Deep Time by Susan Sizer Bogue explores the turbulent life journey of Lauren, a young woman filled with big dreams, as she navigates life in America in the 1970s. Lauren ventures on a life-altering trip to the West, which fanned her love for geology. Simultaneously, she has to battle several challenges in her life, including a toxic relationship with her mother and a failing marriage. In light of her passion for geology, Lauren bravely launches into the male-dominated field of geology studies and falls under the predatory sway of her professor. Then comes the fateful day when Mount St. Helens begins to stir. She is resolute in witnessing its eruption with a close friend. While there, Lauren soon realizes that she is in grave peril as the mountain violently erupts. Can she escape the danger before it is too late?

Deep Time by Susan Sizer Bogue is a captivating and dramatic novel that spans from the 1970s to the 1980s. It is the perfect blend of science, nature, and adventure, with a flair for intrigue and self-discovery. Geology fans (and even newbies to Earth Science) will appreciate the well-incorporated geological elements in the storyline. Each fascinating element is guaranteed to add a healthy dose of excitement to the plot as it steadily unfolds. The suspense surrounding the eruption of Mount St. Helens had me on the edge of my seat. Bogue masterfully captures every chaotic aspect of Lauren's life, emotionally immersing readers in each thought-provoking circumstance, making them feel as if they are witnessing each memorable moment right along with her. Through it all, Lauren is challenged to make some crucial life decisions, contributing to astounding character growth moments on her part. Fans of Pompeii, Robert Harris's hit novel, will be easily impressed by the adventures that await them in Deep Time.

Deep Time by Susan Sizer Bogue begins with Lauren Brown and her husband Kenny on a Grand Canyon rafting trip, but their marriage strains under the pressures of her geology master’s program at Texas Polytechnic. She becomes entangled with her thesis advisor, Don Weber, the unraveling of which doesn't go well. Lauren also forms a supportive friendship with graduate assistant Chris Connor, who faces his own academic conflicts with Don. Lauren suffers a serious thumb injury during a research expedition, complicating her work. After a rocky separation, Lauren reconciles with Kenny, but their relationship remains fragile. As Lauren pursues her thesis on basalt formations, she and Chris study volcanic activity, culminating in a joint scientific effort monitoring Mount St. Helens’ eruption. The deadly eruption’s blast causes chaos, and the personal fallout is worse than anyone could have imagined.

My initial interest in reading Susan Sizer Bogue’s Deep Time stemmed from the fact that one of my younger brothers was born in Vancouver, WA, right as Mount St. Helens was erupting. The story takes quite some time in the lead-up to this climax, and, in a pleasant surprise, what I ended up enjoying the most is Bogue's skillfully written portrayal of a geologist’s career, intertwined with the natural forces that come from everyday relationships. Bogue’s attention to detail in describing both fieldwork and the human elements feels authentic, and I was connected to Lauren and Chris, who is also a point of view character, throughout. It's interesting how Lauren is at the center of three men interested in her at various degrees, and the impact all have on her as a student, a woman, and a scientist. There is a shock twist that I did not see coming, and, overall, Deep Time is a well-written ode to the rigors of women in STEM and the realities of life’s unexpected events. Very highly recommended.