Jaxie Brandywine returns to her family estate in Vermont after her sister, Lexie, drowns in the property’s spring-fed pool. While Jaxie struggles to understand Lexie’s obsession with the water, she discovers a historical narrative involving their grandmother and a 1920s tragedy linked to the same location. The pool sits atop a natural spring rumored to grant wishes in exchange for life. Jaxie uncovers family journals and photographs that reveal a cycle of disappearance and madness, suggesting that the dark entity within the black water claims a victim in every generation.
Readers who enjoy atmosphere-driven ghost stories and rural gothic horror gravitate toward this book for its focus on multi-generational secrets. It appeals to those interested in the folklore of haunted landscapes and the psychological impact of grief on family dynamics. The reader finishes the story with a clear understanding of how past traumas manifest as physical hauntings. It provides a chilling look at the price of desire and the ways historical tragedies repeat when families refuse to acknowledge their internal shadows.
Escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2021
- Language
- EN
