Sawyer and Dani are a young cruiser couple currently anchored out in the Bahamas. Sawyer is smarting after his cryptocurrency investments tanked, and Dani is trying to monetize their cruising lifestyle with her new YouTube channel. When Dani goes missing after a booze-fueled night of partying that Sawyer can’t remember, the Royal Bahamas Police Force is called in to investigate. After Dani’s disappearance, pre-scheduled videos post to the YouTube channel, showing that her relationship with Sawyer had a dark and potentially dangerous side. Naturally, Sawyer becomes the police’s number one suspect, and as social media posters weigh in, the web around him pulls tighter.

This popcorn thriller is such a fun, entertaining read! Plenty of twists kept me on my toes, and the social media angle (and blurred lines between reality and lies) is fresh and intriguing. It’s written in a breezy, casual style, and the sea and sailing atmosphere is spot on, making this the perfect summer suspense novel to tuck in your beach bag.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Thriller Book Lovers Promotions providing me an advance copy of this book.

Such an exciting read! This author has such an addicting writing style. Truly you can't put it down, dying to know what happens next. I am hooked on this author!

Thanks net galley for this great book! my review is unbiased and my own.

On the Surface
By: Rachel McGuire
Pub date: July 9, 2024
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Length: 304 pages

4 ⛵️⛵️⛵️⛵️


Perception is everything! We all know social media generally shows everyone what we want the public to see.
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Dani and Sawyer are sailing in the Bahamas and they have a YouTube channel called Sailing with the Foxes. They are in debt and their channel is not doing well.
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One night after partying Dani comes up missing and of course Sawyer is the top suspect. Stories are still showing up on their sight, but they can be scheduled!
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What happened to Dani? A local detective Knowles is looking into Dani’s appearance along with a lot of online sleuths looking for clues!
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Both of Dani and Sawyers past have secrets which will come out! A MUST read for the thriller lover.
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I absolutely loved this fast-paced unique psychological thriller.
Thank you Thriller Book Lovers Promotions and author McGuire for this advanced copy.

On the Surface by Rachel McGuire starts the action immediately. The book opens with a murder and from there we learn about the characters. While I found these characters to be mostly unlikable, it worked very well for this story structure. I liked seeing how social media was portrayed and how fake it can be.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
I struggled with this book in places. The overall story was a good one but I felt in places there was additional content that didn’t need to be there, made it feel a little clunky. Personally, I wasn’t pleased with the final outcome being so messy.
That said, unfortunately there is so much truth in this story about the way people manipulate each other and social media. I can see it having a strong following with the 20-30 year olds towards whom I assume it will be marketed.

Having never heard of this author, I was intrigued by the premise of the novel. The introduction into the book brings the reader into the life of a cruiser and social media influencer. As the book unfolds, you find yourself lost in the story line and questioning where the story is going. By the end of the book, I was lossing interest but kept on trudging through. However, the ending left a lot to be desired.

This was an enjoyable, fast paced thriller with an interesting premise. I did find it fairly predictable and found the characters to all be unlikable, which are pet peeves I have in the genre. I was still intrigued enough to enjoy it but the biggest gripe I had was the ending was SO abrupt. Too many loose ends and not enough true resolution after all of the build up.

My Thoughts
Social media has such a huge influence in how the story plays out that it overshadows the actual police investigation aspect of getting to the truth of what happened.

I felt no positive connection to either of the main characters.

As others have mentioned not liking the characters in no way interfered with enjoying the story itself.

Both Dani Fox and Sawyer Stone have personalities that did not endear them to this reader, however the story twists and turns were why I wanted to delve into this mystery in the first place.

Despite it's familiar feel compared to other reads I engaged readily and was able to enjoy events as they occurred, both past and present.

When all the elements of what really transpired were revealed my only peeve was an ending that left me with questions about where things went next.

I would like to read more from this author in future.
[EArc from Netgalley]
On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

On the Surface is a gripping, can't-put-down, edge-0f-your-seat thriller filled with villainous characters and beautiful scenery. Dani and her boyfriend Sawyer live on their boat and sail from place to place whenever they desire. Dani is focused on her YouTube channel and monetizing their adventures. Sawyer simply wants to live the simple life, soaking up the sun, fishing the deep waters, and partying with the other cruisers. One night, Dani goes missing and all eyes are on Sawyer. While Sawyer swears he is innocent, the weekly pre-scheduled YouTube videos indicate otherwise. The police have their hands full down in the Caribbean as they try to solve the case of Dani's disappearance (and hopefully not murder).

On the Surface has definite Gone Girl vibes. It is fast-paced, drama-filled, and addictive. The characters are well-developed and super villainous. I had a hard time deciding who, if anyone, I was rooting for. I absolutely loved the ending. Not all authors can pull off an open ending, but Rachel McGuire accomplishes it seamlessly. This is easily one of the best thrillers so far of 2024. This book will definitely make you think twice about whether you'd ever want to live on a boat and cruise from place to place. I will highly be recommending On the Surface. Easy 5 stars!

I really enjoyed reading On the Surface by Rachel McGuire. I read this on a cruise ship which I think added to my experience reading, which was perfect! I would rate this as a 4 star read, but it's really more of a 4.5 star read. It's almost a 5 star read for me, but it was missing just enough to not quite hit that mark.

On the Surface follows Dani and Sawyer, a cruiser couple who live on a boat and are documenting their life on YouTube. When Dani expresses her desire to begin to monetize their account, she suddenly goes missing and everyone fears the worse. With Sawyer pushed into the spotlight, will the police (and the general public) believe his side of the story? What really happened to Dani? Where has she gone? Will they find her alive?? I can honestly say that I didn't predict the ending of this story!

On the Surface absolutely needs to be made into a movie, or better yet, a tv show. I could see this running as a limited series on one of the streaming networks (Netflilx execs - where you at!?) The entire time I was reading this, I could picture how the tv show would go and I saw moments of suspense where end of episode cliffhangers could leave the viewers.

I found this mystery to be a relevant read for our time, while also having a unique plot that will grab your attention!

a You tube couple head out to the bahamas and...things do not go to plan. This novel will make you think about the whole social media/influencer thing and the way we see things nowadays, how our media shapes things and how social media distorts that. A great popcorn thriller to read on holiday - and that;s a good thing!

On the Surface is a mystery about Dani Fox and Sawyer Stone, an unlikely couple that have chosen the cruiser life in the Bahamas. Dani is trying to get their YouTube channel to monetization levels and Sawyer is working hard to keep their beat up boat seaworthy. The couple is somewhat ostracized from their local cruiser community; they aren't boomers, they don't bring booze to share at parties, and really it seems like Dani's physical appearance is why people put up with them.

So when Dani disappears after a raging party, everyone suspects Sawyer. He swears to his innocence, but he has secrets too. This plot slowly unravels alternating between perspectives from the couple and an investigator in the Royal Bahamas Police Force. I really enjoyed the relatively short chapters and the slow and steady unraveling of Dani and Sawyer's pasts.

I think you'll enjoy this one if you like beach settings, a steady drip of reveals, and stories that examine social media influencer culture. This would make a great spring break or summer vacation read.

3.5 rounded to 4 for Goodreads

'On the Surface" was quite the twisty mystery. Sawyer and Dani are the perfect example of social media making everything look better than reality. While Instagram and YouTube make the attractive couple look like they're living a perfect life, the reality is that their life it full of struggles, with their relationship, their boat, and their finances. When Dani goes missing, Sawyer's life goes from bad to worse. This is an interesting take on some real-life and fictional tales we've heard before, and the switching POVs gave readers a unique insight to every aspect of the story. I thought this one was fun and engaging!

"On the Surface" unravels the chilling tale of a woman vanishing into the abyss of the sea, casting her partner as the prime suspect in a narrative laced with deceit, malevolence, and the shadowy depths of the human psyche.

The plot thickens around cruisers Sawyer and Dani, whose dream life aboard their yacht in the Bahamas hits turbulent waters due to financial woes from Sawyer's poor investment choices. As Dani attempts to salvage their situation by creating viral content for their "Sailing with the Foxes" YouTube channel, a hedonistic party on a neighboring yacht ends with Sawyer's hungover realization that Dani has disappeared. Whispered accusations among the cruisers paint Sawyer in a sinister light, alleging past crimes and abuse, all while prerecorded messages from Dani hint at the dark reality of their relationship. As Dani's absence becomes a sensation online, with amateur detectives spinning wild theories, the pressing question emerges: What really happened to Dani, and is Sawyer to blame?

This gripping thriller, masterfully woven and impossible to put aside, stands out for its complex web of lies and the solitary beacon of integrity, Bahamian Police Inspector Veronique Knowles. In her relentless pursuit of the truth amidst a sea of deception, time is of the essence. "On the Surface" promises a beach read so absorbing, you won't even think of dipping your toes in the water.

When Dani Fox, one half of the social media stars of Sailing with the Foxes, goes missing from her boat, all eyes are on her boyfriend, Sawyer Stone. The pair have been living on their boat, sailing the world and documenting it for their fans in beautiful videos of them sailing in beautiful surroundings, spearfishing, and frolicking on pristine remote beaches. But with her disappearance, the murky depths of their unconventional relationship and past secrets, both theirs and those of the cruising community they joined, come to the surface, thanks to internet sleuthers and avid true crime fanatics.

Who is Sawyer Stone? And who is Dani Fox? What lies beneath the surface of their social media personas?

Rachel McGuire’s sparkling characterization of the underbelly of social media influencers lulls the reader into a dangerous riptide, where the plot twists and turns like a dinghy on a riptide. ON THE SURFACE is available July 9, 2024 from Crooked Lane Books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read an advanced review copy.

Good book with a solid story. It has a few slower parts but nothing that made me want to stop reading.

This book took me forever to get through and overall I was disappointed with the ending. I felt it was left open ended and the ultimate issue was never resolved. I was left wondering about many characters.
I would say it was a decent read overall. But personally I was disappointed

This was overall a solid thriller. I can definitely see the comparisons to Gone Girl but add in social media vloggers. Very appreciative of the various POV chapters. I loved the setting and the twists were pretty good (tad predictable). I was invested enough to want to keep seeing how everything unraveled and what secrets would come to light.

Great twists in this story of Dani and Sawyer. They are two very popular youtubers who are on a sailing adventure, documenting it all for their followers. When Dani goes missing Sawyer says he has no memory of what happened to Dani...
Love the writing style and the YouTube aspect felt very 'now'
Great entertaining read.

Think van life but on the open ocean. This influencer couple is vlogging their life living aboard a sail boat. Dani is the real drive behind the Youtube account. She is constantly filming and editing their content. Sawyer just wants to enjoy the sailing lifestyle. After Sawyer loses almost all their money in a bad crypto investment, Dani and Sawyer are stuck in the Bahamas with no money. The couple are partying and getting by but then one night Dani vanishes... and it looks like Sawyer is to blame.

I loved the setting of this book. It really makes for the perfect beach read. We have the beautiful open water, the hot young couple, and the fun free lifestyle. This book reminds me of a vacation gone wrong. It had me hooked from the very beginning. It was an easy read and very fast paced. I found it almost like reality TV- you can read it very mindlessly but BOY is it entertaining. You get the dual perspectives which is great. I really enjoyed that this book was less of a "who done it" and more of a whyyyyyy is this even happening.

I love that no one is really who you think they are going to be. I loved the ending! What a twist!! You should read if you like vacation, beaches, oceans, and domestic suspense!!