Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme)'s Reviews > The Swimmer

My mind is blown. Like it properly exploded. I knew going into The Swimmer that I was in for a treat. After all, Loreth Anne White is not only a virtuoso of the written word, but her dynamic characters, killer twists, and unforgettable plots have easily made her one of my auto-buy authors. Unsurprisingly, this novel not only delivered in spades, but it also raised the stakes for whatever White comes up with next. Finely layered, twisty in the extreme, and thoroughly unguessable, it was easily my favorite by White…at least so far.

The storyline was downright sublime. Fast-paced right off the bat, there wasn’t a slow moment throughout the onion-like plot. Told via multiple POVs and dual timelines, it unfurled genuinely as dirty schemes were concocted and well-hidden lies were revealed. But the twists were what took this from great to utter mind f*** level status. Quite literally jaw-dropping, they delivered one gasp-inducing shock after the other right up until the perfectly plotted conclusion.

And then there was the format. I mean, how brilliant was it of White to intersperse true crime podcast transcripts into the plot? Through them she let clues drop left, right, and center. At first I thought it was going to give the whole shebang away before I was ready. Boy was I wrong! After all, when it came down to that final reveal, I was 100% floored. Even better, it returned Trinity Scott to the scene who we were originally introduced to in the awe-inspiring Beneath Devil’s Bridge.

As for the characters, I was duly impressed. Complex, expertly honed, and with depth to their personas, they each felt completely original yet also utterly realistic. Between an eccentric stalker and the unlikeable duo who were the focus of her attention, the plot came alive as their situation unraveled. By the gripping finale, I was wholeheartedly sold on the fallout from all that occurred even if I could’ve done with a bit more of a ruinous solution.

All in all, White most certainly did it again. With short cliffhanger chapters, addictive misdirection, and plot charging drama, there wasn’t a thing not to love. Thanks to a creepy stalker vibe and a devious atmosphere you could cut with a knife, I was over the moon to find White’s characteristic relentless suspense page after page. Needless to say, I recommend this with every fiber of my heart, body, and soul. So go on. Order this book now. Yes, right now. I’m waiting... Rating of 5+ stars.

SYNOPSIS:

Socially awkward Chloe Cooper divides her time between dog walking, bartending, caring for her ailing mother, and at a safe distance, watching people and inventing the stories of their lives. Like Chloe’s new neighbors: glamorous influencer Jemma Spengler and Jemma’s husband, Adam, a renowned surgeon. They’re attractive, wealthy, and in a house of open windows, so exposed.

A move to the Pacific Northwest is supposed to be a fresh start for Jemma and Adam. It’s a renewed commitment to a marriage fractured by secrets. A chance to work through the tragic losses in their past. For Jemma, however, this new beginning also comes with an unnerving sensation that she’s being watched.

Then, on a fog-shrouded beach early in the morning, Chloe witnesses the murder of a swimmer. Her suspicions aroused, she suddenly sees her neighbors in a sinister new light. But as a detective and her partner close in, nothing is quite as it seems. Because the Spenglers are not the only ones with secrets. And Chloe isn’t the only one who’s been watching.

Thank you to Loreth Anne White and Montlake for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: September 10, 2024

Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.


















































































Trigger warning: hit-and-run, stalking, cancer, infidelity, death of a parent, alcoholism, knife violence