This is going to sound weird, but for the first few chapters of this book, I kept comparing McMahon’s writing to Dan Brown. Not that their plots or sentences structures, etc. are anything alike but rather that it took me some time to get settled into the story due to what felt like cliched phrases, and cookie cutter characters.

So why am I still giving this four stars? Honestly, I’m vacillating between three and four and it seems most fair, then, to settle on four. Ultimately, the characters were more fleshed out and endearing to me but I worried about how long it took them to become so; in the first quarter I was close to DNF-ing. I just…. I would start reading sentence that described a character’s physical appearance or some aspect of their personality and I could always predict what it was going to end like, and that felt stock and basic to me.

Yet, somehow, as the characters’ stories progressed, I did become more invested, more intrigued, less concerned about these characterizations. I enjoyed the settings, the folklore, the plot that drew me in - while I didn’t have to drop everything, I was absolutely consistently drawn back and intrigued to see what was going to happen.

This is my third book by McMahon and was, despite my criticisms here, still strong enough to keep me interested and coming back for more. Her general ideas and plot lines are always right up my alley, and I suspect she’ll just keep getting stronger.

ARC provided by Gallery Books and NetGalley.

So this story gets an A for creep factor. Everything about it has a freaky vibe. The story begins with Jackie, who has a sister named Lexi who has a whole slew of mental health issues, and as a result they haven’t really been close the last several years. Jackie is summoned back to the family estate after Lexi drowns in the swimming hole that is attached to the property out in rural Vermont. It appears that Lexi may have suffered a psychotic break before her death, and she leaves behind a slew of information that doesn’t make any sense. Looking into the history of the place, Jackie discovers a history of drownings and tragedies attached to the old, super creepy swimming hole on the property of the family home. It appears that Lexi is only the latest casualty. I’m not really sure what genre this book lands in, as it seems to have some crossover, part historical fiction, part ghost story, part psychological thriller, it’s kind of everywhere. The setting, tone and descriptives are all very effective, although I didn’t love the ending. It just kind of left me sad, but I suppose it is open for interpretation and not every one may see it the same way. Review posted to Amazon, Litsy, LibraryThing, Goodreads, and Facebook.

This is Jennifer McMahon's typical spooky story without being too over the top. A woman loses her sister to a mysterious pool, but is she really gone? I really liked the ending.

First off, I want to say this book was creepy but in a good way. I loved the changes in POVs and I enjoyed many of the characters. I loved that is story was a little bit of horror and mystery. I haven't read many books that freak me out the way this one did. This was my first audiobook with NetGalley as well and I enjoyed it very much. I am very glad it was my first. I loved this book very much. I have not read anything by this author before so I will definitely be looking into more books. *This book was given to me for free at my request from NetGalley and I provided this voluntary review.*

I'm sure you have heard the common expression, "be careful what you wish for". Well that phrase kept running through my head as I read this dark and creepy story of curses, dark & sinister pools and ultimately, the bond between sisters.

Having a sister myself, I felt that McMahon really articulated well the complex and deep relationships that sisters can have. The profound love I have for my sister is like no other and I too feel as if I am the most myself with her. I know this is a spooky story, but the heart is not neglected by McMahon.

As with other Jennifer McMahon stories, chapters alternate between the point of view of characters. In this story we have Ethel in the past and Jax’s in the present. Usually I don't appreciate alternating POV especially when one is historical but in McMahon's skilled hands, I found that I was fully absorbed and didn't skip ahead like I do in less well written books.

This is an atmospheric read, slowly building suspense and most importantly dread. As you get closer to the conclusion, you know that things were not going to end well.

I will highly recommend this and other McMahon titles to fans of dark and supernatural mysteries.

This is the second book I’ve read by Ms. McMahon and she once again did not disappoint! The Drowning Kind is a perfect creepy, mystery combination. There is just enough information spread throughout the beginning and middle of the novel to throw in the twist at the end and the author did a great job of bringing it all together.

Give me all the books this author has written and will write in the future! She is definitely in my list of favorite authors!

There are some trigger warnings with this book: alcoholism, cancer, cult-like behavior, mental illness, suicide


I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishing house, Gallery Books, for providing an advanced e-copy for review. All thoughts and opinions written in this review are my own. My review of The Drowning Kind can be found on Goodreads, Amazon, Beanstack, and my local library website.

I have never read a Jennifer McMahon story until now and I was not disappointed. What an intense ride, from beginning to end! The Winter people has been on my TBR for some time and now I think after reading this it will be bumped up to the top! This book pulled me in and kept me wanting more. I hated when it ended because dang... I want more.

Jennifer McMahon is definitely one that I will be keeping my eye on from now on. Thank you for the opportunity to read and share my thoughts.

5/5 Stars

This book has supernatural elements as well as dual timeline stories told in parallel. The stories center around natural springs, believed to have healing properties. Naturally, the stories connect toward the end of the novel as connections are made. I found this novel creative and quite clever, but this genre is not my favorite which made it hard to feel fully immersed or to truly love this book. That being said, those who enjoy supernatural tales with mystery would love this novel!

I was not sure what rating to give this one. On the one hand, it was definitely memorable. I also enjoyed the atmosphere of the Springs and the gradual buildup of tension with what was happening with the water. On the other hand, there were parts of the book that seemed to drag on and truthfully found the ending to be a weird mix of confusing, shocking and anticlimactic. The book has two different timelines: one from the 1920's and the present day with Jax. The writing was great and I was engaged with the story. But at some point, I just became bored and thought things were dragging on too much. The Declan part of the story is still confusing and maybe unnecessary. I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending. This one was just okay for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for this ARC. I enjoy thrillers but not typically a fan of the supernatural genre but this book and it's cover caught my eye. There are two timelines, one from the present and one from 1929, and two different points of view. I found that to be a bit confusing, as far as keeping the past and present straight. If you like paranormal story lines I think you will find this to be a good read.

I have always liked this author and I did enjoy reading this one. My favorite parts were about Lexie and Jax and wish we could have had more of their story. I felt like this one didn't grab me and have me hooked like some of her past books.

This is probably my fifth or sixth book by Jennifer McMahon, and I'm consistently impressed with her ability to deliver twists and turns and thrills in every book. This is a blend of spooky and edge-of-your-seat thrills, with plenty of atmosphere woven in as well. There are two main perspectives told via two separate timelines, and although this might have gotten confusing for another author, McMahon is so adept at these sorts of stories by now that she blends them together by the end perfectly. Even knowing that the two stories would somehow converge along the way, I felt myself being immersed in the eerie atmosphere and turning pages late into the night.

Like some of her other books, there's a lot of sadness here, too - it's not too heavy, but is worth mentioning! I love the creepy vibes she's been going for lately with her recently released stuff, and am excited to read more!

Jennifer McMahon writes the best gothic psychological thrillers. This is another winner and the library has already purchased for the collection. I will be recommending it to patrons!

My head is still spinning! Like most of McMahon's books, this one is deliciously creepy and I found it so difficult to put down. I found that the pool lured me in, too!

In this captivating horror wishes come true but at a price.

Jax and Lex are estranged sisters. They have not spoken in a year. Then seemingly out of the blue Lex starts calling and leaving manic messages. Jax ingores them, assuming that her sister is off her meds again. But then she gets the call that her sister is gone. Drowned. In the family pool. Lex was a champion swimmer so this doesnot make sense to Jax. When she comes her for the funeral she discovers that Lex has been researching the family's history and looking into the tragedies of the past.

The Drowning Kind takes place over two timelines split by nearly 100 years. At its center is a natural spring that is said to be a source of misfortune. Is it all rumor and conjecture? Is she to believe her sister's rambling messages? Or are the strange happenings all part of a plot to seek revenge and rewrite her family's wrongs?

Jennifer McMahon has an uncanny way of making the benign a malevolent force. This is my second book by her and both have kept me rooted to my seat. She has a great way of setting the scene. Her books are very atmospheric and haunting. Looking forward to reading more of her books.

Jax is devastated when she learns her once beloved but recently estranged sister has drowned during a manic episode in their grandmother’s pool. Jax heads to the family home for the funeral, and she is unsettled to learn that the history of tragedies involving the pool extend back to the 1930s.

I found this a little wacky, as there was a mystical element I wasn’t prepared for! Once I buckled up and bought into this eerie book, I willing gave myself a growing case of the heebie jeebies with every chapter. I think alternating timelines with huge gaps either work or they don’t – and I was pleasantly surprised to find these timelines worked for me as I read. This wasn’t something I’d normally pick up but I enjoyed my time reading it.

If you’re into spooky stuff, give it a go!

Horror

I was really looking forward to reading this novel after reading all the 4 and 5 star reviews and personally loving McMahon's The Invited. I'm going to be in the minority when I say that I didn't love this book or even really like it.

This is another creepy, otherworldly experience of a novel. We have dual timelines with Ethel the narrator from the 1930's and Jax in the current story. In both timelines, the women have had weird experiences with the springs/pool on a piece of property. In the 30's timeline, it was a small spring fed pond next to a hotel and in the current storyline the pond has been made into a large pool. Several women and children have drowned in the pool and the water is said to be cursed. It has also been said that if you ask for a favor from the springs, it will probably be granted, but there will be a price to pay.

The stories are spooky and you have to wonder what exactly is going on. Is there someone behind the creepy events? Are there ghosts in the water? Why are people that know how to swim drowning? Why is everyone spooked? How can the waters also be healing? It's a conundrum.

In my opinion, none of the questions are solved or answered and the events in both timelines aren't that different. Nothing really happens except that people drown and have crazy experiences in the water. There is a whopper of a twist in the last paragraphs of the book, but it didn't redeem the novel.

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

3.5 stars

I enjoy timeslip books, as well as suspense stories, so this book hit the spot. While there are some missing plot points, the reader is able to connect the dots. A few parts, including the ending, felt a bit rushed, but it's still an enjoyable book overall. McMahon certainly knows how to hook a reader. If you're looking for a good creepy read (and you're not planning to go swimming anytime soon!), this is a book to add to your TBR list!

What a story! Family and loss. Perfect story of what one does to lived ones and what boundaries need to be made. Be careful what you wish for.

A little too creepy for me and inplausible. Wasn't ready for a book with mental health and mystery mixed