Down Down Deep, Indeed. For those unaware, this book was previously titled Down Down Deep, and that may actually be a superior title to its more generic one it currently has (The Cruise).

Here we get a psychological, almost supernatural, thriller that becomes all too human indeed. The tension ratchets up as weird things start happening on this sailing of this cruise ship, and there are quite a few even horror elements to be had here.

There are twists a plenty, so much so that it sometimes feels like you're on Velocicoaster - they're coming so hard and so fast, and yet you're enjoying every freaking second of it. And, like Velocicoaster, as fun and intense as this read is... it is also fairly shortish, at just around 250 pages. Meaning it is yet again great for those with limited amounts of reading time.

Definitely one of the more inventive books within its space I've encountered, so much so that when I saw that this is actually in a series of sorts and that the other book is currently, as I write this review on November 14, 2024, just $0.99... yeah, I picked it up immediately just on the strength of this book. (Fwiw, that book - The Best Friends - is also a reprint/ retitle, formerly called Truth Truth Lie.)

One warning: There is a fair amount of pretty brutal action in this book at times, and it *does* deal in certain assaults that some may find more troubling than others. So be aware of that going in... and read it anyway. Yes, it really is that good.

Very much recommended.

Jesse is a travel writer who suffers blackouts that are a result of the trauma she experienced as a child. Join her on this thrilling journey as she sets sail on the same cruise ship that her dad died in. Jesse and her mother have different plans from their itinerary. Both women have a complicated relationship but nothing will stop Jesse as she embarks on her quest for answers. Character development wasn’t great. But a good story to read nonetheless.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe books for the e-ARC. This is an honest review.

I understand that some of the premise for The Cruise by Christina Delay IS supposed to be based in confusion and missing memories, but it's just too confusing to even read. It is absolutely a suspenseful thriller and therefore a quick read, so it's not the writing style that left me confused, it was the story itself. Just too many things that don't make sense or line up with the MC's character and behavior patterns, so I never truly connected to the story. Plus the fact that there are 0 likable characters here! Overall, not a win for me.

Travel writer, Jesse, joins a cruise; the same cruise that she was on 20 years previously, when her father drowned. Now she wants to recreate the scenario and try to uncover the truth.

Since the death of her father, Jesse has suffered from blackouts and she is clearly a very disturbed young woman. I found it hard to connect with Jesse, as well as the other two main characters, Jesse's mother, who was really nasty, and Gabriel, one of the ship's stewards who is obsessed with Jesse. The story was quite strange, almost supernatural, with Jesse believing her father's voice is in her head, but none of the events really matched up with her behaviour, unless she is just totally doolally? But I don't think that was the intention! Gabriel is also haunted by the death of his own father and I didn't find the story or the characters meshed together well.

2 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Christina Delay and Joffe for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Twenty years ago, Jesse’s father disappeared on a cruise, and she has never been able to move past this terrible event in her life. She decides to book the same cruise to try and see if she can find answers, even after all this time. Jesse even books the same room; she wants to try to see things from the same perspective as all that time ago.

Not only is she looking for these answers she is also having to deal with her mother now accompanying her, they have a quite a fractured relationship where Jesse has always felt dominated by her mother’s ways.

On the cruise is Gabe, an employee of the ship that Jesse becomes close to, will Gabe have some answers for her in her quest to find out what really happened to her dad?

This was a quick read that held my attention, but I found it very hard to warm to any of the characters, even Jesse so I think this did take down a little the level of my enjoyment of the book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

The Cruise makes no sense. I got about 3/4 the way through and the ridiculousness finally forced me to DNF. Gabe is a child predator. The main character's mom is a psychopath. There are too many great books out there to read one that is full of confusion and ick.

The Cruise
This story is a quick suspenseful thriller. I was hooked from the get go and wanted answers for Jesse. Jesse’s father died 20 years ago and he has haunted her ever since. Jesse suffers from blackouts and wants them to stop. Her therapist wanted her to go back to the cruise ship her father died on and try to piece together the parts of her memory she is missing. Her mother worms her way on the cruise too and we get to understand more of their relationship. Will Jesse find the missing parts of her memory?

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC.

#TheCruise #NetGalley

This was a great read! It was a fast paced thriller, with so many different twists and turns, and it kept me hooked and gripped on the story from page one. There was a lot going on in the suspense was palpable.

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Love the cruise ship setting. It leads to lots of thrills and suspense. Revisiting a past mystery adds to the thrills of this story.

I actually read this on my cruise holiday this week, quite surreal! A great read and if did make me think, just how many people go missing at sea? Lots of tension and a solid storyline, really enjoyed it.

Jesse lost her father on a cruise ..so fast forwasrd 20 years and we find Jesse on the same cruise trying to uncover secrets and lies..

I always fancied a cruise ship holiday but after reading this I'm now not so sure.... it is amazing, creepy and filled with suspense with brilliant characters and a plot full of twists and drama..

I loved it

This was a suspenseful atmosphere and loved the idea of a Carribbean cruise, it had that element that I was hoping for. I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish and glad it was so well done. The characters had that overall feel that worked and added to the suspense.

Quite a slow start and at times I did wonder why I was reading it. It got better halfway through so I started to enjoy it more. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This book was an ok quick read for me.
I didn't really engage with the storyline and for some reason it felt familiar?
Some twists but overall not really for me.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Jesse, a travel writer, lost her father 20 years ago on a cruise. She books the same cruise, room and everything to try to figure out why she’s had blackouts since and discover what happened. All with the help of an employee, Gabe, who she doesn’t know was on the original cruise. It was a quick read. As a thriller, there were some twists but I also felt disconnected from every character - I wasn’t routing for anyone.