I received an advance galley of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

I was introduced to Will Dean’s work last year when I read “The Last One” and immediately became a fan. That book was fast-paced – I seriously couldn’t read it fast enough. Was it implausible? Absolutely, but it was still a lot of fun. As soon as I read the synopsis of this one, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy, and while I didn’t find it as fast-paced as “The Last One,” I still enjoyed it.

This time around, Dean takes readers on a suspenseful journey into the depths of the ocean, where six experienced saturation divers find themselves trapped in a hyperbaric chamber while, one by one, they begin to drop like flies.

This book combines two of my biggest fears: Being out in the middle of the ocean and being trapped in a super-tight space. Not only are the divers locked in this chamber, but they’re dangling beneath a boat. When the first person mysteriously dies, it’s shocking, but there are protocols in place, and the five remaining members work to get the body up to a specific area in the chamber so it can be away from them and returned to the main ship. The problem is that they have to wait for their tiny coffin-like area to decompress before they can leave, and that takes several days to happen. And then the next crew member drops dead, and now everyone is wondering if someone amongst them is killing them, or if one of the crew who delivers their food and drink is poisoning them, or if it’s something else entirely. Whatever the case, they’re trapped until the chamber has fully decompressed, and this is when the mental games begin.

From the very first page, Dean grabs readers’ attention and doesn’t let go. The tension and suspense are palpable as the divers must navigate the treacherous waters of paranoia, exhaustion, and suspicion while trying to uncover the truth behind the mysterious deaths occurring in the chamber. Each character is expertly developed, with their own secrets, fears, and motivations. As the group mentally unravels under the stress of their situation, suspicions run high. Readers will find themselves questioning every character’s actions and motives, wondering who can be trusted and who is hiding a deadly secret.

Dean expertly conveys a sense of claustrophobia and dread as the divers struggle to survive and outwit their unknown assailant. The setting of the hyperbaric chamber adds an extra layer of intensity to the story. Dean’s vivid descriptions bring the chamber to life, making readers feel as though they are trapped inside with the divers, feeling the oppressive heat and claustrophobia that surrounds them. The sense of isolation and impending danger adds to the overall sense of unease, keeping readers on edge as they race to uncover the killer’s identity before it’s too late.

In addition to the thrilling suspense, Dean delves into the darker aspects of human nature, showing how fear and desperation can drive people to do unthinkable things. This book is definitely more psychological than action-packed, and while it had me feeling all kinds of claustrophobic, I also found that the book dragged a bit in places. We get some great backstories on the characters as they sit and chat about past dangers they’ve faced while being on other missions, and while this helped to flesh out the characters, I felt it slowed the novel’s pace a bit. It wasn’t enough to completely ruin it for me, but it made the pace feel choppy.

If you are a fan of gripping, heart-pounding, locked-room thrillers, you’ll definitely want to check this one out. If you are claustrophobic, allow yourself plenty of time to set this one aside and breathe (I know I had to several times). While I felt the pace was a bit off, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a breathtaking psychological read this summer.