Just Beneath the Surface is a sweeping historical mystery set in 1940s Maine, where the echoes of a forgotten past refuse to stay buried. When charismatic college student Gunner Everett Hart joins a psychology class at Colby College, he meets the sharp-witted Wanda Monroe and the steady, loyal Herb Jackson. What begins as an academic partnership soon unravels into a deepening mystery as Gunner’s buried memories begin to resurface—memories of a childhood lost, a name once forgotten, and a tragedy cloaked in silence.

Haunted by flashes of an old theater, cryptic names, and a toy train marked with the letters “A.R.,” Gunner embarks on a journey of self-discovery with Wanda and Herb by his side. Together, they uncover hidden archives, mob connections, and a legacy tied to the Grand Theater in Savannah, Georgia—a place that holds the key to Gunner’s identity and a treasure trove of secrets stretching back to the early 1900s.

As the trio digs deeper, they awaken dangerous forces still watching from the shadows. With the help of long-lost diaries, a miraculous recovery, and a determined federal agent with a personal stake in the case, they piece together a story of love, betrayal, and resilience. At the heart of it all is Gunner—once Adam—whose journey to remember who he truly is may change the soul of a city forever.

This is a story about friendship, found family, and the redemptive power of truth. Because sometimes the most important things aren’t buried deep—they’re just beneath the surface.