THE MUSIC OF THE DEEP is the kind of book that I felt hooked me right from the very first page. If I could, would I have read non-stop until I had finished the book, alas I started late in the evening and then had to sleep. I wish more books were like this, captivating and beautifully written.

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION! ( )

This is one of those rare books where I might have liked the characters more than the plot - but the plot was good! I liked the way the author wove the story, it was a great way to put a fresh spin on an overused trope and helps invest the reader in the outcome. ( )

Alexandra Turner is running from an abusive marriage. She secures a job assisting a biologist with her notes on Orcas in Puget Sound and runs from her violent husband. 1200 miles ought to be enough distance for her to be safe. The locals notice the bruises on her face and wonder what she is running from, but Alex doesn't trust anyone enough to share her past. She makes some good friends in the small coastal town, learning to spin yarn with a local group called The Spinsters. She enjoys the stories they share about the whales, and life in the small town. She tries to relax and start a new life, but Alex is still deeply haunted by her fear, pain and the recent death of her mother. She prays her husband doesn't find her. She wants peace and to finally have a place where she feels safe. But she knows a person can't ever really outrun their past....no matter where she goes she brings the pain with her.

I enjoyed this book. I love how the story of Alex, her friends and the Orcas all intertwine together, creating a magical story. Some portions dealing with abuse are rough, but realistic. Alex has spent years in a horrific relationship, and there's deep portions of her that are wounded. I normally don't like stories that switch back and forth from past to present as it can become confusing and cumbersome. But, in this story, it worked. Past and present meld together into a strong story of love, loss and healing.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story. The audio is nearly 9 hours in length and narrated by Emily Sutton Smith. She reads at a good pace and has a nice voice. I suffer from hearing loss but was easily able to hear and understand.

This is the first book by Elizabeth Hall that I have read. The story is well-written, complex and enjoyable. I will definitely be reading more by this author! ( )

This is not my usual reading fare, but I wanted something that was entertaining but didn't require too much input from my side. This book is entertaining and has interesting characters. Something light to read in the evenings. The orcas were a nice touch. ( )

With the death of her mother, Alex Turner finally flees her abusive husband. She ends up in Puget Sound, working for marine biologist Maggie Edwards. Maggie has been studying orcas for pretty much her whole life. While staying in Copper Cove, Alex meets Caroline and joins the spinsters. The spinsters are a small group of people who enjoy knitting and spinning. There's a bunch of spinning jokes about whacking their wool. Alex may have tried to run away from her problems, but she can't hide from them. Not when she has an extremely abusive husband who will not let go.

The book focuses on Alex, Maggie and Emmie. I loved getting to know the characters. My favorites were Emmie and Robin. I wished there was more closure with respect to Robin, but there isn't always a happy ending. Caroline and David brought a lighter side to the book. All the orca information was an added bonus. I loved reading about them and what made up an orca family. The friendships Alex made in Copper Cove mirrored the orca pod. They wouldn't let her drown. It was great to see her new friends come together and protect Alex. There was so much emotion is this book.

I loved the story, the writing style and mostly the characters. I definitely recommend this book and can't wait to read more by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author, Elizabeth Hall, for a free electronic ARC of this novel. ( )