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John Decker #3

Crimson Deep

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Something ancient has found new prey… Us.

Deep in the Florida woodlands, a pair of recreational divers are attacked and killed. Miles away, a research team captures an impossible sight on their remote-operated submersible. Meanwhile, a team of bank robbers speed toward their Florida hideout.

As deaths mount, ex-sheriff John Decker is called from a much-needed vacation by a longtime friend, to help a baffled police department track an impossible enemy. Thrust into one of the most dangerous situations of his life, Decker must combat not only a ruthless killer but a cadre of criminals with nothing to lose.

And the stakes could not be higher, because if Decker fails, it could lead not only to his own death but the demise of the woman he loves.

This is book three in the John Decker series, but it can be read as a standalone novel.

If you are a fan of James Rollins, Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child, and Steve Alten, you will love the John Decker series.

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 4, 2020

1008 people are currently reading
336 people want to read

About the author

Anthony M. Strong

36 books307 followers

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5 stars
791 (49%)
4 stars
572 (35%)
3 stars
211 (13%)
2 stars
22 (1%)
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7 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
Profile Image for Zain.
1,884 reviews287 followers
August 16, 2023
An Action Packed Finale.

Another John Decker episode filled with action scenes and figures of an actual monster of an animal.

What in the world is going on? What is the name of this monster? Where did it come from and when will it go?

The monster is violent and greedy, eating up every person it comes across. But it is incredibly powerful, dangerous and terrifying et al.

Despite the dangers and greediness of the animal, it can’t eat everyone. But it does definitely try.

Will John Decker and his comrades be able to get this animal down?

Four stars. ✨✨✨✨
Profile Image for Marie.
1,119 reviews389 followers
April 4, 2023
Extinct Terror Thriller!

Backstory:

The aquifer that lies within the Florida backwoods is being explored by some researchers as they want to test out their new remote submersible named LISA but when LISA gets attacked by some kind of creature and the researchers lose contact with it they wonder what is swimming around down in the fresh water aquifer as nothing is supposed to be that deep.

In the meantime, bank robbers that pulled off a bank heist in Georgia are headed to those same backwoods as there is place they can hole up till things quiet down but what they do not know is that they are about to come face to face with the creature that is roaming the woods.

When the sheriff of the region (Bill Gibson) is called in to check out a couple of murders he calls in his friend, John Decker to help him out as something is just not setting right with the murders and he needs a helping hand, but what everyone finds out is far worse than they could ever have imagined as what is swimming around in the aquifer should not even exist and what is worse which they do not expect is that it can come on the land as well!

That is about all I can give on a small backstory without giving away spoilers so if you want to know more than go read this book!

Thoughts:

I have been enjoying this series of John Decker and there is always something new that Decker finds himself caught up in as he has become sort of a creature feature expert in a short period of time.

This book had all kinds of creature feature action along with graphic scenes of gore, blood, and extreme carnage. The author goes into deep descriptive details of the killings within the book and it was a good thing I had my gore suit on as it was needed for this book! Looking forward to reading book number four to see what trouble Decker finds himself in next! Giving this book five "Creature Bloodfest Buffet" stars!

For images of this review, please see my blog:
https://booknookretreat.blogspot.com/...
Profile Image for Sammie Reads.
1,137 reviews183 followers
June 29, 2024
Well that was a fun ride! It’s been a while since I delved into. John Decker thriller, I’m really loving the paranormal aspect. In this book, we discover an ancient beast right in my state; Florida. John and Nancy are on vacation, and John’s busy mulling over a strange job offer he receives from a top secret agency when he’s pulled into a series of murders by his old academy friend. There is something tearing people apart and eating them in this small central Florida town…

We see many different points of view until they all finally converge at the end, and it’s always so fun to be in wildly different peoples heads. Anywho, John helps save the day again, he accepts the job, and now he’s off to Ireland with his new boss…these books are quick, easy reads and good fun!
Profile Image for Lena.
1,217 reviews332 followers
May 6, 2023
A genetically modified prehistoric crocodile reeks havoc in a southern state. Combine that with a beleaguered ex-Sheriff, his noncommittal girlfriend, greedy naive scientists, some bank robbers and it could have been a great time.

Unfortunately the narrator was mediocre and the production non existent. Barely three stars.
Profile Image for Sabrina Bright.
246 reviews2 followers
October 2, 2022
Not as Good

I really loved the first two books in the series. However, this one took a lot longer to get to the action and then it all ended in just a couple of chapters. I really liked the buildup of the first two books better. I will still continue to read the series and hope the next couple of books are better.
Profile Image for ❀ Crystal ✿ -  PEACE ☮ LOVE ♥ BOOKS .
2,532 reviews308 followers
November 12, 2024
After braving the Alaskan cold, Decker next finds himself sucked into a monster of a case while vacationing in Florida. A beast too large to be an alligator is attacking locals near an aquifer. The same aquifer nothing is supposed to be living in, certainly not something prehistoric. To think Decker just wants to ask an old friend for some advice when he once again finds himself solving an impossible to believe case. I wish the end and beginning had some more background on the creature because there’s some questions lingering. Other than that I was disappointed there was more of a human threat this time around they just provided more fodder for the monster. John finally makes his decision on accepting a super secret government job and I imagine things will only get more insane from here!
Profile Image for myreadingescapism.
1,276 reviews16 followers
January 19, 2025
Yeah, I'm about to binge this series. It's a creature feature classic for Mr Decker!
Profile Image for Sudasha.
645 reviews17 followers
December 27, 2021
I feel like I need a bit more of John's background story; I thought we would have seen more of his past play into his character development, but it's still lacking. Otherwise, I liked this as I'm big into supernatural stories. Moving on to the next book in the series now!
Profile Image for Dale Robertson.
Author 6 books35 followers
August 10, 2023
These books are getting better and better as the series goes on. Another monster roaming about munching on locals. Decker just can't catch a break- wherever he goes, he gets dragged into some weird situation. The end of the book was super intense.
Profile Image for Martin Hernandez.
171 reviews3 followers
October 16, 2024
The third book in the series continues the fun of the previous two.

As you can see in the description these books CAN be read as standalone. The events of the previous books do not affect the story contained within. The one aspect being the 1st incident in wolf haven [book 1] is routinely mentioned, but is "detailed" enough that it's not a glaring hole in the plot to prevent your enjoyment.

This one is on the shorter side at less than 300 pages, and is a quick read [even more so than the previous two]. Decker doesn't really get involved in the incident[s] until maybe half way through. The creature in this book is not a mythical creature like the first book, or a modern real life folk tale like the second. It's something... different. No spoilers.

Yea this is a good book just like the previous. The only nitpick I have of the stories so far is the dialog can feel a little cheesy; like a low budget monster movie. That just adds to the charm though.
Profile Image for Boomer.
394 reviews5 followers
March 2, 2022
This series has become somewhat of a guilty pleasure for me. It's a good premise but not something you can take seriously. In between reading heavy hitting authors like King, Koontz, Lincoln, Cussler and Connelly, I usually check out a John Decker book simply because I can turn my brain off and enjoy some light creature reading.

The last book showed significant improvement from the original, so I was anxious to get through this one, but it feels like one step forward, two steps back on this series. The author rushes through, introducing almost a dozen characters in the first 25 or so pages, none of which are memorable in any way except Decker himself. A familiar pattern soon sets in - a new character is introduced and then quickly dispatched by the monster. Rinse and repeat. There's no real explanation as to where the monster came from or why it's revealing itself now. Even worse, there's no real ending to this book. We don't know if the creature is dead, the fate of the sheriff, bank robber, or scientists. I'd think a prehistoric monster attack would soon be worldwide news, but there's no follow up on any of the events. It's all just ignored with Decker moving on to his next assignment. The whole book might as well have not happened.

I can admit these books haven't been great, but I still feel a strange compulsion to continue on. There's potential here for this to be a great series but it's not there yet. I have high hopes for the next one.
Profile Image for Donna Thompson.
659 reviews47 followers
August 20, 2020
From the moment I opened this book and started reading, I could picture everything as if it was unfolding as a movie. Each scene and each character are so vividly drawn, it puts you right down in the middle of the action. It also speaks to this author’s expertise that even though I hadn’t read a Decker book in a while, this character immediately came back to me. Where hundreds of books are forgotten weeks after they’ve been read, this one series stands out and doesn’t leave you. In “Crimson Deep,” we are treated to a unique and horrifying predator who is entwined around the various characters until they all come together in a pulse-pounding, heart-thumping climax unlike anything you’ve seen before. This author keeps you on the edge of your seat because he pulls no punches and you’re never sure who’s going to make it and who’s not. This book was as satisfying as a rip-roaring action film, time well spent, entertaining and fun.
*I received an ARC from the author. This review is totally voluntary.*
Profile Image for Melissa.
740 reviews27 followers
October 10, 2021
This series is pretty good. It’s available on Kindle Unlimited and has a bit of a Supernatural vibe. The main character, John Decker, is an accidental monster Hunter. By this, the third book, he is no longer sheriff of Wolf Haven and has visited Alaska in book two to help a community out with their unknown monster problem.

The first book was human magic evil, a werewolf. The last two installments, the monsters are man made. Not really a spoiler, you go into the story knowing there will be a monster. The story is the journey to catch it and how it exists in the first place.

The first three books have been well written, nicely paced and not a lot of editing errors that can be found in some of the KU books.

This is a good series for autumn spooky reading. A bit of supernatural, some monsters, a mystery, a bit of action.
170 reviews
September 6, 2024
I think this is my first ever 2 star review, and it pains me. If I don’t enjoy a book I always give it 3 stars anyway because I have respect for the time it takes to write a book and publish it. This one however fell very very flat for me. I’ve enjoyed the other books, I enjoyed the monster in this book, but I had a huge issue at the end regarding Nancy.

*** Spoilers***
She was soooo in love with John, following him on this case and not wanting him to leave her alone. She has apparently been in love with him since she was a teenager. She sold her family restaurant, left the only town she has ever lived in and then he asks her to marry him and she says no! It broke my heart for John. Just because she has a “bad marriage” before doesn’t mean anything! That excuse she gave him was plan out insane, I will read one more in this series but if she is still annoying and inconsistent then I’m done. He deserves so much better than her.

Also the sub plot of the robbers was just not needed. Lastly I don’t understand why he can’t have a gun? He resigned from his position and never got in trouble so why in every situation he doesn’t have protection?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Karen Perez.
6 reviews
August 20, 2020
I'm a HUGE fan of this author's writing. His John Decker series is extremely good...*fan girling a bit here, sorry!*
So when I got a chance to read this as an ARC? You BETCHA I jumped at it!

As with his other books in the series, this was well written...the intertwining stories with protagonists and antagonists all getting pulled into an epicenter of mayhem.

I'm not an author, so I won't try to explain the book cuz I wouldn't do it even a smidgen of justice.

Let's just say, even though I received a complimentary copy of this book, I am going to do the same as I have every other one of the John Decker series books...buy it in eBook and paperback.

If you like "creature features," you will absolutely LOVE this book.
If you haven't read any of the other John Decker series, I highly recommend you do so!!

Again, I DID recieve a complimentary copy...(best early Christmas gift EVER!...) but that...in NO way... influenced my review.

36 reviews3 followers
August 19, 2020
Gripping from the first page to the last!!!

This book is the 3rd book in the John Decker series. The previous 2 books had me gripped from the very 1st page to the very last, as did this new book. This series is addictive and unputdownable, one more chapter then one more. A rip roaring adventure with John Decker, just when you thought he was in for a quiet life ...... this author has sent him on another rollercoaster of a ride, even I didn't know what to expect. Not for the fainthearted, if you like your horror and gore. This author has not disappointed me, but left me thirsty for more of his brilliantly written words. An addictive series. Looking forward to more from this author.
837 reviews
April 24, 2021
Wow, another roller coaster ride from Anthony Strong. This time our hero, John Decker, is facing down a dinosaur! Who knew they lived in Florida? Well, this one does! The who, how and why it's there are left to the reader's imagination. There is lots of death and destruction, so much so that I lost count. Suffice it to say the body count is high which is something I've come to expect from a Decker adventure. There were a couple questions left hanging at the end but nothing that will keep me awake at night or put me off reading the next book in the series. It was a quick read and a guilty pleasure. I'm very happy there are more in the series!
Profile Image for Thibaldo Manrique.
262 reviews1 follower
May 21, 2022
The John Decker series do not disappoint

Another excellent installment in the series. Although, just as the author says, they can each new read as a stand alone, they are definitely a series and do build on the previous one. Some of the references are just glancing blows, others leave you wondering, unless you've read the previous one. All the same, great story. An amazing cast of characters that are individual and very well fleshed out. Even the ones we meet for only a little while. And the monster this time around is a good one, in the sense that it's big, scary and hard to kill. A very good monster story. A great series. Highly recommended.
622 reviews6 followers
August 30, 2025
This is the third in the John Decker series. While vacationing in Florida with Nancy, John reaches out to an old academy buddy with the hopes of getting some advice about taking the job offered to John in the last book. Unfortunately his friend is the Sheriff of the small town, and has some pretty critical business of his own. There have been several deadly animal attacks, so severe, that they can't determine it's source. An Alligator that attacks vehicles? A Bear that eats humans as prey? Of course John gets involved. I've always wanted to live in Florida, this book is giving me second thoughts...
Profile Image for BobaFett114.
1,949 reviews3 followers
January 25, 2021
Heart stopping thriller!

This book sucked me in and I had to finish it in almost one sitting. Decker is on vacation with Nancy in Florida when he is asked to consult on an animal attack. This thing is killing almost for sport because it doesn't really eat them. If you're claustrophobic you may need to take a few breaths as there are times when people have dive. I like Decker, he's a well written character. I'm not a big fan of Nancy, especially in this book, she's a bit hard headed.
Profile Image for Cat B..
787 reviews7 followers
October 30, 2021
Another thrilling tale featuring John Decker. This series never sleeps. Always well written and thrilling. John is such an engaging character you can't help but root for him completely. In this story, John is hoping to relax after his harrowing time in Wolf Haven (What Vengeance Comes) but an old friend asks his advice when an animal is savagely tearing people apart and given the state of the bodies John cannot say no. Again, another great story that will keep you up trying to finish in one big gulp.
Profile Image for Jiamelishua Ammons.
113 reviews20 followers
May 28, 2022
Awesome!

Another adventurous tale from the John Decker Series. I can’t help but love John Decker, the ex-cop who has been thru so much from when he was a little boy up until manhood. Then realizing that things that you thought were myth or folklore are actually real. His name has been tarnished because he was trying to protect a town that he loved, he has been betrayed by people he trusted but still loved and supported by the woman he loves. These books have had me so hyped up to read more. Truly excited about reading the next book in the series.🤗
Profile Image for Josette Thomas.
1,252 reviews1 follower
December 31, 2022
not just an alligator

A prehistoric monster let loose in the Florida swamps…..no thank you. I can only imagine the terror these various people faced when looking upon this creature. I would not want to be cornered by an alligator let alone something referred to as “the Butcher”. Reading these kinds of books makes me want to stay in the house and read about the monsters. Not actually come into contact with them. Great book.
2,416 reviews
September 10, 2020
I really loved this book. This story had me completely pulled in. It’s very well written with a great flow and very hard to put down. I’m really looking forward to reading more by this author. This is a book I would recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for John McDonnell.
501 reviews9 followers
March 2, 2021
I'm never a fan of water, certainly not going under water. This book certainly punched the right buttons when it came to dealing with monsters in the right places for the wrong reasons. Nicely pulled together stories that come together to bring the overall plot to a conclusion nicely. Can't wait to get to the next. Crocodiles! Honestly come to Australia if you want monsters!
19 reviews
June 18, 2021
Another great book 📙

I've just finished Crimson Deep & i can definitely say that this is a step up from Cold Sanctuary for which i didn't like at all. Alot of action & i like the character's in this one. Don't read what i think buy it yourself & find out how good this author is.
Profile Image for Cattie Whaley.
300 reviews2 followers
July 11, 2021
Another great John Decker thriller

I swear these books are getting better and better. So hard to put the book down! In this installment, John and Nancy are supposed to be on vacation but John gets sucked into a mysterious animal killing. Loved how this story progressed and all the story lines tied together. Can't wait to start the next one! Highly recommend
83 reviews1 follower
March 12, 2022
Good, and getting so much better!

The first book in the series introduced main characters. At first, I wasn't sure where Strong was taking me.

With the second book there was a surprise around every corner. Strong strengthened his main characters' personalities.

Crimson Deep hooked me. This book is a real nail-biter. Can't wait for #4.
Profile Image for Leahna.
160 reviews
April 18, 2024
I am really enjoying this series. I started off late in the series but am now reading them in order. It is so hard to find a clean, well written, and exciting action novel, and these fit the bill. Mr. Strong does not fall back on filth and swearing to be "gritty" and adult. Instead, he relies on story and character.
Profile Image for Jayne.
526 reviews11 followers
February 3, 2025
Very good read!

If you also enjoyed The Tracker, Jack Reacher, and others, John Decker will be a fine addition to your collection.

The story ended abruptly, which fit the action. This was like getting the final crispy creme donut and gobbling it down. I am so glad this is a series. I want more of John Decker!
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