Deep Down Dead by Steph Broadribb (Thriller, 9/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

January 2017, Audible, 11 hours 30 minutes, Audiobook, Review copy 

Content: torture, child abuse, some violence, psychological drama, adult scenes
 

Summary from Audible

Lori Anderson is as tough as they come, managing to keep her career as a fearless Florida bounty hunter separate from her role as single mother to nine-year-old Dakota, who has leukaemia. But when the hospital bills start to rack up, she has no choice but to take her daughter along on a job that will make her a fast buck. 

Nayu's thoughts 

Imagine this has got full marks, because it's incredibly well written, with so much tension and plot twists. It doesn't get full marks because of the sheer number of times I almost stopped reading it for good. There's an awful lot of dark issues covered including child trafficking, child abuse, and other equally despicable acts, making this a longer than usual audiobook listen because I had to stop and go read something else to be able to cope with the rest of the story. These areas are relevant to the plot, unfortunately, and I think it's important that readers know what goes on in the darker side of the life. It will make you look at theme parks in a different way, which is sad because although I hate all rides I do adore Disney, and the thought that similar instances could be going on there is sickening beyond belief. 

I wanted to read the book because I like the fact that Lori has a daughter who is sick and who she has to take with her on a fateful job. Dakota is a sweet, sassy child. What she witnesses no child should ever see, and I've no idea how it will impact on her future. I love the faith she has in Lori, and how she tries to be strong when she isn't with her mother. Lori will do anything for Dakota as is clear in the story, even to the detriment of her own welfare, like most mothers would. This book is chock full of emotions, both for Lori and Dakota and the reader. 

Stuff happens that I can't talk about without ruining the plot. It's harder to skim read an audiobook, but I did peek at the end at one point because I knew if a certain situation ended badly I couldn't carry on reading it. Thankfully the end is vaguely happy, only vaguely though. I honestly don't know if I'll be able to read more books in the series as they come out, because of the intensity of the subjects covered. 

The stakes are the highest they can be for any character, with a wide range of locations visited and lives put on the line. I think that audiobooks can be more powerful than physical books/ebooks because it's someone else speaking so I am fully focused on what's being said as I can't see it like I can with other forms of books. Having watched Once Upon A Time fantasy drama series I have a good idea of what a bailsbond job entails, which is why I was interested in Lori's life, and it was interesting learning more about it, and the less legal bounty hounter life. It's a book I probably won't reread because of the intensity of the tale, but it's one I highly recommend. 

Find out more on Steph's website.