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Publishers Weekly hails The Moon Pool as an "intelligent thriller... Tightly drawn characters, a vile villain and a satisfying, thought-provoking conclusion make this a compelling read."

"An absolutely thrilling read. The language is spare, the timing impeccable, and the characters drawn so well that I cared about each one. I nearly got a papercut turning the pages. A damn fine job." -- Loren D. Estleman, author of the Amos Walker mystery series.

"This deep intelligent thriller takes the time to introduce readers to several subplots using scientific and technical vernacular, but worth the energy of those who appreciate a strong tale. The cast is solid whether they are the hero, the victim, the villain, the mythological figures or other support players. The various subplots cleverly merge over the course of the exciting story line in which the circles of murder and mythos overlap so that fans will treasure diving into the invigorating THE MOON POOL."-- Harriet Klausner.

"Max McCoy plunges the reader into the darkest underwater cave, straight to death's door. Then, McCoy opens that door with stunning precision and electrifying prose. You may suffer from chills and claustrophobia while reading this book, and you will certainly feel a tightening in your throat as you struggle for air while his divers breathe a mixture of gases that would be fatal to most of us, in or out of deep water. McCoy's vivid descriptions and impeccable research, provide a rich background for his well-drawn characters who play out a dramatic story that is both intense and engaging. The characters seem very real and the dangers they face, not only with nature's obstacles but with each, makes this novel rise above all others in its exotic category. The Moon Pool would not only make a fascinating movie, but in McCoy's hands, it is a movie that flashes through the mind in stark, compelling images." -- Jory Sherman, author of The Baron Honor.

"A one-of-a-kind underwater adventure… The sometimes sinister beauty of the underwater world is painted in hues that only an avid diver and inspired novelist could capture.” – Dr. John Clarke, Navy experimental diving researcher.

"A page-turner." -- Missouri Life magazine.

“A great book. Max talks the same language as divers and has added a new twist… It’s compelling stuff, and McCoy tells it like it is.” – Bob Barth, former Sealab aquanaut, experimental diver, and author of Sea Dwellers.

THE MOON POOL
Max McCoy. Leisure, $6.99 (384p) ISBN 0-8439-5366-7 Mystery and mythology collide in this intelligent thriller, which is set largely in the uncharted depths of an underwater mining city beneath Bonne Terre, Mo. McCoy (who has written several Indiana Jones novels) draws on his experiences as an investigative journalist and an Advanced Open Water scuba diver to tell the tale of a serial killer bent on reenacting the abduction of the Greek mythological figure Persephone. To preserve the beauty of his young, red-haired victims, the killer stores their naked bodies in Mineral City, a former mining town now overrun with water up to 400 feet deep in some areas. Richard Dahlgren, a private underwater crime scene investigator haunted by a tragic past, commands the extraordinary investigation. As more bodies turn up, investigators discover a decades-old killing pattern and call on a renowned forensic expert who eventually emerges as the chief suspect. The novel starts slowly, with divergent plots, and it's rife with scientific details and analysis. But readers who have an interest in science, particularly the science of cave diving, and outdoor thrill sports should have no problem navigating the jargon. Tightly drawn characters, a vile villain and a satisfying, thought-provoking conclusion make this a compelling read. Agent, Jay Kenoff of Kenoff and Machtinger, LLP. (June) -- Publishers Weekly.

Time is running out for Jolene. She’s trapped by a madman, held captive, naked, waiting only for her worst nightmares to become reality. Her captor will keep her alive for twenty-eight days, hidden in an underwater city 400 feet below the surface. Then she will die horribly―like the others. . . . Jolene’s only hope is Richard Dahlgren, a private underwater crime scene investigator. He has until the next full moon before Jolene becomes just another hideous trophy in the killer’s surreal underwater lair. But Dahlgren has never handled a case where the victim is still alive. And the killer has never allowed a victim to escape. Max McCoy is an award-winning novelist, investigative journalist and an Advanced Open Water scuba diver. With The Moon Pool he has combined all three talents to create a thrilling novel that will carry readers to an underwater world of beauty, wonder . . . and breathtaking suspense.-- from the Publisher.

Want to see a map and photos of Bonne Terre, setting for The Moon Pool? Go here.