Lying in the Deep
In this romantic murder mystery, a girl goes on a semester-abroad cruise to escape from heartbreak only to discover her cheating ex-boyfriend and BFF onboard. And when she's suspected of murdering her ex-BFF, she must scramble with her new flame to find the real killer before they strike again.
★ An Amazon Editorial Pick for May 2023
★ A People Magazine Best Book of Summer 2023
★ A Goodreads Most Anticipated Book of 2023
★ A Buzzfeed Most Anticipated Book of 2023
★ A SheReads Most Anticipated YA Book of 2023
Meet the Characters
Illustrations by Chinthaka Pradeep.
Acclaim for Lying in the Deep
“A twisted tale of betrayal, heartbreak, and revenge, Lying in the Deep is shocking from the very first page. As gory as a slasher and as fun as a comedy, this book is a must-read for thriller fans.”
—Jessica Goodman, NYT bestselling author of They’ll Never Catch Us
“Psychologically and emotionally stirring.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Great chemistry and entertaining, nonstop turns of plot steer the ship.”
—Booklist
“This cleverly plotted mystery and its earned, complex solution boast numerous exhilarating twists and red herrings.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Diana Urban is the Agatha Christie of today’s YA audience. Lying in the Deep had me utterly engrossed from the jaw-dropping prologue to the final murderous twist. An absolutely thrilling and romantic read all the way through, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.”
—Jessica S. Olson, author of A Forgery of Roses
“Whatever your age, this twisty and surprising thriller—with gorgeous settings, swoon-worthy romance, toxic friendships, and a surprise around every corner—will keep you turning the pages as fast as you can. This is storytelling at its best!”
—Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of Her Perfect Life
“As the bodies pile up, so do Urban’s trademark twists, and readers will surely be shocked by the novel’s final reveal.”
—School Library Journal
FAQs for Lying in the Deep
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What are the content advisories for Lying in the Deep?
Please refer to the full updated list of content advisories here.
What is Lying in the Deep about?
After being jilted by her ex-boyfriend and best friend, Jade couldn’t be more ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime—11 countries in 4 months, all from the luxurious Campus on Board ship—and to wedge an entire globe between her and the people who broke her heart.
But when Jade discovers the backstabbing couple are also setting sail, her obsession with them grows and festers, leading to a shocking murder. And as their friends begin to drop like flies, Jade and her new crush must race to clear her name and find the killer they’re trapped at sea with….before anyone else winds up in body bags.
What inspired the idea for Lying in the Deep?
Lying in the Deep was inspired by mystery queen Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile, one of my favorites of hers. You can even say it’s a loose retelling, but, for example, there is no character corresponding to her protagonist Hercule Poirot, and the plot deviates substantially. I also incorporated some tropes I personally adore, such as fake dating and a potentially unreliable narrator. I’ve always wanted to write a murder mystery on a cruise ship, and I had an absolute blast writing this!
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