The Season of Sinking

by Daphne Woolsoncroft

In the second thriller from a hit true crime podcaster turned novelist, a woman’s unsettling past creeps back into her consciousness as she returns to her hometown and begins to suspect the locals are hiding a terrible secret swirling around her mother's recent death.

When Imogen Bly's mother suddenly passes away, she leaves her Seattle apartment and returns to Lake Blair—the picturesque Washington town where she grew up. After Imogen and her twin sister Amelia arrive, ready to pack up their mother's home, strange things begin to happen, reminding Imogen of her long‑held feelings of dread surrounding her hometown.

Imogen enlists the help of her first crush, next-door neighbor Rory, to uncover the truth about her mother's death and the traumatic event she experienced as a child. But is the boy who got away really the man with something to hide? Or is the suspicious neighbor in the house across the lake behind it all? When Imogen’s own family’s tragedies lead her to question the disappearance of a local young woman the previous year, her persistent unease becomes terrifyingly real and suddenly nowhere feels safe…

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Fiction, Audiobook, Horror

320 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 2026

About the author

Daphne Woolsoncroft, a Los Angeles native, is the host and producer of the hit true crime podcast Going West, with a 150K-200K listeners per episode and over two million monthly downloads. When she's not writing or researching true crime cases, you can find her traveling to gloomy destinations, catching the newest horror film in theaters, or reading on the couch with her plump English Bulldog, Dewey.

Reviews

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Season of Sinking by Daphne Woolsoncroft
Narrated by Natalie Van Sistine

Here I am, listening to another book with a horror tag but this story represents the very worst kind of horror of all. The horror that can be present in real life, where everything "could" happen to everyday people. When Imogen's mother dies in her early 50s, a healthy, active vibrant woman who dies in a sketchy "accident", it doesn't make sense to Imogen. Why was her mom out on the lake in their old kayak, during a storm, in her nightgown, when her mother was an expert on lake safety, a strong swimmer, and not one to do dumb things like she must have done to have died in this manner?

So Imogen and her twin sister, Amelia, are now at their family home, packing up all their mom's belongings as they ready the house for sale. Strange things begin happening, things that make it seem someone might be getting into their mom's house while Imogen is staying there. Things go missing, things seem to be in different places, and maybe someone is following Imogen? Amelia knows something about Imogen and the past that can't be discussed so that is hanging over Imogen's head, whether she knows it or not. She sort of remembers something and she has nightmares about that something.

It doesn't take long at all before Imogen suspects just about every man as being suspicious. There is the weird guy who watches her from across the lake. There is her old boyfriend who is back living next door to his parents. There are more people Imogen starts to suspect. And there is the mysterious POV narration we get from the person who is obsessed with Imogen and we don't know the identity of that person. There is also the missing local woman who disappeared almost a month ago to go along with the strange death of Imogen's mom.

Imogen does some very farfetched, unwise things but she's going to get to the bottom of things (even if it kills her?). The story is full of suspense and I couldn't figure out who did what during most of the book. It felt real life scary, real life people who are monsters are the worst kind of monsters.

Published July 7, 2026

Thanks to my library and Libby for this audiobook.

[Sydney Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this a lot! I love a thriller where the MCs are sisters. Kept my interest, kept me guessing, this was solid!

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I COULD NOT put this book down once I got started!!

A Crash of Glass.
Mom Screaming My Name.
The Boy’s Bloodied Face

The book opens with Imogen’s recurring nightmare.

But things are about to get worse when Imogen and her fraternal twin sister, Amelia return to Lake Blair, Washington to pack up their mother Alice’s house after her surprising and untimely death at the young age of just 54. It was ruled an ACCIDENT but once the sisters arrive they get the sense that it could have been murder.

Someone is watching from a telescope across the lake, and someone is entering the house when the women are out running errands.

Coincidentally, a young woman from the same small lakefront community has also been missing for a year.

Who can be trusted?
Who is hiding something?

“PEOPLE ARE DECEIVING. THE BRIGHTEST SMILES CAN HIDE THE DARKEST TRUTHS”

As with her debut, Night Watcher, author Daphne Woolsoncroft has crafted another story set in the Pacific Northwest, which captures the allure of the area and the charm of the local culture.

HAUNTING, UNSETTLING and SEEPING in ATMOSPHERE, I could almost FEEL the cool, misty rain!

The only thing keeping this from being a 5 star read was the resolution which didn’t quite work for me-no spoilers-but, the strength of the rest of the story has cemented Woolsoncroft as an AUTO-READ author for me moving forward and I CANNOT WAIT to read whatever she pens next! ✍🏻

Thank You to the NOVEL SUSPECTS program, and GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING for mailing me a finished copy, to sit beside NIGHT WATCHER on my book shelf. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

AVAILABLE NOW!

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's sinking -- as in going too deep underwater or that feeling you get when there is an unexpected sound in the next room.

And there's syncing -- the way Daphne Woolsoncroft expertly ties the narratives of twins Imogen and Amelia together.

Did you love getting creeped out by Night Watcher? Then you must add this unsettling second title from Woolsoncroft to your TBR.

Here's what I really liked:

👯‍♀️It's a twin story! Imogen and Amelia are identical twins who return to their hometown of Lake Blair to pack up after their mom's passing. It was impressive the way their alternating POVs often ran parallel in unexpected ways.

🏊‍♀️The late Alice Bly died in a boating accident. Or did she? Why was she in her nightgown? Was there as stranger with her near the end?

😴Imogen has a recurring nightmare starring her mom, a boy, and blood. What happened so many years ago? Has Imogen moved on or is there still trauma to be dealt with? Who can tell her the truth?

📚The Author's Notes elevated the read for me. Woolsoncroft has an identical twin in real life --being a twin can be a blessing and a complication and I get that! She also apologizes to her dad for the daddy issues her heroines have had. And to her mom for killing off the mother in this one. Love those personal insights!

This one did not quite live up to the Night Watcher experience. I wonder if I should have sought out the audio as I did with the previous title? Or perhaps I should have saved it for the creepy time of year? Despite any niggles I might have with this second book, I still heartily recommend it to fans of the first.

See my Night Watcher review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thank you to Grand Central and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel Hanes · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading last year’s “Night Watcher” by this author (which I loved), I was super excited to dive into this book. I am happy to say that I was not disappointed by this newest release. Once again, I found the setting to be very atmospheric and creepy. I also enjoyed the POV’s we got from the two sisters of Imogen and Amelia.

This story begins with Imogen Bly, returning back to her childhood home in Lake Blair to clean out her mother’s home. In returning to her childhood home, her sister Amelia, will meet her there to begin packing up the many belongings that were left behind after her mother’s recent death. Once home, old memories resurface, as well as the reconnecting with old neighbors.

As Imogen is often left in her mother’s home alone to pack, she begins to hear strange noises, and often feels as if she is being watched. Is Imogen imagining things? And was her mother experiencing the same thoughts?

While back home in Lake Blair, Imogen and Amelia are informed of a local woman who has been missing for a year. This makes Imogen feel even more uneasy being back home, and she is not comfortable being around any of her neighbors. Also, the longer Imogen stays at her mother’s house, the more she questions how her mother really died.

I really enjoyed the secluded, quiet, creepy atmosphere of being at the lake house. I could picture it perfectly in my mind, and that made it so much more suspenseful. Everything tied up nicely at the end (if not a bit predictable), but still made for an enjoyable read. I say add this book to your list, as I’m already looking forward to this author’s next book already!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author for a DRC of this book, in which I had the pleasure of reading for an honest opinion.
Publication date: July 7, 2026
Genre~ General Fiction (adult), Mystery & Thrillers

[suspenseisthrillingme · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

A dark and twisted but also all-too realistic tale of slow-building suspense, The Season of Sinking had me under its thrall from the first dread-infused scene. And oh how it went off the rails. With oodles of long-buried secrets and a dark history just waiting to be unraveled by our root-for-able amateur sleuth, it was all I could do to hold on for dear life as I inhaled this novel in one single go. I mean, how could I possibly stop reading as the tension mounted and the creeping sense of paranoia and fear doubled and tripled? It would be no exaggeration at all to say that I felt as uneasy as the characters themselves as I read this spine-chilling tale. Then again, the sinister atmosphere wasn’t the only winning piece of Woolsoncroft’s sophomore novel. After all, the suspense level and the acute emotional depth balanced each other out perfectly despite ending on a high of do-or-die, adrenaline-fueled action.

So what exactly made it so hard-hitting? Well, in addition to the multiple mysteries that dove into the heart of small-town dynamics and dark family secrets, the handful of raw, true-to-life characters with believable feelings and motives made the whole thing seem even more real. Utilizing them as the lens by which we viewed the dueling stories of a missing woman and a suspicious death, and the whole thing came alive with quite the immersive feel. Don’t get me wrong, in comparison to Night Watcher, this book felt considerably slower. More slow-burning suspense than fast-paced thriller, it still captured an atmospheric vibe straight out of this author’s debut. So if you love strong character work, eerie settings, and scenes that make you feel all of the feels, be sure to grab this book now. After all, I was reading with the lights on even as I cried honest-to-goodness tears. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Read if you love:
- Realistic characters
- A haunting atmosphere
- Amateur sleuths
- Slow-building suspense
- Nonstop dread
- Long-buried secrets
- Multiple POVs
- Stories about twins
- Second-chance romances
- Unreliable memories
- Sinister vibes
- Small-town settings

SYNOPSIS:

When Imogen Bly's mother suddenly passes away, she leaves her Seattle apartment and returns to Lake Blair—the picturesque Washington town where she grew up. After Imogen and her twin sister Amelia arrive, ready to pack up their mother's home, strange things begin to happen, reminding Imogen of her long held feelings of dread surrounding her hometown.

Imogen enlists the help of her first crush, next-door neighbor Rory, to uncover the truth about her mother's death and the traumatic event she experienced as a child. But is the boy who got away really the man with something to hide? Or is the suspicious neighbor in the house across the lake behind it all?

When Imogen’s own family’s tragedies lead her to question the disappearance of a local young woman the previous year, her persistent unease becomes terrifyingly real and suddenly nowhere feels safe…

Thank you Daphne Woolsoncroft, Grand Central Publishing, and Novel Suspects for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: July 7, 2026

Content warning: death of a parent, grief, stalking, missing person, abandonment, domestic abuse, violence, sexual harassment, toxic relationship, kidnapping, confinement, murder, mention of: drug overdose

[Dutchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some secrets within the Bly household. There is no doubt about it.

After the recent death of their mother, Imogen and her twin sister, Amelia, head back to their childhood home to pack up everything. While the death was ruled accidental, Imogen starts to believe that may not be the case. The more she looks into her mother’s death, the more she begins to have an uneasy feeling that someone is constantly watching her. She is also plagued by nightmares that she has had since she was a child. The quicker she can finish packing up her mother‘s house and get back to her normal life, the better.

The first 3/4 of the book were definitely creepy. You can feel the unease along with Imogen as she is constantly looking over her shoulder. I liked how the main focus was from her point of view, with Amelia‘s only scattered in infrequently. It helped keep the momentum going without constantly shifting back and forth.

As for the ending …I’m a little unsure of how I felt about it. Everything was resolved, which was a positive, but for the who and why, I felt was a wee bit out there. I think it will come down to personal preference on how you feel about it.

If you’re looking for a creepy thriller with chapters that leave you wanting to continue on late into the evening, this is that book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5-stars rounded up**

The Season of Sinking is the latest release from Daphne Woolsoncroft, author of the gripping 2025-Thriller, Night Watcher. This novel features one of my favorite tropes, where an MC returns to their hometown after a long time away and ends up investigating some sort of mystery.



In this story, we're actually following twin sisters, Imogen and Amelia. The women return to their small hometown of Blair, Washington, after their mother suddenly passes.

They return to pack up her house and settle the estate, but Imogen is bothered by the circumstances of her death, and believes foul play could be possible.



The details of the night her mother died, they just don't make sense to Imogen, and she can't quite let it rest. Additionally, strange things start happening around the house, and that along with her Mom's mysterious death, having Imogen's spidey senses pinging off like crazy.

With the help of the cute boy next door, Rory, Imogen begins digging deeper into what happened to her Mom. There are also some other black spots in Imogen's memory regarding her past, and she starts digging around there too.

We do get Amelia's perspective as well, but Imogen is definitely the driving force behind this narrative. She's unsettled by everything going on, and definitely takes a very active role trying to clear up her questions.



As many of us know, sometimes it's best to leave the past in the past, but also, sometimes it comes to get you whether you're ready or not. Imogen may get her answers, but at what costs?

After really enjoying Woolsoncroft's last novel, Night Watcher, I was excited to get to this one, and though it wasn't quite as successful for me as her 1st-novel was, I still feel it was quite entertaining and well-written.

Night Watcher played into some of my own personal fears, and I did love the podcast element of that one. This one though was still intriguing. I like how Woolsoncroft builds up the tension in her stories, and the way she reveals different layers to her mysteries.



I also loved the Pacific Northwest setting. This one is set on a lake, and the landscape and place felt like such a pivotal part to the story. It was easy to envision and I felt like the mood of the place was a good match for the story being told.

Overall, though this wasn't the strongest fit for me as far as the content went, I still think it's a great read. The characters are fantastic, particularly Imogen, and the writing is fluid and engaging.

I would definitely recommend this to Mystery Thriller fans, particularly if you like atmospheric stories with characters digging into their own pasts. I think this is a great pick for Summer reading as well; easily consumable in a weekend, or while you're on vacation.



Thank you so much to the publisher, Grand Central Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm excited to see what Woolsoncroft writes next!

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Utterly readable, but amnesia will always be my most hated plot device - especially for horror and thriller books. 

After their mother dies in a seemingly accidental drowning, twin sisters return to the small, picturesque town of Lake Blair, Washington to pack up their childhood home. 
However, one sister refuses to accept that their mother's death was a simple accident and begins to suspect foul play.

The writing style is addicting. It relies on creeping dread rather than shock and horror.

The Pacific Northwest was a great setting for a thriller, especially when paired with a city-girl having to return home to repressed childhood memories. Even if that was one of my biggest complaints.

Remembering the past or withholding information that is essential to the story always frustrates me. It might add to the suspense, but it feels like such a cheap and easy fix to the climax and resolution. 

Like her debut book, you get creepy interludes from the stalker which adds that eerie element. However, I don’t think the sisters’ POVs were fleshed out enough. They had distinct personalities, but separately weren’t used to their full potential. 

Considering the slow build-up, the climax was very sudden and the ending VERY abrupt. 

This was an unputdownable audiobook with gripping writing and decent character work compared to most one-dimensional (usually annoying) thriller stereotypes. However, the plot itself lacked satisfaction. 

Bookstagram
Tiktok

[Tini · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow, eerie descent into dark waters.

When Imogen Bly's mother dies unexpectedly, she returns to Lake Blair, the picturesque Washington town she hasn't called home in years. Alongside her twin sister, Amelia, she plans to sort through her mother's belongings and leave again as quickly as possible. But almost immediately, strange things begin to happen, stirring up old feelings of dread and forcing Imogen to confront the traumatic event that has haunted her since childhood. Soon, Imogen finds herself drawn into a mystery that may be far closer to home than she ever imagined.

Daphne Woolsoncroft's sophomore thriller was positively creepy and set up excellently, making for a great, if deeply eerie, read. The familiar trope of a woman returning to her small hometown and getting caught up in a mystery is executed really well here and never felt overly familiar or stale.

The setting deserves special mention: the Pacific Northwest already lends itself perfectly to atmospheric thrillers, and placing the story on a lake only amplifies the sense of isolation and foreboding. This feels like the perfect autumn read to match its moody, unsettling atmosphere, though it's equally captivating during the summer months when you have the time to devour it in one sitting - or let it keep you up at night.

The novel switches between the perspectives of Imogen, her twin sister Amelia, and, occasionally, an unnamed male stalker, but Imogen is very much the heart of the story, and I loved the way she was portrayed. She's flawed, vulnerable, and easy to root for, and her growing unease is rendered beautifully. Only her rekindled relationship with her first crush didn't quite convince me, perhaps because it felt rushed despite their childhood connection.

For most of the novel, this was exactly my kind of thriller: slow-burning, foreboding, and rich in atmosphere. The mystery itself is engaging, and the character work is strong enough that even familiar elements don't feel overly derivative. My only real reservation lies with the ending, which veers into more over-the-top territory than I personally would have liked. The carefully cultivated dread of the novel's first half suddenly kicks into overdrive, and the escalation felt a touch too much for me after such a restrained and atmospheric build-up.

Still, that's a relatively minor complaint in what was otherwise an immensely compelling read. With its wonderfully eerie setting, strong characterization, and an intriguing mystery, The Season of Sinking kept me thoroughly hooked. And the sentence from which the novel draws its title? Perfection. No notes.

I highly enjoyed this sophomore novel and absolutely cannot wait to pick up Daphne Woolsoncroft's debut.

Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

"The Season of Sinking" was published on July 7, 2026, and is available now.

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

the setup…
Imogen Bly is returning to Blair, Washington, the place where she and her fraternal twin sister Amelia grew up. Both left for Seattle after high school but Imogen was the one who rarely returned. Now they’re both back to pack up their mother Alice’s house on Lake Blair. She inexplicably died two weeks ago and Imogen dreads not only the grief she’ll have to face but the anxiety that drove her away. It’s not long after their arrival, Imogen can’t shake the feeling that she’s being watched and strange things begin to happen in the house. Run!

the heart of the story…
There’s a strong sense of atmosphere created from the start, picturesque and beautiful, but also something else. Imogen should have trusted her instincts because things got creepy right away and it wasn’t her imagination. I couldn’t shake the feeling and neither could she. But I knew something she didn’t…Imogen was being stalked. And, the nightmares she’s had since her childhood had to be meaningful.

the narration…
Natalie Van Sistine was wonderful at voicing Imogen’s anxiety, in contrast to Amelia’s more sensible attitude. She certainly brought the tension in her storytelling, too.

the bottom line…
I did a read/listen combination, which helped a lot in going back to check stuff. It’s a seriously creepy story high on atmosphere and suspicions of the other occupants in that cul-de-sac. While I got a lot right, I had no idea how it was being pulled off and that kept me riveted. The climatic ending was superb. I loved the debut novel and now Woolsoncroft is two for two with me.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for my complimentary hardcover. All opinions are my own.)

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twin sisters Imogen and Amelia return to their hometown after the unexpected death of their mother to go through her house and decide what to keep, sell, and throw out.
It appeared that their mother had drowned, but things didn’t quite add up as she was a healthy and active 54-year-old who had spent most of her life out on the lake behind her home.
Convinced that there was foul play, Imogen and Amelia start talking to more locals, kind of becoming amateur detectives.

This book really sucked me in right from the beginning, which is something that I always hope for, particularly in a mystery or thriller.
I stayed up until 2AM reading (which I paid for today) because I could not put it down!

It’s told in three POVs: Imogen, Amelia, and a male character whose identity we don’t know throughout most of the book. I kept guessing as to who I thought he was, and then there would be another twist proving me wrong.
I just called him The Stalker (it kind of reminded me of the setup in Jamie Day’s book, Beach Thriller).
I did end up figuring out who he was, but only shortly before it was revealed in the book.

I read this in June, but I think that it may be better enjoyed in October, while sipping a pumpkin spice latte and getting ready for Halloween (especially if you live in the Pacific Northwest).

The only drawback for me personally is that this book was a reminder that as an only child with divorced parents, I’m going to have to go through that house sorting process twice, without the support of a sibling.

This was an enjoyable read and now I want to read Daphne Woolsoncroft’s other book, Night Watcher!

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC.

[cyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was so good and such a page turner. I really enjoyed Nightwatching by this author so I had high expectations going into this. I liked all of the different POVs and the stalker plotline really had me hooked. I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as her other novels but I still recommend. This would me for a perfect beach read if you’re looking for something a little more creepy.

[Kim McFall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advanced reader copy from NetGalley

I absolutely loved this one!

One of my favorite things about this book was the connection I felt with the characters. The author did an incredible job bringing them to life, and I truly felt like I was right there alongside them every step of the way.

I also really enjoyed the multiple POVs. Seeing the story unfold through each character's perspective added so much depth and allowed the mystery to unravel at the perfect pace. Every new chapter revealed just enough to keep me guessing, and I found myself suspicious of almost everyone.

This book is packed with mystery, suspense, a touch of romance, and an underlying creepy atmosphere that kept me completely hooked. I started reading it last night and finished it today because I simply couldn't put it down.

This is the second book I've read by this author, and I've loved both. She's officially become an auto-buy author for me, and I can't wait to see what she writes next!

[Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look 👀 at this cover!!! 😍 All the creepy vibes!! This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year!! Thank you @grandcentralpub #partner for the absolutely gorgeous gifted copy!! 🥰🫶

It should come as no surprise that @daphne.woolsoncroft wrote another page turner that I couldn’t put down!! So atmospheric!! It literally gave me chills. 🥶

When Imogen returns back to Lake Blair.. it’s like the past is catching back up with her. Her mom who is an avid swimmer 🏊 has just drowned in the lake. Was it REALLY an accident??? Or was there more to this story. 🥺

Holy creepy stalker vibes!! Who is the guy across the lake?? It really is like Imogen has moved on.. but the small lake community has stood still…. 😬 He is staring across the lake… like he always has.🫣

The whole lake atmosphere.. the “stalker “… had me on edge the ENTIRE book. I couldn’t relax….which is EXACTLY how I want my thrillers to make me feel. Lock 🔐 the doors!! I warned you. 😉

This is exactly what I needed!! @daphne.woolsoncroft is definitely a must read author for me! I already knew that as her last book made my top 5 last year! Just saying…

[Lynn Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one creepy goosebumpy book. It’s a dark rainy season in the PNW where twin sisters go back to pack up mom’s house after her untimely death by drowning. Something just feels off. One sister with a recurring nightmare. One man with a telescope into their house. A break in at the house. A girl missing from the same city for a year now. The end was too neatly packed up for me but the ride getting there was fantastic.

[Ten Cats Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trigger! DV

Me on This Book in Eight Ironic English Words: Dark twist on DV domestic violence, child style 😬

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5 🔼

"People are deceiving. The brightest smiles can hide the darkest truths." p109

In Short: So I like this one, it has a decent execution and a good concept. I think the big twist was pretty great. I don't think I put it all together, even subconsciously.

I was genuinely shocked, and not because it didn't make sense, but because it was soooo messed up lol. It subverts the class abuse trope power dynamic. Good story stuff.

I'm not going to tear this book up, but I have to say that pacing is critical to a book's success. This book was slow and hot for two thirds of the book, and then it was chaotic and confusing at the end. That big change in style lost me.

Also, for anyone who hasn't heard me say it before, multiple first person narrators is hard to pull off unless the author can make them sound distinctive.

Also, "sick" people aren't necessarily violent. Violent people are violent. (Just a little casual ableism there.)

I recommend this one to fans of Nicole W. Ihli and abduction plots.

Preread: Honestly, the author's trigger warning about stalking, in which she defines it as a violent crime, really makes me wonder what readers in general think of stalking. And gendered and sexualized violence, more widely.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc!📚

"Content Warnings:"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
ableism, ableist language, abduction, false imprisonment, stalking, DV,

[Nikki Lee (Nikkileethrillseeker) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

RTC

[DC Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Season of Sinking was sort of this cozy suspense thriller, not actually cozy, but more like the nostalgic feeling of binging classic thriller films during a rainy day stuck at home. The setting felt foggy, rainy, overcast. The lake setting, the anonymous third pov, all of it worked for me in this classic thriller that made me feel on edge. I do think that we spent a little to much time with the characters reflecting and wished I could’ve gotten more close calls and run ins with the mysterious stalker. But overall this was a fun read! Thanks again for the ARC 🫶

[Celeste | bookrecs_by_celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this one pretty blind after loving this authors debut which was a 5 star read for me. This was okay! I think I had a high expectations going in even with going in blindly. I feel like a lot was happening and nothing was happening all at the same time. This seemed to be more of a mystery than a thriller to me but it was still solid. Some things just felt unanswered and abrupt in the end. I wanted more.

After the death of their mother twins Imogen and Amelia are brought back to their hometown where the past seeps into their present.

Thank you GCP and NetGalley for my arc copy. All opinions are my own.

[Emily Riser · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

I was not overly impressed with this one. I went into it with high hopes, thinking it was going to be a great summer mystery/thriller because it centers around a drowning at a lake. And there is nothing I love more than a thriller at a lake in the summer. I started reading it and once I was like 30% in I just felt like nothing was happening. It was far too slow for me. It picked up slightly at the end but not enough to save it for me. I didn't really connect with the characters either which also made it hard for me to care about their story.

There was a pretty dark twist towards the end that I liked and I wish we would have gotten to that sooner so we could dive a little deeper into it. I thought it wrapped up way to quickly and I wanted more from it.

[Cayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was a fun one! I loved Night Watcher by Daphne so I knew I had to read this one too.

I read it super quick and it definitely was a fast paced book. I love that it had short chapters as well which made it go by so quickly for me. I love that this story had me guessing a lot on who was "stalking" Imogen. There were times I thought I had it down only to find out I was wrong. I did like the use of the two POV's, well actually 3 if you include "the stalker" as well in parts of it but you mostly got Imogen and Amelia's POVS. You get this creepy feeling as you read this book once you hear about someone watching you from afar. Nobody likes that feeling and that's definitely what you will get out of this story.

Thank you again to Grand Central Publishing for having sent me this #gifted copy of The Season of Sinking. Everyone definitely needs to check this one out.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 🌟

This was a good, decent read for me. The author really excelled in a few areas, especially the writing and the setting. They absolutely nailed the small-town atmosphere and the constant sense of uneasiness that lingered throughout the story. The writing also worked really well for me, even if it felt a bit too wordy at times.

What didn't work for me were the characters and the mystery.

The characters felt extremely flat, and I absolutely did not enjoy the insta-love subplot. It came out of nowhere and constantly pulled me away from the actual plot. I was also disappointed by the relationship between the two sisters. It just wasn't IT. Their bond felt very superficial, and I kept hoping the author would explore their relationship in more depth.

The beginning was really strong, but as the story progressed, it gradually went downhill for me. The mystery itself wasn't intriguing enough to keep me invested, and most of the revelations felt pretty ehh. The obsession aspect wasn't even well-defined; in fact, it felt completely random.

Overall, I have pretty mixed feelings about this one, but I still enjoyed it enough. I'd definitely be open to picking up more books by this author in the future.

[Elle G. Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book would be an easy 5 star read for me as it has all the things I like in a thriller: buried memories that we have to figure out right alongside the characters, a mysterious death of a family member that at first looks accidental but we know better, and a town with secrets! Even better? It’s set on a lake in the pacific northwest! All of this sounds right up my alley and usually it is. But I’m not sure how I felt about these characters. I don’t know what it was, but they just felt inauthentic and like they were placed in the story but didn’t really fit it. I also wasn’t all that blown away by “twist”. It seemed obvious given the fact that the author’s note at the beginning of the book almost spoils it for you.

Regardless of my feelings though I do think the book is solid and I know many readers will love it. So, I recommend check it out for yourself!

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐

[Justinstaysreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was already obsessed with Daphne Woolencroft after her debut, so getting an ARC of The Season of Sinking from NetGalley had me way too excited—and it really delivered.

This book is dark, gritty, and unsettling in the best way. The villain is genuinely deranged in that “this is getting worse but I can’t stop reading” way. The mystery is also super well structured, unfolding piece by piece in a really satisfying way.

Everything feels intentional, like it all circles back as things start to sink in (the title is so on point once you finish it).

Moody, addictive, and sharply written without being overdone.

Easy 4 ⭐️ . Thanks NetGalley — out July 2026.

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy moly did this book keep my interest! I could not put it down - solid thriller. Did I figure something’s out, yes but it was a good one!

[Full of Lit · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this slow burn thriller we have a set of twins who have just lost their mom and are tasked with cleaning out her house. As the reader you’re aware that something terrible happened to one of the twins years ago but you have no idea what it is. A side plot with a missing girl is going on, and early on you know someone is watching one of the twins. Obviously these things have to tie together, you’re just not sure how.

I love a slow burn, tension filled thriller but this one didn’t achieve that in my opinion due to the dialogue.

There was a lot of potential with the plot but overall I think it was lacking that polish I expect to see in a book.

I truly wanted to love this one but it ultimately missed the mark for me.

Thank you to the author and Grand Central Publishing for my gifted copy.

[Kailey (kmc_reads)]

Got to 50% and was just bored. Interesting premise but nothing was really happening.

[Hannah | Reading Under Covers · Rating 4 out of 5]

"How can I chase a ghost I can't see?"

If the Bly sisters returning to their PNW hometown of Lake Blair to sort through their late mother's things doesn't immediately scream "atmospheric" to you, then maybe this book isn't for you!

My goodness, THE SEASON OF SINKING was absolutely loaded with atmosphere as we find ourselves on a lake in a small town in Washington as twins, Imogen and Amelia find themselves back at their childhood home after the very sudden passing of their mother.

OBVIOUSLY, secrets are plentiful and, with the anniversary of a local woman gone missing approaching, everyone is on edge and unsure who on their little lake can be trusted.

This story has so much heart in it and covers an immense amount of ground when it comes to all the layers woven into the plot and the histories of our main characters. It truly felt like everyone had a secret and it was easy to feel like an outsider much like Imogen and Amelia did after so much time away.

Honestly, such an enjoyable and immersive thriller that I couldn't recommend more!

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for my copy for review!

[Tracy Bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 STARS — The Season of Sinking

The Season of Sinking is the newest thriller from this author, and it was such a great, twisty story!

Twin sisters return to their hometown after their mother passes away to settle her estate. Her death has been ruled an accident, but the sisters aren’t convinced. As they start asking questions, they uncover years of small-town secrets and quickly realize there was much more going on in their mother’s life than they ever knew.

Determined to find out what really happened, they keep digging—and what they uncover is much bigger than the truth surrounding their mother’s death. It’s a discovery that will change both of their lives forever.

I loved the small-town setting, the family secrets, and the mystery surrounding their mother’s death. There were plenty of twists and revelations that kept me turning the pages and wondering what they would uncover next.

A really enjoyable thriller and a solid 4 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐