Review: Well crafted debut novel that will keep you reading into the night
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 25, 2013
I was amazed at this solid debut novel as the sharp, precise storytelling weaves a spell over the reader and transports you to a small Mediterranean island where the action happens. A self professed "Shark Week" fan, the author, Heidi Peltier, uses that love of sharks to center her book around 17-year-old Dylan Murphy who is offered an internship on a shark study program on Isola di Squalo.  She makes the thrill of studying sharks come alive while he learns how the royal Delmar family is connected to the sharks and the tragic haunting history that is part of their lives.Dylan is forced to make peace with the island's princess, Terra Delmar, because she wanted to terminate the shark study program and thinks it is of no value but he slowly teaches her why it is vital and she begins to understand why the program needs to stay. When the peace is shattered as a member of the royal family is attacked by a great white shark and Dylan instinctively tries to help he ends up with a life threatening injury and is sent home to recover. Once home, he realizes he has fallen in love with not only the island but Terra as well.When a summons for help arrives he doesn't hesitate to return to help Terra and her family and her family's heritage and the island they both care about.The ending of this book was fast paced and in line with the rest of the story and I liked how everything fell into place for Terra and Dylan. Excellent writing and I look forward to more work from this author.