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Taine McKenna Adventures #2
Into The Sounds
On leave, and out of his head with boredom, NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna joins biologist Jules Asher, on a Conservation Department deer culling expedition to New Zealand’s southernmost national park, where soaring peaks give way to valleys gouged from clay and rock, and icy rivers bleed into watery canyons too deep to fathom. Despite covering an area the size of the Serengeti, only eighteen people live in the isolated region, so it’s a surprise when the hunters stumble on the nation’s Turehu tribe, becoming some of only a handful to ever encounter the elusive ghost people. But a band of mercenaries saw them first, and, hell-bent on exploiting the tribes’ survivors, they’re prepared to kill anyone who gets in their way. As a soldier, McKenna is duty-bound to protect all New Zealanders, but after centuries of persecution will the Turehu allow him to help them? Besides, there is something else lurking in the sounds, and it has its own agenda. When the waters clear, will anyone be allowed to leave? “Murray pretty much nails small unit tactics.” Justin Coates, author of The Apocalypse Drive “A fantastic blend of military fiction, a very real primordial monster, and powerful mythology.” Paul Mannering, author of Hard Corps, Hell’s Teeth, and Eat.
234 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2018
66 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 9, 2018
This is the second book in the Taine McKenna series. Taine accompanies Jules on an expedition to the Fiorland Sounds to help cull the deer. But that ends up being the least of their problems when they encounter dangerous poachers, an indigenous species and a murderous sea creature.
I enjoyed this book almost as much as the first book. My only hangup with this one, is that I thought it followed the outline of the first book way too closely. Yeah they were in a different location and yeah they hunted a sea creature instead of a land animal but besides that everything else felt a little too similar. Maybe if I wouldn't have read them back to back I wouldn't have noticed it as much but there you have it...
It was still a fun book though and I do recommend if you like creature features.
I enjoyed this book almost as much as the first book. My only hangup with this one, is that I thought it followed the outline of the first book way too closely. Yeah they were in a different location and yeah they hunted a sea creature instead of a land animal but besides that everything else felt a little too similar. Maybe if I wouldn't have read them back to back I wouldn't have noticed it as much but there you have it...
It was still a fun book though and I do recommend if you like creature features.
June 27, 2019
From the very first page INTO THE SOUNDS is a thriller in the true sense where you just don't want to put the book down. This second Taine McKenna Adventure keeps all the best parts of the first while adding new dynamics and dangers. One thing I especially appreciated is how nothing, no plan, ever goes completely to order. Murray has a good handle on the randomness of life. This means that you can never predict exactly what's going to happen in the book and also adds a lot of realism to the situation. She's adept at describing action sequences which I often get lost in but never did in this novel. The book is very cinematic with every scene easily pictured in frightening detail. Of course you can't go wrong with a giant prehistoric squid! I love the clash of ancient versus modern from creatures to cultures that's interwoven skillfully throughout. Mythology stills plays a significant part. Overall this was a pulse-pounding, action packed installment and I can't wait to see what the third book, Into the Ashes, holds.
August 14, 2018
Into the Sounds - Review
Continuing the story of Taine McKenna and Jules Asher which started with Into the Mist (winner of the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Novel, 2016), Lee Murray leaves the mist-shrouded Ureweras behind and drops us into one of New Zealand’s most remote and deceptively beautiful regions: Fiordland. Taking leave from the NZDF, McKenna accompanies Asher and a crew of scientists and hunters into the Fiordland Sounds on a Department of Conservation deer-culling mission. What should be a straightforward job rapidly slides into chaos as the team stumble across a high-tech poaching operation, a lost tribe, and larger, darker things lurking beneath the icy waters of the Sounds.
Into the Sounds is a worthy follow-up to Into the Mist, a non-stop adventure which threads together many overlapping aspects of New Zealand’s sometimes ugly history, with a solid dose of credible science fiction, and a critical touch of magic to hold it all together. New Zealand’s grand, sweeping landscapes take on an almost mystical quality as Murray takes us deeper into a part of the country often imagined but rarely explored.
While the bodycount starts racking up in the opening scene and doesn’t slow down, the full cast of characters are well-developed, and we feel for each of them as one disaster after another claims its victims, heroes and villains and strangers alike. The pacing is superb, the writing is clean and uncluttered, and I think this book makes an excellent addition to the series, and to the monster-hunter genre in general.
Readers who are new to the series can pick up Sounds and enjoy it without having read Mist. A third book, Into the Ashes, is slated for release next year from Severed Press, and I’m already looking forward to that.
Disclosure: Lee Murray and I are frequent collaborators, and I was offered a copy of Into the Sounds to read for review purposes. This review is my honest opinion of what is a fantastic, exciting read, and I highly recommend this series to fans of science fiction and monster fiction alike.
Continuing the story of Taine McKenna and Jules Asher which started with Into the Mist (winner of the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Novel, 2016), Lee Murray leaves the mist-shrouded Ureweras behind and drops us into one of New Zealand’s most remote and deceptively beautiful regions: Fiordland. Taking leave from the NZDF, McKenna accompanies Asher and a crew of scientists and hunters into the Fiordland Sounds on a Department of Conservation deer-culling mission. What should be a straightforward job rapidly slides into chaos as the team stumble across a high-tech poaching operation, a lost tribe, and larger, darker things lurking beneath the icy waters of the Sounds.
Into the Sounds is a worthy follow-up to Into the Mist, a non-stop adventure which threads together many overlapping aspects of New Zealand’s sometimes ugly history, with a solid dose of credible science fiction, and a critical touch of magic to hold it all together. New Zealand’s grand, sweeping landscapes take on an almost mystical quality as Murray takes us deeper into a part of the country often imagined but rarely explored.
While the bodycount starts racking up in the opening scene and doesn’t slow down, the full cast of characters are well-developed, and we feel for each of them as one disaster after another claims its victims, heroes and villains and strangers alike. The pacing is superb, the writing is clean and uncluttered, and I think this book makes an excellent addition to the series, and to the monster-hunter genre in general.
Readers who are new to the series can pick up Sounds and enjoy it without having read Mist. A third book, Into the Ashes, is slated for release next year from Severed Press, and I’m already looking forward to that.
Disclosure: Lee Murray and I are frequent collaborators, and I was offered a copy of Into the Sounds to read for review purposes. This review is my honest opinion of what is a fantastic, exciting read, and I highly recommend this series to fans of science fiction and monster fiction alike.
May 7, 2019
I’ve become really fond of Taine and his cohorts. They are double tough and do the dirty work. Taine is actually on a bit of a vacation when his special talents are called upon again. There’s no rest for the wicked and once again the wilderness isn’t the only thing he has to contend with. It’s what lurks out of sight and what’s in the water that could spell disaster.
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This second book was every bit as fun as the first one. Plenty of action, some hair raising encounters and I liked where the author went with the ending. Neat and with a twist.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
.
This second book was every bit as fun as the first one. Plenty of action, some hair raising encounters and I liked where the author went with the ending. Neat and with a twist.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
December 26, 2018
You know when you watch a really good movie and then after, you keep thinking about it days later? That’s what this book, Into the Sounds by Lee Murray, has done to me. It was that good. And yes, it could be made into a movie.
The smell of gun barrel smoke. The ricochet of shrapnel and bullets. The taste of metal and grit. This book makes you feel alive. Murray knows how to drive all of the senses making this story one hell of a roller coaster ride of human emotion. Like a conglomeration of many ideas thrown into one story: Indiana Jones, Uncharted, Pirates of the Caribbean; Into the Sounds carries these elements plus so many more. With endless non-stop action provided to you throughout, it’s no wonder it was hard to put down this gripping story. Taine McKenna is back with Dr. Asher in this new tale of wild discovery and ancient ways. Without going into spoiling details, let’s just say there is a new discovery found unlike anything before. Starting as a conservation trip originally, they’re adventuring trip suddenly turns out to be more than they bargained for. Mercenary pirates, wild ambition, death seemingly around every corner, this bizarre turn of events soon turns against them as they race to protect one of New Zealand’s most sacred and unknown secrets.
You get to learn about New Zealand’s first settlers and their way as a bonus as Murray send you down a learning experience of cultural roots. This story has a little bit of everything and a ton of heart stopping moments. I look forward to the next installment in this scifi-adventure series. What will we encounter next?
Five out five stars for me.
Author F. D. Gross
grelldragon@hotmail.com
The smell of gun barrel smoke. The ricochet of shrapnel and bullets. The taste of metal and grit. This book makes you feel alive. Murray knows how to drive all of the senses making this story one hell of a roller coaster ride of human emotion. Like a conglomeration of many ideas thrown into one story: Indiana Jones, Uncharted, Pirates of the Caribbean; Into the Sounds carries these elements plus so many more. With endless non-stop action provided to you throughout, it’s no wonder it was hard to put down this gripping story. Taine McKenna is back with Dr. Asher in this new tale of wild discovery and ancient ways. Without going into spoiling details, let’s just say there is a new discovery found unlike anything before. Starting as a conservation trip originally, they’re adventuring trip suddenly turns out to be more than they bargained for. Mercenary pirates, wild ambition, death seemingly around every corner, this bizarre turn of events soon turns against them as they race to protect one of New Zealand’s most sacred and unknown secrets.
You get to learn about New Zealand’s first settlers and their way as a bonus as Murray send you down a learning experience of cultural roots. This story has a little bit of everything and a ton of heart stopping moments. I look forward to the next installment in this scifi-adventure series. What will we encounter next?
Five out five stars for me.
Author F. D. Gross
grelldragon@hotmail.com
November 30, 2018
I got this as a e book from tbc reviews on Facebook that I am a member of. I enjoyed reading it. It had a good story to it. It is book 2 of this series. I hope to read more books by this author.
February 25, 2025
Not as great as the first entry, but a serviceable adventure.
April 2, 2019
The introduction to this series was so awesome that I had high expectations of the sequel.
And I wasn't disappointed.
Be it the aspects of Maori culture or the adventures of Taine, this one matched up very well.
The creature was eerie and the action was fast paced.
And I wasn't disappointed.
Be it the aspects of Maori culture or the adventures of Taine, this one matched up very well.
The creature was eerie and the action was fast paced.
September 11, 2018
There are books for every mood and some books surprise you by being the exact book you need to read for the mood you are in. This is true for Into the Sounds by Lee Murray. Following in the traditional story arc of a ‘monster’ narrative, this book is carefully crafted to take advantage of the unique history of New Zealand, as well and playing strongly against the culture of its people. Despite having some characters bridging the gap from Into the Mist (Lee’s previous novel) it is by no means only a sequel in a trilogy, but rather it is a standalone story in the world Lee has built within the possible framework of the New Zealand we know. Yes there is magical realism, and monsters, but the monsters are defiantly not those created by evolution (kept safe by luck and geography), they are the monsters of greed and corruption that too easily take or destroy what is impossible to recreate. For those readers who enjoy death in a multitude of imaginative ways, this book is for you. For those readers who like to be surprised by cleaver twists, this book is for you. But for me, this book was about taking a moment to realise that life is never predictable, that good friends and lovers are never replaceable, and that no matter what our dreams are time will pass, we will grow old so we might as we enjoy the ride.
October 20, 2018
Taine McKenna does it again.
This time he rappels into the sounds in Fiordland NZ, on his next adventure. Actually, this one's not even work, he's having a little R&R, but suddenly things go wrong.
With enemies on more than one front, Taine must face people poachers, a foreign submarine, a lost race and an underwater monster!
I wish him luck, because I'd love him to survive - so I can read his next adventure.
This time he rappels into the sounds in Fiordland NZ, on his next adventure. Actually, this one's not even work, he's having a little R&R, but suddenly things go wrong.
With enemies on more than one front, Taine must face people poachers, a foreign submarine, a lost race and an underwater monster!
I wish him luck, because I'd love him to survive - so I can read his next adventure.
January 19, 2019
The second book in the Taine McKenna series following the award winning ‘Into the Mist’. Taine joins his partner, biologist Jules Asher, on a Conservation Department deer culling expedition into Fiordland at the base of New Zealand’s South Island. Its an isolated place, so when gunfire is heard and an injured man runs towards them, Taine goes on high alert. Part of a poaching expedition, the man and his companion stumbled across an ancient people, the Tūrehu (aka Patupaiarehe), the small remnants of a tribe who have been hiding out since Maori arrived in Aotearoa, and then Europeans, trying to keep their isolated tribe from exploitation and extinction. A submarine manned by a group of ruthless mercenaries who plan to traffic Tūrehu children, angry Tūrehu who are wary of Taine and his group, and a mythological sea creature make for explosive elements in this fast-paced action adventure.
Reviewed by Debbie McCauley (Bookrapt)
Reviewed by Debbie McCauley (Bookrapt)
January 2, 2019
I was slightly surprised how much I enjoyed this odd mix of mythology, military fiction and sea monsters.
It was a little slow to get started, but once we were in a full-scale hunt/survival mode, the action was moving at a cracking pace.
So, take a deep breath for the plot: a small group of hunters, conservation workers and soldiers have gathered for some R&R in the form of wapiti deer hunting on the remote West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Called Fiordland, this is an unpopulated, hard to reach corner of the country that literally has metres of rainfall each year. Wapiti deer are a pest and are culled to protect the native vegetation. At the same time, a couple of poachers are catching Kea, a native alpine parrot, to sell on the black market. So far, so good. But now it gets weird, as the poachers find a small lost tribe of natives who have been living in isolation for centuries and have webbed feet and hands and can spend a long time underwater. To remain hidden for so long, the tribe have used a cave sanctuary that can only be reached underwater and is guarded by a giant squid.
The poachers capture some of the children of the tribe and try to sell these on the black market, where they are potentially worth millions, and a submarine arrives with a small army of vigilante poachers to round them up. Our original group of hunters ally with some of the nearly naked tribe who hunt with spears, and pull off a miraculous rescue. Lots of people are killed, many are nearly eaten by the squid and all of this is bound to make you stay out of the water on the coasts around New Zealand!
Great fun!
It was a little slow to get started, but once we were in a full-scale hunt/survival mode, the action was moving at a cracking pace.
So, take a deep breath for the plot: a small group of hunters, conservation workers and soldiers have gathered for some R&R in the form of wapiti deer hunting on the remote West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Called Fiordland, this is an unpopulated, hard to reach corner of the country that literally has metres of rainfall each year. Wapiti deer are a pest and are culled to protect the native vegetation. At the same time, a couple of poachers are catching Kea, a native alpine parrot, to sell on the black market. So far, so good. But now it gets weird, as the poachers find a small lost tribe of natives who have been living in isolation for centuries and have webbed feet and hands and can spend a long time underwater. To remain hidden for so long, the tribe have used a cave sanctuary that can only be reached underwater and is guarded by a giant squid.
The poachers capture some of the children of the tribe and try to sell these on the black market, where they are potentially worth millions, and a submarine arrives with a small army of vigilante poachers to round them up. Our original group of hunters ally with some of the nearly naked tribe who hunt with spears, and pull off a miraculous rescue. Lots of people are killed, many are nearly eaten by the squid and all of this is bound to make you stay out of the water on the coasts around New Zealand!
Great fun!
July 2, 2022
Wieder interessante Mythologie, gute Action und man ist schnell wieder Mitten im Geschehen.
Nur das Ende für hat mich überrascht, da die Entwicklung bezüglich zweier Charaktere vollkommen aus dem nichts kam und ich diese nicht wirklich nachvollziehen kann.
Daher auch nur zwei Sterne für diesen Band.
Nur das Ende für hat mich überrascht, da die Entwicklung bezüglich zweier Charaktere vollkommen aus dem nichts kam und ich diese nicht wirklich nachvollziehen kann.
Daher auch nur zwei Sterne für diesen Band.
January 3, 2019
I received this book from a facebook group I am a member of. its the second book in the series, and it was as good as the first one. A different genre for me to read, but I enjoyed it and look forward to the next book in the series.
May 6, 2023
This was so much fun. I want it to be a movie so bad.
It's so fast-paced and high tension and I couldn't stop reading it.
This is not a genre I would normally enjoy but I really enjoyed it and I loved the incorporation of Māori mythology and culture into this military creature horror.
It's so fast-paced and high tension and I couldn't stop reading it.
This is not a genre I would normally enjoy but I really enjoyed it and I loved the incorporation of Māori mythology and culture into this military creature horror.
September 1, 2018
The second book in the Taine McKenna series, this time the NZDF Sergeant (think, New Zealand army version of a Navy Seal) is on leave – and spending his holiday in spectacular Fjordland helping conservation officers, including his girlfriend Jules. Only his holiday turns out to be anything but, after an amazing discovery. As usual, danger follows McKenna, and his trip down south soon turns into a thrill-fest as he dodges bullets and battles ruthless mercenaries to protect an endangered species. But he is not their only protector…
Packed with adventure, a fabulous cast of characters, a mysterious monster, spectacular scenery, and steeped in Maori lore this book had me hooked from start to finish.
Can be read as standalone.
Packed with adventure, a fabulous cast of characters, a mysterious monster, spectacular scenery, and steeped in Maori lore this book had me hooked from start to finish.
Can be read as standalone.
December 30, 2018
Another great adventure by Lee Murray! Fast-paced and full of fabulous well-researched details and characters you can believe in. There's a lot of blood and swearing--not for the faint-of-heart--but it's great fun, too.
November 5, 2018
High Drama
I enjoyed this book immensely.
Lost tribe, sea serpent, good guys. bad guys. Awesome plot, quick moving.
I would live too see Lee Murray write a book about the tribe!!
Everything is better with giant sea creatures!! you
I enjoyed this book immensely.
Lost tribe, sea serpent, good guys. bad guys. Awesome plot, quick moving.
I would live too see Lee Murray write a book about the tribe!!
Everything is better with giant sea creatures!! you
October 19, 2018
I’d pushed myself outside my usual genres and read Hounds of the Underworld by Lee Murray and Dan Rabart and surprised myself by getting into the thriller / horror mode, so it wasn’t hard for me make the decision to download Lee Murray’s latest offering “Into the Sounds”.
I was riveted within the first couple of pages. The fast-paced action started almost immediately and didn’t stop until the end. There is plenty of blood spilt and shots fired so it’s hard to reconcile the fact that this tiny, feminine, Kiwi writer can portray gritty, gutsy scenes so confidently and so realistically.
Lee Murray has managed to blend Maori mythology with modern mystery resulting in a fascinating glimpse into the world of this indigenous culture.
Into the Sounds is supported by meticulous research and I found myself fascinated by some of the information and explanations. The language builds strong visuals and ran through my head like a movie for its entirety. Now.I want to see the real movie, it’s bound to be a block-buster.
I was riveted within the first couple of pages. The fast-paced action started almost immediately and didn’t stop until the end. There is plenty of blood spilt and shots fired so it’s hard to reconcile the fact that this tiny, feminine, Kiwi writer can portray gritty, gutsy scenes so confidently and so realistically.
Lee Murray has managed to blend Maori mythology with modern mystery resulting in a fascinating glimpse into the world of this indigenous culture.
Into the Sounds is supported by meticulous research and I found myself fascinated by some of the information and explanations. The language builds strong visuals and ran through my head like a movie for its entirety. Now.I want to see the real movie, it’s bound to be a block-buster.
October 3, 2018
Into the Sounds by Lee Murray is the follow-up to a book that I loved –Into the Mist. It is the second in the Taine McKenna novel, and the titular New Zealand soldier who finds himself caught up in yet another situation involving an ancient secret, gun-toting bad guys, and a life-or-death struggle he didn’t ask to be a part of.
One of the things I loved most about this novel is that it completely embraces its New Zealand heritage. Murray explores a number of weighty themes within the pages of this tome, and they’re all approached from a unique perspective that you won’t find in any other novel. Murray effortlessly blends ancient Maori myth with a modern military conflict that feels organic and believable.
The novel rockets along at a blistering pace, and the body count keeps on rising as the pages keep turning. Highly recommended.
One of the things I loved most about this novel is that it completely embraces its New Zealand heritage. Murray explores a number of weighty themes within the pages of this tome, and they’re all approached from a unique perspective that you won’t find in any other novel. Murray effortlessly blends ancient Maori myth with a modern military conflict that feels organic and believable.
The novel rockets along at a blistering pace, and the body count keeps on rising as the pages keep turning. Highly recommended.
September 18, 2018
The first chapter pulled me into the story; I had to keep reading to find out what it was about! I finished the whole book in 1 day because I couldn't stop reading. The story, setting and characters were gripping and took me to places I (even as a New Zealander) have never been or seen. Fantastic, and recommended to all of my friends!
September 2, 2018
Into the Sounds is Lee Murray’s followup to her 2016 giant monster/men-on-a-mission novel Into the Mist. As with Into the Mist, Into the Sounds sees New Zealand Defense Force Sergeant Taine McKenna returning to the wilderness of New Zealand, dealing with deadly terrain and a monstrous animal – in this instance an enormous squid. Unlike Into the Mist, Into the Sounds puts the monster as a secondary element as the narrative focuses on McKenna and cohorts teaming up with a small band of merfolk-ish people to stave off mercenaries who intend to sell the tribe’s women and children to the highest bidder.
The cast of Into the Sounds is greatly expanded: there’s returning characters such as McKenna, his love interest Jules, and Trigger (who operates from an office far from the action but still integral to the plot), and the mystic Temera, but several new characters are introduced as well: various hunters that are part of a expedition to thin out an evasive species, a few characters who only exist as cannon fodder to add an element of horror to the story, the Tūrehu tribe (who have merfolk-like attributes that allow them to breath underwater), and the villainous Meredith and his team of mercenaries who are attempting to capture the tribe. In their efforts to do so, Meredith attempts to dispatch McKenna and the rest of the hunters. Much of the story’s conflict revolves around this, with the odds not in McKenna’s favour as he lacks his firearms and other soldiery equipment that he had in Into the Mist. Instead, McKenna and the other NZDF solider, private Read, have to rely on their wits, mastery of the wilderness, and much, much assistance from the Tūrehu warriors as they attempt to outwit the mercenaries and rescue some of their kidnapped children. The action boils down to a showdown between McKenna, Meredith, and the giant squid.
While the first third of the book is mostly character introduction and setting the pieces of the narrative, the last two-thirds is so action heavy that it blurs by as quick as an action film. The animal-stalking-the-characters aspect in Into the Mist is mostly absent in Into the Sounds, replaced by this non-stop action. Perhaps in another effort to provide some distance between the two novels, references to McKenna’s adventures in Into the Mist are sparse. Because of this, Into the Sounds can almost be read as a standalone story without needing to be privy to the exploits in the other novel.
Into the Sounds continues Lee’s usage of Maori legends and vocabulary, giving the story a unique tone without bombarded the reader with too inaccessible foreign terms. This distinct flavour of Into the Sounds, combined with its martial, survivalist action, makes the novel a brisk, heart-pounding read.
The cast of Into the Sounds is greatly expanded: there’s returning characters such as McKenna, his love interest Jules, and Trigger (who operates from an office far from the action but still integral to the plot), and the mystic Temera, but several new characters are introduced as well: various hunters that are part of a expedition to thin out an evasive species, a few characters who only exist as cannon fodder to add an element of horror to the story, the Tūrehu tribe (who have merfolk-like attributes that allow them to breath underwater), and the villainous Meredith and his team of mercenaries who are attempting to capture the tribe. In their efforts to do so, Meredith attempts to dispatch McKenna and the rest of the hunters. Much of the story’s conflict revolves around this, with the odds not in McKenna’s favour as he lacks his firearms and other soldiery equipment that he had in Into the Mist. Instead, McKenna and the other NZDF solider, private Read, have to rely on their wits, mastery of the wilderness, and much, much assistance from the Tūrehu warriors as they attempt to outwit the mercenaries and rescue some of their kidnapped children. The action boils down to a showdown between McKenna, Meredith, and the giant squid.
While the first third of the book is mostly character introduction and setting the pieces of the narrative, the last two-thirds is so action heavy that it blurs by as quick as an action film. The animal-stalking-the-characters aspect in Into the Mist is mostly absent in Into the Sounds, replaced by this non-stop action. Perhaps in another effort to provide some distance between the two novels, references to McKenna’s adventures in Into the Mist are sparse. Because of this, Into the Sounds can almost be read as a standalone story without needing to be privy to the exploits in the other novel.
Into the Sounds continues Lee’s usage of Maori legends and vocabulary, giving the story a unique tone without bombarded the reader with too inaccessible foreign terms. This distinct flavour of Into the Sounds, combined with its martial, survivalist action, makes the novel a brisk, heart-pounding read.
January 6, 2019
*I received a free copy of this novel, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Into the Sounds is the second book in Lee Murray’s Taine McKenna series, but you don’t need to read the first to appreciate the second (although I would advise you do, as the hints dropped in this one are intriguing!).
Set in New Zealand, this is an exciting thriller/horror, packed with explosive action and edge-of-the-seat danger. Murray has mixed military action, creature-feature horror and Maori mythology here to great effect; creating a story that touches on our deepest fears from the modern to the primal.
There are quite a few characters to get to grips with in the plot, and the story moves along very quickly, so at first I felt a bit like I was jogging to keep up with who is who, but once you’ve grasped the main characters (Taine McKenna, Jules, Rocky, Ka, Meredith, Trigger), the others fall into place and then the action becomes much easier to follow.
It’s hard to dive into how nerve-wracking this book is without giving too much away, so I will just say that I spent a bit of time on Google and YouTube after I finished the book shuddering at the monstrous inspiration lurking beneath the trafficking/poaching plotline. There’s many a reason why I stay away from deep waters and this is one of the biggest!
Throughout reading this novel I couldn’t help thinking what a great action-horror film it would make and I hope that someone picks up on that and runs with it… fans of Michael Crichon, Peter Benchley and Predator (to name but a few) would love it.
Definitely one for fans of the above, plus anyone who likes a well-written, fast-paced, adrenaline rush of a read!
The other men, still dragging Wallace, had entered a cave. David’s pulse pounded as they followed them inside.
Not a cave, but a tunnel. Does this go anywhere? Running out of air.
Broadnose moved them swiftly through the silence. A horizontal fissure as big as a truck gaped to their right. Through the murky gloom, David spied movement.
Something was in there. Something huge. Oh my God, it was coming out. David wanted to scream, to tell Broadnose to get them the hell out of Dodge, but the pale man just tightened his grip on David and continued on. Helpless, David could only watch in horror, his lungs bursting, as slowly, slowly, a monster emerged.
– Lee Murray, Into the Sounds
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
Into the Sounds is the second book in Lee Murray’s Taine McKenna series, but you don’t need to read the first to appreciate the second (although I would advise you do, as the hints dropped in this one are intriguing!).
Set in New Zealand, this is an exciting thriller/horror, packed with explosive action and edge-of-the-seat danger. Murray has mixed military action, creature-feature horror and Maori mythology here to great effect; creating a story that touches on our deepest fears from the modern to the primal.
There are quite a few characters to get to grips with in the plot, and the story moves along very quickly, so at first I felt a bit like I was jogging to keep up with who is who, but once you’ve grasped the main characters (Taine McKenna, Jules, Rocky, Ka, Meredith, Trigger), the others fall into place and then the action becomes much easier to follow.
It’s hard to dive into how nerve-wracking this book is without giving too much away, so I will just say that I spent a bit of time on Google and YouTube after I finished the book shuddering at the monstrous inspiration lurking beneath the trafficking/poaching plotline. There’s many a reason why I stay away from deep waters and this is one of the biggest!
Throughout reading this novel I couldn’t help thinking what a great action-horror film it would make and I hope that someone picks up on that and runs with it… fans of Michael Crichon, Peter Benchley and Predator (to name but a few) would love it.
Definitely one for fans of the above, plus anyone who likes a well-written, fast-paced, adrenaline rush of a read!
The other men, still dragging Wallace, had entered a cave. David’s pulse pounded as they followed them inside.
Not a cave, but a tunnel. Does this go anywhere? Running out of air.
Broadnose moved them swiftly through the silence. A horizontal fissure as big as a truck gaped to their right. Through the murky gloom, David spied movement.
Something was in there. Something huge. Oh my God, it was coming out. David wanted to scream, to tell Broadnose to get them the hell out of Dodge, but the pale man just tightened his grip on David and continued on. Helpless, David could only watch in horror, his lungs bursting, as slowly, slowly, a monster emerged.
– Lee Murray, Into the Sounds
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
January 15, 2020
A great follow up.
DISCLAIMER - Lee Murray is a fellow author and friend.
I read "Into the Mist" in October last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. I found "Into the Sounds" as no different. I really enjoyed it.
This is the follow up adventure for Taine McKenna following the events of "Into the Mist."
Murray keeps to a similar formula, or is in fact developing a formula, in that it finds New Zealand Defence Force Sergeant Taine McKenna out in the wilds of New Zealand and up against it.
This time around, the protagonists are two-fold. An unscrupulous animal smuggling company, led by a ruthless boss, and another massive creature, drawn from both reality and the legends of the Maori people.
McKenna must also use all his military skills and personal skills to protect innocents (and they are an interestingly drawn group of innocents) whilst battling the bad guys and creature.
I'm finding myself drawn to Murray's style in much the same way as Matthew Reilly's. Both are non-stop action fests, interspersed with just enough breathing space to allow the reader to keep going.
The locations make you want to take the next flight into the wilds of New Zealand and delve into its primal beauty, which is a lot to say coming from an Aussie with the level of diversity at my command here in Australia.
This time around the creature is not so much a fantasy creation, but one rooted more in reality and given a smidgen of artistic licence to keep it from being simply two-dimensional.
I don't want to give any further details of the story as that would spoil it, but the characters advance in both the way they are written and their emotional content. I'm hoping that the final scenes are more of a teaser for added depth in the next story rather than a finale per se.
As I said, I enjoyed Mist, I enjoyed Sounds and it won't be long until I start Into the Ashes.
DISCLAIMER - Lee Murray is a fellow author and friend.
I read "Into the Mist" in October last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. I found "Into the Sounds" as no different. I really enjoyed it.
This is the follow up adventure for Taine McKenna following the events of "Into the Mist."
Murray keeps to a similar formula, or is in fact developing a formula, in that it finds New Zealand Defence Force Sergeant Taine McKenna out in the wilds of New Zealand and up against it.
This time around, the protagonists are two-fold. An unscrupulous animal smuggling company, led by a ruthless boss, and another massive creature, drawn from both reality and the legends of the Maori people.
McKenna must also use all his military skills and personal skills to protect innocents (and they are an interestingly drawn group of innocents) whilst battling the bad guys and creature.
I'm finding myself drawn to Murray's style in much the same way as Matthew Reilly's. Both are non-stop action fests, interspersed with just enough breathing space to allow the reader to keep going.
The locations make you want to take the next flight into the wilds of New Zealand and delve into its primal beauty, which is a lot to say coming from an Aussie with the level of diversity at my command here in Australia.
This time around the creature is not so much a fantasy creation, but one rooted more in reality and given a smidgen of artistic licence to keep it from being simply two-dimensional.
I don't want to give any further details of the story as that would spoil it, but the characters advance in both the way they are written and their emotional content. I'm hoping that the final scenes are more of a teaser for added depth in the next story rather than a finale per se.
As I said, I enjoyed Mist, I enjoyed Sounds and it won't be long until I start Into the Ashes.
February 12, 2019
Into the Sounds is the second book in this series and follows Sergeant Taine McKenna of the New Zealand Defence Force and his partner Dr Jules Asher, a scientist with the Department of Conservation. McKenna is taking some well deserved R&R after his last foray into the Te Urewera National Forest as he accompanies Jules on a deer culling exercise in Fiordland.
We not only follow McKenna and Jules but also see some of the characters from the first novel appear - Trigger, who is dealing with the injuries inflicted on him and the emotional side of being sidelined as a soldier; being 'put out to pasture' and how he tries to find his feet in his new role. There is also Rawiri Temera; a character that could easily have a series himself following his upbringing as a Maori Matakite (seer, prophet) - his character and the use of Maori tradition, history and myths have left me wanting to know more!
Into the Sounds is a rollercoaster ride of a story which combines science, mercenaries, Maori history and folklore, a lost tribe and then throws a giant squid into the mix. The story weaves all of these together with twists and turns which leave you breathless; not only at the pace of the story, but literally as I found myself holding my breath, willing them to survive!
This novel can easily be read as a standalone story, however I would highly recommend reading the first novel in the series; 'Into the Mist' first, as you get the back story of the characters and this second novel builds on their characters and personalities. This novel left me wanting more and I can't wait to see what happens on the 3rd book of this series. I could easily see these stories being turned into the next blockbuster movie!
We not only follow McKenna and Jules but also see some of the characters from the first novel appear - Trigger, who is dealing with the injuries inflicted on him and the emotional side of being sidelined as a soldier; being 'put out to pasture' and how he tries to find his feet in his new role. There is also Rawiri Temera; a character that could easily have a series himself following his upbringing as a Maori Matakite (seer, prophet) - his character and the use of Maori tradition, history and myths have left me wanting to know more!
Into the Sounds is a rollercoaster ride of a story which combines science, mercenaries, Maori history and folklore, a lost tribe and then throws a giant squid into the mix. The story weaves all of these together with twists and turns which leave you breathless; not only at the pace of the story, but literally as I found myself holding my breath, willing them to survive!
This novel can easily be read as a standalone story, however I would highly recommend reading the first novel in the series; 'Into the Mist' first, as you get the back story of the characters and this second novel builds on their characters and personalities. This novel left me wanting more and I can't wait to see what happens on the 3rd book of this series. I could easily see these stories being turned into the next blockbuster movie!
January 4, 2019
On leave, and out of his head with boredom, NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna joins biologist Jules Asher, on a Conservation Department deer culling expedition to New Zealand’s southernmost national park, where soaring peaks give way to valleys gouged from clay and rock, and icy rivers bleed into watery canyons too deep to fathom. Despite covering an area the size of the Serengeti, only eighteen people live in the isolated region, so it’s a surprise when the hunters stumble on the nation’s Tūrehu tribe, becoming some of only a handful to ever encounter the elusive ghost people. But a band of mercenaries saw them first, and, hell-bent on exploiting the tribes’ survivors, they’re prepared to kill anyone who gets in their way. As a soldier, McKenna is duty-bound to protect all New Zealanders, but after centuries of persecution will the Tūrehu allow him to help them? Besides, there is something else lurking in the sounds, and it has its own agenda. When the waters clear, will anyone be allowed to leave?
Although I was overjoyed to discover my favourite characters Taine McKenna, Reed and Trigger returning in this adventure I was a bit dubious about the content.
I shouldn’t have been, this story drew me in just as much as Into The Mist did.
Action, mysticism, folklore and myth abound, as Taine and Jules find themselves in another unbelievable expedition, leading to all out war with a sub of nasty smugglers, intent on kidnapping a new species to sell.
Trigger works on the sidelines, backing up Taine, even though he is no longer in the field.
Somehow Lee Murray makes the unbelievable, believable... More adventures please!
Although I was overjoyed to discover my favourite characters Taine McKenna, Reed and Trigger returning in this adventure I was a bit dubious about the content.
I shouldn’t have been, this story drew me in just as much as Into The Mist did.
Action, mysticism, folklore and myth abound, as Taine and Jules find themselves in another unbelievable expedition, leading to all out war with a sub of nasty smugglers, intent on kidnapping a new species to sell.
Trigger works on the sidelines, backing up Taine, even though he is no longer in the field.
Somehow Lee Murray makes the unbelievable, believable... More adventures please!
November 26, 2018
Disclaimer: I consider the author a friend; however, I purchased the electronic version of this novel for full price.
After reading the first book in this series, I kind of thought I knew what I was getting into. It's really awesome that I was completely wrong. On the surface, lots of things are similar to book one. Ragtag group lost in the wilds of New Zealand: check. Giant mythical monster eating people: check. Lost tribe of humans and crazy mercenaries: wait, what?
Taine and Jules are in a steady relationship for this book, but almost none of the book was about their relationship. Both characters continue to be true to themselves in ways that support each other AND cause conflict. The perfect amount of romance in a very unsexy situation, which I appreciate that Murray did not try to change.
Some readers might have a hard time with so many named characters in a book, a few who only show up in a handful of scenes, but I absolutely love it. Every character has their own goal/motivation/conflict, and events don't happen in a vacuum, even in New Zealand's most remote location. I also loved that some characters from the first book popped up -- and not as fan service! Temera and Trigger had their own roles to fill.
I'm lucky enough to have received an advanced copy of the next Taine McKenna adventure, and I'm excited to start reading it as soon as possible. Which is the best praise for any book, really.
After reading the first book in this series, I kind of thought I knew what I was getting into. It's really awesome that I was completely wrong. On the surface, lots of things are similar to book one. Ragtag group lost in the wilds of New Zealand: check. Giant mythical monster eating people: check. Lost tribe of humans and crazy mercenaries: wait, what?
Taine and Jules are in a steady relationship for this book, but almost none of the book was about their relationship. Both characters continue to be true to themselves in ways that support each other AND cause conflict. The perfect amount of romance in a very unsexy situation, which I appreciate that Murray did not try to change.
Some readers might have a hard time with so many named characters in a book, a few who only show up in a handful of scenes, but I absolutely love it. Every character has their own goal/motivation/conflict, and events don't happen in a vacuum, even in New Zealand's most remote location. I also loved that some characters from the first book popped up -- and not as fan service! Temera and Trigger had their own roles to fill.
I'm lucky enough to have received an advanced copy of the next Taine McKenna adventure, and I'm excited to start reading it as soon as possible. Which is the best praise for any book, really.
January 29, 2020
living in New Zealand, I am fascinated by the prospect of a lush, horror book set in this lovely part of the world. This is the second book in the NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna series (haven't read the first one, though!).
Taine accompanies his girlfriend and biologist Jules Asher on an expedition to the Fiordland Sounds to help cull the deer. But that ends up being the least of their problems.
The book scores big with me, as our heroes helicopter in, rappel down into the bush and make a series of strange discoveries… a survivor from an ancient helicopter crash; poachers stealing rare New Zealand birds; an ex-US-military submarine lurking in the depths of a fiord; and a long-lost New Zealand race — the Tūrehu tribe.
But there’s a primordial monster lurking beneath the depths, protecting the entrance to the Tūrehu hideout. If you haven't been to the New Zealand bush, you will realize why great swathes of the South Island and North Island hasn't been conquered yet. We all know it’s a gorgeous place, but she brings Middle Earth to life.
Never fear, though, there is a very large creature in this creature feature. And we are not talking about aliens, genetically engineered critters or mutated half-spawn hobgoblins. These creatures are actually possible, and that adds a nice element to the story.
Taine accompanies his girlfriend and biologist Jules Asher on an expedition to the Fiordland Sounds to help cull the deer. But that ends up being the least of their problems.
The book scores big with me, as our heroes helicopter in, rappel down into the bush and make a series of strange discoveries… a survivor from an ancient helicopter crash; poachers stealing rare New Zealand birds; an ex-US-military submarine lurking in the depths of a fiord; and a long-lost New Zealand race — the Tūrehu tribe.
But there’s a primordial monster lurking beneath the depths, protecting the entrance to the Tūrehu hideout. If you haven't been to the New Zealand bush, you will realize why great swathes of the South Island and North Island hasn't been conquered yet. We all know it’s a gorgeous place, but she brings Middle Earth to life.
Never fear, though, there is a very large creature in this creature feature. And we are not talking about aliens, genetically engineered critters or mutated half-spawn hobgoblins. These creatures are actually possible, and that adds a nice element to the story.
April 8, 2021
A cracking good piece of pulp action but not quite as strong as its predecessor (Into the Mist). It keeps the fast paced and thrilling pulp formula but doesn't have the heft of legends that elevated "Into the Mist".
Murray writes at a thousand miles an hour; the action barely lets up. Our heroes are good solid heroes, our villains are nasty, 21st century b***ards. In between are the victims, a realistic imagination of the pre-maori mythological patupaiarehe and a seriously colossal squid (as the book points out - makes Te Papa's colossal squid seem like a prawn).
Murray does write superb action - she knows her military jargon and hardware and makes her characters near superhuman but down to earth enough to be real.
Where this book struggles (in comparison with Into the Mist) is that Taine and Jules and their colleagues are simply good guys helping the victims fight back against the bad guys. They don't really have a story for themselves and the villains are just villains. That squid is just a squid (a truely monstrous one indeed) whereas the giant Tuatara was a malevolent embodiment of a taniwha.
However, Murray brings the deep south of Fjordland to thrilling life; again this story takes us to a truely untamed slice of new Zealand and it is a superb battleground, brilliantly evoked.
Fast, furious, ferocious and fun.
Murray writes at a thousand miles an hour; the action barely lets up. Our heroes are good solid heroes, our villains are nasty, 21st century b***ards. In between are the victims, a realistic imagination of the pre-maori mythological patupaiarehe and a seriously colossal squid (as the book points out - makes Te Papa's colossal squid seem like a prawn).
Murray does write superb action - she knows her military jargon and hardware and makes her characters near superhuman but down to earth enough to be real.
Where this book struggles (in comparison with Into the Mist) is that Taine and Jules and their colleagues are simply good guys helping the victims fight back against the bad guys. They don't really have a story for themselves and the villains are just villains. That squid is just a squid (a truely monstrous one indeed) whereas the giant Tuatara was a malevolent embodiment of a taniwha.
However, Murray brings the deep south of Fjordland to thrilling life; again this story takes us to a truely untamed slice of new Zealand and it is a superb battleground, brilliantly evoked.
Fast, furious, ferocious and fun.
January 8, 2019
Into the sounds by Lee Murray.
On leave, and out of his head with boredom, NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna joins biologist Jules Asher, on a Conservation Department deer culling expedition to New Zealand’s southernmost national park, where soaring peaks give way to valleys gouged from clay and rock, and icy rivers bleed into watery canyons too deep to fathom. Despite covering an area the size of the Serengeti, only eighteen people live in the isolated region, so it’s a surprise when the hunters stumble on the nation’s Tūrehu tribe, becoming some of only a handful to ever encounter the elusive ghost people. But a band of mercenaries saw them first, and, hell-bent on exploiting the tribes’ survivors, they’re prepared to kill anyone who gets in their way. As a soldier, McKenna is duty-bound to protect all New Zealanders, but after centuries of persecution will the Tūrehu allow him to help them? Besides, there is something else lurking in the sounds, and it has its own agenda. When the waters clear, will anyone be allowed to leave?
This was a fantastic read with great characters. I was pleased that most of the characters from into the mist was back. McKenna jules even trigger. Looking forward to book 3. 5*.
On leave, and out of his head with boredom, NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna joins biologist Jules Asher, on a Conservation Department deer culling expedition to New Zealand’s southernmost national park, where soaring peaks give way to valleys gouged from clay and rock, and icy rivers bleed into watery canyons too deep to fathom. Despite covering an area the size of the Serengeti, only eighteen people live in the isolated region, so it’s a surprise when the hunters stumble on the nation’s Tūrehu tribe, becoming some of only a handful to ever encounter the elusive ghost people. But a band of mercenaries saw them first, and, hell-bent on exploiting the tribes’ survivors, they’re prepared to kill anyone who gets in their way. As a soldier, McKenna is duty-bound to protect all New Zealanders, but after centuries of persecution will the Tūrehu allow him to help them? Besides, there is something else lurking in the sounds, and it has its own agenda. When the waters clear, will anyone be allowed to leave?
This was a fantastic read with great characters. I was pleased that most of the characters from into the mist was back. McKenna jules even trigger. Looking forward to book 3. 5*.
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