On the Surface by Rachel McGuire (Crooked Lane Books)

The crime novel is the collaboration of two writers who write under the pen name Rachel McGuire. Perhaps that is why it sometimes comes across as too casual in its tone. There are lengthy dialogues that often do not contribute much to the plot.

Nonetheless, the setting is exquisite, with a picturesque sea, coastline, and a community of people living year-round on their boats. However, not everything is as idyllic as it seems. Such a lifestyle requires a significant amount of money for boat maintenance, mooring fees, navigation expenses, and food. Hence, many individuals resort to monetizing their YouTube channels.

Sawyer Stone III and Dani Fox, a young couple who spend their time sailing around the world on their sailboat and documenting their adventures for their new YouTube channel called Sailing with the Foxes, have dropped anchor in Exuma, in the Bahamas. While they wait for the cryptocurrency market to recover so they can restock and continue their journey, they socialize and explore along with their fellow cruisers offshore. On the surface, everything appears to be perfect. However, one night, Dani unexpectedly disappears after a boat party, and Sawyer cannot remember what happened to her.

Initially, the search for Dani is fueled by concerns that she may have drowned during one of her regular ocean swims. However, Dani's pre-recorded video uploads, made before her disappearance, soon shed light on the strained dynamics of her relationship with Sawyer. Meanwhile, Inspector Veronique Knowles of the Royal Bahamas Police Force faces the challenge of keeping the investigation on track amidst the viral attention surrounding the American woman's disappearance in the Bahamas, while internet sleuths uncover secrets from Sawyer's past. Sawyer Stone may be flawed, but is he a murderer?

Welcome to a world brimming with narcissists and psychopaths. Without revealing too much of the story, the novel is both suspenseful and packed with unexpected twists and turns. You'll thoroughly enjoy it, especially when it is released in the summer.

3/5