Beneath the Surface

A Novel (The Kingsleys, Book 1)

By: Kaira Rouda

Narrated by: James Anderson Foster, Cynthia Farrell, Patrick Lawlor, Mia Barron, Amy Landon

Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

On a weekend voyage, the power-hungry children of an aging billionaire are unprepared for a storm of deceptions in a novel about ruthless family ambition by USA Today bestselling author Kaira Rouda.

You are cordially invited to an overnight voyage on the Splendid Seas.

An invitation to Catalina Island from billionaire CEO Richard Kingsley. For his sons, Ted and John, and their wives, it’s an opportunity to curry favor, gain control of a real estate empire, and secure their family’s futures. For the controlling patriarch, succession is a contest. He and his newest wife won’t make it an easy win.

Then Richard’s estranged live-wire daughter, Sibley, crashes the party. She’s the least of the night’s surprises. As the stakes for the inheritance of the Kingsley legacy are raised, the beautiful waters of the Pacific look more like a menacing illusion.

Let the games begin for a family who has everything money can buy, and has used lies, deception, and more to keep it. This weekend one of them will be crowned heir. One is in line to lose everything. That’s the plan. But in the coming storm, so much can go dangerously wrong.

©2023 Kaira Sturdivant Rouda. (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“When the wealthy patriarch of a family business invites his children on a trip from Newport Beach to Catalina Island aboard his new yacht, Rouda fans will know to buckle their seat belts…. King Lear goes to the beach. Yes.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Original, clever, deftly crafted, and featuring the author's distinctive and narrative driven storytelling style”—Midwest Book Review

“It's Succession on a yacht in this delicious and fast-paced thriller! Beneath the Surface has it all—secrets, lies, and rich family drama. Filled with characters you love to hate, this was a twisty and entertaining ride I never wanted to end. Rouda is at her best!”—Jeneva Rose, New York Times bestselling author of You Shouldn't Have Come Here

Wild Thriller!

This might be my favorite book by this author yet! More family drama and secrets than you can shake a stick at and a blowout finish. The performances weren’t all amazing, but they were good, and I loved the full cast!

Love that the author choose different narrators to bring this book to life.

Richard is the king of Kingsley Global, but life has a way of catching up to you. Now Richard must choose his successor, but who will he pick. His kids all have skeletons and he is unsure he can trust any one of them. Does what happens on the yacht stay one the yacht? Will secrets long buried bring trouble for the corporation?

Could have been so good

It has all the right ingredients and then it’s like the cook put the cake in the oven but forgot to turn it on and it came out majorly meh

Great listen

The storyline, performances and overall experience was great. I was NOT ready for the ending. I highly recommend.

Feel like it lacked a lot

Not my favorite and I love most of what the author writes. Some of the narration is good others were awful. I listened through Kindle Unlimited and glad I didn’t spend a credit on it.

Not As Good As I Had Hoped

Had a lot of potential but, overall, I think it’s worth about 3-½ Stars. In the beginning it seemed to be building up to an exciting ending, but it didn’t happen. Characters were too predictable and there was almost no action of consequence. However, the audio performance was very good and easy to listen to.

Succession Comes to Mind.

For her first novel I've listened to, not a bad start at all. If there's more in this series, will be sure to give them a listen. All narrators are in top form, though the narrator for Richard's POV chapters is the only one I've heard clips of before. Still, all handle their parts extremely well.

Fun Fast-paced Suspense

Enjoyed this one lots including the multiple narrators and fun suspenseful storyline. Can't wait for her next one.

Twisted family!

Twisted family members on a yacht getaway with all plotting against each other. Secrets prove that no one has good intentions. Told from perspectives of several characters make this #thriller a 5 ⭐️read!

I adore Kaira Rouda as a favorite writer of #psychologicalsuspense!

The different narrators for each person were wonderful!

For fans of Succession...

One weekend onboard a yacht. Three children with their significant others. One wife. More secrets than one can count. That's the recipe for "Beneath the Surface" - a fast-paced psychological thriller that ends with the reins of a billion-dollar company changing hands.

While this thriller deviates from the common murder mystery who-done-it, we do have quite a few twists and turns as we try uncovering the plethora of secrets before they are revealed. Think you have all the answers? Pay attention to what is going on - and what everyone is doing/saying, since some are more obvious than others.

Fans of the show Succession will find similarities with this tale. The cutthroat family dynamics and high-stakes corporate intrigue echo through every chapter, keeping you on the edge of your seat. The characters are as complex as they are compelling, each hiding motives that unravel in shocking ways.

The setting of the luxury yacht adds an extra layer of claustrophobic tension. The confined space heightens the suspense, making every interaction fraught with potential betrayal. The atmosphere is palpable, drawing you into the world of the ultra-wealthy where appearances are deceiving, and trust is a rare commodity.

While this isn't a dramatized audio, there are multiple narrators for the various POVs, and I appreciate the nuances the characters the narrators were able to portray. The shifting perspectives offer a deeper dive into each character's psyche, revealing their fears, desires, and the lengths they will go to protect their secrets. It's a masterclass in narration that enhances the immersive experience of this gripping thriller.