The World Beneath

By: Rebecca Cantrell

Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer

Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's Summary

Thriller Award Winner, Best eBook Original Novel, 2014

Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Cantrell drops you into a vast, dark world: 100 miles of living, breathing, tunnels that is the New York City underground. This subterranean labyrinth inhales three million bustling commuters every day. And every day, it breathes them all out again... except for one. 

Software millionaire Joe Tesla is set to ring the bell on Wall Street the morning his company goes public. On what should be the brightest day in his life, he is instead struck with severe agoraphobia. The sudden dread of the outside is so debilitating, he can't leave his hotel at Grand Central Terminal, except to go underground. Bad luck for Joe, because in the tunnels lurk corpses and murderers, an underground Victorian mansion and a mysterious bricked-up 1940s presidential train car. Joe and his service dog, Edison, find themselves pursued by villains and police alike, their only salvation now is to unearth the mystery that started it all, a deadly, contagious madness on the brink of escaping The World Beneath. 

©2013 Rebecca Cantrell (P)2014 Rebecca Cantrell

Thriller set in the tunnels of NYC's subway.

Any additional comments?

Like other Rebecca Cantrell novels, The World Beneath is a fast paced story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This story centers on Joe Tesla who lives in the tunnels under Grand Central Station in New York City. Tesla is a very likeable character, who with his dog, lives in a real Victorian mansion below the subway. Several people get killed due to a strange virus that has been bricked-up inside a 1940s presidential train car. Both villains and the police pursue Tesla and his only escape is to figure out the mystery that started it all.

Narrator Jeffrey Kafer does a great job, creating different voices for each of the characters. His performance includes the necessary urgency that properly sets the mood for a thriller such as this. If rumors are true that this is the beginning of a new series, I hope Kafer will be the narrator.

I look forward to the next in the series

Is there anything you would change about this book?

In the beginning the story was rather confusing and I started over thinking I had missed something but realized that it was actually the story and a switch in time periods. At various sections throughout the story the narration and the dialogue between characters seemed choppy but once the story became clearer I wanted to hear more and look forward to the next book in the series.

What three words best describe Jeffrey Kafer’s voice?

Choppy, nice, suitable

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

The mystery behind the agoraphobia is intriguing and how he copes is interesting. I think mystery fans will enjoy this, but I look forward to a better flow in both story and narration in the next book.

Nikola Tesla's grandson against the CIA!

What did you love best about The World Beneath?

The unique handling of an agoraphobic hero.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The World Beneath?

Spoilers!!!
Joe watching his former intern be mistaken for him and murdered.

What does Jeffrey Kafer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

As always, Mr. Kafer does a great job of narrating. Every character ha\s their own voice, and you feel like you're right there!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I was annoyed when I had to stop.

Any additional comments?

A great read! Hope there's more to come!

A tense and thrilling read.

Any additional comments?

This is my first book by this author, but it definitely won't be my last.

What would you do if you suddenly developed agoraphobia and couldn't leave the subway tunnels? What would you do if you saw something you weren't supposed to and now are in danger? That's what our hero has to live with. How can he survive when he can't even go outside?

Joe Tesla was such an awesome character. He was a successful business man but suddenly developed agoraphobia. He now lives in a house that's under the subway. You read that right!! There is a house under the subway!! How cool would that be, though I couldn't live there. Anyway, he lives there with his therapy dog and is only able to use the tunnels to get around. He is well written and developed and the author handled his debilitating condition perfectly. You could feel his fear and frustration at not being able to leave.

Let's give a special mention to the hero who stole the story. Joes' dog, Edison!! I loved him and he totally stole the show :)

Plot wise, the story was breathtakingly fast paced. The scene is set in the very first pages and from then on you are part of a roller coaster that doesn't stop till the very last page. You are brought on a suspenseful and intriguing story and one that you won't forget.

In all this was a great read. I loved the well thought out characters and the intriguing plot and flew through the book eagerly waiting to see what happens. It had me on the edge of my seat the whole way!! The technology mentioned and used, the virus that's released and the flawed hero make for an unforgettable read.

The audio of this was fantastic. It really brought the story alive and made it play out like a movie in my head. Jeffrey Kafer has an easy voice to listen to and really knows how to make the characters pop. He ramps up the tension when needed and you find yourself biting your nails in anticipation. He gives each character their own voice and they are always easily distinguishable.

*I received this for review from AudioBookBlast. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Love the hero with a weakness stuff!

I always love a surprise. The embattled and imperfect hero makes it real. And easier to relate to the true difficulty of what he faced. His compassion towards his enemies truly demonstrates his uniqueness.

Fascinating Concept

What made the experience of listening to The World Beneath the most enjoyable?

This outstanding story captivated me from the first words. The world Cantrell has created is visual, heart thumping and compelling to the end. The research involved alone was enough to want me to learn more about the NYC underground. Looking forward to the next Joe Tesla adventure.

What other book might you compare The World Beneath to and why?

The World Beneath is the truest example of a suspense thriller. The first chapter sets up what will follow throughout the entire novel as a platform for what Tesla discovers and how he will be forced to use his wits and skills to potentially save the world. I wouldn't necessarily compare TWB to another book because this reads as a truly original concept. Works by authors Joseph Finder and Christopher Reich come to mind due to the risk and professional standing in an industry elements.

What does Jeffrey Kafer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoyed Kafer's performance very much. His tone and fluctuation from one character to another was flawless. The spoke word adds an additional visual element to the e-book version.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The irony of Tesla's circumstances presented quite a lot of intriguing instances. Most heartbreaking are the choices he's forced to make throughout his journey to discovery--not only of the mystery at the heart of the story, but how his affliction dictates his actions.

One Man, One Dog Show

This one grabbed and kept my interest. The story presented a fresh, interesting take on government conspiracy and human experimentation. The writing blended relationships, science, greed and corporate leadership issues/conflicts well and the story was told with consistent momentum, which gave it the kind of steady pace that encourages continuous reading/listening. The third-person story was told from the perspective of the protagonist, Joe Tesler, and several other interesting characters, including the primary antagonists. My favorite character is the dog, Edison, whose role is probably as strong and significant as Tesler’s, and whose presence in the story adds credibility, color and texture throughout the narrative, which I especially appreciated during phases of the story that would have otherwise over-challenged plausibility.

One drawback for some listeners may be the plethora of coincidences and conveniences and, yes, even out-and-out contrivances afforded to the hero Tesler while others around him are killed and maimed. This served as a notable (thus the overall lower rating) but somewhat forgivable distraction as the story carried itself well in so many other ways (thus the higher “story” rating). Another notable, but relatively smaller, gripe is the abrupt ending, which presented a shock effect (not in a good way) even in light of the story being the first installment of a suggested series.

Narrator Jeffrey Kafer's performance was excellent. His pace, tone and age projections were perfect fits for the characters and the tempo of the story. Also, he voiced female characters in that exceptional way that does not sound too heady or pitched or otherwise unfitting.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you Audiobook Boom.

What a Pleasant Surprise

Important note, Stick With It. It takes a couple chapters to realize what the author is doing. In the end, it is well worth the listen. Good story telling and very good narration. Enjoyed it
"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."

Good Fun!

Would you consider the audio edition of The World Beneath to be better than the print version?

Yes, mostly because I'm a fan of audiobooks and of narrator Jeffrey Kafer.

What does Jeffrey Kafer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I have no problem visualizing characters when I read, but I my imagination is weak in terms of voices. Kafer's narration adds a layer of realism.

Any additional comments?

I've read Cantrell's collaborative work with James Rollins, but this is the first of her solo efforts I've read. Interesting characters and setting. Overall, a good story.

What a great book!

A pleasant surprise, great characters and a fast moving plot. Strong writer. Get it.

Seven - s!ate blue, like your eyes.

Joe Tesler is both very wealthy and blessed with a great intellect as well as having the ability to see numbers as colours. He also has an insatiable curiosity. But his life had become constrained by a suddenly acquired agoraphobia which had confined him to living in the underground tunnels and passages below New York City for the past six months. There, accompanied by his dog, Edison, he wanders and hides as he pursues a mystery: a murderer and a walled up Presidential train carriage hiding the unspeakable.

The World Beneath is fascinating, atmospheric. Although this reader has never been to New York, it is easy to picture the dark, dank tunnels beneath, big enough to allow for the passing trains and not unlike the London tube system, with numerous disused and forgotten stretches and unexpected places of magic, like the Victorian house in which Tesla lives, completely carved out below the ground. The characters develop slowly and naration, by Jeffrey Kafer, is excellent: clear, well paced and read with understanding. A fine performance.

This book was freely gifted to me, at my request, a complimentary copy from the rights holder, via Audiobook Boom. Thank you so much. It was very enjoyable, a slow burn S.F. thriller peppered with bursts of action and with ongoing mystery and tension. Although complete in itself, it is the first in a series and I very much look forward to again making the acquaintance of Joe Tesla and his frisnds. Recommended.

Brilliant thriller, buy it now

I was hooked from practically the first word, I listened to this in one go, no pauses, and came straight on here to grab book 2, I write this as book 2 downloads.

The story focuses on Joe, a software engineer (and millionaire) and lives in an underground mansion beneath Grand Central Station. This was pretty much the hook for me, all things subterranean appeal to me hugely. Joe shares his life with Edison, his psychiatric service dog, and he lives underground because he is agoraphobic.

Joe becomes embroiled in panic stricken game of hide and seek through the tunnels with the cops, the CIA and an assasin determined to kill him all in hot pursuit. It all works out well by the end though, which is pretty obvious really as this is the first in a series, but I do like a happy ending for my favourite characters.

I received my copy free of charge in exchange for my unbiased review, which is exactly what you see above.

I'm off to put book 2 on my iPod now ...