The Drowning Kind is a work of perfection. I loved how atmospheric it was. Jennifer McMahon is one of my favorite authors and she did not disappoint.
I received a audiobook of The Drowning Kind from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I received an audio version of this story in exchange for an honest review. It took me an hour or so to get into this book. It is the story of a therapist with a mentally ill but charming sister. When her sister drowns in a mysterious pool, she returns home, leaving her patients. The tale goes back and forth between the present day and earlier times, giving the story its foundation. What would you do to save your infant daughter? I liked it but was very disappointed in the ending, hence 4 stars. The narration was good also.

This was my first book by Jennifer McMahon, but it won't be my last. What a mix of mystery, Gothic, paranormal and family drama this is. Dual timelines, 90 years apart, keep us guessing as to what the mystery is of the springs that feed a pool at a family home in 2019. What's the history of how that home came to be? Is there magic in those cold, dark waters? And if so, what is the price of that magic? This one keeps you guessing right up until the end. Deliciously creepy, I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and the narration only added to my enjoyment - very well done by both narrators.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Audio for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

Eeek! This book gave me goosebumps, the creepy-crawlies, and the heebie-jeebies! It was spooky, a tad frightening, and very mysterious. If you’re into ghost stories, scaring the crap out of yourself, and all things creepy, this is the book for you! If you enjoyed The Broken Girls by Simone St. James, you’ll definitely love this one, too. If you fear what’s on the bottom of a body of water, this probably isn’t the right book for you. Stay clear. With dual timelines, narrators, plenty of thrills, chills, and intrigue, The Drowning Kind was my ideal audiobook. Oh, and it’s loaded with tons of family drama and secrets, too. It checked all of my boxes, and I highly recommend it!

2020 was the year I started really appreciating (understanding?) the horror elements of gothic stories. There’s something about living in lockdown that offers a different way of looking at haunted places, especially in fiction. Places can, and do, take on a life of their own. Like a pit of sinking sand, the longer you stay in a place, the harder it is to leave. To get out. Some places don’t want to give up their guests, no matter how hard they try to leave. When Jax sees she has nine missed calls from her older sister, Lexie, it’s hard for her to ignore the pull back east — back to her grandmother’s estate in Vermont where she and Lexie spent their summers growing up. But when Lexie is found dead in the pool the next day, Jax has no choice but to travel back to Sparrow Crest.

When Jax gets to Sparrow Crest, she’s shocked to find the estate reflecting the manic mindset she feared her sister had been in leading up to her death. Papers, notes, numbers that don’t make sense. She even finds the research on the family and the estate Lexie had done, following the history of the place back to when it was a hotel — The Brandenburg Springs Hotel and Resort — in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. Ethel Monroe, thirty-seven and a newlywed, is desperate to visit the hotel when she learns about spring’s supposed powers for granting wishes. As Ethel’s story moves forward, Jax continues to sift back through her sister’s final days, hoping to find some reason for Lexie’s death.

Combining the best elements of haunted house stories with a complex journey through grief makes Jennifer McMahon’s The Drowning Kind dark, twisty, and compelling. I’m a huge fan of setting as character and there’s no denying the springs are their own character. Not only do they have their own legend, their own mythology, but it has a dark legacy that serves as a reminder that magic, miracles — whatever you want to call them — always have a price. And the spring always gets payment for the wishes it grants.

Beyond the horror and supernatural elements I loved in The Drowning Kind, I felt there was something deeper being said about gender, legacy, and punishment. In one way or another, the women of The Drowning Kind are the ones who ultimately pay the price. Similar to Into the Water by Paula Hawkins, women are lured, pulled, pushed into the pool by the hands of someone else or by the weight of their own guilt and grief. The flashbacks between the early 1930’s and present-day don’t just build up the mythology of the spring, but demonstrate how much — and how very little — gender relations and power dynamics have changed. Eve bit the apple and got her and Adam banished from the Garden of Eden. Ethel, Jax, Lexie, and the others who come into contact with the spring, struggle with whether or not the spring is their apple or their garden.

Thought-provoking and chilling, The Drowning Kind is the perfect blend of ghost story, psychological thriller, and historical fiction with a truly shocking ending.

Jennifer McMahon is a new to me author, and after listening to The Drowning Kind, she is now a must read. The Drowning Kind goes back and forth in time. Lex, in present time, and Ethel, in the past, and through the book we find how their stories merge. This book was so delightfully creepy and I am still feeling shivers down my spine just thinking about it. The pool, kind of a lake, is the center of the story. I will never swim in a non-chlorinated body of water again! The narrators were awesome. Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Audio for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

4.5 stars

When Jax receives several missed calls from her sister Lexi, she assumes it’s just another one of her manic episodes. The. she gets the devastating news - Lexi is dead, drowned in the pool at their grandmother’s estate. Jax arrives at the estate to begin funeral arrangements and sorting through her sister’s belongings. She discovers Lexi was researching the history of the estate and the surrounding land, including the mysterious springs that feed into the pool. Soon she discovers that the land holds a far darker past than she could ever have imagined...

Thrillers with supernatural/horror elements are a favorite of mine, so this one seemed right up my alley. I was not disappointed. The story alternates between Jax in the present and another woman connected to the estate in 1929. Both storylines are truly captivating and work well together until they are seamlessly connected. The amount of suspense and creepiness was perfect. Overall a beautiful, haunting story!

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Audio for an advanced audio book in exchange for an honest review.

4++ stars.

The Drowning Kind was an excellent creepy ghost story. The theme of the book is be careful of what you wish for. The book goes back and forth from 2019 when Jax finds out her manic sister Lex died to 1929 when a barren woman, Ethel, desperately wants a child. Ethel and her husband go to a hotel with a healing spring.

Lexie was researching the history of their house. But was it her mania or did Lex discover something sinister? Highly recommend this audio book.

Narrators Joy Osmanski and Imani Jade Powers were fantastic.

Wow! I don’t even know what to say. This book was phenomenal. It took a lot of twists and turns. I loved the flashbacks from present and past. Jax POV was probably my favorite. I will definitely be adding Jennifer McMahon to my auto buy list! Such a creative new storyline for a mystery.

I enjoyed this audiobook! This was my first experience with this author's work and it was a good one. I was quickly drawn into this story and was eager to see how things would develop in the story. I really liked the creepy atmosphere and thought that both timelines added a lot to the overall story. I found this to be a very entertaining and well-written novel.

This book is told in two timelines. The timeline is set in 2019. Jax is a social worker but ignores her sister's frantic calling thinking that she must be off her medications, only to learn that she has died in the family pool. The second timeline is told from Ethel's point of view and it is set in 1929. Ethel has recently married and wants a baby more than anything. It was really interesting watching these two timelines come together.

I think that the author did a fantastic job of creating a compelling mystery surrounding the spring/pool with a nice dose of creepy in the mix. I was very curious about just what was happening with the spring/pool and wanted to know more about the things that have happened with ties to it. The more I learned the more that I wanted to know and I loved that the story kept me guessing until the very end.

Joy Osmanski and Imani Jade Powers narrated this audiobook. I believe that this is my first experience with both of these narrators and I really enjoyed both of their work. I thought that they were both able to add a lot of emotion and excitement into the story. Both voices were pleasant to listen to for hours at a time which added to my overall enjoyment of the story.

I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very atmospheric story filled with great characters and a compelling mystery at its core. I definitely plan to read more of Jennifer McMahon's work in the future.

I received a digital review copy of this audiobook from Simon & Schuster Audio via NetGalley.

“...Our summer lives centered around visiting our Grandmother and the pool. Gram had a lot of rules about swimming. We couldn’t go in the pool unless she was home. We were never to go in alone. We had to take breaks and warm up after half an hour at most, and we were never EVER to swim at night.”

Jax, a child social worker has never gotten over the fact that she couldn’t save her sister Lexie from her mental illness. She and the rest of the family believe that she is her own worst enemy; the true problem lies within herself. Lexie frequently takes actions that make her sicker, but it’s been so long that she’s not about to change now. Every once in a while Lex will call her, drunk as all get out and fail to remember that her sister no longer speaks to her. She leaves message after message for Jax; mostly on the verge of verbal harassment. But still—she clings to the hope that one day Lex won’t try bring her down with her.

“We floated my sister and I—two dead girls side by side—bodies bumping against one another. Alone, but together.”

But then, the very day after she receives a series of phone calls from Lexie— Jax’s worst nightmare must be faced. For Lex is gone, drowned; and she’s never coming back. Or is she?

The more Jax digs into Lexie’s recent discoveries and behavior, she starts experiencing some of the same things that her sister spoke of. Could it be the grief causing her to go crazy or is there something truly happening with the water?

Told in dual timelines...2019 by Jax and 1929 by Ethel Monroe, this story is a creepy one. Ethel is a 37 year old woman who is so anguished at the thought of never having a baby —after a year of trying—that she makes a deal with the devil.

“If you came to the water looking for a miracle, you had to be prepared to pay the price.”

A bit paranormal and a lot thriller. Whether you love or hate this book— I promise that you will want to find out what is going on.

“...Terrible things that I saw in the dark, but knew better than to speak of. Sometimes to make them go away, I’d scratch myself with a pin.”

“She’s coming for you. She’s coming for us both.”

“I wish something bad would happen to her.”

Thank you to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Audio and Jennifer McMahon for this audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book is available on April 06, 2021.

3 ⭐️.

For me this story was just an average one. I wish that I had been given the opportunity to physically read this book because I didn’t fare well with the voice of the narrator.

I also wanted the entire story to be about Lexie and Jax versus the flashbacks to Ethel. Her story didn’t interest me nearly as much.

I’ve read many paranormal books that I just enjoyed more, which is what it comes down to, but this was still good.

I will be picking up more from Jennifer McMahon, especially since I already own some of her books!

Wow what a good read!!! I listened to this in 2 days. The story was interesting, kept me listening to see what happened next.

Dark, creepy, and suspenseful, The Drowning Kind is a one-of-a-kind thriller. The otherworldly elements increase the spookiness, and kept my interest throughout the book. I love that it was told in two timeline, current day and the 1930’s, and the ending brought them together in a satisfying resolution.

Goodreads Blurb:

When social worker Jax receives nine missed calls from her older sister, Lexie, she assumes that it’s just another one of her sister’s episodes. Manic and increasingly out of touch with reality, Lexie has pushed Jax away for over a year. But the next day, Lexie is dead: drowned in the pool at their grandmother’s estate. When Jax arrives at the house to go through her sister’s things, she learns that Lexie was researching the history of their family and the property. And as she dives deeper into the research herself, she discovers that the land holds a far darker past than she could have ever imagined.

In 1929, thirty-seven-year-old newlywed Ethel Monroe hopes desperately for a baby. In an effort to distract her, her husband whisks her away on a trip to Vermont, where a natural spring is showcased by the newest and most modern hotel in the Northeast. Once there, Ethel learns that the water is rumored to grant wishes, never suspecting that the spring takes in equal measure to what it gives

Things I liked:

1) The dual timelines. This was done in a unique way. I don't think I have read anything like this.

2) I normally don't love anything to do with history but I was invested in both timelines equally.

3) I went into this book pretty blind. I think its a book you really need to do that with

4) This was my first book by this author and I don't think it will be my last.



Things I was not fond of:

1) I wasn't a fan of how Jax and Lexie were compared to each other a lot by family and friends. You can tell that it affected Jax a lot in adulthood.

2) Some of the family members are pretty sketchy people. For the most part a pretty normal family but those few weren't my favorite.



Overall I think this book had a lot of great things and the writing was rather addicting. Would recommend to pick it if you like this author.

My rating: ♥♥♥♥

*I received this book from Edelweiss and Netgalley for an honest review*

It takes a very talented writer to keep you reading, or listening, because you MUST know how the story ends and that is exactly what happened to me from the beginning of The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon.

Told in two timelines with two points of view we realize the common thread is the body of water that holds special properties that seem to cure all ailments. As we have learned from many other stories there must be balance in nature. So when the water cures what ails you it expects something in return. Something you may not want to give to it.

In the present time Jax has moved away from her family no longer able to deal with the shenanigans of Lexie her bi polar sister. After a year away she ignores the frantic calls from Lexie that come out of the blue. The next day Lexie is found dead in the family pool. How did a strong swimmer like Lexie drown? Is there human foul play here or something more sinister?

In 1929 37 year old Evelyn just wants a baby. She travels to the special springs that others swear will grant her wish. She is over joyed when her baby is born but her little girl is very ill. Will the springs help her live? What price will it extract for this life?

The narrators of this audiobook, Joy Osmanski and Imani Jade Powers are perfect embodying the personalities of the two main protagonists. Jax is young, anxious,confused, regretful and scared. Evelyn has many emotional issues and a dangerous self harming coping method. She speaks very slow and methodic as though always in control but knowing she is on the brink of losing it.

Though the conclusion left me a bit upset the author has written a very eerie family drama that compels you to keep reading because, at least for me, I had no idea how it would end.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon is an eerie, creepy, spooky, mysterious, suspenseful story about a family home, a bottomless pool filled by a magical spring and all kinds of secrets. Told from two perspectives; one historical and one present day - this novel straddles the historical fiction and supernatural thriller genres. I've mentioned before that graphic horror is not for me and I'll say for everyone reading this who may feel the same - this is labeled horror but it is not a graphic horror. Scary, suspenseful and full of supernatural terror, yes, but not horror to the point you won't be able to remove certain images from your mind. And it's not gory. 

I was definitely scared reading and listening to this. If you like some good spook and suspense, this book will certainly conjure up feelings of fright and flight, for sure. I had to stop it a few times and read something else before bed because my heart rate was a little too high. This is a very suspenseful family drama that slowly uncovers very dark, ghostly and mysterious pasts. I'll throw a trigger warning in now - self harm, infertility, suicide, mental illness. Again, nothing graphic but all very emotional. 

As well as being a supernatural thriller, this story also touches on some very sad family relationships and intimate dynamics that creates a whole additional layer of depth to a scary story that isn't usually there. McMahon wrote a really great novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the many layered elements of the mystery and the family dynamics as well as the icy cold thriller. This is a phenomenal read or listen. Joy Osmanski; Imani Jade Powers do an excellent job narrating the audiobook, as well. 

Thank you, Gallery/Scout Press, Simon & Schuster Audio, NetGalley, and Jennifer McMahon, for a copy of this book for review.

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon Narrated by Joy Osmanski; Imani Jade Powers is a dramatic psychological thriller with supernatural influences. The book opens with a sweet scene that is just slightly creepy. Two sisters are playing in a swimming pool and holding their breath as long as they can. All seems innocent until you learn this same pool was the location of an earlier tragedy by drowning.

Soon after this scene we learn that one of these sisters, Lexie, recently died in this same pool. Her sister Jax had been estranged from her sister in the past year and was unaware of the spiraling down of her long suffering mental illness. This, of course, causes Jax to try to learn more of the circumstances and what she finds will keep you riveted. This occurs in the present day with flashbacks to their childhood as more of the story is revealed.

McMahon also weaves a dual timeline story expertly through the tragedy of Lexie that has its own devastation. In 1929, Ethel traveled to the same place (Brandenburg, Vermont) and swam in original spring water fed pool (which was expanded in modern times to become a larger swimming pool). There are rumors that this spring water has magical powers to grant wishes. Ethel wishes for a child after many years in a childless marriage, Unfortunately, granted wishes have unexpected consequences. As Ethel’s story unfolds you see the outcome of her wish being granted and the underlying dramatic elements will keep you eagerly and fearfully turning pages.

The richness of the research and the genuine compassion you have for Lexie, Jax, and Ethel as they navigate facing their own demons speaks to the talent of McMahon, The swimming pool is also another character of its own, filled with water so cold, dark, and deep that most even questioned if a bottom existed for this pool.

You are given glimpses and flashbacks of their lives and what led them to this unconventional path, but you are still left with questions. All the characters have flaws and secrets which draws the reader even further. You can not help but try to figure out who to sympathize with and who is at fault. Trust me though, you will be shocked when it is not at all what it seems.

I was provided a free advance reader copy from Simon & Schuster - Audio in exchange for my honest review on Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.

Such a wonderful ghost story!
I don't think I've enjoyed a ghost story this much since THE SUN DOWN MOTEL last year.

This story does jump time periods from present day (2019) and in the early 1900s (20s/30s.)
We learn of a spring that is rumored to have powerful healing capabilities hidden in Vermont. The Indians knew of it and were also weary of it.
A young woman and her husband go and visit the spring as a fun vacation, but also with ulterior motives because they are having trouble getting pregnant.

In alternating chapters we also see the modern story of two sisters who grew up visiting their grandmother every summer and would swim in her pool. The pool was not your normal backyard hole, but a natural looking lagoon that filled up with natural spring water pipped in from the natural spring that ran near the house.

We quickly realized that these two stories interconnect by family. These two girls are the great granddaughters of the women who was able to conceive because of the magic of the springs.
What she learns too late is that with every miracle the spring took something as well. Every life it took made its power and hold stronger. I loved watching this mystery/ghost story unfold. Some of it was a bit predictable as the connections between the past and future were made, but that ending!
The epilogue really makes it and love the untraditional ending.

Sisters Jax and Lexie spent their childhood summers at Sparrow Crest in Brandenburg, New Hampshire Their grandmother's castle-like home features a large spring-fed pool which supposedly had healing powers. Jax now lives across the country in Seattle, estranged from Lexie who inherited Sparrow Crest.. After receiving a dozen manic calls from her sister, she contacts their Aunt Diane who lives close enough to pop in on Lexie. But there is a good reason Lex is no longer answering the phone - during the night, she apparently became yet another person having drowned in the pool. Jax returns to New Hampshire only to find herself in a quagmire of her sister's manic thoughts. Was something really going on at Sparrow Crest or did Lex simply go off her meds and off the deep end?

Flashback to 1929 and Ethel Monroe, who desperately wants a baby with her husband Will. Will hears about a lovely hotel just opened a few hours away with some amazing fresh water springs. The Brandenburg Hotel is a three-story affair with fresh spring water pumped throughout the hotel, as well as a pool for dipping on the grounds. Ethel is excited to visit. Once arriving, she's told by the owner's wife that the springs grant wishes. And she's wanted a baby so badly...

The story continues along both lines, flipping back and forth between the present day at Sparrow Crest and 1929 New Hampshire, all connected by the mysterious springs in Brandenburg.

The narrators did an excellent job, and I appreciate the fact that two were used, helping to keep each part of the story separate

I must admit - I am a Jennifer McMahon fan. I have enjoyed all her books, and she has reached the automatic purchase list. This book was fast-paced, and the story was expertly woven together. I don't want to give too much away, but the way she combined the two timelines was terrific. I'm almost sad I'm already done. Wonder when her next one will be out?!

“What’s the difference, I wondered, between a ghost and a memory?”

I will start by saying that I loved The Winter People and I had really high hopes for The Drowning Kind. Unfortunately, though, this one fell a little flat for me. It was creepy, yes. And the start of the book grabbed me and held me for about the first 25%. But then it stalled and nothing much happened for basically the rest of the book. Because of this I am struggling to rate it. I usually think as I’m reading/listening “oh this is a four star for sure” and then sometimes “yikes maybe only three stars now.” I keep a running mental tally.

I adored the atmospheric tone of the book and I love when inanimate objects became characters in and of themselves. “The pool gives and the pool takes.” The pool was actually the most interesting “character”. I can vividly visualize its dark, dank, mossy and cold presence.

Told in a dual timeline with two narrators, I enjoyed the narrator and story for 1929’s Ethel much more than Jax in 2019. Her voice was so smooth and truly fit how I imagine Ethel would have sweetly and lovingly spoken.

Overall I enjoyed this one and would recommend it, even if it does not pack the same punch as some of her earlier books.

Thank you to Simon & Shuster Audio and Netgalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review. Available tomorrow, April 6, 2021!