"Under The Surface" by Diana Urban

“Under the Surface” by Diana Urban is a thriller, mystery novel set in the catacombs of Paris. The story revolves around Ruby, a smart, protective, and resilient girl, who visits Paris with her high school French class. When Ruby’s best friend makes a dangerous decision, Ruby initially goes after her to bring her back. However, curiosity gets the better of her, and Ruby finds herself, and four other teenagers, lost within the underground catacombs, with a mysterious danger chasing them throughout the maze and no way out. Meanwhile, the boy Ruby loves, Sean, does everything he can aboveground to find her and bring her home. Ruby’s journey is filled with fast paced danger, tested friendships, gut wrenching loss, and heartbreaking betrayals.

In my opinion, “Under the Surface” was a fast-paced, suspenseful book with interesting characters, dynamics, and plot twists. I thoroughly enjoyed the history and background surrounding the Paris catacombs, and the development of the overall setting and lore. I also enjoyed reading from Ruby’s perspective, her relatable view on her relationships with the people around her, and her courage and strength throughout the book made her a very interesting and sympathizable character. The one thing I found I disliked were Sean’s chapters. I often read through his chapters hoping for it to end, so I could get back to Ruby’s perspective once again. Some of the romance in the book seemed unnecessary and didn’t match the stakes of the book as a whole.

One thing I found memorable was the dynamics and character development of many of the characters throughout the story. Many of my views on certain characters and plotlines changed drastically throughout the book. As I was ending the book, I felt a strong urge to reread the book again with all the plot twists and clarity I had from the end of the novel.