Max McCoy, The Moon Pool

The Moon Pool

Max McCoy

Leisure, Jun 2004, $6.99, 374 pp.

ISBN: 0843953667

In homage to mythology's Persephone, every twenty-eight days, he captures a red haired beauty, takes his victims underwater to the ruins of Mineral City, and at the full moon completes the circle by killing his prey. An official missing person's investigation has led to the need of a specialized expert, so underwater crime scene investigator Richard Dahlgren leads the inquiries.

Bodies suddenly turn up at an alarming rate and a pattern amidst this serial killing chaos forms that the murders have been going on for years. Richard, haunted by his own tragic failure a decade ago, hopes he can do better with the abducted Jolene and with the Goddess seemingly filling his head he might succeed. She, meanwhile, knows Richard is her only chance of surviving, so naked and wearing only a cross she prays that she somehow survives the ordeal rather than become the latest victim in a long running Greek tragedy.

This deep, intelligent thriller takes the time to introduce readers to several subplots using scientific and technical vernacular, but is worth the energy of those who appreciate a strong tale. The cast is solid whether they are the hero, the victim, the villain, the mythological figures or other support players. The various subplots cleverly merge over the course of the exciting storyline in which the circles of murder and mythos overlap so that fans will treasure diving into the invigorating THE MOON POOL.

Harriet Klausner