Review: Flotsam by Tracy Grogan

Author Tracy Grogan plunges readers into an exotic and unpredictable thriller with Flotsam, the first installment of his Divemaster Ricky Mystery series. After finding one sunken corpse and witnessing a second potential murder – all in the same early morning dive – Ricky Yamamoto finds herself thrust into the middle of a deadly investigation in her personal slice of paradise.

As a scuba diving guide in a small corner of Micronesia, Ricky spends most of her days swimming with would-be adventure tourists, avoiding expats and reveling in the freedom that her nomad existence has finally granted. However, when the local police prove to be incompetent, her bull-headed nature won’t let her abandon the mystery at her favorite dive spot, so she leaps back into the murky waters, never suspecting the danger she might discover.

As it turns out, one of the victims is a major player in the island’s backroom gambling – a well-known yakuza expat with a long rap sheet, and tattoos that can’t be missed. Ricky eventually teams up with authorities, and while Officer Uchel is helpful, there may be something suspect about his interest in the case, given his undeniable skill as a secret master diver. Over the course of only a few days, Grogan unravels a tangled line of intrigue in this deep-sea endeavor, bouncing neatly between intense character drama and broader themes of privacy, alienation, gender expectation, and societal acceptance.

Ricky is an edgy and fearless protagonist, which makes for some sharp interactions and snappy dialogue that keeps this book’s action tight and entertaining. The story starts off quick, and then slows to the pace of a standard police procedural, until Ricky embarks on her own investigation. Energetic stretches of action and revelation are balanced with slower passages of narration, reflection, and character development. Despite being written by a male author, Ricky is a multi-faceted character with contradictions and complex baggage; female leads rarely escape the cliche writing of the male gaze, but this one does.

The author’s extensive experience traveling in the South Pacific comes across authentically in the casual yet expertly captured descriptions of the locals, the red tape, city officials, rough terrain, technically detailed dive maneuvers, and the overall mood in an international tourist trap. The settings in the novel, both above and below the surface, are painted with careful detail by an obviously gifted wordsmith. From lush and bountiful coral reefs to the oppressive vibes of a police station, Grogan implants readers in visceral spaces with ease.

There are some sections that could be chopped or trimmed down; at a certain point, additional exposition doesn’t add to the progress of the plot. All told, however, this is a remarkably meticulous story, without any clipped corners or unbelievable leaps for readers to take, for an immersive dive into an exotic locale. A good thriller should feel like an escape, and this one does, and then some.

Patiently unwound, with plenty of breathing room for captivating description and storytelling immersion, Flotsam is an exceptionally strong start to a new series.

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