If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of the Dark Deep (The Better Off Dead Series Book 6) by R.E. Sargent


If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of the Dark Deep (The Better Off Dead Series Book 6)
Title : If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of the Dark Deep (The Better Off Dead Series Book 6)
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : -
Language : English
Format Type : Kindle Edition
Number of Pages : 360
Publication : First published December 5, 2021

Don’t go in the water. It’s dark. It’s deep. It’s scary as hell. There is no better keeper of secrets than the menacing, murky depths of the ocean. Unfathomable creatures, mysterious disappearances, abandoned ships, deadly pirates. Even experienced seamen are susceptible to the horrors that lay hidden far below the surface. It’s all a game of chance. Be in the wrong place at the wrong time and you’ll become something’s meal. The dark deep is ominous and unforgiving and it has no conscience. Do you dare tempt fate? The Better Off Dead series delves into the farthest corners of your mind, where your deepest, darkest fears lurk. These masters of horror will haunt your dreams and stalk your nightmares, taking you to the edge of sanity before pushing you to the brink of madness! Contains stories by John S. Aissis, Marco Etheridge, Scott Harper, Andrew Hughes, Constantine E. Kiousis, Scotty Milder, S.R. Miller, G. Nicholas Miranda, Bridgett Nelson, David Rider, Steven Streeter, and Mike Sullivan. Foreword by Splatterpunk Award Winning Author, Ronald Kelly.

If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of the Dark Deep (The Better Off Dead Series Book 6) Reviews

  • Bren fall in love with the sea.

    Good! Review to follow.

  • Bridgett

    **As an author included in this anthology, my review reflects only those stories written by the rest of my colleagues - all of us now a part of the Sinister Smile Press family.

    My entire life, I've held a weird fascination with the ocean (well, any body of water, really). It's not the clear, sparkling waters in Fiji that mesmerize me - it's the cold, murky, inky depths that conceal the malevolent creatures living within the fathomless abyss.

    So yeah, the theme of this anthology, Tales of the Dark Deep, is totally my jam. And the book doesn't disappoint! There's lots of cool creatures to be found within these pages...all of them ready to gobble you right up!

    The incomparable
    Ronald Kelly wrote the foreword. He's an amazing writer, a wonderful person, and one of my favorite people EVER! If you've never read his work, you should!

    So, let's talk about these scurry stories, shall we?

    Flight N521ES by
    Mike Sullivan - One of my favorite stories, hands down. It's so expertly written, you'd think Mike was writing it from personal memory! It's fascinating, and I love the way he included government documents, diary entries, tweets, found video footage, and various other means to tell the story. So good!

    Black Water by
    Constantine E. Kiousis - The characterization in this story sets it apart from the rest. As a reader, you're rooting like hell for them, and that's always an amazing thing.

    By the Sounding Sea by
    Scotty Milder - When Big Bird makes an appearance, you might be thinking to yourself, "WTF?" But keep reading...I promise, this story is a treasure.

    The Ocean Provides by
    David Rider - My personal favorite (and not just because there's a "Bridget" character either). This is simply a beautifully written, beautifully plotted, beautifully paced story. And I loved every second.

    The Dead Water of the Beska Bekukskishtuk by
    John S. Aissis - A very interesting premise, I greatly enjoyed the little plot twist revealed near the end.

    Ambush by
    Bridgett Nelson - No review for my story, but I hope you all enjoy!

    An Ocean of Blood by
    Scott Harper - I don't know how he did it, but Scott somehow managed to write a super cool Moroi vampire story...underwater! It's awesome!

    Southern Sojourn by
    Steven Streeter - An amazing revenge story with a truly creepy sea creature.

    Cemetery Lake by
    G. Nicholas Miranda - This story was nothing like I thought it would be, and I genuinely loved it! Really cool premise for a "dark deep" anthology.

    Under Jungle, Black Water by
    Marco Etheridge - Marco is SUCH a great writer. He puts his heart and soul into his stories, and it shows. This one gave me the heebie jeebies and a nice dose of claustrophobia. :)

    Pressurized by
    Andrew Hughes - This story has the feel of the movie Open Water, but it's WAY more action-packed and adrenaline-charged. Andrew will have you on the edge of your seat with this little gem of a story.

    The Shore, Green and Wild by
    S.R. Miller - Definitely one of the best stories in the anthology, this reminded me a bit of Stephen King's
    Skeleton Crew: The Raft. I loved it!

    Available now in e-book, paperback, and hardcover formats. TALES OF THE DARK DEEP will be on Audible in the next few weeks!

  • Marco Etheridge

    Like Scotty, one of my fellow contributing authors for this great anthology, my review is in part to counteract the trolling 1-star rating from "Enid," which was posted two months before the book was even released. So, full disclosure complete, on with the review:

    "Tales of the Dark Deep" is a creepy underwater horror anthology. Whatever your favorite underwater demons, they're all here. Prehistoric aquatic monsters, sinister growths, giant sharks; even the water itself becomes the devouring fiend. This anthology is a grim and bloody delight. After reading these dark, wet tales, you'll think twice before dipping your toes into ocean, lake, or pond.

  • Scotty

    This isn't a real review. I'm one of the contributing authors to this anthology, and I'm posting the 5-stars to counteract the obviously trolly 1-star rating from "Enid," which was posted two months before the book was even released. Why someone would want to waste their time doing that, I'll never know.

  • Horror Lover

    Excellent read. I really liked every story, but my favorites were Flight N521ES, The Ocean Provides, Ambush, and The Shore, Green and Wild. Well done.

  • Kayla Krantz

    I've always had a fear of deep water, and reading these tales certainly didn't make it better! This anthology had so many fantastic stories of nightmare creatures lurking beneath the deep.

    My favorites are:


    1. The Ocean Provides by David Rider

    Merrill has lived his life with a belief in the certainty of what the ocean provides. When his marriage falls apart, the last thing he expects is for the ocean to step in. Loved the realistic emotions and character personalities in this one.


    2. Cemetery Lake by G. Nicholas Miranda

    Two friends make a point of going on a yearly trip to catch up and forget about the world. On a whim of going somewhere creepy, they go to Cemetery Lake. Sometimes it's best to stay out of the water. The twist at the end of this one had me on the edge of my seat.


    3. Pressurized by Andrew Hughes

    A classic story of man versus beast. Loved the very desperate undertone of every page. I rooted for Carmelo right up until the end. Very suspenseful!