What Lies Beneath

Deadly Currents

Series: Hidden Bay, Book 3

Written by Elizabeth Goddard

Published by Revell

Release Date: 02.17.26

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense & Mystery

4 Stars!

Some currents move beneath the surface, unseen until they begin to pull. Hidden Bay carries that kind of tension. The waters crash against rugged cliffs, yet the deeper danger runs quiet … grief, secrets, unfinished stories that refuse to stay buried.

Cressida’s search for the Specter’s Bounty feels like more than research. It feels like stepping into something her father left behind, something still moving beneath the surface. The mystery surrounding the ghost ship pulls her forward, yet the strongest current in this story is not the ocean. It is forgiveness.

“How, Lord, how? How do I forgive?” That cry reaches beyond investigation. It names the cost of obedience when pain feels justified. The external danger tightens, and the inward struggle grows just as urgent.

Then comes the sharper question: “So that’s it, Lord, I just have to forgive someone even if they don’t deserve it?” Forgiveness asks for surrender that feels costly. The tide does not always turn easily. I found myself thinking of C. S. Lewis: “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” That truth rests heavy in a story where justice feels pressing and mercy feels undeserved.

Braden’s steadiness anchors the shifting waters. His protectiveness and devotion to family give weight to every choice he makes. When he tells Cressida, “God answered our prayers,” the simplicity of that confession stands firm. In a story shaped by threat and suspicion, that acknowledgment of God’s hand feels sincere and grounded.

The Washington coastline is rendered with vivid depth … mist, crashing surf, shadowed coves. The cover captures that depth beautifully, the shifting blues and shadowed mist reflecting the unseen currents moving through the story. The pacing rises and falls like the sea itself, drawing the reader steadily forward.

I loved the characters, the layered plot, and the way past and present press against each other. Secrets surface. Motives shift. What has been pushed down rises, and the heart must respond.

Deadly Currents brings the Hidden Bay series to a close with atmosphere and emotional weight. Readers who appreciate coastal suspense, driven heroines, protective heroes, and stories where forgiveness becomes the truest current will find much to engage them here.

I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing and the story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.