Sea Castle Review: Andrew Mayne’s Action-Packed Mystery Novel

 "Sea Castle" by Andrew Mayne delivers a fast-paced mystery full of action, suspense, and strong female leads. Here’s my review of this thrilling, if slightly over-the-top, adventure.

A short summary of Sea Castle:

Sloan McPherson once again finds herself in dangerous waters, literally and figuratively. When Miami becomes the hunting ground of a new serial killer, Sloan must dive deep into both the ocean and the case to uncover the truth. The investigation pulls her into high-stakes chases, dark secrets, and unsettling discoveries lurking beneath the surface. As she balances her instincts, her training, and her unrelenting drive for justice, Sloan proves she’s more than capable of taking on the city’s most twisted predator.

My favorite quote:

"I've learned that you never win a battle of wills with a crazy person because they don't even know there's a battle." — Andrew Mayne, Sea Castle

Questions to ponder while reading:

How do you deal with manipulative people?

What activities does your family do together?

My review:

Sea Castle is a fun and thrilling mystery that delivers plenty of action and suspense, although at times it leans a bit too far over the top. Andrew Mayne has a knack for keeping readers turning pages, and this installment is no exception.

One of the strongest elements of the story is the sense of empowerment woven into the narrative; there’s some great “girl power” here, with strong female characters taking charge in high-stakes situations. It’s refreshing and adds an extra layer of energy to the book.

That said, I didn’t enjoy the partnership with Gwen as much as I had hoped. While she’s an interesting character, I found myself missing the old UIU team dynamics. Their interplay and chemistry brought a unique balance to previous books that wasn’t quite replicated here.

Overall, Sea Castle is still an exciting read with a solid mystery at its core. Fans of the series will find plenty to enjoy, even if, like me, they miss some of the earlier team dynamics.

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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller based in Tontitown, Arkansas.

She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.

You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.

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