The Deep: We all know the story of the Titanic . . . don't we?

(I Voluntary reviewed an eARC of the book on For The Love of Fictional Worlds)When I read the blurb that talked about Titanic’s sinking on her maiden voyage and that of her sister ship Britannic – an event in history that has long since intrigued me; but this is the first time I have actually picked up a book with this weaving storyline!Now; in The Deep, the author uses dual timeline to give the readers an intriguing plot using the protagonist’s life – Annie Hebbley – a woman who served as a Stewardess to the wealthy passengers. The second timeline following Annie’s path four years later; when she serves as a nurse in Britannic, the sister ship of Titanic which has been refitted to work as a hospital ship during WWI!Now, it doesn’t take long for the reader to realise that Annie is tormented by demons; both real and imagined; especially with the disclosure that she was institutionalized in the four years after surviving the sinking of Titanic.As a historical mystery; the writing and the plotline goes a little slow; but it is for me; a whole lot slower than I would have expected of this genre – and why it took me a little time engage with the storyline. It took me a little research to understand that the author has actually weaved in real people within the plot – even if the focus remains on the fictitious Anne Hebbley.The paranormal aspect of the plot; left a little to be desired – it was an adventure to understand that the way people of this time period were obsessed with not just the occult but everything that inexplicable; but it, in the end, wasn’t creepy per say!I, as a reader did not become fully invested in Anne and other characters; but the desperate need to know EXACTLY how the story pans out had me interested right till the end! Fans of the historical genre and those who love conspiracy theories would definitely find this an enjoyable read! <3

The media could not be loaded.  The book was not original quality. It was pirated. 1000 bucks for a pirated copy!

Someone, or something, is haunting the Titanic. 18-year-old Annie Hebbley flees her family and takes a job aboard the Titanic. The ship contains every imaginable luxury, but soon, Annie and several others become convinced that the vessel also harbors evil spirits. Four years later, in 1916, Annie is at an Asylum, recovering from a head injury sustained in the Titanic’s sinking, when she receives a letter from fellow former White Star Line employee Violet Jessop. Now a nurse, Violet is about to set sail on the Britannic—a hospital ship that is the Titanic’s twin—and she wants Annie to join her. Annie has misgivings, but her doctor strongly endorses the plan, so despite having no medical training, she signs on. The hope is that the experience will help Annie heal; instead, it unearths painful memories that provide shocking clarity regarding what actually transpired during the Titanic’s fateful crossing.This book is narrated in multiple timelines, giving various characters perspectives and shifting back and forth in time, between the Titanic and its sister ship, the Britannic. We follow Annie’s story as a stewardess serving the wealthiest passengers onboard the Titanic in 1912. The story attempts to blend history with the paranormal using some real-life and some fictional characters to tell the story of someone or something haunting the Titanic.The Deep makes for an engrossing read with some page-turning twists and attention to historic detail which combine with an array of characters. There are several characters in this book but I didn’t really connect with any of them. Annie is an unreliable narrator but her actions are more frustrating than mysterious. There are many real-life characters in the Titanic including John Jacob Astor and his pregnant wife Madeleine, boxers David “Dai” Bowen and Leslie Williams but none of whom had really any impact on the story. In fact, much time was utilized in establishing these characters which felt unnecessary in the end.The storyline is both gripping but the paranormal part of it felt underwhelming. Despite the talk of spooky things, demons and mermaids, it didn’t feel creepy enough as I was expecting it to be. The explanation about the paranormal activity was also confusing. The constant switching of timelines and POV’s also started becoming puzzling. The writing itself was good but some of the twists were predictable.Overall, The Deep is a well-written and atmospheric read; albeit a bit slow-paced. If you’re looking for historical fiction with a dose of the supernatural, you will like this book.

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

Good story

Libro arrivato nei tempi, imballato bene, perfetto. Devo ancora leggerlo, ma tornerò a scrivere come l’ho trovato. Da amante della storia del Titanic non posso che apprezzarne la bellissima copertina.

Alma is not the first author to work in Speculative Historical Fiction.Both Dan Simmons and Stephen King have both published Speculative Historical Fiction. And both have done a great job.However, Alma, first with The Hunger and now with The Deep, raises the bar and has made the genre her own. Her detail is spot-on and well researched. Her prose is perfectly honed and sharpened. I almost envision the author sitting at her writing desk and staring at each sentence wondering how to make it better.This is an involved story, where much takes place internally. The horror comes from within, and not from without. Or (and I hate to do this) Does it? The layers build moment by moment as characters are introduced and the hints of each ones background are dribbled out on a need to know basis. Kind of like real life.In lesser writers hands, the slow pacing would not work. But in Alma's hands, you savor each moment as she creates a wonderful and realistic sense of time and place.This is a Ghost Story.This is a Mystery.This is a novel that must be savored slowly and deliberately.Do not attempt to rush your read.Doing so will lessen the experience.Now get your copy and get ready to live with Annie Hebbley, and husband and wife Mark and Caroline Fletcher, and W.T. Stead, and the rest of the passengers and crew that carry the story.Alma Katsu is a wonderful storyteller, and her latest deserves its place on your bookshelf.

First things first, knowing the fate of both The Titanic and The Britannic does nothing to dilute the jeapordy of this story. I was so invested in these characters that I was hoping they would all live while knowing deep down they could not all survive the sinking. This is all to the credit of the author Alma Katsu. The level of research that has gone in to telling this tale is evident yet not overdone in the actual telling of the story. It's not an excuse to overload the reader with useless information in a bid to show off what the author knows. It is used to place the reader smack bang in the middle of first class on The Titanic and the hospital setting of The Britannic. Alma Katsu is more concerned with having us care about these characters, their tragedies, foibles and motivations. Their secret lives and their struggles to be happy in a difficult time. All in an authentic, real setting. The story drip feeds it's sense of unease and bad feeling until you are left unsettled and unsure about what is happening right until the end. It's a great book and a wonderful story about love, sacrifices, danger and dark fairy tales that may or may not be true. Loved it and I guarantee you will too!