This is an enthralling women’s fiction novel by a new author to me. Very good.

Thank you, Elizabeth Hall, Lake Union & Netgalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

"The Music of the Deep" by Elizabeth Hall is a gripping and enthralling novel. A story of a woman, running away from an abusive marriage, meeting interesting characters in a remote community, whom save her in more ways than one. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

4.5/5

Goodness, The Music of the Deep by Elizabeth Hall was not at all what I expected it was going to be and it ended up being quite the heavy hitter. I clearly didn't read the synopsis again because I went in unaware that Alex was running from an abusive relationship, and that alone was incredibly hard to read about. I love that this is set in Puget Sound and that Hall used her own experiences there to help her draft this book. I feel like I learned a lot about whales, especially orcas, that I knew nothing about, and it was quite fascinating having that be a major element of the story. There is some light humor, but overall, I would say this is a pretty serious novel and there was enough in here that I actually cried a couple of times.

I simply adored the audiobook which is narrated by Emily Sutton-Smith, and I cannot even express how great of an experience she made this story for me. She made everything (especially the abuse and Alex's fear) feel all the more real and she was also able to bring every single one of the characters to life. Alex isn’t the only one dealing with trauma either, and I liked how Hall blended viewpoints together to create a full picture for the reader. The end left a loose string which I wasn’t a huge fan of since you know how much I dislike cliffhangers, but it completely fit with the story, and I can come to terms with it. The Music of the Deep made me feel so much and I highly recommend it if you enjoy emotional reads with a light mystery and ghostly vibes.

Well, this wasn't exactly what i was expecting but it was still very good. i read it in 2 days! TRIGGER WARNING: DOMESTIC ABUSE
This book is about Alex. She marries the perfect, handsome, dreamy Daniel. Then the nightmare begins. This guy is the piece of shit suck to the bottom of your shoe. He's abusive in every way. Alex finally leaves him after 11 years of living in constant terror. She runs away to Copper Cove, Washington to work for a marine biologist, Maggie. The story then weaves Maggie's story, Alex's story and Emmie's story together. Emmie is another local who may or may not be a witch. There's not many ghost in it like i had expected. Ghost of the past, sure but not BOO! ghost.
The writing in this book is great. Like i said, it wasn't what i expected but i devoured it in 2 days. This is the first thing I've read by Elizabeth Hall but i would read more by her.
I received this book as a gift from a friend. Thank you very much Tara!

Music of the Deep by Elizabeth Hall

Brief Summary: Alex moves to a small town off Puget Sound to escape her abusive husband. She works for a marine biologist who studies orca whales and makes friends with the locals who teach her about the town’s haunted history. Elizabeth Hall is a new to me author. I love stories about domestic violence survivors and Lake Union Publishing is one of my favorite publishers.

I found this story hard to engage in and the time lines jump around a lot. It was hard to understand that until the end. Alex’s story of domestic violence and her escape from her violent and controlling husband was by far my favorite part of the story.

Explanation of Rating: 3/5 this one just wasn’t for me. I had a hard time getting into all the storylines.

Thank you to Net Galley and Lak Union Publishing for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review

This was a fantastic read, and now I'm slightly obsessed with learning more about orca whales. This was very well written, and easy to get into. I'm only sorry I didn't make time for it sooner.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a much appreciated digital copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Orcas and domestic violence is not a combination I would have ever pictured together. The Music of the Deep does an interesting job of pairing the two together to tell the story of the silent. I was a bit confused with the timeline jumps as I didn’t really get the significance of it until the very end and how the past potentially mirrored protagonist Alex’s life and how things could have ended differently. All in all the story did a great job of depicting domestic violence and the ptsd that comes with it.

While the subject matter is sometimes hard to take, I enjoyed the reflection of how our actions influence those around us. Also very informative on the subject of Orcas. I will be interested to read more from this author.

Great book for anyone who likes domestic thirllers, gets straight into it from the first page and I was rooting for the main character, the story itself wasn't for me though.

I thought The Music of the Deep was haunting, captivating, and a wonderful read. I loved the small town setting and the relationship development of Elizabeth Hall's writing. She managed to write very eloquently about spousal abuse, the plight of orcas in the Pacific Northwest, and small town community gossip in a way that I found very well thought out. My only critique would be that I wished to have more information on the characters or perhaps a few more plot points to keep the story moving. Overall a good read.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC in return for my honest opinion.

This is a different genre to what I would normally gravitate to but the description and cover drew me in. I was glad to have had the opportunity to read this book and be introduced to this author.

I enjoyed the narrative of this book and would recommend it.

This book was an ARC from Netgalley. It took me so long to get into the story. There is domestic abuse, it's part of the plot just FYI if you're sensitive to that. The story moves between the past and present tense.

Alex Turner is on the run from her husband Daniel who's very possessive. She takes a job helping research Orca's with a marine biologist who's got a few secrets of her own. The setting is in the Puget Sound.

There is a really good cast of characters. Members of a spinning club (yarn)make this almost feel like a comedy of errors cozy mystery.

The best part of the story is the Orca Whales back story and the feel of the house Alex stays in. It's rumored to be haunted but it also holds a few secrets.

With that said the author did not tie up her storyline and leaves you with too many questions unanswered.

By the time I arrived at 80% part of the book on my Kindle the story was finally getting good then BOOM it's over and there's not even a sequel to give you hope you'll get answers.
I was not happy. It felt like the ending was rushed or she forgot her plot.

Very well written with a story that keeps you wanting more. I enjoyed this book very much. Domestic violence is such a sad thing and I’ll admit to shedding a few tears, but the author did a fantastic job dealing with the subject

A nice book that pulled me in and held on. While I have never read anything by this author before I certainly look forward to more now. It has great characters and is written to keep you wanting more. It was one that was hard to put down and hard to see end.
I loved it.

Thank you #NetGalley, #Lake Union, #The Music of the Deep

I have never read anything by this author before. I enjoyed this book and definitely will read more from this author. The plot and characters flow great together

This book is haunting on so many levels. It looks at the issues of domestic violence from a victim as well as observer perspective, and it looks at the plight of the Orcas and other wild life in the Pacific North West. The small island town setting along with the gloomy atmosphere were perfect. I loved the interaction of the interweaving stories of the local residents. Very touching read. I will definitely be looking for other works by Ms. Hall!

This hooked me from page one and I lost countless hours of sleep because I couldn't put this one down! The writing was beautiful. Bittersweet ending but was necessary.

Three days of almost non-stop driving and 2000 miles later, Alexandra Turner drove off the ferry to the small town of Copper Cove on Puget Sound. It was just before Christmas and the coloured lights were pretty. But Alex wouldn’t be celebrating Christmas – she was just happy to be well away from her past. Her new boss, Maggie Edwards, was a marine biologist who had devoted her life to the study of orcas. Alex would be working with her…

Learning the area was “haunted” didn’t worry Alex too much – she wasn’t sure she believed in ghosts or anything of the kind. Her gradual friendship with some of the locals eased her nerves a little, but it was when she was in the old house at night that the nightmares returned; the noises making her wonder if she wasn’t quite sane. The memories of her past - the horror of an abusive husband – were never far away.

What would happen to Alex? Would she ever find peace? And what were the secrets that bound the Copper Cove people together – and sometimes apart?

The Music of the Deep was a deeply satisfying read; author Elizabeth Hall has written with great understanding, empathy and compassion of the darkness and terror of domestic violence. A story of secrets, friendship, and a mother’s love; The Music of the Deep encompasses the family structure of the orcas and the many comparisons between human and blackfish. A thoroughly enjoyable read that I highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read and review.

When I sat down to read this book , I really didn't know what I was getting into . This is a haunting book that had me hooked by the third chapter . Alexandra Turner is running from a very abusive relationship. Heading to the east coast and the town of Puget Sound . She has the perfect job there studying the Orcas with a marine biologist . When she befriends a group of well I will say kind of off beat friends at a knitting bee . She finds out that she is living in a town that has been dubbed the most haunted town in all of Washington state . She also arrives in Puget Sound at the wrong time of year where its raining all the time and its just eerie out there . Between the knitting addicts that become her friends and the animal whisperer that is her neighbour . She wouldn't have thought anything of the ghosts but Alexandra is already on edge when unexplained things and bumps in the night keep her on edge. Will she over come the past or invite the ghosts in .

The characters in this book really captivated me . They are well written and complex. Alexandra is such a tortured character . We know that she is broken and that she is hiding a lot from her past . We do see her grow a little and start to let go of the past but when the ghosts start to haunt we see an uncertain woman again. Now my favourite character is Emmie , she is the animal/ people whisperer. She is quirky and has some really funny moments in the book. She also becomes a really good friend to Alexandra and does guide her through the memories of the abuse . The knitting addicts are so much fun to read they are like a family and rib each other all the time . They are there for Alexandra when she needs them . Now Maggie is a little tougher to read she is a strong character but there is a gruffness to her that kind of rubs people the wrong way . But as you read the layers of Maggie do start to peel away . Trust me you will fall in love with these characters just like I did

The author takes us on such an emotional journey in this book . There were times when I was reading that I wanted to go through my kindle and help Alexandra out of therelationship. I was cheering for her the whole time. There were other times when I was laughing out loud . The knitting addicts for one instance . They harped on each other but when push comes to shove they were there for each other . Also Emmie was a hoot to read. There were a couple of spots where it kind of fell just a little flat but over all I really enjoyed reading this book . This was the first book I have read from this author and I am glad I took the chance . I will be looking at more books from this author . So if you want a haunting book that will keep you reading all night long . Add this one to your summer reading list

I highly recommend this book and give it 5 stars. The author has created a wonderful atmospheric book that has so many different elements it kept this reader captivated from page one.
This is the story of three women, each very different . All three converge on a small idyllic coastal town on Puget Sound. The area is rumored to be haunted. Alexandra [Alex], who does archival work at the University of New Mexico, Emmie, who can sense hurt in animals and people, and Maggie Edwards, a marine biologist studying Orcas in the waters of the Pacific Northwest. Alex goes to work for Maggie as a Marine Biologist and has fled from a terrible abusive relationship. She is trying to escape the memories and start over. Her friends help her and the three women become close friends. The history of their lives is what binds them closely as they rally around Alex to help her heal. The scars from her abuse run deep . I appreciated how sensitive the author was to domestic abuse .
As the book progresses it delves further into empowerment, whale conservation ( which I found fascinating!)
friendship , community and the strange happenings in town where the rain never stops, Each person has a story but their goal is moving forward from their past as strong women do. Along their path they each use their gifts to give to the town and the people they care about. One by channeling animals, two by marine research to help the Orca's plight. I loved each element of this book and how interesting each subject was. The author has a gift for writing and I look forward to more books by this author in the future.
I highly recommend this fascinating book. Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my review . A wonderful read!