Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for sharing an ARC in exchange for a review.

Cherie Priest’s The Drowning House has a lot in common with Stephen King’s writing. Namely: great character moments, eerie slow burn…and an ending that absolutely does not stick the landing.

I really enjoyed my time with Leo and Melissa, and the weird little pocket of cosmic horror Priest has crafted on Marrowstone Island. The flashbacks with the little bits of supernatural spookiness sprinkled in were very effective. Priest’s prose does a fantastic job of painting the island in moody, rainy greys.

The Drowning House’s tone is certainly deliberate, but very rarely did I feel like it was dragging. It’s surprising then that the ending felt so rushed. I wouldn’t have wanted every single aspect of Gunnar’s powers or motives spelled out, but it was all so vague that it deflated the climax. The fate of Simon is left to the reader’s imagination, which felt like a missed opportunity for some great horror. The story also just kind of…ends. I don’t know if this was meant as a sequel setup but it’s very abrupt.

Despite its flaws, this a solid horror novel. If this turns out to be the start of a series, I’ll happily read a sequel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of "The Drowning House"! My review is unbiased and honest!

Cherie Priest is a good author. She paints a creepy picture with a great backstory that's unlike other books that I've read. She's just not the author for me. She is a little bit wordier than I prefer, so I had a hard time getting through this because she kept the story simmering instead of letting it boil too hot.

If you like a good mystery with a little bit of a creep factor (not much, imo as a horror reader), you may really enjoy this one. I was a little disappointed at the ending-- but it all works out okay.

Either way, it wasn't my favorite book I've read this year but it is well written, so I'd recommend to mystery fans. It releases in July of 2024!

On Marrowstone Island, best friends Simon Culpepper, Melissa Toft and Leo Alvarez spend every Summer together. Three "Goonies" who enjoy fireworks, swimming and shooting slingshots around Grandmother Culpepper's property. After Leo nearly drowns, he begins to see strange things in the shadows and hear faint cries at night. Mrs. Culpepper knowingly assures him they are harmless.

Years later, Mrs. Culpepper is found dead and Simon is missing. With only a cryptic email from Simon to go by, Leo and Melissa return to Marrowstone. A whole house has been washed up on the beach and shockingly no one pays it any mind. It's no storm wreck, but a sign that something or someone has returned. No longer naive children, long forgotten conversations begin to take on new meaning. Together, Leo and Melissa learn that Mrs. Culpepper had an estranged sister, Alcesta, whose mysterious, power-hungry husband might be behind all of it.

The premise is what really grabbed my attention, however I was left a bit disappointed. Leo and Melissa are loyal to a fault, and that's admirable, but their undying love for Simon seems forced. Leo and Melissa have been pining for him for over 20 years and still bicker over him. As far as we know, Simon is an ordinary guy, so why was he so extraordinary to them? Because we learn so little about Simon, both Leo and Melissa come off as self-centered with only some character growth at the end.

Aunt Alcesta had the potential to be a really compelling character, like her sister Charlotte, but her role was to simply provide the exposition. But how did Charlotte, Alcesta and Alcesta's husband come to obtain such hidden occult knowledge? How exactly did Simon disappear? The darkest parts were far too brief. I definitely needed more of Simon's family history to fully piece this one together.

Thank you again, Poisoned Pen Press for approving my request for "The Drowning House"!

I have a fraught relationship with Cherie Priest's horror novels: I love every premise and I love her richly developed, lived-in worlds and characters. The plots...tend to misfire for me, and this book was no different. It's a very slow novel, and that really worked for me for the first half, even though 99% of the time that would be my chief complaint. But Priest's worlds are so cozy to dive into, so I didn't mind at all. Once the plot engine fully kicked in, though, I kind-of hated it? The writing became repetitive (this book should have been WAY shorter imo), and the story itself was a bit childish and sparsely developed. So it was a profoundly mixed bag (as was 'The Toll' from the same author).

I wanted to love this book but it fell flat for me.

The beginning started out great but I quickly lost interest in the messy middle, I did enjoy the last part of the book. Essentially, beginning and end were great, middle not so much.

With that said, I would still read this author again and I would recommend this book because it has great bones and others may quite enjoy the story.

First I want to thank Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the arc.

The Drowning House by Cherie Priest is a horror story about a house that comes up on shore all of a sudden. There is a death from this house washing up on shore and then a mysterious disappearance which brings 2 childhood friends back to the island in which they spent so much time. They are in search of their friend who has disappeared after the death of his grandmother.

This book has a slow start to it but it wasn't a bad slow start like so many other ones can be. The atmosphere of the island and the houses were amazing. It made you feel the story progress with it. Melissa and Leo seemed to bicker A LOT. Everything was a competition with them and while it does get annoying, the reasoning behind it makes a lot of sense. They are trying to find their friend Simon afterall, emotions are high.

There are a lot of flashbacks in this book which are done really well. I enjoyed them a lot and they let you get to know the characters and what happened to start to set up the story through it.

However, I feel like some of the story dragged a little bit towards the end of it. There are twists to it that I didn't see coming that would bring it back for a bit but then it would drag again.

The Drowning House was labelled as a horror story but I'm not so sure that it's really what it is. There are some horror elements but not really scary or shocking. I was kind of expecting a more creepy factor to some of the story. I did enjoy the story a lot and the descriptions were really well done.

Thank you Netgalley & Poisoned Pen Press for an eARC 🔥

“The Drowning house “ by Cherie Priest is like a dark, twisted carnival that lures you in with its sinister atmosphere and doesn't let you go.

You see, this house, it just shows up on the beach one day, like some sort of macabre gift from the sea. And Simon, poor Simon, he's just gone, vanished without a trace. His friends Melissa and Leo, they're left to pick up the pieces, but they've got their own demons to deal with. Old rivalries, grudges, and secrets that refuse to stay buried.

And then there's the house itself, looming like a malevolent presence, full of strange noises and creepy whispers. It's alive, watching and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. You'll feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as you read, like something's creeping up behind you.

Cherie Priest masterfully weaves a tale that's part horror, part thriller, and all kinds of messed up. It's a dark reflection of our deepest fears, the kind that'll keep you up at night, wondering what's lurking in the shadows.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!
This would be a great book for a thriller lover who likes some magic with their mystery. There were a few tense, literally haunting moments, but other than that there was maybe one scene that I would call horror. Besides suspense and magic, this book had lore, runes, ghosts.
I felt like the pacing was slow, and while there were a lot of mundane details, there was a dearth of details in areas where I wanted them - like the villain's motivations, and the sister's relationship - especially for the length of the book. There was an epilogue that offered some answers, but I felt like I still had too many questions at the end.
That's not to say the ending was ambiguous, so don't let that scare you off, it was more what the author chose to focus on.
The premise was interesting with the house washing ashore that no one seemed to notice until they were told about it, I just wish the house had played a bigger role.
The author did a good job connecting the present to the flashback scenes. They seemed like nothing but character development, but were actually pertinent to the plot, while also introducing us to the missing grandson in the past.
If you're looking for an easy to read suspense novel with a twist, this is the book for you.
Read from: Feb 18, 2024 - Feb 21, 2024

Mrs Culpepper has lived on the island a long, long time. She outlived her husband, and her children, and in her final years, lives there still with her grandson. Until the night a terrible storm deposits a house on the beach - a house that she sent to the bottom of the sea decades before.

Now her grandson's childhood friends must figure out the unfolding danger, and how to keep terrible things out that someone else has been trying to let in for a long time.

Natural magic, eldritch horror, childhood trauma, and avenging Volvas - this is a terrifying novel that will make your skin prickle and the sound of water send a chill down your spine. :chef's kiss:

I wanted to like this book more but it was soooo slow to get going. I felt like it dragged on forever. It was a looong time to finish.

This is not my typical genre, but I'm glad I gave this book a try. When a mysterious house washes ashore and the sight of it makes someone die, you know it's off to a good start. There is a foreboding feeling right from the start and it doesn't let go until the end. This story is creepy, mysterious, haunted and full of secrets that will have you turning page after page to find out what the heck is going on.

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Cherie Priest for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t expecting to love this book as much as I did, but instantly I was sucked into the search for Simon. A beautifully written tale, taking turns I never knew were there, highly recommended from me!

Let's dive into "The Drowning House" by Cherie Priest—an eerie tale that begins with a violent storm washing up a creepy, dilapidated house onto a secluded Pacific Northwest beach that seems to scare old Mrs. Culpepper to death. This sets the stage for a captivating mystery/scary story when Simon Culpepper, the grandson of the dead woman who knew its secrets, vanishes, leaving childhood friends Melissa and Leo to embark on a quest to uncover the truth.

What truly sets this novel apart are the richly drawn characters, particularly Melissa and Leo, whose complex relationship adds depth to the narrative. Priest's vivid descriptions of Marrowstone Island create an atmospheric backdrop that pulls readers into the story. However, I thought the pacing was slightly off with a slow start giving way to a sudden rush of action.

Despite the pacing quirks, "The Drowning House" remains a compelling read, blending suspense, horror, friendship, and secrets into a captivating story. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Mrs. Culpepper gets scared to death when an old house gets washed ashore . Simon her grandson disappears the same night. Simon's friends Leo and Melissa come to the island to search for him. They learn the disturbing history of the washed ashore house and the man that built it. Do they find Simon? What's up with the house and how did it get washed away?

Thank you Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press and author Cherie Priest for the advance copy of this book.

This book is a little creepier than my regular reads. Characters were developed well. The book started off with intensity, but lost my interest as i got further in to the story.

I did finish but.must admit it took a little effort.
2.5 out of 5 ⭐️

"The Drowning House" by Cherie Priest is a dark paranormal horror novel. As a fan of haunted house stories, I was immediately drawn in by the premise. Haunted houses, ghosts, and ancient evil? Count me in! Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations.

When a mysterious house washes up on the Pacific Northwest beach near the home of Simon Culpepper and his grandmother, Mrs. Culpepper, she drops dead, and everything goes south. Simon sends a message to his two childhood friends, Leo and Melissa, asking for their help, and then disappears. When Leo and Melissa arrive on Marrowstone Island, there is no trace of him. The two must put their differences aside to find their dear friend, and what follows is nightmarish as the old rivals are thrown from one ordeal into the next.

I enjoyed the story overall, but it didn't keep me overly excited. The narrative is written in the third person, shifting between past and present, between Leo and Melissa. While I appreciated the dynamic and the strengthening of the friendship between the two, I didn't find myself caring for either of them. Melissa came across as abrasive, and Leo's plans to sell the house (he is a realtor) while his friend is still missing didn't reflect well on him. Moreover, some of their sniping was a bit exhausting. However, their backstories, as well as the tense atmosphere and the freaky supernatural aspect, added depth to the story.

I enjoyed the sections from the past and the way all the pieces fell into place. The author doesn't give us all the information at once; bit by bit, she uncovers more and more pieces from the past and connects the dots. I also appreciated the setting and the creepy atmosphere. The characterizations were interesting, and the suspense was nicely maintained until the great reveal at the end. The tense atmosphere of supernatural elements was excellently woven throughout the storyline, as well as the themes of grand struggle against supernatural evil forces, friendship, loyalty, and loss.

Unfortunately, the book fell a bit short in the execution department. I found the pace of the first half of the book too slow for my liking, although I did enjoy the sense of impending danger. It started well, lost momentum, and then picked up the pace in the second part of the tale. Although the book wasn't overwhelmingly scary, there were definitely some creepy parts. Despite the slow start, the story eventually grew on me. This is a slow-burning tale that builds up to an impressive crescendo. Therefore, I give it 3 out of 5 stars. I recommend the book to horror fans who love a bit of the supernatural thrown in and don't mind a slow-paced read.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

The setting and plot are what drew me to this story. I live on the Pacific Coast and I appreciate a story about the beautiful mysterious Pacific Northwest. Specifically, I related to the phenomenon of beachside houses sinking into the ocean during a storm. However, I almost didn't read the book for two reasons. First I would have preferred a straight thriller atory rather than one combined with supernatural. Secondly, the characters were disappointing. Right away I thought Melissa was a B, and I thought her rivalry with Leo was contrived and irrelevant. Simon and Mrs. Culpepper are the nicer characters but they unfortunately barely appear in the story.
Fortunately I did decide to this amazing thriller that reminded me of many Stephen King novels, mainly THE OUTSIDER for its supernatural elements, and IT for its small.town setting, townspeoples' amnesia, and the slingshot.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this digital review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed the reconnecting of adults who were friends as kids. The author nailed the feeling of disconnect when you're a stranger to someone you were once close to. Good plot, great images.

A mystery that is filled with suspense and a creepy atmosphere.

Melissa, Leo and Simon are childhood friends, they spent their Summer's together at Mrs Culpeppers home - Simons grandmothers.

Many years on, Melissa recieves a missed call from Simon that just sounds like static, and an email informing her that his grandmother had passed. Melissa and Simon race across to where she lived, but no one has seen or heard from Simon since he dialled 911 on his grandmothers death.

They work to investigate where Simon could have gone, but another mystery appears. A house, that looks like its dragged itself out of the sea, and a mysterious man that appears with it.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
This book was definitely gripping from the beginning, starting when Simon, Leo and Melissa were young and into the present day mystery. Filled with an eerie, creepy atmosphere and a mystery, I could not stop turning the page to see what happened.

The plot and the writing captivated me completely, I do love a creepy mystery and this felt like a very unique read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this copy. This review is voluntary.

I want to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for my honest review..

THOUGHTS:

This book was a rush and such a ride wild I personally thought. This book gives all the dark feels/vibes. You get the horror and mystery and I was here for all of the feelings this book dished out. The storyline/plot and characters development was perfect in my opinion. If you love a great read that will keep you on the edge of your seat with a creepy suspenseful terror this book will be for you.