I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon
Also by this author: The Night Sister, Burntown, The Invited
Published by Simon and Schuster on April 6, 2021
Genres: Fiction, Ghost
Pages: 336
Format: eBook
Source: the publisher
Goodreads
As adults, sisters Jax and Lexie have a complicated relationship. Lexie lives in their grandmother's estate, granted to her after she passed. Jax and Lexie spent summers at the estate, swimming in the natural pool. Lexie always seemed to have an attachment to the pool, so it made since that she would inherit it.
Lately, though, she's been leaving manic messages on Jax's phone. Sometimes the messages were unintelligible, rattling off measurements of depth that made no sense to Jax. So when see s nine missed calls from Lexie, Jax assumes she's going through another one of her episodes.
Lexie is found dead the next day, drowned in the pool at the estate. This death seems completely implausible; swimming was second nature to Lexie. When Jax arrives at the house to go through her sister's things, she discovers Lexie has been looking into the history of the family and the property. As Jax begins to make sense of Lexie's scribbled notes, she begins to peel back the layers of the dark history of the land.
1929: newlyweds travel to a new and modern hotel in Vermont, one that showcases a natural spring rumored to grant wishes. Ethel is thrilled; she's hoped desperately for a baby. Swept up in the stories of healing from other guests, Ethel ignores the warnings the spring takes for what it gives...
I’m a long-time fan of McMahon’s work. She excels at crafting stores centered around sibling relationships, usually with a spooky twist. This one is even more chilling!
I’m a swimmer myself; I love to swim. However, I intentionally avoid natural bodies of water. No swimming in the ocean, or a lake. Give me a pool with a finite bottom. This book picks up on all the reasons I avoid them; the unknown residing in the dark depths. Completely chilling. The detail McMahon gives in creating the atmosphere around the pool is downright terrifying. For fear of spoilers, I won’t say more..
I love the backstory of the healing springs, this subject has long interested me. Healing springs were a part of our country’s history, they drew people from near and far. People would drink the water, hoping for healing powers or long-life. In actuality, the sulfur in many springs lead to illness and death.
I do wish there was a little time spent on Jax and Lexie’s relationship, especially what drove them apart. I feel I knew more about Ethel’s character than Jax and Lexie. Even if it added more length to the book it would have been worth it. I don’t feel I connected with them as much as I have characters in McMahon’s other novels.
All in all though, yet another great read from McMahon. Highly recommended. I’m anxiously awaiting what comes next!
