Deep Dive was the perfect thriller -- fascinating from beginning to end, and filled with so much wit and snark I was forced me to turn the pages faster than I wanted to! (not that I regret reading this book so quickly) The focus on family was the ultimate draw when it came to purchasing this book. The agony Peter Banuk experienced as he tried to right the mistakes he made and get his daughters back was such a modern sci fi plot, and one I am here for because it really hit home for me. Deep Dive definitely gave me The Matrix vibes, but with a fully modern twist. Perfect for everyone who grew up with videogames and imagines what a world with fully immersive VR could be like-- for better AND for worse.

Book Review

Title: Deep Dive by Ron Walters

Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rating: 4.5 Stars

I have a love/hate relationship with sci-fi thrillers and this is mainly due to the sci-fi element not suiting my tastes but Deep Dive blew me away with its VR and immersive technology elements that really enhanced the thriller elements of the novel. Deep Dive is an intensely emotional novel that had me hooked from the very beginning. We are introduced to Peter Banuk who has been failing to get his career in the gaming industry to really take off and he is failing to balance this with his family life. His last project, Scorchfell was a failure and he wants and needs a success more than anything right now. His friend ends up calling him to announce that he has cracked the secret to a full immersion game and Peter rushes over to check it out and this is where the novel really kicks off.

When we think about it, VR exists in our reality and something like full immersion is something that might be in our future and it would change the face of our world. I have read a few novels with the premise and many of you probably have as well but don’t write off Deep Dive give it a chance because it will surprise you. Peter ends up trying out the headset and it is amazing but pretty soon something goes horribly wrong, and when doesn’t it in novels like these. When Peter wakes up he is in his truck but something feels really off to him and he discovers that his life looks very different to how he remembered it and he is desperately trying to make sense of it all. He theorizes that there are two possibilities; one is that he is stuck inside the simulation or he’s gone crazy and either one is viable right now, except that there is a third possibility that I am not going to discuss. I honestly believe for this novel the less you know about it the better as I went in blind and adored it. Peter narrates the novel as he tries to navigate this new world and unexpected revelation and Peter’s emotional reactions to them are extremely important to pay attention to as you are reading. One thing Walters does well is making you care about the character’s and their families with some intense and brilliant storytelling that had me hanging onto the edge of my seat for the majority of the novel.

Walter’s direct writing style made the novel very accessible to people new to the sci-fi genre and also hardcore fans of the genre. Overall, I found the novel to be an emotional and memorable experience that I won’t be forgetting any time soon especially since we realise that Peter is a husband and father willing to do anything to protect the people he loves. However, the novel did feel a little rushed towards the end and was very tropey in places. The ending also didn’t blow me away like the rest of the novel had. I did have a great time reading the novel and was satisfied after I finished it but it wasn’t a five star, amazing read for me. I would highly recommend this book to fans of sci-fi and thrillers novels that centre around family and family ties and for people that like sci-fi with a hard technology element that explores themes and ideas that could be appearing in our reality in the near future.

Walter's debut is a wild ride from page one. Action packed and full of twists and turns, the tight prose and suspense kept me up late into the night. I'd love to see this sci-fi thriller on the big screen!

I went from wanting to read this book straight through to wanting to take my time to enjoy the ride. My problem became finding a place to stop. Since it was difficult to stop, I read the book in 2 sittings instead of one! The book pulls you in quickly and takes you down unpredictable paths. Who would guess a virtual reality video game could take into alternate realities that you might lose yourself in forever? Very enjoyable read! Highly recommended!

Deep Dive is a perfectly paced sci-fi thriller that keeps pulling you in chapter after chapter, to the point that I read it in one sitting. Admittedly this isn’t my typical genre but I quickly became invested in the characters and had to know how this story unfolded. Everything felt so real, but also didn’t…which is kind of the point. I had theories for where the story was going that kept getting debunked in the best possible way. Highly recommend this read!

Fast-paced and emotionally charged. Even if you're not a gamer or usually a sci-fi reader, this novel is engaging and carries you easily and well into that genre. Would definitely translate well to a video platform. However, do yourself a favor. Read it first. The author's writing skill is not to be missed!

This is the twisty tech thriller I, as a Gen X mom in a family of serious gamers, didn't know I needed. Through a suspenseful, fast-paced plot bursting with wit, humor, and genuine heart, DEEP DIVE explores the very real struggles of creative ambition versus work/life balance. Parents especially will relate to the conundrum between Peter's drive and desires, and his desperate quest to reclaim what matters most. I loved every page of this exciting, heartbreaking book.