Submerged

A man and woman who were once a couple confront their past in a brush with a treasure-seeking killer in this steadily paced thriller. Bailey Craig left her small Alaskan hometown 12 years ago and vowed she’d never return. But when her beloved Aunt Agnes dies in a plane crash, she’s forced to revisit the place—and some of her demons. Meanwhile, a former boyfriend, Cole McKenna, runs a local diving shop and helps police whenever they need his underwater expertise. When the authorities find the body of an alleged tourist who rented from his shop and another not long after, he realizes he needs Bailey’s expertise in Russian to help decipher some of the clues. With the help of a 19th-century diary, will they find the murderer or only end up in harm’s way? Pettrey’s debut novel is a thoughtful attempt to capture both love and suspense in this intricately plotted mystery. While the writing is clumsy at times, the novel introduces the reader to some memorable characters who must rely on their faith just as much as each other. Agent: Chip MacGregor. (May)