Into the Deep
Written: Jul 11 '04 (Updated Sep 04 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: excellent writing, masterful suspense, very romantic and realistic
Cons: doesn't tie up all the loose ends
The Bottom Line: "Into the Deep" is one of the best books I've read in a long time!
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| CindyJean's Full Review: Colleen Coble - Into The Deep Books |
A Pleasant Surprise!
After having read and reviewed "Without a Trace" by Colleen Coble, I decided to share with her the link to my review. I don’t know an author who doesn’t like to hear good things about their work!
I was pretty excited when Colleen Coble asked me if I’d like to receive a copy of her next book for reviewing, which of course I wanted. What’s better than a potentially good book? Well, a potentially good book given to you for free–of course!
Yesterday afternoon I checked my mail, only to find a ‘Special Advanced Readers Edition’ copy of “Into the Deep” by Colleen Coble. I was thrilled! I was a little frustrated because I hadn’t yet been able to get a copy of the second book in the Rock Harbor series, “Beyond a Doubt,” yet, but that really didn’t dampen my enthusiasm.
Characters/Story
Bree Nichols
Having missed “Beyond a Doubt,” there is a bit of question in my mind about exactly how Bree got into her current predicament. The poor woman is torn between two loves–hers and her son’s. Bree, in her heart, knows that she loves Kade even if she’s not ready to admit it. He’s her rock, her security, the one who makes her think of forever. Bree’s son Davy adores Nick, the handsome and charming fireman. With all that has gone wrong in Davy’s young life, doesn’t he deserve to get what he wants?
Bree has to break it to a woman who is really quite new in town that her husband, whom she though was simply late and/or forgetful (for missing his son’s birthday party) was, in all reality, dead. Once again Bree, head of her local Search and Rescue (SAR) department, was pulled into a murder investigation with her trusted companion, Samson, at her side.
Another complication in Bree’s life? She just discovered that another new resident in town (a co-worker to the dead man) is actually her sister, and Cassie’s father is the father who abandoned her long ago. How can Bree deal with all this confusion. She wants to be angry with her father for abandoning her, with Cassie for working her way into Bree’s heart and not telling her sooner who they were.
Amid all of Bree’s troubles is her new relationship with the Lord. He guides her steps, though being a self-reliant person Bree is often slow in asking for His guidance.
Bree is a bit nervous when somebody makes an attempt to kidnap Samson. What would anyone want with her dog? When the second attempt on Samson was successful, right under Bree’s nose, she’s nearly frantic.
Bree can’t help but wonder if Samson’s disappearance, along with several other small dogs in the area, is somehow connected with the deaths of the scientists working in the new lab?
Kade Matthews and Lauri
Ranger Kade Matthews loves Bree, but he’s stepped aside. He thinks Bree has made her choice, in Nick–the fireman. It takes some ‘tough love’ from a few good friends before he realizes that he really loves Bree, loves her enough to fight for her.
Along with trying to convince Bree of what he already knows, that she loves him too, Kade has work to do. He’s responsible for a park, and when toxic chemicals kill fish in a stream nearby a pharmaceutical laboratory he is forced to investigate. Is it the lab causing the pollution, or is it an environmental group out to make the lab, and their bioengineering products, look bad?
Kade’s also up to his elbows in his sister’s problems. Lauri’s 17 and pregnant, wanting to give the baby up for adoption but only to someone local. Kade would have no problem supporting the baby, loving the baby, and taking care of his sister in the process, but he isn’t sure it’s what is best for her. It would rob her of her own childhood.
Woman trouble is the story of Kade’s life!
Naomi and Donovan O’Reilly
Naomi is Bree’s best friend, and her SAR partner. She’s married to a man she has loved for quite some time (another storyline I missed by missing the second novel), and a stepmother to his two children–Timmy and Emily.
Despite a bit of ‘distance’ between Emily and Naomi, the family is doing well adjusting to one another. That is, until Donovan’s ex-wife–who had abandoned them years before–walks back into their lives and tries to stir up trouble.
Naomi’s very jealous of Donovan’s ex-wife. Who wouldn’t be, she’s drop-dead gorgeous. Donovan tries his best to reassure Naomi that she’s the one he loves, that his ex-wife’s beauty is only skin deep.
When ‘the ex-wife’ tries to get custody of Naomi’s step-children, Naomi is devastated. When there is talk that maybe Naomi is mismanaging Timmy’s diet (he’s diabetic), she’s heartbroken. If people think she’s not taking proper care of ‘her’ kids then Donovan’s ex-wife might have a chance at getting custody. Naomi’s been doing everything by the book, why is Timmy’s diabetes doing so much worse in the last few weeks?
Mason and Hilary Kaleva
Hilary is the mayor of Rock Harbor, Mason the county sheriff. They’ve wanted a child for years, and (I’m assuming another casualty of missing the second novel) finally conceived.
Hilary is a tough nut to crack. She’s very forceful and dynamic, very tumultuous. She can be angry and mean one moment, repentant the next. She’s got a good heart, but sometimes she has a hard time showing it. Hilary’s pregnancy is very high risk, and she isn’t supposed to be very active nor get overly excited. When the first attempt at Samson’s kidnaping happens in her own yard, she ends up chasing off the kidnappers and later losing her baby. She wants to be angry, to lash out, and she chooses Bree and Samson as her targets.
Mason is facing yet another murder investigation when a missing scientist turns into a murdered scientist. What could those scientists be doing in their lab to inspire a murder? And then a second?
Cassie and Bernard Hecko
Months ago Cassie found some pictures and letters in her father’s belongings, pictures and letters that showed she had a sister she never knew. Actually, she knew the sister, just not that it was her sister.
Her desire to know her sister again was what caused her to suggest Rock Harbor as the site for the new lab needed for her pharmaceutical research company’s new drug project.
Cassie’s research project has more importance to her than just a simple job. She’s working on a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, which has claimed her once-brilliant father. Bernard Hecko has forgotten more than all the other researchers will ever learn, his mind is slowly becoming lost to him. He still has his good days, but Cassie never knows when the bad days will come.
Others
There are too many excellent characters to give full analysis to each of them, but I’d like to at least mention some of them.
Salome is Cassie’s assistant, efficient and loyal. She’s also Cassie’s roommate and when things start to get scary Salome is the first to suggest abandoning their research for something safer.
Yancy Coppler is one of the researchers on Cassie’s team, a genial man who is somewhat reminiscent of a teddy bear–or maybe Santa Clause.
Chito Yamamoto is also on Cassie’s research team. He’s a hothead, known for his bad temper and attitude problems. A troublemaker?
Marika Fleming is Donovan’s ex-wife. She’s back in Rock Harbor working for an environmental watchdog group–The North American Wilderness Group (NAWG). She’s also kicking up trouble for Donovan and Naomi.
Timmy and Emily O’Reilly are good kids, adjusting fairly well to their father’s new marriage and their new mom. When their biological mom comes back to town, it upsets their applecart. The mom who once abandoned them now wants back in their life. What does that mean for their new family?
My Thoughts
Any time you skip a book in a series such as this, you run the risk of missing vital information that unlocks the story. What I appreciate about Colleen Coble’s novels is that you can miss one book (though I don’t have any idea why you’d want to) and still have a fully understanding of what’s happening. You could have picked up this book, not having read any of Colleen Coble’s books and still have understood and enjoyed the story fully.
I have found the Christian mystery/suspense novels tend to be bad, boring, predictable, or all three. They often rely too heavily on ‘miracles’ in totally unpractical ways. It’s not that I don’t believe God can do all things, it’s just nice to sometimes read a book where people take some responsibility for the situation. There is still a very strong element of faith in this novel, you just aren’t hammered over the head with miracles in “Into the Deep.”
There was an element of excitement and adventure in “Into the Deep” that is hard for many writers to achieve, but Ms. Coble achieves it easily. There is so much going on at one time that you have to really focus on the events, and they often aren’t leading you were you think they are.
I thought that I knew rather early on who the murderer was, and even why they were doing it. That changed quickly, and I had a new ‘suspect.’ By the time “Into the Deep” was over I had changed ‘suspects’ several times, but I had NEVER once suspected the actual killer or the motive–until the author revealed it.
I used to think that reading Christian fiction meant reading fluff–lighthearted romances where everything turns up roses in the end. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes a little fluff is good. Especially when it’s well-written fluff. What I mean is that it’s nice to know that Christian fiction is up to par with its secular counterparts and that I can get a good mystery every now and then too!
Another impressive aspect of “Into the Deep” was the way Colleen Coble portrayed Cassie’s father as a man with Alzheimer’s Disease. He had his good days and bad, and his habits and eccentricities seemed in line with what I know of Alzheimer’s. I guess this aspect has a little more meaning for me right now, with the recent passing of Ronald Reagan after his 10 year battle.
The only thing I didn’t absolutely love about “Into the Deep” was the fact that it didn’t tie up all the loose ends into a little package. I would love to know with certainty what happens to Lauri’s baby, and to know what happens to the ‘bad guys.’ I like to have ‘closure’ when it comes to book characters I have connected with.
Recommendation
After two novels, I am a firmly dedicated fan of Colleen Coble’s. Her books "Without a Trace" and “Into the Deep” are both incredible examples of writing, something that any reader could enjoy!
I highly recommend “Into the Deep” to any fan of a good mystery/romance novel, Christian or not!
FYI
“Into the Deep” is set for release in October of 2004!
The Rock Harbor Series
Without a Trace
Beyond a Doubt
Into the Deep
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
CindyJean
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Location: Oregon
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