A missing girl. A cult above the law. A truth buried in the desert. The Hannah Jacobs story continues.
With no other options, Hannah’s estranged mother pleads for her help in finding her missing stepdaughter, Emily. Last seen at the secluded Seven Day Saints compound in the desolate Utah border town of Echo Canyon.
Reluctant at first, Hannah agrees to take the case and soon discovers that Seven Day Saints are ruled by one man, Kenneth Pratt—a maniacal leader with absolute power over his followers and influence that makes him nearly untouchable by the law. Under his control, the community is plagued by violence, polygamy, forced marriage, and accounts of sexual abuse.
With the help of another investigator, a reporter, and a former member who barely escaped with her life, Hannah goes undercover in Echo Canyon, determined to find Emily and expose the dark secrets of Seven Day Saints.
Thanks to the author for this review copy!
There are some protagonists you read about… and then there are the ones you feel. Hannah Jacobs is firmly in the second category.
In The Fear of Drowning, S.C. Sterling delivers a character-driven psychological story that leans heavily into emotional realism, internal conflict, and the complicated architecture of identity. Hannah is sharp, opinionated, and willing to take risks — not reckless, but intentional. She doesn’t drift through the narrative; she chooses, and those choices carry weight. I love a woman who moves the story instead of being carried by it, and Hannah absolutely does that.
One of the most striking dynamics in the book is Hannah’s relationship with her distant, narcissistic mother. Sterling portrays this with uncomfortable precision — not melodramatic, not exaggerated, just painfully believable. The emotional push-pull, the subtle wounds, the long shadow of childhood — it all feels authentic, and it gives Hannah’s motivations real depth. This isn’t just backstory; it’s structural to who she is.
The supporting cast felt equally grounded. No cardboard personalities, no plot devices masquerading as people — just plausible, human characters who behave in ways that make sense within the emotional ecosystem of the story. That kind of realism is what allows the psychological tension to land.
And then… the cult.
Sterling absolutely nailed the tone, psychology, and quiet menace of the group and its leader. Nothing felt sensationalized; instead, it was controlled, believable, and chilling in a way that felt true. The manipulation, the atmosphere, the undercurrent of control — all very well executed. This was one of my favorite elements of the book because it never tipped into caricature. It stayed grounded, which made it far more unsettling.
The pacing is brisk — it’s a relatively short book that moves with purpose — but the final resolution came very quickly and felt a bit too neatly packaged for my taste. After such careful emotional and psychological layering, the sudden tightening of loose ends felt slightly jarring, almost like the story shifted into fast-forward. That being said, it didn’t diminish my overall enjoyment, but it did keep this from being a full 5-star read for me.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5 stars)
A compelling, character-driven story with strong emotional realism and an especially convincing portrayal of cult psychology. While this book can absolutely stand on its own, readers who start from the beginning of the series will gain deeper insight into Hannah — what shaped her, what drives her, and what makes her such a fascinating character. I enjoyed this enough that I plan to go back and read the first two books.
If you are a fan of character-focused psychological fiction, complex female leads, and emotionally layered storytelling, this book will absolutely land for you.
The Fear of Drowning is for you if you appreciate:
- Quiet psychological tension rather than explosive thrillers
- Stories about identity, autonomy, and emotional survival
- Realistic portrayals of narcissistic family dynamics
- Cult psychology presented with nuance rather than spectacle
- Strong female protagonists who are flawed, perceptive, and self-directed
Readers who enjoy authors like Gillian Flynn, Lisa Jewell, or Tarryn Fisher — where character psychology drives the tension — will feel right at home here.
Want your own copy? You can pick it up here.
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