Although this book was a well written atmospheric novel,
"The Drowning Kind" was just not my "kind" of book.

The story unfolds from the POVs of two protagonists: 1) Jax (present), a mental health professional who ignores multiple calls from her mentally ill sister (HUH?) only to discover that her sister has drowned in her grandmother's pool in Vermont and 2) Ethel (1929), an infertile woman who goes to a natural healing spring in Vermont in the hope that her desperate wish to have a child will be granted. We quickly learn from both protagonists that dark secrets lurk beneath the surface of that Vermont pool, involving deaths and darkness that span a century.

The jockeying back to the past from the present with two different protagonists sometimes can work but it did not work here. When going from the past to the present, the same events were rehashed -- with repetitive dialog. There were also a few parts of the story that were not resolved when the story ended and this was disappointing. And, finally, I was seeking a "thriller" when I selected this book and this book was more a family drama/paranormal tale.

I listened to the book's audio version. I always love it when an audiobook has multiple narrators and this book's two narrators were superb.

SINK OR SWIM? Unfortunately, "The Drowning Kind" was a SINK for me.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am extremely sensitive to audiobook narrators. If the voice grates and does not appeal, I can’t even get past the first few sentences.

That was my experience here. I am certain, given my past experiences with Jennifer McMahon books, that this is a superb story, but I simply could not stand to listen to the narrator. My problem, not hers.

This thriller wins the prize for creepiness among the many other thrillers and mysteries I've been reading during the past few months.

The plot follows two storylines. The first takes place in 1929 with Ethel, who is married to a doctor and finding it heartbreakingly impossible to conceive. Her husband hears of a magical “healing pool” in Vermont that grants wishes but, as it turns out, at a price.

The other, contemporary storyline follows Jax, a social worker, who returns to the rambling stone house with a spring-fed pool, that her grandmother had bequeathed to her sister, Lexie. She discovers that Lexie, who died at the house, had been investigating something before her death. Previously, the two sisters had become estranged after too many late-night calls from Lexie, who had been diagnosed as bipolar.

Of course, Jax becomes enveloped in trying to figure out the circumstances of her sister's death in the “healing waters.”

This was an excellent read if you can suspend a bit of disbelief and let yourself become immersed in the story, which is very well drawn.

What would you do if your wish was granted by a wishing well, but had deadly consequences? Would you still make a wish or would you accept life as it is?
This book was intriguing and spooky, a murderous version of Tuck Everlasting.

Lexi and Jax are sisters that were close as girls, but as adults they grew apart as Lexi inherited the family home and grew more manic and Jax worked as a therapist. Jax has distanced herself from Lexi in order to preserve her peace until she gets a series of calls that she doesn’t answer only to find out that Lexi is off her meds and in trouble. Lexi ends up drowning in the family pool, despite being an accomplished swimmer. Lexi was investigating the dark, dank spring fed pool, convinced that something was in there, but no one understands.
In another timeline, we learn of people in the 1920’s who went to the spring that fed the pool because of the stories of the waters healing and restorative powers. But there’s one catch-the spring doesn’t give without taking away.

This was a creepy and very descriptive story and the narration was well done.
Thanks to netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this arc audiobook in exchange for my review.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a ALC of this book.

The Drowning Kind is a paranormal thriller that follows Jacks as she learns that her sister has died. Lexie, who suffers from bipolar disorder, and Jacks have a disconnected relationship as Lexie, the favorite, inherited the family home that they both loved. At this home, there is a pool with a dark and secret past that revolves around the magic of the waters within. Jacks comes back to her childhood home and begins to discover what happened to her sister and learns that there may be more than just rumors about the mystery of the pool and the price of its aid.

This book had a lot of potential . I thought there were some mildly creep moments in it. The build up to the finale created tension however, the climax felt rushed and unsatisfying. I loved the alternating timelines, explaining the Brandenburg Hotel and the history of the pool. I was very invested in that aspect of the story. I wish there were more depth to that. Same about the present timeline. I thought it was intriguing but lacked depth. I wanted more paranormal, more scary scenes, and more answers.

Ooh, this book was creepy! Do you ever get asked about a book and you can remember that you read it, but you’re not really sure about any of the details? Not this one. I’m not going to forget it.

Lexie has had a fraught emotional history, and when her sister Jax has nine missed calls from Lexie, she just assumes that she’s having one of her episodes. But when Jax goes to investigate, she finds out Lexie has drowned. In an earlier timeline, we find out the details of the hot springs and pool where this drowning took place.
This story was told effortlessly between the two POVs and it never lagged. I received an ALC and enjoyed both narrators of this audiobook. There were some plot holes in this, I have questions! But overall it was an enjoyable read.
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I will try my best to keep this review spoiler free!

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon is a dual timeline story, alternating between today and the late 1920s/early 1930s. It was a decent read and, while I didn't LOVE it, it very much held my interest.

Jax and Lexie are sisters who have grown apart for a couple of reasons but the main reason being that Lexie got the family house when their grandmother died and Jax wanted it. When Lexie dies unexpectedly, Jax has to go back to the mysterious house and try to figure out what happened to her sister.

In 1929 we find Ethel, who has an amazing life and husband but can't seem to have a baby. On a trip to the local mountain springs (that are rumored to have magical powers), Ethel makes a wish for a baby. She has no way of knowing what that wish will end up costing her.

When I requested The Drowning Kind, I didn't fully realize that it's more of a horror/supernatural thriller and I'm not typically a fan of that genre. That being said, I did still mostly enjoy it. It definitely kept me guessing (I thought for sure I knew who "did it"!) and the twist at the end threw me for a loop! There were a few minor things that irritated me. Having suffered migraines my whole life, it really irked me that Jax would pound beers and wine while suffering from these horrible migraines. No one (at least of the people I know who suffer these headaches) drinks during a migraine and it's fairly well known that alcohol can make migraines much worse. I feel like giving Jax these migraines was unnecessary to the story. The other thing that I found myself rolling my eyes hard at was Ethel's self harm. While I know that self harm isn't a modern idea, I just found it really unbelievable that someone from that era would be doing it and, again, it added nothing to the character or story.
The narrators were just fine. Jax's was mildly better than Ethel's, who I thought sounded like she was trying too hard to be "dreamy".

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook!

This is my first book by Jennifer McMahon and oh my goodness, it will not be my last. Unforgettable, haunting and very chilling.

"The Drowning Kind" is mystery with historical and paranormal elements - although thanks to McMahon's writing, it reads like a completely realistic story. The narrative alternates between the present and the year 1929, which is significant because the historical perspective explains the dark past of the family and the Brandenburg Springs Hotel. Specifically, in the late 1920s, a newlywed Ethel Monroe made a wish to become a mother, but in exchange for granting her wish, the Spring curses her family forever.

And so in the present day, Jax learns that her sister Lexie has drowned in the same pool in which other women from the family had drowned. Lexie was a troubled, bipolar sister with some manic episodes - for example, she persistently claimed that a woman was calling her to the bottom of the pool. But perhaps... she wasn't being manic after all.

This novel is an incredibly well-written tale of a dysfunctional family caught up in an old curse. The character development was a very strong suit of the novel, with the sisters coming alive on the pages. Just the same, the plot kept me hook throughout the novel and I couldn't put it down, even though I don't tend to reach for any kind of historical fiction.

I was lucky to listen to the audiobook version of The Drowning Kind, which was stunning. It is narrated by two incredibly skilled, subtle yet convincing narrators who made the story come alive for me. I would highly recommend this format for an elevated experience of this thriller and an extra chill factor. I couldn't put it down!

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I've always been told that unanswered prayers are answers in themselves. Wishing for something is one thing, but sometimes, not getting what you wish for is truly best. Told from two different times, The Drowning Kind explores this entire concept with a sinister twist.

IVF wasn't a "thing" back in the late 20's when Ethel is wishing for a baby. Instead, she makes her wish on a "magical" spring. However, having your wish come true means giving something up in return...

When Lexie is found drowned in the pool of her grandmother's estate, Jax learns just what Lexie was doing - digging up the past. As she too picks up the "shovel", she learns exactly what happens when your wishes come true.

While it sounds somewhat magical, it's really metaphorical. Unable to put it down, I was able to read this in 1 sitting and I'm sure that anyone who loves a good mystery with a historical twist will love this one too!

The Drowning Kind was my third Jennifer McMahon book and it did not disappoint! McMahon has this hypnotic, atmospheric style of writing that just keeps you reading. Two stories are presented, the first in 2019, revolving around Jackie, whose sister has just drowned. The second is of Ethel in 1929, a young wife seeking to have a baby.

The stories parallel around Brandenburg Springs in Vermont, which is an odd, sulfuric, black ice cold water source that somehow heals and grants wishes to anyone that touches it, but at a severe cost. Whatever it gives you, it takes something else away. Through the story, we learn more about the history of Brandenburg and the secrets it holds in its seemingly haunted waters. I really liked learning about Jackie and Lexie’s friendship as sisters and discovering the history of the Springs. I enjoyed the ending, though it was a little abrupt.

I read and listened to this book. The narration was a little stiff, but didn't take away from the story. I liked the dreamy sounding voice for Ethel's chapters. While reading, I found it fascinating to consider the lengths we go to in order to save family and sacrifices we are willing to make.

Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio / Gallery Books / Scout Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

“Are the Brandenburg Springs cursed? Could they bring great misfortune as well as great healing? For every wish granted is something taken in return? Something to balance the scales?” Many people swear by the healing powers of the Brandenburg Springs, but just as many are extremely frightened by them. There’s something in the water...
Jax ignored the last phone call from her sister Lex, but is devastated when she finds out her sister has drowned in the pool at Sparrow Crest, the home she inherited from her Grandmother, the home with a dark history. When Jax returns to Sparrow Crest to sort through her sisters life, she sees and hears things, things that can’t be real. What happened to Lex that night? Will she be able to put the pieces together soon enough to save herself? The pages turn themselves in this story and the ending is quite a doozy! So creepily good!