Perfect Blend Of Travel And Psychological Thriller. Quite simply, this book is amazing. It stumbles out of the gate perhaps a step or two first establishing Ava – and this could well have been a *me* problem here – but once we get to Greece (where the vast majority of the book takes place), it really opens up and becomes exactly what I said in the title here: a perfect blend of travel and psychological thriller.
The Greek island setting is used superbly and makes you wish you could be there… and the vivid descriptions make you think you are. (Which is awesome as fall turns to winter and we all long for our next summery vacation. :D) This is one of those books where the setting really does come into its own and really helps accentuate the story, and that is always awesome to see.
And the story itself… wow. There’s a lot going on here, and yet Dunnett manages to make this tale as much about self discovery as in solving the mystery of what the hell is going on on this island… and that is exactly what makes the book work as well as it does. The mystery/ suspense elements here are great on their own, but it really is the self discovery aspects that *really* make them pop, and when combined with the strong setting really set this book apart.
This book is perfect for readers new to Dunnett… and at least a worthy disctraction for his fans who are almost foaming at the mouth with excitement waiting for his next Detective Erica Sands thriller due to how the previous book – the last book Dunnett released before this one – left off. And yes, you should absolutely join us in reading that series too so that you can be as vocal as we are in demanding the next book there. Because I’m living proof that peer pressure on authors eventually gets you what you want… but that’s a whole other story. 😉
Very much recommended.
This review of Deep Blue Lies by Gregg Dunnett was originally written on September 29, 2025.