When Jade's long-term boyfriend Silas breaks up with her over text to date her best-friend Lainey, she is left feeling broken-hearted and betrayed. Months ago Jade and Lainey planned a semester-a-broad on a cruise ship together, but Jade is sure Lainey is no longer coming when her room arrangement goes back to pending. When Lainey shows up on the first day, with Silas in tow, Jade is devastated. Then, a body appears and Jade finds herself the number one suspect in a murder case.

I really liked this drama-filled story! It was so over-the-top ridiculous I ate up every second of it. I've now discovered I quite like the locked room mystery trope, and I loved the cruise ship setting! The characters definitely don't feel like college students with how incredibly immature and whiny they can be (especially Jade), but it was still enjoyable. The side characters were intriguing, and I liked following the mystery trying to piece together the motives each person had. I wasn't the biggest fan of the romance though, and would have liked it better if it was left out. I liked the ending and hadn't seen it coming although a lot of people say it was rather predictable if you know the story of Death on the Nile, but I've never read it so I was taken by surprise.

Overall, I thought it was fun with a lot of drama thrown in to keep you entertained.

Lying in the Deep is Diana Urban's latest YA book and my latest teen read. The title can be taken two ways - clever.

This group of older teens are taking a learning semester on a cruise ship. Jade has been looking forward to this forever. But's she's devastated to see that her former bestie and her used to be boyfriend are the trip as well. Now's probably a good time to mention some of the themes? Jealousy and revenge are at the top of the list.

How about murder....yup there's one. Who could be the killer? Jade and her new beau are in the thick of things, trying to suss out the whodunit. But they may be suspects as well. They're supported by a wealth of supporting characters that fill in the various tropes.

Urban has melded teen obsession with a murder mystery and a nice twist in the last few chapters.

But, I do feel like some of the 384 pages could have been pared down a bit. Some scenes and events feel repetitive. The other thing I want to mention is that the teens in this are at college. Their behaviors and thinking seems to belong to younger teenagers. On the other hand, they drink and a few of them are casual drug users. Their choice of drug just kinda sat wrong with me. Seriously? M***?

A quick read, that tows the line between reading like YA versus an adult focused novel. The “who-done-it” element will keep you guessing. If you figure it out before the ending you’re more clever than I am.

What worked:
•The boat setting
•The revolving cast of characters, all with motive

What didn’t work:
•The reactions from the “adults” on the ship seemed completely off/fake
•I’m not sold on the logistics of the twist

Read if you like: one room thrillers, The Woman in Cabin 10, Death on the Nile

Thank you to Razorbill, Penguin Teen, and NetGalley for this eARC for review.

Jade was betrayed by her ex-boyfriend and her best friend. She’s hoping a semester at sea program will give her some space and time to heal. Unfortunately for Jade, they both board the ship without giving her a heads up. After expressing her anger around the situation to other students, a rumor gets out the she’s obsessed. Then her ex-friend is murdered. All signs point to Jade. As other students begin to be murdered Jade has to rush to prove she’s innocent before she finds herself locked up in a foreign jail (or murdered herself!).

3/5 stars, I guessed all the plot twists but the concept was interesting

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group & Razorbill for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

This book took me a few more days than normal to read because I was very busy but I was still able to appreciate the really good aspects of this story, and what I wish had been improved upon. I don't read as many thrillers and mysteries as I did a few years ago, outside of October, and I think that's because it's a lot easier to get into the mood during that month. It might also be because I recognize what the plot twists are going to be a lot of the time, especially in the young adult area of reading.

In general, the setting of this book lent itself to connect better during summer than other mystery books I've read as it was set on a ship/cruise. While I usually enjoy it when books give exposition, in this case, I felt the story was really slow and lots of the beginning and middle could have been cut out. It was really slow leading up to the climax, and while it was entertaining enough to keep me going I felt the pacing could have been better. As well, even from the beginning, I guessed some of the major plot twists, even if I didn't get all the details. This made the ending a lot less surprising and less climactic than I would have hoped.

I would say that the writing style was average, it definitely fell into some young adult tropes as well but I still enjoyed being on a cruise ship. I've read very few books read on cruise ships so that was a fun experience, even though I'm afraid of going on them in real life haha. I wish there had been a bit more about the places that they ended up visiting, though this book did take place over a shorter period of time (also why it felt weird to be so slow-paced) so I understand why that didn't happen.

For me, the main character was very annoying, though there were times when I totally understood where she was coming from. It just felt how she handled some things was often very juvenile, especially as this was supposed to be centered around college-aged individuals. There were also lots of times when she got really violent thoughts or had anger issues, which I'm glad was it addressed that she needs therapy, but she was being really manipulative with everyone as well.

The other characters were honestly less than memorable, some of them like Felix and Silas stuck out but there was a pretty large cast that I don't really remember. I think this was because a lot of them had very similar personalities, especially surrounding drama, so it was a bit harder to keep them separate as I was trying to do.

[TW: parental abandonment, getting hit by a car, alcohol use, parental death mentioned, death of a friend, blood and gore, suicide, hanging, gun violence, murder]

Locked room murder mysteries are my favorite, and I loved that this story is set on a Semester at Sea cruise ship.

Jade has an opportunity of a lifetime to spend a college semester on a cruise ship and travel to eleven countries. As a scholarship student at Stanford, it’s not something she expected in her future. She just wasn’t prepared for her ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend (it was a traitorous, seriously crappy way to break up), now a couple, to be on board. She also didn’t anticipate a string of murders and her name to top the suspect list.

What a tangled web filled with lies and deceit. With a large cast of characters, there certainly isn’t a shortage of suspects, all of them with motives ranging from almost justifiable to petty. I changed my mind about the culprit so many times I lost track of the number. I loved how the author used the ship setting. It’s easy to picture the characters in the classrooms, dining areas, decks, and claustrophobic staterooms, then racing around the ship to try and solve the murders.

The first half of the book is weighted down with teen drama and angst, and I admit to some eye rolling on my part. Jade spends (wastes) a good amount of time pining over Silas and borderline stalking him. But the second half moves at a rapid pace, and I found it difficult to put down the book. I’d be sure of the culprit, then that person wound up on the body count list. I love it when mysteries keep you guessing. The ending didn’t take a path I expected, but I love surprises.

I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy locked room murder mysteries in fun settings, plenty of red herrings, and unexpected twists and surprises.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Jade is on the trip of a lifetime; she will be visiting 11 countries in 4 months aboard the Campus on Board ship. When she arrives to board the ship she discovers that her ex-boyfriend will be a part of CoB, and in the company of her former best friend no less. Jade is determined to make the best of the situation however, made easier due to some new friends she has made, but when a student disappears, seeming to have gone overboard, the trip of Jade’s life may very well take her life from her.

This was a rather twisty, turney novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. It's one where I knew that there was a lot more going on below the surface, but I wasn’t sure exactly what. It’s rather fast-paced, and I flew through it, wanting to know what was going on. I enjoyed the characters and what each of them brought to the story. While I had a lot of suspicions about what was actually going on, and was halfway correct, there was one aspect of the ending that absolutely blew me away.

Thank you for the advanced copy! I always love a good whodunit mystery, and this kept me guessing until the end. The personalities of the characters were intriguing to get to know as the story progressed. Just goes to show, you may think you know a person inside and out, but they may suprise you by being someone totally different than they seem. All in all, I loved reading this novel, I couldn't put it down, and I can't wait to see what the author writes next!

I enjoyed the setting of the cruise ship and "semester at sea". The author did a good job at describing the surroundings and the ports so it was easy to visualize the setting. It started off a bit slow but there were enough twists to keep me reading to the end. It's a fun ya read.

Unfortunately, I found this book just okay. While I was interested in seeing how the story continues, it felt a bit too YA to me. I think this could be a great thriller for the younger audience. However, there were a few twists that I wasn't expecting and that surprised me. I also really liked the secluded atmosphere on a cruise ship.

Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban is a suspenseful thriller that takes readers on a journey filled with jealousy, love, and betrayal. Set aboard a Semester at Sea-inspired cruise ship, the book offers a unique and intriguing backdrop for a tale of mystery.

The story centers around Jade, a young woman who is determined to leave behind the heartbreak caused by her ex-boyfriend, Silas and best friend, Lainey. With the promise of adventure and a chance to heal, Jade embarks on a once-in-a-lifetime journey across multiple countries on the luxurious Campus on Board ship. However, her plans take a dark turn when she discovers that Silas and Lainey are also on board.

There is plenty of tension and suspense as Jade's obsession with her ex-boyfriend and best friend grows, leading to a shocking murder that rocks the ship. The diverse cast of characters adds depth to the narrative, with each one harboring secrets and motives that keep readers guessing at every twist and turn.

The pacing of the book is excellent, keeping the reader engaged and eager to uncover the truth behind the murders. The author expertly weaves together themes of trust, deception, and revenge, creating a thrilling and addictive reading experience. The jaw-dropping twists and unexpected revelations keep the suspense alive, leaving readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Fans of authors such as Natalie D. Richards, E. Lockhart, and Karen McManus will find "Lying in the Deep" to be a perfect fit for their reading preferences. The book captures the essence of a thrilling psychological suspense with its well-crafted plot, complex characters, and unexpected twists.

With its blend of romance, mystery, and high-stakes tension, "Lying in the Deep" is a must-read for fans of the genre. Prepare to be captivated by a tale of secrets, danger, and the lengths one will go to protect their own life amidst a sea of suspects.

I would have loved to spend a school year at sea (but would hope it would be a more tame). This made for a great setting for this mystery/thriller. The story started out slowly but once it picked up about halfway through, I really started to enjoy it. Jade, the main character, was not my favorite, as she came off as whiny and annoying in the beginning and then made the typical TSTL mistakes amateur sleuths make. The ending was completely unexpected and made the slog through the first half almost worth it. Added bonus for me was the stops in the different ports and the descriptions of the surroundings; it was nice to be able to get off the ship for a little and explore.

DNF at 34%

The premise of this book is definitely very interesting! I liked the plot. The idea of a murder mystery on a cruise ship is very interesting. However, the beginning felt slow to me, which kept me from feeling eager to continue reading. I also struggled to connect with the characters. As someone who prefers character-driven stories over plot-driven ones, this was a struggle for me.

I adored Lying in the Deep just like Urban's previous books this one is packed full of a mystery you're going to be eager to solve and a twist you will 100% NOT see coming. I highly recommend this!

This book was not what I expected, but it was still so thrilling to read.

I love that the main character, Jade, is not a perfect character. You definitely see her darker side, but then the plot really develops and the story moves ahead at a great clip.

I am not sure that Jade needed a boyfriend for this storyline to work and, honestly, I was pleasantly surprised.

She's dreamed of this cruise for years, but now, it's her living nightmare.
After being abandoned by her ex-bestie and ex-boyfriend, Jade is beyond ready for a new adventure and tons of distance between her and the people who broke her heart. She's been dreaming of this experience for years: a luxurious Campus on Board ship that travels to eleven countries in four months. Soon after boarding, Jade discovers the backstabbing couple has decided to tag along, and she quickly becomes increasingly obsessed. With a shocking murder and disappearing friends, Jade and her new love interest are determined to get to the bottom of it before anyone else winds up dead. Can they find the culprit before it's too late?
I really enjoyed this book. I was constantly wondering who was behind it all and double-guessing myself. It was a fun and unique story, which Diana Urban never fails to deliver. This book is listed as a YA and reads that way, however I feel like the content (lots of alcohol, hard drugs, etc.) makes it more suitable for NA. The narrator, Brittany Pressley, did a wonderful job bringing this story to life. If you're a thriller fan, check this one out!
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and Edelweiss+. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This was a fun ya thriller - all the usual tropes you’re waiting for are included and I enjoyed this read a lot!

This was a wild and twisty ride! While for me it took about halfway to really pick up, once it did I couldn’t put it down and it was a very fun read!

I received the notification that I had been picked to read the ARC but about a week and a half later it was released and my physical copy arrived in the mail. BUT- omg it was so good.
Diana has a way of making you question every single character up until the very end and then she continues to shock you with twists you didn’t see coming. I was grateful to be at work alone reading it when I got to the part *redacted- read the book!!!!!!!* because I was gasping and bouncing in my chair! Blew. My. Mind.

Actual rating 2.5/5 stars.

Jade lost her boyfriend and best friend to each other and after an excruciating summer of watching them build their perfect life together on social media she is ready to escape and start working on her own. The Campus on Board shop allows her to study whilst visiting 11 countries in 4 months but when she arrives on her first day, however, the two figures she was least hopeful to see seem to have followed her there. It isn't just their presence that ruins her time on board though, it is the murders that soon start occurring.

This had a vast cast of intriguing characters and I thought the author did a great job of imbuing them all with an unique personality and back-story. I really liked how all were constructed and this element, despite the trajectory of the storyline not being suited to my literary tastes, would see me return to this author's work in the future.

Another element that drew me to this book was the at-sea setting and I really wished this had been given more page-time. I thought it such a unique creation and would have loved to see the mechanics of how it actually functioned, rather than just seeing the characters explore various landmarks across the globe. I did like these travel element but I had anticipated more of a darkly academic vibe to be present throughout.

The bones of the story, however, were too initially drama-filled and later crazily convoluted for me, personally. I like how the author centred this story around one of Agatha Christie's infamous murder mysteries but it ensured I guessed the final reveals far too soon and found no joy in being proven correct at the fast-paced conclusion.

A fantastic story set in a unique environment! I enjoyed the twists and the prose along with the romance for our MC. Diana Urban continues to get better and better with her stories. I look forward to reading what she publishes next.