Page Count:  432

Author:  Steve Alten

Author's Website:  www.stevealten.com

Publisher:  Pinnacle Books/Kensington Publishing Corp.

ISBN:  0-7860-1114-9

Category:  Fiction

Genre:  Suspense

Dove's (Personal) Review:  In "The Trench," book two of the Meg trilogy, readers are - again - captivated by Alten's uncanny ability to deliver irresistable plot, as well as richly deveoloped characters!
     Eleven years have passed, since Jonas' first encounter with the Megalodon. Today, we find him married to Terry; a partner at his father-in-law's facility (the Tanaka Institute) where the captured meg Angel resides; and suffering from horrific nightmares.
     Their marriage is becoming monotonous. Their constant disagreements and bickering back n' forth leaves them both questioning their relationship. Should they divorce? Should they stick it out? They don't know.
     Angel is agitated. There's something wrong. She repeatedly throws herself up against her tanks gates, trying to break free. She's got the facility's staff worried, Jonas included. The gates must be reinforced, but it's an expensive, time consuming job.
     There's also something dreadful going on in the Mariana Trench deep below the Pacific. A submersible is attacked by unidentified creatures (similar in appearance to the Loch Ness Monster), the implosion killing all onboard, before they're able to make it back to Benthos, a mobile deep-sea lab and submarine docking station.
     With Jonas tied up at the Institute, Terry is a little bored. When her father is contacted by Benedict Singer looking for Jonas' expertise, she decides it's her job to step in and help. She agrees to fly out to the Goliath (a ship in the Pacific ocean, floating above the Mariana Trench) to meet with Benedict herself, instead of her husband. At Jonas' insistence, because of his nightmares, she promises to stay onboard the Goliath. He does not want her travelling down to Benthos.
     Benedict talks her into visiting Benthos, regardless of the promise she made, where he holds her prisoner for weeks. While all this is going on, Angel does manage to escape to open waters. Returning her to captivity keeps Jonas plenty busy.
     When Benedict's accomplice, Celeste, informs Jonas of Terry's whereabouts, Jonas fears the worst. He's sure his recurring nightmares are becoming reality. He must save his wife! Jonas makes the journey to the Mariana Trench, with hopes of getting Terry and himself out of there alive!
     Steve Alten has done it again! He's given us a high-action thriller, sure to keep you on the edge of your seat from Prologue to Epilogue! Unforgettable!!!
     Oh... and what happens to Angel, you might ask??? LOL, you'll just have to read the book to find out! ;-)
     TWO-THUMBS-UP!!! GOLD-STAR!!!