“Will Kent opened his eyes just in time to see the engine explode.”

The opening sentence of the novel sets the stage for the tension- and suspense-filled ride that is to come. Newman opens in medias res, right as the main conflict starts, setting the high stakes immediately without setup or context. This opening is meant to capture the reader’s attention with the evocative word “explode” and simultaneously introduces the primary protagonist.

“Molly pointed a finger and counted out loud, while making a personal inventory in her head. Ira and Ruth, the old couple. Bernadette, nurse. Jasmine, life vest woman. Andy, blue polo asshole. Will, smart guy. Shannon, smart kid. Ryan, newlywed widow. Maia, unaccompanied minor. Plus, what was left of the crew: Kit, Kaholo, herself.”

Drowning features a large cast, and Molly’s mental notes here regarding the remaining passengers on board distinguish the characters in the central group. Newman gives them succinct, simple distinguishing characteristics so that each of the trapped passengers is memorable.

“The additions to their home were like hashes on a doorframe marking a child’s height. The marks are what get noticed—but what matters is what happens in the spaces between them.”

The metaphor here comparing additions to the house to hashes marking a child’s height signifies the passage of time and conveys growth and development. As the marks track a child’s development, the additions to the Kents’ home mark the development of their family, which has halted after Annie’s tragic death.