Adrift by Will Dean: A Psychological Thriller Novel

Last year, my friend Jenn recommended that I read The Last One by Will Dean. And luckily, it was available on Kindle Unlimited so I could check it out right away. It was a completely unique thriller unlike anything I had read before. And after it was done, I knew right away that I would want to read more of his work. Today’s review will not contain spoilers. So please keep reading for the rest of my Adrift by Will Dean book review.

And if you’re looking for more thriller recs, click here.

What is Adrift by Will Dean about?

The author of the “master class in suspense” (Shari Lapena, New York Timesbestselling author)The Chamber returns with a high-tension thriller about a family’s descent into darkness that is perfect for fans of Dennis Lehane and Lisa Jewell.

Peggy and Drew, both aspiring writers, move to an isolated canal boat with their fourteen-year-old son. Peggy is the glue that holds their family together, even as their son is bullied relentlessly for his physique and his family’s lack of money. But when Drew becomes frustrated by his wife’s sudden writing success, he moves their boat further and further from civilization.

With their increasing isolation, personal challenges become harder to ignore, even as they desperately try to break toxic generational patterns. But when Drew’s gaslighting becomes too much for Peggy to take, it sets off a catastrophic series of events. (from Amazon.com)

My Initial Thoughts

Adrift is another powerful read by Will Dean, the author of The Last One and The Chamber.

This book tells the story of a troubled family. The head of the family is Drew, a self proclaimed writer with grand delusions about what his life could be if everyone just did as he told them. His wife Peggy is his second in command. She doesn’t get to make decisions for herself and instead busies herself with making dinner every night and volunteering at the local library. And then there’s Sammy, their teenage son. Although he mostly chooses his mother’s side in arguments, he keeps quiet to stay on his father’s good side.

Doing what Drew says and staying quiet is one of the best ways to survive on their tiny houseboat.

The Beginning

I read the first couple of chapters of this book and then I paused. There was so much to take in. The story of Drew and Peggy Jenkins is a very sad one. How is a couple to survive when the manipulation of the man is too much for the woman to take? That’s something I worried about as I kept reading.

To Drew, the perceived threat is the outside world. He doesn’t want anyone or anything getting in the way of his way of life or his writing. But to his wife and son, the perceived threat is him.

The Middle

As the story progresses and Drew becomes more and more disenchanted with the outside world, he begins to sail their boat further and further from town. And that’s not good for Peggy and Samson, who need access to things like school and the library. It’s their only lifeline.

I feel that the author did a good job of writing Drew’s character. He was very manipulative, but also very fleshed out. I felt like he was a realistic portrayal of what can happen when mental illness is not addressed.

The End

I was a little disappointed in the ending. In the last Will Dean book I read (The Last One) there was an awesome twist. And so I kept waiting for something like that to happen. It’s okay that it didn’t, but it did let me down a little bit in the end. I probably shouldn’t have gotten my hopes so high.

It was still an enjoyable story though. Adrift by Will Dean is the kind of book you read when you want to escape for a while. His writing will grip you and transport you to another world.

In Conclusion

I thought this was a very good book. Peggy Jenkins was a great character to read about and it broke my heart every time her husband did her wrong. I can’t imagine what it’s like to live in a relationship like that. It felt like the way Will Dean wrote was very realistic.

The ending may not have been quite what I wanted, but that doesn’t take away from the intrigue of the story. If you’re looking for a psychological thriller where it’s not always evident what is going on, I would highly recommend this one. Will Dean has never disappointed me yet and I’m looking forward to catching up on more of his backlist.