Book Review: Deep Water

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Deep Water     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
S. V. Date
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Putnam, Oct 2001, $23.95, 240 pp.

Serenity, Florida seems to live up to its name as it provides a wonderful planned community in the midst of the colossal Whipple Kingdom. Nearby is the company owned theme park and zoo, making Serenity a perfect place for retirement or raising a family.

However, beneath the surface of Shangri-La resides a radically different environment. Everything short of breathing is centrally managed and that includes times for specified community activities. Failure to obey the rules could result in eviction with no return of deposit. Big Brother controls communications from phones to postal service to email. Nothing flows in or out without a look by the central board fully administered by the avaricious Lew Peters, who could make a turnip bleed for a buck.

As reporter Ernie Warner begins to uncover the truth about Serenity’s dead animals and dead people, an underground movement and an environmentalist struggle to reveal to the world that Peters and ilk have established a third world dictatorship in central Florida. However, Peters will stop at nothing to destroy the opposition including nosy reporters, save the species environmentalists, and graffiti artists who threaten his realm.

DEEP WATER is a dark satirical look at the modern American corporation with its protective government ties. The story line exaggerates the prime traits of the key cast including the corporation so that the audience amusingly understands the role and its impact on the plot. Everything and anything is skewered by the rapier wit of the author. The only conclusion an intelligent person can reach is if DNA testing was performed on SV Date and the remains of Jonathan Swift, reincarnation would prove real.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner