I love me a good family drama, especially when the family is SUUUPER rich! This one was mainly about two sons fighting to become the next CEO of their billionaire father’s business. The two sons will do just about anything to win over their father, even if it means ruining the lives of other family members. There were TONS of secrets, tragedy, and a surprise twist.

I hated just about all of the characters, except for one and I loved the ending of this one.

Spoiled rotten rich kids on a high dollar yacht on the high seas jockeying for position as the successor of real estate empire - what could go wrong? Everything. I was not really sure what to expect about this book, so I have to confess I was a little surprised. You are provided the point of view from every family member on the boat. Each chapter is told from a character's point of view. Richard Kingsley has built an empire from the company he inherited from his family. He is a sharp businessman, but he is a terrible husband and father. Now he has a dilemma. He needs to name a successor for his company upon his death, but none of the kids are really fit to run the company. They each have some good qualities, but they also have a lot of dirty laundry. His failure as a father has come back to haunt him, and he knows it.

I really despised every character in this book except for Paige. She is one of the daughter-in-laws. She is the most innocent one on board this ship of horrors. You will understand as you meet each character. I think my least favorite character was the new wife, Serena. She is wife number four or five. I am not really certain. She was the epitome of a trophy wife. She was a snake in the grass, but I guess she fit in with the rest of this band of greedy, deceptive, rotten characters. The title was aptly named because in the case of the lives of this family, you never knew what was just beneath the surface. There were a couple of shocking revelations that I did not see coming. This book could have probably been shortened by a few pages as there were times that I feel we received a little too much information, or it was repeated, but it was still an enjoyable book.

Thank you to Thomas Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Dark Family/ Business Drama. This is one of those books with a wildly atmospheric setting - a short sail on dad's megayacht over to Catalina Island and back, during which storms both literal and personal envelop the entire family. If you need likeable characters or levity... there isn't any modicum of that to be found here. This is dark, gets darker, and right when you think it can't possibly get any darker... goes nearly as dark as it can without involving kids or genocide or some such. It is a story where yet again Tony Stark's like about Nick Fury in The Avengers comes to bear: "his secrets have secrets"... and this is true of pretty well every single person on the boat, as we'll find out by the end of this tale. This is absolutely one where your own feelings about dialog and situations may vary, but I for one didn't see anything "objective-ish" wrong with them, so I'm not going to fault the tale or the author here. I'm simply noting I've seen that complaint in other reviews, and I could see where that argument could potentially be made, but I personally didn't feel they were. Ultimately an interesting tale, one near perfect for a dark stormy night where you don't want an actual horror-type tale, but you do what to have a minor sense of suspense and foreboding, perhaps with a nice wine or beer. Very much recommended.

3.5 Stars

The Kingsley family is over the top rich, headed by Richard, ruthless, loves to show his wealth off and dangles it in front of his children like the prize that it is. Each of his 3 children have issues of their own, many demons to face. Richard is getting older, he invites his children for a weekend on his yacht to figure out his replacement. The fun and games begin.

The family is totally unlikeable, seriously no redeeming value. Seriously though, who doesn’t like unlikeable characters, especially if they get what’s coming to them. This book was not what I expected. The cover led me to think of an ominous, stormy trip with high seas, capsized boat, lifeboats, helicopter rescues. This has more of a Dallas-esq feel to it. Told in 4 voices we see a different perspective and personality of each participant. This family will stop at nothing to get what they believe they so rightfully deserve. A little slow moving at times, one little twist I didn’t see coming. First in a series, not sure I want to get totally vested in a series, but will see Book 2 takes me. I do enjoy this writer’s unsavory characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer. This is my honest review.

Rich and greedy children are bad enough on dry land, but put them on a yacht with their gorgeous step-mom they hate, and their wives in the middle of the ocean then someone is likely not to make it back.
Richard drops bomb after bomb while at sea which was not surprising. The shocking part was how far one of the sons was willing to go to secure his position at his dads company. The only decent human being is Ted’s wife.
If you are looking for a book with a lot of family drama and secrets then this is it!
I can’t wait to see what book #2 is about.

Billionaire Richard Kingsley invites his sons, Ted and John, and their wives to join him and his newest young wife on his recently-purchased yacht for a weekend trip to Catalina Island. His offspring suspect that Richard plans to announce his successor during the trip. Let the games begin for a family who has everything money can buy, and has used lies, deception, and more to keep it. Although not an original premise, this is a pretty good story and I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would at the beginning. Unfortunately there's far too much repetition or maybe the characters drink so much champagne they forget that they already had that thought! If a lot of the repetitiveness was eliminated, the book might be less than 200 pages but it'd be a more interesting cohesive story and you would feel the tension more.

With a cast of characters you love to hate, a peek into the lifestyles of the rich and famous and of course a nausea-inducing storm at sea, the pages flew by. This is #1 in a series and even though I have no interest in continuing to read about The Kingsleys, I probably will because it's Kaira Rouda after all! 3.5 stars rounded up for that very reason!

My thanks to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication: September 5, 2023

Juicy and fast paced! This is the story of a greedy and unlikable family traveling to beautiful Catalina Island for the weekend on a decadent luxury yacht into an impending storm. What could possibly go wrong?! I enjoy Kaira Rouda’s books, they are always quick easy reads with a fun thriller plot. Thank you Netgalley, Thomas and Mercer, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on September 5, 2023

Family dynamics on an ocean voyage. Here are reasons to read this thriller:

Yacht Trip - The Kingsley family is taking a little weekend Yacht trip

Family Reunion - and head of family, Richard has entitled his children and their spouses for a little family reunion

Catalina - they are headed for Catalina, where a storm is brewing, and not just the one outside the boat

I have never read anything by this author before. But I have to say this thriller is very slow paced. Besides the intensity of how the family all felt about each other, it was about 60% of the way through the book before it got thrillery. It also has many points of view, and due to the cattiness and greed of these characters, only 1 in my mind was even one I could root for. This book is great if you LOVE domestic thrillers with a slow burn.

This book was extremely slow and very repetitive. The characters are awful and the plot did not keep me interested at all. Wish I would have DNFed.

Beneath the Surface by Kaira Rouda is the first in the killer "The Kingsleys" series. After zipping through this suspenseful locked-room family drama thriller, I am very curious to discover what will happen next, so much scope for bad blood and poor-mannered antics. Unexpected twists are pretty wonderful and the writing is compelling.

The dreadful Kingsley family is aboard the patriarch's luxury yacht, Splendid Seas. Aging billionaire and CEO Richard has invited his family to join him and his wife Serena for a weekend on the water. But family members are suspicious of each other's motives, correctly surmising Richard's pending announcement of the next CEO and heir of his vast fortune. Of course the knives come out and family members show their true colours. Sons Ted (wife Paige) and John (wife Rachel) are very different from each other but when daughter Sibley and her boyfriend Colson arrive they seem almost tame. Sibley's constant barrage of insults is infuriating to those around her, including me. Waves of secrets expose uncomfortable truths and tragedy strikes.

If you seek a suspenseful book with characters you want to strangle, this may be for you. I couldn't stand them but don't need to love characters to become immersed in a good plot. Infidelities and other deceptions reign and this dysfunctional family is jam packed with nefarious goings on. Observing how the characters observed each other was great fun.

My sincere thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this enthralling novel. So many reasons to anticipate #2 in the series.

This was a great family drama! Sons fighting to become the next CEO of their billionaire father’s business. Secrets come out. A tragedy unfolds. A surprise twist. This was a great one! I devoured it over two days! I really enjoyed how it was told through all main characters’ pov, and realized I hated most of them.🤣 Paige was the exception, I only disliked her a little. But I can get down with unlikeable characters in a book!

This story is very much like the messed-up family dynamics and power machinations in the hit show Succession, which is probably my favorite series to date. I found the characters and their relationships to each other very complex and interesting, but I was bothered by the dialogue, which was often too on-the-nose and honest to what the character was actually thinking and feeling, and the moments of repetition within the prose.

3.5 ⭐️ A billionaire invites his dysfunctional family on a luxurious yacht for a weekend getaway. Everyone has secrets and a great dislike for each other. I enjoyed reading the different viewpoints and manipulations of each character as the secrets are slowly revealed. Suspenseful and kept my attention til the end. #BeneaththeSurface

Billionaire Richard Kingsley has invited each of this children on his new yacht for a trip to Catalina Island. His children all hate each other but are competing to run his company.

This is a fun fast paced read good for a vacation read, especially if you love family drama with gossip and badly behaved rich people. The first half of the book is getting to know all the characters, so stick with it while you get to know them and their immature ways. It’s definitely a fun read but takes some time to get into.

“Nothing like family togetherness to bring out the worst - I mean, the real - character in a kid.”

Beneath the Surface comes out 9/5.

I recently completed a book that wasn't quite my taste, but I believe it could appeal to many readers. The story had an engaging and gripping quality that held my attention throughout. The central theme of predicting the heir for the family business added an element of mystery that I found intriguing. The family's weekend on a luxurious yacht, where they grappled with their hidden secrets, was a captivating setting. The fact that most characters lacked likability didn't bother me too much.

However, the ending left me somewhat dissatisfied due to its heavy focus on revenge, a theme that doesn't resonate with me personally. The abundance of shocking twists, betrayals, and intense moments might resonate with others, but for me, it felt a bit overwhelming. I tend to prefer stories with less emphasis on revenge and more focus on other aspects.

Moreover, the unnecessary complications in the plot further contributed to my mixed feelings. While some readers might enjoy intricate and complex storylines, I found that they detracted from my overall enjoyment of the book.

Nevertheless, despite my reservations about the ending and the plot complications, I believe that this book will certainly find its audience. If you're a fan of intricate family dynamics, uncovering hidden secrets, and intense drama, this book might be a perfect fit. While the ending and plot weren't my cup of tea, I recognize that reading preferences vary widely among individuals. The mystery element and exploration of family dynamics were the aspects that stood out to me positively.

Is there anything better than family drama and secrets? I absolutely love reading about dysfunctional families. This book takes place aboard a yacht, where Richard, Daddy Kingsley, has gathered his children and their partners for a family outing aboard his lavish vessel. While on board, the family business will be discussed with Richard to finalize who will be his successor.

This book got more and more salivating the further I read on. There were secrets galore and everyone seemed to have something hidden up their sleeves. The multiple POV's were fantastic, however as most family members have their own chapters, I would recommend to read this book rather than listen, for ease of keeping track of everyone. I'm thrilled to see that this is book one of a series and I can't wait to see the direction the Kingsley's take in book two.

Beneath the Surface introduces The Kingsley family who are about to depart on a cruise to Catalina Island.

The Kingsley's to say the least are quite the dysfunctional family.

The billionaire patriarch has invited his sons and their wives for a weekend getaway.

The sons Jon and Ted expect their dad to name themselves as the successor and each feels the other one does not deserve to be named.

Secrets, lies, long standing family feuds: what could go wrong.

The ending leaves you hoping the second book in the series comes quickly . I cant wait to see what happens next in this crazy family.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a delightful read that kept me up turning the pages.

Billionaire Richard Kingsley invites his two sons Ted and John and their wives to join him on a gorgeous new yacht for the weekend. And surprise - Richard didn’t tell each boy that the other would be there, knowing that they butt heads. Neither son likes his new wife Serena (wife #5) either, and they are in for an even bigger surprise to see their long-lost sister Sibley show up with her boyfriend as well. Each boy wants to take over Richard’s company when he retires and they were sure that this would be the weekend he made that announcement. Even the luxury of the new yacht doesn’t distract from the fact that nobody in this family particularly likes each other.

Another solid family drama/domestic thriller by Kiara Ronda! As with all her previous books that I have read, this story is very character-driven as we see the various points of view from the members of the family. They all have some questionable morals and behavior to match as each son thinks he is the rightful future leader of the family company. Richard enjoys toying with his children, stirring up the competition and rivalry amongst them too. I always think it’s fun to read about unlikeable characters and their drama, and I’m happy to see this is the start of a new series! I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next for The Kingleys!

Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers Promos and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC! “Beneath the Surface” will release at September 5, 2023.

3.5/5

There’s something about the authors books that keep pulling me back year after year even if my ratings of them aren’t the best. I’m not sure what keeps me coming back exactly but something about her style always ends up speaking to me. Maybe it’s because I know what to expect from her, I know I’ll get unlikable characters that are just fun to read about alongside a plot that is total brain candy, they almost feel like taking a break and provide a much needed escape. This time around you get a family of narcissists who hate each other and they’re taking an overnight luxury cruise together. So the setup was fun, I like a locked room style mystery and the cattiness and drama this family provided was entertaining enough. Things did start to feel repetitive fairly quickly but I was interested to see where it would go and I have to say, I was kind of surprised with the direction it took. If you like dramatic stories about bickering families fighting over power and money this one was decent.

A family get together on an extravagant yacht, what could be more perfect? Well, the patriarch of the family is dying and has used the get together to determine who will succeed him in leading the company. Everyone has secrets. Everyone is pretty darn horrible. Telling the story from multiple first person points of view was genius! This let the reader know exactly how horrible each person was. The main mystery seemed to be who had the worst secret and who was the most horrible person. These people were almost caricatures of wealthy behaving badly. Anyone who loves reality tv in any form will instantly love this book. I did like how the ending left the story and am wondering what is to come in the rest of the series. This one gave it a lot to live up to!