Below Deck

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: Audiobook, Thriller

274 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2025

About the author

JA Andrews is the author of thriller novels and can be found on twitter: @JasonA1980 and on BlueSky as @jasona.co.uk

As well as writing fiction, JA Andrews enjoys reading a mix of genres, watching various reality TV and spending time with family and friends.

Reviews

[Alice Svedin · Rating 3 out of 5]

antingen var hon helt psyk (she was) eller så blev jag det av boken🕺🏻

[Dani Koriander · 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.

[Trisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was definitely NOT for me, and there were a few times when I considered just abandoning it to the DNF shelf. I figured out the plot within the first few chapters, and the main character was so disjointed that it disrupted the entire flow of the story. The character was unpredictable and unreliable, but not in a good way. It just didn’t make any sense. It was convoluted and confusing, and quite often I didn’t really know what was going on. It started to drag after a while, and I just wanted to be finished with it.

[Miss-Gee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gave up on the audiobook in under 30 minutes. The narrator's voice is too harsh and sharp for my liking. Furthermore, the first chapter consists entirely of the highly strung main character's anxiety-riddled mind racing from one imagined worst-case scenario to the next. It quickly became so grating and exhausting that I had to abandon it.

[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!

[Kayla Hipp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this book on audio and though I was often confused, I did enjoy it! I had to look up some notes on the book after I was finished to be sure I understood the whole storyline. It was a nice, quick read/listen and kept my day at work going!

[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

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Nicola Priest · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟 An intriguing thriller with a plot twist, despite being a bit confusing at times!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, that’s right, another audictive British vibe!

Get ready to set sail on a thrilling adventure with “Below Deck” by JA Andrews, a gripping British psychological thriller narrated by the incredibly talented Gabrielle Nellis-Pain. This dynamic duo brings to life a world of suspense, twists and turns that kept me enthralled throughout. Nellis-Pain's superb vocals and precise inflections bring this thriller to life, making it difficult to take a break. Andrews expertly crafts a confined-space suspenseful mystery that's both chilling and intriguing. Social media darling Grace Thomas thinks a Mediterranean cruise will bring her solace after a tragic car accident, but she’s in for a shock. As secrets and lies unravel, Grace’s grip on reality starts to slip. Is someone on board hiding a deadly secret, or has she become unhinged? Andrews crafts a confined-space thriller that's both chilling and captivating. The plot twist is devious in misdirection. I was thinking I had it all figured out, but Andrews and Nellis-Pain had other plans. That ending was a total curveball I didn't see coming. The way they pulled it off was pure genius. Definitely worth the ride. For those who appreciate dark intrigue, grab “Below Deck” now! With its jaw-dropping twists and turns, this devious masterpiece kept me guessing until the very end. Don't miss out on this riveting, twisty ride. I cannot stress it enough ~ highly recommended. Epic, indeed!

💥✍️🎙️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎙️✍️💥

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible

[Beth]

Never saw it coming!!! Still not quite sure! Great narrator.

[Telina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not well written. It was like being in the mind of someone with mental illness. I think that was what the author was going for but it fell flat, was confusing, and unrealistic.