“Whale Fall” weaves a foreboding and electrifying tale, gripping its readers and pulling them into the story from the first page. Even before the main character reaches the ocean, there is an undercurrent of apprehension that builds, hinting that something lies waiting in the waters – daring the reader to turn the page and discover what it is, and confront whatever horrors, or transformations await them.
Published in 2023, author Daniel Kraus’ “Whale Fall,” tells the fictional story of a young boy who decides to go diving alone off of Monastery Beach, near Point Lobos, just south of Carmel, in search of the remains of his dead father.
Jay Gardiner is a teenager who is grappling with the recent death of his father Mitch Gardiner–who was a well-known and respected figure, and diver in the Monterey community. For the past few years, their relationship had been strained if not non-existent as unwavering pressures, emotional distance and expectations placed on Jay forced him away from the father he grew up with.
The story takes a sharp turn as during his dive, an event Jay has done hundreds of times before, he encounters a giant squid. At first in awe of the creature, rarely seen by divers, that awe soon turns to terror as the squid is attacked by a sperm whale. In the subsequent battle, the squid latches onto Jay and is then swallowed by the sperm whale, with Jay pulled into its depths along with it.
Jay is then forced to desperately try and survive as his dwindling hour of oxygen runs down, and he is plagued with physical trials in the stomach of the great whale, as well as psychological ones as he begins to unravel both from the trauma of the situation, as well as his impending mortality forcing him to battle with the events of his past and come to grips with the terms of his father’s death.
The novel is a page-turning, gripping story that provides the reader with not only the sense of thrill coming from the immense trial Jay has to face, but also a moment forced to stop and reflect on the relationships we have with those close to us, and the parallels between a father and son.
Set in a setting familiar to most Cal State Monterey Bay students, the story sets a scene that is not only thrilling but will have you looking at the area around you, and the waters next to us in a new way.
A relatively fast read of only 336 pages, the novel was initially received with high praise, earning its spot amongst the list of “Best Thrillers of 2023” by the New York Times as well as positive reviews in other magazines such as Paste Magazine. This story is a great choice for anyone looking for a new thriller, as well as a look into the relationship between a father and son.