On a beautiful morning in the British Virgin Islands, Detective Hannah Sampson is getting ready to teach Jimmy, one of the young police officers, more about investigating underwater crime scenes when a small twin-engine island hopper just taking off from the local airport crashes into the ocean near her boat. Shocked by what they see, within minutes she and Jimmy are in their dive gear and in the water looking for survivors. Unfortunately, they aren't able to save everyone; some were dead when the plane hit the water.

Once everyone is accounted for, Hannah leads the underwater investigation to determine if this was an accident or something else - such as murder. But who would want to kill a planeload of Caribbean tourists? As Hannah soon finds out, more than the waters are murky and nothing is as it first seems. The more clues she thinks she uncovers, the more complicated the case becomes. Add in her shaky romantic relationship with a local boat yard owner, the care of a nine-year-old boy whose father was a victim of the crash and an approaching hurricane, and Hannah is fearful all of this is more than she can handle. And she is soon put to the test.

Ms. Brandt just keeps getting better with each book she writes about Hannah and her underwater investigations in Tortola. Detailed descriptions of the island locale and the inhabitants are exemplary. You can almost feel the sand between your toes and the sun on your skin. I became totally immersed in the island life and all that was happening, especially the dives. It's a breathtaking experience, and the closest I'll ever come to strapping on tanks and fins and going beneath the surface of the ocean. If you haven't read any of this series, for the fullest effect and greatest enjoyment, I suggest you start with SWIMMING WITH THE DEAD (10/03), then DARK WATER DIVE (7/04), then DANGEROUS DEPTHS (5/05), then UNDER PRESSURE. (All are paperback originals.) I'm always looking for something unique and extraordinary, and this series has provided it for me. I can't wait for Hannah's next adventure.