Thank you Net Galley for an audio copy of The Drowning Kind. The narrator did a really good job with this book although in my opinion, it needed to be done with 2 different narrators for the 2 different timelines. The story was entertaining but I felt that the ending didn't vibe with the storyline.

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon is about the women in three generations of the family. It is a mix of ghost story, mystery, and women's fiction. The story is told in a past and present fashion. The typical writing style of the author. The reader will appreciate this version of story-telling because it is how the story and events will make sense. Though not needed, the audiobook is performed by two narrators. Joy Osmanski narrated the part of Jax and Lexie's story in 2019, while Imani Jade Powers narrated the part of Ethel Monroe in 1929. Oh, how I love Imani Jade Powers' lyrical and soothing voice. She sounds so elegant and fitting for that era.

What I didn't like is there are some parts where the book kind of dragged for a bit. It was somewhere in the middle that I kind of lost interest. All in all, this is a worthwhile read. I would just say it is not one of my favorite mystery and thriller stories. I enjoy those with a lot of human nature in action. This one is more on the side of horror than mystery.

I'd still recommend if you enjoy stories about the past that is set in Brandenburg, Vermont. You'll learn about the history and culture of that place, as well as if you enjoy women's fiction, ghosts, sisters, and family generation.

Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher Simon & Schuster Audio for granting my wish, and author John Hart for providing an advance audiobook copy of the book. All reviews are voluntary, honest, and my own.

The Drowning Kind is a slow burn, quiet horror/thriller dealing with grief, mental health, addiction, and complicated family relationships. It's pretty creepy, but it takes its time and is quite character driven. It follows two main characters in two different time periods.

In the modern day, Jax is a social worker helping troubled kids, but her relationship with her sister is distant due in part to her sisters bipolar disorder. After she ignores phone calls from her sister, she turns up dead. Drowned in the swimming pool at the estate she inherited from their grandmother. A pool fed by springs that might have healing powers, but might also be haunted.

In 1929, a 37-year old woman is trying to have a baby but unable to conceive. So her husband takes her to a resort with healing springs where she makes a wish. But there is a price to pay for anything given.

These stories eventually intersect and get increasingly creepy and disturbing. It explores the challenges of having family members with mental health issues and addiction, grief, and infertility. I thought it was very good if quite intense, although there are a couple of plot threads that I didn't think had a satisfying arc. (particularly the use of a side character who is patient of Jax). I also thought the audiobook was fantastic. The narrators use voices that really emphasize the difference in time periods. I received an audio review copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Content warnings include: graphic depictions of self harm, grief, anxiety, paranoia, family with addiction and bipolar disorder, depictions of a very sick infant, pregnancy and childbirth, drowning, death, suicidal ideation.

A story where a house is the mai character. The past and the present collide in this book where 2 sisters have to face the reality of rheir family home.
That was an interesting audiobook with excellent narrators. I enjoyed listening to it. It even scared me at some parts.

Jennifer McMahon does it again! Breathtaking mystery with twists and turns, intriguing family dynamics and ending that I didn’t see coming.

This story is told from two perspectives: Jax in present day and Ethel in 1929.

Jax has a sister named Lexie. Lexie has a habit of going off her meds and becoming manic, erratic and losing touch with reality. One day, Lexie calls Jax repeatedly, leaving rambling messages, Jax ignores her calls.
The next day Lexie is found dead. She drowned in the pool at her grandmother’s estate.
When Jax arrives at her grandmother’s house, she comes across the research Lexie had been doing. Jax begins unearthing the family’s dark past...

1929: Ethel wants a baby more than anything in the world, but she has been unable to become pregnant.
Her husband decides to surprise her with a trip to a gorgeous newly built hotel. The hotel brochure boasts of its beautiful natural spring.

After they arrive, they hear rumors that the water of the spring grants wishes. Ethel makes a wish....
________________________________

This is a beautifully written supernatural thriller. It’s haunting and creepy and delves into mental illness and grief with a resonating rawness.

The Drowning Kind was a solid 3.5 stars for me. Like any Jennifer McMahon book, there was a good storyline about ghosts. The story is told on 2 differing timelines - one in the past, the other in present day. It lagged a bit in the middle for me, honestly as not really much of anything interesting was happening. However, it definitely picked up in the end!

I rounded the stars down on this one because of the narration. Narration is the KEY to any audiobook. The narration in this one was painful. Too slow, too "perfect" in the annunciation of words. Just read the story! Make it natural, not this fake sing-songy nonsense! I had to speed the audio up to be able to moderately tolerate it. I wish that I had read this one rather than have listened to it. I would have definitely rated it higher!

This review was also posted on Goodreads.

.5 rounded up. Are you into ghosts? Spooky ghooooooosts?! This book is for you! The author did a great job of creating a very creepy atmosphere and layered backstory. The plot was very interesting and I did not want to stop listening, even when I had other stuff I really needed to do. The story definitely had its creepy, cold long fingernails imbedded into me, and I had to finish before it’d let me go.

There’s some room for improvement, definitely: the entire character of Lexie was incredibly annoying, the story was repetitive and in great need of a major edit to trim the fat, and in the audio edition I listened to, I could not STAND either of the narrators. The narrator for Jax sounded like she had a head cold, and Ethel had a weird, overly smooth guided meditation voice. It’s hard to explain, but I really disliked them both. And lastly, Ethel’s character - who told us the origin to the spooky springs story) was constantly stabbing and cutting herself with pins. I feel like I’ve been seeing the self-mutilation cutting trope a lot in these sorts of books, and I am just not that interested. Also the author takes lots of time to talk about the protagonist’s job as a therapist, including her work with one very troubled little boy. Those plot lines recur throughout the book and are never resolved. If they’re important enough to bring up, resolve them. I suspect that all could’ve been cut.

So, if you love a good ghost story, I would get it and put it on your “October TBR” list and prepare to be spooked.

Thank you #NetGalley and #Simon&SchusterAudio for the ARC of #TheDrowningKind! ❤️

Maybe it's just my slight aquaphobia (mental note, never EVER Google image search 'fear of drowning' again), but The Drowning Kind gave me a major case of the howling fantods. Serious willies over here. The dual narrative tells of both present and past tragedies, all centering around a spring-fed cut-out-of-the-granite pool. Now just why anyone would want to go to that much effort just for a creepy cold-water pool is beyond me. Again, see my above-referenced aquaphobia...

I kept finding myself wondering if I was reading a ghost novel or a horror novel, and the truth is, it's neither and both. Definitely there was some creepy ghost stuff going on. But there were also moments of psychological horror and terror. The truth is that there were a few holes in the plot, and some not-so-fantastic writing (especially in the past narrative thread), but I didn't even care because it kept making my hair stand on end.

I look forward to checking out more works from the author. If you enjoy a good scary story, definitely give this one a go.

Wow. I'm left speechless. This book was phenomenal.
This is the second book I've read by this author and I believe she will become an auto buy for me. Her books are always amazing! This book has all the creepy feelings, ghosts, legends and soo much more!
Jax and her sister Lexie were as thick as thieves when they were younger. But when Lexie receives her grandmother's home and inheritance when their grandmother passed away Jax started to resent Lexie and started putting boundaries and space between the two. So when one day she starts to receive several phone calls and frantic voicemails from Lexie, Jax comes to the conclusion that Lexie is off her medications and even reaches out to her aunt to check on Lexie. However, when her aunt goes to the grandmother's house she finds Lexie in the family pool drowned.
While Jax is going through the house and her sister's things she is making discoveries about Lexie that she did not know about and also that she was conducting research on the history of her grandmother's property.
Then we have flashbacks from a family in the 1920's who originally went to the spring because they had heard the stories about the healing properties of the spring and wanted help with infertility. There's just one big catch with the spring; it's like a curse. You will get what you want but, there is always a price it just depends if you are willing to pay the price.
I loved this book! This book would be great for anyone who loves creepy legends, ghost stories and even just a good creepy horror story! Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Audio for the opportunity to read/listen to this one!

Did somebody say Hill House vibes?

Thank you Netgalley and Simon Schuster for an advanced reader copy for my honest review.

Jax spends her days avoiding her sister's manic episode fueled phone calls and working as a social worker. But everything changes when Jax learns that her estranged sister, Lexie has died in the pool they swam in as children.

In a dual time line, Ethel Monroe is living out her life in 1929 as a doctor's wife struggling to get pregnant. When a trip to a hotel near a natural spring gives her an irresistible opportunity to make a wish, her life will never be the same.

There is something lurking in the water behind the beautiful old mansion and a history of people drowning in its murky depths. Jax and Ethel, decades apart will tell you how the house and its mysterious springs have come to be and how they may never be destroyed.

This book is heartbreakingly sad but also very restorative. It is the second book by Jennifer McMahon that I have read, previously enjoying The Winter People with 3 full stars as well. I know of a lot of people who adore her writing style and I can definitely see the appeal however, this is the second book that has left me lukewarm. It is hauntingly similar to The Haunting of Hill House season 2 on netflix. So if you enjoyed that- you'll love this one as well.

This one dragged a lot for me.. I enjoyed the story, and I loved the varying perspectives, but I think it would have helped if it was read by two drastically different people because occasionally I had to think about which character I was listening to.

I loved the storyline with the flashbacks/letters. I liked the characters. I typically don't love ghost stories/super natural things but the cover and description worked for me and the story was written in such a way that it wasn't an issue. There was one weird scene where the dad jumps in the lake after saying he saw the daughter and that was a little much but again, it was written in a way that it didn't turn me off. I really liked the characters and thought they were fleshed out well with going being tedious in description.

This one wasn't exactly my cup of tea, but since some of that was likely due to the narration I would definitely try this author again.

This author is an automatic but for me. This was the first audiobook I’ve experienced from author. I enjoyed the story. If you enjoy horror/thriller check out this and any others by this author. You will not disappointed. I will definitely pick this book up to read!
Thanks to publisher and NetGalley for chance to listen to this audiobook!

Pub date 4/2021

Jennifer McMahon does it again! Not that it should be a surprise to anyone who's followed her career. McMahon has long been the queen of the thriller. From Dismantled and Promise Not to Tell through to The Invited, she creates narratives and characters that simply leap off the page with such visceral detail they seem strangely familiar.

But The Drowning Kind is something different. This is a seriously spooky ghost story that belongs in the same breath as the classics like Rebecca and Turn of the Screw. It's that good. I fear offering too many details without giving it way.

Suffice it to say, you won't see the ending coming.

I have a soft spot for stories that take place at creepy New England hotels, so I knew I would love this twisty supernatural tale by Jennifer McMahon. When Jax receives the horrible news that her sister Lexie has drowned in the pool at their grandmother’s estate, it sets her on the path to finding out what happened to her sister, while also discovering more about the history of the estate and the springs that feed the pool. I enjoyed alternating between the present day and back when the estate was a hotel in the 1920’s. Both narrators of the audiobook were excellent and led to me finding more chores to do around the house so I could keep listening.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The narrator made this book very pleasant to listen to. As far as the content? Well, I wish I had known it was a ghost story and a story about them and a haunted pool. If one suspends reality and enjoys ghost stories, then you will enjoy this story as well. For me? I was hoping for a reasonable and believable conclusion. Oh well.

I had goosebumps listening to this book! It’s so atmospheric and haunting in a way that makes you feel uneasy. I loved the dual timelines and seeing how they came together. The audiobook was well done and the two narrators did a fabulous job! And the ending??? Major chills! Loved it!

Jax is living a drama free life in Washington state when she gets a call informing her that one half of the dynamic "x girls" duo, her sister Lex has drowned in the family's pool, infamous for its magical and healing abilities. When Jax returns home to the Sparrow Crest estate, she regrets the "x girls" estrangement due in part to Lex's mental illness but mostly due to Jax's jealousy of Lex's inheriting Sparrow Crest. Eager for answers on what led to her sister's death, Jax retraces her sister's final moments examining chaotic diary entries to life like paintings, which all led back to the magical pool's killing, oops, I meant healing ability. All of this was brought beautifully to life by the narrators Imani Jade Powers and Joy Osmanski.

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer Mchanon is a literary horror ghost story set in two timelines present day, where the reader follows Jax as she discovers the secrets of the Sparrow Crest estate which may have led to her sister's demise, and the early 20th century where the reader mets Ethel a distant relative of Jax and Lex, from whom we learn the origin of those Sparrow Crest secrets. Again, I must stress the importance of this books having two distinct voices for the narration. Imani Jade Powers and Joy Osmanski narration allowed me to know when I was in the present day with Jax and when I was stepping into the past with Ethal. Their wonderful narration truly helped my listening experience. Excellent narration was crucial, since Mchanon tackles moving sub-plots such as: family trauma, self-harm, a sapphic love story, and themes such as scientific logic versus the supernatural. I really enjoyed this story and audiobook, if you enjoy methodical storytelling mixed with literary horror then I suspect you will too. Hence, The Drowning Kind will leave the reader with one burning question: How far would you go to be close with the one you love? I rate 4.5 stars.

4 STARS

This book was creepy and fun! The story is about a healing pool - and when main character Jax goes back to her old harm to see her family, she finds her sister has died. It's been a long time since she's been home, and now her sister is gone. The book is a mystery to figure out why her sister died, and the mysterious healing pool. I loved this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster Audio for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

This was an atmospheric, supernatural thriller with dual time periods. A hotsprings pool with miraculous healing capabilities is center stage. But as the pool heals and grants wishes, it takes something in return and the results are deadly.

McMahon is an excellent writer and this was intense and scary at times. I’m not a huge fan of plots with supernatural elements and this was the primary focus. There wasn’t much of a mystery that needed to be solved in a conventional sense, so although I was engaged, I did not find this to be a page-turner. This will definitely appeal to readers who enjoy supernatural suspenses.

The audio version of this with alternating narrators who took on the voices and characteristics of the 2 different time periods was really well-done.