Whalefall by Daniel Kraus is a literary thriller about Jay Gardiner, estranged from and now grieving the loss of his father. He goes on a personal mission to reclaim his fathers bones from the depths of the nearby ocean. During his scuba trip, things take an unexpected turn, and he accidentally ends up in the belly of a sperm whale.

This book is half introspection on Jay’s complicated relationship with his father and half thrilling survival story about trying to escape from inside a whale. I was definitely drawn more towards the survival parts and found the family story less interesting. Then again, I’m not a big fan of family drama and trauma stories. For me, the pacing felt uneven and suffered from the two alternating storylines. The science of the survival story was believable but be forewarned, the descriptions were very visceral. There were several times when the story pushed my limits of both claustrophobia and body injury/gore.

If you’re looking for Moby Dick style with Pinocchio adventure and father issues, this is the book for you.

Whalefall released August 8, 2023.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced release copy.

Wow. I mean, wow.

First of all, this books is almost poetic. The way it's written is so beautiful and descriptive, the details so vivid. It is also such a wild ride. So many times it was almost too much to listen to and at the same time I did not want to stop, I had to know what happened next. Jay and Mitt and the whale, you guys...

Fingers crossed that they make this info a movie. 🤞

My review was published in the August 11, 2023 edition of Shelf Awareness for Readers!

https://www.shelf-awareness.com/readers/2023-08-11/whalefall.html

"People aren't doors. They're whole floor plans, entire labyrinths, and the harder you try to escape, the more lost inside them you become." Jay was estranged from his father Mitt who committed suicide due to a long illness. He carries the guilt with him and decides that the best way to get closure and make amends is to find his father's body. This book follows Jay as he descends beneath the ocean in search of his father and as he recalls memories of his past dives with his father he finds himself trapped inside a sperm whale. He has to use all of the skills and knowledge that his father taught him in order to fight for his survival.

In this story, we get alternating timelines where Jay is in his current predicament inside the whale but also Jay as a child and what his relationship with his father was like growing up. They never seemed to connect and understand each other. They had a big falling out and Jay didn’t speak to his father again. Between the heartwrenching guilt he’s experiencing, as well as relieving the unhappy memories of his father, and trying to escape from the whale and not get crushed to death or drowned - I could not put this book down.

It was this weird combination of sad, emotional tale and science fiction and I loved every minute of it. You’re never sure if Jay is 100% lucid or if he’ll make it until you find out what happens at the very end. Plus, you’ll get a crash course in scuba diving and learn a lot like I did about all the things that go into it.

It’s unique and interesting and the imagery is so vivid. Plus, you just can’t help rooting for Jay and his tortured soul. I loved it!

Whalefall by Daniel Kraus is a science fiction adventure thriller with a dash of horror all rolled into a deeply emotional story about a son’s complex feelings of grief for the death of his estranged father. And I didn’t want to put this one down, reading furiously to discover what would happen next!

Jay Gardiner has decided the only thing that will bring peace to his family is to recover the remains of his father off the coast of Monastery Beach in California, a location proclaimed by his father as the most dangerous beach in America, as well as being labeled ‘Mortuary Beach’ by locals and fellow divers due to its powerful rip current and steep drop-off. Jay will reluctantly use his father’s teachings to guide him, but can anything really prepare you to be swallowed by a whale?!

When I was invited to read Whalefall in June, I knew it sounded like one I would enjoy, but I’ve been trying to restrict the amount of early copies I read in order to read more off my existing shelves. BUT it was hard to resist this one, so I penciled it in to reconsider closer to the publishing date. Then I started seeing it everywhere and heard an adaptation had already been optioned. I knew I had to read it. I ended up reading it in one day, almost in one sitting, and it’s a great reminder to trust my gut about books.

We alternate between the past and present in this nerve-wracking novel, which works perfectly. We meet seventeen year old Jay as he’s preparing to dive at Monastery Beach, with cobbled together equipment, his father’s instructions intrusively running through his mind, and as he’s trying to make it into the water without being noticed. The chapters are mostly short and to the point, effectively ramping up the building tension, but we learn about Jay and his relationship with his father as Jay works through the steps he needs to take to get him safely under water to begin his search.

And everything that happens after that is astounding, but written with scientific facts that make it wholly believable. This one is being compared to The Martian and 127 Hours, and it’s spot-on. I couldn’t help being reminded of The Martian when I was reading this one with its lonely protagonist facing insurmountable odds, an inhospitable environment that seems determined to prove its strength, all backed with scientific facts, thankfully explained in layman terms.

But in Whalefall, the circumstances seem even more dire because Jay only has a limited amount of air, which means the bulk of the story taking place in the present day happens within a few hours.

Whalefall is a shocking, terrifying undersea adventure. If you’re fascinated with the ocean or man versus nature or the complex relationship between children and parents, you’ll find something that will capture you in Whalefall.

Jay Gardiner has always had a troubled relationship with his father, and when he commits suicide Jay sets out to uncover his remains in the Pacific Ocean as a way to reconcile his grief and and alleviate his guilt.

It's been awhile since Jay has pulled on a wetsuit and strapped on an oxygen tank, but the dive goes smoothly until a giant squid becomes the intended meal for a hungry sperm whale. Jay becomes caught up in the squid's tentacles and soon finds himself being carried into the belly of the beast...literally.

As the minutes pass and Jay's oxygen depletes, he must try to escape from within the whale. With short chapters and a biting sense of urgency, the book reads quickly and is difficult to put down. Alternating between flashbacks of Jay's upbringing and his current predicament, the reader learns more about Jay and why he felt compelled to locate his father's remains.

If you're willing to suspend a bit of disbelief, it's easy to get lost in this story. The claustrophobia is very real, and the details of Jay's "prison" paint a dire situation. This was a captivating read that was perfect for summer.

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

Do you like scientifically accurate horror? If so this is a wonderful mashup of sci-fi and horror rolled into one emotionally charged novel. This is so much more than a book about a boy who gets swallowed by a whale.

This follows Jay, a 17 year old diver in search of the remains of his father. Jay's family is still grieving the loss of his father a year after he took his last dive, and Jay hopes that if he gives them something to bury it will give them all a bit of closure. Jay didn't have the best relationship with his dad, but he quickly learns that everything his dad taught him about diving and the ocean is going to be very helpful on this dive. Jay's dive begins smoothly but quickly turns terrifying as he encounters a giant squid and the sperm whale looking for lunch. Using all of the knowledge he gained under his father, Jay must fight his way out of the belly of the beast with only about an hour of air left in his tank and only the resources he has within reach.

This book was suspenseful and atmospheric. Kraus really captured the whales anatomy in amazing detail. You really felt like you were trapped in the whale with Jay. If you don't like gory detail and don't want to know what the inside of a whale potentially looks like, stay away from this book. He goes into exquisite detail and there is plenty of blood and guts, he is inside a whale after all. I don't know much about diving or the biology of whales, but it is clear that the author did his homework and there is nothing that I appreciate more than a well researched book! I also really liked how he captured the father son dynamic. Jay didn't always appreciate what his dad, Mitt was trying to teach him but it sure came in handy when he needed it. It also made for a good backdrop for Jay's slow descent into madness. There were times I wasn't sure if he was actually inside the whale or if he was having a mental breakdown from his dive and dreamt it all. I really enjoyed getting to know Mitt and Jay and how their relationship developed into what it was and how this event tackles allows Jay to tackle the grief and anger he feels now that his father is gone.

This is my first Daniel Kraus book, but it certainly won't be my last. I really loved this and highly recommend it!

Jay Gardiner has given himself an errand—to find the remains of his deceased father in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Monastery Beach. He knows it’s a long shot, but Jay feels it’s the only way for him to lift the weight of guilt he has carried since his dad’s death by suicide the previous year.. The dive begins well enough, but the sudden appearance of a giant squid puts Jay in very real jeopardy, made infinitely worse by the arrival of a sperm whale looking to feed. Suddenly, Jay is caught in the squid’s tentacles and drawn into the whale’s mouth where he is pulled into the first of its four stomachs. He realizes he has only one hour before his oxygen tanks run out—one hour to defeat his demons and escape the belly of a whale. Will he be able to survive this dilemma?

This researched suspenseful thriller weaves the story of a young diver’srelationship with his father with the terrors of the deep sea. A heart-pounding tale of humanity, science, and survival of a novel.

Jay is determined to locate his fathers body off the Monastery Beach coast in the Pacific. Everything is going well until he finds himself wrapped up in the tentacles of a giant squid and getting swallowed by a sperm whale. From that point on Jay is battling for his life while his air tank slowly depletes.

The circumstances in which Jay finds himself are horrifying and the author did such an amazing job with facts and details. A lot of research must have gone into this and it shows. With many books of this type I find myself having to ignore plot holes or situations that are ridiculous. That is not the case here. There was only a well written story that was 100% believable. At times it reminded me of the movies Buried and Castaway where the main characters find themselves talking to themselves, imaginary people and objects. Remember Wilson? Beaky!!!!
There is also much more to this story than Jay trying to survive in the whale. There is coming to terms with his father’s death, the emotional toll it has taken on Jay and his mother and sisters. This is deftly told through flashbacks centering mostly around his father, Mitt. He was hard on Jay, sometimes cruel.
This story is not only a survival story but an emotional journey that had me riveted from page one.

5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
#NetGalley #Whalefall #DanielKraus

Whalefall is a thrilling, suspenseful, and thought-provoking novel by Daniel Kraus. The story follows Jay Gardiner, a 17-year-old boy who is trying to come to terms with the death of his father, Mitt. Mitt was a legendary diver who drowned after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Jay is racked with guilt over his relationship with his father, and he decides to recover Mitt's remains from the bottom of the ocean.

Jay's dive goes horribly wrong when he is swallowed by a sperm whale. He finds himself trapped inside the whale's stomach, with only one hour of oxygen left. Jay must use all of his ingenuity and strength to survive in this hostile environment. He must also confront his own demons and come to terms with the death of his father.

Whalefall is a masterfully written novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Kraus does an excellent job of creating a sense of suspense and urgency. He also does a great job of developing Jay's character. Jay is complex and relatable and you will root for him throughout the story.

Whalefall is more than just a suspenseful thriller. It is also a story about family, loss, and redemption. It is a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the chance to review this advance copy.

This is a story I didn’t think I needed to read but totally did! I love science and nature related stories so when combined with the tense, jarring writing it made a super intriguing book. I would think someone being swallowed by a whale would not be very realistic feeling yet this one totally is. That ending was fantastic too! Just overall a solidly well written, dread inducing book.

Suspenseful and cinematic, Whalefall is an “astoundingly great” (Gillian Flynn, New York Times bestselling author) thriller about a young man who has given up on life…only to find a reason to live in the most dangerous and unlikely of places.
After Jay is swallow into the whales stomachs Jay finds his self dealing with all that he has had to deal with up to now.
I really wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started reading this but I found Whalefall is a story of loss, family relationships,and how to forgive it really is such a unique story that I would recommend

When Jay’s estranged father throws himself off of a boat instead of waiting to die from his terminal illness, Jay decides the only way he can prove to his community and himself that he is just as tough and competent as his dad is to retrieve his dad’s remains. After a childhood of working on the water and scubadiving with his dad, he thinks he’s up to the task. Until he gets swallowed by a whale.

Initially, when I read the plot summary of this book, I thought it sounded interesting, but not particularly deep. I figured it would be a solid thriller/claustrophobic novel. Wow, was I so wrong! This novel is a beautiful reflection of family relationships, masculinity, and guilt. Sometimes the whale who swallows you is your complicated relationship with you dad and the guilt and grief over his death, and you have to fight your way out of its stomach, you know?

I recommend this if you like claustrophobic novels, ocean-based horror, and horror that delves deep into themes of death, guilt, and family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria, MTV Books for the ARC!

Whalefall is about Jay, a seventeen year old whose terminally ill father, a lifelong scuba diver, jumped to his death off the side of a boat. Jay had a really difficult relationship with his dad, which he has been trying to come to terms with. In an attempt to give his mom and sisters some closure, Jay takes it on himself to go searching for his dad's remains, and while he is out there in the ocean, yes, he gets swallowed by a sperm whale.

I think the thing that's making this one difficult to rate for me is that it's unlike anything I've read before. Told in alternating chapters, we are simultaneously horrifically trapped in the stomach of a sperm whale, running out of oxygen, and also experiencing Jay's upbringing, the lessons his dad taught him, and the tumultuous relationship they had.

The writing here is excellent. Kraus's descriptive text and the tension built in the 'whale' chapters had me right in that stomach with Jay, and the chapters from Jay's past really helped to tell the story of this child held to impossible standards, with too much pressure on his shoulders, trying to understand his upbringing.

The story gets a little trippy at times, and hey, Jay is running out of oxygen, which makes your brain do crazy things.

To sum it up, this book was every bit as strange, horrific, and yet hopeful as you would expect a book about a man swallowed by a whale would be.

4.5 stars!

Whalefall is unlike any other book I've ever read. It was simultaneously poetic, terrifying, emotional, thrilling, and gruesome.

After Jay's father contracts mesothelioma and chooses to give his life to his one true love -- the sea -- Jay makes it his mission to track down his father's remains so he can give his family closure. But rusty from taking years off from scuba diving and in the absolute wrong place at the wrong time, Jay suddenly finds himself consumed...literally. Whalefall is a harrowing tale of a mere 90 minutes of life on the brink of death.

The research that must have gone into this novel is astounding. From the scuba diving details to the intricacies of sperm whale's anatomy and bodily functions, it was truly remarkable. Though it's scientific, I never felt bogged down in minutiae and I loved how Kraus used Jay's memories and past experiences to formulate plans and recall facts.

There's also so much more going on than Jay just trapped inside this magnificent beast. Jay is grappling with his father's death and their relationship while he was alive. He's accessing memories in the darkest and deepest recesses of his mind that are altering his perceptions and helping him grow.

Though so much of this story is a story about death, it's also about love and life. Ironically, while Jay is being consumed by a whale, he's also having an epic coming of age.

This was a truly unique novel. The chapters are incredibly short and well executed. They hop all over time as Jay recounts memories and also slowly tick down the remaining PSI in his scuba tank.

Thrilling and horrific, this novel is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you to Atria / MTV Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Whalefall is a story of grief, coming to terms with your familial responsibility, and the horror of the possibilities that lurk in the deep ocean.

I found myself riding every emotion that our MC Jay Gardiner cycles through during this wild ride. With exquisite descriptions and realistic emotions, Daniel Kraus not only brings your through the grief of losing a parent and dealing with difficult family relationships but also one of the most gripping and horrific survival stories I’ve ever read.

Inciting feelings of despair, hope, love, and determination I could not peel my eyes away from my Kindle screen until this story ended. One of my favorite Horror novels of 2023, and most anticipated reads, Whalefall did not disappoint!!

BRILLIANT!! Thank you NetGalley and Atria, MTV Books for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

WHAT A FASCINATING, UNIQUE, EMOTIONAL, CLAUSTROPHOBIC AND INTENSE SURVIVAL HORROR THRILLER!! I was instantly hooked and could not get enough of this book. The eerie atmosphere, high tension and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages so fast to see how this would end!! Is this just a survival story? Yes, but it is so much more! Whalefall is a deeply emotional story about the relationship between a father/son, intolerable grief, forgiveness and survival. I absolutely loved it!! Moreover, can we just talk about this cover! I know not to judge a book by its cover but come on! The cover is stunning! 🐳🦑🪼🌊

While Jay is scuba diving for the remains of his father's body, he gets swallowed by a whale and only has one hour to escape before his oxygen runs out! Will he be able to survive and get out or not?! As Jay fights for his survival he additionally deals with his grief and regret. The author does an amazing job with making you feel like you are right there in the belly of the whale with him. Please be aware that there are graphic descriptions of the injuries Jay endures and the contents inside the whales stomach. Time is ticking! Will he survive?

I did appreciate the scientific research regarding marine biology and scuba diving. However, the first third of the book was a bit tough (slow) to get through. I learned more than I will ever want to know about scuba diving/equipment. Once he is swallowed by the whale is when things really start to get intense and interesting!!

Overall, I was completely immersed from start to finish! I highly recommend this powerful and gripping book!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Whalefall by Daniel Kraus is an extraordinary novel that takes readers on a thrilling and emotionally charged journey into the belly of a sperm whale. As we follow seventeen-year-old Jay Gardiner's harrowing survival mission, the novel skillfully alternates between present-day events and poignant flashbacks that delve into Jay's complex relationship with his deceased father. This dual narrative not only intensifies the suspense but also allows readers to empathize with Jay's emotions, making the story deeply relatable for anyone who has experienced family struggles and loss. Kraus's beautiful prose combines scientific accuracy with captivating storytelling, immersing readers in the wonders of marine biology and the depths of human emotions. Whalefall is a thought-provoking and unforgettable adventure that left me breathless and deeply moved, pondering the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of facing one's demons.

Whalefall is more than just a gripping survival tale; it's an exploration of the intricate bonds between fathers and sons, wrapped in a beautifully rendered oceanic adventure. Kraus's vivid descriptions create an immersive experience, transporting readers into the surreal world inside a sperm whale's belly. The scientific elements are both enlightening and accessible, enhancing the authenticity of the story without overwhelming those without marine knowledge. For me, it was a profound and emotionally stirring journey, resonating deeply as it weaved together themes of grief, guilt, and the quest for redemption. Kraus's ability to craft such a compelling narrative with just one human character is nothing short of remarkable, leaving me in awe of his storytelling prowess. Whalefall is a captivating and powerful tale that will linger in my mind, inviting me to ponder the strength and resilience that can emerge from even the most unexpected places.

I wasn't planning on reading this book after learning the premise — a teenage diver is unintentionally swallowed up into one of the four stomachs of a 60-ton sperm whale and has only an hour of oxygen to escape. It sounded ridiculous and passed on a free review copy from MTV Books and NetGalley. A few days later, I saw that Sadie Hartmann was raving about it, so I took a chance on it. It turns out that Whalefall is my favorite new book of the year (it's available to purchase tomorrow, August 7, 2023).

Author Daniel Kraus does a fantastic job in this claustrophobic setting. It's an adventure story that had me thinking of every seafaring classic novel at different points during my two and a half days reading this book. It's an incredible race-against-the-clock thriller, with each short chapter indicating the remaining amount of oxygen left in his tank. You won't believe the things this poor kid goes through in his efforts to escape.

There's more (ahem) "depth" to this book than what you'd typically expect from a novel like this. The young diver, Jay, was in the water on a guilt-ridden mission to recover the remains of his estranged father who had committed suicide after his terminal diagnosis. The parallels between the father and the whale add to the brilliant storytelling.

OK, this review has gone on long enough. It's a 5-star instant classic for me — and yes, I'll buy a hardcover for my permanent collection. I'm told the dust jacket has the feel of a wetsuit. I love it when a publisher adds those details. Now go read it.