Ricky Yamamoto, a scuba diving guide comes to Egypt during a time of political unrest for work only to find herself caught up in a perplexing mystery. Sasha, a fellow scuba diver, goes missing one night during a routine dive. This leaves Ricky and her team shaken. As she tries to come to terms with the possibility of never seeing Sasha again, she is met with unexplainable events that lead her to suspect that there’s more to the disappearance than she thought.

Derelict, by Tracy Grogan, immerses readers in a world full of culture and introduces readers to breathtaking landscapes and exotic locations deep in the northern parts of Africa. The author crafts a strong and quick-thinking female character that never gives up hope; and was one that I loved following. Ricky is an anchor in this suspenseful yet heartwarming story about connections and greed. The secrets and hidden agendas of every character introduced to readers will keep them engaged and guessing the whole way.

The author’s conversational and descriptive way of writing makes this book great for readers who enjoy rich scenes and being immersed in a moment. While I enjoyed the mystery at the heart of this story, I was really drawn to the well developed characters. They felt authentic, or as genuine as a character can be when embarking on a riveting adventure.

Derelict is an enthralling adventure novel that skips the purple prose to give readers a story that is immensely entertaining because it’s so easy to read. Readers who are looking for an action oriented story will enjoy Ricky and the Russian’s fast-paced chase scene while those who find investigations entertaining will love Detective Bakhoum’s sharp no-nonsense attitude.

If you’re looking for the next crime thriller to get lost in then Derelict is heartily recommended. With a puzzling mystery and some compelling characters, this book is fun all around.

Pages: 398 | ASIN: B0B6GRL2L9