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amy_alwaysreading 's review for:
The Drowning Kind
by Jennifer McMahon
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Spooky, haunting, and suspenseful. Be careful what you wish for because the water gives and it takes.
Grief can do funny things to the mind, especially when it’s laced with guilt. And Jax is both- grieving and guilty. She’s returned home to the family estate upon the death of her estranged sister. But nothing seems to make sense. How did her sister, Lexie, who was an accomplished swimmer, drown in the very pool she had learned to swim? And what caused Lexie’s manic behavior right before she drowned. Nothing seemed to add up. As much as Jax tries to make sense of it all, she can’t seem to. Was grief unraveling her- or was there more? This question kept me hanging on until the very end.
The secret to understanding the present was in looking at the past. The author adeptly intermingles Esther’s journal from the 1920s into Jax’ story. Fleshing out what the two timelines had in common, beyond the setting, added an appealing extra dimension to the plot.
The story starts out as a mystery with a thriller component mixed in, but fairly quickly the storyline begins to dabble in the supernatural. If you like mysteries that involve the metaphysical, this should be your next read. It pulled me in and kept me fascinated, even though I am not normally a fan of the paranormal. I think this book will have a niche following that will greatly enjoy it.
The author did a great job of creating a spooky atmosphere around the pool. It took on a life of its own creating a creepy backdrop. Deep, murky waters can be a bit unnerving as it is, and McMahon definitely took that a step further. I certainly didn’t feel comfortable whenever a character would get a touch to close to the pool.
Ultimately, while the book kept me interested, in spite of my distaste for the paranormal, the ending left me dissatisfied and disappointed. And for that reason, this book fell flat to me.
Many thanks to Jennifer McMahon, Gallery Book, Scout Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Grief can do funny things to the mind, especially when it’s laced with guilt. And Jax is both- grieving and guilty. She’s returned home to the family estate upon the death of her estranged sister. But nothing seems to make sense. How did her sister, Lexie, who was an accomplished swimmer, drown in the very pool she had learned to swim? And what caused Lexie’s manic behavior right before she drowned. Nothing seemed to add up. As much as Jax tries to make sense of it all, she can’t seem to. Was grief unraveling her- or was there more? This question kept me hanging on until the very end.
The secret to understanding the present was in looking at the past. The author adeptly intermingles Esther’s journal from the 1920s into Jax’ story. Fleshing out what the two timelines had in common, beyond the setting, added an appealing extra dimension to the plot.
The story starts out as a mystery with a thriller component mixed in, but fairly quickly the storyline begins to dabble in the supernatural. If you like mysteries that involve the metaphysical, this should be your next read. It pulled me in and kept me fascinated, even though I am not normally a fan of the paranormal. I think this book will have a niche following that will greatly enjoy it.
The author did a great job of creating a spooky atmosphere around the pool. It took on a life of its own creating a creepy backdrop. Deep, murky waters can be a bit unnerving as it is, and McMahon definitely took that a step further. I certainly didn’t feel comfortable whenever a character would get a touch to close to the pool.
Ultimately, while the book kept me interested, in spite of my distaste for the paranormal, the ending left me dissatisfied and disappointed. And for that reason, this book fell flat to me.
Many thanks to Jennifer McMahon, Gallery Book, Scout Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.