The Drowning House by Cherie Priest is a haunting blend of supernatural suspense and emotional depth. When a storm washes an eerie house onto Marrowstone Island, it sets off a chain of events that forces estranged childhood friends Melissa and Leo to reunite in search of their missing friend, Simon. The house, steeped in dark magic and Norse runes, becomes a central figure in their investigation, revealing long-buried secrets and unsettling truths. 

Priest masterfully intertwines past and present narratives, exploring themes of love, loss, and the haunting persistence of the past. The atmospheric setting of the Pacific Northwest adds to the novel’s eerie ambiance, immersing readers in its chilling tale. While some readers may find the pacing slow at times, the rich character development and intricate plot make it a compelling read for fans of supernatural horror and dark fantasy.

If you’re drawn to stories that delve into the complexities of friendship and the supernatural, The Drowning House offers a captivating and eerie experience.

Overall I enjoyed this book. I really loved the dual timelines and the flashbacks between present and past. They were definitely necessary to understand the story as a whole. Melissa and Leo were great characters and I loved watching them put aside their differences to figure out what was truly going on. There were some really creepy elements to this one and I do wish there had been a bit more of it. The ending also slightly confused me with the flashback between the two sisters. The ending felt a bit anticlimactic; however, I was glad that Melissa and Leo trusted each other enough to see it through to the end. This was a good read and a good horror read for the beginning of the summer.

This book delivers a richly atmospheric read with a moody, immersive setting that stands out. The writing is evocative, and there’s a strong sense of tension throughout. However, the pacing felt uneven, and some elements didn’t quite come together in a satisfying way. While it had its moments, it didn’t leave a lasting impression overall.

This was an entertaining read overall, and I enjoyed the characters. The plot just felt a little difficult to follow at times. I enjoyed the setting and spookiness overall, but this fell a little flat for me.

This was so disappointing. This book should have been two hundred less pages… or it should have used the pages to actually tell a story rather than have us just sit here reading two childhood friends talk in circles. Ugh.

Cherie Priest once again proves her mastery of atmosphere and suspense in *The Drowning House*. With its eerie coastal setting, richly drawn characters, and a plot that hums with foreboding, this novel is an enthralling blend of mystery and supernatural intrigue.

The story plunges readers into the isolated and storm-battered world of Marrowstone Island, where the arrival of a mysterious house heralds danger and awakens long-buried secrets. Priest paints the Pacific Northwest with a gothic brush, evoking imagery that is as haunting as it is beautiful. The storm-drenched beaches and sinister whispers of the house itself create a chilling backdrop that lingers in your mind.

At the heart of the novel are Melissa and Leo, two flawed and compelling protagonists whose fractured history adds depth and tension to the narrative. Their reluctant reunion and evolving dynamic as they search for Simon Culpepper is both emotionally resonant and gripping. Priest skillfully weaves their personal struggles with the broader mystery of the house, creating a story that feels both intimate and epic.

The novel’s pacing is a fine balance of slow-building dread and bursts of action, keeping readers hooked as the layers of the house’s dark history are revealed. Priest deftly explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the cyclical nature of evil, adding weight to the supernatural elements.

*The Drowning House* is a spellbinding thriller that will appeal to fans of atmospheric mysteries and ghostly tales. With its chilling twists and poignant character arcs, this novel reminds us that the past is never truly buried—and neither is the darkness that comes with it. Cherie Priest has delivered another gem that’s perfect for stormy nights and readers who enjoy a touch of the macabre. Don’t miss out on this hauntingly memorable story!

Cherie Priest's The Drowning House is a thrilling plunge into a world where the past refuses to stay submerged. This isn't just a mystery; it's an atmospheric and suspenseful journey into a place where secrets lurk beneath the surface, and the very walls seem to whisper forgotten horrors.

Priest masterfully crafts a setting that is as captivating as it is unsettling. The Drowning House itself becomes a character, a place steeped in history and shrouded in an almost palpable sense of dread. As the protagonist delves deeper into its mysteries, the line between reality and the spectral blurs, and the reader is drawn into a vortex of intrigue and danger.

The Drowning House is an exciting, engaging, and utterly mysterious tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Priest delivers a story that is both richly atmospheric and relentlessly suspenseful, proving once again her talent for weaving together history, suspense, and the supernatural into a truly unforgettable reading experience.

DNF @ 35%

Unfortunately this book and its characters were just was not keeping my interest at all and was rather repetitive.

If you're looking for a thriller and horror book that isn’t too scary but still keeps you on edge, this is the one! It’s more about building suspense and playing with your mind than showing lots of blood and violence. The story gives you little clues to figure out what’s going on and builds up slowly over time.

In The Drowning House, a mysterious house (yes an entire house) washes ashore during a terrible storm. The appearance of this house causes nearby resident Mrs Culpepper’s heart to stop. Mrs Culpepper lived with her grandson, Simon, who had recently reached out to childhood friends Melissa and Leo. Melissa and Leo must now investigate this washed up house and the disappearance of their friend Simon.

I wasn’t a huge fan of this one, it felt unnecessarily long and very repetitive. I thought the premise was great and liked the isolated setting, but it didn’t fully deliver. There’s just a lot of dialogue between the two main characters, who aren’t very likeable to begin with. 2.5 stars

This one was a miss FOR ME. I just don’t like thrillers with supernatural/paranormal elements and I wouldn’t have picked this one up if I had known what I was getting into. The writing was fine but I had a hard time staying engaged through the end because of the supernatural elements. This is just not my preference but I’m sure others would enjoy.

Thanks to Netgalley, Poisoned Press and Cherie Priest for this ARC. I love all of this authors works. She is original, always a thrilling storyline, and she never disappoints. I am always anxiously awaiting a new book by her. This book was no exception to those authors story qualities . Only comment I have about this book is that I wish the ghost characters would have come out sooner and took over more of the story instead of the friends..it would have made the books story more thrilling.. just my opinion.
Still a 4 star if just for that reason

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.