First being introduced to Saratoga Schaefer through their fantastic debut novel Serial Killer Support Group followed by their incredible body horror Trad Wife, so needless to say The Last Time We Drowned was a must-read. Although this third novel is billed as a mystery thriller, the horror influences are ever present turning The Last Time We Drowned into a unique and gripping read.
Charlie Engels is broke and desperate when her bookstagram account lands her the offer of a lifetime: join Empress, a state-of-the-art yacht houseboat off the Florida Keys turned influencer paradise. Lucrative brand deals and a ready-made “sisterhood” of internet stars―it may not be Charlie’s dream job, but she knows she’d be a fool to turn it down.
It’s also the perfect distraction; Charlie’s eager to outrun her past and a staggering betrayal by her former best friend. Now, aboard Empress, Charlie is surrounded by dazzling women with their own baggage: the magnetic but ruthless leader, the spiraling fashion queen, the inseparable twins, the peacemaker with cracks in her confidence, and the memory of the influencer who Charlie is replacing. The same influencer who Charlie keeps seeing on board, even though the others insist she quit.
But when a hurricane traps the group at sea with their billionaire boss, the dream turns claustrophobic. Communications cut. Supplies dwindling. Old betrayals bubbling to the surface. Then the first body drops.
As paranoia mounts and alliances splinter, Charlie realizes the real danger isn’t the storm outside―it’s the deadly games being played below deck. And if she can’t outwit a killer, her past won’t be the only ghost that comes back to drown her.
Okay, The Last Time We Drowned is not a horror novel, let me just say that. But if the theme of social media influencing in Trad Wife struck a chord with you, then The Last Time We Drowned is going to be even more for you.
We get a locked-room, well boat at sea, thriller which features social media influencers in a mystery that had me quickly turning the page. Sometimes even when an author dabbles in another genre, their main genre seeps in and I was here for every moment. The reason I say there is a horror influence is the creeping sense of tension and dread I felt from Schaefer’s previous two novels. Not to focus too much on the horror of things, but social media influencing in general seems horrific.
Schaefer introduces us to a multilevel thriller with six influencers on a yacht at sea with the focus on our main character who doesn’t really seem to fit in. The more gradual first half of the novel sets the stage for the more fast-paced and thrilling second half filled with a few twists, turns, and redemption. Saratoga takes the book in directions and makes character decisions I didn’t expect which made the story even that much more satisfying.
You feel for Charlie as the book progresses, but also there are moments you want to hate the bookstagrammer (I won’t spoil this). However, the story wraps up with a truly satisfying ending that was a surprise to me when all is said and done.
The Last Time We Drowned is an electrifying addition to the thriller genre for Saratoga Schaefer. While the novel is deeply set in the mystery thriller genre, it has glimpses of horror I would come to expect from the author. Schaefer took chances, made satisfying decisions, and crafted a story that sets itself apart from the crowd.
The Last Time We Drowned hits bookstores everywhere on June 2, 2026 from Cosmo Reads. The audiobook is available for preorder via Libro.fm!
