Site Loader

An epic survival-thriller about four teens who get lost in the Paris catacombs for days—a gripping and propulsive story of love, danger, betrayal, and hope… even when all seems lost.

"Tense and fast-moving, with a unique setting and compelling characters, Under the Surface is Diana Urban’s best yet."—Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying



Ruby is terrified to cave to her feelings for Sean and risk him crushing her heart. 

Sean is pumped to spend a week with Ruby in Paris on their senior class trip, and he’ll wait however long until she’s ready to take things further.

But when Ruby’s best friend sneaks out the first night to meet a  mysterious French boy, Ruby goes after her with two classmates, but caves to another temptation: attending mystery boy’s exclusive party in the Paris catacombs, the intricate web of tunnels beneath the city, home to six million long-dead Parisians. Only they never reach the party.

Underground, as something sinister chases them, they get lost in the endless maze of bones, uncovering dark secrets about the catacombs…..and each other. And if they can’t find a way out, they’ll die in the dark beneath the City of Light. 

Aboveground, Sean races to find the girl he loves as a media frenzy over the four missing teens begins.

From award-winning author and rising YA star Diana Urban comes a twisty tale of four teens lost in the dark beneath the City of Light and the race to find them.

"Tense and fast-moving, with a unique setting and compelling characters, Under the Surface is Diana Urban’s best yet." —Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying

"A riveting read full of cagey twists and turns and featuring a spectacular setting, readers will devour this delicious story." —Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and The Agathas series

"Under the Surface is a nail-biting thriller with a paranormal edge, a high-stakes romance, and can’t-put-it-down pacing. It transported me to the Paris catacombs right alongside Ruby, where the twists and turns kept me glued to the pages until the very end." —C. L. Herman, New York Times bestselling author of All of Us Villains

"A nightmare we’ve all had: in a place we don’t know well, innocent spontaneity gone awry. Yet, a heart beats fierce throughout this book, from Diana Urban’s brilliantly rendered characters to the City of Light itself. It’s survival, yes, but more than merely physical: Under the Surface explores the survival of friendship, optimism, romance, and hope. All in the horrifying presence of the innumerable dead. Urban is magnificent." Josh Malerman, New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box and Incidents Around the House

"Under the Surface is a wild, twisty, romantic adventure that will leave you feeling afraid of the dark, and putting this book down before you reach the end is almost as impossible as escaping the winding catacombs of Paris." Ginny Myers Sain, New York Times bestselling author of Dark and Shallow Lies

"Fast-paced and thrilling, Under the Surface has as many dangerous turns and secrets as the catacombs below Paris. Urban’s writing and use of alternating narrators keeps the tension high and the pages turning. At the heart of this dark and creepy (in the best way!) survival story is love, friendship, and hope." —Krystal Marquis, New York Times bestselling author of The Davenports

"An exhilarating adventure filled with twists, secrets, and nonstop tension, Under the Surface keeps you guessing—and on the edge of your seat—until the very end. Diana Urban has crafted a page-turning survival thriller that grips you from the very first page." —Alex Aster, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lightlark

"Under the Surface
is a claustrophobic, terrifying, jump-scare of a novel that will leave you breathless. Urban perfectly weaves the longing and angst of the love story with an absolutely terrifying adventure through the catacombs. Truly her most terrifying work yet."  —Megan Lally, New York Times bestselling author of That's Not My Name
 
"Urban's sharp banter and engaging voice pull you in, then send you through a maze of frankly terrifying twists that get darker the deeper you go. Under the Surface is a thrilling heartbreak of a journey, from start to finish." —Eva V. Gibson, Edgar-nominated author of Frightmares and Where Secrets Lie

"Masterfully suspenseful and with a setting I could not look away from, Under the Surface was a bingeworthy and addictive read! With characters you can't help but root for and a dilemma that will keep you biting your nails long into the night, this is a thriller not to miss." —Wendy Heard, author of She's Too Pretty to Burn
 
"With a plot as dark and twisty as the catacombs themselves, you'll fall hard for this thriller!"—Keely Parrack, author of Don't Let In The Cold

"Diana Urban remains the queen of pulse-pounding, compulsively readable thrill rides. Under the Surface delivers a tense, expertly-paced chase, and never loses sight of the hope, humanity, and love underpinning her winning cast of characters' fight for survival. Prepare to be taken on a deep dive into the Paris catacombs - just make sure you don't lose your way out." —Rebecca Mahoney, author of The Valley and the Flood

"The most propulsive book I’ve read in recent memory, Under the Surface manages to be at once nail-bitingly terrifying and potently emotional." —M. K. Lobb, Sunday Times bestselling author of Seven Faceless Saints

"Your heart will race as you dodge and travel through the story's surprising twists and turns. Horror, fear and relationships take center stage, in a story that thrills and chills." —Aurora Dominguez, reviewer at Booklist & BookTrib

Praise for Diana Urban books:

"Talk about frightening page-turners!" —R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps and Fear Street

  • Pages: 368 Pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
  • Imprint: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
  • ISBN: 9780593625088
Penguin Teen