This one wasn't at all what I thought i signed up for. I didn't enjoy the "haunted" house aspect especially how yhe house came to be? It also wasn't very memorable, which i was super sad about.

This may have worked for some, but not my jam!

This is kind of like some Stephen King books. a house washes up on a beach and strange things happen. Some good suspense, took me a while to get into the story, but i ended up enjoying it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press as well as the author for this ARC.
#NetGalley #PoisonedPenPress #TheDrowningHouse #CheriePriest #Bookreview #Fiction #Thriller #Mystery #Horror

Title: The Drowning House
Author: Cherie Priest
Format: eBook
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: July 23, 2024

This isn’t my first read by Cherie Priest and it won’t be my last. I enjoyed this one as I’ve enjoyed her others. This one is about a house being washed up on the shore of a Pacific Northwest Beach. Simon Culpepper disappears soon after, leaving his two best friends from childhood to search for him. They find out a lot about the island, the house and the evil that surrounds it.

The writing style of this author is one I find very readable. She creates relatable characters and manages to create supernatural situations and make them sound reasonable. The idea about a house washing up on a shore is fun and unique. The reader is treated to a mystery coupled with supernatural horror. The reader is treated to tidbits of information throughout the story and it was fun trying to guess the ending. I also enjoyed the folk horror woven into these pages.

As enjoyable as this was, I did find there to be a lot of information coming at me at once. I would like to see this story move a little faster and simplify some things.

All in all, I enjoyed this and will continue to seek out this author.

This was a great fast read for me that held my attention from the beginning, Cherie priest will be an author I keep my eyes out for other books

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book

An evocative and hauntingly atmospheric tale that hooked me at the start. The story combines a mystery with Southern Gothic and the ending is thought provoking.
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Drowning House by Cherie Priest is a suspenseful, atmospheric novel that blends elements of Southern Gothic with a mystery at its core. Set in a small coastal town, the book follows the protagonist, a photographer named Kate, who returns to her childhood home to heal from personal trauma. Soon, she becomes involved in uncovering the mysteries surrounding a drowning incident from the past.

While the novel successfully evokes a haunting atmosphere and offers an intriguing premise, it falls short in some areas. The pacing is uneven, and the plot’s twists, although engaging, feel somewhat predictable at times. The character development, particularly that of Kate, could have been deeper, as she seems to remain a bit one-dimensional despite the heavy emotional themes at play.

Priest’s writing shines when it comes to setting the mood, capturing the eerie charm of the town, and exploring the complexities of memory and loss. However, the book occasionally drags in parts, and some readers may find the resolution to the central mystery unsatisfying.

Overall, The Drowning House offers an interesting mix of suspense and gothic charm, but it doesn’t quite live up to its potential. For fans of atmospheric fiction, it’s an enjoyable read, though it may not offer the depth or unpredictability that some might expect.

This one was just okay for me. I didn’t find the characters to be particularly likable, which made it more difficult for me to stay engaged. I also didn’t feel like the third person storytelling worked in this novel. The premise was unique and hooked me in, but ultimately didn’t do it for me in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really wanted to love this one - the caption had me so intrigued and I couldn't wait to read, however this was outside of my norm of what to read and I just could not get into it. I have a hard time wrapping my head around the ghost amd apparitions in this story. I definitely think that if someone likes this style of story it would be great however it just was not for me.

The Drowning House, by Cherie Priest

Looking for a tame thriller and horror book that plays more on the illusion of fear? Then this is the book for you! It’s less about gory details and brutalization and more about the psychological suspense of fear and when it will happen. This story hands readers crumbs to unravel what is happening and plays on time and pace. Readers who like slow paced supernatural stories may want to check this one out!

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my advanced digital copy to read and review.

Had hopes for it but in the end I didn't really like it. The premise sounds much better than the actual book.

Special thanks to Poisoned Penn Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This book had an eerie atmosphere going and a spooky ghost story. Very unique. I've read Priest before somewhat ten yrs ago and was overjoyed bc her writing style is very different. Takes a great imagination to stick with but I did to the very end and I was mildly surprised when I liked it.

‘The Drowning House’ by Cherie Priest is a haunted house story, set in the Pacific Northwest on a lonely beach.

Melissa and Leo, two childhood friends, grew up together in their friend Simon’s grandmother’s house. They have grown a bit apart, but gather again when Simon calls about the death of his grandmother. They drive to Marrowstone Island and find an empty house with no Simon and a shocking site on the beach, and an older house that has been seemingly washed ashore. Now they have to find Simon and along the way, they discover a ghostly mystery that draws them in along the way.

The book builds slowly and is full of atmosphere. I love gothic fiction and ghost stories so this was perfect for me. The pacing felt a bit uneven at times, but that didn’t stop me from turning pages and getting spooked.

This book was a miss for me.
I failed to engage with the characters.
I cousins connect with the characters, setting, or the plot.

The atmosphere was perfect. I felt it all: the cold, wet, rainy beach weather.

Leo and Melissa were great. Their banter and friendship was impeccable.

The mystery aspect was right on target. I loved as they pieced together info from old newspaper clippings.

Where the book fell flat was the last 1/3. The ending climaxes weren’t enough. And the action toward the end seemed to take too long to happen. Or maybe it was the fact that each step was described so minutely.

Also I wanted to see more of what made Gunnar into the man he was. As well as how Otelia and Alcesta began their craft.

Still even with these complaints, I had a wonderfully good time with this book!

I will definitely read more from Cherie!

QUOTE: ““Being an adult sucks. It’s an infinite state of losing things: jobs, pets. People.”

Enjoyed this one very much, another great supernatural suspense from author Cherie Priest. Never disappoints, highly recommend!

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Cherie Priest for the chance to read ‘The Drowning House’! It’s difficult to say what I think of this book. I think I enjoyed the storytelling but not the story itself as much. I do feel like it lasted a bit too long.

The Drowning House by Cherie Priest was kinda hit-or-miss for me. The creepy, atmospheric vibes were top-tier, and the setting? Total main character energy. The whole “dark secrets in a haunted house” thing had me intrigued, and there were definitely moments where I was like, “Okay, this is spooky AF.”

But the pacing? A little too slow for my taste, and some of the characters didn’t really pop the way I wanted them to. It’s giving potential, but not all the way there. That said, if you’re into moody gothic horror, it’s still worth checking out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this - such a gripping and quick read. I would 100% recommend and read another by Cherie Priest. very unique concept

This was so spooky and eerie! The whole premise, a house washes up on a beach during a storm, is so different from anything I’ve read in a thriller. The vibes were vibing and this would be perfect to read during spooky season!!! 5 stars!!

"The Drowning House" is a paranormal thriller with a touch of horror vibes.

When a mysterious house washes ashore near the house of Mrs. Culpepper and her grandson Simon, things go awry. It is up to Simon'[s two childhood friends to untangle to mystery around the house and the Culpepper family before it is too late.

While the premise itself is fun, I think this is definitely targeted more towards people who are curious about horror but would classify themselves as scaredy cats. For people, including myself, who are horror fanatics, it feels a little lackluster.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me this ARC, I still found things to enjoy regardless.