I love Andrew Mayne's series about Sloan and the Underwater Investigation Unit. This book wasn't as fast paced as other, even though the team is searching for a missing person, diver and possible smuggler, but I quite enjoyed it. This book had Sloan pondering more about what she is doing and more about the archaeology! I loved it and can't wait to see where Mayne takes the series, please write more!

I really enjoyed this one. I do have to say I really like the narrator on the audiobook though, so I'd probably recommend that format more. This is the 5th in the Underwater Investigation Unit. It can be read as a standalone though. While they don't give a huge overview of past books, it's been awhile since I've read each book in the series and couldn't exactly remember what happened in previous books and I didn't feel lost or confused. I really like this series. It's so different than other police procedurals you read. There's so much more about diving in all of the books and I have absolutely no interest in diving in the real world but it is rather fascinating subject matter. But, let's talk about this book. This was more personal than previous books with the case she was investigating being someone she actually knows. I think it went at just the right pace for most of the book. The thriller part really increased at the end. My only complaint was how fast everything wrapped up. It felt like we'd barely heard who the killer was and then the book was over. I am curious if the series will continue or if Sloane is getting out of the business after all that talk in the book. Still this is a quick interesting read and I would recommend it.

Don't miss the latest in this crime thriller series.

Are you a fan of crime thrillers and mysteries but looking for a unique approach? Look no further, as the members of the Underwater Investigation Unit in Florida are investigating unusual cases below the surface. Their specialty is diving for exploration, body retrieval, crime scene analysis, and other bad stuff that can be discovered in the depths. From canal to ocean to sinkholes in the marshland, the squad is on the job.

In this 5th installment, Sloan McPherson and her partner, Scott Hughes, are searching for a friend of hers, another diver, who has gone missing. Fred Stafford was apparently checking out isolated ponds or sinkholes, but his truck and some gear is found with no sign of him. When they start checking into what he might have been doing before he vanished, they find something really odd in a secret storage shed. Seems he's gotten himself mixed up in something quite unexpected.

I enjoyed this one as Sloan actually gets to use some of her archeology background knowledge. As always, the details of the dive experiences are interesting, and the reader feels as if alongside them. Although not a diver myself, I find the descriptions of the hows and whys quite absorbing. There was an instance where a line of the plot simply went nowhere, but other than that, this was a solid c narrative that kept me engrossed. I'll continue on in this series and do think it should be read in order. I like the characters and the changes they go through in their work and personal lives.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

I have a theory (of course I do). By book five in a mystery series, we know it is going to be, well, A Series, meaning the author has developed a brand, certain genre conventions will be adhered to and, most importantly, the author has practiced enough to be decent at what they are doing. But here’s the hypothesis part: the author finally has enough publishing security to start to challenge themselves and the readers to break from earlier patterns. I present as evidence: Matthew Scudder book 5 and 6, (Eight Million Ways to Die and When the Sacred Ginmill Closes), two of my favorites; Elvis Cole 4 and 6 (Free Fall and Sunset Express); Charlie Parker 4 and 6 (The White Road and The Unquiet). Possibly I could go on, but this is about Mayne and how Dark Dive, book five in Payne’s Underwater Investigation series, dares to diverge from its predecessors and becomes an even more interesting book.

The series is about a statewide Underwater Investigations Unit which ostensibly is brought in when there are cases that involve diving, particularly evidence retrieval. It is a small unit, comprised of a charismatic, politically-savy head, George; our narrator, archeologist in-training, Sloan; the addition of the ex-Navy and tech-geek, Hughes, introduced in book 2; and the more recent ex-PD and data miner, Gwen, from book 4. (If you are getting the feeling you should read the series in order, that is quite possibly true. It depends on your tolerance for continuity). Prior to this, the Unit had seen some rocky political ground and temporary disbandment, but all is copacetic now. As a reader, I found this a huge relief; while intrusive agency politics may be a draw for some, I find them about as enjoyable as kingdom politics in fantasy series, which is to say, hardly at all. It is enjoyable to witness the team each perform their roles in competent ways and try to solve the puzzles they are presented with.

And what a puzzle! The soon-to-be ex-girlfriend claims a well-known but eccentric diver has gone missing and his new diving buddies are clueless and strangely unconcerned. As Sloan starts asking questions, she discovers she hardly knew the man. The case gets more complex in diverging but extremely interesting ways and I was on board for it, if a little confused once or twice. But here’s the thing–I want to re-read it because of it. It is one of those mysteries where the complexity invites one to think and reconsider, much like re-watching a magic trick. “Wait, show me again,” is, in my estimation, a good response to have in both scenarios.

Writing continues to improve. Sloan’s main focus in the case and she doesn’t spend a ton of time in the emotional back-and-forth of family dynamics, one of the areas where I have historically felt characterization was more weak. The endless glades of southern Florida really come alive, as do the deep sinkholes, and I felt myself in that muggy, grassy plain listening to insects buzz. Yep, definitely want to re-read it again (but honestly, not revisit the Glades again).

My deepest hesitation is the ending, which felt a little like it jumped the shark. Well, whatever; got to give the genre what it expects, I suppose, but that was what left me with the most questions the next day. Aside from that, it would have been an easy five stars. I definitely recommend for people that want an engaging mystery.

many thanks to Netgalley for the advanced e-copy for review. all opinions are you know, like, my own, man

It was great to have more Sloan action!! I love the team that's being built and Gwen is a great addition!! I love that we are back to more diving. This series is such a fun, unique mashup of my diving and detective novel hobbies. I do feel like the boys home and Stafford's true identity was left hanging open. I don't know if that was intentional for the next book or if it was just forgotten. I can't wait for the next in the series.

I feel like this series keeps improving. The team is formed again start with one case and then get dragged into another. It brings in a bit of the more historical aspects of Florida which is quite interesting. Sloane continues to do crazy things but she is contemplating what life would be without doing them. Hughes uses technology to help with their searches.

Overall an easy and fun read that i finished in a day.

Given a copy by NetGalley. Opinions are my own.

When a friend of the family disappears, Sloan and the rest of the Underwater Investigation Unit are on the case. And when their search leads them to a group of divers and underwater caves and potentially stolen artifacts, things take a turn.

The UIU team has grown by one since the last book, and I like how they all work together, and glad that some of the politics that have been present and distracting the team in previous installations were absent here, allowing the team to focus on their job.

An adventurous plot including underwater archaeology, artificial intelligence and immersive descriptions of the Floridian waterways filled with always-lurking alligators create gripping tension and terror in equal measure. I love the underwater archaeology aspect of this plot, and with Sloan working on her thesis and considering the next chapter of her life, I really hope Mayne explores this more in the future. This is my favorite installation in what has easily become one of my favorite series, and I impatiently look forward to the next installation.

Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley kindly provided me a ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Dark Dive," the latest installment in Andrew Mayne's Underwater Investigation Unit series, is a thrilling dive into the depths of suspense. As a Floridian, I appreciated the vivid portrayal of the state's unique underwater landscapes. The increased focus on diving in this book pleased me, addressing my previous concern from the last installment. While the storyline kept me engaged, the ending felt somewhat rushed, leaving me wanting more closure. Interestingly, a Google search revealed Mayne's connection to an AI company and his acknowledgment of ChatGPT for research, sparking speculation about AI's possible role in the writing process. Regardless, I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to delve into this captivating underwater mystery.

Another fantastic book by Andrew Mayne! I have loved all the books in the series about Sloan and the Underwater Investigation Unit. This book is another great read!

Andrew Mayne's Underwater Investigation Unit (UIU) series has always been a favorite of mine. This is the fifth book in the series and as with all the other books it has good pacing and a lot of suspense and intrigue.

The last book had grounded the UIU team and kept the strong female protagonist, Sloan McPherson, and her cohorts mostly out of the water. This time, they are all back together again and diving into deep waters with alligators and crocodiles as they are looking for an old friend who is an experienced diver and has gone missing. The team uses all their investigative skills in and out of the water to find him, including a small, talking, robotic dive machine. Their methodical search leads them to new clues, new suspects, and danger around every corner. There is even a hint about what new adventures may await the UIU in the future.

I'm always on the lookout for new books by this author. I highly recommend this book to readers who love fictional action adventures and suspenseful investigative mysteries. It's never too late to "dive" into this series.

Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Dark Dive is the fifth book in the Underwater Investigation Unit series by Andrew Mayne, which follows Sloan McPherson, Scott Hughes, and George Solar and their investigations into underwater crimes and mysteries.

When Fred Stafford a longtime friend of Sloane's family, is reported missing by his girlfriend, the UIU looks into the sinkholes and underwater cave systems Stafford was mapping. As the UIU investigates Stafford's disappearance, the case becomes increasingly complicated with his mysterious personal history, gambling debts, association with the "Dive Rats", and the discovery of a shocking artifact in Stafford's storage unit.

As always, Mayne's writing is compelling, Sloane is a capable and competent heroine. An easy five stars for a quick and compelling read. While Dark Dive would read fine as a standalone story, I highly recommend this entire series and look forward to the next entry in the series.

Dark Dive proves yet again why this series is a can't be missed, hugely atmospheric, wildly compelling mystery series that perfectly straddles police procedural (in a wildly unique way) and suspense.

I so so so adore this series. There is something magical about this combo of characters who are messy, dynamic, loveable and scruffy, out there doing such a uniquely specific piece of investigative work, and the element of scuba diving and underwater drama that makes these books impossible to set down. I love the mix of action and suspense, while still having characters that can be funny and relatable all at once.

The central plot of this one is also brilliant and deliciously dark, with a local diving legend going missing, as the investigation drives Sloane and her team to sinkholes throughout the Florida swamps that hold secrets from lifetimes ago. No spoilers but there is one sinkhole scene in this book that had me literally reading from between my fingers, I was so terrified of what was going to happen next.

Truly, I cannot recommend this series enough, if you want action and suspense, a fantastic and fresh take on a police procedural vibe, claustrophobically terrifying settings, and a plot that will have you glued to the page from beginning to very delectable end.

Many thanks to the publisher for my copy. Andrew, I hope you truly write this series forever. I never want it to end.

Sloane McPherson is back, and this time her old family diving friend Fred Stafford is missing. Along with her partner Hughes and the UIU team, Sloane is determined to find either him - or the answers to his mysterious disappearance. But who can be trusted?

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I love Andrew Mayne's Underwater Investigation Unit series, but this one took me a while to get through. While I didn't dislike the ending, I felt like there were a lot of side stories in this one that were left unresolved and I'm pretty disappointed about that. I'm sure in a future book they might be referred to - as the author tends to do that - but I just wish we would have gotten more answers to a lot of the other questions in this novel. Too many remaining questions by the end of this one, for me, that it just felt a bit unfinished.

Dark Dive, the fifth book in this series, brings the Underwater Investigation Unit back. The case is personal for Sloan McPherson, Fred Stafford, family friend and a famous diver, has gone missing. Sloan working with her partner, Scott Hughes, work to locate the missing man.

As the investigation progresses, Sloan comes to realize that Fred was not the person she thought he was. He may have been involved in scavenging and selling items on the black market. There are twists, turns and surprises. Andrew Mayne has written a thriller/police procedural that will keep readers turning the pages for what comes next.

As this is the fifth book we are well acquainted with the team of Sloan, Scott, and George Solar, the team leader. Gwen Wylder joins the team as an independent contractor. Sloan is a risk taker, uses her instincts and believes in justice. She has an interesting family dynamic that plays well with the series. I love her daughter.

This can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading from the beginning. Mayne gives his character, Theo Cray, from The Naturalist series a cameo. I look forward to the next adventure with Sloan and the team.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for an ARC. The review is my own.

After a brief hiatus the dream team Sloan+Solar+Hughes are back & dive deep into a brand new gripping twisted plot! The prologue reels you in & the plot is one compelling chapter after another but the epilogue ties it all neatly in a bow & may leave you with major withdrawal symptoms for the next book in the addictive UIU series. With the mix of an unusual unique plot with quirky characters this book is one I found very difficult to put down.
The only disappointment comes from the fact that I read this book before Sea Castle & never wrote down a review for this one despite having feasted(figuratively)on this book. So now I no longer have a UIU book on my shelf & desperately seek the next thrilling adventure Sloan gets to go on. #stupidme

Thank you NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer, Andrew Mayne for the arc!

Never a disappointment from Mayne. Sloane investigates a missing friend known for diving expertise. What she discovers takes them down a rabbit hole. The beginning chapter is a bit unique but stick with it because that part of the story comes back later. I enjoy learning about diving, Florida history and attempting the crime puzzle. Mayne weaves an intelligent mystery that’s unique, a bit funny and intense. I’ve read all five books but you could jump in anywhere and still be involved without missing a beat. I got to read an early copy and have written my review voluntarily.

I always look forward to reading the latest Underwater Investigation Unit thriller. I've learned a lot about diving in different locations-- in Dark Dive, it's sinkholes and underwater caverns-- and about the state of Florida itself. Florida seems to be the home of abandoned "pet/monsters": pythons, anacondas, Nile crocodiles... let alone the native alligators, and Sloan has to take the wildlife into account each time she dives.

The diving sequences are always riveting. You never know what's going to spring at Sloan from out of the murk, and I have to admit that I enjoy the vicarious scares. But it's not all fast-paced thrills and technical gadgetry. I wish every state in the country could have someone with the savvy of Sloan's boss, George Solar. To smooth the way for his investigators, Solar has two RVs-- one filled with lawyers ready, willing, and able to get search warrants and other legal necessities, and the second armed with CSI techs and all the lab equipment they need to avoid the interminable delays of local law enforcement backlogs. Sweet, eh?

Even sweeter is the fact that the cast of characters is just as strong as the story, the thrills, and the technology. I like Sloan's irreverent voice, and her partner Scott is increasingly figuring into the stories. In addition, there's always a one-time character whom you wish could become a recurring one. In Dark Dive, it's octogenarian Gayle Pinnesky. I just loved her to bits!

Exciting story, lots to learn, fantastic setting with a touch of the alien about it, and great characters. If you haven't already gone diving with Andrew Mayne's Underwater Investigation Unit, it's time you did!

As usual Andrew Mayne has done it again! I couldn’t put this book down. Absolutely enthralled with Sloan McPherson and the UIU. I’m really hoping this series can continue on as I feel her daughter Jackie might be interested in following her mother’s footsteps ? Love everything about this series!

Andrew Mayne brings action, suspense, and mystery to Dark Dive , the fifth novel in the Underwater Investigation Unit series. Add to this, underwater caverns, archaeology, and a missing family friend and readers are in for another exciting adventure with Sloan McPherson and Scott Hughes.

The Underwater Investigation Unit is back in business. Besides Sloan and Scott as well as their leader Geoge Solar, they are now joined by Gwen Wylder, a contractor to help research cases. Readers of the series met Gwen in book four. The story kicks off with a longtime family friend of the McPhersons disappearing. As they search for him, several alarming items become known. The situation is not nearly as straightforward as one might initially think.

Sloan has good reflexes, amazing instincts, and doesn’t shirk responsibility. She also has a discerning sense of justice and determination that makes it easy for readers to get behind. However, she takes risks and has trouble with people who ignore clues and go for the quick resolution. Hughes also has a somewhat reckless streak, but has incredible analysis capabilities as well as some skills from his military career. He’s also the technical equipment and robotics member of the team. Both have a police background which helps since the UIU is a law enforcement agency. Together, they are a formidable pair of investigators. Gwen can be abrasive and rude, but she’s also extremely smart and analytical.

The plot is multi-layered and has twists and turns to keep a reader guessing. The world-building is excellent and I was easily transported to Florida. The well-written story and the incredible characters combine with action and multiple mysteries to culminate in an action-filled conclusion. Mayne is an exceptional storyteller who provides readers with gripping scenes that move at a blistering pace. The final chapter provides the thread for the next book in the series and hints at changes that are coming. How will the team adapt? Themes include deaths, disappearances, political pressure, family, friendship, greed, and much more.

Overall, this was an intense story with complex characters that kept me turning the pages. I was surprised several times by events. This kept the tension level high throughout the book. Those who enjoy crime thrillers, mysteries, and police procedurals may want to check out this series.

Thomas & Mercer and Andrew Mayne provided a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently expected to be March 12, 2024.

Thank you NetGalley for another amazing Andrew Mayne UIU book, #5 in the series about diver Sloan McPherson, her investigative colleagues, and her family.

This book's pub date is almost here - March 12, 2024 - and I am so glad to have had a chance to review an ARC from NetGalley. I like procedurals that let us stay with key characters, seeing them develop over time and forming a relationship of sorts with them. Mayne's writing moves the plot along at a good clip: this time it is based on a kind of odd fortune-hunting group, with a little drama to open the novel and give a reason for Sloan's growing hesitation for challenging dives.

This book is great, but at this point, I'm tired of reading about Florida swamps and really want to see the group move into new locales, maybe even globally, to mix it up. I would also love to see Sloan move into a position of leadership responsibility, where she isn't just the adventuresome diver. I hope the publisher takes heed of this because otherwise readers will grow bored with the series despite Mayne's good writing. 4-stars.