Underwater
by Vi E. Geary
Released: Jul 16, 2026
Genre: Mystery
Why this book and why now?
Originally, I was inspired by listening to a lot of “Rizzoli and Isles” audiobooks while working over the summer. I thought it would be cool if their was a detective series where the main character wasn’t just a woman, but a queer woman. The idea really solidified for me when I started watching “Bosch” based on the novels by Michael Connelly, and I knew then and there that I wanted to create something with that sort of feeling. Thing was, I also wanted to provide commentary on issues I felt were important.
There’s so much going on in the world that I wanted to do all this while going back to a time when life was much more simple for me, when I was younger. Life, of course, has never been simple, no matter what period of time you go back to, but as a kid I wasn’t worrying about a lot of it. I guess setting it in 2002 was a way for me to explore these topics in a different lens and educate people on things they may not have known. I wanted to let the audience view the societal issues in question from a different time and perspective. In a lot of ways, we see things regressing almost as much as they’re progressing, and it’s important to be reminded of where we were even two decades ago. People might read some of the stuff in these books and go, “Woah, really? Was that actually a thing back then?” And there will always be two possible responses:
“Yes, it was, and we can’t let it get that bad again.” Or, “Yes, it was, and it still is.” The toughest topics to talk about are usually the ones that should be discussed. This series, in places, are likely to make certain readers uncomfortable, but in other places, they’re also meant to elicit hope.
Would you and your main character(s) get along?
I think we would, but it would be hit or miss depending on the topic. As much as I loathe to admit it, we can both be a bit bullheaded when it comes to things we feel truly passionate about. I have a feeling we’d be good at reeling each other in and holding each other accountable, though Gale definitely has a harder time apologizing.
Did any real-life events or personal experiences influence the story?
Absolutely. For each book in the series there are certain themes. This first book focuses on mental health awareness and stigmatization, and I’ve battled a good number of the things that Gale does in this book, so it was personal experience that determined how she would react to some of these things, along with a fair bit of research.
How does it feel to finally share this book with readers?
Nerve-wracking. If I’m being honest, I’m more nervous about this series than my debut. “Love In Stasis” (my debut) was easier to market because of the romance heavy plot. It still delt with some difficult topics such as grief and loss, but at the end of the day, the focus was almost entirely on the characters and how they responded to the situation and the investigation, and not on the investigation itself. This book is different. While there is romance planned down the line in the series, this book doesn’t have a romance. It is solely focused on this detective, who happens to be a lesbian, dealing with these mental health struggles while doing her job and hunting down this serial killer that’s threatening people in her community.
I essentially had to relearn how to market this book from the ground up. It’s a completely different audience, and a smaller audience. I don’t know if it will land as many readers, but I think (hope) that the people who do read it and are interested in the neo-noir vibe will thoroughly enjoy it.
Is there anything you wish readers knew before diving into this book?
I don’t think I actually say it in the book, but for those that are unaware: “unsub” means “unknown subject” and is used when referring to an unknown perpetrator of a crime during an investigation.
Which character do you relate to the most, and why?
For me, it was quite easy to relate to Gale. She’s not a hero, she’s just a person. She makes mistakes and tries to do the right thing, even if sometimes she goes about it in the completely wrong way. Gale’s biggest critic is herself, and whenever she messes up, there’s this urge to linger and dwell on it. She learns from her mistakes, but at the same time, is so relentless in her self-condemnation that it hinders her growth and wellbeing. I can definitely relate to that.
Were there any scenes or characters that surprised you as you wrote?
The chapter which contains the climax of the story surprised me quite a bit. I can’t go into more details than that without spoiling it, but there was one particular part I teared up writing.
Which character was the most fun to write, and which was the hardest?
Florence, the medicolegal death examiner (MDI) was a joy to write. She has this sassy and upbeat attitude that flies right off the page. The hardest I think might have been Luis, Gale’s partner. He’s a forty-year-old detective who’s been with the police for about twenty years or so, and there are things about Gale that he just doesn’t quite understand, but he wants to. He has no problem with her sexuality, but his ability to handle her mental health struggles is lacking. He and Gale are both pretty emotionally stunted, so finding that balance between supportive and genuinely well-meaning, but also accidentally inflammatory from time to time was a bit tricky.
If your book were to be adapted into a movie or TV show, who would be your dream cast?
I love doing these, even if it does distract me from writing. It was important to me that the person who would play Gale would also be queer, to deeply connect with that part of her character. So the dream cast, as it stands, would be:
Gale Blue – Kathleen Munroe
Luis Perez – Wilmer Valderrama
Lieutenant Nathan Graham – Patrick St. Esprit
Gwen – Daisy Edgar-Jones
District Attorney Terrance Sampson – Don Cheadle
Ruby Vasquez – Gigi Zumbado
Publishing a book is a huge accomplishment and it’s time to party! Choose a celebratory beverage for one of your main characters to toast the release of your new book.
Gale’s drink would absolutely be whiskey.
What song does your character put on to start your book launch party?
I’ve imagined this one-thousand times as the opening theme for if there was a show. It would be “The Righteous & the Wicked” by The Red Hot Chili Peppers (which is also Gale’s favorite band).
If your book had an official mascot, what (or who) would it be?
I think it would for sure be a dobermann. I can’t say why yet, but trust me on this.
Do you outline your books in detail, or do you prefer to discover the story as you write?
I map out what each chapter will contain with vague entries. I find that it’s easier to stay on track and keep to my vision that way, even if minor changes need to be applied like fusing two chapters into one or completely removing a chapter altogether.
Were there any books, movies, or personal experiences that influenced this story?
Rizzoli and Isles and Bosch were definitely pretty big inspirations. Honestly, my biggest influence was simply staying informed about things, because it made me want to put out stories that touched on those topics, and it helped me learn a lot about certain issues along the way.
Do you have any writing rituals or habits?
I usually act out a scene after I’ve written it to make sure the dialogue flows well. It’s fun, and it makes me cry sometimes!
Who are your biggest literary influences?
That is an ever-changing list. So, I’d say right now, it would be Stieg Larsson, who wrote the original “Girl with the Dragon Dragon Tattoo” trilogy (it’s technically called the “Millennium” trilogy, but people rarely know what I’m talking about when I call it that). They are extremely dense books that deal with some very triggering topics, and they aren’t for everyone, but they were just real page turners for me. It was potentially the first time as I was reading a series that I could easily point out “This is what I’d do in my writing, and this is what I wouldn’t do,” and I think that’s truly a sign that you connected with an author’s particular style.
What are you currently reading?
Right now I am on book 5 of the Rizzoli and Isles series, “Vanish”. I’ve been resisting the urge to go back and reread Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, though.
