A Disaster At Sea Turns Into An Action-Thriller

Sloan McPherson is called by the Coast Guard to render assistance to a cruise liner in trouble. When she and her partner, Scott Hughes, arrive, the cruise ship is on fire, listing, and sinking. They hear over the shipboard that there are people trapped below decks underwater. She tells Scott suit up in his wet suit. Then there's an explosion on the ship. After rescuing some trapped crew, they discover that someone very recently cut a hole in a compartment’s bulkhead. The novel and mystery proceeds from this start.

The main storyline starts faster that Usan Bolt out of the blocks and then slows to a fast-paced action-thriller novel. There is only one thread with Sloan McPherson the voice throughout. She and the Underwater Investigative Unit (UIU) join a multi-agency task force but is sidelined to support roles. Sloan and UIU follow some ideas of their own and change the direction of the investigation. The main storyline is not a straight line but twisty and with promising focuses that are only just deviations in the investigation’s progress. The nature of the main storyline, the constant tension between the UIU and the other investigative agencies, and a powerful and adaptive adversary all add a captivating edge that quickly seized my interest that only grew stronger as the novel proceeded.

There are a few instances where the rapid pace of the novel slows down where the B-storyline takes the lead. These tend to be family meetings and barbeques. You, the reader, will learn more about Sloan and her family and friends. Overall, the B-storyline is not that significant aspect of this novel as I expected for an action-thriller novel. The B-storyline does support the main storyline and provides some depth in the characters in the novel.

As for the aspects of a novel that some readers may find objectionable, first there are not any intimate scenes. As for vulgar and rude language, there a low amount, and it is more diverse than I have seen most of the novels. It is not just f-bombs and other common rude words. To me, they were context appropriate and not to a level that caused me any concern. Lastly, the violence regularly occurs and described in the more edgy as it occurs. The level is what you would expect in a James Bond movie, so it did not trigger any red flags for me.

The largest issue that is see with this book that as an action-thriller is its believability. I did not read this novel for its plausibility, but for the action-thriller just as I do not watch a Mission Impossible movie for its realistic portrayal of action. I read this novel for its entertainment value of an action-thriller. This it did accomplish quite well. For what I like, the author an unexpected aspect near the end of the novel. It brought a smile to my face. If you read the novels of this author, you will smile too. This author is a solid Will-Read author for me. This novel is a change of pace break in my normal crime literature. I really enjoyed reading this novel and am looking forward to reading any further books in this or other series by this author. I rate this novel with four stars.

I received a free e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer. My review is based only by my own reading experience of this book. I wish to thank Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

A fast-paced mystery with lots of action. A cruise ship is sinking and the Underwater Investigation Unit are called to assist. Mayne delivers an intriguing thriller with strong character development.

Thank you NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Andrew Mayne for the electronic ARC.
Expected publish date: March 29th 2022
#NetGalley #SeaStorm

"From Key West to Alligator Bend, Florida has its share of communities of people seeking to escape society at large. Sometimes it's for philosophical reasons, and sometimes it's to engage in criminal activity. Often one leads to the other."

3.5 rounded down.

Sloan McPherson is back in another voyage of the Underwater Investigation Unit, this time jumping right into the action as McPherson and her partner, Hughes, rush to help out with a capsizing cruise-liner. There's more to the case than first meets the eye, and soon McPherson, Hughes, and Solar are tangled up in another web of conspiracies involving multiple government agencies and international crime.

I had a good time getting back into this series. I quite liked the first book, loved the second and I've landed somewhere in-between on this one. This is closer to the first book in the scope of the crime being investigated (i.e. it's a big-un) and as with the first book I do wish it had been a bit more grounded, as that's what I prefer in crime thrillers. That being said, the plot is entertaining and I do still really like the core characters here, we also got some great chapters of Sloan with her family which was one of my favorite elements from the previous books.

Really my biggest issue with this one was just that it felt a bit front-heavy on excitement, most of the big set-pieces are in the first half of the book, and the major twist is around the 60% mark. I also felt like the ending kind of fizzled a little bit. Not enough to spoil the book or anything, but enough that I felt a little underwhelmed. There were also a couple of plot threads which I felt weren't adequately wrapped up.

Nonetheless, I had fun with it and would recommend picking it up if you enjoyed the previous book. I'm certainly looking forward to reading the next installment.

I’ve been a fan of the two earlier books I’m this series. And this book continues that trend. It’s a fun, entertaining thriller set in the waterways of Miami. Sloan McPherson is a member of the Underwater Investigative Unit. This time, her team is called to a cruise ship that is quickly sinking. Turns out, it was a series of explosions that caused its demise.
The book romps along at a fast pace. There are lots of twists to keep the reader engaged. Sloan tends to go her own way and this time is no exception. She pursues leads that the FBI deems immaterial. Needless to say, they land her in hot water. But she’s not the only great character. Her boss, George Solar, is the kind of boss we all want. He totally has her back.
The book is written so it’s not long before the mastermind is revealed. The question is more, how will they bring him down.
I have to applaud Maynes for giving us enough detail to make most scenes totally believable. He’s done his research and it shows.
The book can easily be read as a stand alone. But the series is fun enough, why would you want to?
I recommend this for everyone looking for an action packed thriller with interesting characters.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.

This wasn't a bad book--I haven't disliked an Andrew Mayne book yet. I just didn't find this case as interesting as previous ones. I really liked the appearance by you-kn0w-who, though.

Nothing can stop UIU (Underwater Investigation Unit) officer, Sloane McPherson from getting her man. Not government corruption, which sees her unit disbanded and their badges taken away, not near death actions,not hidden agendas or anything; she finally makes it to the bottom of this bad guys soup to jail the culprit behind it all. Called out to an attack on a cruise ship off of the coast of Fort Lauderdale she and her team follow the clues from the canals of Florida to Catalina Island, CA to an island in the Florida Keys and back to the cruise ship. The book is action non-stop. This is comparable to the other two books in this series. The author is a brilliant writer of multiple series as well as an actor, producer, pod-caster, magician and diver. He brings all of his knowledge to create believable novels. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more of his writing!!!!

I was very happy to get the third UIU book from NetGalley!

Honestly, there was a part of me that was tempted to not finish this one. Something about it just didn't grab me like the last one did.

I wanted more Sloan/Hughes/Solar scenes than were there. I really like the dynamic they have as a team and wanted to me more of it. I remember having a similar note for when I read Black Coral; I wanted more scenes with Sloan and Solar working together but he wasn't in it as much. I also would've like to have seen more of Sloan and her family. Basically it felt like this was a Sloan solo book and I like the other characters a lot and wanted to see more of them.

The case that they were working on in this book also did not interest me as much as Black Coral. The ending felt accurate though.

Another fun, fast read in the Sloan McPherson and UIU series. As Florida native, who happens to live in the Ft. Lauderdale area and an avid cruiser, I really enjoyed the setting and story for this one.

This a solid series and I recommend reading the books in order. I look forward to see what UIU investigates next.

Thank you #netgalley and #thomas&mercer for the eARC.

Rating: 4 stars

Sea Storm by Andrew Mayne

The third instalment in the Sloan McPherson series, this book follows Sloan as she is pulled into the depths and deceit of a dangerous underground operation.

After a rescue mission to assist a cruise ship sinking just off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, an investigation is sparked as questions arise over the origin of the mysterious explosions that took the ship down.

Secret compartments, hired killers, and a department hell bent on a quick arrest. Sloan and the U.I.U are working against everything to uncover an underground operation that could turn deadly at any moment.

(Possible minor spoilers.)

I have to say this book, similar to the other two in the series has a great narrative voice. I love Sloan’s inner monologue and the overall character she gives the story. This is further brought to life by the amazing audiobook narration by Susannah Jones, who I hope to see reprising her role in the audiobook for Sea Storm (which I will definitely be picking up) once it is released.

Similar to book two I love the variation of settings we as a reader experience from a cruise ship, to an island, to a high standing nightclub. Each setting brought more to the story and created great spaces for the characters to really pull the reader in and expand the narrative.

As always the underwater scenes are my favourite - I’ve never read a series where diving and underwater exploration is described in such clear and intriguing detail. I especially loved the dive off of the coast of the island - the visuals this created were exceptional.

I was so happy to see the return of Hughes - he has fast become one of my favourite members of the U.I.U - especially the club scene where he’s goes full method was brilliant.

I do have to say I did find the ending a little disappointing for such a rich and suspenseful narrative with so many theories and risky plans on the rise - the ending felt a little anticlimactic, with the villains in my opinion making choices that didn’t fully follow how thorough and precise they had been portrayed to be.

That being said I still enjoyed the lead up to the ending, the characters obviously Sloan and Hughes as well as Solar, who was shown to be incredibly loyal and protective of his team which I really value in a character.

I wait with positive anticipation for the next book in the Sloan saga.

Highly recommend for anyone looking to broaden their interest in the crime genre, especially if you already have a interest in underwater exploration or Floridian themed mysteries that will hold you fast till the very last page.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Sea Storm will be published in March 2022.

I really enjoyed this book. I love how he brought characters from other books in order to solve cases. I am grateful that netgalley let me read this in exchange for an honest review

Andrew Mayne has several successful series, but the Underwater Investigation Unit is becoming my favorite. Sloan McPherson is a dogged investigator who always seems to end up in tight situations but manages to come through in the end. A fun read with just the right touch of Florida craziness.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for sharing the upcoming third installment of this series. I enjoyed this a lot and thought it was better than the second book in terms of character development. I will continue to read this series for some fun entertainment.

I love that from the jump we were dropped right into the action and I felt like that suspense and action was kept up throughout the book. I appreciated that even though this was the third book in the series, I was able to begin reading and didn't feel like I was missing a whole lot. I was still able to tell who the characters were and how everyone was related. I definitely plan on going back to read the first two books and will likely continue reading the series as it's published. As someone who reads a lot of detective-style novels, I felt the Underwater Investigative Unit was a unique spin on a classic genre. I also enjoy reading books about sunken ships and diving and it was fun to have two of my favorite genres in one. I did feel that the ending was a little rushed. There was one thing in particular that I don't think was explained well enough and sort of left a plot hole. I think I understand it, but would have liked to know for sure. I can't wait for the next one!

I am a fan of Andrew Mayne's books and Sea Storm, the third in the Underwater Investigation Unit series, does not disappoint. Sloan McPherson and her partner, Scott Hughes, under the direction of George Solar, are investigating an attack on a cruise ship. What follows is a fast-paced and exciting action adventure with unusual twists and turns, including a brief visit from Jessica Blackwood and Theo Cray, characters from the author's other 2 series.

I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you like unique settings and intriguing story lines. Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC.

So, so good. This book was action packed from the start, and I was along for the ride. Mayne is one of my favorite authors, and this book reminded me why. There were a lot of twists and turns, and I won’t spoil things, but it included guest appearances of some of my favorite Mayne characters. I can’t wait to see what comes next in the series!

I am a huge fan of this series and was extremely excited to see another release on the horizon.

Sea Storm follows Sloan McPherson and the Underwater Investigation Unit as they are called to help a cruise ship off the coast of Fort Lauderdale that is sinking from an unexplained explosion. It appears to be the work of an ecoterrorist. As Sloan and the team investigate, they have more questions than answers. Sloan is determined to chase down every lead she can.

This book, as with the others in the series, starts out in medias res and keeps the pace throughout. This is a complex plot for the reader and the UIU, and will keep you on your toes until the end. My only negative feedback is that throughout all the books, I cannot really picture Sloan. I don't know what she looks like, and there is little to no deep character development for her. I would love to see her more fully fleshed out, and grow and learn from her experiences, in future books.

<b>ARC provided by NetGalley for an Honest Review</b>

I'm still in shock I was granted an ARC of this book and I can contain my excitement even less having read it. This book started with a bang that never let up. The action is high from the start and as usual the heroine Sloan finds herself in all kinds of danger. Somehow she always manages to skirt by and impress me with her quick decision making skills. Not only that but her time underwater always manages to blow my mind, she really is at home in the deep.

Somehow this book felt even more exciting than the previous two. Government conspiracies, espionage & terrorism are just a scant few "issues" that pop up in the book. I don't want to give too much away but if you've read and enjoyed the previous books in the series Sea Storm is NOT one to miss.

Andrew Mayne continues to write interesting and informative books.

There are a few series of books from Mr. Mayne. I think my favorite are the Sloan McPherson books. All are well written but I am drawn to Sloan's books. This is another very good mystery. There are even some cameos from other of Mayne's characters.

What I enjoy is that the books are well written and you also get a bit of an education in areas that you are not all that knowledgeable.

Looking forward to more of Mr. Mayne's offerings.

This is the third novel following Sloan McPherson and the Underwater Investigative Unit. I loved the first two and I love this one too. I find the whole premise of mysteries taking place at sea and on land and even in the air, but mostly the intricacies of investigating what is going on underwater.
This book took off with an explosion on a cruise ship and never stopped with the action. The play between the bad buy and the law enforcement agencies had me laughing. Oh my goodness, is our world this corrupted? Probably.
Sloan's family is always a hoot and that adds some more fun to the mix of what is a pretty serious investigation.


Thank you Netgalley for the early read.

Sloane McPherson may not always be the most rational thinker, but she gets the job done. With the help of Hughes and the guidance of Solar, the trio work together to investigate a recent ship bombing/terrorist attack. I was initially drawn to the UIU series because of the fact she was a (female) diver, and not a traditional street cop. I was excited to see this ARC drop, because it's the one series I've been constantly up to date with reading. This book is no exception in the series. It reads easily, and has a great cast of characters. The changes in her job title added in some humor to the novel, and I'm wondering to see how these impact future books in the series. Things got a little slower towards the end and I feel like the actual ending came up pretty quickly. I would have liked to have had more details with what happened with the perpetrator(s) and the associated investigation. I can't say it's the best novel I've read all year, but it's personally worthy of a 5-star review none the less. Will be looking forward to what the future holds for the UIU!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3981457394