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J. S. Law
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The Dark Beneath: the gripping debut thriller (Lieutenant Dani Lewis series book 1) Kindle Edition

by J. S. Law (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 359 ratings

The Dark Beneath was previously published as Tenacity.

'I read this in a day and can't wait for the next' Clare Mackintosh, number one bestseller

'An impressive debut...gripping, entertaining reading' The Times

Lieutenant Dani Lewis must uncover the hidden truth behind a suspicious death at sea. But will she survive long enough to find the answers?
Full of twists and turns, this gripping crime thriller is perfect for fans of M.J. Arlidge, Will Dean and Elly Griffiths.

'Addictively readable' Patricia Cornwell

A sailor is found dead on a submarine. But something doesn't add up...
Although it's ruled a suicide, Lieutenant Dani Lewis - fearless star of the Special Investigations Branch - knows the man's wife was found brutally murdered only days before. Now she must enter the cramped confines of a submarine to interrogate the tight-knit crew.

Trapped deep in the ocean - the only woman on board with a possible killer in tow - the pressure rises quickly for Dani Lewis. And she may need to choose between the truth and her own survival if she's to make it out alive. Two hundred metres below the surface, she will have nowhere to run and nowhere to hide...

'Pacey, claustrophobic and utterly thrilling' Eva Dolan

Why readers are raving about THE DARK BENEATH:

'A claustrophobic, addictive and brilliantly constructed thriller that just won't let go... I really cannot recommend it highly enough' Liz Loves Books

'Such a high quality thriller with a fantastic and unusual location - tense and claustrophobic, it grips instantly' ***** Goodreads Reviewer

'A must read' ***** Goodreads Reviewer

'Absolutely loved this book right from the beginning. Gripping from start to finish, couldn't put it down' ***** Goodreads Reviewer

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Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 1 of 3
    Dani Lewis
  2. Print length
    333 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Headline
  5. Accessibility
    Learn more
  6. Publication date
    30 July 2015
  7. File size
    1.4 MB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 3 books in this series.
This option includes 3 books.

Product description

Review

J. S. Law's taut crime novel oozes authenticity. I read this in a day and can't wait for the next in what will undoubtedly be an explosive series (Clare Mackintosh, author of I Let You Go)

An impressive debut. . . Law knows what he's writing about, and it shows. The sexist antagonism of the men coupled with the cramped conditions make for gripping, entertaining reading (The Times)

J. S. Law is a powerful new voice, and his heroine Dan Lewis lives up to the title, Tenacity. She is fearless and doesn't quit in the faces of all odds. The murky world of submarines and murder make Tenacity addictively readable, and memories of it linger like dreams (Patricia Cornwell)

If Law manages to hold his course into nuclear noir, this series could go for as long as the atom-powered Tenacity (The Sun)

Tense, claustrophobic, and totally absorbing, this book should be on every thriller reader's radar - or should that be sonar? Absolutely superb (Matt Hilton)

A gripping read ... I don't remember being this captivated by a debut novel since Lee Child published Killing Floor ... A stand out read ... 5/5 is a given (www.grabthisbook.net)

A brilliant debut. Breathlessly plotted. Deeply disturbing (Emlyn Rees)

Pacey, claustrophobic and utterly thrilling (Eva Dolan)

A taut, tense thriller with a fantastic female lead. . . J.S. Law is one to watch (SJI Holliday)

The descriptions are vivid, the atmosphere frighteningly authentic (Shots magazine)

I recommend watching out for this exciting debut author, a former submariner who knows his subaqueous stuff and has delivered a narrative that will make anyone breathless (William Sutton www.william-sutton.co.uk)

Outstanding. . . Dark and intense (Crime Review)

I would certainly recommend you dive in (Crimesquad)

If you want a thriller that truly works on every level then Tenacity is for you (www.lizlovesbooks.com)

Gritty, super-charged with tension and claustrophobically atmospheric, Tenacity is a real page-turner of a read. . . Highly recommended (www.crimethrillergirl.com)

Tenacity is absolutely brutal in its intensity and is quite easily one of the best debut thrillers of 2015 (www.bookaddictshaun.co.uk)

A searing thriller. . . The claustrophobic drama which unfolds is breathtaking. . . A must read for fans of psychological crime thrillers (www.neverimitate.wordpress.com)

Impressive and memorable (Literary Review)

Gripping from the very beginning. . . Cleverly constructed, dramatic and tense, it leaves you feeling shocked yet wanting more (www.eurocrime.blogspot.co.uk)

In his debut novel, J.S. Law has crafted a thrilling suspense . . . Law ends Tenacity with a perfect segue into a sequel. It can't come too soon (Marilyn Dahl)

I was gripped from the nail-biting opening chapter right through to the end (Promoting Crime Fiction)

About the Author

J. S. Law served in the Royal Navy Submarine Service, rising through the ranks to become a senior nuclear engineer. Tenacity is his first novel. He lives in Portsmouth, England.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00XVJBKBU
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Headline
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 30 July 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.4 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 333 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1472227898
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ Dani Lewis
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 359 ratings

About the author

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J. S. Law

J. S. Law

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J.S. Law joined the Royal Navy in 1993 as an apprentice and went on to serve for twenty years, the majority of that time spent in the Submarine Service. He rose through the ranks, taking a commission as an engineering officer in 2001, and serving as a Senior Engineer and Nuclear Reactor Plant Supervisor, where his responsibilities ranged from the safety and operation of the submarine’s nuclear power plant to hydraulic plants, fridges and toilets; it was the latter of these tasks that brought the majority of any pressure.

His final years in service were spent training future submariners in his role of Senior Lecturer in Nuclear Reactor Engineering.

Having written short stories and novels throughout his naval career, James completed an MA in Creative Writing at Portsmouth University shortly before leaving the navy in 2013, completing his debut novel, Tenacity, shortly afterwards.

James lives in Hampshire with his wife, Elaine, and two children. He spends what spare time he has riding his bike around the South Downs and travelling to Edinburgh to watch Scotland play rugby at Murrayfield stadium.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
359 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this debut thriller engaging, with one review noting it kept them enthralled until the end. Moreover, the story is extremely exciting, with one customer highlighting how it seamlessly introduces technical and service terms. Additionally, the book features believable characters, particularly the protagonist Danielle, and provides insight into submariners' lives and challenges. Customers appreciate its authenticity and claustrophobic elements.

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ReadabilitySuspenseful storyPacingCharacter developmentInterestAuthenticityClaustrophobic content
32 customers mention ‘Readability’32 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as an amazing first novel that kept them enthralled until the end.

"...submarine and its crew, but it's also written in a way, that's both thrilling and gripping, to anyone regardless of having any knowledge of life at..." Read more

"What a fantastic debut novel!..." Read more

"...It was a great read, really pacy...." Read more

"...A great start to what I hope will be a great series. By the way, I didn't like Dan...." Read more

25 customers mention ‘Suspenseful story’21 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the suspenseful story of the book, describing it as an extremely exciting thriller with a gripping storyline that keeps readers intrigued throughout.

"...its crew, but it's also written in a way, that's both thrilling and gripping, to anyone regardless of having any knowledge of life at sea...." Read more

"...It promises so much; tension, pace, mystery and chase and my God does it deliver. The lone female investigator is the heartbreakingly damaged..." Read more

"...Overall, a good, enjoyable thriller and will definitely be buying anything JS Law publishes in future." Read more

"...This accomplished and extremely exciting thriller about a murder inquiry on a nuclear submarine is a debut but certainly doesn't read like one...." Read more

16 customers mention ‘Pacing’16 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's pacing and prose, with one noting how the author seamlessly introduces technical and service terms while maintaining a rigorous attention to detail.

"...Well written and fast-paced (I couldn't put it down), Tenacity includes the usual crime novel stuff but I'm glad that JS Law included some..." Read more

"...It promises so much; tension, pace, mystery and chase and my God does it deliver. The lone female investigator is the heartbreakingly damaged..." Read more

"...This accomplished and extremely exciting thriller about a murder inquiry on a nuclear submarine is a debut but certainly doesn't read like one...." Read more

"...years, the setting of the book was extremely interesting and very well explained...." Read more

13 customers mention ‘Character development’11 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly praising the believable portrayal of Danielle Lewis, with one customer noting the importance of having a female lead character.

"...I read it in two days as I couldn't put it down. I loved the character Danielle and her gutsy ways although obviously with a troubled background...." Read more

"...the strong female lead in this story which is brimming full of believable characters of the modern RN. Original, informative and dark." Read more

"...lone female investigator is the heartbreakingly damaged, incredibly brave Danielle Lewis who, in a stroke of genius from J.S. Law, calls herself Dan...." Read more

"...The detective is a navy woman, what a strong character she is! The book kept me enthralled until the end...." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Interest’8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging, particularly appreciating the insight into submariners' lives and challenges, with one customer specifically noting the fascinating submarine setting.

"...The detective is a navy woman, what a strong character she is! The book kept me enthralled until the end...." Read more

"...The basis of the plot and the setting were quite interesting but the endgame was a bit too cliched...." Read more

"...thriller in it’s own right with the insight into submariners lives and challenges adding real interest and empathy to the story." Read more

"...Tenacity is Law's debut novel, and it tells the story of female naval investigator Danielle Lewis, known as Dan, as she tries to untangle the..." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Authenticity’5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the authenticity of the book, with one noting its detailed portrayal of place.

"...care and rigorous attention to detail, both of which give it authenticity and genuine substance whilst never detracting from its cracking pace...." Read more

"...He brings his experience to this book in a positive way - plenty of authentic detail, not too much explanation for the uninitiated...." Read more

"...only to reinforce: gripping story, believable characters and authentic sense of place. Buy it!" Read more

"Very well written, gripping and believable just a bit too much naval detail for me." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Claustrophobic content’4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the claustrophobic elements in the book.

"...'s thriller in which he conveys the close quarters and claustrophobic atmosphere so well, I'm steering clear...." Read more

"...author has first hand experience, was excellent and gave a real sense of claustrophobia that added to intense nature of the book...." Read more

"Brilliant claustrophobic read..." Read more

"A great thriller, not for the claustrophobic! Five stars......." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • RT
    5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible debut, can’t wait to read more from J.S Law
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 September 2015
    Verified Purchase
    The tag lines on the cover say it all; a brutal murder, a lone female investigator. Below the ocean’s surface, the pressure is rising... Who the hell wouldn’t want to read a book with a tag line like that? It promises so much; tension, pace, mystery and chase and my God does it deliver.
    The lone female investigator is the heartbreakingly damaged, incredibly brave Danielle Lewis who, in a stroke of genius from J.S. Law, calls herself Dan. She is tasked with investigating the suicide of ‘Whisky’ Walker on board HMS Tenacity, a nuclear submarine. When the submarine embarks on a last minute trip, Dan finds herself alone on the sub with over a hundred chauvinistic, hostile submariners, one of which is the murderer she is hunting, until they start hunting her.
    Oh, this is so so so good. From the very beginning, the very first line, you know you are in for a great ride. The plot twists beautifully and really is expertly executed so no questions are left lingering after the final page, but the real star for me was the pace. From the outset the pace is high and it keeps getting higher; by the end I was reading with my jaw clenched and neck muscles tensed.
    I have read many, many crime novels over the past year: this was a beautiful breath of fresh air.
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  • LizzyH
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Read in a Fresh Setting
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 September 2015
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    This was an enjoyable, fast-paced debut from JS Law. He set the scene very well for how 'closed' the world of submarines is, it's hard to explain to non-naval personnel how truly insular the submarine service is, but JS Law does an excellent job of describing the clostrophic and intense environment where Lt Dan Lewis is investigating. Any ship's company will close ranks against outsiders when something happens but Lt Lewis has to cope with the additional pressures of being the only woman in a male-dominated world, the only non-submariner and also being a member of the RN Police, and who will therefore automatically be viewed with suspicion and prejudice.

    That said, as much as I enjoyed this book there were a couple of things that grated. Lewis isn't the easiest character to like, maybe she's deliberately written that way, but I found it hard to warm to her. I also got fed up with Lewis continually having to have basic naval (not submarine) terms explained to her - 18 years of service and she still doesn't know what the Souls On Board list is? With hindsight this may simply be JS Law's way of explaining everyday RN terms to civilian readers but it did make Lewis come across as a bit dim in places.

    Overall, a good, enjoyable thriller and will definitely be buying anything JS Law publishes in future.
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  • Marcus Case
    5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging, Atmospheric and Page-Turning
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 August 2018
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I usually tend to keep my reviews for titles unsupported by celebrity endorsements and mainstream marketing campaigns but 'The Dark Beneath' by J S Law (previously published as 'Tenacity') is my first exception to this particular rule.
    This accomplished and extremely exciting thriller about a murder inquiry on a nuclear submarine is a debut but certainly doesn't read like one. I'd say its writing is more professional and tightly-edited than the typical offering from many greatly accomplished and famous authors. This is not a book that's been churned out to meet an author's annual deadline on a publisher's desk; it's a work of art.
    An experienced submariner, J S Law has crafted his story with enormous care and rigorous attention to detail, both of which give it authenticity and genuine substance whilst never detracting from its cracking pace. It's possibly the most engaging, atmospheric and page-turning novel I've read in a very long time. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to read its sequel, 'The Fear Within'.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • David H Reissner
    3.0 out of 5 stars Plenty of tension but an unlikeable hero
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 June 2016
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Tension is maintained throughout, taking advantage of the claustrophobic atmosphere of a nuclear sub. A woman has been brutally killed and her husband, a sumbariner, has hung himself on board (or has he?). Our hero, a Special Investigations Officer on the Kill Team, is brought in. But she is damaged goods because of the fallout from her lone capture of a serial killer years before. Does the misogyny of the submarine company - not "crew" - cloak something more sinister? This was a good read because of the sustained tension - perhaps sustained partly because the main character us not likeable.
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  • Allysev
    5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely good thriller!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 June 2016
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I do not usually read "Thrillers", but as this one was recommended to me, I thought I would give it a try.......so very glad I did! The detective is a navy woman, what a strong character she is! The book kept me enthralled until the end. As it is set in a submarine, and the author has had personal experience of being posted on one for many years, the setting of the book was extremely interesting and very well explained. I learnt a great deal about daily life on a nuclear submarine, something I would otherwise never have known.
    Altogether this is a very good first novel and I would certainly recommend it.
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  • C Knight
    4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant claustrophobic read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 January 2025
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Danielle or Dan as she’d prefer to be know is going into a man’s world. A world where 130 men breathe the same air for days on end, a world where there is no natural light. A submarine. I don’t get claustrophobic but that for me is not somewhere I’d want to be.

    Dani is headstrong, determined but her independence is her downfall. She reminded me a little of Tom Cruise’s Daniel Kaffee with her tenacity and want for justice. Her investigation style is slightly unorthodox, getting those around her’s backs up but I think in HMS Tenacity she has a little unwanted help creating the animosity towards her.

    The ship’s company I didn’t like. It was like a boys club. Everyone covering for each other, unwilling to help with an investigation into the suicide of one of their own. Was there more to this sailor’s death than grief? The crew, I mean ship’s company’s behaviour raised so many questions in my head and made me fear for Dan in this man’s world.

    Law left me wanting more – the ending gave rise to book two which thankfully I have sat on my kindle. I need to return to Dan’s world of the naval Kill Team as soon as I can! I need to see where this goes!
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Dave
    5.0 out of 5 stars Comment
    Reviewed in Canada on 7 February 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Exceptional read - captivating!
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good book
    Reviewed in the United States on 29 February 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Read it
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  • carolynfromoz
    4.0 out of 5 stars Suspense on a submarine
    Reviewed in the United States on 5 January 2016
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Danielle (Dan) Lewis is a member of the Navy's Special Investigation Branch and is asked to investigate the suicide of Stuart Walker, a crew member of the nuclear submarine HMS Tenacity. Stuart's wife Cheryl had been raped and murdered only a few days previously while Stuart was still on the submarine and Dan has an inkling there is more to the story than a simple suicide. Dan has been in trouble previously in her career for not being a team player, nearly getting herself killed in following up a hunch about a serial killer four years ago. She is still recovering from the aftermath of that investigation and has just returned to work after a year sabbatical. When HMS Tenacity gets orders to return to sea before Dan and her partner have even had a chance to interview the crew members Dan decides to go along to complete the interviews on route and see what more she can find out on board. Life on board a submarine with an all male was never going to be easy but the captain and officers go out of their way to impede the investigation and make Dan's life difficult.

    Choosing a Navy investigator and setting the story on a nuclear submarine was an inspired idea and works really well. It certainly helped to build the tension as Dan cooped up in a confined space starts to fear for her safety as there really is no escape. It's clear from the ending that there will be a sequel and I look forward to seeing Dan and her partner John again. Dan is a complex character and I would really like to see how she develops from here. Will she continue to be a maverick who breaks all the rules and severs her relationship with friends and family and doesn't trust anyone or will she finally learn how to work with John and let her family back into her life?
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  • L. Williams
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lose a nights sleep for a good read.
    Reviewed in the United States on 13 December 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I could not put this book down.. I LOVED it & am looking forward to the next installment. It was well written & the author had first hand knowledge of life in a sub... Having been in the Women's Royal Naval Service myself , the settings were familiar. This book is great if you like some non stop action with variable twists... & don't mind losing a nights sleep.
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyable read
    Reviewed in the United States on 5 July 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Well paced storyline. The description of working and living in a nuclear sub was well done with just enough details to move the story along without getting too bogged down in technical details. I,m looking forward to book two!
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