The Drowning Kind

Written by Jennifer McMahon

Narrated by Joy Osmanski and Imani Jade Powers

In this “blisteringly suspenseful tale that will keep you up at night” (Wendy Webb, author of Daughters of the Lake), a woman returns to the old family home after her sister mysteriously drowns in its swimming ​pool…but she’s not the pool’s only victim.

Be careful what you wish for.

When Jax receives nine missed calls from her older sister, Lexie, she assumes that it’s just another one of her sister’s episodes. Manic and increasingly out of touch with reality, Lexie has pushed Jax away for over a year. But the next day, Lexie is dead: drowned in the pool at their grandmother’s estate. When Jax arrives at the house to go through her sister’s things, she learns that Lexie was researching the history of their family and the property. And as she dives deeper into the research herself, she discovers that the land holds a far darker past than she could have ever imagined.

In 1929, thirty-seven-year-old newlywed Ethel Monroe hopes desperately for a baby. In an effort to distract her, her husband whisks her away on a trip to Vermont, where a natural spring is showcased by the newest and most modern hotel in the Northeast. Once there, Ethel learns that the water is rumored to grant wishes, never suspecting that the spring takes in equal measure to what it gives.

A modern-day ghost story that illuminates how the past, though sometimes forgotten, is never really far behind us, The Drowning Kind “is satisfying on every level: Marvelously chilling, elegantly written, a true page-turner” (Janelle Brown, New York Times bestselling author).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Apr 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9781797119021

Jennifer McMahon

Jennifer McMahon is the author of Dismantled, the New York Times bestseller Island of Lost Girls, and the breakout debut novel Promise Not to Tell. She lives in Vermont with her partner, Drea, and their daughter, Zella.

Reviews for The Drowning Kind

[Kathie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Decent, but too long for the actual story. No suspense because she gives the answer to the mystery in every chapter.

[Emily Lassiter Branch · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was my first book by Jennifer McMahon, but it won't be my last. What a mix of mystery, Gothic, paranormal and family drama this is. Dual timelines, 90 years apart, keep us guessing as to what the mystery is of the springs that feed a pool at a family home in 2019. What's the history of how that home came to be? Is there magic in those cold, dark waters? And if so, what is the price of that magic? This one keeps you guessing right up until the end. Deliciously creepy, I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and the narration only added to my enjoyment - very well done by both narrators.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Audio for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

[Lisa Beeman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So-So book. Started off well, dragged in the middle, then a lukewarm ending.

[Angela Shockley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Rleally good book and seems to be based partially on a real hotel and springs from years ago
that went by a different name here in the USA.

[Erica Ittner · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I just adore Jennifer McMahon and all of her works. This book was haunting and the ending was perfect!

[Atalaya Ramos · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I would have given 4 stars but the “I am Mrs Monroe and… blah blah blah” was completely overused. By the last few chapters, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes every time the narrator said it. Other than that, the book was decent. Also, the ending was a little boring.

[Kelli Martin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

That epilogue…. I did NOT see coming! Omg.
I really enjoyed how this book went from past to present. I loved how Jax and Ethel’s stories flowed. I also enjoyed the supernatural aspects of this story. It was creepy at times which was a nice change of pace.
You always hear about ‘healing water’ or Springs. I love how this story not only incorporated that but also expanded on it.

[Omer Daniel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Terrific book, chilling and suspenseful. Great job by the narrator!

[Rlynoyb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow just totally shook me at the end. This was a very entertaining listen. This book was just so sad at the end, it was a good story but a bit too long.

[Melissa Hayes · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 stars for me. It might have been 4 stars if the story didn't seem to end quickly. What was Declan babbling on about the fish? I guess we will never know. Also, one of the narrators was a bit stiff and awkward at times. I don't think some people realize how important the narrator is to the telling of a story (well, my fellow audiobook listeners do). We never found out about the pool measurements. We never found out why Lexi bought a fishing harpoon. Maybe it's just me, but it drives me nuts when something is brought up in a story that you think is important, but you never get the answers to. If two of those questions had been answered, I would have probably given this book 4 stars. Now, to some actual good qualities to this story. Let's start with the most important thing, lol. I'm a huge horror fan, and the creepy factor of this story definitely spoke to my darker side, lol. I really enjoyed the back and forth between the past and the present and the two POVs. I enjoyed how the two stories came together for me at the end. I loved the character of her Aunt Diane. I enjoyed that I didn't see the end coming. When an author is able to sneak up on you like that, they've done something right. At the end of the day, I'm glad that I listened to this book. But so far, nothing has been able to surpass Jennifer McMahon's book The Winter People.

[Vivian Chern Shnaidman · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ugh social worker

So, it was okay. I know this is not what the book was about - but the narrator is a social worker and the story reflects the typical social worker’s ignorance of psychiatric illness and the controlling view of what passes for “therapy.” As a psychiatrist this drives me - no pun intended - crazy. I imagine that the details of most professions are totally wrong in all fiction but most thrillers rely on mental illness and psychopathy as plot devices and basically they all get it wrong, all the time. In this case, the therapeutic errors are fairly real and help to account for the extremely high suicide rate we see today, especially among our troubled youth - but the typical civilian reader would never know it. I wish today’s editors would bother to read a psychology text or something. Maybe Wikipedia.

[Susan Whitehead · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

So predictable! I kept listening because I thought there had to be more to it. Very disappointed

[jennifer krkljes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really interesting! Well read , and had me wondering the whole time.

[Myra Rucker · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another awesome Jennifer McMahon novel. It’s another must read and I totally enjoyed this audiobook!!

[Donna Tracy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book has a unique premise that you don't find in many others. I would recommend it if you like books about superstitions, folklore, ghosts, spirits, etc. If that's not your thing, I probably wouldn't read it, but it is an interesting story that kept my attention.

[Wendy Maresca · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a very good book. It was my second Jennifer McMahon novel. Her novels have such crazy paranormal twists in them. In this one I wasn't really scared, I actually was sad in the end and a little happy that they ended up together. I was also a little upset that Maggie was angry with her mom but I could totally understand. I would recommend this book to all my friends what a wonderful book !!! Get out and read it.

[Olivia White · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Still one of my favorite thrillers ever, which is not a high bar so this one actually made me feel things other than frustration

[Nina Quartuccio · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mild ghost story, I wouldn't say suspenseful but well written. Narrator/s did an good job. No real action... not sure what I can add, except, I will say It wasn't a waste of time but maybe I could have picked a better story...I'm a horror freak.

[Jennifer Hutcheson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was so good, all the great spooky vibes

[Nikki · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I finished it but I wasn't like oh my gosh I can't stop listening. I think it was the narrators. Want a big fan of them.

[Hannah DeConti · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Ending was sooo disappointing! Otherwise, a great listen! Would recommend

[Melissa Holland · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I Couldn't put it down! Worth the read! Great characters & great story!

[Laura Lynn · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was good but was missing that extra “something.” I used this book as a pallet cleanser between horror reads.