This book hooked me from the very beginning. First off there's the little blurb that just immediately grabbed my attention and made me think that this was my kind of book. I mean, a spooky legend at a kids camp, someone disappears, revenge seemingly from beyond the grave … what's not to like? I was guessing until near the end as to what was happening and what the outcome would be. Pleasantly, my first two assumptions were completely wrong.

The main character is someone who I immediately disliked, and my opinion of him did not change throughout the book. If anything, I liked him less and less as the story progressed. But that's okay, many good stories have someone that you love to hate. There was one thing that bugged me in that Alex thinks there's someone after him and out to get him but for some reason that fear/knowledge does nothing to curb his behavior. I actually mentioned this point to my husband as I was reading, simply because I was trying to make it all work in my mind and sometimes it helps to talk thing out.

This book features chapters that jump back in time, which I personally like. It helped build the backstory without being long or boring, and also added a little to the mystery. I like it when there's background information without it being either way too drawn out or just tacked on, which in The Drowning it wasn't at all. Even though there were these time shifts, everything still flowed smoothly.

This book was well written, I enjoyed the authors style, and I would absolutely read more of J.P. Smith's work.

** Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **