Vertical Descent
by Steve Turley
Checkpoint Press, 2008
412pp. £11.99
1-9066280-25

Vertical Descent is a diving adventure novel set in Corsica.

The story is set in south west Corsica and begins during the second world war with the sinking of a German U-Boat. It then switches to the present day where the action is set.

The plot includes the sunken U-Boat, which is full of gold, Nazis who stole the gold, a Corsican nationalist organisation with terrorist tendencies, murder, intrigue and a beautiful Swiss underwater archaeologist - you got it! It's one for the beach or between dives on a liveaboard.

The plot is well thought through, engaging and easy to read but runs to over 400 pages which in my view was on the long side.

I took the book on holiday to read on the beach between dives and on the whole enjoyed it. One criticism: I felt the frequent "lectures" on diving, technical diving, archaeology, history and Corsica somewhat irritating and as I said a few pages less would not have detracted from the plot.

Overall as a holiday novel - Great!

Vertical Descent is available with 5% off from Amazon.

Review by Andrew Reay-Robinson