The UNDERCURRENT Series is currently enjoying its second book of at least three books in the series. What started this whole thing was talk of the craziness of Baltimore, and what would happen to the city if the oceans were to rise and flood the whole place. I think there might have been some reports on global warming on the TV in the cafeteria where I was having lunch back in 2014 or so when this story started forming. But, as it happens, one thing leads to another, and before you know it, there’s a dome over the whole place.
When I started really thinking through how all this would work, I realized that there would surely be conflict over how things are run in a closed environment such as a dome. If someone controls the imports and exports, then surely someone else will think they can do it better. If the government manages their budgets, and does the things they need to do to keep the city running, then there will be someone else who believes themselves better at it. And that was when I got the bright idea that the services in a dome would be different than those of a surface city, and there must be a group trying to gain control of those services. The Wave is born.
In UNDERCURRENT, the first book, we are introduced to The Wave after their failed attempts to legitimately gain control of the city’s government through the dome ministerial elections. Out of desperation, they start a campaign to discredit the incumbents. They will cause accidents through sabotage of the city’s vital systems, drawing the attention of the population, and then highlighting how those in power can’t seem to stop what The Wave claims are careless accidents. The problem is, it works.
A group of people whose livelihood depends on those services begins to notice, and they band together to work with the government to help prevent the accidents. But they start to realize, they might not be accidents after all. Suspicion builds against The Wave, but they don’t have the proof, and they aren’t able to convince the dome minister that these are more than accidents. Now, they can’t risk being found out, so they operate secretly. The Undercurrent is born. Our story begins!
Undercurrent — Book One
After the great floods, the world’s coastal cities survived by building huge domes that kept them safe from the rising waters, but they couldn’t protect them from political upheaval. The Wave Party’s leader Saxon Cole is trying to wrest control of the government. A deadly explosion in the underwater city of Aquataine causes a mass evacuation to the surface, and the secretive group known as the Undercurrent suspects sabotage.
When one of the Undercurrent’s senior officers is viciously attacked for what he knows, his nephew, sixteen-year-old Phelan Maxwell, is compelled to act. But even the resourceful Phelan have expected the adventure he was about to embark on. Ariana Torrent, the confident and smart girl he meets during the evacuation, offers her support. It’s a good thing too, because Phelan underestimates just how dangerous Cole’s men can be.
Here’s what some of my readers have said about UNDERCURRENT:
“Gifted with lively, likable characters and a fast-paced plot, this novel takes you deep into an alternate world in the way that only science fiction can.”
“…it was the well-developed characters that kept me turning the pages.”
342 pages. ISBN: 9781794008267 — Release Date: 11 February 2019 (Paperback) and 10 February 2019 (Kindle eBook)
Rise of the Wave – Book Two of the UNDERCURRENT Series
Just as the people of Aquataine are recovering from the sabotage that threatened their underwater city, they are forced to endure yet another unspeakable tragedy. And now, the dome minister’s son Joshua has been kidnapped, held hostage by someone with agents inside the Aquataine government. Could the Wave really be back?
Seventeen-year-old Phelan Maxwell, who helped put away Saxon Cole’s radical Wave activists for sabotaging the city’s infrastructure, returns home to find his uncle meeting with the dome minister. Desperate to get his son back, the dome minister seeks the help of the secretive Undercurrent. Phelan vows to find a lead to where his son is being held.
He’ll find much more than that, and he’s going to need help. Fortunately, his friend Destyn Albright is up to the challenge. But have they thought through what they’ll do if they are able to find Joshua, or how they’ll get away?
Here’s what some of my readers have said about RISE OF THE WAVE:
“Thank you Michael Crowl for another exciting adventure with Phelan, Destyn, and Ariana in the futuristic underwater world you have created. The characters personalities, the detailed description of the underwater facilities, and the intriguing plot make this book a true treasure. I am looking forward to the next escapade.”
“Part an adventure story and part a crime solving “who done it” story, what makes this and the previous book different is where it all takes place. The setting is the futuristic underwater city of Aquataine, which Mr. Crowl brings to life with rich detail. These are great little stories and well-worth the read.”
301 pages. ISBN-13: 979-8618968317— Release Date: 4 March 2020 (Paperback) and 6 March 2020 (Kindle eBook)
Raging Torrent – Book Three of the UNDERCURRENT Series
Phelan Maxwell and his friends helped send several key figures in the Wave to the underwater prison dome. Yet, their ringleader Sam Rathbone has not only evaded capture, but he’s also increased his illegal drug operations.
But when he implicates Ariana Torrent’s mother to take the police off his trail, he’s unaware that he’s put his entire operation in jeopardy. Phelan needs to bust the drug operations, but with corruption still rampant in the police force, it’s up to Phelan, Destyn, and Ariana to pull strong evidence together.
Phelan’s tenacity will take him to a floating city where he’ll get assistance from the Daughters of Poseidon, one of the Undercurrent’s affiliates. With all the pieces coming together, will this finally be enough to bring about the end for Rathbone?
“The third book (and I think the best so far) in the Undercurrent Series by author Mike Crowl, this riveting tale continues the adventures of Phelan Maxwell and friends as they continue to root out crime and corruption in the underwater domed city of Aquataine. This is a crime drama that happens to take place in a futuristic underwater city circa 2137 (the first book opens in 2135, the second in 2136). The technologies that Mr. Crowl has developed for use in this future world are totally believable and add to the story line, but this is really a story about people and relationships and over the three books Mike has done a good job of developing the characters and their relationships. All-in-all a very good read which more than held my interest and kept me anxious to come back to it to see what would happen next and how situations would resolve.”
From “Donald” on Amazon, 13 February 2022
446 pages. ISBN-13: 979-8796018897 — Release Date: 28 January 2022 (Paperback) and 2022 (Kindle eBook)
Cupid’s Arrow
A delicious hot latte that is served by Annie at All About the Bean coffee shop in the Public Services Dome. I made it up for the book, but I think you should know that this one is available at Starbuck’s, and it’s delicious. It’s also very sweet, but since it could be connected with Valentine’s Day or a special occasion, why shouldn’t it be?
- Start with a White Chocolate Mocha Latte of your favorite size.
- Add Raspberry Syrup
- Whipped Cream
- Mocha Drizzle
- Raw Sugar Sprinkles
Aquacchino
Here’s another drink that Annie cooked up when Phelan and Ariana stopped at her coffee shop, All About the Bean. This one involves coconut, so you’ll have to head over to Dunkin’ Donuts to get a taste of this one. As you’ve probably guessed, this one is a hot cappuccino, and it is also delicious.
- Request your favorite size Cappuccino
- Add Coconut Syrup
- Mocha Drizzle
Keep close to this page, as I’ll be putting background here relating to my upcoming book, Undercurrent.
Michael Crowl - Author 