Dead Water Rising: A Novel

by Hayden Walsh

A gangster becomes obsessed with stopping the giant great white shark that's terrorizing the New Jersey beach he controls.

A torso washes up in the surf. While the authorities decide what to do, mafia hood Brendan Kelly is more concerned with the effect a beach closure will have on his ability to pay his violent boss the huge sum of money he expects each week.

Already worn down by a worsening drug habit and the strained relationship with his daughter, he's now looking over both shoulders for the hitman he's convinced will soon be sent to execute him.

With his life quickly falling apart around him, Brendan finds himself with nowhere left to run but out to sea. There he is forced to face not only his biggest fears and failures but the monstrous beast itself.

240 pages, ebook

Published September 15, 2020

Reviews

[Veronica Petrof · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shark: 7 kills
Brendan: 1 kill

A funny/goofy read. Unserious and a unique spin on the classic shark stories.

[Nathan Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not what I expected from the cover. A lot of Jaws inspired (shall we say) novels tend to stick to the typical Jaws plot strands but this one deviates quite a bit. An anti hero instead of the hero and the reasons for the characters ending up going out to sea are quite different. I really enjoyed it, especially as the ending approaches and things start to ramp up! The character of Jimmy was well drawn as he makes you actually like Brendan a lot more than you might do otherwise. I agree with other reviewers that this would make a great movie

[Rebekah Stadius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tasty Shark Tale

For shark fans this book hits the mark. It has all the essence of great shark versus human terror and then some. The Jersey Shore mobsters have their work cut out “From” them literally as they try to do business. A surprise ending leaves you guessing who really won.

[Paul McBride · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have enjoyed this book more if it had less Jersey wise guys and more shark
Or a jersey wise guys story and no shark.
But I look forward to whatever else the author writes.

[Michelle Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this as I'm a huge fan of Jaws and other killeranimal stories. Not as good as Jaws which is to be expected but a really nice spin on the usual plot of these stories. I liked that the herois more of an anti hero and the build up to the ending really had me going. I'd have liked it to be a little longer with some more scenes of his daughter and ex wife but overall I enjoyed it and really liked the shark attacks

[Rita hecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Water Rising and Mafioso Falling

This was a totally different story line from what I was expecting. Mixing a giant shark and a family of mobsters was a real treat. I think there was a lot of realism to the life of a
mobster and I wonder where the facts come from. Looking forward to more stories by this author.

[A Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found a Diamond!

Excellent storyline, believable characters, definitely worth reading. I’m putting the author on my list of favourite authors. Better not let me down with the next book!

[Tom Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moves along at a quick pace, very cinematic. could see this as a film