Adrift
The isolated peace of a canal boat promises a fresh start for aspiring writers Peggy and Drew, along with their fourteen-year-old son, Samson. Peggy works tirelessly to keep her struggling family afloat, even as Samson faces relentless bullying, a stark reminder of their precarious existence.
But as Peggy's own writing begins to flourish, a dangerous resentment brews in Drew. He steers their home further and further from civilization, severing their ties to the outside world. With every mile of canal, the walls of their new life close in, revealing cracks in their marriage and the haunting echoes of generational patterns they desperately try to escape. When Drew's subtle manipulations escalate, Peggy finds herself adrift in a nightmare of his making, setting in motion a chain of events that will shatter everything she knows.
- Peggy - Drew’s wife, volunteer at the library
- Drew (Andrew) - Peggy’s husband
- Samson - Peggy and Drew’s son, 14
- Mr. Turner (Jeff) - Drew’s neighbor
- Amber - Mr. Turner’s Jack Russell Terrier
- Dennis - Head of Lower School
- Phoenix - Mr. Turner’s nephew
- Ruth - Peggy’s mother
- Mrs. Appleby - Librarian
- Paul - Samson’s friend
- When Andrew was fifteen, he burned his parents alive while they were sleeping
- Part I
- Drew is writing a novel.
- Drew constantly mentally and emotionally abuses Peggy and Samson while depriving them of basic necessities like adequate food and running water.
- Peggy is secretly writing her own book.
- Ruth committed suicide before Samson was born.
- Samson is bullied at school.
- Samson helps out Mr. Turner several days a week and enjoys his company and friendliness.
- Drew gets upset when he finds out Peggy had been talking to a male neighbor about fixing their broken fridge.
- Drew starts moving the boat down the canal away from civilization.
- Mr. Turner moves his boat near Drew’s boat.
- Peggy pawns her mother’s gold necklace to pay for postage to send her manuscript to a publisher.
- Samson finds Mr. Turner dead in the water.
- Drew allows Samson to keep Amber.
- Drew moves the boat further down the canal after finding out Peggy invited a detective onboard when he came to inquire about Mr. Turner.
- Peggy starts misplacing her jewelry.
- The publisher offers Peggy a small contract.
- Amber is found dead.
- Peggy is found unresponsive in the bathtub next to an empty bottle of pills.
- Part II
- Peggy wakes up in the hospital and is put on a psychiatric hold.
- Peggy does not recall swallowing any pills.
- Samson wants to visit Peggy but Drew says the hospital won’t allow visitors but it’s not true.
- Phoenix moves onto Mr. Turner’s boat and moves it next to Drew’s boat.
- Phoenix tells Samson that Mr. Turner liked him a lot and asked Phoenix to look out for him.
- Part III
- Peggy is discharged and returns home.
- Peggy is going to use the money from her book deal to run away with Samson.
- Drew teaches Samson how to deal with his bullies.
- Drew pawns Samson Walkman.
- Drew tells Peggy that she told him to deal with the book people while she was in the hospital and he ended up killing the book deal.
- Peggy gets an interview for a paid position at another library, but when she arrives she finds out Drew called and cancelled it.
- Peggy finds all her missing jewelry under a floorboard in the bathroom.
- Samson stole it because he was afraid Peggy would pawn it and use the money to run away.
- Peggy finds a eulogy about herself in Drew’s desk, written as if she had taken her own life, and worries Drew is planning to kill her.
- Peggy insists she is taking Samson and leaving, but Drew convinces her to give him twenty-four hours, and she agrees.
- The next night Drew tells Peggy that Ruth didn’t kill herself, he killed her.
- Drew starts choking Peggy to death with a belt, but Samson walks in and smashes Drew in the head with an old writing trophy, killing him.
- Phoenix shows up and insists on taking the blame, claiming he walked in, saw Drew strangling Peggy and killed him.
- Phoenix reveals he only has a month left to live and would be happy to free Samson from the responsibility of confessing to killing Drew.
- Epilogue: Peggy gets a paid job at the library.
- Peggy and Samson move in with Dennis who treats them both well.
- Peggy writes two novels.
- Samson leaves for college.
This book is a heartbreaking story about the different forms abuse can take and the impact it has on everyone involved.
The story is told in the present tense and switches between Peggy and Samson’s points of view. I was very invested in both of these characters, but especially Peggy, who felt more trapped in her situation than Samson. The suspense steadily builds throughout the book as things get worse and worse for Peggy and Samson, and I found myself constantly wondering what would happen next.
This is a deeply emotional story, and there were several moments that completely broke my heart. Will Dean’s writing is beautiful and brings this tragic reality to life in a way that made the characters’ experiences feel very real.
By the end, I felt more emotionally drained than thrilled, but I mean that in the best way. The ending worked for me, and I was glad the story wrapped up the way it did. This isn’t the book I’d recommend to someone looking for a fast-paced, twist-filled thriller, but if you want a suspenseful story that really makes you feel something, this one is well worth reading.
If you like emotional suspense, dual perspectives, and tragic family stories, then you will enjoy this book.
- Mr. Turner - Dead - Killed by Drew
- Amber - Dead - Poisoned by Drew
- Drew - Dead - Killed by Samson
- Samson - Alive - Going to college
- Peggy - Alive - In a relationship with Dennis
- Phoenix - Dead - Unspecified illness
- Suicide
- Bullying
- Mental and emotional abuse
- Murder
- Fire
- Self harm
- Animal death
- Gaslighting
ISBN: 9781668080054
Publication Date: February 17, 2026
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.
