Deep Waters by Thom Collins
Book 3 in the Jagged Shores series
General Release Date: 27th December 2022
Word Count: 61,718
Book Length: NOVEL
Pages: 248
Genres:
ACTION AND ADVENTURE,CONTEMPORARY,CRIME,CRIME AND MYSTERY,EROTIC ROMANCE,GAY,GLBTQI,THRILLERS AND SUSPENSE
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Book Description
In search of a story, he found murder and romance.
Author Christian Costner is researching material for one of his dark thrillers, and Nyemouth seems like the perfect setting for his next book. The small seaside town has witnessed plenty of trouble over the years, and Christian thinks it will provide him with the inspiration he needs.
He hires local tour guide and fisherman Harry Renner to help him explore the coastline for a couple of days. Harry is knowledgeable and mature beyond his twenty-eight years. Handsome, too, though Christian thinks Harry is far too young for him.
As the weather worsens, Harry cuts short their first sightseeing trip. Heading back to shore, they spot a figure in distress in the water. A difficult rescue is made far worse when they discover that the casualty has a knife wound to his abdomen and dies before they reach the safety of the harbour.
United by the trauma, Christian and Harry find comfort in each other, but when another murder comes to light, they find themselves at the heart of a dangerous mystery and the target of a killer more ruthless than they could ever imagine.
Reader advisory: This book contains murder, verbal racism and homophobia. It can be read either as a standalone or as book three in a series.
The muscles in Christian’s belly tightened. The second he realised there was a person in the water, adrenaline surged through him then everything happened very fast. Displaying remarkable control, Harry grabbed the radio and put in an immediate call to the coastguard, stating their position.
“There is at least one casualty in the water,” Harry told them.
How can he stay so calm? Christian wondered. He could only guess it was through years of experience at sea.
Harry’s eyes stayed fixed on the view ahead. “Shout out as soon as you see anything,” he instructed.
Christian nodded. They had more or less reached the location where he’d last seen the casualty. Harry brought the boat down slow. Without propulsion, the vessel was tossed upon the waves, pitching front to back and rolling side to side. From the bow, Tom scanned the water in front of them. Christian stepped onto the open deck at the rear. He had never felt so helpless.
“Where are you going?” Harry asked.
“The more eyes out there, the better.”
“Be careful. I don’t want two people in the water.” Harry’s voice was stern. “Hold on to the railing.”
As soon as he spoke, the boat took a dramatic turn to the side. Christian grabbed the rail with both hands, gripping tight. Rain lashed against his head and shoulders and the wind tore around him. While it had been obvious from the cabin that conditions were worsening, he’d had no idea they’d gotten this bad until Harry had reduced their speed. Whoever was in the sea right now, their chances were diminishing by the second.
As a reporter, Christian had spent his entire career chasing stories that had already played out, arriving on the scene when the danger had passed and reporting on the facts. He had never been this deep in an incident as it unfolded. It was an unnerving experience, and despite having reported on terrorist attacks, riots and major road collisions, he felt ill-equipped to handle it.
Unlike Harry.
He glanced at the younger man as he craned his neck from side to side, checking in every direction, and marvelled again at his composure. It was exactly what was needed. Despite his age, Harry had more than proved his ability to captain a boat.
“This way,” Tom shouted from the front, gesturing with his right hand. “Two o’clock. About twenty-five yards.”
Harry increased the throttle gently. Tom hurried down the length of the boat and jumped onto the deck beside Christian.
“He’s coming up on this side,” Tom said. “I’m going to need your help to pull him onboard.”
Christian nodded, gripping the rail as he leaned over the edge, trying to spot the casualty.
And there he was. A tiny head and one arm above the surface. The boat slowed as it approached. The man appeared unconscious. His eyes were closed, and his skin was a ghastly grey colour. His lips were almost blue. He wouldn’t last long if they didn’t get him out of there.
“Keep hold of the rail with one hand,” Tom instructed, “and help me with the other.”
Christian realised why a second later. As the boat came to a near stop, it pitched so far to the right he would have gone straight over if he hadn’t been gripping tight. His feet skidded beneath him, but he managed to keep his balance, steadying himself just as they came alongside the casualty in the water.
There was no response from the man as Tom leaned over and grabbed his jacket by the collar, pulling him against the side of the boat.
“All right,” Tom said, “now.”
Christian leaned down and grabbed the man’s jacket from the other side. A wave washed over them, and he realised just how cold the sea was. No one would survive in that temperature for long, even without the terrifying swells and lethal currents. They pulled. The man was a dead weight. With another heave, Christian hooked his elbow into the man’s armpit.
“Good,” Tom shouted as wind, rain and seawater battered their faces. “On the count of three, we’ll try to pull him in. One. Two. Three.”
They heaved. The muscles in Christian’s shoulders and back screamed with the effort. They barely managed to raise him a few inches from the side before he slipped back again. The force of another wave threatened to carry him away, but Christian held on, keeping the man close to the boat.
“Again,” Tom cried.
On the count of three, they gave another heave.
This time, the sea worked in their favour. As they pulled, a large wave surged along the side of the boat, lifting the man upwards. Instinctively, Christian snatched the advantage, pulling the man higher until he grabbed his belt. Tom made similar gains, and with another mammoth heave, they hauled him over the railing and onto the deck.
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Thom Collins
Thom Collins is the author of Closer by Morning, with Pride Publishing. His love of page turning thrillers 
began at an early age when his mother caught him reading the latest Jackie Collins book and promptly confiscated it, sparking a life-long love of raunchy novels.
Thom has lived in the North East of England his whole life. He grew up in Northumberland and now lives in County Durham with his husband and two cats. He loves all kinds of genre fiction, especially bonkbusters, thrillers, romance and horror. He is also a cookery book addict with far too many titles cluttering his shelves. When not writing he can be found in the kitchen trying out new recipes. He’s a keen traveler but with a fear of flying that gets worse with age, but since taking his first cruise in 2013 he realized that sailing is the way to go.
You can take a look at Thom’s Blog and follow him on Twitter.
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