The Drowning Kind

By: Jennifer McMahon

Narrated by: Joy Osmanski, Imani Jade Powers

Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

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).

©2021 Jennifer McMahon. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Narrators Joy Osmanski and Imani Jade Powers shine in this haunting novel. Osmanski voices the story of Jax, a social worker who is distanced from her complicated family history in 2019. When her sister reaches out during a manic episode and then winds up dead, Jax knows there is more to the story. Jax's contemporary story alternates with the 1929 story of Ethel Monroe, voiced by Powers. Ethel and her husband are eager to start a family. They visit the Brandenburg Springs Hotel, which is rumored to have healing springs that grant wishes. Powers's perfect pacing creates a supernatural, eerie atmosphere filled with regret and desperation. As the characters in both storylines connect and secrets are revealed, listeners will be shocked by the jaw-dropping surprises." (AudioFile Magazine)

Love this Author

I have only read/listened to a few of her books but they never disappoint. This one was so creepy. I would love to see it as a movie. Her character development and imagery is so good. And the person who performs the narration for her books is excellent.

a definite need to read

my favorite of hers so far. I loved how it was past and present, making the stories intertwine.

Top Notch Thrills

Fans of Jennifer McMahon will love this one. I enjoyed it almost as much as Winter People. One of the narrator’s voices was easier on the ears than the other but overall, very well done!

Overall good book

Overall good… not my typical read but worth the listen. I’d recommend this audiobook to others.

Gripping story, a real page turner

The history in the story was well written. I liked how it all came together in the end.

O.K. in parts but ultimately not believable

And it got less and less believable as the story went on, with few likable characters. Too many crazy ones for my taste, and the ending was predictable.

For an even weirder but far better saga , I recommend Audible's BLACKWATER by Michael McDowell, written 40 years ago, but still a brilliant swamp monster story.

Wonderful story, great mystery!

Reading the reviews for this book surprised me as they were not very good. Others say this story is not great compared to her other books. This is the first book from this author I have read, so perhaps that's why I enjoyed it so much. I loved the story and how well the past and present tied together. There are a couple of unanswered questions but those can be left to the imagination. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good thriller, especially a paranormal one!

Hauntingly beautiful

An old house. A haunted pool. A family curse. This book had all the things I love about a great horror or spooky tale. Perfect story to listen to before bed.

I could not stop listening

The story was great and very thrilling. The narrator was awesome!! This book will not disappoint!

didnt like the ending

it was a great story. i didnt care for the ending...or understand what or why they all did what they did at the end. nobody really even really liked the house.