WOW this book did NOT disappoint!

I enjoyed Loreth Anne White’s novel, In the Dark so I knew I’d like In The Deep. And I was instantly hooked from Chapter 1! This five star read goes from the courtroom to the crime scene of the warm, humid coast of Australia and left me hanging on every page.

Take a look at the plot:

Real-estate mogul Martin Cresswell-Smith is the best thing that has ever happened to Ellie. After her daughter’s devastating death, a divorce, and an emotional breakdown, he’s helped her move as far as possible from the grief, the rage, and the monsters of her past. Ellie imagines her new home with Martin in an Australian coastal town will be like living a fairy tale. But behind closed doors is another story—one that ends in Martin’s brutal murder. And Ellie seems almost relieved…

Naturally, everyone thinks Mrs. Cresswell-Smith is guilty.

Senior Constable Lozza Bianchi has reasonable doubt. She sees evidence of a twisted psychological battle and a couple who seemed to bring out the worst in each other—adultery, abuse, betrayal, and revenge. If anything Ellie says can be believed, that is. As the case takes twist after spiraling twist, Lozza can’t shake the gut instinct that she’s being manipulated. That Ellie is hiding something. That there are secrets yet to surface. Lozza has no idea.

This is a flawless novel with twists and turns, written so beautifully that you won’t want to put it down. After finishing, I was left eager to read something else from Loreth Anne White! Luckily there are several of her novels on Amazon, free if you have Kindle Unlimited.

Don’t miss this fantastic suspense!

It comes out on October 27, 2020 and you can pre-order here.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of In The Deep!

O.M.G what an ending!! This book had me hooked from the very beginning, going back and forth between the trial for the murder of Mr. Cresswell-Smith, the “before” in Ellie’s POV and the “after” in Senior Constable Lozza Bianchi’s POV. The whirlwind romance of Ellie and Martin Cresswell-Smith was so blatantly obvious that something was bound to go wrong but what you think is happening is the complete opposite of what really happens. I was shocked when the big reveal as to who Martin Cresswell-Smith’s killer is, and why. Definitely recommend this book! It is fast-paced and keeps you interested until the very last page!

In The Deep by Loreth Anne White a five-star read that will suck you into the murky depths. I will be honest and admit that I nearly lost this story at times, but what a complex and twisted web we are woven, I am so glad I kept going as it turned into an unforgettable read that has its hooks sunk so deep into me I may never come to the surface. I do not know what to say about this one as its one that anything I reveal could give away the game, there are so many points that you could figure some of the twists but they are so well done I really hope that you don’t. This was my first by this author, but it won’t be my last as I enjoyed the end of this so much.

In The Deep is a psychological thriller that has many twists and turns. The ending completely takes you by surprise. The writing is superb as always but the style is different from Loreth Anne White’s other books. I’m still deciding what I think about everything I read. That to me is the sign of an amazing author. When the author can get you to think and ponder upon and question what you just read. It doesn’t happen often and when it does it’s something to treasure. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake Romance for the eARC.
This was the second book I read by Loreth Anne White and am now a dedicated fan. What a superb psychological thriller!
Ellie, after a devastating several years of heartache in which she lost her little girl, divorced her husband and spent time in a mental health clinic (all while in the media spotlight), is finally happy. A disastrous lunch with her super wealthy father in one of his hotels ends up with her meeting her future husband, Martin. Madly in love, they move to Australia, where her husband is planning on opening a high-end resort and marina. With money from her father, Ellie joins him as a partner in the venture.
Not long after, things change...Martin changes, and not in a good way. All Ellie's old fears rush back, as do her cravings for tranquilizers and alcohol. Anything to stop her rising paranoia. When Martin's body is found, tortured to death, after having gone missing, she's in a living nightmare.
This was such a twisty mystery that I couldn't tear myself away, reading even though my head ached.
And so well written: you feel as if you're there; hearing the constantly screeching birds, ducking away from the huge flying foxes (bats) and trying to beat the relentless heat.
The ending is a stunner, unbelievable, what a shock! A must-read, highly recommended!

I’m going to do two things I usually don’t do in reviews. I’m going to start with the end of the book and compare it to another book. When a friend of mine finished--lets call it LBL--she called me screaming about the ending. I received similar calls from other books club members. They could not wait for our meeting to ask me if what they were reading was what they actually were reading.
I had the same reaction for In the Deep, an ending with me jumping up and down, screaming how did she do this? How did Loreth Anne White (LAW) do this?
I can’t tell you what she did, but she did it flawlessly. So let me write about what I can write about.
The Hartley Heiress, Ellie Tyler, a woman with more grief than anyone should have to endure, thinks her life is leaving the darkness behind when she meets property developer Martin Cresswell-Smith. Martin takes her from Canada, first on a whirl wind trip to romantic destinations. Then after they marry, and Ellie packs up her old life, to their new home on Jarrawarra Bay, New South Wales on the south coast of Australia. Martin is looking to find financial backing for a huge property he is trying to develop. His original Chinese backers had to drop out.
Soon after arrival, Ellie’s life once again spirals into darkness, drug abuse and violence. No wonder it is such a relief when Cresswell-Smith turns up as a floater.
Unfortunately for Ellie, she becomes Senior Constable Lozza Bianch’s suspect #1. With good reason, as Ellie makes no bones about her relief that Martin is dead; a good look for him as the reader will agree with Ellie. If only the ravenous mud crabs had more time to dispose of Martin.
The book begins with the murder trial, which has garnered world wide attention; with all the best parts, an heiress, drugs, domestic violence, kidnapping, and murder. What is not to love for a public voracious in their wanting to know everything about the lives and private grief of the super-rich?
LAW provides a little bit of magic with the characters as very few are likeable or sympathetic, but they are compelling. Maybe some reluctant sympathy and admiration for Ellie: “I am woman, hear me roar.” Total cheering for Detective Constable Bianchi, she gets it. As for Martin Cresswell-Smith, more applause for his gruesome demise as he is a total slime ball.
Ellie is lucky enough that Cresswell-Smith has rented a lovely house in a small town where she begins to make friends, despite her odd behavior. They are welcoming to Ellie as newcomers are fairly rare.
This might be one of the strangest settings LAW has written about, but she does it perfectly. Jarrawarra Bay sounds stunning, but the beauty of the ocean, its cliffs and beaches doesn’t sound like it would outweigh the mysterious sudden appearance of flocks of flying foxes (bats), mud crabs, jellies the size of volleyballs with venomous stingers, heavy humidity, murder threats and poisonous spiders. I’ve always heard most wildlife in Australia would as soon as kill you as not.
Reviewers will write about twists and turns, but none are lies or false trails. It’s not Law’s fault if we miss clues and cues. It’s all before our very eyes. What the twists and turns do is lead the reader down a path of Linda Blair worthy head spinning. In the Deep is good to the last drop.
" Watch the shells closely, Ellie I say in my head, channeling my father’s voice…..……. because life is a shell game only the tosser wins. "
Thanks to Montlake Publishing, Loreth Ann White and NetGalley for an ARC in return for fair and honest review.
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YES!!! I love a good small environment mystery. I've already read Loreth Anne White's In the Dark and I really enjoyed it, I'm glad to have read this. So excited for everyone else to have it in the fall!

The summary feels like a different angle from the book I ended up reading — however, that's not a bad thing. This book gripped me from the first few chapters and was packed with twists. Some of them I guessed in advanced, but I didn't figure out the big one. (Though the author left just the right amount of hints that some might suspect it.) It's tough to stand out in this crowded genre, but In the Deep really grabbed me. I'm looking forward to reading more from Loreth Anne White.

There were twists and turns throughout this book. I was able to figure out some of the ending but was so blindsided by the actual ending that I am considering reading the book again to see if I can finD where I missed the biggest twist of all. Great book.

Good Lord, I’m exhausted after finishing this book, so many twists and turns, expertly crafted to draw the reader in, I was hooked by the story and the characters. This is one book you shouldn’t summarise as it would ruin the reading experience!

Loreth Anne White really is a master at her craft

I am sad to say this book was not my cup of tea. When you get to the end of a book and realize there was not one likeable or redeemable character in the whole book what's the point. I really like this authors romantic suspense books but these straight up murder mysteries, psychological thrillers just do nothing for me. This is definitely a its a me and not you case.

When someone dies, the first suspect is always their spouse. Ellie was swept off her feet by wealthy Martin-Cresswell-Smith after the death of her daughter and the end of her marriage. He takes her back to Australia where she imagines her new life with a happily ever after will begin. But before long, Martin is dead, murdered, and Ellie doesn’t seem all that upset about it. Police constable Lozza Bianchi doesn’t believe the local gossip about the newly widowed Ellie. She soon learns that the marriage between the newlyweds was far from ideal, at least according to Ellie. But is Lozza being manipulated by a killer or was there more to the victim than met the eye?

Full review to be published online in late October.

Loreth Anne White has penned some of my favorite suspense/thrillers, but she has outdone herself here with this twisted psychological drama. IN THE DEEP is a dark, gripping tale of manipulation, broken trust, and emotional distress. White's story gives voice to the many stereotyped victims and survivors of substance, mental, and physical abuse and illness as well as to those who are or ever have been lost in the dark, bottomless pit of inconsolable grief. After finishing this book, I sat and thought about what I had read and came to the realization there are times in life when a person may find themselves adrift in the deep without an anchor. If you're ever lost there, I pray you'll see and reach for the light and become a survivor. Fans of mystery, suspense, and psychological thrillers will be well pleased with this offering. Well done.

Poor little rich girl Ellie rushes into marriage with property developer Martin and insists on underwriting his pet project in Australia. As soon as she arrives in Australia, Ellie finds that Martin is different behind closed doors, and that the development is facing many obstacles. When Martin is brutally murdered, will his wife be blamed?

This is a well-constructed, well-paced thriller with clever twists and turns. Frequent thriller readers may predict the major twists.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.

Holy wow... this novel was not full of twists and turns but a freaking maze! You think you have it figured out and the White throws that curveball in. Secrets and deceit abound, this was a fantastic read! Thank you Loreth for the galley

A fantastic thrilling suspense that will catch a hold of you from the very first chapter. As an Aussie I loved the Aussie setting that is close to my home. There are twists and turns and the story goes between current events and the past as it all weaves its way to the brilliant climax.

I would love to read more stories based in the area with Detective Lozza

Author Loreth Anne White has gifted readers with another complex, compulsive five star psychological thriller. Go ahead and pre-order In The Deep today as it's destined to be that book - the one everyone's raving about upon release in the Fall of 2020. From the courtroom in which heiress Mrs. Cresswell-Smith stands accused of the cold-hearted, grim murder of her husband Martin to the gruesome crime scene deep in the dark lagoons of coastal Australia, In The Deep unfolds at a brisk pace through extraordinarily unreliable narrators and varying chapters of Then and Now. Courtroom testimonies and first hand opinions conflict. Some see a cunning, conniving black widow out for vengeance while others see a woman on the edge of mental collapse - a victim with a sad history of unbearable loss and grief. She once survived her worse nightmare to find happiness again with real estate mogul Martin Cresswell-Smith only to now stand charged with his horrific murder. What happened to her between Then and Now? Is she victim or villainess? Who will you believe?

Author Loreth Anne White has a gift for delivering stories that are all-consuming for characters and readers alike and In The Deep is another compelling illustration of her limitless talent. Her signature descriptive prose mentally transports readers into highly sensual settings employing all five senses - the overwhelming sight, sickly smell and bitter taste of blood and death, the emotional turmoil forcing fear to escape the lips, the eerie sounds forewarning imminent danger - all wrapped up in a landscape of immeasurable beauty. All serve to propel readers through scenes and pages spiraling toward an unknown ending and fate. Sharp, tightly woven plot lines and deeply flawed characters lure readers through a maze of deception, betrayal, abuse, and vengeance. Through smoke and mirrors, readers are charged with seeking the truth - guilty or innocent? And just when you think you have it all figured out, the final shocker will be revealed!

In The Deep is a dark, gripping tale of manipulation, broken trust, and emotional distress. White's story gives voice to the many stereotyped victims and survivors of substance, mental, and physical abuse as well as to those who are or ever have been lost in the dark, bottomless pit of inconsolable grief. After finishing this book, I sat and thought about what I had read and came to the realization there are times in life when a person may find themselves adrift in the deep without an anchor. If you're ever lost there, I pray you'll see and reach for the light and become a survivor. Fans of mystery, suspense, and psychological thrillers are going to be over-the-moon over this book. It's shelved on my 2020 Favorites Shelf. Highly Recommended!

White's writing goes from strength to strength in this new release.

This story kept me up way too late at night reading to find out what would come next. In The Deep is disturbing and compelling in equal proportions with it's vividly drawn characters and unreliable narrator. Just when you think you have a handle on the plot,White's deft use of smoke and mirrors takes the reader in another direction and her talent in drawing a searingly vivid setting, which becomes a character in itself, is second to none. If you love a cleverly crafted whodunnit, you'll be riveted by this story. Hold onto your hat and enjoy the read.

I am not great with the written word, but Loreth Anne White sure is!! She is, by far, one of THE most talented authors ever. If you can read, you MUST read her books. In the Deep is exceptional; a great psychological suspense book. It grabs you from the start and never lets up, even up to the very end! I could have read this in one sitting, but had to pace myself. Loreth Anne White leaves you wanting more. This book is awesome...IT WILL NOT DISAPPOINT!!!

I received an ARC of this book so that I could review it, and I am SO glad that I did! I can always count on Loreth Anne White to grab my attention within the first few sentences. I can also count on her to surprise me, keep me guessing, and keep me turning those pages - right to the very last word. In the Deep is no exception and I was NOT let down.

One of the things that I love best about White’s writing is the way she creates imagery for the reader without cliché. She finds new ways of describing things that allow you to immediately see and experience a tangible imagination of the story. The way she described the ocean full of giant jellyfish - like bubble tea; I laughed and immediately could see it, almost reach my hand out and touch it!

The characters are interesting and multifaceted and so extraordinarily HUMAN. When reading you feel like you know these people. In the Deep kept me up late into the early hours of morning turning pages and I have no regrets losing sleep. I’m sad the book is over because I want to keep reading her words.

If you like suspense, crime, or relating to protagonists as well as antagonists, get this book. You will not be disappointed.