Lying in the Deep is an interesting YA thriller set aboard a cruise ship. The story follows Jade as she embarks on 4 month cruise going to 11 different countries for a Campus on Board learning program. All she wants is to get away for a while and forget about her backstabbing ex-best friend, Lainey, who stole her boyfriend. Then the worst imaginable scenario happens when the deceitful couple decide to board the ship.
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Seeing Lainey with her ex, Silas, brings back feelings for Jade. She becomes obsessed with trying to find out why Silas broke up with her. Lainey also starts making enemies with her fellow passengers, which leads to her death. Soon other murders start happening. That’s when Jade realizes they are trapped on board with a murderer.
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Jade has to use all of her wits and the help of her new friends to try and find the murderer and clear her name in the process.
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I enjoyed this book for the most part. It was a quick read and the setting was pretty cool. What I didn’t like, was that it felt like it took forever for the murders to happen. The twist at the end also kind of took me out of the thriller aspect of the book. Overall I’d say it’s worth a read.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect going into this, honestly, but I heard "Suite Life on Deck" and "murder mystery" and I was in.

Jade got dumped, by both her boyfriend and her best friend, and decides to escape her problems on a summer-long school trip.....that takes place on a yacht. Except when she gets there, not only are both her BFF and boyfriend there with her, they're now together.

The drama was real in this, but I felt like I really had to suspend my belief in reality for so much of it. Honestly, Jade made so many stupid decisions it was kind of hard to root for her, but I did NOT see the multiple twists at the end coming!

This was a fun, quick read that kept me turning the pages, but I definitely had issues liking pretty much any of the characters in it.

I really liked how even when there wasn't a lot of action until the halfway point , I still enjoyed reading it. Very strong Death on the Nile vibes. I loved the drama of it all. I'm definitely going to check out Diana Urban other books now.

The premise of this one was so good, but the book didn’t live up to my hopes. Main issue was the characters. I found them annoying. It’s also a pretty slow burn book and that didn’t keep my interest.

I really liked the premise of a murder aboard a cruise ship featuring a group of semesters broad students but this story just took too long to get to the murder.

We get a brief flash of the violent aftermath in the beginning and then we go a bit too far back into the backstory about teen drama and two girls fighting over a guy. I read over 50 pages and the plot just wasn’t getting past the dating drama and class details. I would have loved to see 90% of the story be on the murder mystery and maybe 5-10% backstory.

Like I said, interesting premise, this story just wasn’t for me.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun YA mystery/thriller with a memorable premise!

Shortly before the start of Lying in the Deep, our MC Jade was betrayed when her boyfriend, Silas, leaves her for her best friend, Lainey. Jade is obviously crushed but at least she has a semester at sea to look forward to--she's been planning it for a long time and it's finally here! At least she was excited until she finds out Lainey and Silas also signed up for the trip. Luckily Jade meets other people on the ship, including her roommates and her new crush, Felix. Despite having to witness how sickeningly happy Lainey and Silas are together, the trip starts off relatively well with a few excursions. Things take a turn when someone is murdered. People are suspicious of Jade and she must get to the bottom of what really happened to prove her innocence.

I absolutely loved the set-up of this novel. The concept of a semester at sea is so fun, especially with the excursions included. Add in a locked room murder mystery and it was definitely a fun time. I enjoyed the action and twists and was engaged throughout. I also liked the developing relationship between Jade and Felix. My only critique was that it was a bit too over-the-top and dramatic for my liking.

If you like fun, fast-paced YA mystery/thrillers, you should check this one out! The cruise ship setting would make for an excellent summer read.

"Lying in the Deep" by Diana Urban is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that plunges readers into the depths of a chilling mystery set against the backdrop of a sunken ship. Urban's masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions create a sense of tension and unease that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

At the heart of the novel is the protagonist, Remy Hastings, a captivating and determined young woman with a troubled past. When she receives a mysterious invitation to join an expedition to explore a sunken shipwreck, Remy sees it as an opportunity to uncover the truth about her father's disappearance years earlier. Urban skillfully crafts Remy as a complex and relatable character, blending her vulnerability with resilience and courage.

One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its evocative setting. Urban brings the sunken ship to life with vivid descriptions of its eerie corridors, hidden chambers, and long-buried secrets. The underwater scenes are particularly immersive, with Urban's attention to detail creating a sense of wonder and trepidation as Remy navigates the murky depths.

The pacing of "Lying in the Deep" is relentless, with each chapter building suspense and tension as Remy delves deeper into the mysteries of the shipwreck. Urban expertly weaves together multiple narrative threads, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The result is a gripping page-turner that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth behind the secrets of the deep.

Urban's writing is both atmospheric and engaging, drawing readers into Remy's world with crisp prose and vivid imagery. From the eerie silence of the underwater abyss to the heart-pounding moments of suspense, every scene is brought to life with intensity and emotion. Urban's ability to create a sense of atmosphere and mood adds depth and richness to the narrative, immersing readers in the story from beginning to end.

In conclusion, "Lying in the Deep" by Diana Urban is a thrilling and immersive read that will captivate fans of suspense and mystery. With its compelling plot, memorable characters, and evocative setting, it offers a tantalizing glimpse into the hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface of the ocean. Urban's skillful storytelling and vivid prose make this book a must-read for anyone seeking an unforgettable literary adventure.

I enjoyed this one though I wasn't sure what to expect. It was definitely twist, romantic, and had some fun parts. I didn't enjoy the allusions to drug use or alcohol but I guess you find that in most upper YA books these days.

I thought the mystery was handled well though I had some *thoughts* as to what might happen.

Semi *spoiler below*

When I heard that this was a loose retelling of Death on the Nile that kind of ruined it but also made sense to me more? So...take that as you will.

My rating: 3.8*
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Lying in the Deep is a whodunit mystery on a cruise ship. The main character, Jade, was a little too woe is me and it took away from the suspense of the story. The other characters were more likable and quirky. The plot was intriguing and there were a few good plot twists. I liked the ending. If you like mysteries on a ship then check this book out.

This was a good standard YA mystery. I would recommend it, but also found it a little bit predictable. Great for teens!

I love young adult mystery thrillers. This one had a lot of twists and turns I didn’t see coming, and I loved the mysterious aspect.

Welcome Back!

It’s been a busy start to the new year so far and with that, I have completed a lot of reading! I am still catching up on a few reviews from the very end of last year (I am thinking I might go back to my old system of cutting my reading year off at a certain point and then starting to count books for the next year, as sometimes the previous year’s reads pile up with the holidays and whatnot). But today, we are going to talk about Lying in the Deep. A book I pre-ordered and was incredibly excited about.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Jade is doing a semester at sea type of situation, she will be traveling on a large cruise ship to several different countries and it is coming at the perfect time because she just broke up with her boyfriend who cheated on her with her now ex-best friend. Now she is on the cruise but someone else is too, her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend. This cruise has turned from a break from reality to a nightmare quickly. But now on top of her own personal nightmare, someone has fallen overboard on the cruise. What if they can not be found? Did someone push them?

I really really wanted to have fun with this book. I was on such a murder mystery/thriller kick and this book was just not it for me. I felt like the main character was a bit whiny and did not really investigate things as far as she could/should have. Additionally, the story/mystery was not much of a mystery and the twists and turns went in weird directions. I do have two other books by this author on my shelf that I am very excited to try but in the meantime, I will be listing this book on my Pango!

Goodreads Rating: 1 Star

This was a fun YA thriller whodunnit set aboard a cruise ship. It was atmospherically well done, especially the excursions. This reminded me a bit of Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie but with teens.

A YA mystery with a cool setting! This book takes place on an ocean liner, which is a really good setting for an isolated mystery. However, the characters spent very little time on the ship in the first half of the book, which I found weird and pretty slow. The unfolding mystery was pretty cool (a little went over my head), and for the most part, I liked the budding romance. I'm definitely looking forward to this author's next book, however!

Thank you to Netgalley and Razorbill for sending me a copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

Where to start with this book?? I'm so conflicted about the entire thing. It was like a wreck that I couldn't look away from. Not sure if I was so pulled into it simply because of the mystery of it or the actual content. The MC Jade was highly unlikable to me, and almost everything she did seemed like something that a normal human wouldn't do? She was over the top about her ex and her ex-bestie, she was constantly making a mess of things, and she just generally only cared about herself?

But then the plot itself kept taking such wild twists that it kept me wanting to know what would happen next? I loved the idea of mystery on a ship and the way that new locations continually added things to it. It did keep me guessing who was actually behind everything, but the fact that I had guessed a large part of it early on really set me off.

I have no idea how I feel, but I definitely sped through it? Take that however you will?

while yes a little bit predictable the mystery part of the novel was fun, on the other hand the characters were just plain annoying

This honestly was a wild ride. I thought the plot was super fast pace and compeling and all the twists and turns were very hard to predict but i did not feel that connected to the characters!!

This was a creepy and amazing thriller. I loved the twists and turns throughout the book. This was a great read and if you're looking for a thriller, I highly recommend this one!

Jade was excited to embark on a new adventure in 11 countries in 4 days, especially with everything that has been going on in her life lately! However, her excitement is short-lived with her ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend going on the cruise as well. While she is angry and her anger festers within her because of the backstabbing duo and unexpected murder happens and then more people begin to die and she is under pressure with a new friend to find out who committed the murders to clear her name!
Wow! I loved the adventure and I loved the mystery aspect! The author did soo well! I bought a copy for my daughter for Christman and I know she will love it too! The mystery the chills and everything in between! Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for the opportunity to read and review this one! It was a treat!

While a lot of this book feels so unbelievable, it is still so action packed with mystery and kept me reading without (mostly) stopping until the end.

Jade had been broken up through text by her former BF Silas and he's with her former BFF Lainey now. Lainey and Jade had signed up for a semester aboard a cruise ship and Jade still goes. Not expecting the two formers to be there too. Now she can't avoid them and they accuse Jade of stalking. Then it seems Lainey is killed.

When things unravel and get revealed, I felt myself thinking "really? How could this elaborate scene actually come to pass?" and the ending I just hated.