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14 November 2013

Review: 'Deep Blue Sea' by Tasmina Perry (2013)

Beneath the shimmering surface lies a dark secret...

Diana and Julian Denver have the world at their feet. With a blissful marriage, a darling son and beautiful homes in London and the country, Diana's life, to the outside world, is perfect. But nothing is as it seems...

When Julian dies suddenly and tragically, Diana is convinced there is more to it than meets the eye. She calls on the one person she had never wanted to see again - her sister, Rachel.

A former tabloid reporter, Rachel appears to be living the dream as a diving instructor on a Thai island. The truth is she's in exile, estranged from her family and driven from her career by Fleet Street's phone-hacking scandal.

For Rachel, Diana's request opens old wounds. But she is determined to make amends for the past, and embarks on a treacherous journey to uncover the truth - wherever it may lead...

Earlier this year I was introduced to author Tasmina Perry when I got the chance to read and review her novel ‘Perfect Strangers.’ I was instantly taken in by the glamour, intrigue and mysteriousness of this book, and was quite curious to read more of her work. During the summer of 2013, ‘Deep Blue Sea’ was released and I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of the novel. I was really looking forward to picking up this book and discovering more about Tasmina Perry’s writing, hoping I would enjoy the novel just as much as I enjoyed ‘Perfect Strangers’!

To strangers it might seem that Diana and Julian Denver lead the perfect life: they are happily married, have a son whom they both adore, and lead a luxurious lifestyle which offers them anything they could possibly wish for. Yet, when Julian is unexpectedly discovered dead in their Notting Hill home, Diana’s life is turned upside down. Amidst all the chaos, there is one thing she knows for sure: Julian would never have taken his own life. Even though they haven’t spoken to one another in years, Diana decides to contact the person who will certainly be able to help her, her sister Rachel. Rachel used to be a tabloid reporter, but after being involved in a phone hacking scandal, she was forced to give up her career. She now lives in Thailand, where she runs a diving school together with her business partner Liam, but when Diana phones she know she’ll do whatever she can to help to uncover the mystery surrounding Julian’s death. 

Once again, Tasmina Perry did not disappoint. ‘Deep Blue Sea’ is an intriguing novel that had me guessing and wanting more from its very first chapters. A great mix of characters (I specifically loved Rachel and Diana, and how their relationship as sisters develops throughout the novel), lots of intriguing twists and turns, and the fabulous scene setting (the reader is taken to all kinds of places all over the world, and I personally straight away fell in love with Diana and Julian’s amazing houses in the countryside and London) define Tasmina Perry’s own unique style; a style I have definitely come to love after reading two of her novels.

I really like it when a book manages to grip you, makes you want to know the truth, and doesn’t allow you to put the novel down until you have discovered all the details and solved the mystery. However, the fact that Tasmina Perry not only focuses on suspense, but also adds a layer of romance to her stories, once again adds to her own personal writing style and makes me appreciate her work even more. ‘Deep Blue Sea’ is a highly addictive, glamorous, and intriguing read which will have you guessing until the end and undoubtedly longing for more! 

Rating:8,5/10       



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