Dragged Down Deep

By: Michael Okon
Publisher: Chelshire
Publication Date: December 5, 2024
ISBN: 978-1-950080-14-4
Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki
Review Date: December 18, 2024

In prolific author Michael Okon's sweeping novel, Dragged Down Deep, a middle-aged scientist determined to appease his late father's death finds himself plunged into a well-planned and dangerous conspiracy involving the hidden existence of a mythical creature.

Logan Osborne, a cryptozoologist, had missed the good old days as a child before his mother had left. His father, an ichthyologist, later receded into a shell, being labeled a weirdo by the local community due to his obsession with proving the existence of a mythical creature, drawing further away from traditional subjects. Now an adult, Logan painfully recalls the death of his father following a tragic attack on one of his nightly excursions with him to find the mermaid of Minetuck. This incident would remain etched in his mind twenty years later and was the source of his unending nightmares as well.

Surviving a near-death experience in his expedition on an Arizona mountain to prove the existence of the Thunderbird, a legendary bird whose known information was scanty, he embarks on a new mission to validate his father's research of a mysterious creature based on true findings together with his faculty colleague Elliot Sheppard and friend Penny Swanson. They find themselves plunged into a long-minded and precarious road marked by well-covered secrets, mysterious disappearances, a corrupt police system, and unexplained hostility from the locals. Aimee, Logan's former flame, re-emerges with her secrets that go back to his past.

Once in a while, you stumble upon a book so good that it is well worth your reading time. This tale delivers more than it promises in its synopsis, taking you deep into a beautifully-realized setting packed with action, supernatural elements, and mystery. Okon melds complex yet relatable characters demonstrating his tenacity in handling complex themes that are relevant today. The book starts on a trifecta, with a high-voltage scene wrapped with insight and verve, with Logan high up on an Arizona mountain with a local guide, in a once-in-a-lifetime quest, hoping the result would legitimize cryptids. The potent storyline adds new characters effortlessly, offering ample backstories that make readers feel at ease with them.

Quill says: Dragged Down Deep by Michael Okon is one of those books that do not disappoint. It will appeal to readers who enjoy an exhilarating odyssey full of adventure and action. Every scene leaps out of the pages with ease demonstrating the proficiency of Okon's artistic pen.

For more information on Dragged Down Deep, please visit the author's website at: michaelokon.com.

Author Interview