For fans of a good Locked Room mystery, 6 experienced saturation divers are starting their next job and will be locked in the hyperbaric chamber for 28 days. But when one of divers is found dead within days of the job starting, the other five divers are stuck decompressing for four days and wondering if they're locked in with a killer.

I loved the concept of this story, and I was all onboard to try and figure out the murderer. I'm all for learning about new topics as well, but the first few chapters of The Chamber were heavy on the science talk, and I actually spent a good amount of time going down a rabbit hole and learning about saturation diving. While Dean does provide a helpful glossary at the beginning of the book, the complex nature of the subject matter really took away from the 'story experience'.

Dean did do a great job of generating a claustrophobic feel to the story and I thoroughly enjoyed the setting. Outside of the murders though, not much actually happens, that combined with looking up more information on saturation diving, really slowed the pace of the story down for me.

Lastly, I never truly felt that we connected with any of the characters, including our narrator. While each character at points gives us stories about their past jobs and lives, the stories never drew me in, nor did they give me any clues as to who the murderer could be. If there were clues left for us in there, I completely missed them.

This is my second Will Dean book, and while I think he's ideas are unique, I never fully connect with his characters and tend to find myself wanting just a bit more to the story. For The Chamber, I might know who the culprit is, but I still have no idea about the WHY, which is why I can't give this anymore than 3 stars.

The Chamber comes out August 6, 2024.  Thank you to Atria for my advanced copy in exchange for my review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my
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Can you think of anything more terrifying than being trapped under the ocean's surface for 4 days? Now imagine you are trapped in a small room barely tall enough to stand in. Oh, and add a few dead bodies and a possible killer or deadly virus. The Chamber filled me with an ominous dread from the very first chapter and only built from there throughout the entire book.

This story is about a sat diver who is starting a 28 day mission with five other divers. She has worked with most of them before and the mission is just like the many that have come before. It is had work and extremely cramped, but she loves the work. The first day on the ocean floor goes well, but when she and her partner go back up to the chamber, she finds that something has happened to one of the other divers and he dies. No one knows what happened. That is traumatic enough considering there is no where to go to get away from the body, but later, another diver dies. What or who is killing these divers? They are all living in a space the size of a closet and no one saw a thing, so what on earth could be happening? Most people would just leave, but that's impossible when you are that deep. You have to control you ascent or you could die from the rapid pressure change. The fastest they can ascend safely is FOUR DAYS... if they can last that long.

The Chamber was a study is suspense. I felt every moment stuck in that ship and could feel the water pressing down on me with every page. The descriptions and pacing was perfect and the twists and turns were captivating. Will Dean did such a phenomenal job with this book and I will be reading his entire catalog now.

2.5/5 Stars.
I absolutely loved the first 25% of this, it was fast paced, super interesting, and hard to put down. And then it kind of felt like it stalled…the first death has you on edge questioning how this man died. The divers are told the mission is over and that they will be stuck in the chamber with the dead body until they resurface. From there the story just drags as you wait for them to resurface. Yes, people are dying one by one but there’s nothing as surprising as the first death makes you feel. We’re given many stories about the divers experiences, but none of them were very interesting. I was also super confused because the characters have their real names, and nicknames and they’re constantly interchanged, so it’s hard to follow who is being talked about. The ending was very lackluster and felt forced, and still doesn’t make sense? I enjoyed the claustrophobic-ness, and danger we are introduced to in the beginning, but otherwise, the story didn’t really appeal to me.

THE CHAMBER was an absorbing read. Now, it is a slow-burn but I say stick with it. You'll get to a point where you won't want to put it down. This is my second book I've read by this author. I plan to read more of his books in the future.

Many thanks for my gifted copy.

The chamber was a slow read and it took me a while to get into the story. You follow six saturation divers on a job and one by one they mysteriously start to die.

I really wanted to like the slow burn but I was left not super impressed by the ended or the reason why the killer was killing. I did enjoy the concept of being in tight quarters and having to watch everyone due to suspicion.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book after seeing some mixed reviews. Think locked room mystery meets survival story as it follows a group of saturation divers who are locked inside a hyperbaric chamber and they are ending up dead one by one. The atmospheric tension was crazy it felt extremely claustrophobic and definitely stress inducing. I was a bit turned off in the beginning as there is a full on glossary of terms used in the book and I was worried it was going to be too technical but luckily I was able to follow. In someways this reminded me of Drowning by TJ Newman due to the constant high stakes action that occurred the whole book. The ending was a bit of a letdown but otherwise a fun read! Thanks to NetGalley, Will Dean, and Atria for early access in exchange for an honest review.

3.75/5 stars

This book was super info dumping heavy and I didn’t feel invested in the story, characters or plot. Disappointing

Wow, I hardly know where to begin! This is a book about saturation divers, a subject about which I really knew nothing. They work on the seabed—-there’s a whole world of stuff down there that has to be built, tended, repaired, replaced, and so forth. All kinds of pipelines, tubes, equipment—-I had no idea.

So the diving vessel is the larger stage for the book, but the action really takes place in the Chamber, the inner area which is pressurized where the divers stay, eat, sleep, and live while they’re working on a job. I really wish I could see one, and honestly, I think this book would make a good movie.

All starts out okay on this job, and there are six divers on this particular job. Brooke, our narrator and the only female of the bunch, takes the first plunge while her partner keeps watch; they always dive in pairs, one at a time. After her successful six hours, the action starts—-the youngest diver is dead in the Chamber. I can’t imagine what it must be like inside this small area which really has only six bunks. All meals are delivered via tube from outside the pressurized area, and toilet and shower are below in a wet area. Anyway, the divers attempt CPR on their crew member and they are supported by a nurse supervisor who sends in drugs, IV, and other supplies. Why would a young, healthy man have suddenly died with no indication of illness?

But it’s what occurs after that that starts all the tension, and the author does a superb job of creating hold-on-to-your-hat-and-don’t-breathe atmosphere from there to the end of the book.

This one is a don’t miss. I highly recommend it! Five sparkly stars!

Well just holy cow!! This is my favorite Will Dean book to date. Went in blind and that made it even more intense and surprising. I read this in one day and could not put it down. The characters were fantastic and made me feel like I was right there submerged with them. Super tense and totally unnerving. Superb storytelling. Highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley, Will Dean and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this cracker of a book.

Six experienced divers are just starting their mission, locked in a hyperbaric chamber, when one of them dies. While awaiting several days of decompression, they continue to die one by one.

This book was super tense. I was very intrigued by the plot from the start, as I find the ocean and the science behind the diving fascinating enough; add to that a locked room mystery and I was all in. The action starts pretty quickly and the tension builds, particularly during the last few scenes. We hear the past experiences of the divers as they try to not go mad as they wait to be safely let out of the chamber, all wondering if they will even make it out alive, no longer trusting anyone, including each other. While I was pretty certain of the 'who/what' early on, I didn't know the 'why', and to be quite honest, I still don't know if I fully understand it, but I was caught off guard once or twice and definitely still enjoyed the story as a whole.

I was looking forward to this book so much after the last twisty read by Will Dean. I was pretty disappointed by it. It was SUPER quick and I flew through it to see what was going to happen. However, I didn't think the ending was truly possible. I also struggled with all the redundancy and "world building". Overall, I did not love this one as I had hoped.

DNF @ 10% - this did not finish is on me… after absolutely devouring will dean’s previous books, I immediately requested this one without actually reading the synopsis or brief blurb, which I definitely should have. as someone who is very claustrophobic, I could not get through a few chapters without feeling triggered myself, so y’all take care of yourself and actually check for triggers please!!! will dean’s writing is so addictive though that I have no doubt that he produced yet another fast paced heart pounding adventure!!! many thanks to netgalley and the publisher for dealing with lil ol me :’)

It could've been absolutely spectacular, I just don't seem to get along with the author's writing style. There's a lot of sentences along the line of. "The water isn't stormy, but it isn't calm either." Something about it just continuously takes me out of the story and it happens so much. Also, I just wasn't having a great time. It felt so slow and I was just waiting for more.

Thank you to Atria, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the free E-copy for review.

The claustrophobic intensity of this story immediately gripped me. As we delve into the high-pressure world of saturation diving, the reader is immersed in the cramped, confined quarters where the characters must survive. Dean masterfully explores the multifaceted challenges they face - from the vital need for meticulous hygiene and cleanliness to ward off deadly germs to the psychological strain of being trapped together in such close quarters.

The narrative is told through the eyes of Brookes, the lone female diver in a crew of six. Her character is a mystery, and the glimpses we get into her past come as a genuine surprise. When one of the divers is found dead, the story takes a gripping turn as the remaining crew must grapple with the question of what - or who - is responsible.

As the stakes escalate and another diver perishes, the palpable sense of dread and desperation heightens. Trapped in the hyperbaric chamber during their decompression, the characters are utterly isolated, with limited options for help or escape. The claustrophobic atmosphere becomes almost suffocating, mirroring the growing paranoia and suspicion amongst the crew.

Having previously been blown away by Dean's work in "The Last One Left," I had high expectations for this novel. I'm pleased to say that "The Chamber" more than delivers. The visceral, tense atmosphere and the shocking finale had me reeling long after the last page. This is a wild, white-knuckle ride that will linger in the reader's mind.

Overall, "The Chamber" is a masterclass in crafting a claustrophobic, high-stakes thriller that delves into the fragility of the human psyche under extreme duress. Dean's skilled storytelling and compelling characters make this an absolute must-read.

Out On: August 6, 2024

This book was incredible. I have never read a book based on the topic of saturation divers, nor have I ever read a book that hooked me in so quickly. I thought the premise of this book was absolutely terrifying. Being in a tiny chamber with five other people, where you have to aggressively lean on one another in order to survive in a workplace. Absolutely wild.

As the story progresses, I did have a bit of a hard time with the pacing, as there were some sections that really didn't seem relevant to the storyline. However, there were some moments that were so drawn out and tense that I genuinely felt my heart rate increase while I was reading through them. Another thing that did make it a little difficult to follow was all of the diving jargon that was throughout the book, which makes sense for the book but not for my brain haha! The glossary at the beginning of the book was helpful, but overwhelming.

The ending...holy moly the ending of all endings. To say I was shell shocked and confused at the same time is a bit of an understatement. I am so glad I got to read this early because I am going to be telling all of my friends who love thrillers about this one!

Thank you so much to Atria Books for this advanced copy on NetGalley! 🤍

✨ARC REVIEW✨

The Chamber
By Will Dean
Publishes: 8/6/24
Genre: thriller/suspense

Thanks to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the opportunity to read this arc. This was a unique, high-tension, locked-room thriller. I generally really enjoy a locked-room/isolation trope. The deep ocean is terrifying, so being in a no-escape, high-stakes situation in the ocean is even more terrifying. The setting and premise were quite interesting, but overall this novel was just okay for me. The Chamber started off with a diagram depicting the specialized ship/chamber and included a glossary of technical terminology. This was appreciated, however, the story was sometimes still a little difficult for me to picture. There were quite a few characters on this dicey diving mission, but none of them were particularly likable or relatable. I felt the ending was a bit unsatisfying. I enjoyed the suspense and the scenario a lot. Even though I didn’t love this one, you might. I think Will Dean is a talented author. I really liked and would recommend his novel The Last One. In my experience , he tends to have unique storylines, which keeps things exciting.
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫.

All this and more…
🗺️ diagram
📕 glossary of technical terms
🌊 ocean
🤿 high-risk diving work
🔒 locked room
☠️ murder
😬 suspense
👥 many characters
🧠 psychological
🤨 trust no one
✍️ Shakespeare references

#thechamber #arcreview #augustbookrelease #arcreading #netgalley #atriabooks #thrillerbooks #suspensebooks #bookreview #bookthoughts #bookstagram #uniquebook

I am utterly speechless! The Chamber by Will Dean is a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read that will leave you on the edge of your seat! After only a few pages in, I was invested to find out WHO DUN IT. The ending though, left me with more questions than answers. I need to know MORE. Had the ending been more..conclusive I would’ve enjoyed it more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an eARC copy of The Chamber by Will Dean.

I love that Will Dean goes into the world of saturation diving, it's a world I have never really known about and it is clear that he did a lot of research going into this novel. There was also a lot of mention of real life accidents and vessels, which was also nice little easter eggs (if you haven't heard of any of the vessels you can certainly look them up while reading). Because of this, Will Dean's locked room thriller feels all the more real and scary, the feeling of dread and confusion sinking in as you read. It leaves you spiraling alongside the characters are you slowly race to the end to find out what happens. It is certainly a fresh spin on the typical locked room mystery and The Chamber certainly left me thinking, even after the book was done.

If you need a book to keep you on the edge of your seat, this is one for you. The Chamber by Will Dean Is a suspenseful thriller about a group of deep-sea divers trapped in a diving chamber where one by one they all start to suspiciously die. The author does a great job of making you feel the emotions that all of the characters are Going through. You won’t know what is going on in the best possible way. But I tell you I was on the edge of my seat reading this book I mean it. I would say if your claustrophobic approach with caution.

I gave it four stars because I will honestly say it starts off very slowly and it starts off with a lot of technical jargon. You learn a lot about deep-sea divers and how they operate and what the environment they’re in looks like. Which is helpful to the story, I just found that hard to get into. I will say that if you read it in the physical book, he does have a glossary and a chart on the front to show you what the chamber looks like and give you the definition of the terms in the book. Reading on my Kindle made that a little bit harder but once you get more into the book you kind of pick up what these terms mean .

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of publication! The review will be live on my blog on 8/02/24. I will also feature the review on Instagram that same day and post my review to Goodreads, The Storygraph, Fable, and retail sites.

Review:

I was introduced to Will Dean's work last year when I read "The Last One" and immediately became a fan. That book was fast-paced - I seriously couldn't read it fast enough. Was it implausible? Absolutely, but it was still a lot of fun. As soon as I read the synopsis of this one, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy, and while I didn't find it as fast-paced as "The Last One," I still enjoyed it.

This time around, Dean takes readers on a suspenseful journey into the depths of the ocean, where six experienced saturation divers find themselves trapped in a hyperbaric chamber while, one by one, they begin to drop like flies.

This book combines two of my biggest fears: Being out in the middle of the ocean and being trapped in a super-tight space. Not only are the divers locked in this chamber, but they're dangling beneath a boat. When the first person mysteriously dies, it's shocking, but there are protocols in place, and the five remaining members work to get the body up to a specific area in the chamber so it can be away from them and returned to the main ship. The problem is that they have to wait for their tiny coffin-like area to decompress before they can leave, and that takes several days to happen. And then the next crew member drops dead, and now everyone is wondering if someone amongst them is killing them, or if one of the crew who delivers their food and drink is poisoning them, or if it's something else entirely. Whatever the case, they're trapped until the chamber has fully decompressed, and this is when the mental games begin.

From the very first page, Dean grabs readers' attention and doesn't let go. The tension and suspense are palpable as the divers must navigate the treacherous waters of paranoia, exhaustion, and suspicion while trying to uncover the truth behind the mysterious deaths occurring in the chamber. Each character is expertly developed, with their own secrets, fears, and motivations. As the group mentally unravels under the stress of their situation, suspicions run high. Readers will find themselves questioning every character's actions and motives, wondering who can be trusted and who is hiding a deadly secret.

Dean expertly conveys a sense of claustrophobia and dread as the divers struggle to survive and outwit their unknown assailant. The setting of the hyperbaric chamber adds an extra layer of intensity to the story. Dean's vivid descriptions bring the chamber to life, making readers feel as though they are trapped inside with the divers, feeling the oppressive heat and claustrophobia that surrounds them. The sense of isolation and impending danger adds to the overall sense of unease, keeping readers on edge as they race to uncover the killer's identity before it's too late.

In addition to the thrilling suspense, Dean delves into the darker aspects of human nature, showing how fear and desperation can drive people to do unthinkable things. This book is definitely more psychological than action-packed, and while it had me feeling all kinds of claustrophobic, I also found that the book dragged a bit in places. We get some great backstories on the characters as they sit and chat about past dangers they've faced while being on other missions, and while this helped to flesh out the characters, I felt it slowed the novel's pace a bit. It wasn't enough to completely ruin it for me, but it made the pace feel choppy.

If you are a fan of gripping, heart-pounding, locked-room thrillers, you'll definitely want to check this one out. If you are claustrophobic, allow yourself plenty of time to set this one aside and breathe (I know I had to several times). While I felt the pace was a bit off, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a breathtaking psychological read this summer.