Review: Derelict by Tracy Grogan

Author Tracy Grogan plunges readers into mysterious new depths with Derelict, the second book in the Divemaster Ricky Mystery series.

After taking a job as a dive instructor in Egypt, it doesn’t take long for the unshakeable Ricky Yamamoto to be caught up in another maritime mystery, when her job prospects literally blow up in her face. On top of that, the local authorities are far too occupied with civil unrest to properly investigate the disappearance of a fellow diver on her team. Unable to shake the feeling that her life has once again stumbled into something sinister, Ricky dives in, but soon finds herself out of her depth.

Ricky cannot be described as passive or submissive, no matter where she finds herself in the world, which makes her an impeccable lead. As in the previous Divemaster novel, Ricky proves to be a dauntless and no-nonsense professional, though Grogan does gradually peel back that hard facade, and reveals its soft spots in this second installment, for a more fully-rounded character.

Shifting the action of this follow-up book from the Pacific to the Middle East in the midst of a cultural uprising lends the entire story more tension, particularly as it relates to Sasha’s disappearance. Bringing the local scenery and political issues to vivid life with a descriptive pen, the plot is balanced well between character-driven drama and the broader societal context. The explosive overlap of this plot with the tinderbox of Egypt during the Arab Spring is a bold choice, but it pays off, and still feels timely given our perennial geopolitical instability.

The drama is based on both land and sea, giving Ricky a chance to discover how tenacious she truly is in wildly unknown waters. Having Pascal back in the mix helps with the shift in surroundings, although the industry and the storyline energy are similar to the first book in the series. Pascal’s relationship with Ricky grows more complex and multilayered, and Grogan isn’t afraid to stretch those boundaries for added suspense and greater depth.

Occasionally, Grogan has a tendency to lead readers into what emotion they should be feeling in a given scene. The direct narrative line into Ricky’s mindset can make the action feel more intense, but it also simplifies the storytelling, as though the chapters are on-the-nose journal entries, compromising some of the implicit tension of a mystery. There are also sections where Ricky speaks directly to the reader, entirely breaking the already flimsy fourth wall. These unadulterated peeks into the protagonist can feel like the author is cutting corners, rather than seamlessly introducing readers to exposition. Additionally, there are some spotty grammatical errors, which suggests the lack of a final proofread.

A last editorial polish would do this book some good, but overall the writing is solid, well-researched, and captivating, particularly because Ricky is such an appealing protagonist. As was the case in the first book, excellent plot crafting and a fiery lead character elevate this series far above action-heavy pulp fiction, resulting in a gripping high-stakes thriller.