Deadly Deep
Jennifer Killick
Farshore

This is the next instalment in Jennifer Killick’s Dread Wood horror-comedy series.

At the start of their first term in Y8, Club Loser are on a trip to the South of France to study wildlife and the Mediterranean coastline. They are on board the ship Melusine to witness the launch of some new wildlife research technology – ROVs – remotely operated vehicles – that Cyborgs (the tech company Colette’s mum works for) have been working on. These are subaquatic drone-like things that enable researchers to view sea creatures on the console up on deck.

When they depart, the gang members feel upbeat and confident of their safety as their dastardly enemies, the Latchitts are in prison in England, but with that couple, nothing is for certain.
The story is narrated by animal loving, Angelo, who is fascinated by the ROV and endeavours to learn as much as possible from its operator – useful knowledge, we later discover.

As the trip gets under way, it’s evident that an enormous shadowy creature lurks at the bottom of the ocean; add to that a decidedly creepy man on board ship who wants to talk with Colette. Perhaps the gang’s confidence in their safety was somewhat misplaced.

Indeed it certainly was for something suddenly smashes into the Melusine, the boat starts to sink, almost everyone else on the trip manages to board the lifeboats and escape but the Club Loser gang are trapped. So too somewhere, are Colette’s mum and Mr C. – he who firmly believes that hot choccie can solve any problem – and Captain Boyère. The realisation dawns: only Club Loser can save the day, either that or …

This is where Club Loser’s ability to stick together no matter what, while allowing each person to utilise their particular strength is crucial.

Prepare for some gory happenings in this action-packed, nail-biter; you may find yourself needing to pause and take a deep breath from time to time as you read.