This is the fifth installment in the Sloan McPherson series, and while it was undeniably good, it didn't captivate me as intensely as some of the earlier books in the series.

However, I understand why this might be the case. It's evident that the author is experimenting with how to further utilize these characters, and I find that aspect quite appealing. As a result, each subsequent book offers something unique. Not every installment may be equally stellar, but I appreciate the author's decision not to rely solely on established patterns and to instead seek out new solutions. This approach ensures that each book brings something fresh to the table.

This time around, Sloan and her team are not tackling a strictly police matter, at least not at the beginning, but rather a more personal issue for Sloan that evolves into a police case. Sloan takes on the investigation into the disappearance of a long-time family friend, Fred Stafford. The more Sloan delves into Stafford's life, the more mysteries she uncovers.

As always, I found the scenes involving Sloan and Hughes diving and conducting underwater investigations particularly compelling. I admire how the author skillfully employs Sloan's expertise and how many underwater secrets this team still has the potential to uncover. The fact that this series focuses on solving crimes that require diving skills is what makes it so unique. As I said, I'm glad the author is exploring new ways to leverage this aspect.

I'm genuinely curious about what else the author will come up with and what other unconventional diving scenarios Sloan will encounter. Dark Dive may not have completely blown me away, but it's a solid addition to the series that keeps me eagerly anticipating the next installment.

FUIU (Florida Underwater Investigating Unit)Sloan, Hughes, Solar and Gwen. I am addicted to this series, When a knowledgeable diver with years of experience goes missing Sloan and Hughes start looking. Police work, diving, caves, mystery and the trademark Andrew Mayne twists. I learn, I am entertained and always surprised. I love googling some of the locations that are provided and finding info. Dark Dive has Sloan starting to take stock of her future and her friendship with Hughes. Run her partner and Jackie (their daughter) have their cameos in the appropriate places to help round out the book. Possible changes on the horizon? Another great ride in this series that pretty much has it all (as long as your not looking for romance :) This is a thriller, mystery, police and characters you care about, Thank you for the arc! I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions! #DarkDive #AndrewMayne #ThomasandMercer #NetGalley

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My thanks to Thomas and Mercer, Andrew Mayne and Netgalley.
You know..after the last book I was really freaking worried that I may have to give up this series and probably send a bunch of dead alligator heads to the author. Yes, I had, "had being the operative word" a brother in law who thought it was hysterical sending me alligator heads. "3 of them!" What a fool. My neighbor's son loved them.
However...I just loved this book! My favorite thing? Yes, it was the end! Not because I was tired of it, but now I know that the U.I.U. is now going bi-coastal! Thank goodness! I'm about tired of the gators. I love this series, and I'm happy it's finally going back into the water. That's why I signed up for this series!

Andrew Mayne's "Dark Dive" doesn't just invite—it pulls readers into the enigmatic realm of the Florida Underwater Investigative Unit (FUIU). It's a thrilling voyage through complicated crimes across the Sunshine State and an absolute must-read for mystery and suspense devotees.

The narrative orbits around Sloan McPherson, who spearheads the FUIU on an underwater escapade, revealing a distinct blend of crime-solving. The plot masterfully interlaces a diverse cast, including familiar faces like Solar and Hughes, and Sloan's quirky family, adding layers to the story.

Mayne's writing style is an exceptional fusion of engagement, velocity, and cleverness, vividly animating each scene. Themes of identity, social discord, police procedural, and mystery are woven together flawlessly, pushing "Dark Dive" beyond the confines of a typical crime novel.

The narrative charges forward relentlessly, adeptly balancing suspense and revelation, urging readers to eagerly devour each page. From the riveting prologue to high-stakes sequences, "Dark Dive" is laden with unforgettable moments that ensnare readers from the get-go.

The novel exudes an intoxicatingly thrilling ambiance, fueling the readers' curiosity, urging them to uncover the next enigma. Mayne introduces unanticipated plot twists and cryptic revelations, keeping readers on tenterhooks and sparking speculation about potential sequels.

Mayne's expert blending of science and classic police procedural elements is a testament to his narrative brilliance. "Dark Dive" emerges as a captivating read for those who appreciate gripping mysteries infused with a unique spin on police procedurals. Sloan McPherson and FUIU fans are set for a thrill ride, solidifying Mayne's standing as a maestro of crime fiction.

Emerging from the depths of "Dark Dive," readers are left with a lingering sense of wonder and a craving for more of Andrew Mayne's distinctive storytelling. The novel not only highlights his ability to craft an engrossing mystery but also his commitment to redefining the limits of conventional crime fiction. "Dark Dive" is a striking addition to Mayne's collection, leaving a lasting imprint on the genre and reinforcing its status as a must-read for mystery aficionados.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC.

Dark Dive by Andrew Mayne brings back divers Sloan McPherson and Scott Hughes from the Florida Underwater Investigation Unit. It is a highly recommended procedural.

Sloan and Hughes are summoned by their boss George Solar to recover a coroners van and the two bodies in it from an alligator breeding ground. After the harrowing dive Sloan had to make, their next case is that of a missing person, Fred Stafford, who is also a longtime family friend of Sloan. It seems Stafford was diving and/or treasure hunting with a group of underwater cavern junkies called the Dive Rats. It also is clear that he was diving in the many sinkholes located in Florida and his truck is found near an unmarked sinkhole. Sloan is concerned that they may be looking for a body. The investigation takes some twists and turns along the way to an exciting conclusion.

Dark Dive meets the criteria for an exciting thriller/procedural, further cementing Mayne as a dependable go-to writer for the genre. There are plenty of twists and interesting details uncovered during the investigation. Although I was pleased with the main case, there is one story line that is left unresolved and a few other questions that were left unanswered. I liked the inclusion of Hughes' ROV, remotely operated vehicle, and AI into the narrative. Dangers the team face are numerous and many of them in the wild - big cats, alligators, crocodiles, anacondas, pythons, to name a few, along with the human threats.

For those new to the series, it can be read as a standalone novel. There is enough information and background about the characters to easily slid into their world and enjoy the investigation. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Edelweiss, X, and Amazon.

Andrew Mayne has become one of my favorite authors. His books usually just suck me right in.

This one is part of the series starring Sloan McPherson, a diver with the Underwater Investigative Unit in Florida. I love reading about her adventures, and the things she does, such as diving into alligator waters really get my attention.

I truly liked this book. And if I didn’t have such high expectations I would have enjoyed it more. But it felt like more of the same story with nothing really new. In addition, I lover her daughter and her partner, and they did not feature much in this book – there was just no character development.

All of this makes it sound like I didn’t like the book and I really did. It just did not live up to my high hopes. It was really good, but not great.

I do want to thank netgalley for the ARC – this did not impact my opinion. And I will continue to loo forward to further books by this author

Surprise! The UIU (Underwater Investigation Unit) is back for a 5th installment with Andrew Mayne's Deep Dive. This book has everything in it.

-Murder
-Everybody Is A Suspect
-A Scary Large Animal Predator
-Abandoned Boys School
-Rural Parts of Florida with Sink Hole Ponds
-Remote Scuba Dives With The Suspects

Some things I really loved about this book were that we see a deepening in the work relationship between Sloan and Hughes. And that's what it is - a work relationship. Neither have any romantic ideations about the other. Hughes knows Run, Sloan's partner, would knock him out. And he respects that. They both are respectful that they have each other's backs. The other thing I loved about this book - chapter titles! This may seem minor, but to this reviewer, Chapter Titles are a major plus.

For a book about the Underwater Investigation Unit, a lot of the investigating took place on land and in some really interesting places. A rural part of Florida where a Boys Reform School existed and some very unsundry and disgusting things occurred. Hughes and Sloan end up on in another remote part of Florida away from the coastline. I will say this part had me on pins and needles. Animal predators in that part of Florida are bad enough…

When the case finally wraps up, it is whirlwind. I found myself wanting to have a good old McPherson party with the members of the UIU coming over, even old George Solar. Seeing him knock back a beer with the McPherson clan would have been nice.

But that isn't how it wrapped up. And I have a feeling Andrew Mayne isn't done with these characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and do highly recommend it.

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This story begins with the Florida UIU team at the site where a coroner's truck went into a swamp. Hughes initially was using an ROV to fasten a cable to the truck so it could be pulled out. Due to unseen circumstances, Sloan was required to make a dive to finish the job. When she was leaving, she had an accident and had to be pulled out. As a result, she was taken to the hospital.

After she was released and when she went to the office, she began looking into the disappearance of Stafford, a friend, who had gone missing. As it turned out, the incident where she was injured, Stafford was called first but there was no answer. As the team began their search there was not a great deal of information available as to where he might have gone. There eventually went and searched his home and initially did not find anything. As they went over the scene once more, they made a discovery. One was a log where there discovered a lot of numbers, and the second one was that something had been moved from a shed.

They eventually located a key item which led to an unusual discovery. Using the numbers from the logbook, Sloan went to a couple of locations where she thought Stafford might be but had no luck finding him, but she did locate his truck.

She and Hughes tried another location where they found Stafford in addition to a major discovery.

Sloan in her search discovered she really know Stafford as well as she thought.

To discover what was taken from the shed, where Staffoord's body was found, what she learned about Stafford and his early years and who the killer was, then you need to read this book.

The ending is one that you wouldn't expect.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

This will be most appreciated by those who have been following the series. This time out. Sloan is searching for answers about her old pal Fred (as well as the man himself). There's an archeological thing going on but that is less interesting that the details of the dives. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Over to others.

Another great Sloan McPherson UIU book! In this book Sloan and Scott are searching for one of Sloan’s family friend and famous diver Fred. They found his truck and some diving gear in a sinkhole hole but things do not add up. In their search for Fred, they stumble on an archaeological find. This one had me guessing on who the actual bad guy was. Looking forward to the next book. I need more on Run.

For the most part, I've enjoyed every book in this series. They're not great, sometimes not even good, but I never regret my time spent with them because they have a unique twist on the police procedural format and move along at a nice clip without ever overstaying their welcome. That was still the case for Dark Dive, which I actually thought was better than many of the others in the series, but it also felt like Mayne took on too much in this installment.

There are too many mysteries to solve, too many dangling threads, and too many new characters. For the first time, there's also a greater theme Mayne is working within that pertains to lineage and identity, which could have been really effective and interesting if it were fleshed out more; but one of UIU series' biggest strength (the brevity and pacing of each book) worked against it here and made such an intriguing concept feel shoehorned by the end.

But at the same time, this is an improvement over the last entry, which didn't feature nearly enough actual under water investigating, and the central mystery is the best since book 2.

TL;DR: I liked this more than others in the series but wanted to like it even more, but the pieces didn't fall into place just right.

Trying To Break Into A Tight Knit Group

In central Florida, 11,867 BCE, Niquia is out near the seashore looking for some snails that her mother told her would with the pregnancy. A stranger comes up behind her and tries to catch her. She runs and is hit by something in her shoulder. She crosses the stream and runs through some mangroves. She finds herself at the edge of the forbidden Darkland. She is hit again in the neck by a small rock. She must escape, so she enters the Darkland. This event, which happened almost 14,000 years ago, leads to the events in this novel.

The one main storyline is the search for a master diver, Fred Stafford, who is a good friend to Sloan McPherson and her father. Fred just disappeared with his van and gear. While it is common for Fred to leave for jobs worldwide, there were no indications he did this time. As the Underwater Investigative Unit is being stood up after a short disbandment, there is free time to look for Fred. As Sloan and Scott Hughes start the investigation into what happened, they discover a darker side and a group of possible suspects. The suspense is maintained by the hope of finding Fred alive. As Sloan and Scott’s investigation continues, several what I call literary grenades significantly change the investigation's complexion. Like most previous novels in this series, the flow of action is fast, with Sloan still taking some risky chances. These situations occur at a lower rate in this novel than in the previous novels. I found the novel easy to follow, which having a single narrator, Sloan, facilitated. My attention was captured quickly and maintained to the end.

With a new character, Fred, who has a long history with Sloan and her father, the background of Sloan's character is expanded with new background information. As mentioned previously, Sloan finds herself in situations where she wants to take more risks but backs off. She is maturing. She even says that she needs to cut back on risk-taking. The new information on Sloan in this novel increased my enjoyment of reading.

Some aspects that can cause some readers to stop reading are low-key in this novel. There are no intimate scenes. Bad and impious language are at a minimum. The only violence is when a giant male alligator takes an interest in Sloan McPherson when she goes swimming in his domain. Lastly, this is the fifth novel in the series, but all references to events in the past novels are generic enough not to require you to have read them to understand their relevance to what is currently happening. Overall, I do not believe that this will be an issue.

There is one major problem I have with this novel. A significant loose end is not explained by the end of the novel. This loose end is a spoiler, so I am not revealing it in my review. When an author leaves such a significant loose end unexplained, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Otherwise, this novel has all the aspects I have come to enjoy in this series. The pace is fast but still easy to follow. There is plenty of short-term suspense where disasters during the diving are avoided. Lastly, I did not want to stop reading the novel.

This book is the eighth that I have read, spanning three series. This one novel is not enough to drop this author from my Must-Read category. I already have his next novel in my sights to read and await its availability. This novel has many aspects that I enjoy and for which I read this series and author, but because it has a significant flaw, I rate it as mixed feelings that earn it a rating of three stars. It potentially can be a good read, and it might not.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer. My review is based solely on my own reading experience of this book. Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

This series has to yet to disappoint. Once again we are taken on an aquatic adventure with heroine Sloan when a peer goes missing. There’s a somehow odd combination of archeological history combined with a murder mystery that just works. As this crazy lady often does, she’s blind diving into mucky bodies of body where alligators and even pythons are most certain to be found. Plus some information about possible crocodiles and even anacondas in the wilds of Florida has me looking at the state in a whole other way. Over the course of the series Sloan has really grown from a search/rescue diver to an official police diving role. Seems though the danger of the job and time taking its toll has her possibly considering retirement. I can’t quite see her giving up the job entirely as she’s clearly not one to stay still but I’m eager to see where her story and journey leads next.

Police Procedural Mystery in which a Florida Underwater Investigation Unit detective and her team's missing treasure-hunter case uncovers links to a cold case, local legends and conspiracies.

5/5 stars: This is the fifth entry in Mayne's Underwater Investigation Unit series, which is a Police Procedural Mystery that takes place in Florida and follows a scuba-diving archaeologist detective who's part of an team with her former navy diver partner, a retired homicide detective turned researcher and their boss as they investigate high profile crimes involving Florida waterways. With tons of action and plenty of twists and turns, Mayne's written a gripping tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the big reveal. Mayne always manages to thread together such interesting subjects into his plots and this book's doesn't disappoint. Additionally, Mayne's writing and character work is stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. I love catching up with Sloan, her UIU team, her life partner, Run, and her teen daughter and her the rest of her family. Especially her treasure-hunting father, who's a hoot. It's great to see Sloan's growth and I can't wait to read what she's up to next. And I just loved the special appearance of Theo Cray (who's the MC of The Naturalist, book one of the Theo Cray series). Mayne touches on some sensitive topics, so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading this series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, The Girl Beneath the Sea.

I received this eARC thanks to Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Andrew Mayne's latest thriller, "Dark Dive," plunges readers into the murky depths of suspense and intrigue. Set against the backdrop of Florida's sun-soaked coastline, this gripping novel takes us on an underwater adventure that will leave you breathless.

Detective Sloan McPherson is no stranger to the mysteries of the deep. After the disbandment of the Underwater Investigation Unit, she thought her days of diving into treacherous waters were over. But when a family friend, Fred Stafford, vanishes without a trace, Sloan is pulled back into the abyss.

Mayne's writing is as sharp as a harpoon, propelling us through a labyrinth of secrets and submerged danger. The short, punchy chapters keep the pace relentless, mirroring the urgency of a diver running out of air. Sloan's first-person narration adds an intimate layer, allowing us to feel the pressure of each descent and the weight of every revelation.

Stafford's disappearance leads Sloan to a tangled web of clues: an abandoned truck near an unmarked sinkhole, a gambling debt, and an enigmatic group of underwater treasure hunters known as the Dive Rats. As she dives deeper, she unearths a shocking conspiracy—one that threatens to drown her in darkness.

The Florida setting comes alive under Mayne's skilled pen. The salt tang of the ocean, the oppressive humidity, and the eerie beauty of submerged caves—all are vividly rendered. And just when you think you've caught your breath, the author twists the plot, revealing layers of deception that ripple through the narrative like a riptide.

"Dark Dive" isn't just a thriller; it's a love letter to the ocean. Mayne's meticulous research shines through, making diving feel both exhilarating and perilous. Whether you're a seasoned diver or a landlubber, you'll find yourself holding your breath as Sloan navigates treacherous currents and uncharted depths.

In Sloan McPherson, Mayne has crafted a resilient and complex protagonist. Her determination to unravel Stafford's secrets drives the story, but it's her vulnerability—the fear of losing someone she cares about—that resonates. And let's not forget her partner, former navy diver Scott Hughes, whose unwavering loyalty adds depth to their dynamic.

"Dark Dive" is a pulse-pounding thriller that submerges readers in a world of shadows and secrets. Mayne's prose is a tidal force, pulling us into his vortex.

I've been following this series since the beginning, and the Underwater Investigation Unit books always seem to deliver exactly the high-octane and suspenseful crime thriller I enjoy. I love the fact that this series has a Florida police diver angle, which gives the books such an unique angle as it isn't something you read about every day. Not ever sequel has the same amount of focus on the diving element though, but I'm happy to announce that Dark Dive truly does its title justice. While it still had a different feel than some of my favorite sequels, there is no doubt that Sloan and Scott have a LOT of diving going on. And yes, there is also plenty of danger along the way to keep you entertained!

I think part of the reason this series works is both because of this police diver angle, the unique special unit Sloan works for and the fact that she has such a colorful background in the first place. Both Sloan and the rest of the small team aren't afraid to break the rules, and it does make for some entertaining reading. I liked the addition of Gwen to the team after book four; she is rude, blunt and grumpy, and I love her for it. Gwen is one of the reasons I would suggest reading the books in order, because you might miss out on character background and/or stumble across spoilers otherwise. The case in Dark Dive does work as a stand-alone though.

After everything that happened in book four, Sloan and the rest of the team are back in action again. I'm definitely happy with that, because I was missing the diving element as well as hanging out with Scott and Solar! Dark Dive literally dives straight in with its first chapter, although I do have to say that that prologue was a bit confusing. It didn't fit the tone of the rest of the story, but I understand why it was included. That said, it was great seeing the team back at what they do best, and it was an investigation of a missing fellow diver that had the main focus of the plot. There are plenty of twists and turns to be unraveled along the way, although the plot wasn't as explosive as some of the previous sequels.

There is something about the writing that makes it really easy to keep turning those pages, although the pace was slower than expected in certain parts. There was still plenty of action and danger lurking around as well though, and it was interesting to learn a bit more about the history of the land. Things can be said about the credibility of it all and you definitely have to suspend your disbelief in certain parts, but if you read Dark Dive for the entertainment factor you will be fine. I'm also curious to see how things will continue after how things ended! If you like your thrillers on the fast, exhilarating and action-packed side, this is definitely a series to put on your radar.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Andrew Mayne, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Eager to get my hands on Andrew Mayne’s latest novel, I devoured this recent quasi-police procedural. I discovered Mayne through the debut novel of this series and have been enjoying much of his work since. Taking a unique spin on police work, Mayne sheds some light on a great means of discovering crimes and catching those who commit them. With a great deal of attention to detail, Mayne is able to check all the boxes and keep the reader engaged until the final page.

With the dissolution of the Underwater Investigation Unit (UIU), there is significant blowback. The uproar eventually sends Sloan McPherson and her partner, Scott Hughes, back underwater to solve crimes and plunge to new depths while doing so. However, things are slow to get started, giving Sloan some time to play hero, as well as victim, during some dives across Florida.

Sloan finds herself in the middle of a personal case as the UIU returns to business. Family friend and famed diver, Fred Stafford, has disappeared without a trace. Working with Scott and using her intuition, Sloan is able to locate Fred's truck, which has been left abandoned near a sinkhole. Fred, always the adventurous diver, has used his skills to explore many uncharted spots, of which this might be one. While Sloan prepares to explore the area, she stumbles across some news that tosses her for a loop and leaves her wondering if she ever knew Fred Stafford at all. A group of underwater diving enthusiasts who seek treasure have been scavenging with Fred whenever possible. Their finds are surely being sold on the black-market, which would cover Fred's large debts accrued from a gambling addiction. If that were not enough, a discovery on Fred's property opens up new and troubling revelations.

As Sloan and Scott keep working the case, they call in outside assistance to locate Fred Stafford. Things morph into a cold case with significantly problematic evidence that leads Sloan to wonder what is actually going on. With the UIU back in play, Sloan will have to represent them as best she can, knowing that each dive and every question could take things in a horrible direction with little knowledge of what waits under the murky waters. Mayne does a fabulous job at pulling the reader into the middle of the story without letting go.

I have long enjoyed the stories that Andrew Mayne writes. As I mentioned above, this was the first of his series that I discovered, though I have never found a book of his that I disliked. Filled with great narrative flow and action, Mayne keeps things moving and never lets up. There is something about the unique perspective that has long interested me. Sloan McPherson does well to provide the reader with the insight needed to respect diving and how it fits into policing. Peppering in great ideas and developing them throughout, Mayne proves his worth and keeps the reader fully engaged as the mystery thickens throughout the novel.

Plot points grow as the story builds, thrusting Sloan McPherson into areas of the law and her personal life she had not expected. As Mayne explores the world of diving and the risks undertaken by those who thrive on adventure, the story follows along and keeps things on edge throughout. Mayne knows how to use the proper pacing and keeps the reader involved in the many twists he inserts throughout the story, always willing to surprise when things seem to be on the straight and narrow. I am eager to see where things will go with this series and if there will be more than a passing 'crossover moment', as Mayne brought in one of his other great protagonists to offer up some of their insight.

Kudos, Mr. Mayne, for another thrilling novel that has me eager for the next instalment.

Dark Dive is the fifth book in the Underwater Investigation Unit series. Florida detective Sloan McPherson has been diving all her life, and now she uses those skills to solve murders, stop corruption, and help as many people as she can. But you can hide a lot of secrets in the dark waters of Florida, and this time it seems a missing friend was keeping secrets of his own. Sloan and her colleagues have to race to solve the disappearance before those secrets cause even more harm.

I'm a dive instructor in my spare time and there's no better place to be than underwater, so I love books that explore that world. And it's a perfect complement to mystery/thrillers. Mayne's writing is very straightforward and to the point, no frills. On one hand we get very little internal dialogue from the characters, so they don't feel incredibly fleshed out. On the other hand, this keeps the plot moving at a rapid pace, which is often what you want from a fast paced thriller.

On a technical aspect I was a bit frustrated when the character talks about taking oxygen tanks to depth as a backup - any diver knows that pure oxygen, when breathed below about 18 feet, will cause convulsions and drowning. Presumably the author meant oxygen enriched gases, but a non-diving reader wouldn't know that. You could argue it's not necessary to explain this for the story, but misinformation that can lead to death seems unnecessary - why not just say 'tanks'? Also, there's a story line regarding a school and identity that are entirely unresolved. There's no mention at all at the end, so it's unclear if the author intends to delve further into it in the next book, or that plot line was just dropped, but it left me unsatisfied.

I did love the line where the main character mentions that she's way more worried about a boat driver ignoring a dive flag in the water than a shark... Amen to that. Those boaters are a menace.

All in all, it was an enjoyable thriller with some clunky parts, but they don't take away too much from the plot itself. It's a perfect weekend or airplane read when you want a little mystery, a little excitement, but you don't want to get too emotionally invested in a story.

Dark Dive is the fifth book in the Underwater Investigation Unit series. Florida detective Sloan McPherson has been diving all her life, and now she uses those skills to solve murders, stop corruption, and help as many people as she can. But you can hide a lot of secrets in the dark waters of Florida, and this time it seems a missing friend was keeping secrets of his own. Sloan and her colleagues have to race to solve the disappearance before those secrets cause even more harm.

I'm a dive instructor in my spare time and there's no better place to be than underwater, so I love books that explore that world. And it's a perfect complement to mystery/thrillers. Mayne's writing is very straightforward and to the point, no frills. On one hand we get very little internal dialogue from the characters, so they don't feel incredibly fleshed out. On the other hand, this keeps the plot moving at a rapid pace, which is often what you want from a fast paced thriller.

On a technical aspect I was a bit frustrated when the character talks about taking oxygen tanks to depth as a backup - any diver knows that pure oxygen, when breathed below about 18 feet, will cause convulsions and drowning. Presumably the author meant oxygen enriched gases, but a non-diving reader wouldn't know that. You could argue it's not necessary to explain this for the story, but misinformation that can lead to death seems unnecessary - why not just say 'tanks'? Also, there's a story line regarding a school and identity that are entirely unresolved. There's no mention at all at the end, so it's unclear if the author intends to delve further into it in the next book, or that plot line was just dropped, but it left me unsatisfied.

I did love the line where the main character mentions that she's way more worried about a boat driver ignoring a dive flag in the water than a shark... Amen to that.

All in all, it was an enjoyable thriller with some clunky parts, but they don't take away too much from the plot itself. It's a perfect weekend or airplane read when you want a little mystery, a little excitement, but you don't want to get too emotionally invested in a story.

Dark Dive will be released on March 12, 2024!

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