The Surface of Water: A Novel

by Cynthia Beach

The only person who can uncover his secret has arrived. Matthew Goodman is tired, and his one wish is something he can't have. Instead he focuses on the demands of his work as pastor of Chicagoland's Calvary Community, including bringing a new administrative assistant onboard. New hire 25-year-old Trish Card watches him with somber, lake-clear eyes. What he doesn't know about Trish and her real reason for appearing will dismantle his world. The Surface of Water is about a megachurch pastor, a famous evangelist's son, living in a world beyond his control. It's also a story about a young woman trying to understand her complicated life. In the #ChurchToo era, this novel invites readers to see life's shadowed edges―isolation, power, and abuse―illumined by the light of truth.

Genres: Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

Published April 9, 2024

Reviews

[Shawn Smucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling read that I had trouble putting down. When I first saw it was about a megachurch, I wasn't so sure--I grew up in the church and don't particularly want to read about it. But Beach's characters are real, and the primary question a page-turner. I really enjoyed it.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up.

This powerful novel explores themes related to celebrity culture in the church, the reality of abuse, and issues related to power and privilege. The suspenseful story follows a young woman who has started working as a megachurch pastor's personal assistant in order to investigate a mystery from the past. The less that you know about the story going into it, the better, because there are lots of intriguing themes and subtle elements that readers will appreciate the most without prior knowledge of where the story is going. I enjoyed the book's complex, slowly unfolding plot, vivid descriptions of the characters, and beautiful writing.

Cynthia Beach writes in a lyrical, literary style, using lots of metaphors and allusions to express the book's themes indirectly and foreshadow different aspects of the plot. She also did a wonderful job writing from shifting points of view, and this builds the book's pacing and sense of mystery. However, there were times where I felt confused and couldn't tell what was happening. Sometimes, a point-of-view character was simply thinking about something in vague terms because of their sense of secrecy or discretion, and this would build suspense for an eventual reveal. However, I couldn't always tell the difference between when the author was being vague for plot purposes, and when I was missing something important and was supposed to read more between the lines. I also struggled with some confusing transitions regarding the passage of time.

The Surface of Water is a powerful, unique debut work. This book tackles tough topics that rarely appear in Christian fiction, and the author created memorable characters and a vivid scene of place that will stick with me for a long time. Her descriptive powers are especially strong, and the writing is beautiful. This book is longer than it needs to be, with some superfluous scenes and vanishing subplots, and the dialogue about social issues sometimes feels a little forced and preachy, but even though I noticed these flaws as I read, I also enjoyed the story and its themes, and have kept thinking about it. Because this novel involves some disturbing and potentially triggering themes, this book isn't for everyone, but I would recommend it to people looking for a powerful, realistic, and heartfelt story that explores real-world issues in a redemptive way.

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Michele Morin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cynthia Beach has created a story that couldn’t have been written before MeToo or ChurchToo, before the rise and fall of Mars Hill Church, or before all the ominous associations we now attach to the megachurch movement. In other words, she has written the perfect novel for our time in church history.

Twenty-five-year-old Trish Card slides like a hand in a glove into her new role as assistant to celebrity pastor Matthew Goodman. Of course, her real reason for taking the job has nothing to do with her boss’s empire-building and image-cultivating aspirations, and when this finally becomes clear to him, his world is undone.

Beach’s background in spiritual direction enriches the Surface of Water as her characters grapple with what it means to live authentically before God. Readers who come into the family of God from an earthly family fraught with dark secrets will be surprised to discover common ground in an unlikely place. The call to perseverance runs like a current of clear water beneath the narrative, and its source is the sure conviction that we are mightily loved by the God who loves even the smallest sparrow.

Many thanks to InterVarsity Press for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.

[Laura (kroosreadsandreviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was interesting to think about. It gave me an insight into the lives of what it may be like to be a pastor at a megachurch. It was intriguing to think about the disparity between the church and those living so close to the church.


Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The opinions are my own

[Connie]

Written by a local West Michigan author. Interesting characters. Surprising plot. Unfortunately - typical scenerio, and no satisfactory resolution. I am not a novel reader so take my critique with a grain of salt.

[Cheryl Bostrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

For an author with a deep story to tell, Cynthia Beach was pretty gutsy to title her book The Surface of Water, then open its description with "The only person who can uncover his secret has arrived. It’s 2006, and Calvary Community Church of Chicago needs a new administrative assistant." When I heard about the book earlier, I'd expected a narrative that floated topside, its oars dipping inches, at best.

But . . . when I learned traditional press IVP had picked up this indie novel for re-release, and when members of Beach's MFA cohort gave glowing reports of her work, AND when I learned she's an English professor who teaches the fiction craft, I suspected a deep dive awaited me. By the time an ARC from the publisher arrived, I had high expectations.

I wasn't disappointed. From the get-go, characters entwine in a tension-building story of smoke and mirrors and leadership gone awry. Quests for identity and power sucker those characters and rob their lives of meaning. The fallout transcends generations.

Beach develops all her leading characters well, and her dialogue's fluid. It's with Trish Card, however, that the bulk of my praise lies. She's a protagonist so dimensional, so alternately brave, authentic, and intriguing, that I trusted her to take me anywhere. As she maneuvered between desperate impoverishment and the pinnacle of flawed church hierarchy, I found myself in her skin, doubting, fuming, and caring along with her. Applauding when she chose to act.

This isn't a didactic narrative with a pink-bow wrap-up. Nuanced, well-written, insightful, and real, The Surface of Water gave this reader pause and, I hope, more discernment—and courage to love in new ways.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book was a storytelling masterpiece, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is weary of church hypocrisy and longing for higher ideals and greater love within the actions of those in leadership.

When we first meet Cynthia Beach's character Pastor Matthew Goodman, we can feel the secrets lurking in the background of his successful persona, though what he's hiding is hazier than it first appears. Then, Trish Card arrives on the scene as his new administrative assistant, and the plot thickens.

Beach did a stunning job of adding layer after layer of tension until the last third of the book flies past in a whirl of suspense. I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it because I simply had to know what would happen to Trish, "Pastor-Boss" and everyone in their orbit. The ending left me breathless, and it is one I will be thinking about for a long time to come.

There's a sequel, right? Because this is a worthy fiction debut for an author whose work I hope to keep devouring in coming years.

[Carol Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Delightful Dilemma
Already in the prologue of The Surface of Water I was immersed in a delightful fiction-reader’s dilemma. I wanted to savor the sentences that provided vivid scenes and complex characters I could live into. But I was also eager to turn the page and discover what happened next.
That delicious tension continued as I turned a few dozen pages, and then the page-turner urge conquered. I gave in to my hunger to learn what happened next, and next and. . . . I devoured pages one after another, finishing the novel much sooner than I expected.
As I turned pages, I entered the minds and hearts of the characters, even to my surprise those of its image-conscious and power-hungry pastor, trapped by the megachurch he had created.
I turned the final page, regretting it was the last.
Then I brightened as I thought, “I know! I can read it again, and linger longer the second time!

[Beverly Garside · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Surface of Water: A NovelAs a very deliberate non-believer, I don't read a lot of Christian fiction, but this was a delightful exception. A mega-church pastor trapped inside his own fame, a young woman searching out the mysteries of her past, a shadowy organization that pursues and exposes church corruption, and family secrets burning a hole in all of it. I couldn't resist, and I wasn't disappointed. The emotional tension sometimes got so high I had to put it down and take it in small doses. It was all worth it. A peek into the behind-the-scenes life of a mega-church and the heroine's push for a kind of Christianity I can actually respect were added benefits. And the ending - that was epic.

[Capi Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laden with mystery and pain, with unanswered questions and arrogant privilege, The Surface of Water exquisitely explores and examines struggles, temptations, and sin. Beach's characters are a complex lot: confused, intentional, lost, deceived, repentant. They make holy and harmful decisions as they struggle to hide, understand, and face who they really are.

This novel should be required reading for pastors and aspiring pastors, for leaders of both religious and secular organizations, and for those who hold their organization's leaders accountable. It challenges those facing the temptation to abuse power. And it warns those of us in the pews or the trenches to refrain from erecting pedestals for frail leaders, turning them into our own golden calves.

[Terra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Surface of Water by Cynthia Beach is a novel for #metoo and #churchtoo that turns out to be an unsparing look at the power and money of megachurches, the perils FROM and FOR celebrity pastors, and the reality of sexual abuse and other misconduct in the church.

I didn’t expect to be invested in anyone but the woman trying to find out the truth. But I found myself rooting for everyone including her foster mother and her big-hearted tribe, the disgraced executive pastor, the foreign seminary student turned janitor turned seminary student again along with her. And I was also shocked to find myself rooting for the spoiled (and stuck) megachurch pastor himself.

The ending wasn't what I expected and I can’t wait for the sequel!

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the style of writing and the character development of a few of the characters. But others were so shallow and contrived. Also, so many unfinished plot lines! Scenarios often dropped off abruptly, more than once I found myself checking that I did not skip a page. This read like a rough draft. Last, the ending was ridiculous. The protagonist knowing what she knew, and being focused on love and mercy would NEVER have behaved the way she did. It ignored all the emotions and evolution of the relationship scenario through out the book, and the possible outcomes and (without giving anything away) was either cruel or sick. Who was the editor? How did this come to print?? Sadly I do not recommend.

[Sherry Bendorf · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 35%

The premise of this book sounded intriguing to me, so I thought I'd enjoy it. However, I struggled to read it. I felt like the writing was stilted and choppy. I was so confused most of the time. I couldn't get into the story. I tried the audiobook, but struggled with the narrator, so then I went to the ebook thinking that might be better.

Maybe the finished book is better than the arc was, the copy I received was pretty rough.

I thought maybe reading other people's reviews would help me understand if I was just missing something, but that didn't help either. It just isn't the book for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. This is my honest review.

[Alyssa Parrish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not many people are given the opportunity to speak up about church abuse. Even fewer authors are brave enough to write about it. And almost no one can do it with the kind of grace, nuance, and quiet power that Cynthia Beach brings to The Surface of Water. This book doesn’t just tell a story—it exposes a reality that too many have lived through and too few have named. As someone who has both experienced and witnessed countless instances of church trauma, I found myself deeply moved, challenged, and seen. Beach has written something courageous and important, and I can't wait to read more from her.

[Diane Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed “The Surface of Water” by Cynthia Beach. This book started a little slow, and I really wasn’t sure where it was going. But once I got into the first few chapters, I was hooked! I couldn’t put it down! It turned into a mystery and I really thought I figured it out. However, there was a huge twist at the end. The characters were well developed. This book had emotions and mystery. I highly recommend this book.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

[Diane Bechtle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was definitely riveted by this novel. The author wove an intriguing story through realistic characters that contrasted each other well. Other than Matthew Goodman's thoughts about water, I never really landed on its total meaning.
Through many plot twists, I liked seeing the change in both of the main characters for the good, and the truth of Goodman's position and how it affected him was refreshing.
The 4 stars are for the ending, which I will not give away. I was very disappointed and left in wonderment.

[Nancy Noble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a book! Impulse spending caused me to buy this book - IVP kept sending me enticing notices and I succumbed. For the most part I really liked this book, and got totally sucked into it with the great writing, stories, and characters. But at the end, when I came up for air, I was left a little unsettled, which is not a bad thing. I just had to fill in the blanks and imagine how I wanted the book to end.

[Ellen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading this novel, but was sorely disappointed by the tortured writing. The descriptions are either confusing or overwrought. The writing had me irritated from the first paragraph of the first chapter. I tried to force myself to read to page twenty, but closed the book in annoyance by page twelve. I earned a degree in Literature so I do have some idea what I am talking about. With another edit, I bet this could be an interesting novel.

[Meg Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Surface Of Water, Cynthia Beach describes intricate stories beautifully.

The author's mastery of character development allows the reader an opportunity to immerse themselves in experiences they may not have encountered during their life's journey.

Thank you, Cynthia Beach. Your rich novel fostered my personal introspection, encouraged self-awareness, and ultimately provided soul nourishment.

[Cindy Cleaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

It made me think. Both about what it might be like to seek a father and the way things spin out of control in the seeking. Also, it made me think about the suffering a pastor/celebrity must endure. The characters had many chances to make different choices. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the character of Trish Card intriguing and the entire mega church culture very realistic, however I did struggle to follow the multiple characters introduced throughout the book. Overall a read that needs to be done when plenty of time available to stay on track with characters..I did so love Trish's strength though.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, very powerful, but I wish there had been more! A twist at the end, and I turned the page fully expecting another chapter or two, explaining what happened next. There was no "rest of the story." I hope there might be a sequel someday, else I will just have to imagine what became of the characters afterwards.

[Kara Koester · Rating 4 out of 5]

A challenging book to read. As someone who attended certain mega-churches and has witnessed sexual harm in those environments, I found the book triggering on many occasions. Beach hints at how the desire to keep our pastors on a pedestal, while not responsible for their poor choices, contributes to the isolation that makes it more challenging to reach out for help.

[Kristen Mcknight · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars. This is quite the moving novel that was initially self-published until Inter-Varsity recently picked it up (not published quite yet).
Short chapters with lots of twists and turns. It sustained my interest and attention until the very end.

[Cheri Swalwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new to me author that I'm glad I read her book. It's one that I will remember for awhile both for the message of the book itself and it's characters. I loved her style and will definitely be reading more by this author in the future. Will recommend to my friends as well.

[Allie Fullerton (thelightfilledreader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Left me in suspense and I finished the book at two in the morning!

[Erika Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

So thrilled to finally read this book! And, of course, once started, I could hardly put it down. Absolutely loved. <3

[Joanne Sher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing story with real struggles and complex characters that made me think and ponder what I would do in their situation.

[Lisa Lewis Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trish is the newly-hired assistant to Goodman. He has no idea who she is, but she's pretty sure she knows who he is. The well scripted twists and turns led to an ending I couldn't even imagine!

[Jayne Bartrand · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like the author set a scene then it was my job as a reader to draw a conclusion to every major plot line, but one - which was obvious from the beginning. I’m disappointed that it took 300+ pages to find a key and a toothbrush. Trish was a smarter character than that.