The Drowning Kind

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon cover

Title: The Drowning Kind

Author: Jennifer McMahon

Page Count: 319 pages

Publisher: Gallery

Genre: Folk Horror

Themes: Spooky Spring

Synopsis: "When social worker 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." - Via Amazon

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review

This book is the perfect summer read—atmospheric, mysterious, and just the right amount of eerie. The story unfolds across two timelines: the 1930s and the present day, weaving together the lives of characters separated by decades but connected by secrets. The scenes are delightfully creepy and keeps you turning pages.

The characters are rich and engaging, each with their own motivations and hidden truths. Some were enjoyable but others I truly could not stand. Our narrator was at times unreliable, which made it all the more captivating.

What truly sets this novel apart is its unforgettable setting: a grand, summer home perched beside a pool fueled by the local spring rumored to grant wishes. The catch? The spring may give you what you want—but it could also take something you never expected to lose.

Haunting, immersive, and beautifully written, this novel is a perfect blend of horror, suspense, and local folklore.

Final Recommendation: Must read if you enjoy folk horror or if you are new to the horror genre.