Review: Deep Level by Richard E. Rock
Deep Level
When Rich stumbles upon a secret Victorian underground network, he sees not only a great historical discovery, but also a way out of his humdrum life. He convinces three of his friends to join him, and together they venture deep into the maze of tunnels beneath London’s bustling streets.
A rude girl made good. An aspiring writer. A cinema usher from Wales. A bookseller who dreams of being an urban explorer. Four friends trapped together in one nightmarish situation as they realise some things are kept secret for a reason.
Will any of them manage to escape the horror that lurks in the DEEP LEVEL?
My Review:
So much resonated with me about this story: the recognisable characters and relationships between the friends, Rich's shameful emotional redundancy, but most of all the author's portrayal of the London Underground system.
Many years ago I was a guard on the tube - the Northern Line to be precise (AKA the Misery Line - and with good cause). It is indeed a strange netherworld full of levels and labyrinths. The book felt very authentic in this regard.
It moves along at a cracking pace and I feel Rock has a good ear for intimate conversations and the inner workings of a father and husband who wishes he were anywhere but at home. Of course, one should always be careful what one wishes for...
This is a very satisfying book, linking past and present, surface and subterranean, the everyday and the extraordinary, innocence and evil. It's very visual and good on shocks. It'd be great to see it on the screen. Someone give the author an option!
Author Bio:
By day, Richard E. Rock works as a commercial scriptwriter for radio and contributes ideas to Viz Comic. But by night... he writes horror.
He was inspired to do this after experiencing a series of particularly ferocious nightmares. After waking up and realising he could turn these into utterly horrible stories, he started deliberately inducing them.
Based in Wales, he lives with his girlfriend and their cat. If you’re looking for him, you’ll probably find him wedged up against the barrier at a heavy metal gig, for that is his natural habitat.
Social media:
Twitter: @RichardERock1
Instagram: richard_e_rock
Facebook : Richard E. Rock - horror writer
Comments