Sharon Ward, author and founder of Sharonward.com, has established a distinctive voice in contemporary mystery fiction through her series centered on Fin Fleming, a scuba-diving underwater photographer based in the Cayman Islands. With nine published titles and more in development, the Fin Fleming Scuba Diving Mystery Series has captivated a growing base of readers who appreciate its seamless blend of mystery, adventure, and environmental awareness—all set in the immersive world beneath the sea.
Formerly a marketing executive and certified PADI divemaster, Sharon Ward leverages her extensive diving experience to create realistic underwater environments that serve as the dramatic backdrop for her mysteries. Her professional dive training, comprising hundreds of logged dives, informs each novel’s authenticity, allowing her to paint vivid seascapes that resonate with both divers and land-based readers alike. The books, widely recognized as accessible, clean mysteries, highlight Ward’s unique approach to storytelling—one that prioritizes character development, family, friendship, and emotional resilience over violence and spectacle.
The series begins with In Deep, which introduces Fin Fleming as the head underwater photographer at an oceanographic institute in the Cayman Islands. While Fin thrives beneath the waves, her life on land is more complex, filled with personal challenges and entangled relationships. A mysterious accident soon escalates into a series of crimes, culminating in a death that seems accidental—but is anything but. Readers are quickly drawn to Fin’s intuitive nature and emotional complexity. Hallie Ephron, New York Times bestselling author, praised the debut, calling it “a stellar, pulse-pounding debut novel featuring a female underwater photographer. A heady mix of underwater adventure, mystery, and romance.”
In Sunken Death, the second installment, Ward introduces a sunken treasure and a possibly cursed artifact—the Queen’s Tiara—that pits greed and ambition against loyalty and self-preservation. Fin uncovers coordinates to the treasure and soon finds herself and her team entangled in a high-stakes underwater race. Dark Tide, the third novel, follows Fin as she works with local police to rescue kidnapped friends, showcasing her bravery and problem-solving skills both above and below the waterline.
The stakes intensify with Killer Storm, set against the impending landfall of Hurricane Willard. As the storm barrels toward the island, Fin uncovers a dead woman aboard her brother’s boat, triggering an investigation fraught with danger. The fifth title, Hidden Depths, shifts focus to RIO’s new beachfront tiki bar, which quickly becomes the scene of another mysterious death.
Ward continues the momentum with Sea Stars, in which Fin must oversee a film production using RIO’s facilities while safeguarding a multimillion-dollar exhibit of oceanic relics. When the most valuable item—the twelve Anderson Sea Stars—becomes endangered, Fin is forced to confront both human and environmental threats. The series’ seventh book, Rip Current, tackles the dangers of unpredictable coastal waters. Despite public warnings, a spate of drownings occurs, and Fin puts herself at risk to rescue others.
In Sea Monsters, Fin accepts an undercover mission to investigate a corporation causing environmental devastation. This plotline emphasizes one of the series’ defining characteristics: Fin’s unwavering commitment to ocean conservation. By the ninth title, Ice Water, the setting temporarily shifts to Alaska, where Fin joins her partner Rafe on a perilous shoot for his latest film. The narrative circles back to Grand Cayman with a string of life-threatening incidents tied to Fin’s past, underscoring the long shadows cast by unresolved conflicts.
Readers and critics alike have noted Fin Fleming’s appeal as a non-traditional action-adventure heroine. She is defined not by bravado or stylized danger, but by empathy, intellect, and perseverance. She eschews glamorized weaponry, avoids overt sexualization, and instead navigates her trials with inner strength, vulnerability, and resourcefulness. Edwin Hill, author of The Secrets We Share, noted, “…[Ward] delivers on twists and turns while introducing a phenomenal new protagonist in underwater photographer Fin Fleming, tough, perceptive and fearless.”
Ward’s dedication to character-driven storytelling, immersive settings, and family-centered narratives positions her series apart from the crowded field of mystery thrillers. With each release, her books consistently reach the top of their respective categories, fueled by a loyal and rapidly expanding readership. The books are available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook formats, making them accessible across platforms and preferences.
A member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America (MWA), and International Thriller Writers (ITW), Sharon Ward contributes actively to the literary community while continuing to evolve her series. She resides near Cape Cod with her husband and their miniature long-haired dachshund, Molly—described affectionately as the true head of the household.
With more titles on the horizon, the Fin Fleming Scuba Diving Mystery Series promises continued intrigue for readers seeking clean, immersive, and emotionally resonant stories set against the dramatic canvas of the sea.
Explore more about Sharon Ward and her work at Sharonward.com and Sharonwardauthor.com, or connect via Facebook/sharonwardwrites.
