This is the first Goosebumps entry that doesn’t feel like a Goosebumps entry. I would describe this book more as an adventure or fantasy type story than horror. However, this book may still bring some deep trouble.

Synopsis:

Billy and Sheena are visiting their uncle, Dr. Deep. Wow, these names get better with every book, but I’ll hold off on making any jokes for now. Their uncle is a marine biologist who researchers exotic fish.

Billy and Sheena are out snorkeling. As they are snorkeling, Billy imagines himself as an adventurer, until he’s grabbed, and freaks out. It’s Sheena.

Billy swims back to the ship; The Cassandra. Which their ship is in the Caribbean Sea. Sheena also returns to the boat. Dr. Deep warns them about swimming too far away and different restricted areas which could be dangerous.

This is when we learn Dr. Deep goes by Dr. D. Maybe he’s the same type of doctor as Johnny Sins. Their visit on the boat doesn’t last long as they go swimming again.

Billy decides to swim far away from the boat, great, another genius level Goosebumps character. Billy thinks he’s been grabbed again, but it’s actually Sheena, maybe. There’s a bit of a lack of clarity.

Dr. D saves Billy. Sheena says she was the one who grabbed Billy, but Billy doesn’t believe her.

Then they go swimming again, wow, this doesn’t feel repetitive at all.

Billy and Sheena decide to race, so Billy decides to go to one of the restricted areas as a shortcut. This part of the sea is covered in red coral or fire coral.

This leads to Billy getting burned by the coral and freaking out. Luckily, he wasn’t cut by it. This is when, for a second time in a Goosebumps entry, R. L. Stine confuses poisonous and venomous and calls fire coral poisonous. So, I guess in this universe, as long as Billy doesn’t start eating it, he’ll be fine.

Dr. D then mentions he believes in mythical sea creatures. A true scientist, since science never requires proof before making a statement.

They then have lunch. Alexander DuBrow, the assistant to Dr. D, shows up with lunch prepared. Unfortunately, Alex isn’t much of a cook as he’s made chicken sandwiches that are 90% chili flakes, yummy.

Everyone decides to have cereal instead for lunch. Alex, must be a pretty bad cook.

Afterwards they all visit the sea lab, not to be confused with Sealab 2021. Dr. D is stressed about money and suggests the kids should go do some chores. Probably not a bad idea, since Billy keeps getting into deep trouble in the sea.

Then a boat shows up, it has a few people from a nearby zoo who have a favor to ask Dr. D. This can’t possibly be some whacky plot device. However, it is, and they want Dr. D to find them a mermaid. Okay.

The zoo people offer Dr. D One Million Dollars, I’m assuming it’s Dr. Evil making this offer. Dr. D is convinced by the offer to find a mermaid.

The zoo people notice Billy eavesdropping when Billy hits a door. They ask Billy to keep it a secret as they leave back to their boat.

That night, Billy goes night swimming to look for a mermaid, but it’s a dream, great, thanks Stine, I love these dream fake outs. Billy then goes night swimming to look for a mermaid. Huh? What is the plan?

He finds Sheena out swimming as well. They both swim towards the restricted area. Billy thinks he sees a mermaid at the red coral reef and swims towards it. Great, this definitely worked out well last time.

As he approaches, Billy notices he’s being circled by a shark. The shark then bumps into Billy. Billy freaks out and starts to swim towards the reef, while dodging the shark. How? I don’t think you can dodge a shark, this makes no sense.

Billy climbs onto the reef but is bitten and dragged down by the shark. Is Billy about to die? No, a fish shows up and fights the shark. Huh? What?

It’s actually a mermaid, which comes to Billy. The mermaid heals Billy’s wounds. Wow, Billy is really lucky in this book.

Dr. D shows up and nets both Billy and the mermaid. Dr. D is happy with this discovery. They then go to the sea lab and put the mermaid in a tank. As they go, Billy shares his story.

After getting everything situated and putting the mermaid in the tank, Billy has the genius idea to feed the mermaid a cookie. The mermaid ignores the cookie. Billy’s next plan is to save the mermaid, which I’m on Billy’s side, since the mermaid has been shown to be sentient as well as zoos sometimes not being the best or most humane thing for any animal.

Also, the mermaid doesn’t appear to be happy and considering the circumstances, who would be in that situation?

However, Billy is stopped by Dr. D. Alex then cooks more unappetizing food. This time he’s made a strange squid dish. Billy feeds the squid to the mermaid, which the mermaid enjoys.

Dr. D has contacted the zoo as well as gone to the store to get more food for the mermaid.

That night, Billy can’t sleep, kind of like the last night. He decides to wander the ship and sees another ship approaching.

Then Billy notices four masked men boarding their ship; Billy can see really well in the dark, I guess. Billy goes to see what’s going on and finds Dr. D has been beaten by the men. They are also in the process of kidnapping the mermaid.

Billy decides the best course of action is to charge at the four men, who also happen to be armed. This doesn’t go well for Billy as he gets thrown in to the tank the mermaid had previously resided in.

All hope seems lost with the mermaid they kidnapped from the sea now being kidnapped by another group; however, Alex arrives. Which would normally be a good thing, but in this case, Alex is working with the masked men. This would be a pretty big plot twist, unless you use deduction, which really only leaves Alex as the person to call the robbers about the mermaid.

Dr. D who has been beaten grabs onto Alex, but Alex is able to get away. This is when the robbers grab Dr. D and Sheena. Alex says to deal with them, which surprisingly in a Goosebumps book means murder.

The masked men lock Dr. D, Sheena, and Billy in a large tank. Then the men throw the tank into the ocean, great.

As the tank sinks below the sea, Sheena tries to use a barrette to open the tank. For obvious reasons, this doesn’t work.

Luckily, Stine is a fan of deus ex machina’s as a bunch of mermaids show up to save the trio. This is a bit surprising considering previously there had only been one mermaid suggested to exist.

The mermaids push the tank to the surface, which allows them to get back onto their ship. This is when Billy asks the mermaids to take them to the other ship.

Turns out, this is pretty easy, and the other ship hasn’t gotten that far away. When they approach the ship, Billy notices that the other mermaid is tied to the back of the ship.

The mermaids begin to set the other mermaid free, while the Deep’s watch from their ship. Then the kidnappers notice them, turns out ships aren’t completely silent.

The kidnappers are understandably confused how Billy, Sheena, and Dr. D are still alive. If you’re in the kidnappers’ shoes, this would be pretty shocking. The masked men decide that if their first murder attempt didn’t work out, they’ll just set the other ship on fire.

Dr. D starts to give the kids life jackets as he thinks they may have to abandon the ship. While this is happening, the mermaids are able to free the other mermaid.

The kidnappers from the other boat are able to reach down and grab Billy and Sheena. Which makes me wonder, how close are these boats? Neither boat has moved since they arrived, so did they just guide their boat right into the kidnappers’ boat?

Anyways Billy and Sheena are saved when the mermaids start to capsize the other boat. Dr. D, Sheena, and Billy are able to put the fire out and leave.

The next day, the family decide to keep the existence of mermaids a secret. Later, the people from the zoo show up, but Dr. D tells them there were no mermaids and they don’t exist. Even though the previous day Dr. D told them he found a mermaid, but the zoo people don’t question this change in story.

Before leaving, Billy wants to see the mermaids one last time. He goes swimming in a restricted area. Unfortunately, for Billy, he’s attacked by a sea creature instead. The book ends.

Review:

This Goosebumps entry lacks many of the horror elements the other books have. However, I think this works much better than I would have expected, especially after You Can’t Scare Me, which felt like a horror comedy gone wrong.

The book isn’t perfect, but it’s been better than the last few entries. The main problems being repetition that goes nowhere, the plot doesn’t get going until the halfway point, Billy is another protagonist with poor decision making, and a few plot holes or mistakes occur in the book.

I think the book does multiple things well. First, the plot is pretty decent, there’s some good stakes introduced, I think despite the plot being simple, it introduces some good ethical questions, once the plot gets going, it’s a pretty good read, and most of the characters are pretty interesting with Dr. D being a bit more nuanced than most previous Goosebumps characters.

This is a read where if you go in expecting it to be a horror novel you will be disappointed, but if you go in without expectations or enjoy adventure stories, this is actually pretty enjoyable. I can’t say this is one of the best Goosebumps books, but it’s also nowhere close to the worst.

I’ll give this Goosebumps entry a 6/10. Not bad, maybe a bit underrated if anything.

Twist ending:

It appears more mythical sea creatures exist.

Memorable line:

“Dr. D has always found a way to get by.” I’m sure he has.

Memorable moment, cliffhanger, etc:

Billy is such a fast swimmer, he’s able to outswim a shark. What?

Bad parenting:

We’re going to kidnap a mermaid and get a million bucks, ethics be damned.

Random references:

She-Ra, Titanic, and Aquaman. In Deep Trouble II, I sure hope they find Aquaman next, that would be a cool crossover.

Tropes in book:

Character is 12, sibling pair, staying with a relative, pranks, Sheena jump scare, crazy cliffhangers, a character has a ridiculous nickname (Dr. D), and twist ending.

TV tie-in:

None, funnily enough, this is another case where only the sequel got a Goosebumps episode. Luckily, I think the episode would have completely ham-fisted the story, so it’s not the worst.

Goosebumps episode: 0/10, doesn’t exist.

Come back soon for more Goosebumps fun and reviews.

To read the last Goosebumps review: https://goosebumpsblogger.com/goosebumps-18-monster-blood-ii/

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