Quicksand Novels

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Viridian
Posts: 1587
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:03 am

Re: Quicksand Novels

Postby Viridian » Sun Jul 31, 2022 5:10 am

Beloved Enemy by Hwyela Lyn
Cat Kincaid is obsessed with killing the man she believes is responsible for the torture and death of her sister, but when she eventually catches up with him, survival becomes a greater priority than revenge. Kerry Marchant, haunted by memories, regret, and self-blame, shields himself from the pain of the past by committing himself totally to the starship, Destiny, of which he is part owner. However, the beautiful, red-haired woman who reminds him of his lost love, and who he suspects is working for a corrupt regime, represents a possible threat not only to the ship, but to his heart. Marooned on an inhospitable planet, they need to work together to stay alive, fighting not only unknown assailants, but their growing attraction. But how can they learn to trust each other when he has vowed never to get close to a woman again, and she made a solemn pledge to destroy him?


There is one quicksand scene.

Female protagonist Cat is escorting Kerry. She stumbles into liqueified sand. She calls for help, but Kerry stands over her and doesn't help, causing her to panic. However, he explains how quicksand works and advises her on what to do to escape. She is able to make it out.

Sinkiness: 3.5/5
This is a typical "good" quicksand scene. Female lead falls in, struggles, subverts the power dynamic between the characters, and gets quicksand explained to her. It's a very minor plot beat and is over fairly quickly.

The scene is part of the free preview:

https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Beloved_Enemy/KY-zCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
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Viridian
Posts: 1587
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:03 am

Re: Quicksand Novels

Postby Viridian » Sun Jul 31, 2022 5:21 am

The Eagle and the Flame by Karen Kay
Lucinda Glenforest’s father, a general who’d fought in the Indian Wars, taught his flame-haired daughter to out-shoot even the best men the military could put up against her. When Luci’s sister is seduced and abandoned, it’s up to Luci to defend her honor in a duel. Although she wins, the humiliated captain and his powerful family vow vengeance. The sisters’ only hope is to flee and hide until their father returns from his overseas mission. Out of money, Luci hatches a plan to disguise herself as a boy and use her sharpshooting skills in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.


There is one quicksand scene.

Luci wanders off into the pond and her feet begin to sink into quicksand. Her Indian companion patiently instructs her on how to escape and calms her down while he pulls her out with a rope.

Sinkiness: 4/5

This is the classic "Western" scenario with the native romance plot. The scene is well narrated with accurate descriptions, establishing a medium pace to the sequence. It is reasonably long for the chapter, though it does require more to fill the imagination.

The scene is part of the free preview:
https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/The_Eagle_and_the_Flame/ta0LEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
Viridian @ deviantART: http://viridianqs.deviantart.com/

Viridian
Posts: 1587
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:03 am

Re: Quicksand Novels

Postby Viridian » Sun Jul 31, 2022 10:29 am

A Serpent in Turquoise by Peggy Nicholson
Careening down a winding pass in Mexico to escape a truckload of goons wasn't how dinosaur hunter Raine Ashaway planned to meet Anson McCord, the archaeologist who'd written her regarding a possible fossil find. She'd expected the professor to be a fossil himself, but McCord's more Indiana Jones than the Mummy. And when he describes a lost Aztec city whose people worshipped a god resembling a never-before-seen species of triceratops, the news gets her blood pumping as much as his sexy Texan smile. Raine's ready to seek the city of the Feathered Serpent with McCord, but can she trust him to share the spoils?


There is one quicksand scene (and numerous mentions).

The German engineer in the team, Grunwald, falls into a quicksand cave. The lead female, Raine, attempts to rescue him but is unable to do so. She runs back for help. In the meantime, another member of the team attempts to kill Grunwald, and they both disappear. Raine returns and briefly slips into the quicksand to her boots to discover the mystery.

Sinkiness: 3/5
The scene is a very dramatic one with good suspense. The scenario sets up the predicament well, contrasting the panicking Grunwald with the more rational Raine. The threatening exchange between the team members adds a good level of drama. Points are lost due to the missed opportunity with Raine becoming trapped herself.

The excerpt is part of the preview:
https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/A_Serpent_in_Turquoise/4MkI3T_cwhQC?hl=en&gbpv=0
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Viridian
Posts: 1587
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:03 am

Re: Quicksand Novels

Postby Viridian » Sun Jul 31, 2022 10:55 am

Homecoming by J.E. Taylor
Faith Kennedy has no control over her own powers, never mind what Tom Ryan bequeathed to her. She must learn to control her natural fire abilities while harnessing all her new supernatural gifts without harming those she cares about most.

When Faith partners with Kylee Paradox, an ancient bounty hunter, to close rifts she created across the globe, her worst fear comes to fruition. Half a world away, Alex Ryan goes missing.

Faith must hunt down the devil before he can claim Alex as his own. If she fails, she may have to kill her one true soulmate.


There is one brief quicksand scene.

One female character, Kylee, and her male companion wander to the lake. Kylee steps into quicksand and pulls her partner in. She sinks to her chest. They use levitation powers to get free.

Sinkiness: 3/5
Some points here for Kylee being the one to fall in first and sink deeper. The telekinesis powers is a bit of an odd one for me and the scene is brief. Not much narration.

The scene is in the free preview:
https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Homecoming/zYi3DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
Viridian @ deviantART: http://viridianqs.deviantart.com/

Viridian
Posts: 1587
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:03 am

Re: Quicksand Novels

Postby Viridian » Sun Jul 31, 2022 10:58 am

Family on the Run by Margaret Wilson
Chase Remington had been hired to rescue a woman and her baby from the war-torn country of San Marcos. A simple job for the former Army Ranger and CIA agent – until he discovers that Paloma is dead and the woman who once betrayed Chase is caring for the baby.

Andi McGinnis is equally unhappy to see Chase. Besides saving baby Paolo, she has an agenda in Sam Marcos, and she doesn't want Chase to get in her way. But to rescue Paolo and get vital intelligence to the CIA, they're forced to work together.

As they race through the jungle, trying to stay one step ahead of their pursuers, long-simmering desire bursts into flames. With their lives at stake, can they learn to trust each other and work together?


There is one quicksand scene.

Chase falls into quicksand and quickly sinks from waist to chest. Andi finds a branch and uses it to break the sand's suction while he frees himself.

Sinkiness: 2/5
The scene is brief, though it is reasonably well described. This is a male scene, with the female character having otherwise no involvement aside from the rescue.
Viridian @ deviantART: http://viridianqs.deviantart.com/

Viridian
Posts: 1587
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:03 am

Re: Quicksand Novels

Postby Viridian » Sun Jul 31, 2022 11:08 am

The Grief Masters by D.L. Farrar
In the dystopian future of the twenty-second century governments have collapsed and corporations have joined together to create a new world order called corporate rule. Veteran and businessman Troy Vincent, is wrongly accused of murdering a powerful CEO in a world where a cruel and corrupt justice system has emerged. He is sentenced to face termination by his own demons in the feared Virtual Reality Chambers. Before embarking into dark and dangerous worlds, Troy is befriended by an android who advises him to seek help from the elusive Grief Masters. A beautiful condemned woman is thrown into Troy's surreal world. Together they must unravel the truth behind the crimes they are convicted of, while fighting the treacherous forces that promise to destroy them. Their only hope of survival lies in hidden keys to the Grief Masters. However, finding a key means digging deep into their shattered inner souls. As the android tries to help them, he faces his own destruction and an unexpected meeting with the ultimate Grief Master.


There is one quicksand scene.

Troy and his female partner Lovena are challenged by the Grief Master, who turns the ground underneath Lovena into quicksand. She sinks from her legs to waist to chest to head. She is forced to submerged by Troy stepping on her head as a sacrifice.

Sinkiness: 4/5
The scenario is meant to be the climax and the creative use of the quicksand is admirable. The scene is not strong in description, but it does feature a forced submersion.

Partial excerpt in the free sample:
https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Dead_Run/oaeH_4Gop_MC?hl=en&gbpv=0
Viridian @ deviantART: http://viridianqs.deviantart.com/

Viridian
Posts: 1587
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:03 am

Re: Quicksand Novels

Postby Viridian » Sun Jul 31, 2022 1:32 pm

Renegade Champion by Richard R. Rust
“If you buy that horse, you’re buying your daughter’s death warrant,” Jane Pohl’s father was warned at the army barracks in the spring of 1941. But the potential that his teenage daughter Jane saw in the small, temperamental Thoroughbred was enough to convince him otherwise.

Earlier that year, when Fitzrada arrived at the army base where Jane’s family lived, the horse was stubborn, unpredictable, and dangerous. Any man who dared addle him up soon found himself face down in the dirt. Jane, excited to ride any horse and up for the challenge, had the most success with Fitz. She was patient and consistent, and the horse responded well at last, showing a great affinity for jumping. Then, inexplicably, a terrible riding accident resulted in serious injuries for both Jane and Fitz, and the army decide that it was time to destroy the horse. Heartbroken, Jane pleaded with her reluctant father: the only way to save Fitz was to buy him from the army.

Jane Pohl’s foresight proved to be correct. Jane and Fitz went on to take the Virginia show-jumping circuit by storm, winning 37 jumper and 6 hinter championships. At a time when women were rarely seen in jumping classes at horse shows and were not taken seriously by male competitors, Jane and Fitz helped to break down barriers against women riders competing in the Olympics. In 1946, Jane and Fitz found themselves at the Jumper Championship at the prestigious National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden—the highest jumping title in North America. The road there for horse and rider was a five-year test of faith, patience, and understanding friendship.


There is one mud / marsh scene, and it's a classic horse one.

Jane rides her her horse Fitz into the marsh, crossing over a patch of mud that turns out to be very deep. Fitz begins to sink to his neck. Jane jumps off and sinks to her waist. She manages to encourage Fitz to get out and they escape the marshy area.

Sinkiness: 3/5
It's well set up for fans of horses and equestrian suspense and the narration paints a clear picture. There isn't much sinking happening, specifically involving Jane herself.

The full scene is in the free preview:
https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Renegade_Champion/sl5_mMgsv1gC?hl=en&gbpv=0
Viridian @ deviantART: http://viridianqs.deviantart.com/

aceofguru
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 11:34 pm

Re: Quicksand Novels

Postby aceofguru » Mon Aug 01, 2022 4:53 am

These are some amazing finds! Of all of these, Once Buried is the type of thing I'd never think I'd see in just regular literature. I remember seeing an episode of Criminal Minds where there was a killer who tried to bury a victim. Though, I believe that he targeted his victim's fears. It's been a while. Either way, thanks again!

Viridian
Posts: 1587
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:03 am

Re: Quicksand Novels

Postby Viridian » Mon Aug 01, 2022 8:15 am

The Takers by Jerry Ahern
Josh Culhane, two-fisted adventurer who'll go anywhere, do anything, teams up with the sexy scholar Mary Mulrooney in a breathtaking pursuit of the satanic Steiglitz and his slinky, psychotic daughter. The boldhearted couple races to grab a power so great that world leaders would risk death to get it. Culhane and Mulrooney battle halfway across the globe, through all the labyrinths of human history and myth, to a last stand beneath the Antarctic ice cap, where they find an ancient starbase whose builders had never gotten home!


There is one quicksand scene.

Josh and Mary have to cross a swamp to reach an island temple. After wading in deep water for a while, they circle around a deep section and Mary walks up the riverbank. She begins to sink. Josh tells her that it's quicksand and makes several attempts to rescue her while she sinks from her knees to her waist, breasts and chin. Josh manages to use his legs to anchor Mary and use a branch to get her out.

Sinkiness: 5/5

The whole book is an Indiana Jones style story, with Josh and Mary racing against crazy Nazis. The quicksand scene is the archetype of jungle quicksand peril. It is well describe with the right balance of suspense and pacing. The female uses the damsel in distress trope well and it is a reasonably long action scene.
Viridian @ deviantART: http://viridianqs.deviantart.com/

Viridian
Posts: 1587
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:03 am

Re: Quicksand Novels

Postby Viridian » Mon Aug 01, 2022 8:18 am

aceofguru wrote:These are some amazing finds! Of all of these, Once Buried is the type of thing I'd never think I'd see in just regular literature. I remember seeing an episode of Criminal Minds where there was a killer who tried to bury a victim. Though, I believe that he targeted his victim's fears. It's been a while. Either way, thanks again!


Thank you. I've been trawling through online searches to find quicksand scenes. I'm getting the hang of using the right combination of search strings to bring up prospective gems - but it really is like digging for gold in quicksand. I'm hoping that putting together a reading list would help people who are searching for quicksand literature and enjoy a good sinking scene without having to waste money on flops.

Once Buried is one such gem. The concept is just right - the closest we have to a quicksand serial killer. The scene was amazing in its setup. I only docked a point because there wasn't a lot of sinking involved.
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