Having enjoyed Alma Katsu’s debut The Hunger, I was really keen to read The Deep – and I really liked it. Although an epic topic, it’s not quite such the epic read that I felt The Hunger was, but it’s still immensely enjoyable.

Flitting between two timeframes, we follow Annie Hebbley, one time stewardess to a dozen first class cabins on the Titanic, now working as a nurse on the sister ship the Britannic – refitted as a hospital ship to help cope with the wounded of WW1.

On board the Titanic, the world is that of the rich – the Astors, the Guggenheims, the wealthy and minted Americans of the age; Annie is caught up between serving them, and the intimate connection she seems to feel for one Mark Fletcher; then to the Britannic, a completely different scene, one of blood and suffering, yet one soldier seems familiar to Annie. The timeframes are connected by personal stories and relationships, and there is a distinct air of mystery, myth and haunting. Incredible and fantastic, yet in the vivid settings of the ships, somehow very real.

I do love a book that has a little ring of truth about it, and the fact that Violet Jessop, Annie’s friend, was a real survivor of both the Titanic and the Britannic, adds that little bit more to your read!

Everyone knows what happened to the RMS Titanic. At least, they think they do. This hauntingly delightful novel offers an alternative glimpse at the fateful maiden voyage of the ship that was said to be unsinkable, and focuses on the lives of a handful of passengers and crew as they are drawn inexorably towards the terrible fate that awaits them. Meanwhile, a parallel narrative follows two of the Titanic’s survivors on board the HMHS Britannic on her final voyage.

This is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most haunting horror stories I’ve read in a hell of a long time, though it has to be said the horror is not of the usual jump-scare, something-in-the-shadows variety. No, all the horror in this book is of the subtle, maybe-it’s-all-in-your-mind variety, and I think it’s a much better story for that.

The bulk of the narrative centres around Annie Hebbley, a first-class stewardess on the Titanic and later a nurse on board the Britannic, though this is interspersed with chapters showing us the action from the point of view of other characters. As the twin narratives of the two vessels unfolds we’re shown progressively darker and deeper mysteries surrounding the various characters, including a few recognisable historical characters, such as Benjamin Guggenheim, Madeleine Astor, and W. T. Stead.

It’s this gradual build-up of information that makes this such a successful and gripping read. As the bigger picture is slowly unveiled we begin to understand that almost every single named character has something to hide, a dark secret in their past that haunts them. But there’s also a suggestion that something more sinister is haunting the Titanic, though whether this is something genuinely paranormal or simply a by-product of narcotic abuse, psychological trauma, or an overactive imagination remains a true mystery until the last handful of pages.

Putting the fictitious elements of the story aside, the author has clearly done a hell of a lot of research in writing this novel. The ships themselves are exquisitely described, and the disparity between the opulence of the Titanic on her maiden voyage versus the austerity of the Britannic serving as a hospital ship is beautifully written, adding a touch of dissonance between the separate story arcs. In fact, the writing overall is excellent, easily capturing the tone of the early Twentieth Century while remaining highly readable.

All-in-all this is a page-turner in the truest sense. It’s definitely worth reading if you’re a fan of subtly written horror, more so if you like something with a historical foundation beneath it. I have no problem giving this novel a solid four out of five stars, and I’m now curious to read more of this author’s works.

This was a very atmospheric and fascinating examination into the lives and loves of the people on the Titanic, with a slightly supernatural vibe. Split between two timelines, we follow Annie as she works as a stewardess for the first class passengers on the Titanic, and as she works as a nurse on the sister ship, Britannic.

The Positives: I loved the depictions of the passengers on the Titanic and this was surprisingly, what I enjoyed the most about the novel. Having read The Hunger by Alma Katsu, I knew going in that she writes historical fiction with a speculative/horror twist, but the vibe of The Deep definitely skews more towards historical fiction, which I wasn't expecting but ultimately really appreciated. Katsu does a fantastic job of setting the scene and re-creating the opulence of the ship and its first class passengers. I also really enjoyed the ominous tone of the narrative - as the reader, we obviously know the ultimate ending for this ship, but what I found really interesting here was the way in which the characters also have an impending sense of doom. The supernatural aspects were included in the narrative sporadically and just enough to remind the reader that something otherworldly was at play.

The Negatives: I found some of the dialogue incredibly clunky and it often didn't ring true or authentic for me. I also thought that the concluding action of the narrative felt a little rushed and didn't pack the punch that I think it was aiming for.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel for the historical elements and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in either the period or the ship specifically.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It is 1916 and Annie Hebbley, formerly a stewardess on Titanic, is in an asylum when we first meet her. However, her friend, Violet, is keen that she return both to the world, and to sea. It is WWI and Titanic’s sister ship, Britannic, is being used as a hospital ship. Encouraged back into the world, Annie finds the memories flooding back when she boards Britannic, which is identical to the doomed Titanic.

This novel looks at events in 1912 and 1916, with Annie recalling events from that time. Author Alma Katsu has done much to recreate the passengers from Titanic, and to give the reader a real flavour of life on the ship. There are famous names – Guggenheim, Astor and Duff Cooper among them. However, this is not a straightforward re-telling. Seances and mysterious events combine with the later storyline of war and trauma, to create a fascinating novel, with a wonderful setting.

This would be an good choice for book groups, as there is much to discuss – Titanic is always fascinating and there is also the WWI theme to add interest, alongside the supernatural storyline. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

2.5 stars

This seems to be the year where I read new books by favorite authors only to be left disappointed.

This is my 4th book by Alma Katsu’s but with this one I could not get on board.

The paranormal element felt shoe-horned into the story and I did not connect with any of the characters, particularly the main character, Annie. I found her overly dramatic bordering on hysterical most of the time.
Reading this was however not a complete waste of time. I did learn a few new things.

I did not know that the HMHS Britannic was the sister ship to Titanic and unbelievably also met a watery grave. Similarly, interesting was that the HMHS Britannic was used as a medical hospital during WW1.

The story however is mainly set on the Titanic, focusing on its guests and crew members with all the little dramas that unfolded leading up to 14 April 1912. I enjoyed Des and Dai’s stories of professional boxers and con men making their way to New York but the other stories were nothing more than rich people problems.

I wanted to love this book. I love Historical fiction and am really interested in anything Titanic related. However, I found this very slow and nothing was really happening. I DNF’d at 30% after having read other reviews that said the book didn’t pick up until 80%. I liked the writing style and the back and forth between time periods... but nothing happened! Such a shame as I thought this was going to be a new favourite.

Hi and welcome to my review of The Deep!

The Deep alternates between two storylines: one on board the Titanic in 1912, the other on board the Titanic’s sister ship Britannica, refitted as a hospital ship, in 1916. The Deep is the story of a stewardess on the Titanic, who falls head over heels, and rather inexplicably it would seem, for one of her passengers. It’s the story of a man with a bit of sordid past, trying to move past it by starting a new life in America with a new wife. It’s the story of a terrified and superstitious pregnant girl married to a filthy rich man who’s much too old for her. It’s a story of a con artist and the man he loves, even more than money. And it’s the story of a woman who survived the sinking of the Titanic only to still feel likes she’s drowning four years later while working as a nurse on the Britannica.

The Deep is the first novel by Alma Katsu I’ve read, although one of her previous novels, The Hunger, has been on my list for ages. As such, I went in with few expectations, simply because I had no clue what to expect, and I suspect it’s the lack of expectations that made me enjoy this novel as much as I have. I looked at some early reviews on NetGalley and going in with the wrong expectations seems to be a general theme with readers of The Deep. I can see how it may seem something it isn’t, giving you the wrong expectations, so I’m just going to go into a little more detail, because I can see how it could be a very disappointing read if you were expecting it to be something it isn’t.

Knowing that The Hunger is categorised as horror, I thought that The Deep might be horroresque as well. It’s not. As I have very eclectic tastes and was not particularly craving horror when I picked up The Deep, I didn’t care that there was little horror to be had, but if you’re thinking of picking this one up because you’re looking to be thrilled, chilled and shocked throughout, think again. Now, this doesn’t mean that there isn’t any paranormal activity, there is, but it stays in the shadows for the longest time. Whisperings, murmurs, seances, events and reactions that don’t quite add up, a subtle drumming from the sideline. If anything, this is a slow-burning ghost story, the full extent of which only becomes apparent in the final fifty pages or so. This didn’t bother me at all, I enjoyed the lingering sense of threat and dread in the sea air, and I didn’t mind waiting for things to come to a head, but I can imagine die-hard horror fanatics may be a little put off, and for me it never got even remotely scary.

Some readers picked up The Deep because it’s historical fiction set on the legendary Titanic. Of course it’s historical fiction, and of course it’s set, at least in part, on the Titanic, but the ship and its history are not characters in this novel. The ship is used to set the scenes, to create an atmosphere, a backdrop for its passengers, the main characters of The Deep. The same goes for the storyline on board the Titanic’s sister ship, Britannic. So if you’re expecting this to be a more or less detailed historical account of one or both ships, that’s not what this is. However, I do feel I’ve learned a thing or two, Ms Katsu has clearly done her homework and the history is there, woven delicately into the fictional story, just how I like it.

So, yeah, there is a whole lot going on in The Deep, it’s multifaceted and it can’t be crammed into one single genre box. There are perhaps a few too many subplots and side storylines muddying the waters, I wouldn’t have minded if it was a little shorter, just a tad snappier. However, I loved Alma Katsu’s writing and reading The Deep convinced me to get The Hunger off my list and into my hands ASAP, so I’ve finally bought a copy.

If you like your fiction with a bit of a paranormal angle and a historical background, then do check out The Deep!

The Deep is out next week, the eBook is out on 3 March and the hardback and audiobook are out on 5 March.

Many thanks to Bantam Press and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Alma Katsu has swiftly become one of my favourite writers. After loving The Hunger so much I was ecstatic to learn that her follow up was to be centered on the story of Titanic. I love the blend of historic fiction and the uncanny and genuinely can't think of another writer who has quite the same touch for this as Katsu. A stunning book once again.

I love the way Alma Katsu writes and after enjoying The Hunger, was looking forward to her new novel.
The Deep had me hooked from the very first page. It is a haunting, psychological reimagining of one of the tragic events surrounding the sinking of the Titanic and the ill-fated sailing of its sister ship, the Britannic. Told from the perspective of a young irish girl who was a stewardess on The Titanic, who survived and then managed to find herself on The Britannic as a ships nurse during the 1st world war. Lots of twists and turns and keeps you hooked until the very end.

An intricate story of hidden truths, destructive desires, and supernatural mystery. A horror story, but one where the menace is often hidden or dormant although it's always there. A tapestry of secrets supports a cast of interesting characters in an evocative historical setting. The Titanic is a key setting, but it's the characters who star.

The first thing that lured me to this book was the cover, then the synopsis. A Titanic historical re-telling, with a bit of a spook factor? Yes, I want to read it!

I want to start with the fact that the author did a good job writing this book. It shows that she did her homework by properly researching two tragic events that happened on sea - the sinking of Titanic and the Britannic. One was a luxurious cruise ship, the other a hospital ship.

We have several sort of POVs, but the most important - and main character - is Annie Hebbley, who happens to be one of the few survivors of Titanic to go on board of the Britannic. Strange and frightening things happen on Titanic, both linking and turning the passengers against one another. The story switches tenses, from past to present, the Titanic and the Britannic. It was both easy and hard to read. Easy because of the writing style and hard because of the many questions I had, while reading this book.

Yes, there's a big twist that I wasn't expecting. Kind of heartbreaking, to be honest. But somehow, something was missing for me. This was the type of book that I enjoyed while reading but didn't miss once I put it down. I think I was expecting it to be more spooky than it was? Maybe the huge twist happened too late and I wanted more? Who knows, however it's one that people should read because of all the historical facts and tidbits.

I voluntarily agreed to read an early copy of this book via Netgalley. My rating is 3.5 - 4 stars.

I think we all know the details and events revolving around the tragic sinking of the titanic, but did we all know the horror aboard the ship, forget paint me like one of your french girls - how about people thinking they are cursed, is there a siren in the sea hunting people on board, did she bring the ice to make it sink?

Oh guys, this book - what can i say other than i absolutely loved it, im not one for historical fiction but Alma's writing draws you in, in a slow and steady pace, setting the scenes and feeding us character back stories spoonful after spoonful.

The Deep follows the story of our lead character Annie Hebbley, a stewardess that is serving aboard a current sister ship to the Titanic that is helping injured soldiers from the war, upon here we learn about the time Annie served aboard the first born sister the Titanic. Annie is a fantastic lead character and I pretty much gelled with her straight away, which I must say is an important factor in any given book.
Annie's demons are reveled to us bit by bit making the tension of the book an amazing piece of art!

The Deep has a little paranormal element to the story line and i'm sure people would like to see more of this but for me it was a perfect balance, as too much would have made it into a some what parody, but this given the year it is set in makes it believable.

I can't recommend this book enough and would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK for my ARC.

Wanting to know more about the Titanic? grab The Deep, settle into a comfy chair and crack open the spine, you are in for a real treat!

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this very strange book

this is told with alternate chapters one being on the titanic and the other is the sister ship of the titanic 4 years later...the latter being used to pick up casualties from war

i did get a bit confused as some of the people are on both ships but once i got the gist of how it was reading there were some interesting little stories in there...the boxers pulling a scam, the millionaire who flirted with everyone and feeling of something not quite right with the ship as though it was haunted...

and the sea hag....

it all made for a strange reading...was it haunted, was there a sea hag and then the story moving on 4 years and where some of them were at that time..

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. Honestly this book was not what I expected at all, but it didn’t disappoint. Very well written, brilliant story. Great characters, well thought out. Well done on a great read. 5 star worthy.

A wonderful tale combining both fact and fiction. The novel is a ghost story that follows a group of characters that not only survive the disaster of the Titanic but then meet again on her ill-fated sister ship the Brittanic.

We all know the fate of both the Titanic and Brittanic but this story gives an alternate idea as to the events leading up to the well known historical facts.

We see a number of events from the perspectives of different characters showing how differently two people can view the same conversation and what these misperceptions can lead to.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an advance copy of this book.
This is a really interesting take on the Titanic. If you like a really good ghost story and the Titanic this is a must read.
You can smell the sea air feel the freezing cold of the water.
If you enjoyed the hunger you will love this a bit less gory but a cracking read.
I would also check out the other books by Alma Katsu especially The Taker.

I devoured Alma Katsu's The Hunger in one sitting and so was thrilled to receive this on Netgalley. Her pacing is fantastic and she handled the non-linear nature of the narrative with incredible skill.

Stories about the high seas are always a favourite with me. I love the idea that there's something we don't really know about. This book therefore ticked all the boxes. Set in a real environment, the Titanic and her sister ship, the story follows the lives of those on board.
For me it was a little over the top, even for my taste. A good read that kept me entertained, but maybe a little farfetched at times.

Enjoyable historical drama with spooky overtones. Katsu writes characters well and while this book was a little slow to get going, it builds nicely to a breathless climax. Here's the answers to questions that someone out there may have...

1. Is this about the Titanic? Yes, the Titanic is the key setting for the novel but the primary focus is on a group of characters on the ill-fated liner, as well as it's sister-ship The Britanic.

2. Is this a horror? No, I wouldn't say so. It's a historical drama which has elements which may or may not be supernatural in nature - only as the end of the novel approaches do we find out if there actually is any supernatural stuff going on.

3. I like Alma Katsu's The Hunger - how does this compare? Well, there are a lot of similarities. Both books deal with a historical incident viewed from the lens of a group of main characters, and in both cases there is the possible of something spooky being involved. I preferred The Deep slightly myself but both good books.

I found this quite a difficult book to "get into".
It is set on the Titanic and then on her sister ship The Britannic.
Annie Hebbley and her friend Violet are both maids on the Titannic where even after leaving Southampton mysterious and unexplained sightings occur and there is a sudden death of a small boy.
Four years later and Annie and Violet, having survived the Titannic and working as nurses on the hospital ship The Britannic and again Annie is troubled by mysterious goings on which she must overcome in order to find peace.