Decompression - Softcover

"Zeh's award-winning thriller climaxes with a scene of splendid drama" (Guardian)

"Deftly translated by John Cullen... Zeh plays with our expectations throughout... Like The Method, this is a story about obsession – this time with status, looks, and celebrity culture" (Independent)

"Erotic intrigue, deep-sea diving and clients from hell make for a lively mix...The gathering suspense is complemented by nuanced characterization in a pleasingly unpredictable work" (Kirkus Reviews)

Jola is a beautiful and privileged soap star who wants very much to be taken seriously; her partner Theo is a middle-aged author with writers’ block. In an attempt to further her career, Jola is determined to land the lead role in a new film about underwater photographer and model Lotte Hass.

To improve her chances, the couple travel to Lanzarote and hire diving instructor Sven, paying him a large sum for exclusive tuition. Sven is meticulously planning his most ambitious expedition yet – to an untouched wreck 100 metres down on the ocean floor. Diving calls for a cool head and, as a sinister love triangle develops, events rapidly get out of hand. But whose story do we trust - Sven's or Jola's?

Deliciously claustrophobic, smart, and unrelentingly intense, this psychological thriller with shades of Patricia Highsmith will leave readers gasping for air.