The Book:
Under the Palms by Kaira Rouda
Published September 5, 2023 by Thomas & Mercer
Date read: April 22, 2024
Under the Palms spoilers can be found below, but they’re hidden under a spoiler tag so you’re safe to keep scrolling if you’d just like to read my review.
The Kingsleys Series
Beneath the Surface
Under the Palms
The Characters:
Richard and his ex-wife Serena
Richard’s son Ted
Ted’s ex-wife Paige and her new boyfriend Justin
Richard’s son John and his girlfriend Krystle
Richard’s daughter Sibley
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The Plot (from Goodreads):
During a weekend retreat, a powerful family plays a dangerous game of dark secrets and cold-blooded ambition in a novel by Kaira Rouda, USA Today bestselling author of Beneath the Surface.
Under the direction of the Kingsleys’ new president, Paige, the family has gathered for a weekend retreat at a luxurious Laguna Beach resort.
Still clinging to the hope of succession are the sons of Richard Kingsley, the family patriarch and John, the oldest, who’s clawed his way back from a dark tragedy, and Paige’s estranged husband, Ted, the golden boy. When Richard’s ex and his wayward daughter join the fray, Paige finds herself with two fast allies. They know a secret that could shatter the family legacy. Call it leverage, call it revenge, the Kingsley women believe they have the upper hand.
But as the power games begin, greater threats than the howling Santa Ana winds are coming. Because this weekend, amid so much greed and betrayal, no Kingsley is safe. It’s family. Watch your back.
Under the Palms Spoilers
The Reveal:
“Someone” killed Richard midway through the book. I thought it was pretty obvious who, but the reader doesn’t know their identity just yet.
Sibley discovered him dead and told Paige, who told her assistant Justin (whom she was sleeping with). Justin got his family’s fixer to come deal with the body. Paige collected evidence that could frame either John or Ted if needed, but ultimately got the death ruled natural causes (at the end of the previous book Richard had announced that he had terminal heart disease). Justin’s father was a competitor who sent Justin to learn from the Kingsleys.
Krystle wasn’t who she said she was, but she wasn’t really involved in any of the drama. Her brother had been killed on a Kingsley job site due to management’s negligence and she wanted to make them pay, but was happy to just take John’s money.
Krystle and John got engaged. Ted hooked up with Meredith (one of the two non-Kinglsey board members) in hopes of securing her vote for president.
The Ending:
At the final dinner, Meredith read Richard’s will. He left equal shares of the company to Ted, John, Sibley, and Paige. He also said that whoever was president at the time of his death would continue in the position for a year (so Paige), and that he wouldn’t name a new CEO.
Serena’s ex’s henchman showed up to get revenge on Richard, not knowing he was dead and thinking he was Sophia’s father. He insisted she name someone, so she named John, and the henchman killed John. Then the fires from the Santa Ana winds got too close and they needed to evacuate.
Paige obviously was the killer. She was mad that Richard was trying to oust her from the position he gave her. The ending sets up a third book where Paige goes and does the same thing with Justin’s rich family.
I hope these Under the Palms spoilers were helpful.
The Review:
Under the Palms by Kaira Rouda is out this week! Thank you to SparkPoint Press for this gifted copy!
If you like rich people behaving badly, then the Kingsleys series is the one for you. This family is the worst: greedy, backstabbing, conniving, and out for revenge. While none of the characters are likeable, it’s a blast to read about their dumpster fire of a corporate retreat.
Pick this one up this summer for an entertaining popcorn thriller that will make a good poolside read.
The reader gets some answers as to what happened after Beneath the Surface. The characters are the same–no one has learned their lesson, but new alliances have formed and some people are getting what they deserve. I wouldn’t read this one without knowing how Beneath the Surface ended, but there’s enough info to figure out the gist if you dive right in.
The end of Under the Palms seemed to be setting up a third book in the series, so we might not be done with this family yet! I probably won’t be continuing this series.
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