Caffeinated Reviewer | The Deep by Nick Cutter

16^th Mar

The Deep
by Nick Cutter
Narrator: Corey Brill
Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins
Genres: Horror
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate

Rating:
Narration: 4.5

A strange plague called the ’Gets is decimating humanity on a global scale. It causes people to forget—small things at first, like where they left their keys…then the not-so-small things like how to drive, or the letters of the alphabet. Then their bodies forget how to function involuntarily…and there is no cure. But now, far below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, deep in the Marianas Trench, an heretofore unknown substance hailed as “ambrosia” has been discovered—a universal healer, from initial reports. It may just be the key to a universal cure. In order to study this phenomenon, a special research lab, the Trieste, has been built eight miles under the sea’s surface. But now the station is incommunicado, and it’s up to a brave few to descend through the lightless fathoms in hopes of unraveling the mysteries lurking at those crushing depths…and perhaps to encounter an evil blacker than anything one could possibly imagine. Part horror, part psychological nightmare, The Deep is a novel that fans of Stephen King and Clive Barker won’t want to miss—especially if you’re afraid of the dark.

Do you like old school horror? Nick Cutter brings that dark grittiness to his story. The Deep is a spine-tingling, breath-holding horror story that had me in awe even as I cringed. I listened to this on audio and Corey Brill’s narration made the protagonist’s fear seep into my bones.

Five reasons to leave the lights on a listen to The Deep

• Nick Cutter has one heck of a twisted imagination and his ability to express the complexities of his character’s emotions, and fears makes his horror story part psychological thriller. Combined with Corey Brill narration The Deep will make you squirm even as you continue to listen because you are driven by this need to know.
• The premise is intriguing; with a science- fiction twist but do not be fooled this is pure horror. A disease known as the ‘Gets is destroying humanity one victim at a time. Scientists are racing for a cure and far below the ocean’s depth; they think they may have discovered a cure in an organism known as ambrosia. They have developed a lab eight miles below the surface and first reports from the lab showed promise, but now they have lost contact. Cutter takes us along with his protagonist into the depths of the Pacific Ocean.
• Cutter gives us a tale that touches on some of our worst fears claustrophobia, isolation, and paranoia, and he does this brilliantly. Luke Ronnick is our protagonist, and Cutter does an excellent job of fleshing him out as we descend into the depths with him. He is very much an unreliable narrator, which notched up the fear factor in this mind f@ck of a tale.
• If you love old school horror wrapped in twisted mind games with gory squishy things that crawl in the dark and into the corners of your mind, you are in for a thrill! Have you ever read or watched a show about experiments conducts where the participants have no idea of time and are locked in and cut of from the rest of society? It had that sort of vibe, except we are eight miles below the surface in a bubble surrounded by darkness…oh yeah. If Jaws didn’t keep you out of the water…The Deep will!
• You have books like Misery, The Shining, The Abyss and The Thing sitting on your bookshelf or love the movie adaptions. The Troop made you squirm but you could not stop reading. The Deep is darker and more twisted and like the Troop, you will read on even as you want to stop.

Personal note: I loved The Deep, but we did not get to really exploring the ‘Gets. While I realize this was the reason for the lab below I would have loved to hear more. I would love to see a book solely on the ‘Gets. *hint-hint*

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat.

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