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Ocean Grave
Discover the secret the world was never meant to know...
On their honeymoon in Madagascar, a young couple are drawn into the hunt for lost treasure. Their search grabs the attention of a bloodthirsty pirate who intends to seize the riches for himself. The seedy government agents on his trail have their own reasons for wanting it too. And they're all in the path of a creature long thought extinct. A creature that has turned the world's third largest ocean into a hunting ground. A creature that is about to turn their dreams of fortune and glory into a nightmare from which there's no escaping.
On their honeymoon in Madagascar, a young couple are drawn into the hunt for lost treasure. Their search grabs the attention of a bloodthirsty pirate who intends to seize the riches for himself. The seedy government agents on his trail have their own reasons for wanting it too. And they're all in the path of a creature long thought extinct. A creature that has turned the world's third largest ocean into a hunting ground. A creature that is about to turn their dreams of fortune and glory into a nightmare from which there's no escaping.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 27, 2019
“The world moves too fast...we do not even have time to forget things anymore. That to me is all the more reason to remember. To celebrate the world as it once was, lost treasures as valuable as the one we hunt” (61).
OCEAN GRAVE is a great summer read. International treasure hunters, a sea beast, mercenaries, and a honeymoon gone wrong. Oh and some great female lead characters. I loved Sara and Carly. I saw another review mention Raiders of the Lost Ark, and there is a definite nod to the movie here; I loved it.
Serafini, quite simply, writes wonderfully. The quote above is just one part that made immediately made me break out the post-it notes to mark it down for later. There is a large-ish cast of characters, but it’s done well. After all, for maximum chomping fun there needs to be plenty of fodder.
It’s clear the author has also done his homework in regards to legends, the history of Madagascar, and other technical aspects of the book’s setting, characters, and more. I appreciate that. Nothing pulls me out of a book more than something obviously wrong in regards to simple facts.
I’ll definitely be reading more from Serafini. I recently read Rites of Extinction and loved it as well.
OCEAN GRAVE is a great summer read. International treasure hunters, a sea beast, mercenaries, and a honeymoon gone wrong. Oh and some great female lead characters. I loved Sara and Carly. I saw another review mention Raiders of the Lost Ark, and there is a definite nod to the movie here; I loved it.
Serafini, quite simply, writes wonderfully. The quote above is just one part that made immediately made me break out the post-it notes to mark it down for later. There is a large-ish cast of characters, but it’s done well. After all, for maximum chomping fun there needs to be plenty of fodder.
It’s clear the author has also done his homework in regards to legends, the history of Madagascar, and other technical aspects of the book’s setting, characters, and more. I appreciate that. Nothing pulls me out of a book more than something obviously wrong in regards to simple facts.
I’ll definitely be reading more from Serafini. I recently read Rites of Extinction and loved it as well.
September 14, 2021
Now this is one hell of a fish tale! Ocean Grave is a non-stop thrill ride both above and below the high seas. The last act is totally bonkers and more fun that most people deserve.
April 24, 2023
Creature feature. Modern day, with an inept guy trying to be a treasure hunters, tying to find loot in the ocean. Officially he is on his honeymoon, which he uses as an excuse to travel to Madgascar for his treasure hunting scheme. There are pirates as well. Something lurks in the depths. Has potential for a fun romp with monster fish and a high body count, right? Unfortunately the writing is pretty bad and the plot is ridiculous. I can‘t finish this thing. DNF after 140 pages and about 46%.
The mouth of the monster makes a brief appearance after 50+ pages and the head of the monster shows up again at 120+ pages. Sadly, the description of the fish is so vague that it is nonexistent. Hello, creature feature, the characters of the book get to see the monster, shouldn’t the reader?
And don‘t get me started on the writing in general…
“A long piece of driftwood rocked atop the ocean a few hundred kilometers away. Underneath the blazing sun, Mosi could only see a silhouette lift up onto its forearms and wave a hand around. “Please!” The voice was male. Possibly American. His hand reached out, stretching toward Mosi.“ (page 23)
A few hundred kilometers? Wow, that‘s some eye sight and a really loud voice.
And then on page 51:
“Zane balanced himself on the rail and dropped toward the water. The moonlight reached down a few kilometers so dark blue became a gradient of deeper blacks. Soon he was paddling through impenetrable onyx.“
Someone needs to explain to the author what a kilometer is and tell him to drop the „kilo“.
And the descriptions and word choices…
“His eyes were like fried eggs.“
Round? White and yellow?
“She would’ve shot this down with the quickness, because who believed in buried treasure anymore?“
With the quickness, huh? Well, ok then.
“They ran toward it with raised knees, Sara getting out in front of Blake who was bogged down by their luggage, …“
Running with raised knees… Why am I thinking of Monty Python and the Holy Grail all of a sudden?
“She moved with molasses and…“
I‘m picturing her creeping along next to a blob of molasses…
“I’ll gladly take might after all this.”
Huh?
And what‘s with the thin passageways and thin corridors? Is that really a thing?
“The blonde slipped inside the standup shower where the curves of her outline were perfectly amplified by patterned glass.“
As opposed to a sitdown shower? And I wish he would stop describing her as „the blonde“.
The research into scuba diving didn‘t go terribly smoothly either.
“Flippered feet wobbled against the edge and Zane took a deep pull on his valve, swallowing a burst of bottled air before dropping through the gloom like a brick.“
Nope, that is not how it works. More air in the body, more buoyancy. No chance of „dropping like a brick“ that way.
“His body bounced around, scuba tank scraping the cavern’s ceiling as panic bubbles erupted around his breather.“
I have never heard anybody call the regulator a breather.
“His mind ran to a dozen defeated corners, projecting possible fatalities. How he’d rip his wet suit and drown.“
He would die because he rips his suit? Wetsuits are wet inside, hence the name. They are for thermal insulation. It is unlikely to rip neoprene, but even if you did, it would make absolutely no difference. Well, ok, a part of you would be colder than the rest. Has the author done no research whatsoever before writing this book?
Another gem:
“Imani was a former despot, ousted from Zimbabwe during a revolt where the citizens tired of election rigging and forced the prime minister’s resignation.“
Hm, unlikely scenario. Zimbabwe has had all of 2 prime minsters since its independence. Probably should have picked a different country, not one that was run by the same guy for 30 years.
I don‘t know how I managed to read 140 pages of this. On top of the lack of any meaningful descriptions, any character development whatsoever or a logical succession of events, this whole thing just makes no sense and is utterly ridiculous. I don‘t understand how reviewers can give this 4 and 5 stars?
I skimmed to find out what monster we are dealing with. Found it. I‘m not telling, just in case you do want to read this one here after all. My recommendation: Read Steve Alten instead.
The mouth of the monster makes a brief appearance after 50+ pages and the head of the monster shows up again at 120+ pages. Sadly, the description of the fish is so vague that it is nonexistent. Hello, creature feature, the characters of the book get to see the monster, shouldn’t the reader?
And don‘t get me started on the writing in general…
“A long piece of driftwood rocked atop the ocean a few hundred kilometers away. Underneath the blazing sun, Mosi could only see a silhouette lift up onto its forearms and wave a hand around. “Please!” The voice was male. Possibly American. His hand reached out, stretching toward Mosi.“ (page 23)
A few hundred kilometers? Wow, that‘s some eye sight and a really loud voice.
And then on page 51:
“Zane balanced himself on the rail and dropped toward the water. The moonlight reached down a few kilometers so dark blue became a gradient of deeper blacks. Soon he was paddling through impenetrable onyx.“
Someone needs to explain to the author what a kilometer is and tell him to drop the „kilo“.
And the descriptions and word choices…
“His eyes were like fried eggs.“
Round? White and yellow?
“She would’ve shot this down with the quickness, because who believed in buried treasure anymore?“
With the quickness, huh? Well, ok then.
“They ran toward it with raised knees, Sara getting out in front of Blake who was bogged down by their luggage, …“
Running with raised knees… Why am I thinking of Monty Python and the Holy Grail all of a sudden?
“She moved with molasses and…“
I‘m picturing her creeping along next to a blob of molasses…
“I’ll gladly take might after all this.”
Huh?
And what‘s with the thin passageways and thin corridors? Is that really a thing?
“The blonde slipped inside the standup shower where the curves of her outline were perfectly amplified by patterned glass.“
As opposed to a sitdown shower? And I wish he would stop describing her as „the blonde“.
The research into scuba diving didn‘t go terribly smoothly either.
“Flippered feet wobbled against the edge and Zane took a deep pull on his valve, swallowing a burst of bottled air before dropping through the gloom like a brick.“
Nope, that is not how it works. More air in the body, more buoyancy. No chance of „dropping like a brick“ that way.
“His body bounced around, scuba tank scraping the cavern’s ceiling as panic bubbles erupted around his breather.“
I have never heard anybody call the regulator a breather.
“His mind ran to a dozen defeated corners, projecting possible fatalities. How he’d rip his wet suit and drown.“
He would die because he rips his suit? Wetsuits are wet inside, hence the name. They are for thermal insulation. It is unlikely to rip neoprene, but even if you did, it would make absolutely no difference. Well, ok, a part of you would be colder than the rest. Has the author done no research whatsoever before writing this book?
Another gem:
“Imani was a former despot, ousted from Zimbabwe during a revolt where the citizens tired of election rigging and forced the prime minister’s resignation.“
Hm, unlikely scenario. Zimbabwe has had all of 2 prime minsters since its independence. Probably should have picked a different country, not one that was run by the same guy for 30 years.
I don‘t know how I managed to read 140 pages of this. On top of the lack of any meaningful descriptions, any character development whatsoever or a logical succession of events, this whole thing just makes no sense and is utterly ridiculous. I don‘t understand how reviewers can give this 4 and 5 stars?
I skimmed to find out what monster we are dealing with. Found it. I‘m not telling, just in case you do want to read this one here after all. My recommendation: Read Steve Alten instead.
December 31, 2021
What a ride! While I can't possibly imagine enjoying this anymore than I did, I wonder if it would have been even more off the charts had I experienced this in the summer at the beach or a pool - it just has those vibes. But even without the real-life added ambiance and me reading this in the dead of winter, this book totally rocks! Matt Serafini created an extremely special and fast-paced novel here and it was exquisitely and perfectly narrated by Sean Duregger. The tone, the pacing, the ACCENTS...!!! Truly spectacular. There was not a single moment I was not fully invested in the story and its characters.
OCEAN GRAVE is full of all the treasure-hunting fortune and glory, action and adventure, fun relationships, and a good old fashioned family deep sea creature. What more can you ask for? Well, there is more. This story takes place in Madagascar and I swear I feel like I was actually there (and, no, I've never been so I have nothing to compare it to but that's not the point, okay?!) And did I say pre-historic sea creature? No? GET IT!
I've seen others note it made them feel Indiana Jones vs Jaws/The Meg mashup vibes and I very much would like to echo their sentiments in the best way possible. I could practically hear and feel John Williams music constantly pumping into my soul with every event taking place - the lighthearted, the tense and scary, the fun and adventurous... all of it! I would kill to see some of these death scenes on screen and I found myself imagining the entire setup from camera shots to music buildup more than once.
The final act is *chef's kiss* just sheer perfection. I don't know how Serafini thought we as readers deserved all of that but I am so glad he did! For a book that is a non-stop ride of thrills, excitement, and fun, that final act is just on another level.
Do yourself a favor and pick this one up - I think there's fun for everyone! I have so many more thoughts but do not want to spoil a lot of the things I enjoyed that took me by surprise.
OCEAN GRAVE is full of all the treasure-hunting fortune and glory, action and adventure, fun relationships, and a good old fashioned family deep sea creature. What more can you ask for? Well, there is more. This story takes place in Madagascar and I swear I feel like I was actually there (and, no, I've never been so I have nothing to compare it to but that's not the point, okay?!) And did I say pre-historic sea creature? No? GET IT!
I've seen others note it made them feel Indiana Jones vs Jaws/The Meg mashup vibes and I very much would like to echo their sentiments in the best way possible. I could practically hear and feel John Williams music constantly pumping into my soul with every event taking place - the lighthearted, the tense and scary, the fun and adventurous... all of it! I would kill to see some of these death scenes on screen and I found myself imagining the entire setup from camera shots to music buildup more than once.
The final act is *chef's kiss* just sheer perfection. I don't know how Serafini thought we as readers deserved all of that but I am so glad he did! For a book that is a non-stop ride of thrills, excitement, and fun, that final act is just on another level.
Do yourself a favor and pick this one up - I think there's fun for everyone! I have so many more thoughts but do not want to spoil a lot of the things I enjoyed that took me by surprise.
February 7, 2021
Review of “Ocean Grave by Matt Serafini” narrated by Sean Duregger
Who wouldn’t love a nice vacation to the beaches of Madagascar? Also add in deep sea creature horror and a crazy brutal treasure hunt! Sounds like fun right? I thought so too.
A married couple on their newly wed honeymoon, treasure hungry pirates and crooked government agents all in search of this hidden treasure. What they don’t expect is each other and an ancient deep sea creature out for blood.
The narrator was amazing, changing his voice to suit multiple characters of different ethnicities and backgrounds. The treasure hunt was my favorite part of this whole book with riddles, caves and bloody action. So much fun! The only thing that dampened my experience was learning about multiple paper thin characters just to have them killed off. There were already too many characters for me to keep up with. That’s just my personal assessment but I’m sure other readers wouldn’t mind. So overall I gave this book 4 ⭐️!
Thank you Sean Duregger for send me this book in exchange for an honest review!
Who wouldn’t love a nice vacation to the beaches of Madagascar? Also add in deep sea creature horror and a crazy brutal treasure hunt! Sounds like fun right? I thought so too.
A married couple on their newly wed honeymoon, treasure hungry pirates and crooked government agents all in search of this hidden treasure. What they don’t expect is each other and an ancient deep sea creature out for blood.
The narrator was amazing, changing his voice to suit multiple characters of different ethnicities and backgrounds. The treasure hunt was my favorite part of this whole book with riddles, caves and bloody action. So much fun! The only thing that dampened my experience was learning about multiple paper thin characters just to have them killed off. There were already too many characters for me to keep up with. That’s just my personal assessment but I’m sure other readers wouldn’t mind. So overall I gave this book 4 ⭐️!
Thank you Sean Duregger for send me this book in exchange for an honest review!
October 2, 2025
Discover the secret the world was never meant to know... On their honeymoon in Madagascar, a young couple are drawn into the hunt for lost treasure. Their search grabs the attention of a bloodthirsty pirate who intends to seize the riches for himself. The seedy government agents on his trail have their own reasons for wanting it too. And they're all in the path of a creature long thought extinct. A creature that has turned the world's third largest ocean into a hunting ground. A creature that is about to turn their dreams of fortune and glory into a nightmare from which there's no escaping.
This one has a little bit of everything in it. Most everyone, well at least we "strange folks", likes a good "creature feature"; especially a prehistoric fish on a hunting and feasting rampage. If you add in a hunt for pirates' treasure, a centuries old riddle that nobody has been able to solve; along with some freakishly mutant siblings that are left on an island, some attacks by various groups of militaristic men.... combine all that and you now have one heck of a good story.
A 4.5 rating is justified here, but there was one thing here that I found a little hard to believe. At first it really bothered me...most things that I can't explain right away do, but as the story moved on, and the action really picked up, I was glad that this was the one that I chose of the 3 offered books to read for the challenge. This was a good one. If you like a good adventure story with a hungry monster...this may be what you're looking for.
Actual Rating: 4.5★
This one has a little bit of everything in it. Most everyone, well at least we "strange folks", likes a good "creature feature"; especially a prehistoric fish on a hunting and feasting rampage. If you add in a hunt for pirates' treasure, a centuries old riddle that nobody has been able to solve; along with some freakishly mutant siblings that are left on an island, some attacks by various groups of militaristic men.... combine all that and you now have one heck of a good story.
A 4.5 rating is justified here, but there was one thing here that I found a little hard to believe. At first it really bothered me...most things that I can't explain right away do, but as the story moved on, and the action really picked up, I was glad that this was the one that I chose of the 3 offered books to read for the challenge. This was a good one. If you like a good adventure story with a hungry monster...this may be what you're looking for.
Actual Rating: 4.5★
June 30, 2019
4.5! Wow, this one has a little bit of everything in it! Everyone enjoys a good creature, especially a prehistoric fish on a rampage, add in a hunt for pirates treasure, a centuries old riddle that nobodies been able to solve. Then some freakishly mutant siblings left on an island, attacks by various groups of militaristic men and you have one heck of a book! I believe a 4.5 rating is justified here as there was one thing here that I found hard to believe. At first it really bothered me but as the story moved on, and the action picked up, I moved on! That’s my opinion! This is a good one, pick it up!
June 23, 2019
Pretty good for a sea critter horror, Serafini has done his research on the locations and manages to give his characters a lot more depth than the usual shark-chow, whether they're likable or not. The adventure element here is just as strong as the creature feature. An interesting part of the world in which to host the story, more authors should visit it.
September 7, 2020
Wow. So much for my initial thought of thinking this was yet another mindless giant shark-monster attacking stupid people book. This was so much more, with intricate characters, settings, motivations and action galore. Loved it!
May 30, 2020
Great creature feature for your summer reading list
What constitutes a good "beach read"? It's a term I've heard from many book reviewers, and I've even used it myself, but I've never actually quantified the essential elements of the experience. But Matt Serafini's "Ocean Grave," which is a modern-day treasure hunt featuring pirates and a monstrous prehistoric Dunkleosteos off the exotic coasts of Madagascar, certainly seems to fit the bill.
This book has some faults that knocked a solid star from an otherwise delightful adventure novel. Before we get into those problems, I want to point out that this story does a much better job than most of its ilk in developing complex characters and, most astounding of all, an engaging story outside of the giant maneater-on-the-loose narrative. Set in contemporary Madagascar, a section of the world outside the typical global awareness of most Americans, we find a land struggling for identity and for basic humanitarian needs in the wake of the Marc Ravalomanana administration, one which divided the country with its focus on rebuilding the economy through ecotourism and "Westernizing" the country and with its reputation for corruption. Kaahin the "Pirate King" stalks the waters of the Indian Ocean, robbing rich Western tourists, commandeering their yachts, and selling the women on the Saudi underground sex slave market. He is prejudiced against the tourists, feeling they do not really respect his people, and he hates his government, gladly taking foreign dollars while citizens can't earn a living wage and maternal mortality rises after the 2009 coup against Ravalomanana. Kaahin dreams of earning enough money and gathering enough loyal soldiers to fund a revolution, but his efforts have led him to earn a deserved reputation as a murderer. As agents of law enforcement converge to end his reign of terror, he gets entangled in a complex scheme to find a lost treasure, all while being hunted by a 25 foot beast in the water that he sees as his reckoning for his terrible deeds. Awesome stuff!
But the interesting plot and captivating character of the Pirate King is diluted with an insipid main protagonist, Sara Mosby, who is honeymooning in Madagascar because her husband is on the hunt for a treasure island somewhere in the area. She has a lot of potential as a character, and she is developed in a very complex way, but the goodwill she earns with readers is constantly blown by her frequent displays of superficiality, infidelity, and childishness. In fact, other than the Pirate King himself and a semi-sleazy local guide, these seem to be problematic traits for most characters in the story.
I love Kaahin the Pirate King! Despite being a dastardly villain who deals in rape, theft, and murder, he has a well-fleshed motivation for being what he is, and you can tell there is a part of him that could not be hardened and wishes he had taken a different path in life. In addition to being a scary bastard, he's also quite likeable, especially with his dry sense of humor.
“Can you fly that?” Kaahin asked.
“Does a yeast infection smell?”
“I am thankful I cannot say."
The "yeast infection" comment was from a yacht captain named Holloway, and it is typical of the juvenile nastiness that passes for dialogue in this novel. In fact, the majority of characters behave in one of 3 modes: dickhead, traumatized tear-factory, or flirt. Most talk like smart-alecky 13-year-olds when they are not posing as our favorite movie toughies. Sara is constantly posturing like a wannabe Pam Grier, only more oversexed. And despite the author's frequent attempts to write from a woman's perspective, the dialogue from both male and female characters is so full of macho and testosterone that I felt trapped in a high school boy's locker room with these people.
Besides the flawed character of Sara, the other members of the ensemble range from mediocre to outstanding. Holloway is straight out of Han Solo territory and though he sometimes gets annoying with his constant jockeying for alpha male status, his relationship with the Pirate King is a pleasure to read about.
I love watching characters grow or evolve in novels, and Mr. Serafini takes the time to give us things to chew on with his cast without making the novel tedious or padded in any way.
The awkward flaws in this novel is more than made up for by an engaging plot where the human element and intelligent sociopolitical commentary is interwoven seamlessly with the action and monster mayhem. This entry is not heavy on the gore or scares, but will sure add to your fear of what's in the water with you, and provides many exhilarating cinematic moments.
Solid entertainment for the beach or for anytime. It has certainly peaked my interest to check out more of Matt Serafini and his work.
What constitutes a good "beach read"? It's a term I've heard from many book reviewers, and I've even used it myself, but I've never actually quantified the essential elements of the experience. But Matt Serafini's "Ocean Grave," which is a modern-day treasure hunt featuring pirates and a monstrous prehistoric Dunkleosteos off the exotic coasts of Madagascar, certainly seems to fit the bill.
This book has some faults that knocked a solid star from an otherwise delightful adventure novel. Before we get into those problems, I want to point out that this story does a much better job than most of its ilk in developing complex characters and, most astounding of all, an engaging story outside of the giant maneater-on-the-loose narrative. Set in contemporary Madagascar, a section of the world outside the typical global awareness of most Americans, we find a land struggling for identity and for basic humanitarian needs in the wake of the Marc Ravalomanana administration, one which divided the country with its focus on rebuilding the economy through ecotourism and "Westernizing" the country and with its reputation for corruption. Kaahin the "Pirate King" stalks the waters of the Indian Ocean, robbing rich Western tourists, commandeering their yachts, and selling the women on the Saudi underground sex slave market. He is prejudiced against the tourists, feeling they do not really respect his people, and he hates his government, gladly taking foreign dollars while citizens can't earn a living wage and maternal mortality rises after the 2009 coup against Ravalomanana. Kaahin dreams of earning enough money and gathering enough loyal soldiers to fund a revolution, but his efforts have led him to earn a deserved reputation as a murderer. As agents of law enforcement converge to end his reign of terror, he gets entangled in a complex scheme to find a lost treasure, all while being hunted by a 25 foot beast in the water that he sees as his reckoning for his terrible deeds. Awesome stuff!
But the interesting plot and captivating character of the Pirate King is diluted with an insipid main protagonist, Sara Mosby, who is honeymooning in Madagascar because her husband is on the hunt for a treasure island somewhere in the area. She has a lot of potential as a character, and she is developed in a very complex way, but the goodwill she earns with readers is constantly blown by her frequent displays of superficiality, infidelity, and childishness. In fact, other than the Pirate King himself and a semi-sleazy local guide, these seem to be problematic traits for most characters in the story.
I love Kaahin the Pirate King! Despite being a dastardly villain who deals in rape, theft, and murder, he has a well-fleshed motivation for being what he is, and you can tell there is a part of him that could not be hardened and wishes he had taken a different path in life. In addition to being a scary bastard, he's also quite likeable, especially with his dry sense of humor.
“Can you fly that?” Kaahin asked.
“Does a yeast infection smell?”
“I am thankful I cannot say."
The "yeast infection" comment was from a yacht captain named Holloway, and it is typical of the juvenile nastiness that passes for dialogue in this novel. In fact, the majority of characters behave in one of 3 modes: dickhead, traumatized tear-factory, or flirt. Most talk like smart-alecky 13-year-olds when they are not posing as our favorite movie toughies. Sara is constantly posturing like a wannabe Pam Grier, only more oversexed. And despite the author's frequent attempts to write from a woman's perspective, the dialogue from both male and female characters is so full of macho and testosterone that I felt trapped in a high school boy's locker room with these people.
Besides the flawed character of Sara, the other members of the ensemble range from mediocre to outstanding. Holloway is straight out of Han Solo territory and though he sometimes gets annoying with his constant jockeying for alpha male status, his relationship with the Pirate King is a pleasure to read about.
I love watching characters grow or evolve in novels, and Mr. Serafini takes the time to give us things to chew on with his cast without making the novel tedious or padded in any way.
The awkward flaws in this novel is more than made up for by an engaging plot where the human element and intelligent sociopolitical commentary is interwoven seamlessly with the action and monster mayhem. This entry is not heavy on the gore or scares, but will sure add to your fear of what's in the water with you, and provides many exhilarating cinematic moments.
Solid entertainment for the beach or for anytime. It has certainly peaked my interest to check out more of Matt Serafini and his work.
January 20, 2022
This has a lot of glowing reviews on goodreads and I love a good monster story! Monster movies are my favourites and this cover looks so cool! So all these 4 star reviews I am excited but ....
This was kind of trash y'all. The monster is a gigantic prehistoric fish seemingly made of rock that is known to locals as "Death's Head" is it the best name? No, but whatever, you're not going to get a lot of "best" in this one.
The locals have known about Death's Head for years, but no one else has I guess, but the main industries on the island are beach tourism and fishing, so like it should come up?
The dialogue was not great, there were 1000 characters all in different areas of Madagascar, sexist to the hilt (I will not even get in to that) and similes for days that were so unnecessary. I will paraphrase here because I did not jot down the exact quote, but someone has been eaten by the monster while diving, blood is everywhere
"The oceans water lapped at the boat like the family dog at it's owner's hand making amends after destroying a couch cushion"
Legit halfway through I was rooting for the monster, eat them all.
This was kind of trash y'all. The monster is a gigantic prehistoric fish seemingly made of rock that is known to locals as "Death's Head" is it the best name? No, but whatever, you're not going to get a lot of "best" in this one.
The locals have known about Death's Head for years, but no one else has I guess, but the main industries on the island are beach tourism and fishing, so like it should come up?
The dialogue was not great, there were 1000 characters all in different areas of Madagascar, sexist to the hilt (I will not even get in to that) and similes for days that were so unnecessary. I will paraphrase here because I did not jot down the exact quote, but someone has been eaten by the monster while diving, blood is everywhere
"The oceans water lapped at the boat like the family dog at it's owner's hand making amends after destroying a couch cushion"
Legit halfway through I was rooting for the monster, eat them all.
January 16, 2021
1/16/2021 - Update: Live on Audible now.
12/24/2020 - This is my first book by Matt Serafini and overall it was a good listen. I think the summary does it somewhat of a disservice because, while the interactions with the prehistoric creature are weaved throughout, the author brings so much more in terms of suspense, peril, and plot.
Be prepared for a LOT of characters, some of which will meet their demise in the same chapter they’re introduced. While this lends itself to significant tension surrounding the ever-looming sea monster, it also makes it difficult to get invested in the characters that will be around for much of the story. There’s a few inconsequential scenes and background information that bog the pace down at times.
That said, I did appreciate the interaction, mistrust, and begrudging cooperation between the various characters. It definitely made it difficult to predict what would happen and who would be the next to succumb to a watery grave. Serafini presents two female protagonists who are intelligent and determined, though somewhat objectified. Overall, the treasure hunting aspect was also enjoyable.
I liked the ending which leaves the survivors’ futures up to to my imagination or perhaps gives Serafini the option to take them on new adventures.
This listen was narrator motivated. I discovered Sean Duregger earlier this year when I listened to Out for Blood. Duregger does a great job with a HUGE casts of characters of various sexes, ages, and accents. I appreciated the various emotions and tension he brought to the story.
I received a free advance copy of this audiobook from the narrator and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
12/24/2020 - This is my first book by Matt Serafini and overall it was a good listen. I think the summary does it somewhat of a disservice because, while the interactions with the prehistoric creature are weaved throughout, the author brings so much more in terms of suspense, peril, and plot.
Be prepared for a LOT of characters, some of which will meet their demise in the same chapter they’re introduced. While this lends itself to significant tension surrounding the ever-looming sea monster, it also makes it difficult to get invested in the characters that will be around for much of the story. There’s a few inconsequential scenes and background information that bog the pace down at times.
That said, I did appreciate the interaction, mistrust, and begrudging cooperation between the various characters. It definitely made it difficult to predict what would happen and who would be the next to succumb to a watery grave. Serafini presents two female protagonists who are intelligent and determined, though somewhat objectified. Overall, the treasure hunting aspect was also enjoyable.
I liked the ending which leaves the survivors’ futures up to to my imagination or perhaps gives Serafini the option to take them on new adventures.
This listen was narrator motivated. I discovered Sean Duregger earlier this year when I listened to Out for Blood. Duregger does a great job with a HUGE casts of characters of various sexes, ages, and accents. I appreciated the various emotions and tension he brought to the story.
I received a free advance copy of this audiobook from the narrator and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
March 18, 2021
Matt Serafini's Ocean Grave is a much larger story than I could have anticipated. When I say it's larger, I don't mean in page-count or anything, but rather all of the elements involved in the narrative. There is a lot more to this story than it seems like there could be, and somehow it still works. It manages to add some social commentary into the mix as well, as the best fiction usually does...involving international relations, the Western world's obsession with a sanitized tourism-focused exploration of untamed locales, and the widespread impact of poverty in third-world nations.
This book has something for anyone who enjoys adventure...a honeymoon retreat plagued by secrets, treasure hunting, pirates, soldiers of fortune, a centuries-old mystery, inhuman creatures, and a seemingly unstoppable sea monster. Even with all of these elements, Ocean Grave never feels particularly disjointed or difficult to follow.
One thing I will say is that, if you get to know a character within this narrative, you can expect them to have a 70/30 chance of dying before the tale is complete...and it won't be some noble, glorious death. This story is real-to-life, in that the characters aren't unnaturally lucky or imbued with the almost superhuman ability to survive the impossible conditions they face. Like those of us in the real world, most people don't survive extreme situations involving modern-day pirates and warlords...and when you add in a monster lurking in the ocean depths, no one walks away unscathed.
The narration from Sean Duregger is clear and professional. He does an excellent job of providing characters with distinct voices and accents (where appropriate).
One bit of warning, if you, like me, get tired of hearing the term "CIA spook" over and over again during one of the earliest chapters of the book, don't worry...that repetitive nature doesn't persist through the rest of the story. It took me a lot longer to finish listening to this audiobook because I stopped it near the end of that particular chapter precisely because that repetitive terminology was driving me mad. I wish I'd just powered through it because the story is excellent after that.
This book has something for anyone who enjoys adventure...a honeymoon retreat plagued by secrets, treasure hunting, pirates, soldiers of fortune, a centuries-old mystery, inhuman creatures, and a seemingly unstoppable sea monster. Even with all of these elements, Ocean Grave never feels particularly disjointed or difficult to follow.
One thing I will say is that, if you get to know a character within this narrative, you can expect them to have a 70/30 chance of dying before the tale is complete...and it won't be some noble, glorious death. This story is real-to-life, in that the characters aren't unnaturally lucky or imbued with the almost superhuman ability to survive the impossible conditions they face. Like those of us in the real world, most people don't survive extreme situations involving modern-day pirates and warlords...and when you add in a monster lurking in the ocean depths, no one walks away unscathed.
The narration from Sean Duregger is clear and professional. He does an excellent job of providing characters with distinct voices and accents (where appropriate).
One bit of warning, if you, like me, get tired of hearing the term "CIA spook" over and over again during one of the earliest chapters of the book, don't worry...that repetitive nature doesn't persist through the rest of the story. It took me a lot longer to finish listening to this audiobook because I stopped it near the end of that particular chapter precisely because that repetitive terminology was driving me mad. I wish I'd just powered through it because the story is excellent after that.
July 1, 2019
I went into Ocean Grave by Matt Serafini, with no prior knowledge of the authors work. I assumed the book would be something akin to Jaws, based solely on the terrifying cover art. I’m quite pleased to say that what we have here is a fun, ocean monster summer read.
I want to start this off by saying, this isn’t strictly a horror novel. While reading this, it felt to me like I was reading a cross between an Indiana Jones movie and The Meg. I don’t say that as a knock. This novel was a blast to read. Serafini switches back and forth between a few different characters, with the main character being Sarah, a newlywed whose honeymoon turns out to be much more than expected. Prehistoric terror isn’t the only danger, as this Madagascar vacation quickly turns into an adventure filled with pirates, government agents, mercenaries and pirate treasure. Serafini keeps things entertaining and he keeps things moving. This book benefits from the fast pace and the characters are written just well enough to keep you invested. The conclusion also takes an unexpected turn, which helped to keep interest in what’s going on.
Overall, I enjoyed Ocean Grave. I found it to be an entertaining Deep-Sea creature novel. Much of the book read like an adventure, with the creature aspect of it playing second to the characters and their quest. If you’re looking for an excellent summer creature read, look no further.
4/5 for Ocean Grave, By Matt Serafini
I want to start this off by saying, this isn’t strictly a horror novel. While reading this, it felt to me like I was reading a cross between an Indiana Jones movie and The Meg. I don’t say that as a knock. This novel was a blast to read. Serafini switches back and forth between a few different characters, with the main character being Sarah, a newlywed whose honeymoon turns out to be much more than expected. Prehistoric terror isn’t the only danger, as this Madagascar vacation quickly turns into an adventure filled with pirates, government agents, mercenaries and pirate treasure. Serafini keeps things entertaining and he keeps things moving. This book benefits from the fast pace and the characters are written just well enough to keep you invested. The conclusion also takes an unexpected turn, which helped to keep interest in what’s going on.
Overall, I enjoyed Ocean Grave. I found it to be an entertaining Deep-Sea creature novel. Much of the book read like an adventure, with the creature aspect of it playing second to the characters and their quest. If you’re looking for an excellent summer creature read, look no further.
4/5 for Ocean Grave, By Matt Serafini
October 29, 2019
Review to come
April 27, 2020
Unbelievable, ridiculous, sexist trash.
May 28, 2023
3.5 stars
I had this book sitting on my Kindle for a long time and finally decided to give it a shot. It was an entertaining story I quite enjoyed.
Monster horror mixed with some Lara Croft-style action-adventure set on Madagascar.
We follow Sarah who travels to Madagascar for her honeymoon but ends up being chased by a giant fish, pirates, mercenaries and more.
I'm giving this book a relatively low rating for two reasons. First of all, it was way too long for a monster-horror story. The author could have easily cut a hundred pages of people sitting on a boat and sailing somewhere, anxious because there's a giant fish chasing them.
But my bigger problem were the characters. Unfortunately, they're all really stupid. The author makes them act stupid to move the story. The badass mercenaries die of pure stupidity and the CIA agents who don't really have a function in the story would deserve the Darwin Award.
Meanwhile, Sarah, the main character, is attracted to every male she encounters. First some French guys at the pool, then the ship captain, then the mercenaries. I was waiting for her to also fall for the pirate who tried to sell her into slavery--all of that on her honeymoon. Yes, her hubby is an idiot but still. I'm not sure if the author thinks that a strong female character needs to feel aroused by every male she encounters, but I was hoping the fish would get her.
In fact, I was hoping the fish would get them all.
Nevertheless, the story was entertaining and the writing style was clean and engaging.
Fans of monster horror and action adventure will surely enjoy it.
I had this book sitting on my Kindle for a long time and finally decided to give it a shot. It was an entertaining story I quite enjoyed.
Monster horror mixed with some Lara Croft-style action-adventure set on Madagascar.
We follow Sarah who travels to Madagascar for her honeymoon but ends up being chased by a giant fish, pirates, mercenaries and more.
I'm giving this book a relatively low rating for two reasons. First of all, it was way too long for a monster-horror story. The author could have easily cut a hundred pages of people sitting on a boat and sailing somewhere, anxious because there's a giant fish chasing them.
But my bigger problem were the characters. Unfortunately, they're all really stupid. The author makes them act stupid to move the story. The badass mercenaries die of pure stupidity and the CIA agents who don't really have a function in the story would deserve the Darwin Award.
Meanwhile, Sarah, the main character, is attracted to every male she encounters. First some French guys at the pool, then the ship captain, then the mercenaries. I was waiting for her to also fall for the pirate who tried to sell her into slavery--all of that on her honeymoon. Yes, her hubby is an idiot but still. I'm not sure if the author thinks that a strong female character needs to feel aroused by every male she encounters, but I was hoping the fish would get her.
In fact, I was hoping the fish would get them all.
Nevertheless, the story was entertaining and the writing style was clean and engaging.
Fans of monster horror and action adventure will surely enjoy it.
August 13, 2025
You are following a few POVs that will all cross paths and experience horror along the way. Once deeper into the story, you learn they have more to worry about than the monster in the water. It was fun, loaded with death, and all happening while you follow the journey of a few determined folks to find a treasure no one has found in hundreds of years. A lot is happening, but it was fairly easy to keep up with and didn't slack on action once it started.
October 19, 2022
Let me just say that this book is not for me. I thought it was brainless and ridiculous.
January 15, 2021
Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this audiobook free of charge in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Ok, I admit it, I'm a sucker for sea monsters. Everything from the prehistoric Beast From 20,000 Fathoms to the tentacly horrors of It Came From Beneath The Sea, sea monsters have always held a fascination for me. There have been a few books I've enjoyed of this ilk but it is sadly a sub genre that is somewhat lacking and so I leapt at the chance to listen to this one.
For Sarah Moseby, married life was not shaping up to be quite what she'd expected. Disappearing on the first day of their honeymoon her husband, Blake, didn't return until late that evening, hinting at a surprise trip. Little did she know that this would lead to a hunt for ancient treasures, a run in with pirates and slavers and a close encounter with a creature from all their worst nightmares!
The first thing I would say about this book is that,once it gets going, it rarely lets up and the cast are drawn from one fight for their lives to another. The narrator does a great job of adding a sense of individuality to each of the very varied characters and does an admirable job with all the accents too, further adding to the immersion of the story and I rarely found it difficult to identify who was speaking.
Before long people are being maimed and killed in all manner of gruesome ways that anyone who's read a sea monster book or watched a movie of this ilk will find very satisfying and anyone with a dislike of gore should probably steer clear.
Now, the strange thing is, I initially came away unsure as to whether I had enjoyed the book or not as there were times that I felt the characters reactions to what was happening was a little to blasse and some of the things they did slightly far-fetched but then it dawned on me; this was a monster movie! People in Deep Blue Sea or The Meg don't spend hours trying to explain how they ended up where they were, that's the joy of a good sea creature movie and with this realisation I really appreciated it for what it was, a good, fun sea monster yarn.
So in short, I think that the story is maybe a little too busy at times and this can lead to a little confusion mid-point, and there is one naughty scene I felt a little out of place, but all in all I really enjoyed this book and heartily recommend it to all fans of sea monsters.
Ok, I admit it, I'm a sucker for sea monsters. Everything from the prehistoric Beast From 20,000 Fathoms to the tentacly horrors of It Came From Beneath The Sea, sea monsters have always held a fascination for me. There have been a few books I've enjoyed of this ilk but it is sadly a sub genre that is somewhat lacking and so I leapt at the chance to listen to this one.
For Sarah Moseby, married life was not shaping up to be quite what she'd expected. Disappearing on the first day of their honeymoon her husband, Blake, didn't return until late that evening, hinting at a surprise trip. Little did she know that this would lead to a hunt for ancient treasures, a run in with pirates and slavers and a close encounter with a creature from all their worst nightmares!
The first thing I would say about this book is that,once it gets going, it rarely lets up and the cast are drawn from one fight for their lives to another. The narrator does a great job of adding a sense of individuality to each of the very varied characters and does an admirable job with all the accents too, further adding to the immersion of the story and I rarely found it difficult to identify who was speaking.
Before long people are being maimed and killed in all manner of gruesome ways that anyone who's read a sea monster book or watched a movie of this ilk will find very satisfying and anyone with a dislike of gore should probably steer clear.
Now, the strange thing is, I initially came away unsure as to whether I had enjoyed the book or not as there were times that I felt the characters reactions to what was happening was a little to blasse and some of the things they did slightly far-fetched but then it dawned on me; this was a monster movie! People in Deep Blue Sea or The Meg don't spend hours trying to explain how they ended up where they were, that's the joy of a good sea creature movie and with this realisation I really appreciated it for what it was, a good, fun sea monster yarn.
So in short, I think that the story is maybe a little too busy at times and this can lead to a little confusion mid-point, and there is one naughty scene I felt a little out of place, but all in all I really enjoyed this book and heartily recommend it to all fans of sea monsters.
August 5, 2023
Ocean Grave reads like watching a Cinemax action flick, and I mean that as a complement. Serafini went all in on this creature-feature/shoot-em-up/sunken treasure adventure story.
Sara Jovish hasn’t even been married a full 48 hours before finding herself roped into the hunt for an infamous pirate’s by her hapless husband, Blake, local tour guide Kahega, and grizzled American boat captain, Holloway. But they aren’t the only ones in with designs on recovering the loot. The Pirate King of Madagascar, the vengeful CIA agents who are hot on his tail, and a couple of enigmatic French antiquers are also in on the hunt. And if that’s not enough, go ahead and throw in a famous Hollywood actress and a monstrous, prehistoric fish for good measure.
Serafini jumps right into the action and doesn’t look back, moving the story along at a break-neck pace for most of the story, deftly balancing the converging storylines with barely any loose ends or major departures. The pacing does get bogged down a bit for me just after the 200 page mark, where certain characters and storylines that should have been capped off pages ago continue to linger on and things get a little too Indiana Jonesy for my taste, but the threads are tied off into a satisfying conclusion and the sluggishness of the 3rd act is only a minor speed bump on what is otherwise a fast, fun beach read.
Sara Jovish hasn’t even been married a full 48 hours before finding herself roped into the hunt for an infamous pirate’s by her hapless husband, Blake, local tour guide Kahega, and grizzled American boat captain, Holloway. But they aren’t the only ones in with designs on recovering the loot. The Pirate King of Madagascar, the vengeful CIA agents who are hot on his tail, and a couple of enigmatic French antiquers are also in on the hunt. And if that’s not enough, go ahead and throw in a famous Hollywood actress and a monstrous, prehistoric fish for good measure.
Serafini jumps right into the action and doesn’t look back, moving the story along at a break-neck pace for most of the story, deftly balancing the converging storylines with barely any loose ends or major departures. The pacing does get bogged down a bit for me just after the 200 page mark, where certain characters and storylines that should have been capped off pages ago continue to linger on and things get a little too Indiana Jonesy for my taste, but the threads are tied off into a satisfying conclusion and the sluggishness of the 3rd act is only a minor speed bump on what is otherwise a fast, fun beach read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2021
What a fun, outlandish adventure. I'm someone who is both terrified by and yet drawn to tales of deep sea monsters. This story definitely delivered on the thrills. My forays into this genre are usually more on the film than the reading side, so, if I had to compare, this would be a combination of Deep Rising and Cutthroat Island with a bit of Jaws and the Meg thrown in for good measure. A few reviews commented on some unrealistic plot twists. I would say that, with the main premise being a giant man-eating fish who hunts for sport, I embarked on this adventure prepared to suspend my disbelief. It's a non-stop adventure once it gets going. And ala Game of Thrones, you just never know who's getting offed next. Fun summer read, and yet another story that shall keep me away from swimming in deep, dark water.
As one additional note, the opener was very catchy. I kept hoping the character would make a reappearance later, and .....(spoiler) she does! Thanks to Sean Duregger for providing a free audio copy in exchange for an honest review. Enjoyed the book and the narration.
As one additional note, the opener was very catchy. I kept hoping the character would make a reappearance later, and .....(spoiler) she does! Thanks to Sean Duregger for providing a free audio copy in exchange for an honest review. Enjoyed the book and the narration.
January 15, 2021
Fist things first. I received a promotional copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Matt Serafini's Ocean Grave has been on my to-buy list for a while, but it wasn't until after listening to it that I realised that I was wanting it under false pretences. Let me explain, I have a big fan of another book - actually a series of books - from a well known author which was adapted into the best shark vs Jason Statham movie ever made (the absolute best no other Shark vs Statham movie comes close). So I wanted this book on the strength of its cover, and - to be honest - its cover alone.
So when I was informed by the website of Sean Duregger that he was doing an audiobook version I all but accosted him with emails to let me review it.
Remember this was purely on the strength of the cover.
Well, being the very nice man that he is he relented (perhaps it was cheaper than a restraining order) to send me a promo code and I immediately dug into the book, Quickly I realised I had been duped, bamboozled and horn-swaggled as the book didn't seem to have a great deal to do with the marvellous cover itself.
Instead of monster fish eating swimmers I was treated (yes treated) to an adventure that would test the resilience of Lara Croft and Indiana Jones if they suddenly decided to elope to the Mediterranean (imagine the children they'd produce!).
While there is more than a little monster-fish-eating-swimmers moments Ocean Grave's strength is in its rollercoaster ride of action and adventure. There are also moments that earn the book an adult rating - at least in my eyes - and some ideas that gradually grow into truly horrific ones as they settle in the minds eye, but the book never jumps-the-shark (heh, see what I did there? See it?) into either true horror or absurdist adventure.
Theres a strange realism at play in spite of all the adventure and monster fist, and mush of this is due to some good writing from Serafini, but we have to give a great deal of credit to the assured and diverse performance from the Sean Duregger.
Switching from character to character, from Hollywood starlets to gay French treasure seekers with a few African pirates and mid-western Americans in for good measure. His ability to shift from character to character is truly astonishing and while in the past I have stated "less is more" in the accents department Sean has manages to make me reconsider those words.
Perhaps more is more when you actually do the job well enough and it seems to me that with Ocean Grave everyone is truly on top-form.
Matt Serafini's Ocean Grave has been on my to-buy list for a while, but it wasn't until after listening to it that I realised that I was wanting it under false pretences. Let me explain, I have a big fan of another book - actually a series of books - from a well known author which was adapted into the best shark vs Jason Statham movie ever made (the absolute best no other Shark vs Statham movie comes close). So I wanted this book on the strength of its cover, and - to be honest - its cover alone.
So when I was informed by the website of Sean Duregger that he was doing an audiobook version I all but accosted him with emails to let me review it.
Remember this was purely on the strength of the cover.
Well, being the very nice man that he is he relented (perhaps it was cheaper than a restraining order) to send me a promo code and I immediately dug into the book, Quickly I realised I had been duped, bamboozled and horn-swaggled as the book didn't seem to have a great deal to do with the marvellous cover itself.
Instead of monster fish eating swimmers I was treated (yes treated) to an adventure that would test the resilience of Lara Croft and Indiana Jones if they suddenly decided to elope to the Mediterranean (imagine the children they'd produce!).
While there is more than a little monster-fish-eating-swimmers moments Ocean Grave's strength is in its rollercoaster ride of action and adventure. There are also moments that earn the book an adult rating - at least in my eyes - and some ideas that gradually grow into truly horrific ones as they settle in the minds eye, but the book never jumps-the-shark (heh, see what I did there? See it?) into either true horror or absurdist adventure.
Theres a strange realism at play in spite of all the adventure and monster fist, and mush of this is due to some good writing from Serafini, but we have to give a great deal of credit to the assured and diverse performance from the Sean Duregger.
Switching from character to character, from Hollywood starlets to gay French treasure seekers with a few African pirates and mid-western Americans in for good measure. His ability to shift from character to character is truly astonishing and while in the past I have stated "less is more" in the accents department Sean has manages to make me reconsider those words.
Perhaps more is more when you actually do the job well enough and it seems to me that with Ocean Grave everyone is truly on top-form.
December 19, 2020
Every girl dreams of her honeymoon, but I doubt includes a secret treasure, pirates, a fish with an attitude and an all-around nightmare situation not to mention running in to mute on an island but like common decency and basic sense. This book is so good I listen to the audio version with Sean Drager and man it was so good and I highly recommend it. They have a lot going on but it’s easy to follow I loved it! I can’t recommend it enough!
April 23, 2020
Well written with a lot of depth of character development.
The PTSD portions were believable.
A good read.
The PTSD portions were believable.
A good read.
Read
February 2, 2021Putting this aside for now as it's not keeping my attention at all.
January 7, 2025
If you want big fish eating people then this isn't the book for you.
August 19, 2019
Interesting book. A little slow toward the beginning. It took a great deal of time to develop the characters. This kept them from being one dimensional but occasionally left me wondering where it was going. Then some that I thought would last.... died.... quickly. Wow, brave of the author. The set piece of the pirate stronghold was well written and strong. It made up for the slowness of parts of the book. All in all, I'll read this one again.
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