Jax has done everything she can to get away from her manic sister, Lexie. She's moved across the country and started her life there, ignoring her sister's calls. But after missing/ignoring a sequence of nine increasingly alarming phone calls, Jax knows that something is wrong. Her aunt then informs her that her sister Lexie has drowned in the family pool at Sparrow Crest, just as her aunt had many years before.

in 1929, 37-year-old newlywed Ethel Monroe desperately hopes for a baby. When her husband takes her on a trip to a newly built state-of-the-art hotel in Vermont, she learns from the owner's wife that the natural spring water on the property has special healing powers. Soon enough after her visit, Ethel is pregnant.

As Jax returns to Sparrow Crest to bury her sister and deal with her personal affairs, she begins to dig deeper into what exactly is going on with the family pool, and why so much tragedy is associated with it. As she continues to dig, she just might find more than she bargained for.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I requested this book, but the premise sounded interesting. It turned out to be much more supernatural and paranormal than I expected, which was a change from my usual mysteries and thrillers. The alternating narrators helped bring the story full circle and gave background on the springs from the origin, so I felt like I was discovering the truth right alongside Jax. I definitely will read more of Jennifer McMahon's work. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this title in exchange for an honest review.

Heartbreaking and spooky.. First words that come to mind after finishing this book. It was a gripping story. Two sisters and one house. The back and forth between the past and present was very interesting and I thought I know where this was going but them it threw a curve ball. I am not quite sure that I understand the ending......who are the villain's? but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Be prepared to turn on the lights, because they could visit you during the night...

This book blew me away! I loved reading both POVs (Jax, in the present, and Ethel, in 1929) and I enjoyed the eerie setting so much! There was everything I look for in a good story: unique and endearing characters, mystery, no plot holes and, above all, an ending that gave me goosebumps.

The Drowning Kind was my first read by this author, even if some of her books have been on my TBR for a while. I'm so happy I've been approved on Netgalley for this one and got to read it after seeing so many great reviews! I'm definitely gonna read her previous works now that I know what a great writer she is.

4.5 rounded up

This is a paranormal suspense novel with two timelines. In 2019, Jackie (Jax) receives news that her sister has drowned in the spring-fed pool at their family homestead, Sparrow Crest. She returns to Vermont for the funeral and tries to find out the truth of what happened to her sister. In 1929, Jax’s great-grandmother Ethel discovers the magic of the springs and the fate of her family becomes linked forever to the waters and their powers.

The writing is solid, and I was drawn in immediately to the world and lives of both Jax and Ethel. For the first half of the book, these stories are balanced and equally riveting. Jax deals with her grief and guilt, and digs into the secrets her sister has uncovered. Ethel is desperate for a child, and ignores warnings about the dangers of the springs. The worlds created in each timeline are distinct and authentic.

Two things happen at around the mid-point of this novel, causing the story to lose momentum. In Jax’s timeline, there are too many things going on at once. Some minor characters and subplots are over-developed; characters that are more consequential are under-developed. As a result, Jax’s investigations feel rushed. In Ethel’s timeline, nothing new is happening, and we already know the outcome from Jax’s timeline. The 1929 storyline could be condensed quite a bit. I skimmed a lot of these scenes. I felt like they were added just to keep the format consistent, but they really slowed down the pacing.

The ending was satisfying, but didn’t have the emotional impact it should have. Overall, this is a good suspense novel with a few pacing issues. This is my first Jennifer McMahon novel, and I liked it enough to read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected pub date: April 6, 2021

3.5 stars

This is a paranormal-type storyline, and if that's your thing, then you'll really enjoy this novel.
Unfortunately, I'm not a fan of this genre and didn't quite enjoy it as much as other reviewers who seemed to really love this story. I'm not saying that it wasn't a well-written novel. Jennifer McMahon writes very well and conveys the "picture" of her story quite well. I just couldn't get into this novel.

I would suggest giving it a chance, though, if this is a theme that it interests you.

The Drowning Kind / Jennifer McMahon
5 stars

Jax and Lexie are sisters and spent their summers growing up with their Gram, who lived in a house with a “spring” pool in the yard. The spring, for decades, was someplace where people believed there were healing powers in the water. Locals, however, also believed that if you took something from the spring, the spring demanded something back.

Jax and Lexie always knew, growing up, that their Gram’s sister, Rita drowned in that spring. But, they loved it there, anyway. As adults, Lexie was diagnosed with a mental illness, and she had bouts of mania. Jax is a social worker, but had been estranged from Lexie for about a year – for her own mental sanity, she had to stop trying to fight Lexie’s battles for her when Lexie was off her meds. When she ignores Lexie’s calls one night, Jax is devastated to learn, the next day, that Lexie has drowned in the spring. (This is not a spoiler, as it happens almost immediately in the book.)

That was the current-day (2019) storyline. There was another storyline, set in 1929, when the property Jax’s Gram lived on was once the location of a hotel, where people came to use the spring for its healing powers. Ethel and Will are a couple without kids, but they desperately want a child. They head to the hotel for a short stay, and Ethel “asks” the spring to grant her her wish… and it does.

Really really good. This is one you may not want to read by yourself, in the dark, at night. Not all of it, but there were enough parts (as I read just before bed a couple of nights!) that were creepy and chilling. The atmosphere in the book was done really well, and there are even more family issues and secrets than what I’ve mentioned here.

I received a copy of this ARC from #Netgalley for an honest review and it did not disappoint. This book will hit the shelves in April so if you are a Jennifer McMahon fan, this is one not to miss.

What a terrific story. I was invested in two different stories that eventually merged into an amazing family story. This book Kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting more. Thrilling, suspenseful, and beautifully written. A travel through time that is worth the adventure!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer McMahon and Simon & Schuster Canada for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I have only read a few of the many novels that McMahon has written, but every single one of them has kept me up at night. I sat down and read this novel cover to cover because I needed to know exactly what was happening to this family and why. I loved the tense atmosphere and the completely unique idea behind this one. I enjoyed the characters and how different they were in how they dealt with grief. The ending though, was by far my favorite part because I really really didn't see it coming. Definitely one I would recommend!

Wait a second, it is a horror book. I do not like horror. Not because I got scared or somthing, it because I don’t feel it. In most of horror books, I see only annoying characters and nothing else. But somehow, I loved this one. Let me explain my self, I don’t scare of water, dark or dark water. I am a diver, and I like night dive. BUT this book creeped me out.
The Drowning Kind has two story lines. In 2019, Jax’s sister died in the spring pool located on their gramma’ property. It looks like Jax’s sister is trying to figure out something, when Jax start to dig more, wired things happened. 1929-1930, Ethel and her husband went to a famous spring hotel for vacation. In the Spring Pool, Ethel made a wish…
The book pulls me in at very beginning. first half, I am so hunger for what happened on Ethel. The second half, I cannot wait for Jax’s decision and the Ending is shocking me. Be careful what you wish for. 4.5 stars
This is my first Jennifer McMahon and definitely not the last. Highly recommended to the readers who like paranormal, thriller and horror.

This was an unusual novel that had all the trappings of suspense—a young woman returning to her family home after the mysterious death of her brilliant but unbalanced sister. But as the story develops, a creeping element of horror is introduced as the family home and its dark, brooding pool fed by a spring that is the subject of grim local legend—the water gives, but it also takes.
Jax, the living sister, tells the story of childhood summers spent swimming in the pool with her sister,Lexie . McMahon is careful to slowly weave in a brooding sense of terror with fleeting sightings and strange incidents, all the while weaving in the story of Ethel back in 1929 who was responsible for building a house by the springs. As we learn her story, we begin to understand the strange events that occur much later with Lexie and Jax.
The house, pool and general settings are beautifully developed, creating a dark, Gothic atmosphere that compels the reader to keep going. Characters are well drawn, especially Lexie and her father, whose damaged brilliance makes them particularly sympathetic. But while Jax is quite a strong character, she comes across as a little generic and bland. Not surprising since she's lived in her sister's shadow all her life.
This is an enjoyable and entertaining read and will delight horror/suspense fans everywhere.
Thanks to Net Galley andGallery/Scout Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let me start by saying that I am shook. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started this book...but oh my, did I ever get a wild and enjoyable ride.

McMahon takes a story and spins it so carefully you can’t tell reality from imagination. I sped through this like my life depended on it. I struggled to put it down and picked it up even if I only had a couple minutes to bury my nose in it.

<b>The Drowning Kind</b> is told in two perspectives, Jax (present day) and Ethel (1929). The past and present are so well written, you seamlessly jump from one time to the next with ease. I don’t think I could ever adequately sum up the novel better than the synopsis does, so I invite you to give it a read.

The plot is intricate, spooky with elements from another realm, chock full of twists and turns that leave you breathless.

I found this novel to be incredibly well-written, and although it is the first work I’ve read by McMahon, it will not be the last. She has woven a story that will stick with me for quite some time I think.

I highly recommend grabbing yourselves a copy of this novel the second it’s available! I don’t typically read novels, lately, that include supernatural aspects, but that may change after this experience!

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! Upon publishing of this novel, I will also be posting my review to Amazon Canada.</i>

Jax and her sister were always close but Lexie's mental illness and the fact she inherited the family home, have divided them. After receiving some disturbing phone calls from Lexie, which she doesn't answer she is told Lexi had drowned in the family pool. The pool as always been a disturbing place full of secrets and deaths. What happened the night of Lexie death slowing are revealed to Jax through cryptic notes found all over the house.
This book gave me chills and kept me reading until I finished it, I absolutely enjoyed this book.

This is a paranormal thriller and will be a hit with those who like that genre..The plot involves a magical swimming pool and a family living near it..Though intriguing and creepy,it has repetitive sentences and scenes.The main character Jax is quite frustrating when she refuses to see reality of whatever is happening. Also it's ridiculous that in 2017, unexplained phenomena is not investigated by authorities. A police investigative angle would have made this story more convincing.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected pub date: April 6, 2021
Jackie is used to receiving middle-of-the-night, crazy-conspiracy-theory calls from her sister, Lexie. Since their childhood, Lexie has had struggles with bipolar disorder, so when Jackie receives several anxious phone calls from Lexie one night, she thinks nothing of it. However, when her aunt calls her to tell her Lexie drowned in the family pool, Jackie is stunned. When Jackie returns to her family’s estate, she finds the house in disarray. It appears that Lexie had been doing research on their family’s history and the history of their house, and the secrets it reveals leads Jackie to believe that Lexie’s death may have not been accidental.
In 1929, Ethel and her husband William are desperate for a baby. When they venture to a newly built hotel together for a romantic getaway, Ethel hears rumour that the lake has special healing powers. So desperate is she for a baby, that she makes a wish for one, hoping the water’s powers will grant her what she has wanted for so long. Ethel is so desperate, in fact, that she ignores warnings from the townspeople who tell her that the water doesn’t grant wishes without taking something in return.
Full of ghost stories, family tragedy and sprawling estates, “The Drowning Kind” by Jennifer McMahon is one heck of a thrill ride!
The story is told from two different perspectives, in two different time periods; both present day and 1929. The historical plot line creates atmosphere, and helps develop the history of the lake and its magical waters, and although it is not as intense as the Lexie-Jackie storyline, it definitely contributes an important aspect to the plot.
Lexie’s story is heart-wrenching and completely realistic, and any reader will empathize with her, and her sister, Jackie, as she struggles with her mental illness. Ethel, too, has her struggles with infertility that reach right to the very core. All of the characters in this novel are completely relatable and I formed an instant bond with them.
The ending was so surprising, I had to read it twice to ensure I had it right. It came out of nowhere and I LOVED it. This novel played out in such a way that a variety of endings could have been possible, but McMahon chose the perfect one.
“The Drowning Kind” is a page-turner that will give you goosebumps from page one. One of my favourites by the renowned author of many mystery and suspense novels, I highly recommend this one for anyone looking for a ghost story that is so much more.

This book creeped me out so much and I mean that in a good way. It was a page turner that made me want to know what was going on with the pool. I'm still thinking about the ending! If you're into supernatural reads this is great for you!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for a copy of this novel!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and editor for the ARC this book.

I’m actually giving this book 3.5 stars as it captured my attention and couldn’t wait to find out how it ends but I was was a little disappointed at not finding out what the deal truly is with the spring that is at the center of this book.

The story is like 2 stories in parallel as we follow Jackie who’s coming back to her grandmother’s house after her sister estranged drowned in the pool that she now owns following the grandmother’s death. We also follow the story of Ethel or Mrs. Monroe as she keeps referring to herself who believes a little too much in the legend attached to the spring. All in all, we discover that there are many linked to the spring and the mystery is still there at the end of the book.

This was the first book I had read by this author, and it will not be the last, it was very good. It is told in two timelines, one starting in the late 1920's by Ethel, married in her mid 30's to a doctor. Ethel is desperately trying to get pregnant and is told by a friend of a 'special' spring that grants wishes. In present day we meet Jackie "Jax", who ignores several phone calls from her sister Lexie. Lexie is bipolar and often stops taking her meds which causes her to have episodes, Jax assumes the phone calls are leading to or part of an episode. The next day she finds out Lexie has drowned in a pool at the house she inherited from their grandmother, a house that Jax assumed she would inherit. Ethel, in the meantime, makes a decision which she hopes will lead to a pregnancy. Jax visits the house where Lexie drowns to see for herself where Lexie drowned, because Lexie is a very experienced swimmer Jax finds it hard to believe she accidently drowned. There are a lot of twists that really up the creep factor, i'm not usually one for supernatural type of stories, but the author did a very good job of maintaining suspense to the very creepy ending. Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it very much exceeded my expectations. What I like best about it is how different it is from most of the books I’ve been reading lately, i loved how it jumped between past and present and the author did well to tie everything together in the end, leaving no gaps or unanswered questions. This book has a little bit of everything, combining mystery, thriller, and a sort supernatural twist. The characters were well developed and the writing flowed very well making it an easy read. This book had me interested from start to finish and I had a hard time putting it down! I cannot wait to read more by this author, so good! Thanks to netgalley for providing an ARC for an honest review, and thank you to the author for writing this little piece of magic.

(SPOILER ALERT)

I really enjoyed this book! It had just the right amount of creepiness, without going into full-on horror. Loved the ending as well! The subtly around the 'agoraphobia' was brilliant, and the manic sister and father really tied it together.

Some things I think could be improved on:
- The cover - are there even any flowers in the book? A better cover would be a water droplet, water splashing, or even a scene where you're looking out a door with a pool in the background, and a forest and two trees. Or even a peacock.
- It's weird that she calls her dad Ted.
- The plot holes.- how did she drown, if her father pulled her out of the pool? I assume she drowned sometime later, but it should probably be stated somewhere. Completely disjointed ending, but a great one. Would have been better if it tied together better though.
- The family-tree was a bit confusing. I could never remember what Gram's name was, and kept thinking she was Maggie.