2.5 I kept trudging through this one since I had enjoyed other books by this author, but I should have put it down. Very repetitive and just so far out there on so many levels. To me, it felt like someone else wrote this.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
I read & enjoyed "The Maid's Diary" by Loreth Anne White so I was excited to try her latest, "The Swimmer".
This was a well written domestic thriller with twists & secrets & interesting characters. 
It kept me interested the entire time.
I'm looking forward to what Ms. White decides to write next.

Socially awkward Chloe Cooper enjoys watching people and inventing the stories of their lives. When glamorous influencer Jemma Spengler and her husband, Adam, a renowned surgeon, move into the house across the alley from the apartment building where Chloe lives with her ailing mother, she becomes obsessed with Jemma. The story takes place in the Pacific Northwest near Greater Vancouver, BC (Canada).

The story is told from the viewpoints of different characters in segments of Befores and Afters - the hit and run, the murders - interspersed with excerpts from a television production called "It's Criminal" featuring the story of Chloe Cooper six years after the events in the book. The story is twisty and nerve-wracking with lots of secrets. The characters are an interesting mix and, although none of them are especially likeable, I felt some sympathy for Chloe. The ending wrapped everything up nicely with certain characters getting what they deserved. Recommended reading!

My thanks to Montlake via Netgalley for the opportunity to read a copy of this excellent novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: September 10, 2024

This was such a great, fun. twisty book! I really love when i despise each character in a book, truly. It makes things more interesting. This had some fun, and interesting characters. Made the plot and twists pretty enjoyable. My only dislike would be the pace. It read a little slow for me. I found myself putting it down too often. Other than that, great, fun read!

With this being only the second book I have read by this author, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. This was addicting and hard to put down, telling a tale full of lies, deceit, and an overall feeling that all is not as it seems. Each character was unlikable with despicable qualities and questionable choices but I couldn't help but to feel compassion for some given their predicaments. This was a quick, fun, well written story that I thoroughly devoured. Four stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for this ARC.

Chloe spends her time doing many odd jobs . Whilst doing this she also creates imagined stories of the people she encounters, Chloe has new neighbors , who she begins to feel uneasy about. She later sees a swimmer get murdered and the twists ensue . I heard so much about this one , so was thrilled I was gifted a net galley early copy ! My first time with this author and will definitely read again !

My first read by this author and what a wild and addictive read it was!
I was cruising along until I hit 25% and the BANG! addiction central! I was hooked! I devoured this book in 2 days which is super difficult for me and my hectic life but yes I did stay up too late trying to finish it and I have no regrets.
The story has multiple POV - Chloe, Jemma and Adam. Told in the 3rd person and jumps timelines from before and after certain events. It also weaves in a Netflix documentary titled the Chloe Cooper story where we see interviews with Detectives and other associated people talking about the characters and events that happen throughout the book.
Jemma and Adam are the seemingly glamorous couple who have just moved in across the street from Chloe. Their house is made of concrete and glass and have to blinds or curtains for privacy. Chloe is a socially awkward bartender/dog walker who is caring for her terminally ill mother. She loves to people watch so when the Spanglers move in to Gloom House it is a match made in heaven for Chloe or is it hell?
Packed full of manipulation, deceit, secrets and killer instincts, this tale of self preservation will have you turning the page as fast as you can.

Many thanks to Montlake who provided me a copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Swimmer by Loreth Anne White was a slow burn for me in the first 1/2 of the book but then all of a sudden it picked up speed and I didn’t want to put it down . I had a busy week which I guess explains why it took me a whole week to read but think it’s one of her best thrillers yet. That ending I did not see coming! Wow! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this release in exchange for my honest review. It’s out NOW!

4,5 stars!
Another brilliant thriller by one of my favourite authors.
In her newest book, Loreth Anne White takes us on a captivating journey through the foggy shores of the Pacific Northwest, where nothing is what it initially seems.

The story revolves around socially awkward Chloe Cooper, whose life is a tapestry of dog walking, bartending, and caring for her ailing mother. Her most intriguing pastime, however, is observing the glamorous lives of her new neighbors, influencer Jemma Spengler and her husband, renowned surgeon Adam.

From the very first page, White’s remarkable ability to create complex, multidimensional characters shines through. Chloe is not your typical protagonist—her quirky personality adds a layer of depth that made me empathize with her solitary life, while Jemma and Adam represent the polished façade of social perfection hiding darker truths.

Just when I thought I had them pegged, White masterfully unveils their layers, leaving me second-guessing everything I thought I knew.

As the plot unfolds, we find ourselves racing with Chloe through the chilling aftermath of a murder she witnesses on the beach. Each twist expertly woven by White had me on the edge of my seat, gasping from the constant revelations and shadowy secrets.

What I truly appreciate about White’s writing is how she challenges our perception of innocence and guilt. Just as you think you’ve uncovered the truth, the ground shifts beneath your feet, leaving you reeling in the wake of unexpected twists and turns. It’s a stunning reminder that everyone has secrets lurking just below the surface.

Thanks #netgalley for my ADC!

Such a fun, twisty little mystery.

Chloe gets some new neighbors. She tends to keep to herself - with her jobs and her side hustles. She keeps her sick mom and her afloat. But she does like to watch. She likes to see what's going on with the neighbors and keep an eye on things. And yeah, sure, that might be with binoculars through windows.

This was a fun mystery. I liked the inserted podcast/documentary type parts that kept foreshadowing you knew some twists were coming. And yeah, I'd guessed a few things before the end but not some fine-tuned details that really did make my jaw drop. It's a rush, once I started I didn't want to stop. I really enjoyed this one!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Wow, this book keeps you on your toes. All is not what it seems. This book has a well-orchestrated, twisty plot with strong characterizations. You don't know who to root for. A highly-recommended suspenseful, thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake and Loreth Anne White for an ARC of 'The Swimmer'.

Chloe Cooper lives a small life caring for her ailing mother when she isn't bartending at the local watering hole. She's socially awkward but very good at observing people from a distance. When her glamorous new neighbors move into the glass mansion across the alley she grabs her binoculars to take a little peak into their lives. Unfortunately, her curiosity comes at a cost when she finds she's become entwined in a situation that will be very difficult to untangle herself from.

This was a decent enough book though I felt I've read this story many times before. Perfect on the outside couple that has a rotten core at it's heart. An unreliable narrator we don't know that we can trust. A backstory alluded to as to why Chloe is the way she is. Been there, done that. Though I can say White does nail a couple of twists that will keep the reader turning the pages so kudo's for that. So, yeah, this is a good one but I just can't call it a great one. 3.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for my complimentary copy.

3.5 stars
I’ve read all of Loreth Anne White’s books. The Swimmer started in a way that made me very curious about what was going on and who to believe. The suspense kept ramping up; which made it very difficult to put down after a while. Twisty and fun to follow along! I wasn’t happy with the reveals toward the end, as they felt lackluster for me. I would still recommend this one to fans of the genre!

The narration was well done.

This was on of the best thrillers I read this year. This book has a little of everything domestic thriller, unreliable narrator/s and stalking. The story was packed with plot twist that keep you read and interested. The main character ended up having one of the most interesting character developments I’ve ever read. So good!

Domestic thriller with twists and turns and interesting characters. Chloe Connor is a different kind of woman. Just turning 40, she takes care of her ill mother, works as a bartender and dog walker and has trouble relating to most people. She and her mother live in an apartment building and she becomes obsessed with watching the neighbors in the big, mansion size house next door. New neighbor Adam, a local surgeon gives Chloe the creeps as soon as she sees him but she is drawn to his beautiful wife Jemma. I liked it that the author included characters that are a bit older, Adam and Jemma are 60ish. Chloe begins to spy on the neighbors through a set of binoculars and sees a younger woman come to door to see Adam. One of her favorite things to do is to watch Jemma on her morning swim and Chloe walks her dog close to the water to catch a glimpse of Jemma's pink bathing cap. One day she sees a jet ski aiming for the pink cap and witnesses as the person on the ski runs over the swimmer. This part starts the mystery part of the story as Chloe involves herself against her better instincts in a police investigation.

I liked getting to know Chloe and her secrets explained her odd behavior. I also enjoyed the character of Stavros who wasn't a drop dead handsome man like we usually find in books, but a good man who really like Chloe. The twist and turns surrounding Jemma, Adam and his mistress Gloria were interesting and I never knew which way this story would go. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for review.

Chloe, the neighborhood dog walker and barkeep, is 40 years old. She spends most of her time caring for her sick mother, until new neighbors Jemma and Adam move into the beautiful home across the street. Chloe's obsessive interest in the couple leads her to insert herself into their lives, wanting to know more and more about the couple's private lives.

When a swimmer is killed, Chloe's stalking is discovered, and she becomes a suspect.

But Chloe knows more about her neighbors than anyone realizes, and she knows who the murderer is.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This is my second book by this author and she has been becoming a favorite! The first one was the maids diary and this one followed suit! Ms white has such a way of weaving a story where I feel so secure in thinking, I totally know what's going on and then freaking all of a sudden she turns a whole 180° and gives me whiplash. Then I'm left thinking well what the heck just happened.

I loved how this story was...ugh how do I explain it?! Ok ok you remember in Shrek how Shrek was saying ogres are like onions? Well that's kind of how this story is. It's dark and twisty and messed up from the get go but I think my favorite part is that no one is truly innocent. Everyone has a part to play for things to play out the way they did and this story demonstrates that perfectly. Twists and turns left and right and just had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I bet this would be freaking amazing on audio!

Ms white, you may never read this but welcome to my auto buy list!

Wow…what a twisted read! Chloe, a bored young woman caring for her ill mother, catches a glimpse of her new neighbors and is instantly enamored of the stylish woman while taking an instant dislike to her husband. Loren Anne White helps the reader along as she labels the chapters Before the Hit and Run, the Hit and Run, and After the Hit and Run.
As Chloe becomes more and more intent on spying on her new neighbors, we learn so many details and secrets about Jemma and Adam. As their lives unravel, the reader becomes a voyeur, observing their interactions and reactions.
Unfortunately I did not find any of the main characters to be likable so although I found the revelations very shocking I found myself apathetic. I so wish I would have been excited about rooting for one of them. I loved the pacing and the tension.
Loren Anne White knows how to hold her reader’s focus and attention and weaves her magic so very effectively throughout her stories. Loved the setting for this read, and the novelty of some of the aspects of her characters. Many many thanks to Loren Anne White, Montlake, and NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this thriller. Four and a half stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for this read. Books written by Loreth Ann White have not missed at all for the last few that I have read. They all are very suspenseful and twisty. This was no different and I enjoyed this read. Excited to see what she has next!

I’d say overall, I enjoyed the book. I think I loved more of it until the end, when I was really hoping for a really good twist.

I enjoyed the characters, and I enjoyed the plot and the story. This author always throw something in to confuse me and has great attention to details in the storyline as well.

I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys suspense, couple disputes, some characters that will throw you off in all the good ways as well as a good storyline with twist and turns