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Deadly Depths
A notable archaeologist, close to finding a priceless artifact, meets his untimely demise— Matthew Shane vows to find his murderer
Matthew Shane is a law professor in Salem, Massachusetts, where he enjoys a rewarding mentorship with Professor Barrington Holmes, a well-known archaeologist. So when Professor Holmes is found dead in his office and the police rule it a suicide, something doesn’ t sit right with Matthew. He becomes determined to find the true cause of Holmes’ death and bring closure to his widow.
Matthew soon learns that Professor Holmes belonged to a group of notable archaeologists dubbed “ The Monkey’ s Paw,” who were all entangled in an expedition to find an unknown object of unprecedented historical and financial value. Each member had been given one piece of the instructions to find the object, but some of the men had encountered horrific twists of fate before the group could reunite to continue in their search. Joining forces with the remaining members, Matthew’ s quest for the cause of the apparent curse of The Monkey’ s Paw leads him on a global wild goose chase that culminates in a turn of events not even Professor Holmes could have predicted.
Perfect for fans of Michael Crichton and Dan Brown
Matthew Shane is a law professor in Salem, Massachusetts, where he enjoys a rewarding mentorship with Professor Barrington Holmes, a well-known archaeologist. So when Professor Holmes is found dead in his office and the police rule it a suicide, something doesn’ t sit right with Matthew. He becomes determined to find the true cause of Holmes’ death and bring closure to his widow.
Matthew soon learns that Professor Holmes belonged to a group of notable archaeologists dubbed “ The Monkey’ s Paw,” who were all entangled in an expedition to find an unknown object of unprecedented historical and financial value. Each member had been given one piece of the instructions to find the object, but some of the men had encountered horrific twists of fate before the group could reunite to continue in their search. Joining forces with the remaining members, Matthew’ s quest for the cause of the apparent curse of The Monkey’ s Paw leads him on a global wild goose chase that culminates in a turn of events not even Professor Holmes could have predicted.
Perfect for fans of Michael Crichton and Dan Brown
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2023
179 people are currently reading
1465 people want to read
About the author
John F. Dobbyn
25 books63 followersJohn F. Dobbyn is an American mystery writer and Professor of Law at the Villanova University School of Law. His Devlin and Knight short story "Trumpeter Swan," published in the February 2004 issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, was a finalist for the Shamus Award for Best Short Story from the Private Eye Writers of America. He lives in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania with his wife Lois.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
July 7, 2023
When Matthew Shane learned that his archeology professor and mentor, Barrington Holmes, committed suicide, Matthew was certain that the cause of death was a mistake. Matthew then made it a point to insert himself into the investigation. After all, Matthew was a former investigator for the Air Force Intelligence Unit.
During the course of the investigation, clues and evidence began to immerge that pointed toward a conspiracy. A conspiracy involving occult rituals and practices. And as Matthew would soon find out, everything would lead to a treasure steeped in legends and lore.
I really enjoyed Deadly Depths. The novel reminded me of the Dirk Pitt series by Clive Cussler. The pacing was slow at the start, but it took off late in the beginning of the novel.
There were a number of characters and I found it worthwhile to use the highlight feature on my e-reader to help navigate the various identities of the players involved in the narrative.
The plot is somewhat complex in that there are multiple murders, questionable motives, with a throwback story built in to add context to the narrative.
Overall, Deadly Depths is a must read for fans of Clive Cussler as well as Dan Brown. Four enjoyable stars.
I received a DRC from Oceanview Publishing through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
During the course of the investigation, clues and evidence began to immerge that pointed toward a conspiracy. A conspiracy involving occult rituals and practices. And as Matthew would soon find out, everything would lead to a treasure steeped in legends and lore.
I really enjoyed Deadly Depths. The novel reminded me of the Dirk Pitt series by Clive Cussler. The pacing was slow at the start, but it took off late in the beginning of the novel.
There were a number of characters and I found it worthwhile to use the highlight feature on my e-reader to help navigate the various identities of the players involved in the narrative.
The plot is somewhat complex in that there are multiple murders, questionable motives, with a throwback story built in to add context to the narrative.
Overall, Deadly Depths is a must read for fans of Clive Cussler as well as Dan Brown. Four enjoyable stars.
I received a DRC from Oceanview Publishing through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
June 7, 2023
I'd requested an electronic review copy of this title because the publicity material presented it as an archaeological mystery. That's really not what the book is. Instead, it's a testosterone-driven adventure novel with almost no female characters and very little to do with archaeology.
If you're into "guys act tough, have adventures, and some of them get killed" books, it will be right down you alley.
If you're into "guys act tough, have adventures, and some of them get killed" books, it will be right down you alley.
September 12, 2023
I just finished this book and I really enjoyed it very much. It’s about a notable archaeologists close to finding some priceless artifacts but winds up dead. Matthew Shane, who was a student of this archaeologists, and a very close friend vows to find his murderer. He is a law professor in Salem, Massachusetts, and he enjoyed a very rewarding mentorship with Professor Barrington Holmes who is the archaeologists. So when Professor Holmes is found dead in his office in the police determine it a suicide, something doesn’t sit right with Matthew, and he is determined to find the cause of the professors death, and bring closure to his wife, Mary. Matthew, soon learns that the professor belonged to a group of other archaeologists, and they called themselves the monkeys paw, and they were somehow entangled in an expedition to find an unknown object of historical and financial value to the Aztecs. each member was given a piece of instructions on how to find this object and there’s five of these men, some of the men encountered death and in horrific twisted fate before the group could reunite to find this object, so Matthew joins forces with the remaining members he wind up going on a global wild goose chase that puts him on adventures of peril and develops-friendships and a new woman in his life all to solve the mystery of Professor Holmes death and to find this artifact if it is real.
Mathew is a character you definitely get behind and route for, he’s smart, honest, and adventurous. Fast paced, great writing and I didn’t want it to end. Definitely pick this one up.
Mathew is a character you definitely get behind and route for, he’s smart, honest, and adventurous. Fast paced, great writing and I didn’t want it to end. Definitely pick this one up.
October 15, 2024
I would like to thank Oceanview Publishing and John F. Dobbyn for granting me a digital copy of this book.
2⭐ - This story follows a group of archaeologists, who get a chance to find a hidden treasure. while the synopsis of this book sounds interesting, the book didn't vibe with me.
2⭐ - This story follows a group of archaeologists, who get a chance to find a hidden treasure. while the synopsis of this book sounds interesting, the book didn't vibe with me.
July 26, 2023
The cover for Deadly Depths hints at the treasure hunt to come. The book was everything I expected and more. I loved everything about it.
Professor Barrington Holmes was like a father to Matthew Shane. He was found…dead…in his office. His death was deemed a suicide. But, a man with a heart condition found with a slashed wrist, a man with a passion for life, taking his own? Matthew didn’t believe it and sets out to prove the police are wrong.
Matthew had been in the Intelligence branch of the Air Force. He had been a criminal attorney. Now, he is a law professor in Salem, Massachusetts. The perfect man for the job.
His journey will take him from Massachusetts to Canada, Jamaica, France, and beyond as he connects to the members of The Monkey’s Paw, a group of five archaeologists searching for the discovery of a lifetime. Each member was a given a piece of the clue and when put together would lead them to the treasure, the discovery of a lifetime
More death and threats to The Monkey’s Paw society are shrouded in mystery. I have a feeling that more than the natives are restless and my thoughts were, sorta, correct. A dive in the sea poses its own threat. I knew that diving on the wreck would have to involve some danger for Matthew. A book from a young Welshman, buried in the depths of the sea for more than a century, spells out the story.
The Caribbean…I love everything about it. I have a passion for the waters and the history. I have read many novels, fiction, nonfiction and historical about the islands, the Spanish, the English, the Aztecs, the Mayans, Mexico…Matthews journey was so familiar to me, as I read about the Maroons, pirates, slavery, the Ashanti, treasure hunting and more.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Deadly Depths by John F Dobbyn.
Professor Barrington Holmes was like a father to Matthew Shane. He was found…dead…in his office. His death was deemed a suicide. But, a man with a heart condition found with a slashed wrist, a man with a passion for life, taking his own? Matthew didn’t believe it and sets out to prove the police are wrong.
Matthew had been in the Intelligence branch of the Air Force. He had been a criminal attorney. Now, he is a law professor in Salem, Massachusetts. The perfect man for the job.
His journey will take him from Massachusetts to Canada, Jamaica, France, and beyond as he connects to the members of The Monkey’s Paw, a group of five archaeologists searching for the discovery of a lifetime. Each member was a given a piece of the clue and when put together would lead them to the treasure, the discovery of a lifetime
More death and threats to The Monkey’s Paw society are shrouded in mystery. I have a feeling that more than the natives are restless and my thoughts were, sorta, correct. A dive in the sea poses its own threat. I knew that diving on the wreck would have to involve some danger for Matthew. A book from a young Welshman, buried in the depths of the sea for more than a century, spells out the story.
The Caribbean…I love everything about it. I have a passion for the waters and the history. I have read many novels, fiction, nonfiction and historical about the islands, the Spanish, the English, the Aztecs, the Mayans, Mexico…Matthews journey was so familiar to me, as I read about the Maroons, pirates, slavery, the Ashanti, treasure hunting and more.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Deadly Depths by John F Dobbyn.
June 4, 2023
A very enjoyable adventure/mystery read. This is my first time reading this author. The main storyline is interesting. Matthew is a law professor and his best friend and father figure, Archeology Professor Barry Holmes, is found dead in his office. The police say suicide, but for Matt, also a former Air-Force investigator, the scene doesn't seem right and he is determined to find who murdered his friend.
The journey takes us into unexpected places, the clues lead Matthew into the cross hairs of an old voodoo curse, the history of the Ashanti people's struggle against slavery in Jamaica, some of the history of the Aztec people in Mexico and ultimately, back to an answer much closer to Professor Holmes archeology associates than any of the more exotic trails.
All the history was very intriguing, but my favorite part was the side story found in the journal pages Matt reads, of a young Welsh sailor Dylan, who becomes one of the crew for his more famous countryman Captain Henry Morgan. Dylan's first hand account of some of the famous privateer's exploits on the Spanish Main were breath taking.
Thank you to Netgalley and
Oceanview Publishing for the opportunity to enjoy this riveting adventure e-ARC.
The journey takes us into unexpected places, the clues lead Matthew into the cross hairs of an old voodoo curse, the history of the Ashanti people's struggle against slavery in Jamaica, some of the history of the Aztec people in Mexico and ultimately, back to an answer much closer to Professor Holmes archeology associates than any of the more exotic trails.
All the history was very intriguing, but my favorite part was the side story found in the journal pages Matt reads, of a young Welsh sailor Dylan, who becomes one of the crew for his more famous countryman Captain Henry Morgan. Dylan's first hand account of some of the famous privateer's exploits on the Spanish Main were breath taking.
Thank you to Netgalley and
Oceanview Publishing for the opportunity to enjoy this riveting adventure e-ARC.
July 2, 2023
You need to suspend your skepticism if you want to enjoy this over the top thriller featuring former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer, Matthew Shane, now professor at Hawthorne University Law School in Massachusetts. As easy a job as one can have till his friend archeology professor Barrington Holmes was found dead in his office of what is believe to be a suicide. To avoid a scandal Matthew is asked by the university’s president to investigate. But a note left behind suggests that Holmes may have been murdered by a shadowy organisation called the Monkey’s Paw Society, a 5 member secret society bent on locating some kind of pirate treasure.....Matt sets out to find who they are and what is their end game......and the hunt is on...
The search for answer and the hidden treasure turned out to be a very complicated adventure: a professor dodging assassins, bombs, an ancient curse stretching back to the days of colonial conquest, piracy on the high seas and slave trade. One by one society members are losing their lives. ...what is happening?
While Matt’s quest takes him to beautiful and diverse locations: New Orleans, Montreal, Marseille and Jamaica we are into never ending suspense, very exciting. We have a large sidebar into Captain Henry Morgan sea activities which I took to be a bit long to read although on its own is very interesting as well as were the breath taking accounts of some famous privateers exploits and the Spanish Conquistadors. The depiction of history was active and very interesting. How true the descriptions were, probably not all of them, but told in a captivating manner nevertheless from start to finish. I mind never wavered I stay tuned till the conclusion.
The third person narrative is very well done and dynamic. The dialogue in some way seems outdated and too formal reflects well in this kind of story. We have a plot that is very imaginative and mostly entertaining. I would categorize “Deadly Deaths” as a mix between an Indiana Jones adventure and James Bond life style: fine dining, lots of money and beautiful girl....what is not to like.
My thanks to Oceanview Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC
The search for answer and the hidden treasure turned out to be a very complicated adventure: a professor dodging assassins, bombs, an ancient curse stretching back to the days of colonial conquest, piracy on the high seas and slave trade. One by one society members are losing their lives. ...what is happening?
While Matt’s quest takes him to beautiful and diverse locations: New Orleans, Montreal, Marseille and Jamaica we are into never ending suspense, very exciting. We have a large sidebar into Captain Henry Morgan sea activities which I took to be a bit long to read although on its own is very interesting as well as were the breath taking accounts of some famous privateers exploits and the Spanish Conquistadors. The depiction of history was active and very interesting. How true the descriptions were, probably not all of them, but told in a captivating manner nevertheless from start to finish. I mind never wavered I stay tuned till the conclusion.
The third person narrative is very well done and dynamic. The dialogue in some way seems outdated and too formal reflects well in this kind of story. We have a plot that is very imaginative and mostly entertaining. I would categorize “Deadly Deaths” as a mix between an Indiana Jones adventure and James Bond life style: fine dining, lots of money and beautiful girl....what is not to like.
My thanks to Oceanview Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC
March 14, 2023
The archeologists became treasure hunters. Until they became corpses.
Matthew Shane is a law professor in Salem, Massachusetts, a former USAF investigator, and a former practicing attorney. With the discovery that his friend and mentor has died in a manner set up to look like a suicide, his widow charges Matt to find out more about the secret society that was most probably behind the event. So he does, indeed travel to The Bayou then Canada, and more, always a step behind more murders and the clue of Obeah magic. The plot is tight and the suspense is ongoing to the end. The characters are so believable and the descriptions right on target. It is very obvious that there has been much research into the history of the practice of Obeah and also of the slave trade and pirates. A riveting tale from a dedicated and imaginative storyteller. I loved it!
I requested and received an EARC from Oceanview Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!
Matthew Shane is a law professor in Salem, Massachusetts, a former USAF investigator, and a former practicing attorney. With the discovery that his friend and mentor has died in a manner set up to look like a suicide, his widow charges Matt to find out more about the secret society that was most probably behind the event. So he does, indeed travel to The Bayou then Canada, and more, always a step behind more murders and the clue of Obeah magic. The plot is tight and the suspense is ongoing to the end. The characters are so believable and the descriptions right on target. It is very obvious that there has been much research into the history of the practice of Obeah and also of the slave trade and pirates. A riveting tale from a dedicated and imaginative storyteller. I loved it!
I requested and received an EARC from Oceanview Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!
January 12, 2025
2,75⭐️
The cover and the title drew me into reading this book, but quite frankly, they both have little to do with the overall story. I did enjoy and love the first half, especially the lost manuscript that was found. Unfortunately, it went downhill from there: the story just became flat and a bit boring in my opinion. The plot did not take the direction I would have expected it would. I expected a thrilling archeological adventure with a lot of scuba diving content(like the title suggests), but it felt more like a murder mystery with some interesting historical background. Another point that bothered me a little were the characters themselves; they felt too empty and no one seemed to really have a personality of their own.
My expectations were not met and I was a bit disappointed.
Despite the flat characters and false advertisement, it still was a good book in its whole(first half especially). I loved the historical facts, I have learned new things and I appreciate that.
The cover and the title drew me into reading this book, but quite frankly, they both have little to do with the overall story. I did enjoy and love the first half, especially the lost manuscript that was found. Unfortunately, it went downhill from there: the story just became flat and a bit boring in my opinion. The plot did not take the direction I would have expected it would. I expected a thrilling archeological adventure with a lot of scuba diving content(like the title suggests), but it felt more like a murder mystery with some interesting historical background. Another point that bothered me a little were the characters themselves; they felt too empty and no one seemed to really have a personality of their own.
My expectations were not met and I was a bit disappointed.
Despite the flat characters and false advertisement, it still was a good book in its whole(first half especially). I loved the historical facts, I have learned new things and I appreciate that.
August 19, 2023
Confession: Deadly Depths is not my typically-preferred type of suspense novel. I usually leave the Indiana-Jones-esque adventure reads to my husband who does love them. However, Dobbyn’s latest drew me in with three simple words from the book description – “The Monkey’s Paw”. My grandfather nurtured in me a love of short stories in the vein of O’Henry and Poe, and one such story that I devoured in high school was The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs. I won’t go into detail here, but look it up if you’ve never read it – it’s a fascinating exploration of ‘be careful what you wish for’. Anyway, after seeing that the group of archaeologists in Deadly Depths gave themselves that title, I had to see what connection, if any, Jacobs’ short story had to this novel. I am delighted to report that the parallels in theme combined with each story’s own distinct flair made the basis of my initial interest well-warranted. This is definitely not a rewrite of Jacobs’ classic but in many ways it IS an homage.
Five men form a secret coalition of sorts after a mysterious poker game. Now some have met a fate that makes rumors of an ancient curse seem more likely by the minute. And in the middle of it all – and trying desperately to get up to speed on the whole situation – stands Matthew Shane, former military intelligence and current law professor. He is on a personal mission to uncover the truth behind the mysterious deaths, an even more mysterious legend, and perhaps the biggest mystery of all – who is pulling the strings. His quest takes him to exotic destinations, though he certainly can’t relax enough to take in the sights nor can he shake the feeling that his every move is being watched. I really liked Matthew – he seems to be a man of integrity and I’m always rooting for characters like that! Kwame was another favorite of mine, as well as two secretive characters that end up playing an important role in Matthew’s present and his future.
Bottom Line: Deadly Depths by John F. Dobbyn is a high-stakes race against unseen forces (maybe human, maybe supernatural – that’s part of the mystery) to unearth secrets and maybe great treasure on an archaeological adventure that Harrison Ford would easily get behind. It’s well-plotted with layered characters and explores intriguing questions of exploitation and greed. Some of the historical explanations and the diary entries made the book lag in places, in my opinion, but overall I couldn’t put it down. I had to know how it would all play out, and I would definitely read a book with these characters again. This book will definitely appeal to fans of Indiana Jones, Dan Brown, Edgar Allan Poe, and The Monkey’s Paw.
Reviewer’s Note: Readers of my reviews may want to be aware that there is a moderate amount of mild cursing throughout this book.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
Five men form a secret coalition of sorts after a mysterious poker game. Now some have met a fate that makes rumors of an ancient curse seem more likely by the minute. And in the middle of it all – and trying desperately to get up to speed on the whole situation – stands Matthew Shane, former military intelligence and current law professor. He is on a personal mission to uncover the truth behind the mysterious deaths, an even more mysterious legend, and perhaps the biggest mystery of all – who is pulling the strings. His quest takes him to exotic destinations, though he certainly can’t relax enough to take in the sights nor can he shake the feeling that his every move is being watched. I really liked Matthew – he seems to be a man of integrity and I’m always rooting for characters like that! Kwame was another favorite of mine, as well as two secretive characters that end up playing an important role in Matthew’s present and his future.
Bottom Line: Deadly Depths by John F. Dobbyn is a high-stakes race against unseen forces (maybe human, maybe supernatural – that’s part of the mystery) to unearth secrets and maybe great treasure on an archaeological adventure that Harrison Ford would easily get behind. It’s well-plotted with layered characters and explores intriguing questions of exploitation and greed. Some of the historical explanations and the diary entries made the book lag in places, in my opinion, but overall I couldn’t put it down. I had to know how it would all play out, and I would definitely read a book with these characters again. This book will definitely appeal to fans of Indiana Jones, Dan Brown, Edgar Allan Poe, and The Monkey’s Paw.
Reviewer’s Note: Readers of my reviews may want to be aware that there is a moderate amount of mild cursing throughout this book.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
September 17, 2023
Loved the narration of Harry Roger Williams III, who brought out this mystery, thriller treasurer hunting story to my ears. Perfect
Matthew Shane, is a Professor of Law with the back ground of being an intelligence officer. When his closest friend is found dead in his university office, suicide is suspected suicide. Matthew is not convince about how his friend has die so he has to find out the truth.
Matthew finds himself looking into the members of a secret society, called The Monkey Paws, who come across a map showing the location of lost pirate treasure. Whose five members been killed for what they know.
Loved
Matthew Shane, is a Professor of Law with the back ground of being an intelligence officer. When his closest friend is found dead in his university office, suicide is suspected suicide. Matthew is not convince about how his friend has die so he has to find out the truth.
Matthew finds himself looking into the members of a secret society, called The Monkey Paws, who come across a map showing the location of lost pirate treasure. Whose five members been killed for what they know.
Loved
August 8, 2023
I received a complimentary electronic ARC of this excellent thriller from Netgalley via Ocenaview Publishing (Thank you, Faith Matson!). Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read Deadly Depths of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to add John F. Dobbyn to my favorite authors and to recommend his work to friends and family. This is a novel to keep you up all night.
Professor Barrington Holmes has been for years the father figure in Matthew Shane's life, through college, law school, years as an Air Force Intelligence Unit Investigator, and into Matthew's life as a fellow professor at Hawthorne University law school. And Professor Holmes is found dead at his desk at school, his wrist sliced open, by the cleaning staff at 6 am on a school day. One thing Matthew is certain of - the police are wrong. This was NOT a suicide. But he will certainly have to prove it. And the search must begin with the other five members of the Monkey's Paws group of archeologists. It is a journey that will take him all over the world. But answers he will find, for himself, and for Professor Holme's wife, Mary.
August 1, 2023 pub date
Faith Matson, Oceanview Publishing
Reviewed on July 27, 2023, at Goodreads and Netgalley. Reviewed August 1, 2023, at AmazonSmile, Barens&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.
Professor Barrington Holmes has been for years the father figure in Matthew Shane's life, through college, law school, years as an Air Force Intelligence Unit Investigator, and into Matthew's life as a fellow professor at Hawthorne University law school. And Professor Holmes is found dead at his desk at school, his wrist sliced open, by the cleaning staff at 6 am on a school day. One thing Matthew is certain of - the police are wrong. This was NOT a suicide. But he will certainly have to prove it. And the search must begin with the other five members of the Monkey's Paws group of archeologists. It is a journey that will take him all over the world. But answers he will find, for himself, and for Professor Holme's wife, Mary.
August 1, 2023 pub date
Faith Matson, Oceanview Publishing
Reviewed on July 27, 2023, at Goodreads and Netgalley. Reviewed August 1, 2023, at AmazonSmile, Barens&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.
March 29, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the advanced copy.
So after much contemplation I am giving Deadly Depths three stars, but I want to start by saying that overall I enjoyed the story, and Dobbyn is a very skilled writer (though he is overly fond of using "lusty" to describe voices lol). If this were released 100 years ago, Dobbyn and his book would likely be a smash.
At its heart, this is an Indiana Jones adventure story set in present day with a law professor in place of a history professor. However, Matthew Shane is no Indiana Jones. Shane is one of the most pretentious main characters I've ever encountered and it honestly made reading this book difficult. Dobbyn's third person narrative was great, but when it came to dialogue it was all out of a Fitzgerald novel. I never one felt like any of the characters were real, modern people. They all spoke in the same outdated, overly formal way. Then Shane himself is extra posh, throwing money around, eating mostly fine dining, and just overall trying to behave like James Bond. He's just the best and the coolest, and it's all awkward and uncomfortable. If he were a real person at least one of his acquaintances would've have called him out for constantly sounding so pretentious and, at times, unintentionally patronizing.
I actively disliked Dobbyn's protagonist. He even insisted on being called Matthew at one point. I have nothing against going by your full name (I frequently do, though I certainly don't request it), it was just the cherry on the overly formal cake at that point and I'm fairly certain I actually rolled my eyes in real life.
My favorite part was the middle section, when the story suddenly becomes Treasure Island and throws you into the past of a young Welsh pirate who enlists with Captain Morgan in Jamaica and goes raiding Spanish colonies. That part was great! And great fun! Quite tropey, but I like my pirates tropey!
Then, it's like Dobbyn realized he was half-way through his story and the adventure finally kicked up. Lots of puzzles and exploration and unforseen danger. A good time! And then, out of nowhere, Matthew "Bond, James Bond" Shane is suddenly in love?? With a character who was just introduced and had all of like five lines. He spends two weeks with her and her dad and suddenly they're all family. It was so flipping goofy, and this insta-love is something I am not a fan of in ANY book (even a romance!). Dobbyn could have given her at least a couple pages to build both her and her relationship with Shane.
But this leads me into my final, big issue with the book - the women in it are all furniture, essentially. Wives, moms, love interests, and the one magical black woman in charge of all the black people in Jamaica? They almost don't exist. The woman he falls in love with, who he'd basically just met, is at one point threatened with kidnapping, then bombing, and then they fall in love the next week. I fully expected her to be fridged at the end of the novel for the sake of Shane and her dad have more "character growth" but this was luckily avoided. She also, though she helps her father with his business, bemoans the fact she's not the son her dad always wanted and Shane comforts her. She's given no character traits or agency, and then at the end Shane basically shows he's not actually compassionate towards her feelings of inadequacy because he says he will now be the son her dad wanted!! What?!
Sorry for the rant. I am just disappointed that this fun adventure had terrible characters lol I recommend that if Dobbyn wants to write a sequel that he read some modern books, and maybe a few by women and about women as well.
So after much contemplation I am giving Deadly Depths three stars, but I want to start by saying that overall I enjoyed the story, and Dobbyn is a very skilled writer (though he is overly fond of using "lusty" to describe voices lol). If this were released 100 years ago, Dobbyn and his book would likely be a smash.
At its heart, this is an Indiana Jones adventure story set in present day with a law professor in place of a history professor. However, Matthew Shane is no Indiana Jones. Shane is one of the most pretentious main characters I've ever encountered and it honestly made reading this book difficult. Dobbyn's third person narrative was great, but when it came to dialogue it was all out of a Fitzgerald novel. I never one felt like any of the characters were real, modern people. They all spoke in the same outdated, overly formal way. Then Shane himself is extra posh, throwing money around, eating mostly fine dining, and just overall trying to behave like James Bond. He's just the best and the coolest, and it's all awkward and uncomfortable. If he were a real person at least one of his acquaintances would've have called him out for constantly sounding so pretentious and, at times, unintentionally patronizing.
I actively disliked Dobbyn's protagonist. He even insisted on being called Matthew at one point. I have nothing against going by your full name (I frequently do, though I certainly don't request it), it was just the cherry on the overly formal cake at that point and I'm fairly certain I actually rolled my eyes in real life.
My favorite part was the middle section, when the story suddenly becomes Treasure Island and throws you into the past of a young Welsh pirate who enlists with Captain Morgan in Jamaica and goes raiding Spanish colonies. That part was great! And great fun! Quite tropey, but I like my pirates tropey!
Then, it's like Dobbyn realized he was half-way through his story and the adventure finally kicked up. Lots of puzzles and exploration and unforseen danger. A good time! And then, out of nowhere, Matthew "Bond, James Bond" Shane is suddenly in love?? With a character who was just introduced and had all of like five lines. He spends two weeks with her and her dad and suddenly they're all family. It was so flipping goofy, and this insta-love is something I am not a fan of in ANY book (even a romance!). Dobbyn could have given her at least a couple pages to build both her and her relationship with Shane.
But this leads me into my final, big issue with the book - the women in it are all furniture, essentially. Wives, moms, love interests, and the one magical black woman in charge of all the black people in Jamaica? They almost don't exist. The woman he falls in love with, who he'd basically just met, is at one point threatened with kidnapping, then bombing, and then they fall in love the next week. I fully expected her to be fridged at the end of the novel for the sake of Shane and her dad have more "character growth" but this was luckily avoided. She also, though she helps her father with his business, bemoans the fact she's not the son her dad always wanted and Shane comforts her. She's given no character traits or agency, and then at the end Shane basically shows he's not actually compassionate towards her feelings of inadequacy because he says he will now be the son her dad wanted!! What?!
Sorry for the rant. I am just disappointed that this fun adventure had terrible characters lol I recommend that if Dobbyn wants to write a sequel that he read some modern books, and maybe a few by women and about women as well.
July 10, 2023
As you might expect from the publisher’s description, fans of high-action international adventure will find a lot to like in Deadly Depths. The pace begins on the first page, where we learn of the death of archaeologist Barrington Holmes, longtime beloved mentor of Matthew Shane, a law professor and former Army intelligence officer. The circumstances of his death and a note left behind by Holmes with Matthew’s name on it cause the president of the law school to ask Matthew to follow up. This leads Matthew to learn of Holmes’ membership in a group of five archaeologists known as the Monkey’s Paw, who were searching for a historical object priceless both historically and monetarily. His investigations uncover a situation more complex and more deadly than he could have imagined.
The academic quest to find the highly valuable historic object and the violent attempts to gain ownership of that object are the heart of the book, but a nice aspect that is often missing from thrillers was the sense of warmth and humanity between some of the characters, such as Matthew’s feelings toward Professor Holmes and his concern for Holmes’ grieving widow.
The historical background of the relic that Matthew and the Monkey’s Paw group seek is fascinating, probing eras and peoples that I and, I suspect, most readers do not know well. I was confident that the large elements such as the competition between the British and the Spanish in the 1600s and 1700s is accurately portrayed but since it is a part of history they did not cover in my history class, I really wanted to know where the fact stop and the fiction begins. An Afterword giving those insights would have been very nice and saved me some time. For example, thanks to online lookup, I learned that Queen Nanny was, indeed, a woman who led a group of formerly enslaved Jamaicans known as Maroons in the 18th century and not a fictional character. There is a lengthy selection from the diary of a young Welshman who goes to sea and ends up in Captain Morgan’s pirate crew. It is full of sea battles and is likely to be either your favorite or least favorite part of the book, and I wondered how much of it was fiction and how much based on real events
WARNING: The description of the wonderful food Matt enjoys during his travels is likely to be dangerous to anyone on a diet. It also made me wonder how heavy Matt is.
The story is complex enough that it certainly requires a willing suspension of disbelief. It was well done enough that, for the MOST part I was able to sit back in suspension mode and enjoy the ride. There were several points, though, such as the organization of the mysterious set of notes that the Monkey’s Paw group received, that stretched my rather analytic brain a bit too far, especially towards the end of the book, and some fairly questionable areas like Matthew’s inclination to run off to foreign climes at the slightest provocation. Readers who are simply in the mood for adventurous entertainment, though, will find a lot to enjoy.
I received an advance review copy from Edelweiss and the publisher.
The academic quest to find the highly valuable historic object and the violent attempts to gain ownership of that object are the heart of the book, but a nice aspect that is often missing from thrillers was the sense of warmth and humanity between some of the characters, such as Matthew’s feelings toward Professor Holmes and his concern for Holmes’ grieving widow.
The historical background of the relic that Matthew and the Monkey’s Paw group seek is fascinating, probing eras and peoples that I and, I suspect, most readers do not know well. I was confident that the large elements such as the competition between the British and the Spanish in the 1600s and 1700s is accurately portrayed but since it is a part of history they did not cover in my history class, I really wanted to know where the fact stop and the fiction begins. An Afterword giving those insights would have been very nice and saved me some time. For example, thanks to online lookup, I learned that Queen Nanny was, indeed, a woman who led a group of formerly enslaved Jamaicans known as Maroons in the 18th century and not a fictional character. There is a lengthy selection from the diary of a young Welshman who goes to sea and ends up in Captain Morgan’s pirate crew. It is full of sea battles and is likely to be either your favorite or least favorite part of the book, and I wondered how much of it was fiction and how much based on real events
WARNING: The description of the wonderful food Matt enjoys during his travels is likely to be dangerous to anyone on a diet. It also made me wonder how heavy Matt is.
The story is complex enough that it certainly requires a willing suspension of disbelief. It was well done enough that, for the MOST part I was able to sit back in suspension mode and enjoy the ride. There were several points, though, such as the organization of the mysterious set of notes that the Monkey’s Paw group received, that stretched my rather analytic brain a bit too far, especially towards the end of the book, and some fairly questionable areas like Matthew’s inclination to run off to foreign climes at the slightest provocation. Readers who are simply in the mood for adventurous entertainment, though, will find a lot to enjoy.
I received an advance review copy from Edelweiss and the publisher.
March 9, 2023
Deadly Depths has all the ingredients of a great read. It has vivid, well-developed characters, twists and turns you might not see coming and great pacing. It is rooted in a dark history that has lived in the shadows.
The author, John F. Dobbyn has the right credentials and mystery writing experience to expertly ground the story in the time of English and Spanish colonization, pirates, and the devastation of the cultures found here in the Americas. That may be background, but it drives the thriller forward.
As the book opens, law professor Matthew Shane learns his friend, mentor, and surrogate father, Barrington Holmes, is dead. The police rule it a suicide but once the devastated Matthew sees the crime scene, he knows his friend was murdered. He promises Holmes’ wife that he will find who did it.
Thus, the beginning of a mystery that takes the reader on a great ride.
Matthew learns that Holmes was part of a group of five archeologists called Monkey Paws. They were in search of an object of great historical and, of course, financial significance. At a card game, a mysterious character shows up for a hand and gives each archeologist a partial clue to discover where and what the object is. Unexpected events prevent the archeologists from meeting again to put together their clues and begin their quest.
This puzzle takes Matthew to Montreal, New Orleans, Marseilles, and Jamaica to find the artifact. Each location brings its own travails. Most interesting was the history and culture of the Maroons, the native people of Jamaica.
Although a book within a book is not something I usually enjoy, the memoir included within the story of a young Welsh boy, Dylan, is riveting. The boy, rescued by the notorious pirate, Captain Henry Morgan, tells an enthralling story from the pirates’ point of view and its perfect in moving the story forward.
The only minor criticism I have is that it is a bit overwritten. Sometimes less is more. And Matthew, our hero, is a prince of men. He is devoted, smart, experienced in every way that enables him to push through the many obstacles, is immediately trustworthy in a world of lies and double meanings. His integrity unassailable. A couple of missteps might or misjudgments might have been interesting!
Overall, it was a terrific read. An action packed adventure with a fascinating peek into a history we might not have known about. I highly recommend.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for providing me with this pre-publication copy.
The author, John F. Dobbyn has the right credentials and mystery writing experience to expertly ground the story in the time of English and Spanish colonization, pirates, and the devastation of the cultures found here in the Americas. That may be background, but it drives the thriller forward.
As the book opens, law professor Matthew Shane learns his friend, mentor, and surrogate father, Barrington Holmes, is dead. The police rule it a suicide but once the devastated Matthew sees the crime scene, he knows his friend was murdered. He promises Holmes’ wife that he will find who did it.
Thus, the beginning of a mystery that takes the reader on a great ride.
Matthew learns that Holmes was part of a group of five archeologists called Monkey Paws. They were in search of an object of great historical and, of course, financial significance. At a card game, a mysterious character shows up for a hand and gives each archeologist a partial clue to discover where and what the object is. Unexpected events prevent the archeologists from meeting again to put together their clues and begin their quest.
This puzzle takes Matthew to Montreal, New Orleans, Marseilles, and Jamaica to find the artifact. Each location brings its own travails. Most interesting was the history and culture of the Maroons, the native people of Jamaica.
Although a book within a book is not something I usually enjoy, the memoir included within the story of a young Welsh boy, Dylan, is riveting. The boy, rescued by the notorious pirate, Captain Henry Morgan, tells an enthralling story from the pirates’ point of view and its perfect in moving the story forward.
The only minor criticism I have is that it is a bit overwritten. Sometimes less is more. And Matthew, our hero, is a prince of men. He is devoted, smart, experienced in every way that enables him to push through the many obstacles, is immediately trustworthy in a world of lies and double meanings. His integrity unassailable. A couple of missteps might or misjudgments might have been interesting!
Overall, it was a terrific read. An action packed adventure with a fascinating peek into a history we might not have known about. I highly recommend.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for providing me with this pre-publication copy.
July 28, 2023
I received a complimentary ARC copy of Deadly Depths by John F. Dobbyn from Net Galley and Oceanview Publishing in order to read and give an honest review.
…I enjoyed this fast paced high-action mystery which combines a historical back story and archaeological quest in author John Dobbyn’s international thriller…
New to this author I have to say I enjoyed this fast paced high-action mystery which combines a historical back story and archaeological quest in author John Dobbyn’s international thriller. Deadly Depths begins with the death of Archaeologist Barrington “Barry” Holmes, from what looks like a routine suicide. When Matthew Shane, a law professor and former Army intelligence officer, who looked to Holmes as a mentor and best friend, knows in his heart his friend would not commit suicide. When is finally convinces himself, to follow his gut he makes a promise to Holmes’ widow to find the killer. As he digs into his friend’s life, he uncovers a letter addressed from Holmes to Matthew which leads him to learn of Holmes’ involvement in a secret group known as the Monkey’s Paw. Made up of five archaeologists tasked with discovering unusual artifacts and splitting both the fame and fortune that come with that he knows he must investigate. The more Matthew investigates the more he uncovers deadly Obeah magic, Pirates, historical clues, a hidden artifact, and betrayal, more than he could ever have imagined. Travelling from Louisiana to Marseille, Canada to Jamaica the closer he comes to unravelling the clues the more bodies hit the floor. The story seamlessly jumps back in time, blending several historical events including the history of the enslaved Jamaicans referred to as Maroons, real-life Welsh Privateer Henry Morgan, and the devastation of the Aztecs at the hands of the Spanish in the 1600s with a complex well-written thrill ride of a plot. The plot features interesting well-rounded characters all reminiscent of the vibes from stories such as Indiana Jones, Mission Impossible and Treasure Island. My one complaint would be it felt a bit testosterone heavy, it would have been interesting to see a female archaeologist amongst the group. All in All, an enjoyable read that will give authors such as Steve Berry, Dan Brown, and James Rollins healthy competition.
…I enjoyed this fast paced high-action mystery which combines a historical back story and archaeological quest in author John Dobbyn’s international thriller…
New to this author I have to say I enjoyed this fast paced high-action mystery which combines a historical back story and archaeological quest in author John Dobbyn’s international thriller. Deadly Depths begins with the death of Archaeologist Barrington “Barry” Holmes, from what looks like a routine suicide. When Matthew Shane, a law professor and former Army intelligence officer, who looked to Holmes as a mentor and best friend, knows in his heart his friend would not commit suicide. When is finally convinces himself, to follow his gut he makes a promise to Holmes’ widow to find the killer. As he digs into his friend’s life, he uncovers a letter addressed from Holmes to Matthew which leads him to learn of Holmes’ involvement in a secret group known as the Monkey’s Paw. Made up of five archaeologists tasked with discovering unusual artifacts and splitting both the fame and fortune that come with that he knows he must investigate. The more Matthew investigates the more he uncovers deadly Obeah magic, Pirates, historical clues, a hidden artifact, and betrayal, more than he could ever have imagined. Travelling from Louisiana to Marseille, Canada to Jamaica the closer he comes to unravelling the clues the more bodies hit the floor. The story seamlessly jumps back in time, blending several historical events including the history of the enslaved Jamaicans referred to as Maroons, real-life Welsh Privateer Henry Morgan, and the devastation of the Aztecs at the hands of the Spanish in the 1600s with a complex well-written thrill ride of a plot. The plot features interesting well-rounded characters all reminiscent of the vibes from stories such as Indiana Jones, Mission Impossible and Treasure Island. My one complaint would be it felt a bit testosterone heavy, it would have been interesting to see a female archaeologist amongst the group. All in All, an enjoyable read that will give authors such as Steve Berry, Dan Brown, and James Rollins healthy competition.
August 29, 2023
Former Air Force intelligence officer and Massachusetts law professor Matthew Shane becomes a globetrotter, but not the basketball player type. Readers need a literary GPS to stay on track. Private jets and luxurious yachts ferry Shane to New Orleans, Montreal, Marseilles and Jamaica by beneficial billionaires who have custom-tailored silk suits awaiting his arrival by a chauffeured Bentley to their mansions. Ah, the good life!
Archaeologist Barrington Holmes, Shane’s friend and fellow professor, is found with a slit wrist: an apparent suicide. Minimal blood loss and other evidence suggest murder. Holmes was one of five members of the Monkey’s Paw Society, a group of elite archaeologists that comes across evidence of a hidden gem-encrusted Aztec statue made of solid gold. That evidence is confirmed by Welsh sailor Dylan Llewellyn’s multi-chapter memoir that Shane uncovers in the sunken remnants of a pirated Spanish galleon from the 1670s. Llewellyn, in this fact-based fantasy, was the protégé of fellow Welshman Captain Henry Morgan.
Now, some of the “Monkey’s Paws” are dead, and the others fear for their lives. Each was given a partial clue to discover the location of the Aztec statue that Captain Morgan brought from Panama City, after plundering several Spanish strongholds, to hide near his plantations in Jamaica. The five clues must be jointly disclosed to all members of the Monkey’s Paw Society, a recipe to incite murder to obtain the puzzle pieces --- and the Aztec statue of incomparable value.
Thickening the mix is a reference to Ashanti region slaves brought to Jamaica, where this work of fiction would have readers believe that descendants still speak the native language, Twi. According to this link, Jamaica’s majority speak a unique Patois.
References dazzle literary fans, such as "a promise made is a debt unpaid", a line taken from Robert W. Service’s poem, “The Cremation of Sam McGee.” Armchair travelers experience joyful jetlag globetrotting to wealthy enclaves. History buffs find themselves fact-checking events of the mid-17th century. DEADLY DEPTHS is an educational and enjoyable read for those prepared for fantasy masquerading as a thriller.
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
Archaeologist Barrington Holmes, Shane’s friend and fellow professor, is found with a slit wrist: an apparent suicide. Minimal blood loss and other evidence suggest murder. Holmes was one of five members of the Monkey’s Paw Society, a group of elite archaeologists that comes across evidence of a hidden gem-encrusted Aztec statue made of solid gold. That evidence is confirmed by Welsh sailor Dylan Llewellyn’s multi-chapter memoir that Shane uncovers in the sunken remnants of a pirated Spanish galleon from the 1670s. Llewellyn, in this fact-based fantasy, was the protégé of fellow Welshman Captain Henry Morgan.
Now, some of the “Monkey’s Paws” are dead, and the others fear for their lives. Each was given a partial clue to discover the location of the Aztec statue that Captain Morgan brought from Panama City, after plundering several Spanish strongholds, to hide near his plantations in Jamaica. The five clues must be jointly disclosed to all members of the Monkey’s Paw Society, a recipe to incite murder to obtain the puzzle pieces --- and the Aztec statue of incomparable value.
Thickening the mix is a reference to Ashanti region slaves brought to Jamaica, where this work of fiction would have readers believe that descendants still speak the native language, Twi. According to this link, Jamaica’s majority speak a unique Patois.
References dazzle literary fans, such as "a promise made is a debt unpaid", a line taken from Robert W. Service’s poem, “The Cremation of Sam McGee.” Armchair travelers experience joyful jetlag globetrotting to wealthy enclaves. History buffs find themselves fact-checking events of the mid-17th century. DEADLY DEPTHS is an educational and enjoyable read for those prepared for fantasy masquerading as a thriller.
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
September 13, 2023
DEADLY DEPTHS is a genre crosser. It can be found under Amateur Sleuth mystery and murder thriller. I would classify it as an Adventure bookended by Amateur Sleuth. Archeologist Barrington “Barry” Holmes is dead. With a slit wrist, the police rule it suicide. Holmes’s protégé, Matthew Shane, former Air Force Intelligence and current professor of law, calls bullshit. The path to resolving Holmes’s death puts him face-to-face with a voodoo curse, a notorious antiquities dealer and a three hundred-and fifty-year-old promise between the leader of the Aztec people and the famous Englishman, Captain Henry Morgan.
Bottom line: DEADLY DEPTHS is for you if you like treasure hunts, a jumble of altruistic, self-serving, and devious characters, and murder of the lowest degree.
Strengths of the story. There are several things to love about DEADLY DEPTHS. First in my book is the treasure seeking adventure. Lovers of Indiana Jones stories, “National Treasure”, and “The DaVinci Code” will enjoy the mix of folk lore, voodoo, pirates, and the potential of a treasure of incomparable value. The clues are cryptic yet meaningful. The locations are grounded in real history. The characters are distinct and true to their nature—for good or for bad.
The pacing is strong. Once picked up, this is a hard one to put down. While this story does not have the time deadline common in this genre, there is a sense of being up against a ticking clock. For most of the book, there is a sense of an unseen hand manipulating the situation, creating the feeling of a race but against an invisible competitor.
Where the story fell short of ideal: As noted, this story crosses genres. It stands strongly but readers focusing on only one of the genres may find areas for complaining. The story begins as an Amateur Sleuth, creating the impetus for starting the Adventure. Then Adventure takes over, driving most of the book. Only after the Adventure is nearing completion is the original mystery resolved. Adventure lovers could scoff at the time to get the Adventure going. Mystery lovers could do the same for pursuit of the murder. If those genre-specific expectations are put aside, Deadly Depths is a very satisfying read.
Bottom line: DEADLY DEPTHS is for you if you like treasure hunts, a jumble of altruistic, self-serving, and devious characters, and murder of the lowest degree.
Strengths of the story. There are several things to love about DEADLY DEPTHS. First in my book is the treasure seeking adventure. Lovers of Indiana Jones stories, “National Treasure”, and “The DaVinci Code” will enjoy the mix of folk lore, voodoo, pirates, and the potential of a treasure of incomparable value. The clues are cryptic yet meaningful. The locations are grounded in real history. The characters are distinct and true to their nature—for good or for bad.
The pacing is strong. Once picked up, this is a hard one to put down. While this story does not have the time deadline common in this genre, there is a sense of being up against a ticking clock. For most of the book, there is a sense of an unseen hand manipulating the situation, creating the feeling of a race but against an invisible competitor.
Where the story fell short of ideal: As noted, this story crosses genres. It stands strongly but readers focusing on only one of the genres may find areas for complaining. The story begins as an Amateur Sleuth, creating the impetus for starting the Adventure. Then Adventure takes over, driving most of the book. Only after the Adventure is nearing completion is the original mystery resolved. Adventure lovers could scoff at the time to get the Adventure going. Mystery lovers could do the same for pursuit of the murder. If those genre-specific expectations are put aside, Deadly Depths is a very satisfying read.
October 14, 2023
4.5 Stars
A suspicious suicide turns into a deadly adventure that Matthew Shane must survive if he wants to obtain the answers he so desperately seeks in Deadly Depths by John F. Dobbyn.
Matthew Shane starts his day just as usual when his world is rocked by the news of his colleague and very close friend, Professor Barrington Holmes’ death. After seeing some red flags at the crime scene, Matthew is on a mission to find Holmes’ killer. But the mystery goes deeper and deeper, sending Matthew across the world in seek of answers. To find the killer of his dear friend, he must begin an adventure that has taken the lives of many involved, and Matthew is the next target.
I love a good adventure and mystery. This book brings you right into the story from the first page and doesn’t let off the gas the entire time. It was a great history lesson throughout to learn more about the Maroon people and the story of Queen Nanny. Getting to know more about the history of those that can fly under the radar is always a plus for me. The adventure piece felt right out of a screenplay of Indiana Jones, and that is a compliment.
Where I did struggle with this book is that it had so much going on that it started to lose its grip on reality. A couple of these things happening in a short amount of time makes sense, especially in fiction. But when a couple of things turn into five or six? That is where I start to struggle. If it had been a little more streamlined and kept the story along one clear path, I believe it would have had a more significant impact.
I also had a hard time connecting with our main character. Because this story starts hard and fast, it’s hard for the audience to get to know Matthew. That, mixed with an almost unbelievable charisma from this man, the level of believability does decrease. Finally, I would have loved to see a more fleshed-out ending that wasn’t as clean to leave the audience craving just a bit more of the story.
Overall, Deadly Depths is a fun adventure story with a mystery at its heart. A healthy dose of history lessons mixed with heart-pounding adventure makes this a story you can’t put down.
Reviewed for Novelsalive.com
A suspicious suicide turns into a deadly adventure that Matthew Shane must survive if he wants to obtain the answers he so desperately seeks in Deadly Depths by John F. Dobbyn.
Matthew Shane starts his day just as usual when his world is rocked by the news of his colleague and very close friend, Professor Barrington Holmes’ death. After seeing some red flags at the crime scene, Matthew is on a mission to find Holmes’ killer. But the mystery goes deeper and deeper, sending Matthew across the world in seek of answers. To find the killer of his dear friend, he must begin an adventure that has taken the lives of many involved, and Matthew is the next target.
I love a good adventure and mystery. This book brings you right into the story from the first page and doesn’t let off the gas the entire time. It was a great history lesson throughout to learn more about the Maroon people and the story of Queen Nanny. Getting to know more about the history of those that can fly under the radar is always a plus for me. The adventure piece felt right out of a screenplay of Indiana Jones, and that is a compliment.
Where I did struggle with this book is that it had so much going on that it started to lose its grip on reality. A couple of these things happening in a short amount of time makes sense, especially in fiction. But when a couple of things turn into five or six? That is where I start to struggle. If it had been a little more streamlined and kept the story along one clear path, I believe it would have had a more significant impact.
I also had a hard time connecting with our main character. Because this story starts hard and fast, it’s hard for the audience to get to know Matthew. That, mixed with an almost unbelievable charisma from this man, the level of believability does decrease. Finally, I would have loved to see a more fleshed-out ending that wasn’t as clean to leave the audience craving just a bit more of the story.
Overall, Deadly Depths is a fun adventure story with a mystery at its heart. A healthy dose of history lessons mixed with heart-pounding adventure makes this a story you can’t put down.
Reviewed for Novelsalive.com
August 1, 2023
A good old fashioned treasure hunt, adventure and conspiracy read, with an interesting historical back story.
Matthew Shane, ex intelligence officer, is now a Professor of Law. His closest friend and mentor is found dead in his university office, a suspected suicide, according to the Police force. Matthew finds enough ambiguities in this scenario to convince himself to find out the truth.
These clues lead to members of a secret society, called The Monkey Paws, who have recently come across a map showing the location of lost pirate treasure. There are five members in this group, and they are gradually being killed for what they know. Is this to protect said treasure, or is someone else intent upon finding it for themselves?
I found the plot not too convoluted, like a jigsaw puzzle, clues gradually fall into place. There are clear thoughts and decisions taken, characters are introduced for a reason, they explain what they know and remain for a while, you start to care for them and are fearful of what might befall them. There is honesty and integrity shown, alongside loyalty to friends.
I particularly liked the introduction of a notebook, an interesting way of conveying historical actions taken in 1671, that are not acceptable today. The history of slavery and the native people, known as the Maroons, the pirate Captain Henry Morgan and his exploits undertaken with Royal permission using letters of Marque, searching for treasure that they plunder to fill up Royal coffers. There are detailed descriptions of these atrocities that show a regard and deference to this historical period. A trail of death follows all who try to find and keep this fabled item, who can Matthew trust? It doesn’t feel like a history lesson, it’s not dull or dry, but fast paced, with page turning thrills. Who doesn’t love a treasure hunt?
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Oceanview, for my digital copy, freely given in exchange for my honest opinion. A five star read.
I will post reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK.
Matthew Shane, ex intelligence officer, is now a Professor of Law. His closest friend and mentor is found dead in his university office, a suspected suicide, according to the Police force. Matthew finds enough ambiguities in this scenario to convince himself to find out the truth.
These clues lead to members of a secret society, called The Monkey Paws, who have recently come across a map showing the location of lost pirate treasure. There are five members in this group, and they are gradually being killed for what they know. Is this to protect said treasure, or is someone else intent upon finding it for themselves?
I found the plot not too convoluted, like a jigsaw puzzle, clues gradually fall into place. There are clear thoughts and decisions taken, characters are introduced for a reason, they explain what they know and remain for a while, you start to care for them and are fearful of what might befall them. There is honesty and integrity shown, alongside loyalty to friends.
I particularly liked the introduction of a notebook, an interesting way of conveying historical actions taken in 1671, that are not acceptable today. The history of slavery and the native people, known as the Maroons, the pirate Captain Henry Morgan and his exploits undertaken with Royal permission using letters of Marque, searching for treasure that they plunder to fill up Royal coffers. There are detailed descriptions of these atrocities that show a regard and deference to this historical period. A trail of death follows all who try to find and keep this fabled item, who can Matthew trust? It doesn’t feel like a history lesson, it’s not dull or dry, but fast paced, with page turning thrills. Who doesn’t love a treasure hunt?
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Oceanview, for my digital copy, freely given in exchange for my honest opinion. A five star read.
I will post reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK.
September 3, 2023
the cover of this book was what first caught my eye. I did briefly scan the synopsis and decided it sounded ideal for me. I do like a good adventure story and this one was perfect and full of twists, mysteries and action-packed from the very beginning.
The book centres around Matthew Shane, his good friend and mentor who has committed suicide, but he knows this man and knows that this does not fit with what he knows of the man. This starts a journey that will take him around the world on a treasure hunt, a dangerous one.
Matthew is given clues and follows leads to discover what the mysterious Monkey Paw group is and who was in it. A group who would meet for a poker game once a year, all with a background in archaeology and given the chance to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime discovery. The problem is that they are being killed off.
I adored this book from the very outset and as I got to know the characters and understand the storyline I found myself being transported around the world and to some very exotic locations. There is a section of the story that goes back in time, into history and it made a fascinating and brilliant section to the story.
With pirates, Aztecs, the Spanish and the English trying to conquer parts of South America, religion and beliefs there is a huge amount going on. While the story feels really huge it reads really well. It is not confusing it just flows seamlessly from one page to the next.
Mixing historical fiction into the story was great as it gave it the glamour that anything related to pirates seems to exude. It was a story that I was able to visualise as I was reading. It had a feeling of a certain Dr. Jones movie franchise and had that same excitement to it mixed in with Dan Brown's character Robert Langdon.
This is a roller coaster of a story that is fast-paced and full of adventure. Races to discover an ancient artefact, piecing clues together and trying to stay alive while being chased around the globe. I enjoyed this one and I would definitely recommend it.
The book centres around Matthew Shane, his good friend and mentor who has committed suicide, but he knows this man and knows that this does not fit with what he knows of the man. This starts a journey that will take him around the world on a treasure hunt, a dangerous one.
Matthew is given clues and follows leads to discover what the mysterious Monkey Paw group is and who was in it. A group who would meet for a poker game once a year, all with a background in archaeology and given the chance to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime discovery. The problem is that they are being killed off.
I adored this book from the very outset and as I got to know the characters and understand the storyline I found myself being transported around the world and to some very exotic locations. There is a section of the story that goes back in time, into history and it made a fascinating and brilliant section to the story.
With pirates, Aztecs, the Spanish and the English trying to conquer parts of South America, religion and beliefs there is a huge amount going on. While the story feels really huge it reads really well. It is not confusing it just flows seamlessly from one page to the next.
Mixing historical fiction into the story was great as it gave it the glamour that anything related to pirates seems to exude. It was a story that I was able to visualise as I was reading. It had a feeling of a certain Dr. Jones movie franchise and had that same excitement to it mixed in with Dan Brown's character Robert Langdon.
This is a roller coaster of a story that is fast-paced and full of adventure. Races to discover an ancient artefact, piecing clues together and trying to stay alive while being chased around the globe. I enjoyed this one and I would definitely recommend it.
Read
February 28, 2024MWSA Review
John Dobbyn’s Deadly Depths is not a mystery thriller—it’s two action-packed thrillers! A pirate story, tucked within a complicated multi-murder mystery, is so intriguing it could stand on its own.
Archeologist Barry Holmes dies by suicide (not!). His protégé and dear friend, law professor Matthew Shane, embarks on a treacherous and tenacious quest to find out who killed Holmes. Holmes was one of five members of a secret society in search of an elusive treasure. Matt traipses all over the world, following cryptic clues, jumping through hoops, trying to stay one step ahead of an unknown, but quite dangerous enemy, not knowing who to trust. Clarity for Matt only begins to set in when he meets Mr. Mehmed and his daughter, who explain: When the Spanish attempted to decimate the Aztec culture in the name of Christianity, a particular statue (“jeweled facets set in the purest gold, standing higher than my waist”) was salvaged. It was the ultimate cultural, financial, and spiritual possession; the secret location was handed down from leader to leader.
Matt’s escapades include deadly baboons, alligators, snakes, and diving down to a sunken slave ship in an attempt to retrieve a 400-year-old pirate’s journal. “I followed him through that particular moment that only those who dive can comprehend—an instantaneous passing, as through Alice’s looking glass, into a world as alien as outer space, the submerged realm of the sea.” This reader was mesmerized by the tale (or is it historical fact?) documented by the young protégé of the famous privateer, Captain Morgan.
Whether describing horrifying scenarios or jet-setting yachts and mansions, complete with delicious meals (“croissants so light they required fresh butter and jam to keep them on the plate”), Deadly Depths doesn’t disappoint. It’s consistently vivid, with an air of suspense from beginning to end.
Review by Sue Rushford (February 2024)
John Dobbyn’s Deadly Depths is not a mystery thriller—it’s two action-packed thrillers! A pirate story, tucked within a complicated multi-murder mystery, is so intriguing it could stand on its own.
Archeologist Barry Holmes dies by suicide (not!). His protégé and dear friend, law professor Matthew Shane, embarks on a treacherous and tenacious quest to find out who killed Holmes. Holmes was one of five members of a secret society in search of an elusive treasure. Matt traipses all over the world, following cryptic clues, jumping through hoops, trying to stay one step ahead of an unknown, but quite dangerous enemy, not knowing who to trust. Clarity for Matt only begins to set in when he meets Mr. Mehmed and his daughter, who explain: When the Spanish attempted to decimate the Aztec culture in the name of Christianity, a particular statue (“jeweled facets set in the purest gold, standing higher than my waist”) was salvaged. It was the ultimate cultural, financial, and spiritual possession; the secret location was handed down from leader to leader.
Matt’s escapades include deadly baboons, alligators, snakes, and diving down to a sunken slave ship in an attempt to retrieve a 400-year-old pirate’s journal. “I followed him through that particular moment that only those who dive can comprehend—an instantaneous passing, as through Alice’s looking glass, into a world as alien as outer space, the submerged realm of the sea.” This reader was mesmerized by the tale (or is it historical fact?) documented by the young protégé of the famous privateer, Captain Morgan.
Whether describing horrifying scenarios or jet-setting yachts and mansions, complete with delicious meals (“croissants so light they required fresh butter and jam to keep them on the plate”), Deadly Depths doesn’t disappoint. It’s consistently vivid, with an air of suspense from beginning to end.
Review by Sue Rushford (February 2024)
July 19, 2023
I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The story begins with Matt being called to the college where he teaches and discovering the body of a professor who had been his mentor. The initial findings was that it was a suicide. Matt after surveying the scene told Mac, the lead detective and a friend of Matt, that this was a murder and explained his reasoning. After leaving the college, he went to see the professor's wife and tell her that he believed the death was murder and he was going to find out who was responsible.
Matt's search took him to many locations and he discovered facts that led him to visiting another location. The biggest thing he learned that there were 5 individuals who were known as "The Monkey Paws". As Matt learned on his quest, there was a curse regarding a certain item that this group went looking for in Jamica. The curse foretold of death for the participants. The 1st one to die was the professor and the 2nd party who died was taken to the hospital and Matt had a chance to talk with him before he passed. Matt journey next led him to Canada where he was told that the 3rd party had died as well. Here he was able to learn a lot more background information. Matt was not done with his traveling as he was contacted to provide assistance on a scuba dive. The item that they were looking for dated back to the time when the pirates operated in the Carribean. Matt faced a major obstacle in the dive but was able to overcome it.
The next trips that wound up going on eventually led him to providing the answer Matt wanted. To learn how the results of the scuba dive ultimately provided the key, what locations Matt went to and the people he got to meet and how they provided assistance and what the quest really was all about, then you need to read this book. You won't be disappointed.
The story begins with Matt being called to the college where he teaches and discovering the body of a professor who had been his mentor. The initial findings was that it was a suicide. Matt after surveying the scene told Mac, the lead detective and a friend of Matt, that this was a murder and explained his reasoning. After leaving the college, he went to see the professor's wife and tell her that he believed the death was murder and he was going to find out who was responsible.
Matt's search took him to many locations and he discovered facts that led him to visiting another location. The biggest thing he learned that there were 5 individuals who were known as "The Monkey Paws". As Matt learned on his quest, there was a curse regarding a certain item that this group went looking for in Jamica. The curse foretold of death for the participants. The 1st one to die was the professor and the 2nd party who died was taken to the hospital and Matt had a chance to talk with him before he passed. Matt journey next led him to Canada where he was told that the 3rd party had died as well. Here he was able to learn a lot more background information. Matt was not done with his traveling as he was contacted to provide assistance on a scuba dive. The item that they were looking for dated back to the time when the pirates operated in the Carribean. Matt faced a major obstacle in the dive but was able to overcome it.
The next trips that wound up going on eventually led him to providing the answer Matt wanted. To learn how the results of the scuba dive ultimately provided the key, what locations Matt went to and the people he got to meet and how they provided assistance and what the quest really was all about, then you need to read this book. You won't be disappointed.
July 30, 2023
Deadly Depths by John F. Dobbyn is a very highly recommended action/adventure thriller.
Matthew Shane is a law professor in Salem, Massachusetts, when his mentor and friend, Archeology Professor Barrington Holmes, is found murdered in his office. His death is made to look like a suicide, but the truth soon becomes clear. Matthew promises his widow to find the truth and the murderer. This requires looking into a group of four other notable archaeologists who along with Holmes, called their alliance “The Monkey’s Paw society.” They all had one of five clues that purported to show the way to a valuable historical artifact and it appears someone is targeting the members for death.
While Matthew is currently a law professor, he formerly practiced criminal law and was an Intelligence officer in the Air Force, so he brings some observational skills, insight, and abilities in the search for the professor's killer. I rather loved the fact that he often gave credit to God in the narrative. The direction of the search and the novel changes and goes global part way through the novel, which ups the tension and suspense with several breathe-taking scenes.
Deadly Depths is an action-packed hold-on-to-your-hat thrill ride of a novel. I was engrossed in the action from start to finish. Yes, you most certainly need to suspend your disbelief while reading. I will admit to three moments of dramatic eye rolling, perhaps a few more dramatic sighs, but I wasn't about to set the novel aside. This is the kind of global action/adventure novel meant to provide pure reading pleasure while escaping reality and I was full-in for the armchair adventure. 4.5 rounded up
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Oceanview Publishing via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/0...
Matthew Shane is a law professor in Salem, Massachusetts, when his mentor and friend, Archeology Professor Barrington Holmes, is found murdered in his office. His death is made to look like a suicide, but the truth soon becomes clear. Matthew promises his widow to find the truth and the murderer. This requires looking into a group of four other notable archaeologists who along with Holmes, called their alliance “The Monkey’s Paw society.” They all had one of five clues that purported to show the way to a valuable historical artifact and it appears someone is targeting the members for death.
While Matthew is currently a law professor, he formerly practiced criminal law and was an Intelligence officer in the Air Force, so he brings some observational skills, insight, and abilities in the search for the professor's killer. I rather loved the fact that he often gave credit to God in the narrative. The direction of the search and the novel changes and goes global part way through the novel, which ups the tension and suspense with several breathe-taking scenes.
Deadly Depths is an action-packed hold-on-to-your-hat thrill ride of a novel. I was engrossed in the action from start to finish. Yes, you most certainly need to suspend your disbelief while reading. I will admit to three moments of dramatic eye rolling, perhaps a few more dramatic sighs, but I wasn't about to set the novel aside. This is the kind of global action/adventure novel meant to provide pure reading pleasure while escaping reality and I was full-in for the armchair adventure. 4.5 rounded up
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Oceanview Publishing via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/0...
August 3, 2023
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
DEADLY DEPTHS by John F. Dobbyn is an edge-of-your-seat treasure hunt thriller and intricate crime mystery mash-up novel that kept me turning the pages well into the night. This is a standalone novel that is a great mystery/thriller read and while the author is new to me, he does have other published books I will be checking out in the future.
Law professor Matthew Shane also has a love of archeology from his mentor, well known archeologist, Professor Barrington Holmes. Holmes is found dead at his office desk, and it is determined a suicide, but Matthew knows his mentor would never commit suicide.
His search for the truth leads him to a group of five archeologists, including the deceased Barrington, that call themselves “The Monkey’s Paw”. They were entangled in a mysterious expedition and since their return, they are being killed one by one.
Joining forces with the remaining members of “The Monkey’s Paw” and the help of an enigmatic Turkish antiquities dealer in France, Matthew is on a worldwide chase that may cost him his life, too.
I really loved this story. It is full of surprise twists, red herrings, and treachery. Matthew is determined to discover the truth, no matter the peril. He is an honorable, adventurous, and strong protagonist that is easy to cheer for throughout the hunt. The history of the Aztec artifact everyone wants, and the history of the Maroons of Jamaica were both interesting and well positioned throughout the plot to never interfere with the pace. The plot is well paced, fast and seldom lets up even when the plot goes back in time to the diary of a Welsh privateer. The climax was intense, and it leads to a very satisfying conclusion to both the mystery and the treasure hunt.
I highly recommend this high intensity action-adventure mystery/thriller!
DEADLY DEPTHS by John F. Dobbyn is an edge-of-your-seat treasure hunt thriller and intricate crime mystery mash-up novel that kept me turning the pages well into the night. This is a standalone novel that is a great mystery/thriller read and while the author is new to me, he does have other published books I will be checking out in the future.
Law professor Matthew Shane also has a love of archeology from his mentor, well known archeologist, Professor Barrington Holmes. Holmes is found dead at his office desk, and it is determined a suicide, but Matthew knows his mentor would never commit suicide.
His search for the truth leads him to a group of five archeologists, including the deceased Barrington, that call themselves “The Monkey’s Paw”. They were entangled in a mysterious expedition and since their return, they are being killed one by one.
Joining forces with the remaining members of “The Monkey’s Paw” and the help of an enigmatic Turkish antiquities dealer in France, Matthew is on a worldwide chase that may cost him his life, too.
I really loved this story. It is full of surprise twists, red herrings, and treachery. Matthew is determined to discover the truth, no matter the peril. He is an honorable, adventurous, and strong protagonist that is easy to cheer for throughout the hunt. The history of the Aztec artifact everyone wants, and the history of the Maroons of Jamaica were both interesting and well positioned throughout the plot to never interfere with the pace. The plot is well paced, fast and seldom lets up even when the plot goes back in time to the diary of a Welsh privateer. The climax was intense, and it leads to a very satisfying conclusion to both the mystery and the treasure hunt.
I highly recommend this high intensity action-adventure mystery/thriller!
February 5, 2023
320 pages
5 stars
Brilliant!
This book was a joy to read. It has a low grade tension, spiked with action and drama here and there. A law professor who was very close to an aging archeology professor named Barrington Holmes learns of his sudden death. He is very quick to learn that it was murder. He is also good friends with the investigating police detective and so he advances the search for the murder suspect.
This begins Professor Matthew Shane’s search for the killer. He has promised the law professor’s wife Mary that he will find the killer. Matthew’s search begins in New Orleans. It seems the professor was involved with a group of like minded archeologists who were searching for a treasure.
From New Orleans, Matthew hops the globe investigating and meeting some really interesting people. And getting in some very tight spots.
I especially liked the part of the story about Captain Henry Morgan and his two Welsh subordinates. I guess I have a thing for “pirates.” (Even though Captain Morgan had letters of marque from the British government to capture and search Spanish ships, he was still considered a pirate.)
I truly enjoyed this novel. I kept reading long past the time when I should have been in bed. I learned a great deal. I like my novels to teach me something. The writing was excellent. The level of tension was well crafted and the increase in pressure came at the right times. The dialogue was good; no wasted words.
I want to thank NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this most excellent book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
5 stars
Brilliant!
This book was a joy to read. It has a low grade tension, spiked with action and drama here and there. A law professor who was very close to an aging archeology professor named Barrington Holmes learns of his sudden death. He is very quick to learn that it was murder. He is also good friends with the investigating police detective and so he advances the search for the murder suspect.
This begins Professor Matthew Shane’s search for the killer. He has promised the law professor’s wife Mary that he will find the killer. Matthew’s search begins in New Orleans. It seems the professor was involved with a group of like minded archeologists who were searching for a treasure.
From New Orleans, Matthew hops the globe investigating and meeting some really interesting people. And getting in some very tight spots.
I especially liked the part of the story about Captain Henry Morgan and his two Welsh subordinates. I guess I have a thing for “pirates.” (Even though Captain Morgan had letters of marque from the British government to capture and search Spanish ships, he was still considered a pirate.)
I truly enjoyed this novel. I kept reading long past the time when I should have been in bed. I learned a great deal. I like my novels to teach me something. The writing was excellent. The level of tension was well crafted and the increase in pressure came at the right times. The dialogue was good; no wasted words.
I want to thank NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this most excellent book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
August 22, 2023
I do so enjoy a good sleuthing tale to hone my investigating skills. Not that I’m all that good at it since my guesses about the who, what and why are often wrong. The synopsis for Deadly Depths had me curious to dust off those skills. And the intriguing title and thrilling cover added to the desire.
Law professor Matthew Shane is drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse when his beloved mentor, Professor Holmes, is found dead in his office. A closer look at his apparent suicide points to murder. As he digs into who could have done it and why, he comes across a group of archaeologists tagged The Monkey’s Paw who’d been searching for a mysterious artifact. Could that myth be real? Maybe, as members begin to die.
What a tangled web was woven as I followed Matthew on his quest to get to the bottom of things. He had no time to waste as the killer, or killers were getting creative and the bodies were piling up. Is the gris gris that the members are found carrying a connection? Why are the victims being killed in bizarre ways? Ways that look like suicide or accidents but with closer inspection are revealed to be murders.
Matthew was such a fun character. He was methodical, clever and quirky. Able to assess situations quickly and keep a cool head. I kept thinking modern day Sherlock Holmes. And Robert Downey Jr. was the face I saw as Matthew.
A few chapters in, I was thinking this would be a good thriller. The further I read, the more intrigued I became. The characters came to life. Their faces formed in my imagination. The plot thickened. And I couldn’t wait to see how it ended.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
Law professor Matthew Shane is drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse when his beloved mentor, Professor Holmes, is found dead in his office. A closer look at his apparent suicide points to murder. As he digs into who could have done it and why, he comes across a group of archaeologists tagged The Monkey’s Paw who’d been searching for a mysterious artifact. Could that myth be real? Maybe, as members begin to die.
What a tangled web was woven as I followed Matthew on his quest to get to the bottom of things. He had no time to waste as the killer, or killers were getting creative and the bodies were piling up. Is the gris gris that the members are found carrying a connection? Why are the victims being killed in bizarre ways? Ways that look like suicide or accidents but with closer inspection are revealed to be murders.
Matthew was such a fun character. He was methodical, clever and quirky. Able to assess situations quickly and keep a cool head. I kept thinking modern day Sherlock Holmes. And Robert Downey Jr. was the face I saw as Matthew.
A few chapters in, I was thinking this would be a good thriller. The further I read, the more intrigued I became. The characters came to life. Their faces formed in my imagination. The plot thickened. And I couldn’t wait to see how it ended.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
July 22, 2023
Deadly Depths by John F. Dobbyn
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Pace: 5/5
Suspense: 4/5
Overall Enjoyment: 4/5
Mathew Shane is a former USAF investigator that turned Law professor in Salem Massachusetts where he is also enjoying a mentor ship with a well known archeologist Professor Barrington Holmes. It seems however that Barrington Holmes was found deceased in his office with the police calling it a suicide. Mathew Shane finds that part hard to believe. There were no signs of depression or being suicidal during their times working together. He decides that Holmes’s widow needs to know the truth good or bad and sets out to investigate Barrington’s death.
What he finds is that Barrington Holmes was part of a group of other archeologists called the Monkey’s paw and they were all in search of an item that has significant financial and historical value to the Aztecs. Each men were given instructions on finding the objects however some of them encountered terrible fates while trying to find this object. Now with the professor dead Mathew takes on the journey to see if the item is real or if it is just a wild goose chase. Can Mathew find the object before he too meets his demise or will he find out what really happened to the men in the monkeys paw group that have died while trying to find the biggest historical object yet?
Thank you to Goodreads as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Pace: 5/5
Suspense: 4/5
Overall Enjoyment: 4/5
Mathew Shane is a former USAF investigator that turned Law professor in Salem Massachusetts where he is also enjoying a mentor ship with a well known archeologist Professor Barrington Holmes. It seems however that Barrington Holmes was found deceased in his office with the police calling it a suicide. Mathew Shane finds that part hard to believe. There were no signs of depression or being suicidal during their times working together. He decides that Holmes’s widow needs to know the truth good or bad and sets out to investigate Barrington’s death.
What he finds is that Barrington Holmes was part of a group of other archeologists called the Monkey’s paw and they were all in search of an item that has significant financial and historical value to the Aztecs. Each men were given instructions on finding the objects however some of them encountered terrible fates while trying to find this object. Now with the professor dead Mathew takes on the journey to see if the item is real or if it is just a wild goose chase. Can Mathew find the object before he too meets his demise or will he find out what really happened to the men in the monkeys paw group that have died while trying to find the biggest historical object yet?
Thank you to Goodreads as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.
August 1, 2023
Murder, buccaneers and a treasure hunt provide a story for anyone with a sense of adventure who just wants to get lost in the chase. Matthew Shane was a law professor whose closest friend , Professor Holmes, taught archaeology. At a conference in Cairo, Holmes and four associates came into possession of parchments containing clues to the location of a treasure belonging to the Aztecs. When Holmes is murdered it is set up to look like a suicide. A note left for Shane leads him to the group, dubbed the Monkey’s Paw. A second member is murdered in Louisiana followed by an attempt on a third member in Montreal.
Dylan Llewelyn went to sea in 1672. He sailed with Captain Morgan and was present at the battle to conquer Panama City. The ship that he eventually commanded was sunk by the Spanish. One of the parchments leads Shane to the sunken ship and Dylan’s log, sealed and preserved in a chest. It details the promise that Morgan made to an Aztec leader to protect their treasure, hidden in Jamaica. Shane’s promise to Holmes’ widow to find his murderer has him following Morgan’s trail, but the killer is still out there and will kill again to succeed in his quest. Battles at sea, travels to Canada, France, Barbados and a final confrontation in the mountains of Jamaica provide an exciting story with a brief look at Jamaica’s history of slavery. The story moves quickly and will keep you entertained to the end. I would like to thank NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for providing this book for my review.
Dylan Llewelyn went to sea in 1672. He sailed with Captain Morgan and was present at the battle to conquer Panama City. The ship that he eventually commanded was sunk by the Spanish. One of the parchments leads Shane to the sunken ship and Dylan’s log, sealed and preserved in a chest. It details the promise that Morgan made to an Aztec leader to protect their treasure, hidden in Jamaica. Shane’s promise to Holmes’ widow to find his murderer has him following Morgan’s trail, but the killer is still out there and will kill again to succeed in his quest. Battles at sea, travels to Canada, France, Barbados and a final confrontation in the mountains of Jamaica provide an exciting story with a brief look at Jamaica’s history of slavery. The story moves quickly and will keep you entertained to the end. I would like to thank NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for providing this book for my review.
August 5, 2023
Deadly Depths by John Dobbyn #fiftysecondbookof2023 #arc
CW: death, murder, abduction, pirates, assault
This book is for fans of Dan Brown or National Treasure or hidden historical puzzles. I’m into all of those things, so I was really into this book. Our main character Matthew Shane learns that his mentor, professor and archeologist Barrington Holmes, has died, and he doesn’t believe everything is as it seems. This leads him to a group of treasure hunters called the Monkey’s Paw Society and his search for the truth, and buried treasure, begins.
This book was right up my alley, and I enjoyed the puzzles, the twists and turns, the not knowing who you can trust, and the treasure hunting of it all. Also, there’s a book within a book! You get to read the diary of an old pirate. The only thing that felt forced was the romance that seemed tacked on at the very end. (Since this was an arc, I noticed a few editorial errors in characters names, but it was easy to know who should have been reflected, and I’m assuming they were corrected in the finished copy.)
I don’t like calling things guilty pleasures—if you like something, own it. So I’ll admit, I kind of loved this book. I would absolutely watch a movie of it, and I would read another starring the main character.
Thank you to @netgalley and @oceanviewpub for the advance copy. (Available now, Pub date was 8/1/23)
#deadlydepths #matthewshane #buriedtreasure #bookwithinabook
CW: death, murder, abduction, pirates, assault
This book is for fans of Dan Brown or National Treasure or hidden historical puzzles. I’m into all of those things, so I was really into this book. Our main character Matthew Shane learns that his mentor, professor and archeologist Barrington Holmes, has died, and he doesn’t believe everything is as it seems. This leads him to a group of treasure hunters called the Monkey’s Paw Society and his search for the truth, and buried treasure, begins.
This book was right up my alley, and I enjoyed the puzzles, the twists and turns, the not knowing who you can trust, and the treasure hunting of it all. Also, there’s a book within a book! You get to read the diary of an old pirate. The only thing that felt forced was the romance that seemed tacked on at the very end. (Since this was an arc, I noticed a few editorial errors in characters names, but it was easy to know who should have been reflected, and I’m assuming they were corrected in the finished copy.)
I don’t like calling things guilty pleasures—if you like something, own it. So I’ll admit, I kind of loved this book. I would absolutely watch a movie of it, and I would read another starring the main character.
Thank you to @netgalley and @oceanviewpub for the advance copy. (Available now, Pub date was 8/1/23)
#deadlydepths #matthewshane #buriedtreasure #bookwithinabook
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