4.5 stars Multiple Narrators, Nonlinear Timeline, slow build but great ending
“Clichés won’t save us now,”

What a fascinating hook to this story. The Drowning House grabs you from the first page with it's strange appearances and disappearances. Charlotte Culpepper is the perfect opening narrator and delivers an opening chapter that is movie worthy. We then get multiple other points of view along with flashes of memory in between. The plotline divides into two time periods where we witness Chalotte's grandson and his friends as children and now adults.

Although not gothic in time period, it did remind me of a witchy version of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier with it's huge seaside manor, mysterious death and focus on things washing ashore.

Cherie Priest really did well creating a creepy mysterious atmosphere with this book. It has this great The Fog/The Mist quality of scariness with the main villain emerging from the fog and appearing in shadow. It was just the perfect amount of tension. The characters were relatable and the prose, well written. For most of the book I was afraid it was a bit too cozy for me but by the end <chop chop> it came around. Although off page, it delivers on light gore. If you like atmospheric horror with a touch of magic/cosmic horror it's definitely worth preordering. Now I NEED the prequel with Gunnar and Alcesta Lorentzen, née Ellingboe. I'm invested in phone calls to other demensions now. I will be ordering a signed copy.

"The giant, salt-crusted object was festooned with seaweed and battered by ocean debris; it was covered with cracks and broken glass and it had a teetering lean that said at least two of its corners were buried in the sand."

“My girl, you must be careful. Some people in this world …they catch a glimpse of something they don’t understand, and they let it eat them alive. Don’t be one of those people.”

I continue to be amazed by Net Galley and forever grateful for getting read books early. The latest book that I just finished reading was The Drowning House by Cherie Priest.

In The Drowning House, one night a house washes up on the shore of an island. An old woman runs out of her house nearby and what she sees scares her to death. Her grandson, who lives with her, disappears soon after. His two childhood friends, after receiving a message about his grandmothers death, come out to the island to be with him and find him missing. Their desperate search for their friend leads them to find much more than they bargained for!

The book is really spooky and very well written. And yet. The book doesn't feel complete. The friends search for their friend drags on for a really long time and the result...well...I won't spoil it. I just wasn't happy with it. Its not just that though. The ending to the book feels rushed and the very end, the epilogue, makes no sense. I'm not sure why that was the epilogue. The Drowning House is such an unsatisfying read.

I don't regret reading the book. I liked the writing and liked the two friends. I even liked the flashbacks to when they were kids. Though even there it felt like some key flashback, some reason for the flashbacks, was missing. The Drowning House feels like an unfinished puzzle.I wonder if the writer is planning a sequel.

I guess a sequel would help explain the rushed ending, but there didn't seem to be any sign that a sequel was in order. I feel like I have a bad taste in my mouth with that ending. Not everything needed to be explained but it felt like there were things with the characters that needed wrapped up and instead things got left on the table.

Even so, I would recommend this book to Gothic horror fans. I think there's an audience for this book. Perhaps they'll like the ending better than I did.

The Drowning House by Cherie Priest comes out on July 23rd, 2024. Hey! Thats my birthday too!

I’ve long been a fan of Cherie Priest’s dark fiction, and jumped at the chance to read The Drowning House when Netgalley offered the chance to read the ARC. From the beginning scenes, which develop the friendship of three lonely kids in an isolated island community to the wildly intense final scenes, the tension builds as old loyalties are tested.

Everything about this story—the setting, the characters, the way magical power is both threatening and mysterious—made me want to keep reading. I loved watching Leo and Melissa grow as people even as their relationship changed and faced incomprehensible challenges. Their loyalty to their friend Simon and his grandmother gave them a believable reason to carry on in difficult circumstances. And the way the secrets of the story reveal themselves piece by piece made for a truly epic read.

"The housewreck was two stories tall and once it had a sloped roof, perhaps...The walls were so opaque, so pale, they could have been made of frosted glass...in the afternoon haze, they were luminous. Every corner of the place dripped, and every tiny noise echoed in the cavernous interior."

Late one night on Marrowstone Island, a house washes ashore next to Charlotte Culpepper's house. At nearly 100-years-old, she cannot believe her eyes. Not because a house has suddenly appeared on the beach, but because she knows the house. And she is the one that rid the world of it the first time. She warns her grandson, Simon, to run, but how can he when his grandmother, whom he has lived with for most of his life, is in peril?

After receiving an email from Simon about his grandmother's demise, Melissa contacts their childhood friend Leo, and both make for the island. Problem is, Simon has now disappeared. Melissa and Leo are saddened by Mrs. Culpepper's death, but are even more distressed about Simon. It's a small island; where could he be?

Well, this was weird. The housewreck and Simon's disappearance happen immediately, then through flashbacks from their childhood summers interspersed with the current issues at hand we slowly come to realize what the heck is going on. This is a very slow burn, but definitely a hot one! I loved the Epilogue, that was really the Prologue, sewed together all the background bits and tying them into a bow. It's an interesting premise for lovers of the atmospheric books with loads of tension.

"A violent storm washes a mysterious house onto a rural Pacific Northwest beach, stopping the heart of the only woman who knows what it means. Her grandson, Simon Culpepper, vanishes in the aftermath, leaving two of his childhood friends to comb the small, isolated island for answers - but decades have passed since Melissa and Leo were close, if they were ever close at all.

Now they'll have to put aside old rivalries and grudges if they want to find or save the man who brought them together in the first place - and on the way they'll learn a great deal about the sinister house on the beach, the man who built it, and the evil he's bringing back to Marrowstone Island.

From award-winning author Cherie Priest comes a deeply haunting and atmospheric horror-thriller that explores the lengths we'll go to protect those we love."

There's not many authors who are must buy for me. Cherie Priest is one. If only so I can get the undying devotion of her cat Monty.

'The Drowning House' by Cherie Priest is a paranormal horror novel that promises an intriguing premise and an eerie setting. While it delivers on these elements, the book falls short of meeting its full potential.

The story follows Simon Culpepper and his two childhood friends, Leo and Melissa, as they investigate a mysterious house that washes ashore near Simon's home. When Simon disappears, Leo and Melissa must put their differences aside to find him and uncover the secrets of the haunted dwelling.

The premise of the novel is certainly enticing, with its haunted house, ghosts, and ancient evil. However, the characters fail to resonate with the reader. Melissa's abrasive personality and Leo's questionable actions make it difficult to root for them. Additionally, the constant sniping between the two can become tiresome.

The narrative structure, which alternates between past and present and between Leo and Melissa's perspectives, provides some depth to the story. However, the pacing can feel uneven, with some sections feeling rushed while others drag.

Despite these shortcomings, the novel does have some redeeming qualities. The sections from the past are particularly well-written, and the author does a good job of building tension and creating a sense of dread. The supernatural aspect of the story is also handled well, with a believable and chilling atmosphere.

Overall, 'The Drowning House' is a decent paranormal horror novel with an intriguing premise and some well-written sections. However, the unlikable characters and uneven pacing prevent it from reaching its full potential. Fans of the genre may still enjoy the atmospheric setting and supernatural elements, but those looking for a more well-rounded and engaging story may be disappointed.

I love any story about an evil house.

We follow Melissa and Leo who are arriving to support Simon after his grandma passes away and Simon is missing. They help to find Simon and the story unfolds from there. This starts slow and doesnt pick up until almost the end. There was not enough action in the story to keep me engaged. This was not a HORROR novel more of a coming of age novel.

This fell flat for me and just never picked up.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

Honey, this book was really good. I am so glad I got to read this. I did not wanna put it down at alllll. It was a wild ride and I can't wait to put it on my shelf in July.

The beginning of The Drowning House started out strong. The middle sort of dragged and lost my interest. The ending picked up again, but by then it was hard for me to be fully invested after the slow moving middle. There are some creepy vibes going on, but not one that will haunt me in my nightmares. If you don't mind slow burns then you will really like this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love an evil house book but this was a little flat. It spent so much time setting the scene I was expecting a big pay off in the second half and we didn't really get one. I didn't care about any of the characters which didn't help. I don't think you can have a book where there is one sort of a wacky plot (an evil house) and characters that are unpleasant. A book needs to chose one or the other.

Weird mentions of weight/fatness.

When Melissa and Leo arrive to support their friend Simon following the death of his grandmother whom they have known since childhood they find Simon missing and a washed-up old house on the shores of Mrs. Culpepper’s land, the frightful discovery of which might well have been what caused her fatal heart attack. The story unfolds in a then and now narrative between searching for Simon and the shared experiences of the main characters’ youth. Unfortunately, the slow burn plot didn’t compel me with enough action to be a thriller or critical reveals to be a mystery, and I struggled to stay engaged. I didn’t connect with the characters and tired of the search for Simon which yielded little tension. It felt like more of a coming-of-age story than a horror-thriller, which wasn’t what I expected. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the ARC of The Drowning House.

i have a new favorite cherie priest. melissa and leo return to the island where they spent their childhood summers playing with simon at his grandmother house. the grandmother, mrs culpepper, has just died and simon is missing. in trying to find him, melissa and leo find themselves caught up in a battle with dark forces, a battle they vaguely glimpsed but never understood during those youthful summers. a real 80s stephen king feel to this one.

OMG this was even better than I expected and I knew I was going to love this. It starts out normal, with a near drowning, but then just normal. Three best friends are supposed to reunite when one of their grandmothers dies. They always played at her house in the summers. But when the friends arrive the grandson is missing. It gets stranger and stranger as the story goes. You will love this one! It is everything!

I was really drawn into this book when I started reading, however the pace eventually did me in. The backstory with the back and forth from past the present was intriguing. I really felt that the characters were just not drawn out and I had no reason to really care about either one of them which made the last quarter of the book not fun. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

Two childhood friends return to their hometown upon hearing of the death of their beloved Mrs. Culpepper. Weirdly, the third of their trio, who had been the one to call and inform them of the old woman's passing, has now mysteriously disappeared. And an old house has washed up on the beach! The fright is undoubtedly what killed Mrs. Culpepper, but the history of the house wreck and the circumstances surrounding its shocking reappearance is even stranger and scarier. The Drowning House starts strong with a storm-tossed mystery, and the childhood flashbacks add intrigue, weaving a connection between the house and a dark past. However, the characters, despite their history, felt flat, and the suspense didn't quite hold throughout. I generally really enjoy Cherie Priest's stories, but this one, even with its unique premise, didn't work for me.

This book reminded of 80s horror books, especially in the structure and the way the supernatural element was used. It's a book that relies on character and atmosphere, rather than blood and shock value, and that made me think of John Saul and, to a lesser degree, James Herbert. But a very strong John Saul vibe with this creepy tale. Also, this had me thinking of Jennifer McMahon, especially with the characterisations in the book. Like Jennifer McMahon, Cherie Priest has a knack for writing believable children and teenage characters. And that adds a lot of realism into a story.

A slow burn and atmospheric horror, this won't appeal to every reader. I think many readers expect modern horror to be in your face and fast paced. It's as if many readers refuse to be patient now, and I find that perplexing. I enjoy a well told slow-burn tale, especially one that builds up atmosphere with setting and characters. And this book does a commendable job in doing just that. The isolation of the house on the sparsely populated island, the feeling that help will be a long time arriving when needed. In addition, this book opens up with questions - questions that demand answers. Where's Simon? What happened to him? How did the usually dependable Simon vanish and why? That question chilled me in this book. It felt real. It also felt like I didn't want to know the answer.

The two protagonists, Melissa and Leo, are well-crafted and genuine. What makes them remarkable is the way the author injects different coping mechanisms into the characters. They fall back on old traits, and have a few new to add the mix. But it's their reactions that add to the atmosphere of this story.

A chilling supernatural tale. It makes me now want to research old rules and Nordic folk tales!

A link to a video review will be added soon.

A chilling, suspense-filled horror novel that tightens its grip with every chapter. Priest starts the story with a bang, or rather a storm, a death, a disappearance, and the appearance of a house on the beach, and from that point on, we just go deeper into darkness and mystery. I loved how past and present are woven together here as the lives of three friends - childhood and adulthood - are tied together with the mysteries of an old house, old magic, and terrible deeds.

The Drowning House follows Leo and Melissa who after hearing of the death of their childhood friend Simon's grandmother return to the island they once spent summers together. Once they arrive, Simon is nowhere to be seen and a storm has washed up a mysterious house onto the beach.

I will never turn down a book about a haunted house and this was no exception. I was hooked from the very first page.

I loved following along with the characters to find out the truth behind Simon's disappearance and the secrets surrounding the house. I had such great fun reading this.

This was my first book of this author's and it will certainly not be my last.

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

2.5 Stars.

THE DROWNING HOUSE, by Cherie Priest, caught me right from the start with the synopsis. When Tidebury House suddenly washed ashore in the middle of a raging storm--a full HOUSE--I was excited to read more. Just past it was Thornbury House, home to Mrs. Culpepper and her grandson, Simon. When Mrs. Culpepper races out into the storm--Simon after her--everything got "dark".

Unfortunately, the novel took a turn into the "tell", not "show" direction after that. We go back and forth from the past, where a young Simon and his two friends--Melissa and Leo--played each summer, and the present, where Melissa and Leo go back to the small town. Mrs. Culpepper died of a heart attack on the beach before the washed up, derelict house, and Simon has mysteriously vanished.

From this point on, despite the glimpses into the past of Simon and his Grandmother, the story is Leo and Melissa's. They were characters I just honestly could NOT like; squabbling like petty children, both still crushing over Simon (although they're in their 40's now), and constantly trying to one-up each other as to who was closer to the missing man. After what seemed like an eternity of this, we finally got back to the mysterious, washed up house. Things DID improve at that point, and I was really interested in the history, the man who built it, and another aspect that was later revealed.

Overall, the story had a great beginning, and an interesting premise. Sadly, the interesting parts were overshadowed by the main characters I couldn't identify with, and somehow felt secondary to the Melissa/Leo scenes. I honestly feel that if the story had focused on THAT, or even a prequel where we see all the events that occurred BEFORE Tidebury house was washed out to the sea, we could have had a great novel. For myself, the dynamic of the two remaining characters just took the enjoyment out of the story, and the ending felt very "rushed", while it could have been something much more.

*I was given an ARC of this novel through the publisher and Netgalley. This review is based solely on my own thoughts of it.*

Nothing better than a childhood bond that stands the test of time and brings them back together when one goes missing. Set on Marrowstone Island in Washington State it goes into the past and back to present day from multiple points of view. Highly recommend for fans of supernatural, paranormal, and horror fans who enjoy the nostalgia of childhood bonds.

Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen and NetGalley for my ARC!