Below

By: Ryan Lockwood

Narrated by: Tom Taylorson

Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

In the best-selling tradition of Jaws - from the depths of the sea comes a new kind of terror.

In all his years as a professional diver, Will Sturman has never encountered a killing machine more ferocious than the great white shark or as deadly as the piranha. Now, off the coast of California, something is rising from the deep - and multiplying. It is voracious, unstoppable, and migrating north, an ungodly life-form trailed by a gruesome wake of corpses. With the help of the brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Valerie Martell, Will finds himself in a race against time to stop the slaughter by a predator capable of devastating the world’s oceans.

Pray it kills you quickly.

©2013 Ryan Lockwood (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

decent read/listen

Has the base feel of Jaws and a lot of creativity. I would refer to those who enjoy maritime horror/suspense.

Another good book from Lockwood...

Alright, let's start with the audio glitches that people are talking about. Yes, they exist, but they are not constant. There are about 7 spots in the book where they happen for about 10 seconds each. It is distressing to the ears, but overall, it doesn't ruin the book. Do I think they should fix the recording? Absolutely, yes. I didn't listen with headphones, but had I done that, I'd be pretty upset.

I thought the narrator did a pretty good job setting the character voices apart, but again, it could have been better. It was not as bad as some reviews would have you think.

The story overall was good. I actually listened to the follow-up book first so I kind of knew how this would end, but the story was still very good and kept me entertained.

Man vs. Nature

Let's get one thing out of the way right now, this is not a monster Story. There is very little in the narrative that is not fully true in the real world. The story just extrapolates a little.

This is a story of how human kind is screwing up the oceans. Yes, some scenes are pretty horrifying, but there is no evil creature or creatures here. Only nature compensating for the abuses heaped on it.

The writer does a good job moving an interesting premise along and the characters are likable. But I just felt like there was something missing here. Maybe a clear victory by one side or the other. Instead there is only survival. The story starts with no clear initiating factor and ends similarly.

As a man vs nature story it does it's job. As a thriller, I was not nearly as impressed.

enjoyable, but audio issues

I enjoyed this book, although it is outsider ny standard genre. mystery, scifi, romance all balled into one.

I had some trouble with audio. At parts it was scratchy, and as if it was being played at 1.5 speed. It only lasted a few seconds each time, but was troublesome

great with a few glitches

some part of the recording are glitchy, but over all it's a great story. I will highly recommend it if the glitches can be sorted out.

Somethings Beneath The Waves

The story has an interesting cast of characters for the most part. Quiet a few of the side cast I found more irritating and unneeded then anything. The story itself is what you would expect of an underwater creature story. You got your main character, a scientist or two, and some main side cast. The monster of the story was also an interesting choice. I just wish there was more action, horror, suspense, ect. For an at seas/underwater book the actual detail of the creature and it's cast is rather lacking but enough to keep you interested. The interactions with said creatures are also brief and fast. I honestly did not feel the terror that was trying to be portrayed in the story at any given point though some events did make me a tad said from time to time. It's an interesting book, with an interesting cast, but it just lakes depth in my opinion. The narrator actually did rather well portraying the characters and scenes with what they were given.

Bad audio recording

Cool story, entertaining. But the recording had a lot of scratches on it that we’re ear piercing.

Heart Pounding Start Loses Steam

Would you try another book from Ryan Lockwood and/or Tom Taylorson?

Yes I would.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending seemed very anti-climatic. I also had a problem with the constant insistance of the scientist on treating the creatures as misunderstood victims while they were eating entire families. The tone of the book seemed uneven or unfocused.

What aspect of Tom Taylorson’s performance would you have changed?

The performanced seemed a bit wooden. Needed more energy.

Couldn't put it down

I'm a 74 yr old great granny and I have never written a review. That being said Mr. Lockwood, this is an amazing book. My favorite author in this category is Clive Cussler, BUT, if this was your first book then I feel you rank on the same level as Mr. Cussler. The first chapter had me and I was up until 4 a.m. in order to finish it. The suspense kept me on the edge and the narration was great. I absolutely loved it. I will definitely be listening to more of your books.

Great Read, and now I fear going diving again!

Wasn't sure I'd like this story because I bought it hoping there'd be a monster in the ocean. If I'd looked at the tiny cover on my mobile app closer, I'd seen the tentacles of a squid. But once I got further into the book, I just couldn't stop. And now, I'm afraid I've got a fear of diving. LoL Glad I kept listening though!