Below Deck: A tense psychological thriller at sea

by J A Andrews

Aboard a lavish cruise liner, some secrets never make it back to shore...

Reeling from a tragic car accident, social media darling Grace Thomas embarks on a two-week Mediterranean cruise. She hopes the azure-blue sea will bring her solace and a chance to start anew.

But serenity quickly gives way to mounting paranoia, as unsettling memories and shifting alliances among her fellow passengers begin to erode Grace's grip on reality. Is someone on board hiding a deadly secret? Or is Grace's mind playing tricks on her? With each glittering night at sea, the cruise becomes a trap from which there may be no escape.

Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers, confined-space suspense, and jaw-dropping twists. If you love the dark intrigue of Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware, and Alice Feeney, set sail on this mind-bending voyage.

Genres: Thriller

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2025

Reviews

[Dani Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually when a setting is in one place for majority of the book, I get bored easily, but this was well done.

If you love being inside the mind of someone who is clearly mentally unwell but they are not aware of it, this is a book for you. It was anxiety inducing because I knew the entire time her thought patterns were off.

[Meghan Sarate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Figured out the twist before the book was halfway through but still enjoyed the plot. The main character's thoughts and demeanor are so off the whole time and her paranoia only worsens until the dramatic end!

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

-5. Book for a long car ride and still didn’t want to finish

[Linda Faurer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was something. Most of the time I was so confused about what was going on. The main character was appallingly self-centered. Story didn’t flow well. I’ll just leave it at that. No thanks.

[Renee Koeune · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was ok. not my fave. good twist. kind of predictable

[Paige · Rating 1 out of 5]

The main character ms are SOOO BITCHY. They complain about EVERYTHING. Narrator is also not good.

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just eh for me. While knowing something was off throughout the book, I honestly expected a different ending.

[Morgan Calhoun · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very interesting in the first 25% and had a lot of potential, but it got confusing, and very all over the place way too fast! A little disappointing.

[Tracy Dereszynski-Dow · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is nothing tense or psychologically thrilling about this book. it was clear that there was going to be a twist, even that wasn't worth the time to keep slogging thru.
skip it!

[Paula Schumm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this thriller novel. A split personality on a cruise ship makes for murder and twisty turny suspense. Recommended.

[Kayla Cork · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW THE TWISTS