In Too Deep – Lynn H. Blackburn – Dive Team Investigations #2 – Revell- Published 6 November 2018

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Synopsis

When the dive team is called in to recover a body from a submerged car, they aren’t prepared to find an encrypted laptop–or an unsettling connection between investigator Adam Campbell and the dead accountant.

Adam turns to his friend Dr. Sabrina Fleming–a professor at the local university with unparalleled computer security and forensics skills–to recover the files from the laptop. But the deeper they dig, the deadlier the investigation becomes. When evidence uncovers a human trafficking ring and implicates members of Adam’s own family, he and Sabrina will have to risk everything to solve the case.

The truth could set hundreds free–but someone is willing to do whatever it takes to silence anyone who threatens to reveal their secrets. Award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn invites readers back to Carrington, North Carolina, where everything is not as it seems and sinister elements lurk behind the idyllic façade.

My thoughts

In Too Deep is the thrilling second instalment in the Dive Team Investigations series. I think, if it’s possible, I loved this book even more than the first one. The writing style is so easy to sink into – perfectly balanced between details and dialog. The characters are a wonderful team of friends that I love hanging out with. The mystery totally hooked me and the ending was a big surprise. And the romance is utterly charming. In Too Deep had everything I look for in a romantic suspense novel and I can very highly recommend it.

When Adam Campbell and his fellow dive team investigators help recover a submersed car and the body found within, they are shocked to find a message that seems to tie the case to Adam himself. Adam calls on computer forensic analyst Dr Sabrina Fleming to decrypt the dead woman’s computer and help piece together the clues of the case. But someone is willing to do anything to keep their secrets safe, and Adam and Sabrina and the rest of the dive team soon find themselves in a killer’s crosshairs.

In Too Deep returns readers to the wonderful dive team. Like the first book in this series, there isn’t a whole lot of diving involved, just the initial recovery of the submersed vehicle, but the team works closely together to untangle the case. Familiar characters from the first book are all present, and it’s wonderful to return to this close group of friends and colleagues.

I do love a good bit of detective work, and that’s exactly what Adam, Sabrina, Gabe, Anissa, and Ryan have to do to uncover the details of why the woman’s death and how her accounting work seems to link to human trafficking. From undercover work at grand parties to deep dives into the woman’s life, forensic accounting and even using personal memories to piece together the case. There is also plenty of action as the team must fight to survive a killer’s wrath – from up-close attacks to rocket launch blasts. And the best thing? I totally didn’t see the ending or the bad guy coming, so the end was a big surprise and it was awesome to be kept so in suspense.

Throughout the novel, alongside the action and detective work, there is the developing relationship between Adam and Sabrina. I really enjoyed these characters, both as individuals and as a couple. Sabrina is deliciously clueless about Adam’s feelings for her, and about social interactions in general, which made her hugely likeable and relatable. She is also clever on a genius level, so she has an important role to play in the case. Adam is charming and a gentleman, but also a little shy. He has loved Sabrina from afar for the past two years and never worked up the courage to ask her out or fill her in on his feelings for her. I also really liked that there was no professional reasons or restrictions that kept Adam and Sabrina from exploring the growing feelings between them as they work the case.

Full of suspense, a complicated case, solid detective work and a charming love story, In Too Deep was deliciously delightful. I cannot wait for the next book (please, please let it be Gabe and Anissa’s story). While the series flows really nicely with the continuation of the main characters in each book, there is no reason you couldn’t read these as standalone titles. So what are you waiting for? Dive into In Too Deep today!

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

More information

Category: Fiction

Genre: Christian suspense.

Themes: Romance, human trafficking, detective, mystery, criminal cases, white collar crime, relationships, computer forensics, friendship, parents. 

Published: 6 November 2018 by Revell.

Format: Hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook. 352 pages.

ISBN: 9780800729295

Find it on Goodreads