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High Water #3
The Deep End
"It starts today. Your world is about to change."
Harley ignores the cryptic warning but soon learns the chilling message is absolutely true. When his motorcycle is stolen, he feels he's lost the one thing that connects him to his dad--and keeps his dad's memory alive. Harley believes he knows exactly who is responsible--and takes dangerously reckless steps to get his bike back.
Parker will do almost anything to help his friend--which is exactly what has Jelly and Ella worried. Their efforts to change Harley's self-destructive course simply haven't worked. Now they have to find a way to stop him before he goes off the deep end . . . and takes Parker with him.
Sometimes lies and deception are so believable that only God can reveal the truth.
And every person has a push-point. Something that--if given enough pressure--has the power to send them someplace they never want to go. Off the deep end.
The Deep End is the third book in the High Water series. It blends contemporary mystery and suspense, dramatic situations, and high adventure that 12- to 15-year-old boys and girls will love.
Harley ignores the cryptic warning but soon learns the chilling message is absolutely true. When his motorcycle is stolen, he feels he's lost the one thing that connects him to his dad--and keeps his dad's memory alive. Harley believes he knows exactly who is responsible--and takes dangerously reckless steps to get his bike back.
Parker will do almost anything to help his friend--which is exactly what has Jelly and Ella worried. Their efforts to change Harley's self-destructive course simply haven't worked. Now they have to find a way to stop him before he goes off the deep end . . . and takes Parker with him.
Sometimes lies and deception are so believable that only God can reveal the truth.
And every person has a push-point. Something that--if given enough pressure--has the power to send them someplace they never want to go. Off the deep end.
The Deep End is the third book in the High Water series. It blends contemporary mystery and suspense, dramatic situations, and high adventure that 12- to 15-year-old boys and girls will love.
420 pages, Paperback
Published June 6, 2023
9 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Tim Shoemaker
36 books103 followersTim Shoemaker is a speaker and author of eight books, including Dangerous Devotions for Guys; Smashed Tomatoes, Bottle Rockets, and Other Outdoor Devotionals; and Mashed Potatoes, Paint Balls, and Other Indoor/Outdoor Devotionals. He has three grown sons and has been happily married for over 32 years. His debut into the juvenile fiction market draws from his experience with kids as a volunteer youth leader for more than sixteen years.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 9, 2023
I finally finished this book! Though, I have a lot of thoughts haha. I'm sad to say that this one isn't a five-star rating either, but it was still amazing.
✨ Ella + Jelly together were a bit annoying. Low-key it almost felt like the girls thought they were always right because they were girls. As if they were the only ones who were thinking clearly. With Parker, I understand where they were coming from, regarding the way they kind of pounced on him, because they thought Harley was lying, but couldn't they cut Parker some slack? He wasn't there when Jelly's dad almost ran him over and plus, he missed how Harley was before he began distancing himself from them. He hoped on the other side of things and literally just wanted his friend back. They [the girls] could've still had their opinions, and been agitated by it all, but be more mindful of how Parker was feeling. Then, they wouldn't give Harley the benefit of the doubt. They kept hounding him, not allowing him to explain himself about Scorza's car. They kept cutting him off and accusing him, so he couldn't explain himself. I'm like, you're not always going to be right about everything. Their pain was understandable, however, that doesn't excuse their behavior.
✨ I honestly wanted Harley to start inching towards Christianity a bit, like starting to ask questions. I mean, he prayed a couple of times...obviously Parker was starting to rub off on him. Mr. Shoemaker, please do a conversion one day! I really would love to see how you'd write it.
✨ I loved the descriptions in this book! Specifically, facial expressions and the outer appearances of folks. They were more engaging in the sense of the reader being able to picture what the characters looked like in different scenes. I really liked that!
✨ It was amazing how the chapters alternated between six perspectives. SIX!!! I've always wanted that to be done, and it was. I don't know how he kept it all in check, but Mr. Shoemaker balanced it quite nicely.
✨ For some reason, the characters felt a lot more relatable. Their emotions were so understandable and portrayed quite realistically. Personally, I think that's why I loved Harley so much in this book. The way he felt as if he was alone and started shutting people out...that literally broke my heart, but it made his character feel more real.
✨ I know the mystery aspect isn't supposed to be a focus, but I still wish things weren't predictable so fast. I mean, it's fine that things were predictable, though, I wish there was some time for things to develop a wee bit. I already knew who the culprit was by page 20 and most of his motive...though, the suspense made up for it haha.
✨ With the book being suspense-focused, I honestly wished it was more intense like the Code of Silence series, especially since there were attempted murders. I missed that thrill! Nevertheless, the story was well-thought out and the pacing was great.
Overall, it's a great book and I'd still recommend it to people! I loved the emotional complexity and faith content that was woven in. I can't wait for the fourth book to be released later this year!
✨ Ella + Jelly together were a bit annoying. Low-key it almost felt like the girls thought they were always right because they were girls. As if they were the only ones who were thinking clearly. With Parker, I understand where they were coming from, regarding the way they kind of pounced on him, because they thought Harley was lying, but couldn't they cut Parker some slack? He wasn't there when Jelly's dad almost ran him over and plus, he missed how Harley was before he began distancing himself from them. He hoped on the other side of things and literally just wanted his friend back. They [the girls] could've still had their opinions, and been agitated by it all, but be more mindful of how Parker was feeling. Then, they wouldn't give Harley the benefit of the doubt. They kept hounding him, not allowing him to explain himself about Scorza's car. They kept cutting him off and accusing him, so he couldn't explain himself. I'm like, you're not always going to be right about everything. Their pain was understandable, however, that doesn't excuse their behavior.
✨ I honestly wanted Harley to start inching towards Christianity a bit, like starting to ask questions. I mean, he prayed a couple of times...obviously Parker was starting to rub off on him. Mr. Shoemaker, please do a conversion one day! I really would love to see how you'd write it.
✨ I loved the descriptions in this book! Specifically, facial expressions and the outer appearances of folks. They were more engaging in the sense of the reader being able to picture what the characters looked like in different scenes. I really liked that!
✨ It was amazing how the chapters alternated between six perspectives. SIX!!! I've always wanted that to be done, and it was. I don't know how he kept it all in check, but Mr. Shoemaker balanced it quite nicely.
✨ For some reason, the characters felt a lot more relatable. Their emotions were so understandable and portrayed quite realistically. Personally, I think that's why I loved Harley so much in this book. The way he felt as if he was alone and started shutting people out...that literally broke my heart, but it made his character feel more real.
✨ I know the mystery aspect isn't supposed to be a focus, but I still wish things weren't predictable so fast. I mean, it's fine that things were predictable, though, I wish there was some time for things to develop a wee bit. I already knew who the culprit was by page 20 and most of his motive...though, the suspense made up for it haha.
✨ With the book being suspense-focused, I honestly wished it was more intense like the Code of Silence series, especially since there were attempted murders. I missed that thrill! Nevertheless, the story was well-thought out and the pacing was great.
Overall, it's a great book and I'd still recommend it to people! I loved the emotional complexity and faith content that was woven in. I can't wait for the fourth book to be released later this year!
June 23, 2025
Wonderful book! Jelly and Ella are idiots and I can't fully forgive them for what they did, but Parker was amazing, as always, and Harley, Harley was just in need of a friend, and I probably took way too much pleasure in the roasts that Harley gave to Jelly and Ella, AND...I think its very much a good match and possible for Jelly and Scorza to to be paired up and then I just gotta find Ella her idiotic partner. Parker and Harley both deserve WAY better than those two knucklebrains.
June 14, 2023
One of the things I love about the High Water series by Tim Shoemaker is the way it takes high-stakes adventure and hold-your-breath suspense and combines them with solid friendship fiction that has a heartfelt (and not preachy) faith thread and faces head-on the kind of issues that today’s teens are facing.
In The Deep End, Shoemaker delivers all of this and more. Not only are the lives of Parker and his friends in danger once again, but this time their friendships are more at risk than ever before, too! It is definitely just as much – if not more so – about a fight for those relationships, as it is about the physical dangers the close-knit band of teenagers face in this book. It’s as difficult for readers to watch one of the group be pushed to his limits as it is for the friends who are left confused and worried in the story. The author did a great job of conveying that emotional tension; in fact, the plot practically crackles with it. I wasn’t completely sure how it would resolve itself, but I loved the reminder that stories – our stories – aren’t defined by what happens in the ‘bad chapters’ but in how the entire book turns out.
I also appreciate that not every teenager in the book comes from the same socioeconomic, cultural, or family background. Parker has a secure home life with two parents that love him and point him to living for Jesus in every aspect of life. But Jelly lives only with her dad after her mom walked out on them. Ella lives with her grandmother, her parents not in the picture. And Harley… ugh. Poor Harley. Tragically orphaned and still grieving, he’s forced to live with his uncle who – needless to say – does not have Harley’s best interests in heart. Honestly, I wanted to purse whomp Uncle Ray something fierce. As well as Harley’s former friend (and bully), Bryce. These two are certainly cut from the same cloth, and my heart went out to Harley as he struggled with their continued venom throughout this story.
Bottom Line: Teenagers, whether male or female, will enjoy diving into the adventures – and misadventures – of Parker, Jelly, Ella, and Harley in The Deep End and the whole High Water series by Tim Shoemaker. ‘Deep trouble’ may be the name of a boat at the center of this plot, but it’s also a pretty good descriptor of what our intrepid four will get into before all is said and done. I thought this was a clever metaphor that the author employed, one which made the life lessons on these pages all the more profound. Edge-of-your-seat suspense keeps readers glued to this book, and it’s not always clear what the ending will look like. The Deep End is an entertaining read that not only charms readers with winsome characters and daring adventure, but also a focus on how Jesus is worth trusting with our whole lives. Parents, you won’t regret adding this series to your family library.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
In The Deep End, Shoemaker delivers all of this and more. Not only are the lives of Parker and his friends in danger once again, but this time their friendships are more at risk than ever before, too! It is definitely just as much – if not more so – about a fight for those relationships, as it is about the physical dangers the close-knit band of teenagers face in this book. It’s as difficult for readers to watch one of the group be pushed to his limits as it is for the friends who are left confused and worried in the story. The author did a great job of conveying that emotional tension; in fact, the plot practically crackles with it. I wasn’t completely sure how it would resolve itself, but I loved the reminder that stories – our stories – aren’t defined by what happens in the ‘bad chapters’ but in how the entire book turns out.
I also appreciate that not every teenager in the book comes from the same socioeconomic, cultural, or family background. Parker has a secure home life with two parents that love him and point him to living for Jesus in every aspect of life. But Jelly lives only with her dad after her mom walked out on them. Ella lives with her grandmother, her parents not in the picture. And Harley… ugh. Poor Harley. Tragically orphaned and still grieving, he’s forced to live with his uncle who – needless to say – does not have Harley’s best interests in heart. Honestly, I wanted to purse whomp Uncle Ray something fierce. As well as Harley’s former friend (and bully), Bryce. These two are certainly cut from the same cloth, and my heart went out to Harley as he struggled with their continued venom throughout this story.
Bottom Line: Teenagers, whether male or female, will enjoy diving into the adventures – and misadventures – of Parker, Jelly, Ella, and Harley in The Deep End and the whole High Water series by Tim Shoemaker. ‘Deep trouble’ may be the name of a boat at the center of this plot, but it’s also a pretty good descriptor of what our intrepid four will get into before all is said and done. I thought this was a clever metaphor that the author employed, one which made the life lessons on these pages all the more profound. Edge-of-your-seat suspense keeps readers glued to this book, and it’s not always clear what the ending will look like. The Deep End is an entertaining read that not only charms readers with winsome characters and daring adventure, but also a focus on how Jesus is worth trusting with our whole lives. Parents, you won’t regret adding this series to your family library.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
September 19, 2024
I love how these books are just jam packed with good lessons for tweens and teens! The characters are great, the plot is fun and exciting. This series has so far exceeded my expectations. I’ve really enjoyed them.
The endings feel a little fast sometimes, but I feel like suspense books are like that a lot.
Excited to see what the next books bring! It would appear that the pattern of Parker finding himself in life threatening situations is going to continue :)
The endings feel a little fast sometimes, but I feel like suspense books are like that a lot.
Excited to see what the next books bring! It would appear that the pattern of Parker finding himself in life threatening situations is going to continue :)
March 5, 2024
THIS BOOK WAS AWESOME! I loved how the author shows how each different character is feeling! This book is so suspensful and the whole time amazingly written! I was so drawn into this book, I could not put it down! Tim Shoemaker makes be feel like I'm in the book with the characters! I loved it!
January 29, 2026
Loved it! Except Ella is still annoying to me and I liked Jelly better as she was in the first book 😕
Oh well it was still a great plot and I’m very glad Harley is an addition to the friends. Ella too even tho she’s irritating 💖
Oh well it was still a great plot and I’m very glad Harley is an addition to the friends. Ella too even tho she’s irritating 💖
November 7, 2024
The best one of the series so far!!
August 18, 2025
Amazing book!! Fast-paced action and not-preachy lessons for the reader. If you like the back of the book, you'll like the book itself.
August 21, 2025
it had a very good ending, tho maybe a little sad
November 4, 2025
Loved this series
November 5, 2025
I thought this book was very good. Scorza is literally an idiot and Jelly YOU'RE TOO GOOD FOR HIM. This series is so good and I hope Ella and Harley learn about Jesus's love even more.
August 24, 2024
This was a great book. Harley is my fav character!!!!❤️ I very much recommend!
September 28, 2025
Definitely loved it, but it had the same weakness as Back Before Dark; the middle was a bit bogged down with dead ends and dragged out scenes.
September 6, 2025
*see my review for book one*
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews