A murder mystery where every sound tells a story, and every emotion glows with colour. He can taste the lies—but can he survive the truth?

“The metallic taste spiked violently, coating my tongue like blood. Something felt wrong about this. It couldn’t be true. I heard myself exhale sharply. My pulse was roaring in my ears, the fluorescent lights too bright, the stale air suffocating— They weren’t missing. They were never coming back.”

Thirteen-year-old Rhys Baker sees the world differently—literally. His synesthesia makes sounds taste like metal, emotions shimmer with colour, and memories echo through his senses. It’s a strange gift—but when his parents are found dead under mysterious circumstances, it becomes the only way to uncover the truth.

With his best friend Kai and an enigmatic ally named Elara, Rhys follows a trail of cryptic clues only he can decode. But when Elara vanishes and eerie messages begin to surface, Rhys and Kai must race to solve the mystery before they too disappear.

Echoes Beneath the Surface is a gripping, emotionally charged thriller for readers 11+. Perfect for fans of Holes, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, and The Inheritance Games, this debut blends suspense, first love, and the haunting power of memory. Through Rhys’s eyes, readers are invited to experience a world where every sound hides a secret—and every feeling could be fatal.