The Deep Kindle Edition

I have so many feelings! First of all, let me just say that Alma Katsu is probably the most committed author in terms of research and this translates to the story in the form of authenticity. If you're going to write historical fiction, do it as passionately as Alma Katsu. If you're going to infuse the legendary true story of the Titanic with fictional horror, use the same care and concern that Alma Katsu gives her novels. Her book, THE HUNGER is the *exact* same way in terms of honoring the past while also giving it new life.THE DEEP surprised me. It really did. I thought it was going to have a certain air about it, so I was surprised when it took a different turn.This is the story about Annie Hebbley, who serendipitously finds herself on both the Titanic and its twin ship, The Britannic at different times in her life. The book opens with Annie as a resident in an asylum so we get a sense that there's some complexity to Annie that will unfold during the course of the novel. It was a powerful hook.At some point, I felt my reader's heart getting bogged down in the drama aboard the Brittanic. Annie becomes entangled in the affairs of some of the passengers, and I felt myself longing for the chills & thrills.And those did come, but not in the way I was expecting. So I'd like to use this opportunity to set some realistic expectations for readers:The atmosphere between THE HUNGER and THE DEEP are in stark contrast. In THE HUNGER, I felt a real sense of raw grit and the challenges of survival. The threat was coming from among the characters, man vs. man but also from the environment, man vs. nature. The potential for danger created pretty heavy suspense.In THE DEEP, there's an air of sophistication that detracted from that potential for real danger. I kept expecting Katsu to utilize the horror elements to turn the tables; like splash some blood on the crystal chandeliers and expensive gowns. But I think she quite masterfully employed a quieter, more realistic, supernatural approach.This will appeal to a broader audience, I think.For me, I'm going to say the same thing I said in my review of THE HUNGER, I wanted more teeth.There's no question that Alma Katsu is a brilliant writer. I will read every book she pens. I will recommend this book to everyone--but for my die-hard horror fans, it will come with the caveat that this leans into the historical fiction and supernatural thriller genre, more than the horror.Mother Horror blurb: ""Alma Katsu is probably the most committed author in terms of research and this translates to the story in the form of authenticity. If you're going to write historical fiction, do it as passionately as Alma Katsu. I found THE DEEP to be a compelling, supernatural thriller that was both eerie and sophisticated. I found myself wanting more danger & risk but I'm a glutton for that high only horror can give."

I loved this book. Even more, I knew I would love it before I read it. After THE HUNGER, Alma Katsu became one of my favorite authors and this next novel only cemented her placement on that list. Unlike anyone else, she combines two of my favorite genres, historical fiction and horror, into a tale of beauty and quiet terror.We all know the story of the Titanic. Maybe not everyone realizes she also had a sister ship, the Britannic, which also sank in a horrible tragedy only a few years later. Throw a gothic ghost story in the mix and voila, another epic win from Alma Katsu!Annie Hebbley is a troubled young woman, haunted by a past that's been overshadowed by tragedy. We begin in an asylum, where Annie is set to be released. She was a stewardess on the Titanic, miraculously surviving. A free woman again, she's given a second chance at life as a nurse on the HMHS Britannic. But the ghosts of her past won't leave her in peace, and we learn why over the course of the novel.I have to say, Annie's character really struck a chord with me. She's one of the few fictional characters in the story, but to me she felt as real as anyone. Maybe it's because I was reminded of my beloved great-grandmother, an immigrant to the US and a nurse, a strong woman who survived multiple tragedies but never gave up. She was obsessed with the Titanic disaster since her youth. One of my few memories of her when I was a child, before her dementia overwhelmed her, was when she showed me the yellowed newspaper clippings she always kept after the Titanic sank in 1912. Maybe the horror of the event fascinated her, as only a few years prior she'd survived her own harrowing voyage from Europe to Ellis Island, probably scared to death at only 12.And that's the allure of Alma Katsu's novels, at least for me. We've made a cliche out of "Truth is stranger than fiction" because it often is. Real-life horror often is far more frightening than anything birthed by our imaginations. But when you combine the two, historical events and people with a fictional horror story, it's even more chilling but entertaining as hell. I highly recommend this novel, and hope others enjoy it as much as I did!

Only just received and I’m already half way through the book. Very well written and so absorbing!!

In the end, I gave up on this book about 3/4 way through. It felt like it contained way too much filler - content added just to increase the number of pages in the book.

I really enjoyed her first book and this one started off interestingly enough. Unfortunately it quickly became an incoherent mess, jumping between timelines and various points of view . The ending is especially drawn out and messy; it feels like the author forgot her original premise and tried to circle back to it before the last page.

Intricate, sophisticated, and beautifully written. Feel like you are on the Titanic, only something else is there too. Something that should not be.

Arrived as indicated. Well written. Fully absorbing. Well researched.