Gripping yet flawed thriller. The setting, a remote Swedish cabin, is beautifully described, immersing me in the chilling atmosphere that Dean masterfully creates. The protagonist's internal struggles and the slow unraveling of the plot kept me engaged, and I appreciated the depth of character development, particularly how the past influences the present.
However, I felt that some parts of the narrative dragged on a bit too long, which made the pacing uneven at times. Additionally, while the twists were intriguing, a few felt predictable, slightly diminishing the overall suspense. Despite these drawbacks, Dean's writing style is compelling, and the emotional weight of the story resonated with me.
Overall, it’s a solid read that offers both tension and introspection, even if it doesn’t quite reach its full potential.

Official rating is 2.5 stars.

While this book ultimately let me down I did love the extreme claustrophobia that it caused. I am not usually a claustrophobic person but I was while reading this book. With that being said though the overall story left me a bit frustrated. I did not care for the ending or the direction it took. Also, with all the stories from the characters that were not relevant, I was taken out of the books atmosphere of suspense.

As always though I am one person. You may love this story so I always recommend that you read it for yourself.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for an arc of this book. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.


This book was definitely something. A thriller about saturation divers and the dangers and psychological effects that the professional can have even to the most experienced divers. Elle is a saturation diver who will be on a job for a month until the youngest crew member dies suddenly and then their month long job is turned into four days. Then slowly as fear takes hold and the divers start to turn on the people keeping them safe and on each other. I honestly thought we were about to get a plot similar plot to Will’s last book but I enjoyed this one more. Elle and Andre are the last two standing out of eight and they both go crazy with both getting arrested, or Andre will be when he gets out of the hospital. Elle has dreams that she was the one putting cyanide in peoples drinks and killing people but thinks it’s a figment of her imagination. I think she did it and her mind is trying to cope with it. But you never truly know with Will Dean books.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Atria books for this advance copy of The Chamber by Will Dean - after really enjoying The Last One last year, I was very excited to check this one out!

I wish I could say this one was as intriguing as his previous works, but I think a specific group of people would enjoy this book. I have a very minimal background in diving from when I used to work as a lifeguard years ago, but without that, I can anticipate a lot of people DNFing this one - the whole first third is very info-dumpy, trying to paint the setting for what these divers are living with. (Also, the ebook and print have a diagram in the front, I found that very helpful that you wouldn’t have if you did this on audio.) This one is the definition of a slow burn, and you kind of know what’s going to happen based on the summary of the plot - we follow the POV of Ellen, so naturally she gives “final girl” energy, but I found a lot of these details to be not necessary, and my biggest disappointment comes from the lack of your typical Will Dean “OMG” factor; this is the third book I’ve read from this author, but nothing really shocked me or surprised me with the ending, and it felt a little boring. Again, if you have no background in diving, I really don’t think you’d enjoy this one, I think there’s a specific target audience for it.

Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for this honest review. The Chamber is available to purchase today! I look forward to reading more of Will Dean’s future works.

The Chamber ~ Will Dean
This book is a suspenseful locked-room thriller about a group of saturation divers inside a hyperbaric chamber. The suspense builds as one-by-one they are dying and no one knows why. Because rapid decompression would be fatal they must work in shifts to survive the close quarters until they can safely decompress. Exhaustion, suspicion, and paranoia play front and center in this high stakes book along the vein of And Then There Was None. It was well-written and researched. At times I was lost in trying to wrap my head around the visual aspect of their environment, but I think that was a me issue. The plot twists were substantial and you could easily feel the stress the characters were under. Thank you #NetGalley for an early look at this terrific novel.

This book gave me claustrophobia and I liked it.

As a recreational diver, I found the sat diving super interesting. I did go away and watch a few videos about the industry so I could get a better visual for things like the Bell.

Will Dean's The Chamber is a taut and riveting murder mystery that takes readers into the claustrophobic world of saturation diving. Set aboard the Deep Topaz, a state-of-the-art diving support vessel, the novel crafts an intense psychological thriller centered around a high-stakes scenario where isolation and stress breed suspicion and fear.

The story begins with the introduction of Ellen Brooke and her five colleagues, all seasoned saturation divers from various corners of the globe. Their mission is routine yet perilous: a month-long stay aboard the Deep Topaz, living and working in a hyperbaric chamber, a highly controlled environment necessary for deep-sea exploration. However, what begins as a professional assignment quickly spirals into a nightmarish ordeal.

The premise of The Chamber is a masterclass in psychological suspense. The confined setting of the hyperbaric chamber serves as a pressure cooker for the divers, amplifying the sense of isolation and tension. When one diver is found dead in his bunk, the environment transforms from one of routine to a dangerous crucible of paranoia and distrust. The added complication of having to endure four more days of decompression—during which the chamber must remain sealed to avoid fatal decompression sickness—heightens the stakes and intensifies the drama.

Dean’s plotting is meticulous, weaving a complex web of suspense as the divers grapple with the reality of a killer among them. The murder mystery unfolds with a slow burn, as each chapter reveals new layers of the characters' personalities and potential motives. Dean excels in creating a palpable sense of dread and uncertainty, making every interaction and decision fraught with tension. The suspense is expertly sustained through a series of red herrings and unexpected twists, keeping readers on edge as they attempt to piece together the clues.

Character development is a standout feature in The Chamber. Ellen Brooke is a well-drawn protagonist, whose inner strength and determination become increasingly apparent as the mystery unfolds. Her background and experiences provide depth to her character, making her both relatable and compelling. The other divers are also richly developed, each bringing their own histories, fears, and complexities to the narrative. Their interactions and evolving relationships are central to the story, as Dean explores themes of trust, survival, and the impact of extreme stress on human behavior.

The novel's setting is a character in itself, with the claustrophobic confines of the hyperbaric chamber adding a tangible sense of unease. The isolation of the chamber, coupled with the technical aspects of saturation diving, creates a unique and gripping backdrop for the mystery. Dean’s detailed descriptions of the environment and the divers' experiences lend authenticity to the story, immersing readers in the high-stakes world of underwater exploration.

Fans of the murder mystery genre will find much to appreciate in The Chamber. The combination of a confined setting, a ticking clock, and a deeply unsettling sense of paranoia provides a thrilling read. Dean’s skillful blending of character-driven drama and intricate plotting ensures that the novel is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally engaging. The novel’s exploration of psychological tension and the impact of extreme conditions on human behavior adds layers of depth to the mystery, making it a standout entry in the genre.

Will Dean’s The Chamber is a riveting murder mystery that leverages its unique setting and complex character dynamics to deliver a gripping and thought-provoking thriller. With its intense atmosphere, intricate plotting, and rich character development, the novel is a must-read for fans of the genre seeking a suspenseful and immersive experience.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy of "The Chamber" by Will Dean. I will read anything he writes! Always filled with suspense and twists, his writing makes you feel uncomfortable in a way that gives you adrenaline and gives you the need to keep reading. It gives you the urge to have to know what's next. I finished this book very quickly; I literally brought it everywhere with me. I was obsessed. I recommend this book to anyone who loves horror, thriller, suspense, and creepy ocean vibes! I felt claustrophobic the entire time, a very interesting experience that no book has managed to do before.

The amount of times I wanted to fall asleep while reading this book could have tied the number of gold medals USA received during the Paris Olympics.
It did have a few redeeming qualities, however, not much to make me a fan.
All the extra stories the characters kept telling about past excursions made me sleepy. The fact that the people outside the vessel weren't rushing to get these people out of a bad environment pissed me off and the ending was so annoying.
After loving the authors last book I was expecting so much more but sadly left disappointed.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

OMG, Will Dean's mind has me feeling incredibly claustrophobic! He's deeply disturbed in all the right ways.

This was probably the most freaky locked room mystery that I've ever read, being that it takes place in a hyperbaric chamber! Six deep sea divers are locked inside, and one by one, they start dying a mysterious death. Is one of the divers a killer, or is it someone from outside of the chamber?

This was such a unique plot, and the author clearly did a lot of research. While I enjoyed this one, there were times when it dragged a bit for me. Throughout the story, the divers would tell stories about their past, and I didn't always find those parts super interesting. I was invested in knowing why everyone was dying, and there was one quite shocking twist that I never expected. The ending was confusing, and I'm not really sure what exactly happened.

Thank you, @netgalley and @atriabooks, for the #gifted e-arc!

Ellen Brooke is a saturation diver, locked in a pressurized chamber with five male divers for a month to work at the bottom of the North Sea when one by one her fellow divers start dying. Ellen is one of few female saturation divers in an industry dominated by men. As her colleagues start to die, Ellen is not sure who she can trust and with a lot of elements beyond her control, Ellen questions everyone and everything around her in this tiny chamber.

This atmosphere Will Dean has created in this book is nothing short of stunning. It's chilling, claustrophobic, and generally creepy. The POV was different than what I'm used to reading, where there was very little dialog, and the book really revolves around Brooke and her internal thoughts. The book kept me guessing until the end and I really enjoyed being thoroughly submerged in the storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This book officially publishes on 8/6/24!

This book absolutely made me feel claustrophobic even though I generally don’t have a fear of tight spaces. The author did a great job of crafting a sense of dread, even though the majority of this novel takes place in a confined space. The setting for this book was absolutely unique to anything else I have read, which I enjoyed. Giving this one three stars because of both pacing and the way the novel wraps up. Although I understood what the author was trying to do in the middle/end of the novel in terms of pacing, to me it felt like a complete 180 from the lightening-fast, gripping chapters from the beginning. That being said, if you are looking for a book with a unique backdrop or a strong sense of dread is what you look for in your thrillers, I would recommend giving this one a read. If you do decide to pick this one up, though, please check any relevant trigger warnings before reading!

Six saturation divers living at high pressure inside a small hyperbaric chamber in order to work on the sea floor are thrown into the middle of a murder investigation when one of them turns up dead. In the four days until they can be released from the chamber they will be stuck in a high pressure situation in more ways than one.

This book has a super intriguing premise, you can't do better with a closed door mystery than a sealed hyperbaric chamber. Learning about life in the hyperbaric chamber is fascinating, but can be a pass for those that don't like any science in their books. This book was full of tension and felt claustrophobic with such a small enclosed setting.

I would highly recommend The Chamber to those who like who done-it mysteries with a bit of science.

a little too dense for my liking about what a hyperbaric chamber is. I didn't think the plot had enough drive and I grew quickly bored.

Will Dean is such a master of locked room mysteries!!

The Chamber is an intense and claustrophobic story surrounding six saturation divers who are trapped in a hyperbaric chamber trying to survive decompression after one of their crew members mysteriously dies. Was it an accident? Was it murder?

The clock is steadily ticking as readers progress into The Chamber and with each hour that passes, Dean ramps up the tension to a new level. I was so stressed by the end that I could not physically put this book down until I finished it. I knew what I thought was happening, but was I right? And if I was, why the heck would that be right??

Not only has Dean put together a fantastic thrill ride of a book with The Chamber, but I also feel like I walked away knowing so much more about saturation diving.

This is a hard one for me to rate. Did I like it? Yes. But were there things that irritated me? Also, yes lol. The Chamber is certainly a claustrophobic, locked room mystery and the feeling of dread was palpable. But the suspense was overshadowed by the constant info dump about diving. Not only that, but I don’t think it was very clear WHO was behind the murders. It’s up to readers to decide whether it was one character who has weird and very bad thoughts or the person who was accused. As a reader (and this is my personal preference) I like clear answers, and this one had me with way more questions than the answers I craved when I got to the end.

I guess it all boils down to this. Would I recommend it? Maybe. If you like to learn something new while reading and diving is an interest, then I think you’d like this one. If you don’t like the constant info dump, then it may not be the book for you. I know there are many Will Dean fans out there and I definitely recommend reading his books at least once, but some readers may not enjoy his style as much as another person would. I’ll give his books one more try before I decide if he’s a miss for me (his previous book that I read was The Last One which I gave 3 stars as well).


𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐

3.5 stars rounded down

Extremely claustrophobic novel about SAT divers. You can tell Dean did his research! The ocean has always freaked me out and if I were in a chamber like this I’d freak. Talk about PRESSURE (haha).
What would you do if you were stuck in a small chamber with a few of your co-workers, some you don’t even know a thing about…and they start dying?!?!
I was enthralled at first, but I started to feel like it was dragging towards the midpoint. Perhaps that was Dean’s intention to make the tension draw out like the divers waiting to surface and get out of that hyperbaric chamber where they breathe a helium mix. I cannot imagine what they even sound like

Over all, not bad from Will Dean. I enjoy his style of writing and look forward to reading more of his books.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the Advanced Reader Copy of The Chamber by Will Dean.

I was a big fan of the last book that the author put out. But I feel like the story had potential, but it just didn’t do it for me. I think that we need something different and away from the ship setting in the next book that he releases.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader’s copy.

I read The Last One last year and literally went "wait wtf" outloud at the end, so I knew I needed more Will Dean. This one definitely had a different vibe, but the writing was still really solid which was one thing I really appreciated in TLO, too. Dean does a good job at characterizing the space and the people, which serves to create a tense and atmospheric story. I was so hooked, from the get go, and just like TLO I was left reeling after each twist. Dean has such creative and well-woven ideas, can't wait for more!