Adrift

I've read a few of Will Dean's books with The Last Thing to Burn being my favourite ... that is, until now.

Adrift is not his usual thriller style. While still intense and a page-turner, Adrift is, at times, a deeply uncomfortable story that gives readers a bird's eye view into a toxic household where a mother and her son are at the hands of their manipulative and narcissistic husband/father.

Dysfunctional with a capital D!: The story centres around Drew, Peggy and their 14-year-old son Samson. Sam, a scrawny redhead, is bullied at school but at the end of the school day, he returns to the family's houseboat where the emotional abuse is even worse. At the mercy of his overbearing father, Sam and his mother Peggy live in a state of constant fear, volatility and isolation.

There were some scenes in this book that were hard to read, but I appreciated that the author didn't soften the blow of the emotional abuse. Dean tackles very disturbing, toxic behaviours and shows their impact on generations of a family and how abuse can become someone's 'normal'. 

Drew is a character who could give a Master class in gaslighting, emotional abuse and creating toxic, isolating environments and I hated him. I HATED him to my very core. On the flip side, I was rooting for Peggy and Sam to find a way to get out from under Drew's suffocating power and irrational paranoia.

This is a quietly intense and deeply emotional read that will keep readers riveted. The topics addressed will create interesting discussion, making it a great pick for book clubs.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Author: Will Dean

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Type and Source: hardcover from public library

Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books

First Published: February 17, 2026

Read: June 22-26, 2026

Book Description from GoodReads: The author of the “master class in suspense” (Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling 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.

With Will Dean’s signature “well-drawn characters and excellent prose” (Sarah Pearse, New York Times bestselling author), Adrift is gripping exploration of the ties that bind when everything spirals out of control.