Book Reviews

Book Blurb

When Hobart Detective Douglas Sawyer chases someone along Constitution Dock, the last thing he expects to see is the guy change shape and disappear into the freezing cold water. He also doesn’t expect a government suit to intervene on the case and offer him a job in a remote town in the wilds of the Southwest Coast to report on things that may or may not be weird.

 

As the leader of his consortium, Ciaran Brenner takes protecting his town of Tenebrae Cove, and his family, very seriously. He’s never been bothered by any cop who takes up post in town because none of them stay long enough to find out the truth.

 

Until Sawyer, that is.

 

Sawyer has never felt at home anywhere until he arrives in Tenebrae Cove, the creepy little town in Southwest Tasmania. He can’t explain the unnatural pull he feels toward the water, or to the man who seems to despise him. He knows things aren’t as they appear, not when it comes to the water and not when it comes to Ciaran Brenner either.

 

For reasons he can’t yet explain, he’s dying to get under the surface of both.

 

Book Review

“I knew I loved you before I met you. I think I dreamed you into life. I knew I loved you before I met you. I have been waiting all my life.” ~ Savage Garden ‘I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You.’

 

Detective Douglas Sawyer, from 'Under the Surface' by N.R. Walker, pursues a clearly distressed, fleeing man. He hopes to offer help, but when he catches up, Sawyer is shocked when the man's eyes suddenly change to slits. Moments later, he shimmers, leaps into the water, and vanishes. Sawyer reports everything to his superiors exactly as it happened. Despite facing intense questioning, Sawyer sticks to his story. His open mind about the unknown leads to his recruitment by a mysterious law enforcement branch that investigates similar inexplicable events; Sawyer’s first assignment is to a small village under suspicion.

 

Ciaran takes his role as leader of the men who live in Tenabrae Cove seriously. He protects them and their secret with the utmost vigilance, realizing that if the outside world were to learn about it, dreadful things may happen to them. He is understandably wary of strangers, even though they never stay long. Most can’t tolerate the cove’s unique nature. As he watches Tobin’s boat pull up to the deck, he notices that he has a stranger with him. He isn’t too concerned until the man (Sawyer) comes closer. Ciaran is instantly drawn to him with a ferocity he has never experienced before. Instead of examining these feelings, Ciaran immediately becomes belligerent and avoids Sawyer at every opportunity.

 

Although everyone else seems pleasant enough, Sawyer is puzzled by Ciaran’s reaction and guesses that Ciaran doesn’t like strangers in his village. The others are confused as well: Ciaran doesn’t normally act this way.

 

As Sawyer continues to get a grip on why the village is so unique, it's beginning to grow on him. He avoids reporting to his boss, and when he does, he remains evasive, telling him that there’s nothing odd about the place and its residents. His boss is not happy and not convinced of the validity of his reports, but Sawyer continues to lie to him to protect the town’s secrets. For the first time in a long time, it feels like he belongs.

 

Concerned by his erratic behavior, Ciaran’s friends encourage him to explain what he is feeling. His suspicions are confirmed when they agree that, although rare, Ciaran and Sawyer may be destined to become mates. He doesn’t know whether to be scared or angry, even though sharing the truth may be dangerous. Before the mating ritual can be completed, Ciaran needs to tell Sawyer everything, hoping he won’t run away screaming.

 

Book one in this new series offers an intriguing beginning to a unique supernatural mystery. I had to stretch my imagination further than usual and found myself with more questions than answers. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the worldbuilding and look forward to more as the story continues. Thanks, Nic, for introducing me to Tenebrae Cove. I can hardly wait to learn what comes next.

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book was purchased by the reviewer.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 300 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	28-February-2026
Price	$5.99 ebook, $20.00 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Under-Surface-N-R-Walker-ebook/dp/B0GNPQ28ND