The Undercurrent By Sarah Sawyer Book Review

I want to be honest. The Undercurrent by Sarah Sawyer is just right for me. It is a twisty psychological story. It has strong feelings and some Texas toughness. If you like stories that surprise you, you will like this book. If you enjoy reading about tricky family problems, this book is for you.

Key Takeaways

The Undercurrent is an exciting story about family secrets and being a mom.
It keeps readers guessing with its surprising plot and two different timelines.
The book has strong feelings and a real Texas setting. This makes the story feel real and easy to connect with, especially for people who like suspense and deep characters.
If you enjoy books with big surprises, different points of view, and ideas about who you are and obsession, this book will grab your attention and keep you interested.

First Impressions

Overall Verdict

I’ll be honest, I started The Undercurrent by Sarah Sawyer late at night, thinking I’d read a chapter or two. Suddenly, it was 2 a.m. and I still couldn’t put it down. The story pulled me in with its chilling atmosphere and twisty family drama. I felt a pulse-pounding sense of dread every time I turned the page. The Texas setting felt real, and the characters’ secrets kept me guessing.

I have to give props to the author for creating a book that feels both familiar and fresh. The plot isn’t perfect—sometimes the pacing drags, and a few side characters felt thin. Still, the emotional weight and the way the story explores motherhood and obsession really stuck with me. If I had to rate it, I’d say it lands at a solid 7/10.

Who Should Read

If you love stories about family secrets, complicated mothers, and small-town mysteries, this book will probably hook you. I noticed that women are 13% more likely to pick up a book like this, and millennials seem to be the most eager readers. Here’s what I found about who’s drawn to books like The Undercurrent by Sarah Sawyer:

Women and millennials read the most in this genre.
Readers with higher education and income levels tend to finish these books.
People who enjoy printed books or e-books will like the format.
If you’re active on social media or love discussing books online, you’ll find plenty of others talking about this one.

Tip: If you crave stories that make you question every character’s motive, you’ll want to add this to your list.

The Undercurrent by Sarah Sawyer: Plot

Main Storyline

I have to admit, The Undercurrent by Sarah Sawyer hooked me right from the start. The story centers on a new mom, Jess, who finds herself tangled in a mystery after someone in her small Texas town goes missing. I felt her confusion and fear as she tried to balance caring for her baby with her growing obsession to find answers. The book jumps between two timelines, which kept me on my toes. One timeline follows Jess in the present, while the other takes us back to the past, slowly revealing secrets that made my heart race.

What really got me was how the Texas setting felt so real. I could almost feel the heat and hear the cicadas buzzing outside Jess’s window. The small-town vibe added a layer of tension. Everyone seems to know everyone, but nobody really knows the truth. The dual timelines made the mystery feel bigger and more complicated. I kept flipping pages, desperate to see how the past and present would collide.

Note: If you like stories where every chapter gives you a new clue, you’ll love how this book keeps you guessing.

Key Characters

The Undercurrent by Sarah Sawyer gives us a cast that feels both familiar and surprising. Jess, the main character, is a new mother who struggles with her own doubts and fears. I found myself rooting for her, even when she made choices that left me shaking my head. Her voice felt honest and raw, which made her journey even more gripping.

Here’s a quick look at the key players:

Jess: The new mom at the center of the story. She’s determined, stubborn, and sometimes a little reckless. I saw parts of myself in her, especially when she questioned if she was doing the right thing.
Jess’s Mother: She brings her own secrets and pain to the table. Their relationship is messy, but it’s also full of love and regret. I felt the tension in every conversation they had.
The Missing Woman: She’s the mystery that pulls everyone together. We see her story unfold through flashbacks, and each piece adds a new layer to the puzzle.
Supporting Cast: The neighbors, friends, and family members all have their own secrets. Some felt a bit thin, but a few stood out and made me wonder about their true motives.

The book switches perspectives, so I got to see the story from different angles. Sometimes I felt frustrated when a chapter ended on a cliffhanger, but that’s what kept me reading late into the night. The multiple viewpoints made the mystery feel more real and urgent.

Tip: If you enjoy books where you can’t trust anyone, this one will keep you second-guessing every character.

Structure and Setting

Timelines

I really like when a book uses time in a fun way. This story moves between now and the past. Each timeline brings its own kind of excitement. I kept thinking about the clues and tried to solve the mystery. The two timelines made the story feel bigger and more interesting.

Both storylines happen at the same time, and I could tell they would meet.
The way the story is told lets me see the same moments from new sides, which made it feel deeper.
I saw that the timelines are set up so I can follow what’s going on, even when things get tricky.

I learned that using more than one timeline can make a story easier to follow and more flexible. It lets the writer show different stories at once, and I liked that here. Even though this idea comes from narrative theory, I felt it as a reader. The story felt more exciting and full of surprises.

Perspectives

Changing who tells the story let me see each character’s secrets. I saw things through Jess’s eyes and also through other important people. This made me wonder if I really knew what was happening. Sometimes, I got annoyed when a chapter ended with a big question, but that made me want to keep reading.

The different points of view made the story feel real and important.
I found out that stories with many perspectives can change how people feel and act. Studies say that these kinds of stories can make people care more and even change their actions for weeks after reading.
The strong feelings, especially when the story got dark, made me think about the characters long after I finished.

If you like stories that make you feel close to the characters, this way of telling the story will pull you in. I could not stop reading because I always wanted to know what the next person would say.

Major Themes

Motherhood

Motherhood in this story hit me hard. I felt Jess’s worries and her love for her child in every chapter. She tries to protect her baby, but she also wants to find the truth. Sometimes, I wanted to reach into the book and give her a hug. The way the story shows the push and pull of being a mom felt real. I saw how Jess’s choices shaped her family and her own sense of self.

Jess’s fears and hopes made me think about what it means to be a good parent.
The book doesn’t make motherhood look easy. It shows the mess, the guilt, and the deep love.

I found myself asking, “Would I do the same thing if I were Jess?”

Obsession and Secrets

Obsession runs through every page. Jess can’t let go of the missing woman’s story. Her need for answers takes over her life. I started to feel her stress and her need to know the truth. Secrets pile up between the characters. Each one hides something, and I kept guessing who was telling the truth.

The secrets made the story feel tense and kept me turning pages.
Obsession made Jess brave, but it also put her in danger.

Sometimes, I had to remind myself to breathe because the tension felt so real.

Family and Identity

Family bonds and personal identity shape every part of this book. I saw how family can pull people together or push them apart. Jess’s relationship with her mother felt honest and sometimes painful. The story shows how people try to find out who they are, even when family makes it hard.

Recent studies look at how families deal with distance and mixed feelings. Some people feel scared or sad when they talk to family. Others feel grateful. These feelings shape who we are. The book shows this by letting us see Jess’s struggles with her own family and her search for her place in the world.

The story made me think about my own family and what I would do in a crisis.
Female relationships and finding your true self are at the heart of the book.

If you like stories about finding out who you are, this one will stick with you.

Writing Style

Tone and Atmosphere

I felt the tone in this book right away. The writing has a raw, honest voice that made me feel like I was right there with Jess. The author uses simple words, but the feelings run deep. I noticed the atmosphere felt heavy and tense, almost like a storm waiting to break. Sometimes, I caught myself holding my breath because the mood got so chilling.

The story uses short, punchy sentences to keep things sharp.
I saw a lot of repetition with certain words, which made the tension build up.
The author switches between different points of view, so I got to see the same scene from new eyes. That made the story feel more real.

I have to give props to the way the book made me feel both safe and scared at the same time. It’s not easy to pull off that kind of emotional mix.

I came across some research about writing styles. Experts use things like word repetition and sentence length to figure out how a book feels. They even use special tools to check if a writer’s style matches their background. For example, one study found they could guess a writer’s gender with over 84% accuracy just by looking at how they write. That’s wild!

Pacing

The pacing in this book kept me guessing. Some chapters flew by, and I couldn’t put it down. Other times, the story slowed down, and I felt a little restless. I think the author wanted me to feel the ups and downs, just like Jess did.

Fast scenes made my heart race.
Slower parts gave me time to think about the secrets and lies.

I read about how pacing works in stories. It’s not just about speed. It’s about how the story moves and how it makes you feel. Some experts say pacing can change how much you care about the characters. If a story moves too fast, you might miss the feelings. If it’s too slow, you might get bored. This book balanced both, but sometimes I wished it would pick up the pace.

To be fair, the pacing made me feel like I was living in Jess’s shoes—sometimes rushing, sometimes waiting, always wondering what would happen next.

Strengths and Weaknesses

What Works

I have to give props to this book for a few things that really stood out to me:

Atmosphere: The story felt so real. I could almost feel the Texas heat and hear the cicadas. The setting pulled me in and made everything feel more intense.
Emotional honesty: Jess’s struggles as a new mom hit me right in the gut. I saw her fear, her love, and her confusion. It made me care about her journey.
Twisty plot: Every time I thought I had things figured out, the story surprised me. The dual timelines and shifting perspectives kept me guessing.
Female relationships: The way the book explores mothers, daughters, and friendships felt raw and true. I found myself thinking about my own family.
Short chapters: I love when a book gives me quick wins. The short chapters made it easy to keep reading, even when I should have been asleep.

Tip: If you like books that make you question every character, this one will keep you on your toes.

What Could Improve

I’ll be honest, a few things bugged me:

Some side characters felt flat. I wanted to know more about them, but they faded into the background.
The pacing dragged in the middle. I found myself getting restless and wishing the story would move faster.
A few plot points felt a little too convenient. I wanted more surprises that made sense.
The ending left me with questions. I like a little mystery, but I wanted more closure.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Undercurrent by Sarah Sawyer scary?

I didn’t find it scary, but the tension made my heart race. The story feels more suspenseful than frightening. If you like a little chill, you’ll enjoy it.