflict Kendall ever has is her attraction to their diving guide - "Scout" - a one-dimensional addition to the story that ultimately served no purpose. She snogged him once then felt conflicted so backpedals hard -- fair enough. But Scout -- enraptured by her "blue eyes" and "sexy smile" and literally nothing to do with her personality, pines for her and eventually confesses he took her to the wrong cenote on purpose. Caught between government agencies and a covenant-like entity, both of which have bugged her house, Kendall leaves on a plane for Central America again - which, really, should have led everyone straight to her - and suits up to dive again. Then, due to her step-son's incompetence which is why Scout didn't want to attempt the more complex dive in the first place, they all get caught up in a panic underwater. Kendall blacks out. When she wakes up, her husband is alive and they are together in an idyllic paradise. Tim explains that he managed to save her, and his dipshit son -- but not Scout. Tim then explains he's a descendant of a society that has been living there for millennia to protect their magical, life-span increasing water supply. Tim tells Kendall that if she were to go back to the real world, she can never return. Again, Kendall experiences no struggle or inner-conflict - she agrees immediately to stay, because her whole character, her whole life, her whole state of being is dependent upon Tim. Without Tim, Kendall is nothing. She is a nothing character.
To add insult to injury, the book is littered with tired tropes and cliches. At one point, Kendall's smart professor buddy does some data crunching for her and realises that the photos on her husband's zip-drive (that all contain black and white still images of U.S. presidents) all have a figure in the photo bearing a circular birthmark. I hope I don't have to explain that this is an exhausted trope that doesn't fit the tone of a serious mystery story dealing with a widow's grief. My eyes rolled so far back into my head I could see my brain - which, incidentally, was shriveling back into itself in response to the pages before me.
In the final pages, the novel reaches a wavering crescendo of stupidity by having Tim's irredeemable reality TV-star son walk into a board meeting to deliver a pitch - yet another tired cliche. And in this last page, quivering in conceit and pretense, the book spits in your face one final time. He delivers the pitch of a movie called "A Deep Thing"... about the dilemma of discovering magical curative water, and the implications of what you would do with it.
What is even more astounding about this closing line is that Kendall never once considers the ramifications of this magical water, and what her discovering it would mean for everyone. Should she have even risked going back to Central America? What if her husband was actually a secret asshole - it's already been established he hid a lot of things from her and led a double life. And bringing his stupid son along? What if the government traced her boarding pass and just turned up and fucking shot everyone to cover it up? Wouldn't that be extremely irresponsible? Did she encrypt her laptop files? Does her laptop even have a password? No. None of that is even briefly considered for an instant - Kendall is on a mission. A mission to find her husband, who she loves.
1/10
January 2, 2017
Book – A Deep Thing
Author – A.K. Smith
Series – None
Cliffhanger? - No
Publication Date – December 19, 2016
Genre – Suspense
Type – Stand-Alone
Rating – 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Complimentary copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Thoughts - Story
Wow…what a great start to a promising career as an author! A great debut book that held my attention from the beginning to the end. This was a complex story that entwined love, suspense, and a journey to find the truth.
I loved the main character in this story – Kendall and how she was determined to find out the truth of Tim’s death (her husband and love of her life).
But not only does the author give us a heartbreaking, suspenseful story but her descriptions of the underwater caves is breathtaking! It actually pushes me to take a vacation to these caves found in the Yucatan!
Loved this a debut novel and can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next.
Reason for Reading – Author Request
Story – 5 out of 5 Stars
Steam – N/A out of 5 Stars
Angst – 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Writing – 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Content Flow – 4 out of 5 Stars
Would Read More from Author? Yes
Recommend To – Lovers of Suspense and tales of journeys through loss
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
Author – A.K. Smith
Series – None
Cliffhanger? - No
Publication Date – December 19, 2016
Genre – Suspense
Type – Stand-Alone
Rating – 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Complimentary copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Thoughts - Story
Wow…what a great start to a promising career as an author! A great debut book that held my attention from the beginning to the end. This was a complex story that entwined love, suspense, and a journey to find the truth.
I loved the main character in this story – Kendall and how she was determined to find out the truth of Tim’s death (her husband and love of her life).
But not only does the author give us a heartbreaking, suspenseful story but her descriptions of the underwater caves is breathtaking! It actually pushes me to take a vacation to these caves found in the Yucatan!
Loved this a debut novel and can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next.
Reason for Reading – Author Request
Story – 5 out of 5 Stars
Steam – N/A out of 5 Stars
Angst – 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Writing – 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Content Flow – 4 out of 5 Stars
Would Read More from Author? Yes
Recommend To – Lovers of Suspense and tales of journeys through loss
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
January 5, 2017
A Delightful Read
This is an outstanding debut, beautifully written, and stacked with amazing knowledge of the setting and the characters. Imbued with the Maya mythology, it is a fascinating blend of sci-fi and thriller, which immediately stirs the reader as it meanders on with delicate fluidity, from the elegant quarters of Maryland—through the crystal waters of Mexico—to the diving paradise of Yucatàn. But, don’t go diving yet, for beyond the magic of nature portrayed here and the biological discovery it stumbles upon, this is also a human story. The author plays the feminine card pretty well—the emotion, the anguish of a disoriented widow, the longing for a man’s touch after 18-months of grieving, and the silently raging ache at the discovery that her husband had a secret...
Why does everyone think she knows what those secrets are? Why are they all after the contents of the briefcase he left behind? Kendall, the protagonist, realizes all of a sudden that no one around her can be trusted. She begins to walk on eggshells as the forces close in. She’s no longer able to talk freely on the phone or feel safe in her home or even rely on people that were once as close as family. If only Ryder, her stepson, would stop giving her the cold shoulder, maybe together, with a little help from that stranger in Mexico who makes her heart flutter a bit, they’d manage to get to the bottom of it... maybe.
A Deep Thing is an enjoyable book, rich in details. Highly recommended.
This is an outstanding debut, beautifully written, and stacked with amazing knowledge of the setting and the characters. Imbued with the Maya mythology, it is a fascinating blend of sci-fi and thriller, which immediately stirs the reader as it meanders on with delicate fluidity, from the elegant quarters of Maryland—through the crystal waters of Mexico—to the diving paradise of Yucatàn. But, don’t go diving yet, for beyond the magic of nature portrayed here and the biological discovery it stumbles upon, this is also a human story. The author plays the feminine card pretty well—the emotion, the anguish of a disoriented widow, the longing for a man’s touch after 18-months of grieving, and the silently raging ache at the discovery that her husband had a secret...
Why does everyone think she knows what those secrets are? Why are they all after the contents of the briefcase he left behind? Kendall, the protagonist, realizes all of a sudden that no one around her can be trusted. She begins to walk on eggshells as the forces close in. She’s no longer able to talk freely on the phone or feel safe in her home or even rely on people that were once as close as family. If only Ryder, her stepson, would stop giving her the cold shoulder, maybe together, with a little help from that stranger in Mexico who makes her heart flutter a bit, they’d manage to get to the bottom of it... maybe.
A Deep Thing is an enjoyable book, rich in details. Highly recommended.
December 17, 2016
Kendall Jackson is having a terrible time dealing with the sudden and tragic death of her husband. Ryder is a tv star on a soap opera and wants nothing to do with Kendall who apparently is his stepmother, Tim, Ryder's father was planning a trip for them to both go diving however the trip was postponed a few times already cause of Ryder's schedule and with his father dead will he still go to honor his father's memory as it seemed to mean so much to his dad? And why did his dad want him to go with her? So he goes but for some reason both him and Kendall don't think this was exactly what they were supposed to be doing on the trip something was a miss. And what was he hiding from her that could get her in trouble? Who should she trust? It all comes to a head when Kendall has no where to turn so she goes on the trip that they were meant to take, I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, I loved this book it's basically a treasure hunt.
November 12, 2017
Got this rather cheap, the blurb read interesting. Also at the end with the notes about the author I discovered it was a female author, which is always a plus for me. Except for the romance.
Solid 4* for a debut. Contains too much romance for my taste. Some scenes where way too long and not to spoil the end, while I thought it would take a turn into SF, it was more fantasy. And this way also more like James Rollins, what with the trust-no-one vibe and the conspiracy theories. Felt also a bit too long for me, as I took altogether too long to finish it, a sure sign it was not as suspenseful as I hoped.
As I read Hans Hass and Jacques Cousteau in my youth and despite my disability I swam then (Baltic Sea sometimes or when the family went to a swimming pool), the diving was what interested me most in this book and the short passages where rather interesting and felt real, like the author had experienced this kind of cave-diving herself.
With a debut or when other pieces fall into place I tend to overlook some things, so others might consider this a 3star book. But I saw no mistakes, not in the logic of the story, nor in the writing (grammar etc.) - sometimes in speech it felt like I would have said it with a word or two more, but maybe I am just more used to some UK expressions, from a different English-speaking-country (I am a foreigner, German born&breed, still living here).
Standalone.
Solid 4* for a debut. Contains too much romance for my taste. Some scenes where way too long and not to spoil the end, while I thought it would take a turn into SF, it was more fantasy. And this way also more like James Rollins, what with the trust-no-one vibe and the conspiracy theories. Felt also a bit too long for me, as I took altogether too long to finish it, a sure sign it was not as suspenseful as I hoped.
As I read Hans Hass and Jacques Cousteau in my youth and despite my disability I swam then (Baltic Sea sometimes or when the family went to a swimming pool), the diving was what interested me most in this book and the short passages where rather interesting and felt real, like the author had experienced this kind of cave-diving herself.
With a debut or when other pieces fall into place I tend to overlook some things, so others might consider this a 3star book. But I saw no mistakes, not in the logic of the story, nor in the writing (grammar etc.) - sometimes in speech it felt like I would have said it with a word or two more, but maybe I am just more used to some UK expressions, from a different English-speaking-country (I am a foreigner, German born&breed, still living here).
Standalone.
October 8, 2021
I received my copy for free from voracious readers only.
Overall it was a good read. I would recommend it to a friend but tell them not to get their hopes up too high.
When I first started the book, it was a little confusing. It took me a bit to piece things together and figure out what was going on. Jumps from past to present and point if view to point of view are not always clear. I was also disappointed with the formatting when it came to conversations. Normally I would expect the general rule of: Person a then in a new paragraph, or at least line, Person b, etc. The version I read jumbled everything together and could be somewhat confusing as to which character was saying what. I do tend to be a bit strict on grammar/usage.
As for the plot itself- once I got used to the flow- it started strong. Some parts seemed over dramatic to me,but not everyone experiences emotions the same. As the chapters fly by I found myself more and more into the book. But then it happened. I looked at the %of book left and realized after so much buildup, there just wasn't enough book left to do the beginning justice. As I got closer and closer to the end I felt like the story was rushing to get everything wrapped up. On top of the rush I was fairly disappointed with the ending. I feel cheated out of a lot of moments, emotions, reactions, and explanations. Unless there is going to be a sequel, the ending was a buzzkill fir me.
Overall it was a good read. I would recommend it to a friend but tell them not to get their hopes up too high.
When I first started the book, it was a little confusing. It took me a bit to piece things together and figure out what was going on. Jumps from past to present and point if view to point of view are not always clear. I was also disappointed with the formatting when it came to conversations. Normally I would expect the general rule of: Person a then in a new paragraph, or at least line, Person b, etc. The version I read jumbled everything together and could be somewhat confusing as to which character was saying what. I do tend to be a bit strict on grammar/usage.
As for the plot itself- once I got used to the flow- it started strong. Some parts seemed over dramatic to me,but not everyone experiences emotions the same. As the chapters fly by I found myself more and more into the book. But then it happened. I looked at the %of book left and realized after so much buildup, there just wasn't enough book left to do the beginning justice. As I got closer and closer to the end I felt like the story was rushing to get everything wrapped up. On top of the rush I was fairly disappointed with the ending. I feel cheated out of a lot of moments, emotions, reactions, and explanations. Unless there is going to be a sequel, the ending was a buzzkill fir me.
January 20, 2018
I'm so happy that I discovered this gem of a book! The premise was so intriguing and it truly followed through to deliver what it promised: adventure, mystery, thrills, and coping with complex emotions of love and loss. It was very easy to dive right in and not come up for air (yes, that is a scuba pun!) I learned about the exciting world of scuba, cave diving, cenotes, the jungles of Mexico and ancient mysteries of the past. The author is clearly an expert and wrote an believable and intriguing plot that involves all of the above, as well as secret government agencies and top secret research. I felt part of this world that Smith created so flawlessly. The characters were complex, human and I found myself relating to Kendall on many levels. A strong protagonist who overcomes so much and must figure out who she can trust kept me flipping pages, wanting answers and cheering for her. The bonds of family and friends are tested, with many emotional layers that make the reader truly care about these characters. I highly recommend this book!
October 17, 2017
This book is awesome!! I was hooked right away. I love books with secrets to discover, and this one was that kind of book. It's very fast-paced, and I found myself holding my breath a lot. I loved Kendall and was sympathetic to her. The issues with her stepson, Ryder, were so real to life and the author did a great job of playing that out. And, it was so cool that he was a reality star. I am obsessed with reality shows, so that really added to my enjoyment. Plus, he's hot! LOL. If you love suspense, you really need to check this book out.
December 14, 2017
A fantastic first book! What a great read!
This book took a considerable amount of research. It was so well done that it's hard to believe this is the author's first book. A great read for anyone who enjoys a story full of conspiracy theories, with love and adventure thrown in. The author weaves a beautiful tapestry that induces imagination, curiosity and excitement while leaving one to ponder; what if? Could this be true? Fact or fiction hmm...
Loved the ending even though I was sad this story came to an end.
This book took a considerable amount of research. It was so well done that it's hard to believe this is the author's first book. A great read for anyone who enjoys a story full of conspiracy theories, with love and adventure thrown in. The author weaves a beautiful tapestry that induces imagination, curiosity and excitement while leaving one to ponder; what if? Could this be true? Fact or fiction hmm...
Loved the ending even though I was sad this story came to an end.
August 31, 2021
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the start and couldn't put it down. The imagery of the cenotes was absolutely breath taking. I enjoyed following the mystery associated with Kendall's deceased husbands secret life. It was a fast paced story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you A.K. Smith. I will definitely read more of your work.
I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the start and couldn't put it down. The imagery of the cenotes was absolutely breath taking. I enjoyed following the mystery associated with Kendall's deceased husbands secret life. It was a fast paced story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you A.K. Smith. I will definitely read more of your work.
August 12, 2022
It is not often
...that I bother to write a review of a book that I dislike. This will be an exception. This story totally fell to pieces in the final few pages. It had the potential in the beginning to be a good read but the author seemed to having lost the thread. The end turned into a fantasy that the beginning gave no indication of. Impossible. Ridiculous. Stupid. Don't read it.
...that I bother to write a review of a book that I dislike. This will be an exception. This story totally fell to pieces in the final few pages. It had the potential in the beginning to be a good read but the author seemed to having lost the thread. The end turned into a fantasy that the beginning gave no indication of. Impossible. Ridiculous. Stupid. Don't read it.
June 25, 2018
4.5 Stars!
A great read full if intrigue, adventure, and mystery!
Imagine the film National Treasure meets National Geographic!
Beautiful descriptions of cenotes in Mexico coupled with a government cover-up. This was such an enjoyable read! Wonderfully written and a definite page turner I couldn't wait to see how it all turned out in the end. Highly recommend this one!
A great read full if intrigue, adventure, and mystery!
Imagine the film National Treasure meets National Geographic!
Beautiful descriptions of cenotes in Mexico coupled with a government cover-up. This was such an enjoyable read! Wonderfully written and a definite page turner I couldn't wait to see how it all turned out in the end. Highly recommend this one!
July 26, 2021
This book had me hooked from the start. So many twists. Loved the way it was written. Reminds me of some of the Dan Brown books.
Definatly recommend if you love a bit of history, mystery. Kept me guessing to the end.
Definatly recommend if you love a bit of history, mystery. Kept me guessing to the end.
February 24, 2017
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I was unable to finish this.
I found the plot to slow and the characters lacked depth.
This was not for me.
I was unable to finish this.
I found the plot to slow and the characters lacked depth.
This was not for me.
November 24, 2017
Great book, interesting, informative, entertaining, witty, great characters, drama, flowed smoothly, and had a happy ending. If this is the author's first book, I can't wait for the next one.
April 3, 2018
AK Smith is a talented writer with a vivid imagination
The ending is quite a surprise. This book held my attention from the first page
The ending is quite a surprise. This book held my attention from the first page
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