An alcoholic, disenfranchised journalist, Anthony Fennell, ventures to South Africa and is tasked to write an article about submarine telecommunications cable repair while shadowing Chief of Mission (director of repair), John Conway, on their search and repair mega ocean vessle. While on assignment he gets to know the mysterious Conway, also a free diver, and becomes acquainted with his partner, attention-seeking actress Zanelle.

The subject of fiber optic repair, the mending of fine glass tubes, no bigger than a human hair and encompassed in a tube about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, was absolutely fascinating and illuminating. The submarine telecommunications cables are responsible for the majority of internet traffic worldwide, made up of approximately 1.5 million kilometers lying as deep as 4 kilometers down on the ocean floor. The laborious intricacies in repairing these severed cables, which disrupt or halt data travel to neighboring countries, is staggering. I ignorantly have never thought about this underwater infrastructure which is critical to our daily life.

Saying all this probably makes it sounds like a dry book, but it absolutely was not. Woven throughout is a theme of broken and taught relationships and Anthony’s struggle for sobriety and a more positive evolution. He also examines the state of our oceans. Masterly written, with gripping tension throughout the story and a smooth flow. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced copy.