Title: Surface Deep
Author: LouisBaronSantos 
Prompt(s): 5

Blurb: Ricardo Torres has spent most of his twenties chasing the bohemian lifestyle, right down to the paintbrush that seems permanently attached to his hand. In his quest to capture the damage wrought to his beloved Lake Fúquene on a canvas, Rico once again finds himself lakeside. However, he soon discovers that the lake has been hiding a secret beneath its waves. With the water all but gone, a stolen Botero sculpture emerges from the cracking, muddy lakebed.

Shortly after the police are called, Detective Sonia Mendoza arrives on the scene, eager to warm up this cold case. But as soon as Ricardo and Sonia are back at the police station in Bogotá, they learn that the lake was hiding more than one secret. Now this unlikely pair must team up to solve a mystery neither of them anticipated.

Short Review: Louis's Colombian setting is immediately obvious from chapter one, and the reality of the world is seamlessly blended with the prompt. The main character, Ricardo, is determined to capture the last bits of beauty from a lake that has brought him a great deal of joy throughout his life. The drought ravaging the land is immediately obvious and feels real right from the start. 

Throughout the story (which I have been lucky to read a little ahead on because I like to write with buddies) the characters of Ricardo and Sonia are slowly exposed in an expert way and I have some strong opinions on how fabulous they are. The mystery is interesting and the pacing is top notch. I'm really excited to see how the rest plays out because I have a theory about the ending and I just need to know if I'm right. 

Overall, if you are intersted in strong characters and a unique mystery, you should check out Surface Deep by LouisBaronSantos !

* ~ * ~ * 

Have you read this story? Is there anything I missed as to why someone might enjoy it? Please keep your comments positive here as not all authors are comfortable with criticism at this stage.