This was quite the journey and completely different from what I expected.

Patricia and Maeve are asked to be part of a special secret service called LASA. There is an attraction between them and they go for it. Due to different circumstances their fling comes to a sudden stop but they still have to work together. It's hard sometimes as expected seeing as there are feelings involved.

I was surprised to see Patricia get involved with another character but it did not make this a bad story for me.

The action stories were very intriguig and I enjoyed it very much.

I received an ARC via Netgalley in return of an honest review.

I loved Maryn Scott's novel Talented Amateur when I read it earlier this year. Going Under is a companion novel to Talented Amateur, however you could definitely read this as a standalone (but I loved it so much that I recommend you read Talented Amateur regardless!).

Although Going Under features topics I'd typically shy away from (mainly child prostitution), I found this book completely engaging. I was hooked from the very beginning and loved every minute of this novel. There are three intersecting storylines and each adds so much to the novel. Scott does an excellent job at interweaving them without it becoming confusing.

The romance between Patricia and Meave was good, but the standout was the crime/thriller storyline. I stayed up late reading this and had to force myself to put it down at 1am - a sign of a great book! Highly recommend a read if you like a bit of crime, and I can't wait to read Maryn Scott's next novel.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

4 STARS!

Dr. Patricia Reynolds, an accountant and Dr. Maeve Quinn, a chemist are brought together in the Latin American Security Agency (LASA) where they have to concoct plans to counter crime in Latin America. As a part of the intelligence agency, rather than becoming spies themselves (as I had originally expected), their job was to identify and mold spies to carry out their plans. Their chemistry is off the charts from the word go and they get together rather quickly. The relationship which seems to be headed for love heads towards rocky waters as Patricia's complicated family history comes to the fore. There is a breakup and a reunion, as in most romance novels, but the timing of these were quite unexpected. In between, there's some action-adventure thrown in as Maeve and eventually the whole team get involved in taking down a human trafficking ring. (And that is when I got the meaning for the book cover)

This is a hard book to describe. The most suitable one would be a lesbian romance thriller because it isn't just a romance but it doesn't go all-in on the thriller part. It's fast paced though and I was able to finish reading it within 48 hours. Some of the details about the intelligence agency and its workings were glossed over as were the details about Patricia and Maeve's work on money laundering and new drug development respectively. It would've been nice to dwell more on these.

I must admit here this is the first book by Maryn Scott that I have read. At 75% of the book, I was somewhat perplexed about why there was so much bookspace given to the Anna and Peel characters. Then I was wondering about their story and thought there would be another book in the series about them. And lo and behold, a little internet search revealed 'Talented amateur' which goes into the story of Peel and Anna and I have just started reading that book. It would probably be better to read both the books in order so as to connect with these 2 characters but 'Going under' can also be read as a stand-alone novel.

All in all, it was a good fast-read novel where things happen quickly (so you don't really question the logic of the happenings) and gives a satisfactory conclusion for the MCs I hope there is another story in the series and Maeve and Patricia make an appearance in that book too.

When I first read Ms Scott’s ‘Talented Amateur’ in 2021 I thought it was one of the best books I’d read. Now we have ‘Going Under’, that wasn’t supposed to be a follow up but that is exactly what we have here. Mind you, this can be read as a stand alone book but to really get the best of this book it might be a good reason to pick up ‘Talented Amateur’,
What we have here is stories featuring strong women. They are smart, well educated, nice to look at and most importantly very likable characters.
Great read, great plot line, well thought out characters and somewhat believable. You will find it hard to put this book down. Wonderful, fun read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bella Books

Chemistry professor, Mauve Quinn meets accounting professor, Patricia Reynolds while working for a secret government agency. There is also Anna and Peel that add to the story in a positive and exciting way. Interesting story filled with action and adventure. There are also not so good people creating all sorts of havoc. I enjoyed all four main characters working to do the right thing, professionally and personally. Really enjoyed and appreciated Mauve's family. So very supportive and in the moment whether the main characters wanted it or not. The topic of human trafficking was tough to read but it is an unfortunate reality. In general, interesting and engaging read.

This was fun well written suspense. I thought Maeve and Patricia had great chemistry in the beginning but as the story unfolds the chemistry between them was quite lacking. Regardless it was an enjoyable read and I would definitely read it again. I recommend 4. stars

Thank You Bella Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Going under….. an enjoyable, suspenseful read, with a bit of mystery to keep you guessing till the end.
It's a solid read, would have liked a ‘tad’ more action in the storyline, but still entertaining.

I've given Going Under a 3.3 out of 5 stars.

This is a story about two women academics who are recruited into a secret government agency -LASA. Patricia Reynolds lives in Chicago and is an accounting professor. Mauve Quinn is a chemistry professor and lives in Miami. There is instant chemistry between them when they meet in DC and they begin a two year relationship were they only see each other occasionally. Eventually they break up and Patricia recruits a student, Anna, to go undercover in South America to bring down a cartel.
Anna does a fantastic job as a secret agent and befriends Peel and they fall in love.

Fast forward 6 years and all four characters meet up when Mauve befriends a runaway girl who is escaping would be sex traffickers. Anna and Patricia go undercover to infiltrate the sex traffic ring and bring them down.

I have mixed views on this book. I liked the romance and the action/adventure portions but the entire time I felt I was missing background on several main characters and past events. This book is a sequel and I would strongly recommend reading Talented Amateur first. And I had a hard time connecting with Mauve and especially with Patrica. Patrica’s character seemed flat and totally unemotional.

I did enjoy the storytelling in the second half and would read another Scott book in the future.

ARC received for an honest and voluntary review.

Going Under by Maryn Scott is an intriguing mystery and suspense novel with a good dose of angst-ridden romance mixed in. I’m glad I was able to read this novel for several reasons.

This is a chilling and suspenseful story.
The two main characters meet when they are both requited by a new and shadowy intelligence agency called LASA (Latin American Security Agency)
Dr. Patricia Reynolds and Dr. Maeve Quinn both agree to join the group and are tasked with finding students from their universities LASA can use as agents to infiltrate drug cartels in Latin America. Reynolds and Quinn are attracted to each other, but there are major hurdles getting in their way. A few of the secondary characters seemed very familiar, and it didn’t take me long to realize that this novel is a companion story to Ms. Scott’s last book, Talented Amateur. The student Patricia recruits to work as an agent is Anna Flores, the main character in Talented Amateur, which shows Anna’s time with the cartel and how she meets Peel Primm, her true love. Peel is also an important secondary character in this novel. I really enjoyed how these two stories melded together. It actually makes both tales seem more realistic.

The second half of Going Under has most of the nail-biting action scenes in the narrative. The first half had a few places that seemed to lag just a bit. But to be fair, there was a lot of information that had to be introduced in the first half for the second half of the book to make sense. It is necessary though, so keep reading. You will be glad you did.

Both of these novels are great standalone stories. You don’t have to read one first to enjoy the other. I recommend both as wonderful mystery and intrigue novels with romance in both tales.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.

3.5⭐️
Apparently, Going Under is a sequel to Talented Amateur, the debut novel by this author. Although the book can stand on its own, I would have liked to read #1 first.

Going Under is a mix of romance and crime and is divided into two parts. The first part is a bit lengthy, introducing the newly formed Latin American Security Agency LASA and its agents. Among them are Maeve and Patricia, both specialists, one in accounting and the other in the pharmaceutical industry. Although it is interesting to get to know this organization, this part could have been a bit shorter. During their collaboration, Maeve and Patricia become closer and have a no-strings affair. The funny thing is, why does the breakup hurt so much then?

The second part begins six years later. LASA has already achieved quite a bit and broken up one or two drug cartels. But now things get really nasty. Child trafficking is one of the worst things people can do to each other. An absolute NO-GO. By a dramatic coincidence, Maeve and Patricia are drawn into this case and have to rely on the help of LASA and their agent Anna (Patricia's former recruit), and her friend Peel. Together they try to prevent what should never happen. But it's not easy when their own lives are on a knife's edge as a result of these investigations. This topic may be a trigger for some readers, although it is mainly "just" talked about and not explicitly acted upon.

This part is full of action and suspense and I liked it better than the first part. Even though in my opinion, it was not quite realistic in parts, it is thrilling to see how the women face the dangers.

I liked all the main characters, and I really liked Anna and Peel as a couple. But what wasn't really all that compelling is the romance between Patricia and Maeve. I couldn't really feel the attraction, the chemistry between them and although I don't begrudge them their happy ending, the romance was lost in the suspense of stopping organized crime, the romance was kind of secondary.

This is a nice diversion from the usual formulaic lesfic as the main characters take a long time to actually properly connect but in the interim we have lots of excitement and intrigue. The novel starts slowly but then gathers pace as we get to the heart of the story.

I’m not sure a professor of accountancy would handle all the spy craft stuff quite as easily as Patricia does but it seems unimportant to be credible when you’re racing against time as a bogus business consultant while trying to stop organised crime and human trafficking.

Maeve has issues with the background to her family’s pharmaceutical industry and takes on her ‘spy’ role as a way to cleanse herself. The story is well told and there is intrigue and excitement. I also like the fact that someone in a novel has a nasty injury and stays in hospital for a decent length of time, instead of being released the next day with painkillers.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley

Going Under by Maryn Scott.
When Dr. Patricia Reynolds is asked to participate in a business consortium, the last thing she expects is an invitation to be part of a new intelligence agency, LASA—The Latin American Security Agency. As Patricia finds her niche working money laundering cases, she also finds herself pulled ever closer to one of her colleagues.
A good read with good characters. 4*.

Not quite as much spying in it as I hoped but still a good read. Although did feel 6 years between the first hook up that Patricia and Maeve had and the next was a bit too long. But then again I’m not sure I would have been as forgiving as Maeve (even after all that time) if I’d been dropped, in fact pretty much ghosted, when I thought things were going well and then found Patricia had taken up with a younger woman!
I think I will try to get a copy of Talented Amateur which has Ana and Peel meeting.

Drs Patricia Reynolds and Maeve Quinn both excel in their academic professions and because of this they are chosen to work with a covert intelligence agency of the government. Although deeply attracted to each other, Patricia and Maeve’s personal histories have made them unwilling to accept what they feel for the other.

Going Under is a mashup of three storylines which blend together to produce an exciting ending. Scott is a talented writer who can carry the reader’s interest from start to finish. The characters are a diverse group which crosses socioeconomic strata. The premise of the book, although interesting, throws the reader a real curve ball about two thirds of the way in. The connection between the premise and the curve hangs by a very thin thread. Suspension of believability is required yet this diversion brings the action and excitement to the story. And we have to remember that this is fiction after all.

I received a free advance review copy from Bella Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Dr. Reynolds and Dr. Quinn work for The Latin American Security Agency they both get drawn into human trafficking while they work together they grow closer despite Maeve not trusting if someone wants her or because she wealthy. They work with Anna who just finished an undercover job and just want to rest with her girlfriend Peel after such ordeal. They played heavenly in this book if you want read their story Talented Amateur. As all four dives into what’s going on they have choice to make wether to lets things go or hold on.

I enjoy the read but it’s took me minute to get into it. I like learning about Patricia backstory and meeting Maeve family and it’s was cool to see Rosita in some scenes because I enjoy her in Talented Amateur.



I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

I don’t think this is officially listed as a follow up of Scott’s Talented Amateur, but it definitely is. Although one could easily read these books as standalone.

This book is divided in two parts, I could have done without the first part. It just didn’t click for me and I struggled with the storytelling. Part two is a lot better when we actually focus on something. A horrible case and some character development. Although I’m rather said we only get told about the changes and development instead of really experiencing it with the characters. I have no connection with the main characters. Both Patricia and Maeve fall a little flat and get on my nerves for some reason.

I’ve read both previous books by Scott and I think this just isn’t a writer for me. And on another note, this books needs and extra round of editing. I’m not sure if everything I found now is due to this being an ARC or sloppy editing, because it’s Bella I’d say it’s the former but I can’t be sure. It’s just that when you combine a writing style that is rather hard for me to connect with and so many obvious and confusing mistakes it pulls out of this story and makes me reluctant to continue reading a book that shows potential. That being said, Scott writing shows potential, I just don’t see it coming out in a way I enjoy.

Patricia Reynolds and Maeve Quinn are pulled into the dangerous world of human trafficking after a young girl asks Maeve for her help. Luckily Maeve and Patricia work for a government agency trying to dismantle criminal networks in the US and South America but the dangers prove to be difficult for them to overcome.
This is the third book I've read by Maryn Scott and I'll continue picking up any and all of her future books. I happened to buy Talented Amateur in a sale earlier this month and it happened to be the first book featuring this group of government agents and I really enjoyed it. Peel and Anna from Talented Amateur feature heavily in this and I'd consider it a true sequel. This story started out far differently and the plot kept me on my toes just as much as the first one did. I loved all four main characters and we get to meet Maeve's family and hear more of Patricia's backstory as well. Rosita also has a couple scenes and I loved her in both of these books. Talented Amateur really should be read first, I don't believe this could be read as a standalone though part one of this book does feature a couple of identical scenes from the first that are now shown from Patricia's POV. This was a great book that I'd highly recommend to anyone looking for a thriller with some romance on the side.