Reviews – Beyond the Grate

Recipient of the 2023 Global Book Awards Silver Medal in Suspense Thrillers and 2023 American Fiction Awards Finalist in General Thrillers!!

I often felt the panic and intensity of the situation and had to stop reading to get my bearings and remind myself that it was only a book. – Anthony M. Harrington, author of Lamb of God

Beyond the Grate by Rob Neto is a fast-paced thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. – Joel Silverstein, author of several mixed gas diving manuals and producer Shark Night, Pirahna 3D, and Lake Mead

It doesn’t matter if you are a diver, fascinated by it like me, or just like a good “coming of age” story of sorts with a mystery wrapped around it, you’ll enjoy this one. – Steve Grobschmidt, author of the Gramma Trita Trilogy

The story thread is skillfully woven, creating a web of suspense and intrigue. What captivated me even more was the fact that the actual incident that inspired the story remains unresolved. This intriguing void allowed the author’s creativity to express itself freely, giving birth to a series of captivating events that unfold in a fluid manner. – Laurent Miroult, World-renowned cave diving photographer.

The dead body floating on the other side is more than enough to dissuade his progress, and his awkward fight to the surface with his oxygen tanks nearly depleted is claustrophobic and anxiety ridden. It is scenes like this where Rob Neto really shines. An expert diver himself, Neto really knows how to take his readers to the murky yet wondrous depths. – Darin Miller, author of The Dwayne Morrow Mystery Series

From Amazon

I’ve been to and beyond the grate from the story and felt like I was there in person again with his descriptions. – Amazon review

I found myself holding my breath in suspense as Joey finds himself in a variety of dangerous situations. – Amazon review

I found myself unable to put it down. – Amazon review

The author’s depth of subject knowledge of diving provides an impressive and thrilling environment for the story. – Amazon review

Rob’s experience as a diver shines through the book. – Amazon review

I found myself thinking, “well, maybe this fictional account isn’t all that that far from the truth” as I sped through my copy in two days. – Amazon review

From Facebook

Started last night and I am having trouble putting it down! An awesome first novel! – Facebook review

Inspired by a true event, the story takes on an authentic and gripping quality that will keep you engaged from start to finish. – Facebook review

Crazy stuff and very well written. I can’t remember reading something as exciting as this, it’s been a very long time for sure. – Direct Message review

Full Reviews

From Amazon

Dive into this one!
Reviewed in the United States

Beyond the Grate by Rob Neto Author is a taut psychological thriller set against the backdrop of Florida’s SCUBA diving community. The novel tells the story of a young man named Joey who finds himself in a perilous situation while attempting to help recover a body he discovered on a solo dive.

Rob Neto is at his best when writing about the actual diving and the many obstacles Joey encounters as a novice. From rookie errors to just plain poor judgment and an unrelenting and alien environment, this book delivers a claustrophobic gut punch that will leave you squirming.

The book is told entirely from Joey’s point of view in the third person. As such, he occupies every page of the book, and though he is in peril more times than not, the tension is diminished knowing that as long as he is the lens through which the events are being told, he will make it out alive. Not unscathed, but alive. This is to the detriment of building suspense. It would have been great for a POV shift to keep readers on their toes.

The character of Joey is ridiculously obtuse. Perhaps the lens in his diving mask is rose-colored, causing him to completely overlook the glaring red flags popping up around him. He goes through two harrowing dives, one resulting in a turn of events that would have even the most oblivious person questioning every choice they made. Instead, Joey simply forgets about it and continues his life as if nothing happened. This is not weak writing but starkly contrasts the gritty realism of the dives.

Of the supporting cast, we have Joey’s parents, who truly just serve to remind the reader that Joey owes them money and that he should be working instead of diving. Joey is a kid, only nineteen years old, and his priorities and sensibilities are not that of a mature adult, which is often infuriating, especially as things escalate and he finds himself in a much more dangerous situation than simply screwing up on dives.

Then there is Earl, a shadowy and unscrupulous presence whose love for the bottom dollar leads him to take extreme measures to protect his investment in the dive shop. Earl is described as unsavory and potentially dangerous but comes across as a high-school bully who never managed to shed that aesthetic. I expected the reasoning behind his presence in the novel to be more nefarious than it ultimately ends up being. His storyline wraps up rather unceremoniously and too neatly.

Lindsey, the young dive shop employee turned Joey’s love interest is cute and charming despite her penchant for the word “sweetie.” She is introduced and disappears early, only appearing in the final act as a sort of deus ex machina.

I am trying to figure out what the story is about. It mixes The Deep by Peter Benchley and a teen drama, but they only partially coalesce. Instead, the disparate parts occupy their own spaces, with the dramatic aspects needing to be stronger.

Which brings me to the best parts of the book. The diving scenes are captivating and deftly written, so you don’t need to know anything about diving to fully appreciate what is happening. Neto knows what he is doing here and organically incorporates what you need into the exposition and narrative. The strongest aspect of the story is the ease with which he crafts these scenes and presents them succinctly. I often felt the panic and intensity of the situation and had to stop reading to get my bearings and remind myself that it was only a book.

The dives are the true star of the book, and boy does Neto deliver. It would be unrealistic to have an entire novel take place in a dive, so we must wade through the less exhilarating filler until we find ourselves back in the water with Joey.

The stark difference between the dive scenes and the land-based drama feels like it was written by two different people or in two different eras. I’m unsure if there was a long time between writing the distinct parts and merging them or if Neto simply enjoyed writing the diving scenes more and spent more time crafting them.

Though intense and frightening, this book is surprisingly PG-13. There’s no profanity worth mentioning, no sexual content aside from a single kiss, and no violence happening directly “in scene”. This makes the book great for a middle school audience onward.

I thoroughly enjoyed the diving aspects, so much so that I breezed through the entire book in a single afternoon. Beyond the Grate should be read, if only for these scenes alone. Grab a beach towel, take a deep breath, and dive in. Remember to come up for air because this one takes your breath away.

Such a “grate” read!!!
Reviewed in the United States

I absolutely loved the book… from the description of the diving to the story and characters, I loved it all! The author’s tremendous knowledge base makes for a well written story that represents real life close calls that are encountered by new or inexperienced divers when they push limits. I’ve been to and beyond the grate from the story and felt like I was there in person again with his descriptions. Without spoiling the story, it is one of my new favorites! I can’t wait to read what Neto comes up with next!

entertaining read
Reviewed in the United States

As a scuba diver myself, I really enjoyed reading this story. It’s well written and gives the reader a sense of being underwater with Joey. A valuable lesson in not diving beyond your training.

A gripping tale inspired by true events.
Reviewed in the United States (also on Goodreads)

The relatable characters in Beyond the Grate find themselves tangled in situations above and below the water. The story is loosely based on the actual disappearance of a diver in one of the many crystal-clear Florida spring’s cavern or cave. The main character Joey is a good-natured young man who only wants to learn how to scuba dive. He is inexplicably caught up in a web of deceit and crime thanks to being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I found myself holding my breath in suspense as Joey finds himself in a variety of dangerous situations. Each dive Joey makes, he gets better at surviving an underwater world in which so few have dared to venture. I also found myself cheering for Joey even when he makes decisions that call his morality into question.

The addition of a strong female character named Lindsey, provides a seemingly pivotal respite to Joey as he struggles to handle the decisions he must make. Like everything else in Joey’s life, his relationship with Lindsey becomes more complicated as the two worlds become intertwined.

No better time than the present to read a truly gripping novel as Joey’s summer keeps getting hotter and hotter. I look forward to seeing what Joey experiences in the next book.

***Note for parents*** I would give this book to any of my teenage family members to read. It does make references to death, but no foul language or sexual situations.

Very Enjoyable Book for Everyone, Not Just Cave Divers
Reviewed in the United States

You don’t have to be a cave diver to enjoy this book. Whether you are an experienced cave diver, a brand new open water diver, or just someone who enjoys adventuring, this book is worth the read.

Beyond the Grate
Reviewed in the United States

Congratulations to Rob Neto for an amazing job on his first novel. I found myself unable to put it down. Most novelists writing about scuba diving or especially cave diving get so much wrong that it can be very frustrating to read. Not so with Rob Neto. Rob is obviously a very knowledgeable cave diver and it comes through in his writing. If Rob ever has another novel coming out, I will be first in line to order it. -Tim Corwin

Rob Goes All Out
Reviewed in the United States

Beyond the Grate by Rob Neto is a fast-paced thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. The story follows Joey Simmons, a young man new to scuba diving but quickly drawn into the dangerous world of underwater exploration. When Joey makes an unexpected discovery, he finds himself in over his head and forced to lie to everyone he cares about to protect them.

Neto does a masterful job of creating suspense and keeping the reader guessing. The plot twists are unexpected and well-executed, and the characters are complex and believable. The setting of the underwater caves is both beautiful and terrifying, and Neto does a great job of bringing it to life.

If you’re looking for a thrilling read that will keep you guessing until the end, Beyond the Grate is definitely worth checking out. I highly recommend it.

Here are some specific things I liked about the book:

The suspense was well-done. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, wondering what was going to happen next. The plot twists were unexpected and well-executed. I never saw them coming!
The characters were complex and believable. I could really relate to Joey and his struggles. The setting of the underwater caves was both beautiful and terrifying. I felt like I was right there with Joey, exploring the caves. Overall, I really enjoyed Beyond the Grate. It’s a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller with well-developed characters and a beautiful setting. I highly recommend it to fans of the genre.

I read Beyond the Grate on my Kindle over two plane rides coast to coast. Once you get into it you don’t want to put it down.

Joel Silverstein

Loved it, looking forward to future works
Reviewed in the United States

As a diver myself I enjoyed the story that Rob has pened. I can’t wait to see what future works Rob releases!

Intense and intriguing story
Reviewed in the United States

Fast paced storyline about a young man who immersed himself in a new world. His discoveries are complex and intense. The suspense continues and develops with new relationships to an unexpected conclusion. The parallel to a real story gives an intriguing fictional account. The author’s depth of subject knowledge of diving provides an impressive and thrilling environment for the story.

Entertaining and factually accurate cave diving story
Reviewed in the United States

Inspired by the real life disappearance of Ben McDaniel in Vortex Spring, Rob Neto’s fictional account of a new diver who gets caught up in a similar incident is entertaining and enjoyable. As a Cave Diver, I cringe when subjected to pathetic attempts by non-diving authors to write about diving. Rob Neto is a well respected cave diver who has previously authored an excellent guide to side-mount diving. His descriptions of the dive scenes in “Beyond the Grate” are accurate and realistic. And, as someone who has been intrigued by the Ben McDaniel disappearance, I found myself thinking, “well, maybe this fictional account isn’t all that that far from the truth” as I sped through my copy in two days. Thanks for writing this one Rob! I look forward to the sequel. For anyone wanting to learn more about the Ben McDaniel case, you may wish to view the documentary, “Ben’s Vortex”.

Suspenseful and Fun
Reviewed in the United States

I was drawn to this book because, while I never became a diver, I was always fascinated by it. As a little kid, I was mesmerized by the adventures of Jacques Cousteau and his crew. My brothers got into scuba diving and I lived vicariously through them. Anyway, diving and sea exploration has remained super cool and interesting to me. That’s why I decided to give this a read.

What I really like about the author’s style is that he does a great job explaining the terminology and activities around diving, but not in an overly technical way. It’s approachable and easy to understand. I appreciated that. There are multiple dive sequences in this book that the author finds a way to make unique each time.

The protagonist Joey is a young man who want to shake and say “Use your head!” and yet is endearing in his earnestness. As he gets caught up in something that spirals out of his control, he’s just trying to do right. I was really pulling for the guy. The resolution of the story didn’t go the way I had expected either.

All in all, I breezed through this book because it kept me interested to see what would happen next. It doesn’t matter if you are a diver, fascinated by it like me, or just like a good “coming of age” story of sorts with a mystery wrapped around it, you’ll enjoy this one. Looking forward to what’s next.

An exceptional book highly recommended
Reviewed in France

Translated by Amazon
As a diving enthusiast myself, I enjoyed reading this novel immensely. The author has extensive knowledge of cave diving, which resonated deeply with me. I am also familiar with many of the locations featured. So the story evoked a flood of cherished memories, transporting me again to the exhilarating moments and innumerable emotions that accompany cave diving and explorations in these unique settings. With the author’s proven skills, the meticulous descriptions bear witness to his expertise and are, to the limit, imbued with an educational touch. However, it was the compelling storyline and the engaging characters that deeply seduced me and really made this book shine. The story thread is skillfully woven, creating a web of suspense and intrigue. What captivated me even more was the fact that the actual incident that inspired the story remains unresolved. This intriguing void allowed the author’s creativity to express itself freely, giving birth to a series of captivating events that unfold in a fluid manner. Although I approached the book initially with a measured pace, I was quickly in control of the story. In the space of only two days, I devoured more than two-thirds of its contents. My ardent wish is that we don’t have to wait long for a sequel. Whether you are an experienced diver or just a fan of compelling stories, I can only recommend that you dive into the pages of Rob Neto’s latest book, “The Grate.”

Suspenseful!
Reviewed in the United States

This book was action packed! I am not a scuba diver but I was able to understand the suspenseful diving sequences due to the authors excellent and descriptive writing.
I enjoyed the book. I would have liked to have more insight into Joey’s internal dialogue and how he justified his actions in the book. He didn’t seem morally conflicted by what he was doing. That bothered me. The dead scuba diver wasn’t really regarded as a person with a family and a life. I feel like his perspective would have added another layer to the story. Overall, a really fun read! I’m looking forward to the next book.

Outstanding First Novel
Reviewed in the United States

Excellent narrative development and beautiful prose make this first novel from Rob Neto an outstanding accomplishment. This suspenseful adventure story has so much to offer its readers. Bravo, Mr. Neto. I’m looking forward to reading more.

Don’t be a Joey…safety rules exist for a reason!
Reviewed in the United States

The story literally starts with bated breath as its young protagonist, Joey Simmons, sets the general tone for his character by playing fast and loose with scuba diving safety protocols he has only just barely learned. He decides to dive solo, which isn’t particularly advisable at his current level of experience, but you get the sense that Joey doesn’t have many friends who share his obsession with deep sea diving—in fact, I’m not sure Joey has many friends, period. He seems like a complete loner who works only as much as necessary to feed his diving habit and repay his parents for loans he consistently manages to talk them into when everything always costs more than he anticipates.

On this particular dive, Joey decides to investigate a cave, the deeper parts of which have been cordoned off by a metal grate warning of dire consequences should divers choose to ignore them. Joey doesn’t need the sign to warn him off. The dead body floating on the other side is more than enough to dissuade his progress, and his awkward fight to the surface with his oxygen tanks nearly depleted is claustrophobic and anxiety ridden. It is scenes like this where Rob Neto really shines. An expert diver himself, Neto really knows how to take his readers to the murky yet wondrous depths.

The story loses a bit of steam when on land, however, as Joey consistently demonstrates a lack of basic common sense. Where most folks unfortunate enough to encounter a dead body would alert the authorities, Joey allows the alcoholic manager of the scuba park, Earl, bully him into not only keeping quiet, but assisting in the removal of the body, under the guise of preserving the park’s reputation and thriving business. Why Joey doesn’t do an end run around this lunatic and dial 9-1-1, I can’t for the life of me imagine, but once he’s on board with the plan, he’s really stuck. He has good reason to fear being complicit in tampering with a crime scene, and things only get worse when Earl turns up at his house looking for him. As Joey’s consistently bad luck would have it, his mother went to school with Earl and disapproves of her son having anything to do with this shady character.

The only thing Joey seems to have going for him is his crush on a young lady who works at the surf shop in the park and seems to like him—he thinks. He’s no more sure of that than he is of anything else. There are many times you’d like to grab Joey by his shoulders and just shake the snot out of him. After he and Lindsey buddy up on a couple of dives, she ends up drawn into this whole mess with Earl too, and extricating themselves from Earl’s clutches becomes a top priority.

This story was inspired by true events, and I have to admit, based on the book’s synopsis, this wasn’t exactly what I expected. I thought it would be more of a white-knuckle thriller versus a young adult drama, but Neto moves things along at a brisk pace, reaching a resolution I admittedly saw coming just a little before I maybe should have. As this is the first in a series featuring Joey and Lindsey, I sincerely hope that Joey develops a bit more of a backbone in subsequent volumes. As is, his total lack of confidence and gullibility is a bit off-putting. Where the story is at its best is when the action takes us beneath the sea, and it will be interesting to see where Neto takes his characters next.

Suspenseful!
Reviewed in the United States

I was glued to the pages!
Reviewed in the United States

Rob did a fantastic job with this book! Although it was a work of fiction, many of his examples and situations are very accurate to what diving is actually like. Especially diving “over your head” (pun intended) for a newer diver to be thrown into situations he wasn’t trained or prepared for. His style of writing was fun and thrilling. I stayed late at work just to finish part one! Great book! Definitely recommend for divers and non divers alike! I can’t wait for the sequel! Thanks Rob!

A story that weaves together suspense, intrigue, fear, love, and scuba diving!
Reviewed in the United States

I found Rob Neto’s “Beyond the Grate” to be a highly enjoyable and suspenseful read. As an aside: I am an avid scuba and cave diver I have had my share of “oh crap” moments (some worse than others), so the story speaks to me. I dove “Eddy” (Vortex) and Morrison Springs many years ago, and grew up in Northwest Florida, so I was reading about things and places that were familiar and accurately described. As you have probably already read, the story is a fictionalized version of an actual story, one that still baffles the diving community.

Rob has a gift for being able to evoke powerful feelings and imagery with his writing. From Joey, the fumbling newly-minted scuba diving protagonist’s early adventures into Eddy Springs, to his harrowing later interactions with the evil Earl, all combined to create a powerful narrative. Rob’s storytelling keeps the reader off-balance: something suspenseful happens, followed by tales of Joey’s everyday life with his parents and his newfound girl “friend,” all of which were deftly weaved into the story and added dimensionality to each of the characters and believability to the story. I could “feel” what was happening to Joey, which I think is the hallmark of a good story. I was invested in Joey, I wanted to cheer him on as well as cringe when he made a misstep.

While reading Beyond, I tried to think of how a non-scuba diver would read the story, and I think Rob did an excellent job of describing the ins and outs of diving and equipment, underwater environments, and fears that run through new divers’ heads, but not in a pedantic way. None of that ever took away from the story, and indeed served as a mini-tutorial as to how diving works. I am looking forward to reading Rob’s next book. Good job.

Beyond the Grate
Reviewed in the United States

This an outstanding read. This novel is a really fun ride. It is a nice change reading a story from an author that actually knows what he is talking about when talking about medical issues along with diving. This is a fun fast read. I’m looking forward to the further adventures of Joey and Lindsey. Here’s to him not ending up with getting the bends.

Scuba diving thriller
Reviewed in the United States

If you like to root for the underdog and enjoy the water this book is for you. Joey Simmons is a 19 year old misfit and novice scuba diver, living with and in fear of, his parents. When a routine practice dive turns into something far more sinister, Joey’s passive nature leads him into co-conspirator status with a local ne’er-do-well. A chance meeting with scuba instructor Lindsey Carter turns into romance as the pair attempts to disentangle Joey from his involvement in a criminal act. Will Joey escape the police investigation? Will the local thug throw Joey under the bus to save himself? Will Joey get the girl? Pretty nice twist at the end answers these questions but leaves a bit of a cliff-hanger for the follow-up in what will be a series.

A sweet love story amidst a thriller with a nasty villain, can you say suspense?
Reviewed in the United States

This well told story, yanked me into a world below the surface. Joey is a likeable character who struggles with insecurity and somehow pulls off life threatening feats of accidental skill. The diving information is fascinating, but I’m still a chicken to learn, claustrophobia wouldn’t mix well with diving, especially in a cave.

When Lindsey enters the picture it becomes a sweet story between them, though their budding friendship is overshadowed by a bad man. A man with a bad reputation that he quickly reveals to be quite just.

I truly enjoyed this story which is the furthest thing from my own comfort zone. It’s told in a way that keeps the details interesting and the suspense is heart pounding at times. I think this book would make a great action-adventure/thriller movie. I’m looking forward to the next story as Joey’s diving skills increase and his relationship with Lindsey grows.

I think the author, Rob Neto, made the right choice branching into fiction novels. I highly recommend Beyond the Grate to any lover of suspenseful thrillers, this one is action packed!

Good written, interesting to read it.
Reviewed in Spain

I started the book today. I like the way how it is written.
And I am sure, everybody knows a guy like Joey….
I am curious to continue it. I already can recommend it!

From Goodreads

Reviewed in the United States

Not the story I expected but was a great read.

From Facebook

Whether you have a passion for diving or are simply an avid reader, I highly recommend Rob Neto’s latest book, “The Grate.” This novel offers a thrilling blend of suspense and underwater action, all set against the backdrop of the beautiful Panhandle in North West Florida. Inspired by a true event, the story takes on an authentic and gripping quality that will keep you engaged from start to finish.

One of the book’s settings, Morrison Springs, comes to life through vivid descriptions that transport you to this captivating location. For a glimpse of the real-life inspiration behind the story, I’ve included some pictures of Morisson Springs. These images provide a visual connection to the novel’s setting and enhance the overall reading experience.

In essence, “The Grate” promises an exciting adventure, making it a worthwhile addition to your reading list, whether you’re a diver or simply someone who enjoys a compelling tale.

From a DM from a friend who would be brutally honest if he didn’t like it.