What do you think?
Rate this book
The Surfacing
The secrets you bury don’t disappear. They rot…
It’s twelve years since teenager Peter Ferguson drowned in Loch Ness—on the same night that Stephanie, her mother and her sister, Aurelie, were camping on its shores. In the shocking aftermath, their family and life as they knew it fell apart, and the sisters no longer speak. But now Aurelie is getting married, and Stephanie realises that a reunion might finally bring the truth about that fateful night to the surface…
As the wedding celebrations get underway, tongues loosen, and dangerous whispers circulate among the guests. Yet the real danger—the rot that threatens to break them all—might come from within the family itself. As she confronts the suspicions swirling around her, Stephanie is about to uncover secrets that will change all their lives forever.
She never planned to get blood on her hands in her pursuit of the truth. But as the clock ticks down on the family reunion, that may be her only option…
It’s twelve years since teenager Peter Ferguson drowned in Loch Ness—on the same night that Stephanie, her mother and her sister, Aurelie, were camping on its shores. In the shocking aftermath, their family and life as they knew it fell apart, and the sisters no longer speak. But now Aurelie is getting married, and Stephanie realises that a reunion might finally bring the truth about that fateful night to the surface…
As the wedding celebrations get underway, tongues loosen, and dangerous whispers circulate among the guests. Yet the real danger—the rot that threatens to break them all—might come from within the family itself. As she confronts the suspicions swirling around her, Stephanie is about to uncover secrets that will change all their lives forever.
She never planned to get blood on her hands in her pursuit of the truth. But as the clock ticks down on the family reunion, that may be her only option…
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2025
1005 people are currently reading
3779 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
February 12, 2025
Before I start off with my review I'd like to thank Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, and author Claire Ackroyd for this ARC.
When I first read the blurb for The Surfacing, I was hooked.
A long-buried family tragedy, a tense reunion, and the ominous undercurrent of Loch Ness?
Well, Sign me up.
Claire Ackroyd sets the stage for a slow-burning psychological thriller that promises dark secrets, family dysfunction, and a mystery waiting to bubble to the surface.
And while the book delivers on atmosphere and tension, it doesn’t fully capitalize on its potential.
The story follows Stephanie, who returns to her estranged family for her sister Aurelie’s wedding—an event that stirs up painful memories of the night Peter Ferguson drowned.
As whispers and long-held grudges resurface, Stephanie digs for the truth, only to find herself tangled in something far more sinister than she expected. The premise is solid, and Ackroyd’s writing effectively builds suspense, but the pacing occasionally drags, and some of the character development feels frustratingly incomplete.
Thematically, The Surfacing explores grief, guilt, and the corrosive nature of secrets. The problem? the characters lack the depth needed to truly bring the story to life. The tension fizzles in places where it should have snapped.
I appreciate the ARC and Ackroyd’s skill in crafting an eerie, moody read. However, with sharper pacing and stronger emotional payoffs, this could have been great rather than just good.
A solid 3.25/5—worth a read, but I wanted more.
When I first read the blurb for The Surfacing, I was hooked.
A long-buried family tragedy, a tense reunion, and the ominous undercurrent of Loch Ness?
Well, Sign me up.
Claire Ackroyd sets the stage for a slow-burning psychological thriller that promises dark secrets, family dysfunction, and a mystery waiting to bubble to the surface.
And while the book delivers on atmosphere and tension, it doesn’t fully capitalize on its potential.
The story follows Stephanie, who returns to her estranged family for her sister Aurelie’s wedding—an event that stirs up painful memories of the night Peter Ferguson drowned.
As whispers and long-held grudges resurface, Stephanie digs for the truth, only to find herself tangled in something far more sinister than she expected. The premise is solid, and Ackroyd’s writing effectively builds suspense, but the pacing occasionally drags, and some of the character development feels frustratingly incomplete.
Thematically, The Surfacing explores grief, guilt, and the corrosive nature of secrets. The problem? the characters lack the depth needed to truly bring the story to life. The tension fizzles in places where it should have snapped.
I appreciate the ARC and Ackroyd’s skill in crafting an eerie, moody read. However, with sharper pacing and stronger emotional payoffs, this could have been great rather than just good.
A solid 3.25/5—worth a read, but I wanted more.
May 15, 2025
I want to start by saying this is wonderful for a debut. I think it is a debut. Regardless, I enjoyed it and was impressed.
I'll admit, I nearly gave up on it in the beginning but I want to encourage people to stick it out. Our main character, Stephanie, at first seems petty and without substance but that is not the case. Her quirks made me laugh, but as the story continues, we see why she is the way she is and that she isn't without feeling or emotion, she's been hurt. If you give it a chance, she's a likeable main character!
This author has a writing style I ended up admiring. I liked how the story went by the hours instead of long and drawn out. We got snippets of the past, showing us why things are the way they are, along the way. It's easy for that to confuse the story, but I felt it was done seamlessly, even though the past time frames differed.
Stephanie is traveling to her estranged sister's wedding, but she has an ulterior motive. Two disappearances occured years ago and Stephanie is determined to find out which skeleton in her past holds the answers. We hear some Scottish lore along the way, which I found interesting. I thought the loch ness monster wasn't going to be mentioned but luckily I was wrong! Shoutout to Nessie.
I'll admit, I nearly gave up on it in the beginning but I want to encourage people to stick it out. Our main character, Stephanie, at first seems petty and without substance but that is not the case. Her quirks made me laugh, but as the story continues, we see why she is the way she is and that she isn't without feeling or emotion, she's been hurt. If you give it a chance, she's a likeable main character!
This author has a writing style I ended up admiring. I liked how the story went by the hours instead of long and drawn out. We got snippets of the past, showing us why things are the way they are, along the way. It's easy for that to confuse the story, but I felt it was done seamlessly, even though the past time frames differed.
Stephanie is traveling to her estranged sister's wedding, but she has an ulterior motive. Two disappearances occured years ago and Stephanie is determined to find out which skeleton in her past holds the answers. We hear some Scottish lore along the way, which I found interesting. I thought the loch ness monster wasn't going to be mentioned but luckily I was wrong! Shoutout to Nessie.
June 4, 2025
I’m really surprised that the ratings aren’t a bit higher for this title. It’s the most I’ve enjoyed a mystery/thriller in a while. I didn’t guess the ending, or the actual end either and that’s always a massive win for me.
All in all a cracking debut, our fmc is snippy, snarky and I found her to be really funny, but as the story progressed I could also empathise with her. Set on a location wedding we first meet Stephanie as she makes her way to her estranged sisters wedding, the location is where they spent childhood holidays, and also at the root of a lot of longhand secrets, the story itself it plotted really well and flips seamlessly between now and then, there are some beautiful descriptions of some lovely parts of Scotland if you fancy a visit, and as I said I did not guess the outcome. I really enjoyed Ackroyds writing style and use of language.
I’ll look forward to more to come from the author, and I absolutely loved the narration, Elizabeth Knowelden felt like the perfect fit for Stephanie 🎧
Huge thanks to Brilliance Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook which is available now.
All in all a cracking debut, our fmc is snippy, snarky and I found her to be really funny, but as the story progressed I could also empathise with her. Set on a location wedding we first meet Stephanie as she makes her way to her estranged sisters wedding, the location is where they spent childhood holidays, and also at the root of a lot of longhand secrets, the story itself it plotted really well and flips seamlessly between now and then, there are some beautiful descriptions of some lovely parts of Scotland if you fancy a visit, and as I said I did not guess the outcome. I really enjoyed Ackroyds writing style and use of language.
I’ll look forward to more to come from the author, and I absolutely loved the narration, Elizabeth Knowelden felt like the perfect fit for Stephanie 🎧
Huge thanks to Brilliance Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook which is available now.
May 25, 2025
The premise is decent but my goodness the writing! Every single thing is described in such (unnecessary) detail. It’s like the author had a word count to meet and would meet it any way she could.
I found the storytelling pretty pedestrian - possibly because of all the descriptions of every scene, item, emotion, body part, you name it.
It’s very rare for me to DNF a book but if I’d not been reading this for my book group I’d have abandoned it about 1/3 of the way in.
I finished it a week ago and have only just got round to reviewing it but I had to read the synopsis to remind myself what it was even about.
Two stars because it had promise and it’s a first book - one book more than I’ve ever written 🤣
I found the storytelling pretty pedestrian - possibly because of all the descriptions of every scene, item, emotion, body part, you name it.
It’s very rare for me to DNF a book but if I’d not been reading this for my book group I’d have abandoned it about 1/3 of the way in.
I finished it a week ago and have only just got round to reviewing it but I had to read the synopsis to remind myself what it was even about.
Two stars because it had promise and it’s a first book - one book more than I’ve ever written 🤣
July 17, 2025
Thank you Netgalley, for this book to review
I read up to 75% of this book & I really couldn't get into it, The book was interesting for me to begin with but unfortunately, I started losing interest around 30% in & didn't concentrate on what was happening much.
I can see this working for others and being highly enjoyed but the characters felt flat for me
I read up to 75% of this book & I really couldn't get into it, The book was interesting for me to begin with but unfortunately, I started losing interest around 30% in & didn't concentrate on what was happening much.
I can see this working for others and being highly enjoyed but the characters felt flat for me
June 26, 2025
When you think of thrillers you want
plot twists. You want to get to the end of the book and think I know who did it. But then get it totally wrong.
Them this book has all that and more. I couldn't put it down and all the way through the twists kept on giving.
Will be a book I always recommend absolutely loved it.
This is Claire Ackroyd first novel and I will def be keeping my eye out for more Claire Ackroyd books.
plot twists. You want to get to the end of the book and think I know who did it. But then get it totally wrong.
Them this book has all that and more. I couldn't put it down and all the way through the twists kept on giving.
Will be a book I always recommend absolutely loved it.
This is Claire Ackroyd first novel and I will def be keeping my eye out for more Claire Ackroyd books.
June 19, 2025
Claire Ackroyd's debut psychological thriller The Surfacing emerges from the depths like a creature from Loch Ness itself—unexpected, unsettling, and impossible to ignore. This meticulously crafted novel weaves together family dysfunction, long-buried secrets, and the suffocating weight of guilt into a narrative that grips readers from the opening line: "No one was meant to die. It was my sister's wedding, after all, and my mother didn't want to spoil the day with a corpse."
The novel centers on Stephanie, a twenty-seven-year-old artist living in self-imposed exile in the Scottish Highlands, who reluctantly returns for her estranged sister Aurelie's wedding. Twelve years earlier, teenager Peter Ferguson drowned in Loch Ness on the same night the family was camping on its shores—a tragedy that shattered their lives and drove the sisters apart. When anonymous threats suggest someone knows more about that fateful night than they should, what begins as a family reunion transforms into a deadly reckoning with the past.
Character Development: Flawed Humanity at Its Finest
Ackroyd demonstrates remarkable skill in creating deeply flawed yet compelling characters. Stephanie emerges as an unreliable narrator whose bitterness and isolation make her simultaneously sympathetic and unsettling. Her voice carries the weight of someone who has spent years nursing grudges and justifying increasingly dark thoughts. The author captures the complexity of sibling rivalry with devastating accuracy—Aurelie's superficial perfection masking deeper vulnerabilities, while Stephanie's intellectual superiority barely conceals her desperate need for connection.
The supporting cast feels equally authentic. Sarah, Aurelie's school friend, embodies the casual cruelty of adolescence that follows people into adulthood. Mike, the best man harboring his own secrets, provides glimpses into how guilt manifests differently in each person. Even minor characters like Kirsty, Peter's grieving mother, are rendered with careful attention to their individual pain and motivations.
What sets Ackroyd apart is her refusal to provide easy redemption arcs. These characters remain stubbornly human throughout—capable of both kindness and cruelty, often within the same scene. Stephanie's relationship with Jennifer, the bullied school friend whose removal from her life becomes a catalyst for her unraveling, showcases Ackroyd's understanding of how trauma shapes personality in unexpected ways.
Narrative Structure: A Masterclass in Tension Building
The novel's structure proves particularly effective, alternating between the wedding weekend in 2017 and flashbacks to the summer of 2005. This dual timeline creates mounting tension as readers gradually understand the connections between past and present. Ackroyd employs a technique reminiscent of Agatha Christie but with modern psychological depth—each revelation recontextualizes earlier scenes, forcing readers to question their assumptions about character motivations.
The time-stamped chapters during the wedding weekend create an almost real-time urgency. As Saturday evening approaches, the ticking clock becomes almost audible. This structural choice heightens the psychological pressure, making readers feel trapped alongside the characters at this increasingly claustrophobic celebration.
The author's use of foreshadowing deserves particular praise. Seemingly innocent details—lilies at the wedding, Stephanie's utility knife for sharpening pencils, her mother's deteriorating health—all become significant as the narrative unfolds. This layered approach rewards careful readers while maintaining accessibility for those simply seeking a compelling thriller.
Atmospheric Excellence: The Scottish Highlands as Character
Ackroyd's background as an economist-turned-writer brings unexpected benefits to her descriptive passages. Her depiction of the Scottish Highlands feels both romantically beautiful and subtly threatening. Loch Ness becomes more than mere setting—it's a character in its own right, holding secrets and reflecting the characters' internal states.
The author captures the claustrophobic nature of small communities where everyone knows everyone else's business, yet massive secrets can still fester for years. The contrast between the wedding's forced celebration and the underlying tensions creates an atmosphere thick with unspoken accusations and barely contained violence.
Water imagery permeates the novel, from Stephanie's cold-water swimming to the fatal confrontation at the lake. Ackroyd uses this motif skillfully, connecting themes of cleansing, drowning, and revelation. The metaphor of things "surfacing" works on multiple levels—physical evidence emerging from water, repressed memories rising to consciousness, and hidden truths finally coming to light.
Psychological Depth: Exploring the Nature of Guilt and Justice
Where The Surfacing truly excels is in its exploration of moral ambiguity. Ackroyd refuses to provide clear heroes or villains, instead presenting characters whose actions stem from understandable motivations even when they're morally questionable. Stephanie's vigilante justice regarding Peter Ferguson's death raises uncomfortable questions about the nature of justice and revenge.
The novel examines how trauma reverberates through families and communities, showing how one tragic event can poison relationships for decades. The author's portrayal of sibling relationships—particularly the toxic dynamic between Stephanie and Aurelie—feels authentically painful. Their inability to communicate directly about their shared trauma reflects how families often fail each other at crucial moments.
Ackroyd also explores themes of social class and bullying with nuanced understanding. Jennifer's treatment at school and Stephanie's helpless rage at injustice provide insight into how powerlessness in adolescence can create destructive patterns in adulthood. The novel suggests that sometimes the victims of bullying can become the most dangerous perpetrators of violence.
Critical Analysis: Areas for Improvement
Despite its many strengths, The Surfacing occasionally struggles with pacing in its middle sections. Some flashback sequences, particularly those detailing school dynamics, feel slightly overwrought compared to the taut tension of the wedding weekend chapters. The novel might have benefited from tighter editing in these areas.
Additionally, while Stephanie's unreliable narration serves the story well, some readers may find her voice increasingly unsympathetic as her true nature becomes apparent. This isn't necessarily a flaw—unreliable narrators should challenge readers—but it may limit the novel's appeal for those seeking more traditionally heroic protagonists.
The resolution, while shocking, raises questions about justice and comeuppance that some readers may find unsatisfying. Ackroyd commits fully to her dark vision, but this may leave readers wanting more conventional closure.
Writing Style: Precise Prose with Emotional Resonance
Ackroyd's prose style demonstrates the precision one might expect from someone with an economics background, but infused with genuine emotional intelligence. Her sentences have weight and purpose, with carefully chosen details that serve both character development and plot advancement. The author shows particular skill in capturing the rhythm of family conversations—the way people dance around difficult topics, using shared history as both weapon and shield.
The dialogue feels authentic without becoming overly naturalistic. Characters speak in distinct voices that reflect their personalities and backgrounds. Stephanie's internal monologue, with its mixture of self-justification and genuine insight, carries the novel effectively even when her actions become increasingly disturbing.
Final Verdict: A Compelling Debut with Lasting Impact
The Surfacing succeeds as both an engaging thriller and a serious examination of family trauma. Ackroyd has created a novel that works on multiple levels—as a page-turning mystery, a psychological character study, and a meditation on justice and revenge. While not without minor flaws, the book establishes its author as a voice worth following in the psychological thriller genre.
The novel's greatest strength lies in its refusal to provide easy answers or comfortable resolutions. Like the best psychological thrillers, it leaves readers questioning their own moral certainties while delivering the visceral satisfaction of a well-constructed plot. Ackroyd proves that debut novels can indeed make a significant splash, even when they emerge from waters as dark and mysterious as Loch Ness itself.
The novel centers on Stephanie, a twenty-seven-year-old artist living in self-imposed exile in the Scottish Highlands, who reluctantly returns for her estranged sister Aurelie's wedding. Twelve years earlier, teenager Peter Ferguson drowned in Loch Ness on the same night the family was camping on its shores—a tragedy that shattered their lives and drove the sisters apart. When anonymous threats suggest someone knows more about that fateful night than they should, what begins as a family reunion transforms into a deadly reckoning with the past.
Character Development: Flawed Humanity at Its Finest
Ackroyd demonstrates remarkable skill in creating deeply flawed yet compelling characters. Stephanie emerges as an unreliable narrator whose bitterness and isolation make her simultaneously sympathetic and unsettling. Her voice carries the weight of someone who has spent years nursing grudges and justifying increasingly dark thoughts. The author captures the complexity of sibling rivalry with devastating accuracy—Aurelie's superficial perfection masking deeper vulnerabilities, while Stephanie's intellectual superiority barely conceals her desperate need for connection.
The supporting cast feels equally authentic. Sarah, Aurelie's school friend, embodies the casual cruelty of adolescence that follows people into adulthood. Mike, the best man harboring his own secrets, provides glimpses into how guilt manifests differently in each person. Even minor characters like Kirsty, Peter's grieving mother, are rendered with careful attention to their individual pain and motivations.
What sets Ackroyd apart is her refusal to provide easy redemption arcs. These characters remain stubbornly human throughout—capable of both kindness and cruelty, often within the same scene. Stephanie's relationship with Jennifer, the bullied school friend whose removal from her life becomes a catalyst for her unraveling, showcases Ackroyd's understanding of how trauma shapes personality in unexpected ways.
Narrative Structure: A Masterclass in Tension Building
The novel's structure proves particularly effective, alternating between the wedding weekend in 2017 and flashbacks to the summer of 2005. This dual timeline creates mounting tension as readers gradually understand the connections between past and present. Ackroyd employs a technique reminiscent of Agatha Christie but with modern psychological depth—each revelation recontextualizes earlier scenes, forcing readers to question their assumptions about character motivations.
The time-stamped chapters during the wedding weekend create an almost real-time urgency. As Saturday evening approaches, the ticking clock becomes almost audible. This structural choice heightens the psychological pressure, making readers feel trapped alongside the characters at this increasingly claustrophobic celebration.
The author's use of foreshadowing deserves particular praise. Seemingly innocent details—lilies at the wedding, Stephanie's utility knife for sharpening pencils, her mother's deteriorating health—all become significant as the narrative unfolds. This layered approach rewards careful readers while maintaining accessibility for those simply seeking a compelling thriller.
Atmospheric Excellence: The Scottish Highlands as Character
Ackroyd's background as an economist-turned-writer brings unexpected benefits to her descriptive passages. Her depiction of the Scottish Highlands feels both romantically beautiful and subtly threatening. Loch Ness becomes more than mere setting—it's a character in its own right, holding secrets and reflecting the characters' internal states.
The author captures the claustrophobic nature of small communities where everyone knows everyone else's business, yet massive secrets can still fester for years. The contrast between the wedding's forced celebration and the underlying tensions creates an atmosphere thick with unspoken accusations and barely contained violence.
Water imagery permeates the novel, from Stephanie's cold-water swimming to the fatal confrontation at the lake. Ackroyd uses this motif skillfully, connecting themes of cleansing, drowning, and revelation. The metaphor of things "surfacing" works on multiple levels—physical evidence emerging from water, repressed memories rising to consciousness, and hidden truths finally coming to light.
Psychological Depth: Exploring the Nature of Guilt and Justice
Where The Surfacing truly excels is in its exploration of moral ambiguity. Ackroyd refuses to provide clear heroes or villains, instead presenting characters whose actions stem from understandable motivations even when they're morally questionable. Stephanie's vigilante justice regarding Peter Ferguson's death raises uncomfortable questions about the nature of justice and revenge.
The novel examines how trauma reverberates through families and communities, showing how one tragic event can poison relationships for decades. The author's portrayal of sibling relationships—particularly the toxic dynamic between Stephanie and Aurelie—feels authentically painful. Their inability to communicate directly about their shared trauma reflects how families often fail each other at crucial moments.
Ackroyd also explores themes of social class and bullying with nuanced understanding. Jennifer's treatment at school and Stephanie's helpless rage at injustice provide insight into how powerlessness in adolescence can create destructive patterns in adulthood. The novel suggests that sometimes the victims of bullying can become the most dangerous perpetrators of violence.
Critical Analysis: Areas for Improvement
Despite its many strengths, The Surfacing occasionally struggles with pacing in its middle sections. Some flashback sequences, particularly those detailing school dynamics, feel slightly overwrought compared to the taut tension of the wedding weekend chapters. The novel might have benefited from tighter editing in these areas.
Additionally, while Stephanie's unreliable narration serves the story well, some readers may find her voice increasingly unsympathetic as her true nature becomes apparent. This isn't necessarily a flaw—unreliable narrators should challenge readers—but it may limit the novel's appeal for those seeking more traditionally heroic protagonists.
The resolution, while shocking, raises questions about justice and comeuppance that some readers may find unsatisfying. Ackroyd commits fully to her dark vision, but this may leave readers wanting more conventional closure.
Writing Style: Precise Prose with Emotional Resonance
Ackroyd's prose style demonstrates the precision one might expect from someone with an economics background, but infused with genuine emotional intelligence. Her sentences have weight and purpose, with carefully chosen details that serve both character development and plot advancement. The author shows particular skill in capturing the rhythm of family conversations—the way people dance around difficult topics, using shared history as both weapon and shield.
The dialogue feels authentic without becoming overly naturalistic. Characters speak in distinct voices that reflect their personalities and backgrounds. Stephanie's internal monologue, with its mixture of self-justification and genuine insight, carries the novel effectively even when her actions become increasingly disturbing.
Final Verdict: A Compelling Debut with Lasting Impact
The Surfacing succeeds as both an engaging thriller and a serious examination of family trauma. Ackroyd has created a novel that works on multiple levels—as a page-turning mystery, a psychological character study, and a meditation on justice and revenge. While not without minor flaws, the book establishes its author as a voice worth following in the psychological thriller genre.
The novel's greatest strength lies in its refusal to provide easy answers or comfortable resolutions. Like the best psychological thrillers, it leaves readers questioning their own moral certainties while delivering the visceral satisfaction of a well-constructed plot. Ackroyd proves that debut novels can indeed make a significant splash, even when they emerge from waters as dark and mysterious as Loch Ness itself.
June 14, 2025
Thank you so much to @tandemcollectiveuk for having me on this readalong.
It's told in a very different way from the very beginning you are told that Stephanie has killed someone at her sisters wedding but we don't know who and as the book goes along as she travels to the wedding and the day of the wedding snippets are dropped in of what has happened in the past years to get to this point now.
But I definitely did not see the ending coming at all I was very surprised I went between two people being guilty and certainly not the one that it turned out to be.
I didn't like most of the characters if I'm honest especially sarah and Stephanie's mother and father and even her sister. The one I felt sorry for maybe I shouldn't of but I think it depends how you look at it.
it's a good read and certainly told in a different way.
It's told in a very different way from the very beginning you are told that Stephanie has killed someone at her sisters wedding but we don't know who and as the book goes along as she travels to the wedding and the day of the wedding snippets are dropped in of what has happened in the past years to get to this point now.
But I definitely did not see the ending coming at all I was very surprised I went between two people being guilty and certainly not the one that it turned out to be.
I didn't like most of the characters if I'm honest especially sarah and Stephanie's mother and father and even her sister. The one I felt sorry for maybe I shouldn't of but I think it depends how you look at it.
it's a good read and certainly told in a different way.
June 13, 2025
Claire Ackroyd delivers a twisty, atmospheric page-turner that slowly unravels the truth behind a drowning, a fractured family, and a sisterly reunion that’s anything but sweet. I was hooked from the first whisper of suspicion to the final, jaw-clenching reveal.
Perfect for fans of slow-burn suspense and stories where the real monsters aren’t in the water—they're at the wedding.
Thank you Claire Ackroyd, Brilliance, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!
#thesurfacing #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreview #netgalley #arcreview #arc #arcreader #review #somanybookssolittletime
Perfect for fans of slow-burn suspense and stories where the real monsters aren’t in the water—they're at the wedding.
Thank you Claire Ackroyd, Brilliance, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!
#thesurfacing #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreview #netgalley #arcreview #arc #arcreader #review #somanybookssolittletime
August 6, 2025
I’m really surprised that the ratings aren’t a bit higher for this title. It’s the most I’ve enjoyed a mystery/thriller in a while. I didn’t guess the ending, or the actual end either, and that’s always a massive win for me.
May 14, 2025
An easy read, I liked how it moved from past to present. I did not expect the ending!
May 24, 2025
Secrets aplenty are revealed at a family wedding.
That's all I'm telling you about the synopsis. With dual timelines, we are treated to what happened in the past and how the issues were addressed in the present. I'm a sucker for big secret reveals in thrillers so I loved the shock factor that came with this one.
This was a pretty solid debut by the author. I look forward to reading what she writes next.
That's all I'm telling you about the synopsis. With dual timelines, we are treated to what happened in the past and how the issues were addressed in the present. I'm a sucker for big secret reveals in thrillers so I loved the shock factor that came with this one.
This was a pretty solid debut by the author. I look forward to reading what she writes next.
May 23, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this digital ARC!
This had a promising premise where many years ago a boy goes missing by a lake and that is where thr FMC was camping with her family. Now she’s on her way to her estranged sisters wedding and the story unfolds.
This was a very slowburn thriller which I couldn’t get into as I felt the characters lacked depth. It was hard to stay interested despite a clear narrative. I did enjoy the dual timeline.
Overall, a decent read for me.
This had a promising premise where many years ago a boy goes missing by a lake and that is where thr FMC was camping with her family. Now she’s on her way to her estranged sisters wedding and the story unfolds.
This was a very slowburn thriller which I couldn’t get into as I felt the characters lacked depth. It was hard to stay interested despite a clear narrative. I did enjoy the dual timeline.
Overall, a decent read for me.
May 29, 2025
Enjoyed this debut thriller, courtesy of Amazon first reads. Several twists and turns that I didn't manage to work out.
May 28, 2025
I didn’t finish . Too slow . Nothing much had happened at 60% , gave up .
January 6, 2025
Stephanie is reluctantly attending her estranged sister Aurelie's wedding, although she has ulterior motives for being there. She cut off their relationship years ago after the death of a teenager on Loch Ness where her family was camping. That tragedy has followed them for the past twelve years and she's decided the wedding is the perfect chance to get some questions answered. There's not much to describe without giving away key elements of the plot, but there was a lot of untruth surrounding the night Peter drowned.
Shortly before the wedding, Stephanie's mother wrote to her and begged her to attend because she also had unfinished business. Her mother is dying from cancer and Stephanie can't deny her wishes. Her father will also be there, albeit with his new family, and Stephanie's certainly not looking forward to that. She's never forgiven him for leaving them, or in her eyes, abandoning them, when she and her sister were teenagers. So there's already quite a bit of family drama before adding in the questions she has about the past. But can she handle any truth she uncovers or will it finally break her for good?
It ends up being quite an intricate mystery with many players. There are a plethora of secrets, some that may surprise you and some you may see coming. Stephanie's character is odd, almost like she's on the autism spectrum, as she takes everything literally and says things like she's 'studied enough emotion charts to know that's not a typical reaction.' But it's never mentioned that she's different in a clinical way, she's just laughed off as if she merely has a dry personality. And you'd expect her sister to be terrible but she's really not. Aurelie was the one who kept reaching out to Stephanie and getting ignored, not vice versa.
Maybe after everything that's revealed were supposed to think Stephanie was just traumatized and unable to handle reality but I don't know. It just didn't quite work. And I wasn't a big fan of the ending and her idea of justice. I'd probably read more by this author though, I was compelled to keep turning pages and see how it was all going to come together. It's a solid dark mystery, I'd say. A bit unsettling and unresolved, but hey, that's life.
Shortly before the wedding, Stephanie's mother wrote to her and begged her to attend because she also had unfinished business. Her mother is dying from cancer and Stephanie can't deny her wishes. Her father will also be there, albeit with his new family, and Stephanie's certainly not looking forward to that. She's never forgiven him for leaving them, or in her eyes, abandoning them, when she and her sister were teenagers. So there's already quite a bit of family drama before adding in the questions she has about the past. But can she handle any truth she uncovers or will it finally break her for good?
It ends up being quite an intricate mystery with many players. There are a plethora of secrets, some that may surprise you and some you may see coming. Stephanie's character is odd, almost like she's on the autism spectrum, as she takes everything literally and says things like she's 'studied enough emotion charts to know that's not a typical reaction.' But it's never mentioned that she's different in a clinical way, she's just laughed off as if she merely has a dry personality. And you'd expect her sister to be terrible but she's really not. Aurelie was the one who kept reaching out to Stephanie and getting ignored, not vice versa.
Maybe after everything that's revealed were supposed to think Stephanie was just traumatized and unable to handle reality but I don't know. It just didn't quite work. And I wasn't a big fan of the ending and her idea of justice. I'd probably read more by this author though, I was compelled to keep turning pages and see how it was all going to come together. It's a solid dark mystery, I'd say. A bit unsettling and unresolved, but hey, that's life.
May 5, 2025
Rating: 2.1/5
There are elements of this debut novel from Claire Ackroyd that exhibit a genuine talent for writing. Unfortunately, however, the book as a whole did not provide a particularly satisfying reading experience for me.
After a reasonably engaging and encouraging opening, the narrative becomes quite wearisome with its constant monotonous, maudlin tone. The develelopment of the story burns so slowly that its faintly glowing embers regularly seem to be in danger of going out completely. It is only in the final quarter that events spark into life, but the absence of any sense of growing intrigue or suspense leading up to this point meant that I didn't really care any more and just wanted to get to the final page.
There are elements of this debut novel from Claire Ackroyd that exhibit a genuine talent for writing. Unfortunately, however, the book as a whole did not provide a particularly satisfying reading experience for me.
After a reasonably engaging and encouraging opening, the narrative becomes quite wearisome with its constant monotonous, maudlin tone. The develelopment of the story burns so slowly that its faintly glowing embers regularly seem to be in danger of going out completely. It is only in the final quarter that events spark into life, but the absence of any sense of growing intrigue or suspense leading up to this point meant that I didn't really care any more and just wanted to get to the final page.
June 4, 2025
I enjoyed the writing, loved the characterisation, I even laughed at times, but the plot seemed almost incidental and suffered because of that.
July 8, 2025
What. A. Twist.
This book had me gripped from the very first chapter! I fell in love with Stephanie and her blunt approach to everyone. I hated her family for the way they treated her...but honestly I could NOT predict what was going to come out in the last part of this book and it literally left me speechless and rethink everything I felt towards the characters.
This book had me gripped from the very first chapter! I fell in love with Stephanie and her blunt approach to everyone. I hated her family for the way they treated her...but honestly I could NOT predict what was going to come out in the last part of this book and it literally left me speechless and rethink everything I felt towards the characters.
April 15, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley & Lake Union Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Genres, settings, categories, themes: mystery, suspense, thriller, slow, family, Scottish highlands, English manor, wedding,
POV: 1st person, Stephanie's perspective
Series/Sequencing Style: standalone
Format: ebook (e-arc from Netgalley)
🔽🔽🔽
Overall ratings
~ Characters ~ 3.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑 A bit hard to really puzzle out how everyone is in reality versus what you’re seeing through Stephanie’s lens. Maybe interesting as character studies, although most come off as unlikable.
~ Plot ~ 3.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑 A lot of this book is about the wedding and extra details that felt superfluous. I know some was for dramatic effect and some was to add a tense suspense atmosphere, but ultimately, there was a lot of filler for what was a fairly good plot underneath it.
~ Pacing ~ 3/5 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑 a little slow for me personally
~ Writing ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 could use one more pass of checking by the editor for minor spelling errors (noted “woman” instead of “women” for example), and the style was a bit odd due to the narrator’s voice, which was a little stunted and choppy (intentionally because we were in her mind)
~ Reading enjoyability & fun ~ 2/5 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
~ Diversity & representation: WLW MC, something is different about Stephanie's brain, but I don't want to try to guess what
~ Sadness level: 2.5/5
🔽🔽🔽
❗CW/Triggers:❗adultery, alcoholism, car crash, drowning, missing-presumed-dead child (by relation, not age - 19-20 yo) parental abandonment, self harm, suicidal thoughts,
🔽🔽🔽
📝 Review/Notes 📝
So this narrator is interesting...I honestly thought she had autism and didn’t understand why no one was more respectful and understanding of that…I honestly feel bad for assuming that now, because I'm pretty sure Her character is a bit complicated and perhaps confusing in the conclusion.
The unreliable narration of being in Stephanie’s head could prompt discussion points - for example, are these people she hates really so bad? Her sister allowed her to be bullied and never really fixed that, but maybe she wanted to? Early on, we are sympathetic to Stephanie and at least I felt like she was totally fair cutting these people off and assumed her sister was a bad person. But what if that's just because we are seeing things through her perspective and they're actually okay?
Overall, not a bad book, just was a bit off for me, but from other reviews it seems like others enjoyed it more. I just wanted a bit more from it and was left underwhelmed. There was a lot of emphasis on *secrets* and her determination to uncover the past in a way that felt repetitive at one point, and I don't know if I got a ton of satisfaction from how everything wrapped up in the end.
Side note: Odd the author named 2 main characters Sarah and Mike and then went on to thank them in the acknowledgments as agent & editor - you didn’t want to choose other names?
Genres, settings, categories, themes: mystery, suspense, thriller, slow, family, Scottish highlands, English manor, wedding,
POV: 1st person, Stephanie's perspective
Series/Sequencing Style: standalone
Format: ebook (e-arc from Netgalley)
🔽🔽🔽
Overall ratings
~ Characters ~ 3.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑 A bit hard to really puzzle out how everyone is in reality versus what you’re seeing through Stephanie’s lens. Maybe interesting as character studies, although most come off as unlikable.
~ Plot ~ 3.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑 A lot of this book is about the wedding and extra details that felt superfluous. I know some was for dramatic effect and some was to add a tense suspense atmosphere, but ultimately, there was a lot of filler for what was a fairly good plot underneath it.
~ Pacing ~ 3/5 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑 a little slow for me personally
~ Writing ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 could use one more pass of checking by the editor for minor spelling errors (noted “woman” instead of “women” for example), and the style was a bit odd due to the narrator’s voice, which was a little stunted and choppy (intentionally because we were in her mind)
~ Reading enjoyability & fun ~ 2/5 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
~ Diversity & representation: WLW MC, something is different about Stephanie's brain, but I don't want to try to guess what
~ Sadness level: 2.5/5
🔽🔽🔽
❗CW/Triggers:❗adultery, alcoholism, car crash, drowning, missing-presumed-dead child (by relation, not age - 19-20 yo) parental abandonment, self harm, suicidal thoughts,
🔽🔽🔽
📝 Review/Notes 📝
So this narrator is interesting...I honestly thought she had autism and didn’t understand why no one was more respectful and understanding of that…I honestly feel bad for assuming that now, because I'm pretty sure Her character is a bit complicated and perhaps confusing in the conclusion.
The unreliable narration of being in Stephanie’s head could prompt discussion points - for example, are these people she hates really so bad? Her sister allowed her to be bullied and never really fixed that, but maybe she wanted to? Early on, we are sympathetic to Stephanie and at least I felt like she was totally fair cutting these people off and assumed her sister was a bad person. But what if that's just because we are seeing things through her perspective and they're actually okay?
Overall, not a bad book, just was a bit off for me, but from other reviews it seems like others enjoyed it more. I just wanted a bit more from it and was left underwhelmed. There was a lot of emphasis on *secrets* and her determination to uncover the past in a way that felt repetitive at one point, and I don't know if I got a ton of satisfaction from how everything wrapped up in the end.
Side note: Odd the author named 2 main characters Sarah and Mike and then went on to thank them in the acknowledgments as agent & editor - you didn’t want to choose other names?
August 15, 2025
The secrets you bury don’t disappear. They rot…
In a rather interesting debut, we meet Stephanie who lives a somewhat hermit-lifestyle at an artist's retreat in the Scottish Highlands. The place she used to frequent every summer as a teenager with her family until a tragedy and her family fractured - though both events were unrelated.
Some twelve years later, Stephanie is returning to England for her sister Auriele's lavish wedding at some illustrious estate manor that would only do for her self-obsessed sister. It's the last thing she wanted to do but her mother wrote her a letter pleading with her. And it seems she has an ulterior motive. To uncover the truth of what happened that tragic night at Loch Ness when a young man disappeared. Does her mother know something? Or does she suspect that someone else knows something?
The entire book takes place over twenty four hours - from the evening before the wedding and the wedding day itself. I love the time format of each chapter as the events played out. But what I loved most was Stephanie's snippy snarky quips - some of them silent and mostly her internal monologue but some were not.
Interestingly, Stephanie is not someone I would warm to although I did sympathise with her with regard to her difficulty making friends as a teenager at school and the bullying but generally, she is not someone I would like. She is completely standoffish and gives off those vibes in droves. None of the other characters are particularly likeable either so I didn't really care one way or the other what happened to any of them.
This tale is a slow burn and while I did enjoy Stephanie's snippy thoughts, I didn't entirely warm to the book. It was an OK read but nothing entirely earth shattering. I found the reveal to be somewhat disappointing though not susprising. I had hoped for something different, I guess.
I would like to thank #ClaireAckroyd, #Netgalley and #LakeUnionPublishing for an ARC of #TheSurfacing in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
In a rather interesting debut, we meet Stephanie who lives a somewhat hermit-lifestyle at an artist's retreat in the Scottish Highlands. The place she used to frequent every summer as a teenager with her family until a tragedy and her family fractured - though both events were unrelated.
Some twelve years later, Stephanie is returning to England for her sister Auriele's lavish wedding at some illustrious estate manor that would only do for her self-obsessed sister. It's the last thing she wanted to do but her mother wrote her a letter pleading with her. And it seems she has an ulterior motive. To uncover the truth of what happened that tragic night at Loch Ness when a young man disappeared. Does her mother know something? Or does she suspect that someone else knows something?
The entire book takes place over twenty four hours - from the evening before the wedding and the wedding day itself. I love the time format of each chapter as the events played out. But what I loved most was Stephanie's snippy snarky quips - some of them silent and mostly her internal monologue but some were not.
Interestingly, Stephanie is not someone I would warm to although I did sympathise with her with regard to her difficulty making friends as a teenager at school and the bullying but generally, she is not someone I would like. She is completely standoffish and gives off those vibes in droves. None of the other characters are particularly likeable either so I didn't really care one way or the other what happened to any of them.
This tale is a slow burn and while I did enjoy Stephanie's snippy thoughts, I didn't entirely warm to the book. It was an OK read but nothing entirely earth shattering. I found the reveal to be somewhat disappointing though not susprising. I had hoped for something different, I guess.
I would like to thank #ClaireAckroyd, #Netgalley and #LakeUnionPublishing for an ARC of #TheSurfacing in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
June 14, 2025
3-3.5 stars.
Initially it took me a bit to get into this book. Once I got about 1/4 of the way into the book, it began to get better.
Buckle up for a slow burn thriller. As I always say, this book has all of the ingredients of a great thriller.
Tension is the atmosphere and you could cut it with a knife (pun intended). There are grudges, family secrets, a friend who disappeared years ago where the FMC was camping, dysfunctional family (and that is being generous), and grief sprinkled on top.
Stephanie, our FMC, returns to her family for her sister's wedding, extremely reluctantly. However, her Mother writes her and because her Mother is dying of cancer, she decides to go - but with a plan to uncover secrets that have haunted the past 12 years.
I was disappointed in the end.. unless this is being set up for a second book, then the ending would make more sense. I was left a bit unsettled because I didn't feel I got closure.
The structure of the plot was okay - there are dual timelines but all told in first person POV (Stephanie's). Dual timelines are soooo hard to write. This was done decently, but I think it still needs a bit of context work because there were a few spots I had to go back a few lines to make sure I knew where I was in time. The pace was SLOW. Tons of details that I think could be removed to improve the space. I also think this needs one more round of editing - incorrect use of word tense throughout.
There were so many characters. They were somewhat developed - most were surface level. I did relate to some of Stephanie's sarcasm. I did feel that Stephanie was very dry. She almost seemed like she may be on the higher level of the spectrum, and I hope that was the case. This wonderful group of folks need more representation in books (my sister is a person with autism).
Overall - if you can tolerate a slow burn thriller, you will enjoy this book.
I think it is worth the read if you go into the book forewarned.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Happy Reading!
Initially it took me a bit to get into this book. Once I got about 1/4 of the way into the book, it began to get better.
Buckle up for a slow burn thriller. As I always say, this book has all of the ingredients of a great thriller.
Tension is the atmosphere and you could cut it with a knife (pun intended). There are grudges, family secrets, a friend who disappeared years ago where the FMC was camping, dysfunctional family (and that is being generous), and grief sprinkled on top.
Stephanie, our FMC, returns to her family for her sister's wedding, extremely reluctantly. However, her Mother writes her and because her Mother is dying of cancer, she decides to go - but with a plan to uncover secrets that have haunted the past 12 years.
I was disappointed in the end.. unless this is being set up for a second book, then the ending would make more sense. I was left a bit unsettled because I didn't feel I got closure.
The structure of the plot was okay - there are dual timelines but all told in first person POV (Stephanie's). Dual timelines are soooo hard to write. This was done decently, but I think it still needs a bit of context work because there were a few spots I had to go back a few lines to make sure I knew where I was in time. The pace was SLOW. Tons of details that I think could be removed to improve the space. I also think this needs one more round of editing - incorrect use of word tense throughout.
There were so many characters. They were somewhat developed - most were surface level. I did relate to some of Stephanie's sarcasm. I did feel that Stephanie was very dry. She almost seemed like she may be on the higher level of the spectrum, and I hope that was the case. This wonderful group of folks need more representation in books (my sister is a person with autism).
Overall - if you can tolerate a slow burn thriller, you will enjoy this book.
I think it is worth the read if you go into the book forewarned.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Happy Reading!
July 5, 2025
12 years ago, Stephanie, her mother and her sister Aurelie were camping on the shores of Loch Ness when teenager Peter Ferguson was reported missing, presumed drowned in the loch. Although the family tell the police they were all together that night and know nothing of the incident, they each know they are lying – a decision that ultimately tears the family apart, to the extent that Stephanie and Aurelie no longer speak, and the truth remains buried in the mists of time.
Now Aurelie is getting married, and Stephanie has been invited. Initially not wanting to attend, Stephanie is about to decline the invitation when she realises, being together for the first time since the incident occurred, it would be a golden opportunity to discover what really happened that night.
As the wedding celebrations progress and the alcohol begins to flow, tongues start to loosen. Determined to finally uncover the truth, Stephanie confronts each suspicion and accusation she hears. However, she is unaware of the carnage about to be unleashed due to her ruthless questioning and that the truth is about to change all their lives forever.
Taking place over the course of a single day, ‘The Surfacing’ is a very clever crime mystery which keeps you guessing until the very end. With detailed descriptions of the venue and the wedding itself as it progresses throughout the day, the author skilfully invokes memories of weddings we have all attended at some point in our lives. It is therefore easy to feel like one of the guests, overhearing Stephanie’s vigorous attempts to unlock the secrets of that fatal night 12 years ago. As each revelation is revealed, it is aided by flashbacks of the past until all the gaps are filled in and the truth is at last revealed. Although some people might find the story a tad slow for their liking, given it takes place over a day, I found it moved at a realistic pace, exactly as it would have done in real life.
I really enjoyed ‘The Surfacing’ and can totally recommend it. The surprise ending is well worth the wait.
Now Aurelie is getting married, and Stephanie has been invited. Initially not wanting to attend, Stephanie is about to decline the invitation when she realises, being together for the first time since the incident occurred, it would be a golden opportunity to discover what really happened that night.
As the wedding celebrations progress and the alcohol begins to flow, tongues start to loosen. Determined to finally uncover the truth, Stephanie confronts each suspicion and accusation she hears. However, she is unaware of the carnage about to be unleashed due to her ruthless questioning and that the truth is about to change all their lives forever.
Taking place over the course of a single day, ‘The Surfacing’ is a very clever crime mystery which keeps you guessing until the very end. With detailed descriptions of the venue and the wedding itself as it progresses throughout the day, the author skilfully invokes memories of weddings we have all attended at some point in our lives. It is therefore easy to feel like one of the guests, overhearing Stephanie’s vigorous attempts to unlock the secrets of that fatal night 12 years ago. As each revelation is revealed, it is aided by flashbacks of the past until all the gaps are filled in and the truth is at last revealed. Although some people might find the story a tad slow for their liking, given it takes place over a day, I found it moved at a realistic pace, exactly as it would have done in real life.
I really enjoyed ‘The Surfacing’ and can totally recommend it. The surprise ending is well worth the wait.
May 17, 2025
★★★
”None of us knows the deeds of which others are capable. The lies they’ll tell, the crimes they’ll commit. The unseen monsters which lurk in their depths.”
On a stormy night twelve years ago, Peter Ferguson disappeared from the shores of Loch Ness. No one knows what happened that night, and his family has never stopped looking for answers…
Stephanie Trent’s family used to go camping at the shores of Loch Ness every summer until that fateful summer. Much has happened to the Trents since then, and this weekend will be the first time in many years they are reunited. The occasion is Stephanie’s sister Aurelie’s wedding to Alister Brown, who used to work alongside Peter together with his friends who make up the wedding party. If there was ever a time to find out what truly happened to Peter, it will be this weekend.
I was quite hooked by the premise but disappointed by the execution and did not get invested in the storyline at all. The characters lacked depth, they felt distant and superficial, and I was not able to connect with any of them.
The story is told in two timelines, past and present. While this offers some insights into the breaking up of Stephanie’s family and her estranged relationship with Aurelie, it feels like too much was filler that did not move the story forward. Similarly, in the present, the wedding weekend is dissected in such a way that I felt like I attended the insufferable event myself.
The writing felt quite monotone and was dragging on. I think tightening it up could have made it snappier and made it a slow-burn indeed. Instead, it fizzled out…
If you are new to the thriller and crime novel genre, you might enjoy this more than I did.
Thank you NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Claire Ackroyd for a copy. All opinions are my own.
”None of us knows the deeds of which others are capable. The lies they’ll tell, the crimes they’ll commit. The unseen monsters which lurk in their depths.”
On a stormy night twelve years ago, Peter Ferguson disappeared from the shores of Loch Ness. No one knows what happened that night, and his family has never stopped looking for answers…
Stephanie Trent’s family used to go camping at the shores of Loch Ness every summer until that fateful summer. Much has happened to the Trents since then, and this weekend will be the first time in many years they are reunited. The occasion is Stephanie’s sister Aurelie’s wedding to Alister Brown, who used to work alongside Peter together with his friends who make up the wedding party. If there was ever a time to find out what truly happened to Peter, it will be this weekend.
I was quite hooked by the premise but disappointed by the execution and did not get invested in the storyline at all. The characters lacked depth, they felt distant and superficial, and I was not able to connect with any of them.
The story is told in two timelines, past and present. While this offers some insights into the breaking up of Stephanie’s family and her estranged relationship with Aurelie, it feels like too much was filler that did not move the story forward. Similarly, in the present, the wedding weekend is dissected in such a way that I felt like I attended the insufferable event myself.
The writing felt quite monotone and was dragging on. I think tightening it up could have made it snappier and made it a slow-burn indeed. Instead, it fizzled out…
If you are new to the thriller and crime novel genre, you might enjoy this more than I did.
Thank you NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Claire Ackroyd for a copy. All opinions are my own.
June 13, 2025
Claire Ackroyd’s ‘The Surfacing’ is a brooding and atmospheric psychological thriller that deftly intertwines family secrets with a deeply unsettling mystery.
From the outset, the novel establishes a haunting tone, pulling the reader into a world where the past refuses to stay buried. The premise itself is compelling, offering layers of intrigue that kept me invested in uncovering how the narrative would unfold.
One of the novel’s strongest elements is its vivid setting and an evocative backdrop that enhances the sense of unease, allowing the environment to feel like a character in its own right. The moody and isolated landscape amplifies the tension, creating an immersive reading experience. Despite this richness, I found the pacing to be somewhat slow, with certain moments lingering a bit longer than necessary. While this deliberate unfolding may add to the atmospheric quality, it occasionally tested my patience.
The mystery itself is engaging, woven with enough twists to maintain intrigue. I found myself eager to piece together the clues and understand the depths of the story. However, while the plot was compelling, the character development didn’t quite match its full potential.
One undeniable strength of the book was its narration. The prose was smooth and well-paced, making it easy to stay engaged even when the plot took its time to develop.
Overall, an atmospheric and well-written thriller that succeeds in creating an eerie, immersive experience. While its mystery is compelling and its setting beautifully rendered, I found myself craving deeper character exploration to fully connect with the story’s emotional core. Nonetheless, it remains a captivating read that will appeal to those who enjoy slow-burn psychological mysteries with an evocative sense of place.
This is a review of the audiobook.
From the outset, the novel establishes a haunting tone, pulling the reader into a world where the past refuses to stay buried. The premise itself is compelling, offering layers of intrigue that kept me invested in uncovering how the narrative would unfold.
One of the novel’s strongest elements is its vivid setting and an evocative backdrop that enhances the sense of unease, allowing the environment to feel like a character in its own right. The moody and isolated landscape amplifies the tension, creating an immersive reading experience. Despite this richness, I found the pacing to be somewhat slow, with certain moments lingering a bit longer than necessary. While this deliberate unfolding may add to the atmospheric quality, it occasionally tested my patience.
The mystery itself is engaging, woven with enough twists to maintain intrigue. I found myself eager to piece together the clues and understand the depths of the story. However, while the plot was compelling, the character development didn’t quite match its full potential.
One undeniable strength of the book was its narration. The prose was smooth and well-paced, making it easy to stay engaged even when the plot took its time to develop.
Overall, an atmospheric and well-written thriller that succeeds in creating an eerie, immersive experience. While its mystery is compelling and its setting beautifully rendered, I found myself craving deeper character exploration to fully connect with the story’s emotional core. Nonetheless, it remains a captivating read that will appeal to those who enjoy slow-burn psychological mysteries with an evocative sense of place.
This is a review of the audiobook.
June 22, 2025
It's been 12 years since a 19-year-old boy mysteriously disappeared from the shores of Loch Lomond, the same night Stephanie's family camped on its shores. In the years that followed, the already fragile family dynamic has shattered, and Stephanie hasn't seen her mother, father, or sister for five years. But now, her sister Aurelie is getting married, and Stephanie feels compelled to go, seeking answers to not one, but two mysteries that have haunted her, whilst trying to keep more from surfacing.
From here, the story unfolds gradually, and you wade through the mystery with Stephanie with a sense that something is submerged just below the surface. As the story unfolds, so does the fact that the main character is morally grey- flawed and complicated, which is always far more appealing to me. This is definitely a slow burn, that keeps you on edge and deliciously uncomfortable without relying on big shocks. Themes of complex family relationships, self-discovery, identity and buried trauma run through the story, adding depth to the mystery.
I went into this novel hoping for an atmospheric murder mystery set upon a Scottish loch, and did find myself wishing, much like Stephanie, that I was back in the Highlands where the book began.
Nonetheless, I was drawn into this thriller not only by the tale but by the audio narration, which, despite pulling me out of the story at times with a less than perfect Scottish accent, was suited to the tone with a calm, emotionally resonant delivery.
All in all, a solid story and an admirable strong debut from Claire Ackroyd. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy psychological mysteries with a literary, introspective tone.
Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliant Publishing, and Claire Ackroyd for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
From here, the story unfolds gradually, and you wade through the mystery with Stephanie with a sense that something is submerged just below the surface. As the story unfolds, so does the fact that the main character is morally grey- flawed and complicated, which is always far more appealing to me. This is definitely a slow burn, that keeps you on edge and deliciously uncomfortable without relying on big shocks. Themes of complex family relationships, self-discovery, identity and buried trauma run through the story, adding depth to the mystery.
I went into this novel hoping for an atmospheric murder mystery set upon a Scottish loch, and did find myself wishing, much like Stephanie, that I was back in the Highlands where the book began.
Nonetheless, I was drawn into this thriller not only by the tale but by the audio narration, which, despite pulling me out of the story at times with a less than perfect Scottish accent, was suited to the tone with a calm, emotionally resonant delivery.
All in all, a solid story and an admirable strong debut from Claire Ackroyd. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy psychological mysteries with a literary, introspective tone.
Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliant Publishing, and Claire Ackroyd for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2025
The Surfacing by Claire Ackroyd is a slow burning thriller that promises family dysfunction, secrets and mystery. This is the author's debut novel!
Stephanie Trent's family used to go camping every summer at Loch Ness, until one summer a teenager named Peter Ferguson suspiciously drowned. With no leads or clues to what happened, his family has never stopped looking for answers. Now 12 years later the Trent family will reunite for Stephanie's sister Aurelie's wedding to Alistair. Everyone will be there including coworkers and friends of Peter. Stephanie realizes that if she wants answers to what really happened the night Peter died, this wedding is a perfect opportunity. As the festivities start and people begin to loosen up, rumors and speculation run rampant. As Stephanie digs deeper, she may just find something that should have stayed hidden.
I have to be honest, I'm a bit unsure of how to best rate this. For a debut I think it is a strong idea and parts are well done, but other parts I feel don't own up to the potential of what it could have been. The tension and atmosphere is very well done. And the exploration of grief and secrets are strong. I think my problem lies with the character development. I think they needed more depth to make this story really pop. I believe with just a few tweaks that this could be a great read!
Thank you to NetGalley, Claire Ackroyd and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC! Publication date is June 1st 2025.
Stephanie Trent's family used to go camping every summer at Loch Ness, until one summer a teenager named Peter Ferguson suspiciously drowned. With no leads or clues to what happened, his family has never stopped looking for answers. Now 12 years later the Trent family will reunite for Stephanie's sister Aurelie's wedding to Alistair. Everyone will be there including coworkers and friends of Peter. Stephanie realizes that if she wants answers to what really happened the night Peter died, this wedding is a perfect opportunity. As the festivities start and people begin to loosen up, rumors and speculation run rampant. As Stephanie digs deeper, she may just find something that should have stayed hidden.
I have to be honest, I'm a bit unsure of how to best rate this. For a debut I think it is a strong idea and parts are well done, but other parts I feel don't own up to the potential of what it could have been. The tension and atmosphere is very well done. And the exploration of grief and secrets are strong. I think my problem lies with the character development. I think they needed more depth to make this story really pop. I believe with just a few tweaks that this could be a great read!
Thank you to NetGalley, Claire Ackroyd and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC! Publication date is June 1st 2025.
June 21, 2025
Content warning: drowning, cancer, self-harm, infidelity, mental illness, deportation, bullying, death, car crash
Stephanie is haunted by the ghosts of the past. The ghosts of that one summer that split her family apart, that had her best friend deported, and that saw the disappearance of a young man at her family's campsite. The ghosts have secrets, and on the eve of her estranged sister's wedding, the secrets threaten to surface once more.
This was a multilayered twisty, turny thriller that had me guessing to the end. We have the main story arc of "what happened the night the man went missing"; we have the arc of Stephanie and Jennifer; we have the mother's secrets; and much, much more. One thing gets revealed and then another new surprise is lurking in the shadows. The story alternates between the "now" and the "then" to fill in the backstory, and the pace is slow and measured until it's really not.
Told from Stephanie's (unreliable) POV, few of the characters were actually likeable, and the end left me stunned.
I had this book as an ebook via Amazon First, and as an audiobook via NeGalley. The audio narration by Elizabeth Knowelden was an excellent accompaniment to the book, with Knowelden excelling at the accents and the pacing and the emotion to keep the listener on the edge of their seats until the very end.
~I recieved a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own~
Stephanie is haunted by the ghosts of the past. The ghosts of that one summer that split her family apart, that had her best friend deported, and that saw the disappearance of a young man at her family's campsite. The ghosts have secrets, and on the eve of her estranged sister's wedding, the secrets threaten to surface once more.
This was a multilayered twisty, turny thriller that had me guessing to the end. We have the main story arc of "what happened the night the man went missing"; we have the arc of Stephanie and Jennifer; we have the mother's secrets; and much, much more. One thing gets revealed and then another new surprise is lurking in the shadows. The story alternates between the "now" and the "then" to fill in the backstory, and the pace is slow and measured until it's really not.
Told from Stephanie's (unreliable) POV, few of the characters were actually likeable, and the end left me stunned.
I had this book as an ebook via Amazon First, and as an audiobook via NeGalley. The audio narration by Elizabeth Knowelden was an excellent accompaniment to the book, with Knowelden excelling at the accents and the pacing and the emotion to keep the listener on the edge of their seats until the very end.
~I recieved a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own~
May 29, 2025
The Surfacing by Claire Ackroyd is a slow-burning psychological thriller about dark secrets, grief, and guilt in a dysfunctional family.
This book burns so slowly... Detailed descriptions of nearly everything made me want to skip pages. I constantly struggled to understand why the problem had escalated after so many years. Why now? Because of the wedding? It doesn't make any sense. If this were such a sensitive and important situation, no one would wait 12 years!
One more thing that didn't work for me - constant reminding about the secret! I wanted to scream! I know there is a secret, you reminded this a million times. This is something that really irritates me in any book.
Dual timelines, and thankfully, just from Stephanie's perspective, show what happened to the family over this time.
On a stormy night twelve years ago, Peter went missing by a Loch Ness lake... Stephanie with her family used to camp there every summer until that fateful night. Now they are back because of Stephanie’s sister Aurelie’s wedding. Aurelie's fiancé, Alister, and some more guests used to know Peter, so they believe this is the perfect time to find out what happened.
This is not a bad debut novel, just a bit off for me, but if you look at other reviews, it seems like others enjoyed it so much more, so absolutely give it a go.
Thank you NetGalley for this copy!
This book burns so slowly... Detailed descriptions of nearly everything made me want to skip pages. I constantly struggled to understand why the problem had escalated after so many years. Why now? Because of the wedding? It doesn't make any sense. If this were such a sensitive and important situation, no one would wait 12 years!
One more thing that didn't work for me - constant reminding about the secret! I wanted to scream! I know there is a secret, you reminded this a million times. This is something that really irritates me in any book.
Dual timelines, and thankfully, just from Stephanie's perspective, show what happened to the family over this time.
On a stormy night twelve years ago, Peter went missing by a Loch Ness lake... Stephanie with her family used to camp there every summer until that fateful night. Now they are back because of Stephanie’s sister Aurelie’s wedding. Aurelie's fiancé, Alister, and some more guests used to know Peter, so they believe this is the perfect time to find out what happened.
This is not a bad debut novel, just a bit off for me, but if you look at other reviews, it seems like others enjoyed it so much more, so absolutely give it a go.
Thank you NetGalley for this copy!
June 13, 2025
This is an interesting story that focuses on how Stephanie and her family are less than honest with the police the day after they are interviewed - along with several others at their campsite - regarding the disappearance of a young man near Loch Ness during a storm the night before.
Although these events took place many years ago, they have remain a festering sore, alienating Stephanie's family members from each other and affecting their interpersonal dynamics.
And while her mother wants to prevent anyone from finding out what they did and why, Stephanie has finally decided to return from her arts residency in Scotland to attend her sister's wedding in England in order to finally face up to a past that still haunts her.
This book was a mixed bag for me. Although I wanted to know the real story of what happened to Peter, the missing young man, and the back story of Stephanie's friendship with Jennifer was also interesting, parts of the book dragged a little and I think the pacing could have been better.
The writer does do very well in terms of atmospheric storytelling, bringing alive the settings, especially those in Scotland. If you like beautiful prose and a slowly unfolding plot, this could be a good fit for you. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Although these events took place many years ago, they have remain a festering sore, alienating Stephanie's family members from each other and affecting their interpersonal dynamics.
And while her mother wants to prevent anyone from finding out what they did and why, Stephanie has finally decided to return from her arts residency in Scotland to attend her sister's wedding in England in order to finally face up to a past that still haunts her.
This book was a mixed bag for me. Although I wanted to know the real story of what happened to Peter, the missing young man, and the back story of Stephanie's friendship with Jennifer was also interesting, parts of the book dragged a little and I think the pacing could have been better.
The writer does do very well in terms of atmospheric storytelling, bringing alive the settings, especially those in Scotland. If you like beautiful prose and a slowly unfolding plot, this could be a good fit for you. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews