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Pressure
Off the coast of tropical Mauritius, an ecological catastrophe with global implications is occurring. The ocean's floor is collapsing at a rapid rate. World-champion free diver and marine biologist Carrie Anderson joins a scientific expedition determined to discover the cause-and how to stop it. But what they uncover is even more horrific. Deep beneath the surface, something is awake. Something hungry. Something...cold. Now, the pressure builds as Carrie and her colleagues must contend with the murderous operatives of a corrupt corporation, an unnatural disaster that grows bigger by the day, and a monstrous predator that may spell the extinction of all mankind.
Pressure is this summer's hot new thriller from bestselling author and World Horror Grandmaster Award winner Brian Keene.
Pressure is this summer's hot new thriller from bestselling author and World Horror Grandmaster Award winner Brian Keene.
276 pages, Hardcover
First published June 21, 2016
About the author
Brian Keene
364 books2,852 followersBRIAN KEENE writes novels, comic books, short fiction, and occasional journalism for money. He is the author of over forty books, mostly in the horror, crime, and dark fantasy genres. His 2003 novel, The Rising, is often credited (along with Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead comic and Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later film) with inspiring pop culture’s current interest in zombies. Keene’s novels have been translated into German, Spanish, Polish, Italian, French, Taiwanese, and many more. In addition to his own original work, Keene has written for media properties such as Doctor Who, Hellboy, Masters of the Universe, and Superman.
Several of Keene’s novels have been developed for film, including Ghoul, The Ties That Bind, and Fast Zombies Suck. Several more are in-development or under option. Keene also serves as Executive Producer for the independent film studio Drunken Tentacle Productions.
Keene also oversees Maelstrom, his own small press publishing imprint specializing in collectible limited editions, via Thunderstorm Books.
Keene’s work has been praised in such diverse places as The New York Times, The History Channel, The Howard Stern Show, CNN.com, Publisher’s Weekly, Media Bistro, Fangoria Magazine, and Rue Morgue Magazine. He has won numerous awards and honors, including the World Horror 2014 Grand Master Award, two Bram Stoker Awards, and a recognition from Whiteman A.F.B. (home of the B-2 Stealth Bomber) for his outreach to U.S. troops serving both overseas and abroad. A prolific public speaker, Keene has delivered talks at conventions, college campuses, theaters, and inside Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, VA.
The father of two sons, Keene lives in rural Pennsylvania.
Several of Keene’s novels have been developed for film, including Ghoul, The Ties That Bind, and Fast Zombies Suck. Several more are in-development or under option. Keene also serves as Executive Producer for the independent film studio Drunken Tentacle Productions.
Keene also oversees Maelstrom, his own small press publishing imprint specializing in collectible limited editions, via Thunderstorm Books.
Keene’s work has been praised in such diverse places as The New York Times, The History Channel, The Howard Stern Show, CNN.com, Publisher’s Weekly, Media Bistro, Fangoria Magazine, and Rue Morgue Magazine. He has won numerous awards and honors, including the World Horror 2014 Grand Master Award, two Bram Stoker Awards, and a recognition from Whiteman A.F.B. (home of the B-2 Stealth Bomber) for his outreach to U.S. troops serving both overseas and abroad. A prolific public speaker, Keene has delivered talks at conventions, college campuses, theaters, and inside Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, VA.
The father of two sons, Keene lives in rural Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
June 21, 2016
Ummm no! But I'll read all I can about it. Because stoopid.
Off the coast of Mauritius, something is going on with the gorgeous area that looks like an underground waterfall.
Something is taking over, turning the ocean very dark, cold, and the animal life is either leaving or disappearing.
World-champion free diver and marine biologist Carrie Anderson joins in the mix working to find out what is going on in the deep. The ocean floor is starting to collapse and a big bio-technical company is hiring her to go in to see if she can figure out why.
Frick that! I hate deep water. I'm okay just looking at it but like I heard on a video.."That's the shark's table." You can get your arse eaten or worse.
Now it didn't matter to me whether this book was completely believable or not, I gave no cares. It was perfect summer reading (to keep me away from the beach)..I ate this stuff up. It sent chills up my spine and reinforced my belief that unless you can see wear your foot is going..you just keep that sucker out of the water.
I think this was my first Brian Keene book and it looks like my friends like some of his other books better so I'm completely sold on him if this is one of his worst.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
My fellow Netgalley junkie Michael is getting the blame for my nightmares on this one.
February 3, 2018
Many thanks Netgalley for providing my first experience with this author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
4.5 stars- this would have been a full 5 star experience for me if it had just had MORE! I was so involved in this book and it ended a little too quickly for me. Yes, sometimes these sci-fi/horror books can be a little cheesy because they are so unrealistic but this one had me hooked from page one. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride this took me on and highly recommend for those wanting a bit of a different read. Definitely Jaws meets Alien as described in the blurb and very well done in an almost believable way. Loved the characters and am sad to part ways with them.
The action starts in the very beginning when we are dropped into a story where "Hell's Mouth" is having some serious issues. The trench's bottom is dropping out and nearby Mauritius is preparing for evacuation. News crews have been hovering for weeks while big corporation Alpinus Bio has employed scientist Carrie Anderson to dive the trench and find out what's going on. When she surfaces unexpectedly after equipment failure and suffers a case of the bends, she gets dragged into a more sinister plot than she ever thought possible.
Clearly there is a "monster", and it's hard to picture it's looks as the descriptions leave a bit to the imagination. This didn't bother me, as this is a genre I only dabble in and am not as familiar with, but I can see how regulars would be turned off by this. This is a short(ish) book at around 275 pages, so there was a lot to cram in a short time and I would have enjoyed a little more detail and development of the storyline, but I really fell in love with the characters and found myself not ready to let them go. I'm new to Brian Keene's work and really enjoyed my first experience with him! He's insanely talented, not only in developing his characters but also in his ability to use beautiful language that isn't pretentious or difficult to read. I'll definitely be checking out more of his work!
4.5 stars- this would have been a full 5 star experience for me if it had just had MORE! I was so involved in this book and it ended a little too quickly for me. Yes, sometimes these sci-fi/horror books can be a little cheesy because they are so unrealistic but this one had me hooked from page one. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride this took me on and highly recommend for those wanting a bit of a different read. Definitely Jaws meets Alien as described in the blurb and very well done in an almost believable way. Loved the characters and am sad to part ways with them.
The action starts in the very beginning when we are dropped into a story where "Hell's Mouth" is having some serious issues. The trench's bottom is dropping out and nearby Mauritius is preparing for evacuation. News crews have been hovering for weeks while big corporation Alpinus Bio has employed scientist Carrie Anderson to dive the trench and find out what's going on. When she surfaces unexpectedly after equipment failure and suffers a case of the bends, she gets dragged into a more sinister plot than she ever thought possible.
Clearly there is a "monster", and it's hard to picture it's looks as the descriptions leave a bit to the imagination. This didn't bother me, as this is a genre I only dabble in and am not as familiar with, but I can see how regulars would be turned off by this. This is a short(ish) book at around 275 pages, so there was a lot to cram in a short time and I would have enjoyed a little more detail and development of the storyline, but I really fell in love with the characters and found myself not ready to let them go. I'm new to Brian Keene's work and really enjoyed my first experience with him! He's insanely talented, not only in developing his characters but also in his ability to use beautiful language that isn't pretentious or difficult to read. I'll definitely be checking out more of his work!
June 14, 2016
Who doesn't love a good creature feature, especially if the creature is a sea monster? Throw in an evil corporation and a bunch of characters named after authors and what have you got? Brian Keene's Pressure.
This was a fun thriller, with bouts of gory action interspersed with treachery and corruption. The story moves right along and even though I'm sure there was a lot of research involved, Pressure doesn't get bogged down with a bunch of boring scientific facts.
Many of the characters have the same names as authors in the horror and sci-fi genres, so each time one of them showed up, it added to the fun. Even Clickers got a mention and I thought that was pretty cool-not only do clickers fit the story, it was a nice nod to author J.F. Gonzalez.
Pressure doesn't take itself too seriously, at least I didn't think it did. I have a vague feeling that Mr. Keene had one hell of a good time writing this book. I'm glad that I had the good sense to let it take me along for the ride.
Highly recommended for fans of thrillers, especially creature-features!
You can pre-order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Pressure-Brian...
*Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's press for the e-ARC of Pressure in exchange for my honest review. This is it.*
This was a fun thriller, with bouts of gory action interspersed with treachery and corruption. The story moves right along and even though I'm sure there was a lot of research involved, Pressure doesn't get bogged down with a bunch of boring scientific facts.
Many of the characters have the same names as authors in the horror and sci-fi genres, so each time one of them showed up, it added to the fun. Even Clickers got a mention and I thought that was pretty cool-not only do clickers fit the story, it was a nice nod to author J.F. Gonzalez.
Pressure doesn't take itself too seriously, at least I didn't think it did. I have a vague feeling that Mr. Keene had one hell of a good time writing this book. I'm glad that I had the good sense to let it take me along for the ride.
Highly recommended for fans of thrillers, especially creature-features!
You can pre-order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Pressure-Brian...
*Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's press for the e-ARC of Pressure in exchange for my honest review. This is it.*
August 18, 2016
Good clean monsterific fun. I loved the Crichton-esque approach to the science and set up, but with a some solidly built characters, and then everything goes nuts, in a good way.
April 6, 2016
A pretty good thriller from Brian Keene. Corporate corruption. Biotech mercenaries. Catfish Dragonflies. And sea monsters from The Mouth of Hell.
I'm not sure if my expectations going into this one were too high or too low. I do enjoy a good thriller, but my preferred genre is horror. I have read several Keene’s and have enjoyed them all. This one is no exception, but in all honesty I prefer Horror Keene to Thriller Keene and thought there could have been a bit “more” to this one...whatever the hell that means.
I received an advanced copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not sure if my expectations going into this one were too high or too low. I do enjoy a good thriller, but my preferred genre is horror. I have read several Keene’s and have enjoyed them all. This one is no exception, but in all honesty I prefer Horror Keene to Thriller Keene and thought there could have been a bit “more” to this one...whatever the hell that means.
I received an advanced copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2016
World-champion free diver and marine biologist Carrie Anderson had been called to help investigate the cause of an ecological catastrophe, just off the coast of Mauritius the ocean's floor is collapsing.
The scientific expedition team had gathered to try to find a cause and put a stop before the incident turned into a huge disaster.
Carrie and her dive partner however run into trouble with Carrie barely surviving and her partner never resurfacing. Something happened under the water and Carrie is determined to go back down and figure out just what it was she saw and what had happened. Gathering up a new team Carrie heads back into the depths of the ocean only to discover something more horrific than she ever imagined.
Pressure by Brian Keene is one of those books I debated on picking up not being completely sure if I could enjoy it or not. When finished I'm certainly glad I decided to take the chance with this one. It's billed as a mix of Jaws and Alien and since I like both of those I figured what the heck and I do see the influences of both while this took on a whole new life of it's own.
The first half of this story is incredibly intense as we dive down deep into the depths of the ocean to find out what horrors await the characters. Then the book turns into a land based thrill ride of a read as the characters try to come to terms with what was found. It became a nice mix of a horror read and thriller when finished.
I completely enjoyed the imagery in this one too as just starting off the descriptions of the ocean depths had me nearly holding my breath as it brings you down into the depths. The characters were also great. Carrie was strong and fierce not giving up until she got the answers she was looking for. Extra points for the naming of this character too!
Overall, a great read that I'd definitely recommend checking out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
The scientific expedition team had gathered to try to find a cause and put a stop before the incident turned into a huge disaster.
Carrie and her dive partner however run into trouble with Carrie barely surviving and her partner never resurfacing. Something happened under the water and Carrie is determined to go back down and figure out just what it was she saw and what had happened. Gathering up a new team Carrie heads back into the depths of the ocean only to discover something more horrific than she ever imagined.
Pressure by Brian Keene is one of those books I debated on picking up not being completely sure if I could enjoy it or not. When finished I'm certainly glad I decided to take the chance with this one. It's billed as a mix of Jaws and Alien and since I like both of those I figured what the heck and I do see the influences of both while this took on a whole new life of it's own.
The first half of this story is incredibly intense as we dive down deep into the depths of the ocean to find out what horrors await the characters. Then the book turns into a land based thrill ride of a read as the characters try to come to terms with what was found. It became a nice mix of a horror read and thriller when finished.
I completely enjoyed the imagery in this one too as just starting off the descriptions of the ocean depths had me nearly holding my breath as it brings you down into the depths. The characters were also great. Carrie was strong and fierce not giving up until she got the answers she was looking for. Extra points for the naming of this character too!
Overall, a great read that I'd definitely recommend checking out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
July 14, 2016
PRESSURE, by Brian Keene is what I'd consider to be a "fun" Creature-Feature, more so than pure horror. The floor of the ocean off the coast of Mauritius is rapidly collapsing--an event that has current and far-reaching problems. A champion free-diver, Carrie Anderson, is one member assigned to study the problem and try to figure out the cause.
What she finds is NOTHING that she could have prepared for. A giant creature--the descriptions of which put me in mind of something Lovecraft, himself, might have dreamed up--has suddenly taken up residence on the bottom of the ocean, causing frigid temperatures and hallucinations to anything close enough. There is a lot of action and speculation in the beginning, a bit of a "slow down" in the middle (where the focus is taken off of the creature and more on several characters and an interested corporation), and a dynamic ending!
While this book was a fun, complete read on its own, I'd love to see a sequel of some kind to it in the future. This was a great idea that could be explored so much further. I also loved the mentions of "Clickers" and a few other recognizable references.
Recommended!
What she finds is NOTHING that she could have prepared for. A giant creature--the descriptions of which put me in mind of something Lovecraft, himself, might have dreamed up--has suddenly taken up residence on the bottom of the ocean, causing frigid temperatures and hallucinations to anything close enough. There is a lot of action and speculation in the beginning, a bit of a "slow down" in the middle (where the focus is taken off of the creature and more on several characters and an interested corporation), and a dynamic ending!
While this book was a fun, complete read on its own, I'd love to see a sequel of some kind to it in the future. This was a great idea that could be explored so much further. I also loved the mentions of "Clickers" and a few other recognizable references.
Recommended!
February 6, 2017
A horror novel disguised as an action-thriller disguised as a corporate espionage novel WITH A GIANT SEA MONSTER thrown in for good measure, Brian Keene blends these seemingly separate tones into a fast-moving and cohesive whole that consistently works, from top to bottom. While this novel lacks some of the hardcore brutality of some of his other work (save for a few of the crazier scenes) it more than makes up for it with general tension and an ever-present I-wonder-whats-gonna-happen-nextness that I loved. The writing is vivid and accessible, and the main heroine and her sidekick are about as charming as protagonists can get. And although Pressure didn’t quite reinvent the wheel when it came to any of the genre tropes it employed, it certainly knew how to use those elements to take me on a helluva ride. This was a fun book. Recommend.
October 16, 2017
Yeah, this is good fun; it'd make a good Saturday night SyFy channel movie. I could've done with a little more undersea adventure and a little less Spy Vs. Spy shenanigans, but what the heck. The plot is fast-paced and has a fun premise, the characters are all interesting, and it has an interesting setting. There are also quite a few in-jokes for those familiar with Keene's work and the horror literature field in general. Something of a change of pace for Keene, but lots of fun.
July 8, 2016
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first Brian Keene book, and truth be told, I wasn't impressed. This is being marketed as a deep sea horror/thriller, but I wasn't horrified nor was I thrilled. It all just felt kind of forced. The writing wasn't bad, but the plotting didn't make sense a few times, and some of the decisions and jumps in logic didn't make sense either.
This was my first Brian Keene book, and truth be told, I wasn't impressed. This is being marketed as a deep sea horror/thriller, but I wasn't horrified nor was I thrilled. It all just felt kind of forced. The writing wasn't bad, but the plotting didn't make sense a few times, and some of the decisions and jumps in logic didn't make sense either.
June 22, 2016
Review copy
The story in Pressure takes place in and around Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean. There's something new in the ecosystem off-shore, something turning the normally warm waters cold and causing life in those waters to fail.
Carrie Anderson, is a former world-class free diver turned oceanographer, hired by Alpius Biofutures, to investigate what's going on.
What she and her team find is absolutely monstrous, it makes the great white shark in Jaws look like a guppy. But what they find just scratches the surface of the truth. Dealing with this previously unknown species is just the beginning as Carrie and her crew unravel the mysteries found in this African nation.
Keene's action scenes are exciting and well paced. Is there gore, oh, you betcha. Plus the work is peppered with names of a number of Brian's writer friends and it's fun to see what he does to them in this story.
Part monster book, part thriller, all fun, with a terrific ending
Pressure is published by Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Press, and is currently available in paperback and e-book formats.
Brian Keene writes novels, comic books, short fiction, and occasional journalism for money. His work has won numerous awards and a number of his novels have been developed for film, with more on the way. The father of two sons, Keene lives in rural Pennsylvania.
The story in Pressure takes place in and around Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean. There's something new in the ecosystem off-shore, something turning the normally warm waters cold and causing life in those waters to fail.
Carrie Anderson, is a former world-class free diver turned oceanographer, hired by Alpius Biofutures, to investigate what's going on.
What she and her team find is absolutely monstrous, it makes the great white shark in Jaws look like a guppy. But what they find just scratches the surface of the truth. Dealing with this previously unknown species is just the beginning as Carrie and her crew unravel the mysteries found in this African nation.
Keene's action scenes are exciting and well paced. Is there gore, oh, you betcha. Plus the work is peppered with names of a number of Brian's writer friends and it's fun to see what he does to them in this story.
Part monster book, part thriller, all fun, with a terrific ending
Pressure is published by Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Press, and is currently available in paperback and e-book formats.
Brian Keene writes novels, comic books, short fiction, and occasional journalism for money. His work has won numerous awards and a number of his novels have been developed for film, with more on the way. The father of two sons, Keene lives in rural Pennsylvania.
March 22, 2016
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am a huge fan of Brian Keene and have read pretty much everything by him that I can get my hands on. Pressure was not one of my favorites, although I find anything he writes at least enjoyable because he always tells a good story.
Pressure is an environmental monster romp with a healthy dose of evil corporation malice thrown in for good measure. What it didn’t have, in my opinion, was that edge that I usually expect from Mr. Keene. This book had B-Movie level characters and action, and not really even enough of that for my taste. Keene does monster romps very, very well—case in point being the Clickers series, which I loved. He also does evil human protagonists and tortured characters quite well. Pressure, however, felt like a lighter version of his usual stories in both respects.
3 stars.
March 19, 2016
Free Diving the "Mouth of Hell"- 4.5 stars...
Mauritius is an island off the Indian Ocean known for the spectacular "Underwater Waterfall" illusion that can be seen off the Mauritius coastal shelf. It's also the home for Brian Keene's new book Pressure. With a setting that unique and gorgeous, I knew I had to read it immediately.
Something bad is happening off the shelf though and it's causing the seafloor to collapse at record speed. The island is preparing for evacuation as the trench continues to expand. In effort to find out what's causing the collapse, champion free diver, Carrie Anderson and her crew, lead an expedition into what the press are calling the "Mouth of Hell." They soon find out, the name couldn't be more fitting.
I just love stories set in the deep ocean so this was right up my alley. I think what I like most about it was, that the story wasn't too over the top and the elements behind the collapse were plausible in the end. I also thought it had just the right amount of build-up, enough action, a little gore and the story moved at a good pace. I do wish though that Carrie and her crew would have spent a little less time on land and more time in the ocean. It was still a great story though and definitely worth checking out if you want a little fun in the sun! : )
*Pressure is due to release June 21, 2016.
**I received this ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Mauritius is an island off the Indian Ocean known for the spectacular "Underwater Waterfall" illusion that can be seen off the Mauritius coastal shelf. It's also the home for Brian Keene's new book Pressure. With a setting that unique and gorgeous, I knew I had to read it immediately.
Something bad is happening off the shelf though and it's causing the seafloor to collapse at record speed. The island is preparing for evacuation as the trench continues to expand. In effort to find out what's causing the collapse, champion free diver, Carrie Anderson and her crew, lead an expedition into what the press are calling the "Mouth of Hell." They soon find out, the name couldn't be more fitting.
I just love stories set in the deep ocean so this was right up my alley. I think what I like most about it was, that the story wasn't too over the top and the elements behind the collapse were plausible in the end. I also thought it had just the right amount of build-up, enough action, a little gore and the story moved at a good pace. I do wish though that Carrie and her crew would have spent a little less time on land and more time in the ocean. It was still a great story though and definitely worth checking out if you want a little fun in the sun! : )
*Pressure is due to release June 21, 2016.
**I received this ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
September 3, 2020
A very different novel than his early splatterpunk offerings to be sure. Scientists discover a widening abyss in the sea bottom in the Indian ocean and send divers to check it out, only to find strange monstrous creatures! Our lead is Carrie, a free diver, along with her chubby sidekick Abhi. Carrie of the foul mouth takes no bullshit and is a fun character. In fact, most the characters are more developed than Keene's splatterpunk zombie novels to be sure, and I guess one could call this a more mature work, but fans of his earlier work may be disappointed.
I see this more of a thriller than a horror novel, even given huge sea monsters. Where did the sea monsters come from? Why is one of the largest corporations so interested in them? Pressure weaves a sordid tale of corporate greed with Earth's fate and ecosystems at risk unless someone can stop them. Lets hope Carrie is up to the task!
Pressure is a fun, fast read, but (pardon the pun) lacks any real depth. It also lacks the steaming plies of gore found in his splatterpunk novels, but again, this is a very different type of novel for Keene. 3 stars.
I see this more of a thriller than a horror novel, even given huge sea monsters. Where did the sea monsters come from? Why is one of the largest corporations so interested in them? Pressure weaves a sordid tale of corporate greed with Earth's fate and ecosystems at risk unless someone can stop them. Lets hope Carrie is up to the task!
Pressure is a fun, fast read, but (pardon the pun) lacks any real depth. It also lacks the steaming plies of gore found in his splatterpunk novels, but again, this is a very different type of novel for Keene. 3 stars.
June 2, 2016
Brian Keene blew the doors off of this one! Pressure is a fantastically well-paced book with a perfectly balanced mixture of action and compelling character. And I haven't read a more satisfying ending than this in a hell of a long time! Among the best books I've read this year, Pressure is sitting solidly in the top five!
April 24, 2016
Pressure is a far cry from Brian Keene’s previous release, The Complex, earlier this year. Whereas the latter was a tight horror-action romp that hardly slowed down, let alone paused to catch a breath, Pressure is a more leisurely and tepid thriller. Here, Keene delivers a twist on the sea monster creature-feature, with a sort of Crichton-esque flavor, or perhaps a bit of Lincoln & Child reminiscence.
The sea floor of the Mauritius is falling into “The Mouth of Hell,” and strange stirrings are afoot with the discovery of a new, massive predator. World-class free diver, Carrie Anderson, is working on behalf of a biotech firm to learn about the collapsing sea-floor but business takes a personal turn after her diving partner’s demise and a close encounter with an unclassified underwater monster.
Pressure is filled with several great ideas that could have been truly terrific if given a little more room to build and develop. It’s a short book, and it feels like some elements could have used more time to bake. Since the book was pitched as “Jaws meets Alien,” two of my favorite films, and written by Keene, whose work in The Complex I enjoyed tremendously, I had ridiculously high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, my expectations were not quite met, although I would say Pressure is nonetheless a good and certainly enjoyable read. But, it’s also a read that I think needs to be approached with any preconceived notions firmly in check, especially if you’re expecting a gory horror fest that Keene is typically known for.
Pressure is at its best when the characters are on the high sea, dealing with the mysterious and massive threat lurking below the water. The flip-side, however, is that this particular element is nearly a C-plot to the book. I had expected, and indeed hoped for, it to be the primary focus of the novel. I wanted to see lots of aquatic horror, and I didn’t really get it. What was there was all kinds of salty and violent fun, but entirely too short-lived.
I kept expecting the characters to make their way back to the water, but Keene was more focused on driving this toward a land-based thriller where the real villains are an evil corporation and their gun-toting thugs. I suspect this book will appeal to a lot of readers looking for a disposable beach read – not that there’s anything wrong with that. Personally, I was looking for more horror, more action, more scares, and definitely way more in the way of monster mayhem. This particular book was built to be just a little too mainstream for my tastes, and didn’t quite deliver what I wanted-slash-expected.
I will give it a few extra points for some Clickers Easter eggs, as well a number of Alpinus Bio security guys whose names are borrowed from a number of well-known horror authors. I just dig stuff like that. I also hope that Pressure helps lead new readers into Keene’s other works.
Final rating: 3.5/5
[Note: I received an advanced reader’s copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley for review.]
April 24, 2016
This was my first actual read from Brian Keene, which I'm slightly ashamed to admit to since I own several of his books in hard copy and he signed a few of them personally for me at a convention. Anyways, I shall be putting all other reading on hold until I catch up on some Keene.
I would say that Brian Keene lives up to his hype. While not quite flawless, his pacing is steady and his storyline solid. I wasn't quite as disappointed as other readers that there wasn't more of a focus on the sea creature because I quite enjoyed the rest of the story as well. This book was closer to Deep Blue Sea than to Jaws and overall more suspenseful than gory. The beginning and the end of this book were amazing. If the tone of this book had been carried throughout, this would have undoubtedly been a 5-star read.
This book reads quickly while still giving you all of the elements of a great story. If Mr. Keene ever reads this I am humbly putting in my request for a sequel.
I received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
I would say that Brian Keene lives up to his hype. While not quite flawless, his pacing is steady and his storyline solid. I wasn't quite as disappointed as other readers that there wasn't more of a focus on the sea creature because I quite enjoyed the rest of the story as well. This book was closer to Deep Blue Sea than to Jaws and overall more suspenseful than gory. The beginning and the end of this book were amazing. If the tone of this book had been carried throughout, this would have undoubtedly been a 5-star read.
This book reads quickly while still giving you all of the elements of a great story. If Mr. Keene ever reads this I am humbly putting in my request for a sequel.
I received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
August 6, 2016Jaws meets Alien?
YES YES AND YESSSS!!
YES YES AND YESSSS!!
July 11, 2016
It's time for summer reading. When I travel I try to pick novels that fit the environment. Going to Washington DC? A juicy political novel. The South? Southern Gothic or maybe a James Lee Burke mystery depending on my mood. The Southwest? Edward Abbey or Hillerman is a must. Canada or Alaska? Something on the frigid side like a Robert W. Service collection or Dan Simmon's The Terror which actually got me turning up the thermostat a few degrees. But if you are going to the beach I have just the thing for you this year. Brian Keene's Pressure, which takes place on and slightly off the island of Mauritius, has the perfect ocean vibes with its sea diving and maritime scares.
In Pressure, The sea shelf around Mauritius is collapsing. A crew of scientists including free diver and marine biologist Carrie Anderson are trying to find out why. One of her dives result in the death of her co-diver and hits Carrie with a number of odd injuries including hallucinations which causes her to be hospitalized. But she also saw something large, dark and terrifying which sends her back into the waters to explore. What she and her companions discover is something that a large and corrupt corporation wants to keep a secret and is willing to kill for in order to accomplish that task.
Brian Keene is known mostly for his horror novels and Pressure certainly has some horrifying sections especially as we meet the creature. Yet it is more of a techno-thriller in the style of Crichton or Preston & Child than a horror novel. It is a good techno-thriller yet it caught me off guard especially at the beginning of the book where strange occurrences like plummeting temperatures and deadly hallucinations broadcasted something different in the mind of the horror fanatic I am. But once I acclimated to the thriller and corporate greed aspects, I was on board. Carrie Anderson is a likable and spunky character . Her two main companions also have essential characteristics that are stalwarts of the techno/horror thriller. There are plenty of seedy and untrustworthy types around to throw our heroine into more trouble. Yet where the book works best is under the sea and on the ship where we experience the horrors that the author appears most comfortable with. It is appropriately weird and terrifying. But later we hit the shoreline and the corporate baddies take over. It becomes fun but a bit underwhelming compared to the first half. I guess I would rather read about Carrie confronting unspeakable horrors rather than unspeakable business practices.
Pressure is entertaining but having read much from the author, I came away pleased but not thrilled. I prefer his novels where he is throwing zombies at us or delightfully destroying the world over and over again. This is one of those times that I must take in account what I know the author can do and what he is currently offering. That makes it a good but not remarkable endeavor. Yet if you are looking for that summer read in the techno-thriller market, you just might find Pressure to fit the bill and may be even a little above average for the genre. For now, I will give it my beach read for the summer recommendation and leave it at that.
In Pressure, The sea shelf around Mauritius is collapsing. A crew of scientists including free diver and marine biologist Carrie Anderson are trying to find out why. One of her dives result in the death of her co-diver and hits Carrie with a number of odd injuries including hallucinations which causes her to be hospitalized. But she also saw something large, dark and terrifying which sends her back into the waters to explore. What she and her companions discover is something that a large and corrupt corporation wants to keep a secret and is willing to kill for in order to accomplish that task.
Brian Keene is known mostly for his horror novels and Pressure certainly has some horrifying sections especially as we meet the creature. Yet it is more of a techno-thriller in the style of Crichton or Preston & Child than a horror novel. It is a good techno-thriller yet it caught me off guard especially at the beginning of the book where strange occurrences like plummeting temperatures and deadly hallucinations broadcasted something different in the mind of the horror fanatic I am. But once I acclimated to the thriller and corporate greed aspects, I was on board. Carrie Anderson is a likable and spunky character . Her two main companions also have essential characteristics that are stalwarts of the techno/horror thriller. There are plenty of seedy and untrustworthy types around to throw our heroine into more trouble. Yet where the book works best is under the sea and on the ship where we experience the horrors that the author appears most comfortable with. It is appropriately weird and terrifying. But later we hit the shoreline and the corporate baddies take over. It becomes fun but a bit underwhelming compared to the first half. I guess I would rather read about Carrie confronting unspeakable horrors rather than unspeakable business practices.
Pressure is entertaining but having read much from the author, I came away pleased but not thrilled. I prefer his novels where he is throwing zombies at us or delightfully destroying the world over and over again. This is one of those times that I must take in account what I know the author can do and what he is currently offering. That makes it a good but not remarkable endeavor. Yet if you are looking for that summer read in the techno-thriller market, you just might find Pressure to fit the bill and may be even a little above average for the genre. For now, I will give it my beach read for the summer recommendation and leave it at that.
June 15, 2016
Professional free diver, Carrie Anderson, is tasked with an impossible, and deadly, mission...to dive into a collapsing trench off the coast of Mauritius, in order to collect samples for scientific research. Her first attempt proved nearly fatal, and she barely survived, but her partner perished.
But a former love interest and free diver, is assigned to assist her this time, and she's wholly unprepared for the unimaginable horror they'll face in those dark depths. Meanwhile, a sinister conspiracy looms, filled with corporate espionage and worse. Amidst all this grows a deadly threat worse than anyone could've conceived...and it could spell mankind's extinction.
Part thriller in the vein of Crichton, part scifi horror novel, but all Brian Keene (and diehard fans will pick up on references to his previous books), this will be one of the summer's Must Reads.
Highly recommended!
But a former love interest and free diver, is assigned to assist her this time, and she's wholly unprepared for the unimaginable horror they'll face in those dark depths. Meanwhile, a sinister conspiracy looms, filled with corporate espionage and worse. Amidst all this grows a deadly threat worse than anyone could've conceived...and it could spell mankind's extinction.
Part thriller in the vein of Crichton, part scifi horror novel, but all Brian Keene (and diehard fans will pick up on references to his previous books), this will be one of the summer's Must Reads.
Highly recommended!
June 26, 2016
Entertaining but somewhat disappointing effort from Keene about an expedition team that uncovers a bizarre creature in the ocean depths that is of great interest to a shady corporation and its minions. The story moves along at a nice pace and the writing is above-par but you're left with the feeling that Keene could have done so much more with the plot. It just never seems to develop into the grand thriller it could have been. The ending is ok but perfunctory. It's kind of like a Chinese dinner. It's good going down but 15 minutes later I'm left feeling still hungry and not quite satisfied. Not Keene's best effort but worth a read if you're not expecting too much.
April 30, 2016
A thrilling story of intrigue, monsters, science, and a woman determined to find out the truth. If you like the work of Michael Crichton or Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Pressure will be right up your alley.
August 9, 2016
Brian Keene is a giant in our field, perhaps the well know writer of our gneration of horror writers who grew up reading Stephen King, Robert McCammon and Joe R Lansdale. Keene wears the influences on his sleeves like a crowded arm of tats but the reality is he would not hav become one of the youngest Grand Masters of horror at the 2014 World Horror Convention if he didn't have a excellent ability to tell a story with his own spin. Keene as an artist is pretty wide open through his popular Horror Show podcast and blogs. The author made clear he was approached to write this book.
Pressure is not his masterpiece but it is a fun read. If you are looking for something more you might want to read something else. The story follows a famous diver named Carrie Anderson who is hired to investigate the collapse of the sea shelf in the Indian Ocean. This alone seemed a interesting set up for a end of the world novel but it is just the Maguffin that gets Carrie down to the bottom where we find a a big surprise.
As for the claim that it was Alien meets Jaws made by the publisher seems fair for the first 100 pages or so that would have made a stronger novella that the resulting novel. It is hard to talk about the strengths or weaknesses of this book with spoiling the book a little. Consider yourself warned...
The second half of the book takes on a completely style of story and loses the monster aspect as well as the interesting setting of the deep seas dives. while I enjoyed the first half and found my self turning pages quickly the second was less interesting to me. To Keene's credit in the hands of an author with less skill I would have lost all interest.
I respect Brian Keene as a writer and think his skill saves this book although I wish the story had stayed out at sea, or maybe the monster could have came ashore looking for it's egg. If I sound negative it is only because of the high bar Brian Keene has set for himself with a catalog of effective horror novels. This is a fun monster novel that just needed a little more focus on the monster.
Pressure is not his masterpiece but it is a fun read. If you are looking for something more you might want to read something else. The story follows a famous diver named Carrie Anderson who is hired to investigate the collapse of the sea shelf in the Indian Ocean. This alone seemed a interesting set up for a end of the world novel but it is just the Maguffin that gets Carrie down to the bottom where we find a a big surprise.
As for the claim that it was Alien meets Jaws made by the publisher seems fair for the first 100 pages or so that would have made a stronger novella that the resulting novel. It is hard to talk about the strengths or weaknesses of this book with spoiling the book a little. Consider yourself warned...
The second half of the book takes on a completely style of story and loses the monster aspect as well as the interesting setting of the deep seas dives. while I enjoyed the first half and found my self turning pages quickly the second was less interesting to me. To Keene's credit in the hands of an author with less skill I would have lost all interest.
I respect Brian Keene as a writer and think his skill saves this book although I wish the story had stayed out at sea, or maybe the monster could have came ashore looking for it's egg. If I sound negative it is only because of the high bar Brian Keene has set for himself with a catalog of effective horror novels. This is a fun monster novel that just needed a little more focus on the monster.
April 27, 2016
Pressure is a departure from what I have read of Brian Keene's work. It is a mainstream thriller; this is not a criticism, just an observation.
The oddest part of Pressure is that it is a novel of two distinct parts. The first section is an undersea adventure with our heroes contending with an ecological disaster and a monstrous new life form. Most of that is left behind in part two, which changes in to a corporate espionage/conspiracy story. This reminds me of a sequel featuring the same circumstances and characters but taking a totally different direction.
Taken as a whole this is an enjoyable read. Personally I liked part one very much and felt that part two felt a bit insignificant in comparison. Brian Keene's fans will need to keep in mind that this is a mainstream novel and that there is not a big connection to his ongoing mythology. Hopefully this finds an audience with new readers. 4 stars, recommended.
The oddest part of Pressure is that it is a novel of two distinct parts. The first section is an undersea adventure with our heroes contending with an ecological disaster and a monstrous new life form. Most of that is left behind in part two, which changes in to a corporate espionage/conspiracy story. This reminds me of a sequel featuring the same circumstances and characters but taking a totally different direction.
Taken as a whole this is an enjoyable read. Personally I liked part one very much and felt that part two felt a bit insignificant in comparison. Brian Keene's fans will need to keep in mind that this is a mainstream novel and that there is not a big connection to his ongoing mythology. Hopefully this finds an audience with new readers. 4 stars, recommended.
July 27, 2016
Keene is a skilled writer who knows how to build suspense and ramp it up to nerve-breaking levels.
The ocean floor is collapsing near the island of Mauritius, and the cause is linked to a new undersea terror, a giant monster that is an enhanced amalgam of sea creatures. Carrie Anderson, the main character and a globally known free diver, gets a taste of the threat on a routine dive. She has several encounters after that, each one more deadly and terrifying. Keene's descriptions of the attacks are brutal, graphic and bloody, causing the reader to fear for the characters. Keene's insights help endear all of them and bring them to life.
In the latter part of the novel, the threat seems to be abated and the story takes a different turn into the realm of thriller, as the main characters attempt to uncover the evil plans of a large multi-national bio-tech corporation. It's a threat of a different type and just as dangerous.
I'm disappointed by the two-page epilogue that ends predictably. We've all seen this kind of ending too many times. It's not even necessary. The book could have ended without it. It's the only thing that kept me from giving this a five-star rating. I still recommend it to fans of beastly horror and thrillers.
The ocean floor is collapsing near the island of Mauritius, and the cause is linked to a new undersea terror, a giant monster that is an enhanced amalgam of sea creatures. Carrie Anderson, the main character and a globally known free diver, gets a taste of the threat on a routine dive. She has several encounters after that, each one more deadly and terrifying. Keene's descriptions of the attacks are brutal, graphic and bloody, causing the reader to fear for the characters. Keene's insights help endear all of them and bring them to life.
In the latter part of the novel, the threat seems to be abated and the story takes a different turn into the realm of thriller, as the main characters attempt to uncover the evil plans of a large multi-national bio-tech corporation. It's a threat of a different type and just as dangerous.
I'm disappointed by the two-page epilogue that ends predictably. We've all seen this kind of ending too many times. It's not even necessary. The book could have ended without it. It's the only thing that kept me from giving this a five-star rating. I still recommend it to fans of beastly horror and thrillers.
November 29, 2016
Spoilers ahead!
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What started out as a monster story quickly became one about an EVIL corporation. While Evil Corp was dealt with monster never was. Particularly boring, this book featured a cast of uninspiring characters that I couldn't care less about. The constant shoehorning of a romantic subplot was terrible. My second book from Mr. Keene I like it no better than the first and do not feel compelled to pursue any of his other writings. A shame really because people keep saying such great things.
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What started out as a monster story quickly became one about an EVIL corporation. While Evil Corp was dealt with monster never was. Particularly boring, this book featured a cast of uninspiring characters that I couldn't care less about. The constant shoehorning of a romantic subplot was terrible. My second book from Mr. Keene I like it no better than the first and do not feel compelled to pursue any of his other writings. A shame really because people keep saying such great things.
June 6, 2016
This was a really fun read. Different than Brian's normal horror. Thriller with a bit of horror and sci-fi. I enjoyed the plot and characters. Any of Brian's fans, except those expecting zombies, would love this book. Pretty fast pace with plenty of small nods to other books. I kept expecting more nods but this book seemed to be outside his normal labyrinth universe.
June 28, 2016
This book was fun. It didn't re-invent the clock; it just told a good yarn about sea monsters and corporate intrigue. Keene dials back on the horror, but in a few scenes (that really stand out) he really lays into the visceral. I still prefer his horror tales, but this is still a fun beach read if your in the mood for something a little more mainstream.
April 23, 2017
Fun, fast-paced, well-written, with engaging, believable characters and excellent action. Extremely well plotted; with a convincing twist, and, again, a HIGHLY satisfying ending. This is the work of someone at the top of their game, and I hope to read more thrillers like these from Brian Keene.
September 3, 2021
Единствената книга на Кийн, която излиза от рамките на екстремния и се насочва към комерсиалния хорър. Като такава, не че е лоша, но не оправда очакванията ми. Първата част си е класически морски крийчър фийчър и беше бомба. Във втората част нещата преминаха повече към корпоративен трилър, което не ми се понрави толкова. Кийн е изпробвал тук няколко нетипични за стила му литературни похвати, може би опитвайки се да се приближи към масовата литература. Героите са добре изградени, но ми липсваше онова негово умение да ти направи някой близък само с две-три изречения. Сигурно защото този път героите са далече от работническата класа, за която толкова обича да пише и се е наложило по-подробно впускане в характеризирането им, което е изиграло лоша шега на автора.
При всички положения в едно свое интервю авторът казва, че книгата е добър експеримент, който няма да повтори. За наша радост.
Кати е световно известен гмуркач (не знам термина за тези, които се гмуркат без екипировка "свободен"?). Тя е наета от голяма фирма да разследсва подводна аномалия по бреговете на Мавритания. Скоро става ясно, че аномалията се дължи на нещо голямо, зловещо и непознато. ТОва ще доведе до кошмарно гмуркане, морска битка между чудовище и наемници и доста мръсни тайни на голяма фирма занимаваща се с нанотехнологии. Има екшън, убийства, конспирации, предателства, абе всичко за едно леко плажно четиво, естествено ако не държите много-много да влизате в морето след прочитането :)
При всички положения в едно свое интервю авторът казва, че книгата е добър експеримент, който няма да повтори. За наша радост.
Кати е световно известен гмуркач (не знам термина за тези, които се гмуркат без екипировка "свободен"?). Тя е наета от голяма фирма да разследсва подводна аномалия по бреговете на Мавритания. Скоро става ясно, че аномалията се дължи на нещо голямо, зловещо и непознато. ТОва ще доведе до кошмарно гмуркане, морска битка между чудовище и наемници и доста мръсни тайни на голяма фирма занимаваща се с нанотехнологии. Има екшън, убийства, конспирации, предателства, абе всичко за едно леко плажно четиво, естествено ако не държите много-много да влизате в морето след прочитането :)
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