They Drown Our Daughters by Katrina Monroe

Available now

CW: child abuse, parental death, suicide, drowning

Mourning the end of her marriage, Meredith comes back to the one place she never wanted to return. Cape Disappointment is haunted by the tragedy her family suffered generations ago, and by the animosity of the townspeople who have made their money on the tourists brought in by the ghost that haunts the water. Adding to Meredith’s already stressful life, her mother appears to be suffering from alzheimer’s and is caught up in delusions about the dangers of the water. Convinced the ghost stories are real, Meredith’s mother is consumed by the need to keep her daughter and granddaughter safe at any cost.

This is a gorgeously written and compelling slow burn gothic mystery. Told through multiple points of view across history, we learn of the tragedy that has shaped Meredith’s family over several generations. Monroe weaves one of my favorite types of story: is it a ghost or is it a delusion? I was immediately invested in the characters and their continued survival. It’s incredibly atmospheric. Set on the Pacific coast, Monroe’s descriptions of the beaches, lightowers, and the character’s greatest threat-the ocean-leaves you feeling cold and damp throughout the entire story. Meredith, along with her other female ancestors, felt a palpable connection to the water and whether it was real or not, that connection ruled their daily lives. Adding to the mysterious and otherworldly feel are the characters with supposed magical knowledge and workings that are used to keep generations of the family safe. I really love a story with women who make charms and know the power of nature to fend off ghostly nonsense. It’s one of my favorite tropes.

This is a fabulous book that I flew through in two days and couldn’t wait to read more of it. It’s creepy, atmospheric, mysterious, and has wonderfully developed characters. Highly recommend this if you like generational stories, women with magic, dark family secrets, and complicated characters.

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