Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Drowning Girls  By  cover art

The Drowning Girls

By: Paula Treick DeBoard
Narrated by: David Atlas,Amy McFadden
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $25.00

Buy for $25.00

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Liz McGinnis never imagined herself living in a luxurious gated community like The Palms. Ever since she and her family moved in, she's felt like an outsider amongst the Stepford-like wives and their obnoxiously spoiled children. Still, she's determined to make it work - if not for herself, then for her husband, Phil, who landed them this lavish home in the first place, and for her daughter, Danielle, who's about to enter high school.

Yet underneath the glossy veneer of The Palms, life is far from idyllic. In a place where reputation is everything, Liz soon discovers that even the friendliest residents can't be trusted - and almost everyone has secrets they'd do anything to protect. So when the gorgeous girl next door befriends Danielle, Liz can't help but find sophisticated Kelsey's interest in her shy and slightly nerdy daughter a bit suspicious.

But while Kelsey quickly becomes a fixture in the McGinnis home, Liz's relationships with both Danielle and Phil grow strained. Now even her own family seems to be hiding things, and it's not long before their dream of living the high life quickly spirals out of control....

©2016 Paula Treick DeBoard (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

What listeners say about The Drowning Girls

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    158
  • 4 Stars
    179
  • 3 Stars
    89
  • 2 Stars
    30
  • 1 Stars
    15
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    237
  • 4 Stars
    129
  • 3 Stars
    46
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    15
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    144
  • 4 Stars
    149
  • 3 Stars
    95
  • 2 Stars
    31
  • 1 Stars
    19

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Did the author run out of paper?

Very very annoying to get through an entire novel and then right at the end - wait...there WAS no ending. The book just stopped. HATE a non-ending. Lazy on the author's part!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gone Girl & Girl on the Train on steroids!

What did you love best about The Drowning Girls?

I absolutely loved that it drug you in from the very first second you started listening and kept you diving deeper and deeper until you are right there in the last scene.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Phil was by far my favorite. His accent, demeanor, loyalty, work ethic, family values really made me love him from the very beginning. You also start to really feel for him even though you realize that if he had made a couple different choices and communicated with his wife it would have made it easier on him, but since he is so likable, it is very easy to start justifying why it was ok.

What about David Atlas and Amy McFadden ’s performance did you like?

They were absolutely, positively perfect for this book especially David Atlas. His accent was delicious!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely!!!

Any additional comments?

Love, love, loved this book. It captivated my attention from the very start and I just could not stop listening.

The story is one that will really make you think how far would someone have to push you and your family before you would commit murder. Of course, all of us would say, never, but just take a listen to this story and see what you answer to that question is once you are finished.

I loved all the characters especially the husband with the Australian accent. The wife is likable too, but there were definitely moments throughout the story that I was like just listen and believe in your husband.

If you enjoyed Gone Girl, Girl on the Train, and Pretty girls, you will definitely enjoy this gem. I actually may have liked it better than the first two I listed.

For you audible listeners, this was the BEST narrated book I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. You could visualize the characters so vividly and their accents were absolutely perfection and not at all annoying.

This may be worth a re-read in print form.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Intriguing until abrupt, unfinished ending

The book had a nice flow bouncing back and forth between 2015 and 2015, building up to the main event.
The story itself was good, twisty, somewhat predictable, but still a fun quick read.
I really enjoyed the characters. I wish the author had delved into Liz, the main character a bit more. As well as a few of the neighbors.
The biggest let, and the reason for so few stars, was the jolted ending. It was as if the author just couldn't figure out how to end it. One or two cliffhangers are fine, but this left the entire story unresolved. That's was a huge disappointment. I wouldn't recommend this book for that reason.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing Book

I loved this book so much. My only complaint is how Liz parents Danielle. I can't stand the whiney teenager that doesn't get disciplined. But other then that, Liz, Phil and Kelsey made for an amazing story. The author points out something amazing for men in these situations and it's disheartening to realize they'll always be in a lose-lose situation.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Clever and addictive, with amazing narration

This is one of those rare audiobooks that takes an already-great book and makes it completely awesome by pairing it with the perfect narrators. In particular, I loved the female narrator Amy McFadden.

The writing is smart and insightful, the plot refreshingly unique. It did end fairly abruptly, leaving many loose ends untied which made me wonder if there’s going to be a sequel.

I also was left wanting more insights into Kelsey’s character - what makes her tick, why she does the things she does in the book. All the other characters including Liz, Phil, and Danielle are more nuanced, but Kelsey seems a bit 2-dimensional. I can only assume that the author is planning to answer all these questions and tie up the loose ends in book 2.

Given the state of affairs the characters are left in at the end of the book, I’m not sure a sequel would necessarily be that appealing. But I’m sure many fans of this audiobook - myself included - will be eager to hear more from both the author and narrator, so we’d get it anyway.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Engaging story!!!!

Paula did not disappoint! Thoroughly good! Ridiculously engaging...Worth the wait for the release date!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Juicy Drama

I am very picky about narrators. The last few books I listened to, I hated the narration...and have stopped the book after a few chapters.
This was a breath of fresh air. I really enjoyed both narrators
The story is sneaky, twisted, and full of confusion for the characters. I really enjoyed it.
Liz, her husband Phil, and daughter Danielle move into a fancy gate community. The people who live there are shallow and seem to believe the whole world revolves around them and their little gated world. Liz and Phil are not wealthy, so they end up getting into the ritzy community because Phil gets a job there. He is something of a community manager.
Little fires pop up around the neighborhood, and in families.
I do not want to give any spoilers away, so I will not get into much detail.
I really enjoyed the novel, however I kept getting frustrated at Phil. If he would have just told his wife the truth... a lot of hurt could have been avoided.
If you are looking for a great flowing book, with deceptive characters, drama, upheaval and juicy fun, this book is for you!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Waste of time and $

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I'm not sure. Anyone who likes characters who immediately trust the outsider rather than their family.

What do you think your next listen will be?

The Girls, by Emma Cline

What didn’t you like about David Atlas and Amy McFadden ’s performance?

She's great. David Atlas was ok, but I could clearly hear when he turned the page as well as when he drank something to clear his throat. Also, he was inconsistent with accents.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I liked the writing, it was the plot that irked me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun and mysterious!

Great book! Not your typical mystery tied up with a bow at the end. I liked how most of the characters had flaws and this author was not afraid to show them. Good narration except maybe the female's version of a male voice with an accent could use some work - didn't affect the story tho so I didn't mind. I rated this book high maybe because I've listened to some real duds lately and I was glad to find one I wanted to finish!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Most annoying Kardashian voice ever!

The narrator had the most annoying, whiny voice I've ever heard. The end of the story sucked too--there was no closure. It just ended. Weird.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful