In Brewer’s luminous novel, a vacationing couple in Mexico encounters much more than they expected.

Americans Bob and Kathy take a vacation in Mexico, seeing the sights and cavorting in the clear waters. Bob is an underwriter at Midland Mutual and Casualty Insurance Corporation (where Kathy is a secretary), and they use their time in Mexico as a refuge from the ugliness of Bob’s pending divorce from his wife, Carol. But that outside world interferes anyway when Bob learns that his divorce is going to gut him financially (“it’s the best deal you can possibly get,” he’s told). There’s low-key tension between Bob and Kathy—he constantly urges her to undertake tourist excursions as she tries to hold him back from his adventurous impulses—and as these conflicts grow more pronounced, Bob’s inner world begins to unravel as he starts to feel both desperately hopeless and strangely liberated. The quality of his thoughts changes, going from quotidian to cosmic: “Isn’t everyone a victim in the end, a sacrifice to sate the awful power that suffocates and drowns?” he wonders. “Who could escape it?” With judicious restraint, the author slowly and carefully conveys this personal change in Bob as the party-colored oblivious world continues all around him. Key to his transformation is a 9-year-old boy named Tomcruise Chel Ochoa (his first name is the result of his mother, Dolores, christening him after the actor; his middle name a reference to the Chel people, who are descendants of the Diving God, a figure from ancient Mayan mythology). Tomcruise wants Bob to teach him how to dive, and by steady measures, limned with deep sensitivity by Brewer, the boy draws Bob into his world and opens him to the possibility of a new life, “the chance to be better than he was and, for once, the chance to be of worth to someone – and to himself.” This story of personal reinvention is well crafted and often beautifully written, in the vein of Somerset Maugham and Graham Greene.

A moving and perceptive story about a man losing everything and finding a new life in Mexico.

Kirkus Indie, Kirkus Media LLC, 2600 Via Fortuna Suite 130 Austin, TX 78746 indie@kirkusreviews.com

Author Brian Ray Brewer’s The Diving God is an emotionally satisfying book centered around a man who almost loses himself after a series of draining relationships. He is confronted with choices but fails to make any work until he meets two ”outcasts” who extend to him a rare form of compassion.

Bob and his girlfriend Kathy are on vacation in Mexico and have been capitalizing on The Willard’s guide during their exploration of various tourist sites and hotels. The two love birds have been living together for several months though they have known each other for years. Kathy wants to settle down with Bob after the vacation but the latter is finding it difficult to move in with due to his constrained financial situation. While wrapping up their visit, the name “Temple of the Diving God” stands out from their guide, and for some reason, Bob is unable to resist a biting itch to explore the place.

Bob cunningly sneaks out of their hotel room early the next morning leaving Kathy fast asleep. He finds his way down to the Temple of the Diving God where he meets a young boy called Tom Cruise. Tom is in earnest expectation to learn how to dive skillfully and Bob is all ready to help him with a few diving lessons. Shortly after, he meets Ann Lau, a Danish woman who is also on vacation. Things move fast between them with both declaring an insatiable longing for each other’s company and love. Things however turn out differently from what Bob expected and he is left lost and broken. Amazingly, the person who can help his life get back on track is not only hated by society but can’t speak English as well.

This is one of the most logical, realistic, and believable tales out there which hits all the romance beats. It will push your emotions to the extreme with its unrelenting twists and turns, as well as its extreme tension and emotional conflict. The story has been told through the main character who surprisingly remains resilient in the face of numerous snags, as well as other well-hewn secondary characters who ably support the plot. The author follows the moral principle that good behavior is rewarded with unconditional love among other lessons which readers will find inspiring, flexible, and unique.

Readers will also love Brian Ray Brewer’s artistic creativity and imagination, his vivid sensory descriptions, and his viewpoint concerning love and life, which he exhibits while bringing out a whole different thought-provoking concept regarding kindness and empathy. The Diving God is a potential award winner and a must-read novel for ultimate escapism after a long day’s work.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Brian Ray Brewer's The Diving God follows the story of a man who has lost his sense of purpose and begins a journey of self-discovery. Bob is enjoying a seemingly perfect holiday with his girlfriend, Kathy, on the Yucatan coast of Mexico when he discovers that his ex-wife has taken everything from him, and he has nothing left to look forward to in New York. Bob leaves Kathy and ventures off on his own, relishing diving off the cliffs and seeing ancient Mayan ruins. After a brief affair with a young Dutch woman, Bob suddenly finds himself broke and without his passport and other belongings. Meanwhile, he takes a young Mayan boy named Tomcruise under his wing and gives him diving lessons. Additionally, Tomcruise's mother, Maria Dolores, may be the only one to get his life back on track.

Brian Ray Brewer tells an enthralling slice-of-life tale that will make you laugh, break your heart, and leave you with a smile on your face. The Diving God engages you from the beginning with a compelling protagonist who is very easy to root for. Brewer keeps a steady pace with the plot. There are a couple of surprises, but this is primarily a character-driven narrative. Bob, his journey, and the people he meets along the way are what make this book such a joy to read. There is plenty of humor, drama, and romance to keep you entertained until the end. I really liked the friendship between Bob and Tomcruise. Overall, I very much enjoyed the book, and if you like to read slice-of-stories, this is perfect for you!