In the shadowed depths of a frigid Wisconsin winter, tragedy fractures the surface of a small rural community with the drowning of Mathilda Neumann beneath the ice-laden expanse of a secluded lake. This calamity not only steals a mother from the embrace of her family but also sets in motion a cascade of secrets that threaten to submerge the fragile ties binding Mathilda's young daughter, her tormented sister, and a bereft husband in a chilling undertow of grief and guilt. As the narrative unfolds, shifting through time and whispered in the diverse voices of those caught in the storm of Mathilda's passing, "Drowning Ruth" meticulously unearths the hidden truths buried beneath layers of silence and snow. Christina Schwarz crafts a compelling tale of love, loss, and the haunting power of secrets. With each revelation, the reader is drawn deeper into the murky waters of human emotion and family loyalty, challenging the very notion of truth and the deep, sometimes dark, bonds that define us.