Somewhere in the Shallow Sea by Dennis Macaraeg promises suspense, thrill, and romance in its 220 pages. Macaraeg does deliver a plot that is steeped in these elements: a kidnapped friend, an unrequited love interest, and scientific experiment that could end up in the wrong hands.

Danny and his best friend Blake have developed a compound that is meant to attract certain types of fish to certain areas of the ocean in an attempt to save endangered species. Now, though, Blake has been kidnapped by Philippian pirates, and the pirates want the compound. Danny decides to take matters into his own hands and go to the Philippines to deliver the compound himself. While there, he runs into Blake’s cousin, Helen, and Danny’s ex-lover and former fiancé. Throw a few more twists and turns in, and Danny is suddenly caught between the worlds of his past and present in an attempt to save his best friend, his love life, and potentially the most endangered species of fish.

The prose of Somewhere in the Shallow Sea is an easy read, with scenes strung together as vignettes that move the characters from one point to another. The third person narrator toggles between the main character, Danny, and the enemy, Dr. Klein, though he often slips into other characters’ heads as well. While Macaraeg does a fine job of laying out the scene of the Philippian islands, he often tells the reader what to see rather than showing through his characters’ actions the lay of the land.

Macaraeg also offers some history of the Philippines which is interesting, but can sometimes detract from the thrill of the novel since the more pressing issue is Danny’s kidnapped friend.

Somewhere in the Shallow Sea is a self-published book that was released in 2015 by Dennis Macaraeg. The book is available for purchase at your local bookstore.

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FTC Disclaimer: This book was given to me in return for a fair and honest review of the text.