Such a great read.

Ava’s life isn’t going well, she’s failed a year at medical school, her boyfriend has dumped her and her mom isn’t really thrilled to see her. So instead of sitting around nursing her wounds she’s off to the island of Alythos, where she was born to try and find out who her father was and what the circumstances of her birth were.

She arrives in Alythos to find the hotel where she was likely conceived is now a wreck, but instead of letting that stop her, she asks around.

Ava is a wonderful character and you know nothing will stop her. Alythos is beautifully imagined and described, with all the sweet quirks that islands have that rely on tourists and I fell in love with the people and place instantly.

This book is full of beautiful character study and fast paced thrills, it was a gripping, enjoyable and thrilling ride that I didn’t want to end.

This is for anyone who enjoys island life, rumours, and secrets, you will soak it in.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Ava is kicked out of medical school, she decides to take the summer working in Alythos, Greece. But this isn’t a random holiday, Ava is in search of her father. Unfortunately, for Ava, her curiosity lands her in some very deep water, with someone desperate to keep their lies uncovered.

Deep Blue Lies is a great summer read. A thriller x chick lit with some cute and likeable characters and a gripping storyline.

The chapters were short and engaging and definitely kept me turning the pages.

I loved Ava’s friendship and connection with Sophia and thought the two were a sweet duo.

Although it was a little predictable, I still loved the way to story unravelled and the truth came out. The suspense was good throughout and what happened on the boat was utterly chilling, but believable too.

A quick and fun book that I’d definitely recommend.

I’m a huge Gregg Dunnett fan and I found this book very different to any of his previous. His versatility is just unparalleled. He’s one of few authors I don’t even need to read the blurb to know it’s going to be a great read. Another 5 stars from me.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my advanced copy.

Ava has been dropped from her med school program, her boyfriend has dumped her, and her mother is not happy with her. Ava knows she was born on a small island of Greece, but her mother has never talked about her time there or who her father is. Determined to go there to connect with her past and perhaps find her father, Ava travels to the island. As she searches the past, her history becomes more clouded. It’s an interesting mystery to unravel and the Greek island is described beautifully.
Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a real page turner. A dark and murky thriller full of secrets and lies. I did like Ava as a character and I loved the setting of the novel. It was fast paced too which I really liked. A great summer read.

Crystal-clear waters. Cold-blooded murder. Deep blue lies. When Ava Whitaker is kicked out of medical school and dumped by her boyfriend her life falls apart. But the real problem isn't her future. It's in her past. She was born on the Greek island of Alythos, where her mother once mixed cocktails at the luxurious Aegean Dream Resort. Yet her mother has never spoken about that time, never explained why she left so suddenly, and never answered the one question that's haunted Ava her entire life: Who was her father?! Wow! What a fabulous storyline! Hooked me in! I read it in one sitting! This book had fantastic suspense, murder, dark family secrets, mystery, intrigue, and a few jaw dropping moments! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and Storm publishing for sharing this book with me!

Ava Whitaker always dreamed of becoming a doctor. But when her poor grades forced her dismissal from medical school and her boyfriend left her she suddenly turned to the question of her past that had always haunted her. Who was her father? She knows she was born on the Green island of Alythos where her mother was a bar tender at the Aegean Dream Resort but her mother never told her why she suddenly left leaving behind her father, whoever he was. Her mother refused to tell her.
Ava travels to Alythos to try to find out the truth about her background. When she reached the island she was faced with something she never expected in such a beautiful place. From the strange town folks who appearred to hiding something to the abandoned resort where her mother once worked and which now resembled a war zone.
The details surrounding tragedy that occurred in the town twenty years before was a major secret the towns people refused to talk about. Ava is now faced with the question of whether the true identity of her father is buried in the rubble of what happened there so many years ago. The only way she will find out is to unbury the truth herself.

Ava Whitaker is feeling very down. Asked to leave her medical school course due to poor results, she returns home to face her successful businesswoman mother, Karen, who will be bitterly disappointed. At a loss at what to do next, Ava takes a dead end temping job, and against all her mother’s wishes Ava decides save up to visit the Greek island where she was born. Always reluctant to speak about that time in her life, Karen has only told Ava the basics. According to Karen’s story, she was working a summer job at the Aegean Dream Resort on Alythos when she had a fling with a Greek waiter, and gave birth to Ava before returning home. Karen refuses to give any further details. Wanting to discover who her father is, Ava is ready to go on an adventure. Unsurprisingly Ava has no idea just how many secrets and lies she is about to uncover.

I really liked this book. Great characters and plot, fast paced, very well written and a captivating read. Yes, all reason has to be suspended, but just go with the flow, it’s quite a ride! If there is one criticism it’s that the ending was a bit too audience pleasing, it could have been grittier 😉, but nevertheless, a really good read that you don’t want to miss.

4.5*

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

When Ava is kicked out of medical school, she goes to Greece to try to find out who her father is. She starts with the place her mom worked when she was young. Ava finds it in ruins. While she hears more than one story about what happened, she is on a quest to see if anyone remembers her mom. What she finds out is nothing like she could have imagined. So I originally thought this book was predictable, to find out I was very wrong. Loved this book!

4.5 stars for Deep Blue Lies by Gregg Dunnett, published by Storm Publishing.
A fast paced, complex dark thriller that tells Ava's story.
Ava has hit rock bottom. She had to leave med school, had a bad break up with her boyfriend and to top it all off, her past shows up.
She travels to a greecian island to find out who's her father. And soon she's tangled jjn a dangerous web.
A great story, excellent told.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of Deep Blue Lies by Gregg Dunnett due to be published September 26, 2025.

Ava Whitaker is kicked out of medical school, but her problem isn’t her future – it’s her past. She was born in Greece, but who is her father? Ava must find out her roots, but what else will she uncover?

This one had me hooked from the beginning – lots of twists I never saw coming – I couldn’t wait for Ava to find out the truth! A fast-paced thriller that you won’t want to miss!

#NetGalley #GreggDunnett #DeepBlueLies #StormPublishing