The Swimmer

While walking her mother's dog one morning, Chloe Cooper witnessed a jet ski intentionally strike a swimmer. This event sets the book in motion. And as the truth starts to come out, Chloe's actions are not only questioned, but she becomes the prime suspect in the murder, finding herself surrounded by betrayal and revenge.

The opening pages with the jet ski incident immediately pulled me in. And the setting, Jerrin Bay, an atmospheric coastal setting, further enhances the storyline - it makes it more intense and adds suspense.

The author built many layers into this story. She uses true-crime podcasts, interviews, and POVs to unravel the mystery. This keeps you questioning the truth and Chloe's role in it until the last pages, even as her reliability as a narrator is questioned.

Chloe Cooper is also socially awkward and nosy, constantly surveilling her neighbors, especially Jemma and Adam. However, Jemma and Adam are not who they appear to be. This adds complexity to the story and leads to some really good plot twists.

In short, if you enjoy twisty psychological thrillers or character-driven mysteries with emotional depth, this is definitely one to try.

A deviously twisty novel of psychological suspense about secrets, neighbors, a need to belong, and murder by the award-winning author of The Maid's Diary.

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.

Amazon Publishing | September 10, 2024 | 349 pages | ISBN:978-1662518911

From The publisher

1. Chloe is depicted as a socially awkward person who watches her neighbors. How did her isolation and tendency to observe others initially shape your view of her?

2. How does Chloe's reliability as a narrator impact the reader's trust in her perspective and the overall suspense of the story?

3. Do you find Chloe's actions understandable or reckless based on the dramatic events she witnesses and her involvement in them? How does her need for connection or belonging influence her choices?

4. What hidden problems do Chloe's observations reveal about Jemma and Adam's seemingly perfect and glamorous life, and how does this contrast enhance the psychological suspense?

5. What secrets do Jemma and Adam have that contribute to the mystery and tension in their neighborhood?

6. How does Jemma and Adam's troubled marriage influence the events in the story and affect the other characters?

7. How do different characters deceive each other in the book, and how does this deception affect the plot and create an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust?

8. How does the theme of revenge show up in the story, and what does the novel say about the harmful effects of seeking vengeance?

9. How did using different perspectives and timelines in the story affect your engagement with the characters and events?

10. How does Chloe's relationship with her ailing mother influence her decisions and interactions with her neighbors and the police throughout the book?