Chloe is a woman in her 40s, socially awkward with a self-contained life of caring for her elderly mother, dog walking, and bartending. Chloe’s secret pleasure is watching other people – from a distance, without their knowledge. Every morning, Chloe watches a woman swimming in the bay, until the morning she witnesses the swimmer’s death, revealing many things that aren’t what they seem.

THIS is what a thriller should be! Fast-paced, tightly plotted, and fantastically twisty! Short, suspenseful chapters and a creepy stalker vibe had me racing through the pages. The drama and misdirection kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. When I say I couldn’t put this addictive book down, I mean I DEVOURED it in less than a day. I was so engrossed in the story that I was at 52% on the audiobook before I even came up for air, and then I switched to the ebook and finished it that same night!

Huge thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the advance copies.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars. This book had me hooked from the very beginning. The scandals and twist and turns that it went through never would I have imagined point A would have gotten us to 3 murders and discovering a serial killer! Nevertheless this is a new author on my radar and I’m going to go through her backlist.

I originally was going to give this story a 5 star but that ending was just not satisfactory and ended kind of flat.

Such a fun read!! If you enjoy books with lots of twists and turns, shady suspect characters and excellent story telling, give this a read!

“The swimmer” follows loner Chloe who is a bit of an outcast who enjoys observing people from the outside, never one to be included or noticed. By day she is a dog walker, by night she is a bar manager and in her spare time she likes to paint, depicting the depth of her loneliness onto the canvas.

When a surgeon with a god complex and a Hollywood glamour queen move in across the street her observing tendencies turn into obsession and stalking.

Following her morning routine of dog walking she witnesses the murder of an outdoor swimmer who is purposefully barrelled into by a jet ski rider.. twice. This event catapults the three of their lives together in a dangerous game that turns deadly.

There is lots of atmosphere and multiple elements to this plot and I definitely enjoyed the read! I loved the contrast between the plot story telling and a documentary surrounding the events.

Every character has an element of chaos in their lives and it is very interesting to see the psychology between a catastrophic trigger than can turn the every day person into a questionably insane or murderous individual.

This was my first book by this author, I LOVED her writing style, the pacing and flow of the book, the interesting characters and crazy storyline. I can’t wait to read more of her work.

Thank you to Montlake, Netgalley and Loreth Anne White for the EARC!

Publish date: September 10th

A nicely crafted tale of fatal secrets. Chloe is a loner who has become fascinated with her new neighbors Jemma and Adam. Jemma's been creeped out because she feels like someone's watching them (yeah, it's Chloe). But then one morning Chloe sees someone on a waterski mow down a swimmer and she calls the police. And then things start to spill out. I liked Chloe who is the most clearly defined and fleshed out character and the mystery is twisty enough. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Swimmer by Loreth Anne White is JAW DROPPING thriller that will take you by surprise!

If you read any Loreth Anne White books you know it's start rich and busy so you need some time to get into the story and this book wasn't an exception. For a while, I felt I was struggling to understand what was happening. Timelines, actions, and points of view feel a bit overwhelming and then clarity comes and you are just in this story! Everything is clear as day and you can't wait to know what will happen next!
For me it happened with every single book so I knew I just needed to keep going!
And I was right as surprises kept coming, twists kept hitting and the shocking end took me by surprise!

Chloe, a lonely 40-year-old dog walker in the daytime and bartender at the nighttime has three things important to her: Her mum's dog Brody, her painting and spying after her neighbours. And she is good at all three!
When Chloe’s new neighbours, Jemma, the glamorous influencer and her husband, Adam, a well-known surgeon, arrive, Chloe can't help herself and gets obsessed with watching them.
Her voices tells her to stop but she doesn't listen to them and soon finds herself in a more than complicated situation because she saw too much!

This book is presented from:
1) The show "It's Criminal: The Chloe Cooper Story storyline;
2) Before the Hit and Run storyline;
3) After the Hit and Run storyline;
4) Before the Murders storyline;
5) After the Murders storyline;

I know this is not how it should be read but if I had read it now knowing what I know, I would skip all the It's Criminal: The Chloe Cooper Story chapters and would read them after finishing all the other chapters. I think it would be so much less confusing to get into the book.

But as I said, once I got my head around (probably 30% in) I was fine but I can see why someone would complain or give up on the book. At the same time, I want to reassure you - twists and turns are worth it to carry on with this book! It is seriously good!

Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake for this copy!
Expected publication September 10, 2024

The Swimmer by Loreth Anne White is a thriller centered on Chloe Cooper, a woman who blends into the background of her own life. Her world shifts when the Spangler family—Adam and Jemma—moves into the house across the alley. Chloe becomes fixated on Jemma, partly because the Spangler's keep their windows uncovered, giving Chloe a clear view into their lives.

As Chloe watches, she discovers that the Spanglers’ seemingly perfect life is hiding trouble. Tension builds as Chloe’s obsession grows, and Jemma, sensing something wrong, reaches out to Chloe, hoping to solve a "problem".

White builds a strong sense of unease and keeps readers hooked with Chloe’s growing fixation. However, the story’s ending may feel predictable to some, as the twists and turns might be easy to foresee.

Overall, The Swimmer is an engaging psychological thriller. Even if you guess the ending early, the suspense and character interactions make it a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read The Swimmer.

A twisty psychological thriller!

Chloe is taking care of her mother who is dying from cancer. Besides being a caregiver, she is a bartender and a dog walker. Chloe who is a loner spends her time watching people. Her newest addiction is watching her new neighbors Jemma and Dr. Adam Spengler, from her apartment window.

Every morning Chloe takes her mother's dog for a walk on Jerrin's beach. Then, one morning Chloe witnesses a jet ski hitting a swimmer and then returning to hit the swimmer again. Chloe believes there is a connection between the swimmer and her new neighbors.

The swimmer had me turning the pages quickly. As I read, I started liking Chloe and was rooting for her. Jemma felt manipulative to me and I wasn't sure about her.

Loreth Anne White always does a great job at piquing my interest from early on. This one was no exception. I liked the addition of multiple chapters "It's Criminal: The Chloe Cooper Story". It gave us so much more detail about what happened. The best part was seeing Trinity Scott in this one too. She was the podcaster from Beneath's Devil Bridge (which I enjoyed too).

I'm looking forward to her next book. Always.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Montlake via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

OMG, what a rollercoaster ride this book was! Chloe Cooper is a just-turned 40-year-old, socially awkward woman who has no friends and does not seem to want any. She is a bartender, dog walker and helps look after her mother who has terminal cancer. They live in a 3rd floor apartment so she spends a lot of her spare time "observing" people using binoculars especially newly moved in neighbors, Dr Adam and Jemma Spengler. That is all I am going to say so as not to give away any spoilers.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for the ARC of this super exciting page turner that I did not want to put down.

Loreth Anne White is a mastermind when it comes to writing psychological thrillers. Her character development is spot on; not just for the main characters, but for the supporting characters as well. By the end of the book, I could understand the motives and intricacies behind the decisions and behaviours of each character. Chloe's character is both heartbreaking and frustrating at the same time. Stavros put it best when he describes how emotional injuries can make us a bit 'knobbly' in places we are attempting to heal. Chloe, perpetually an outcast with an internal monologue presumably meant to keep her safe, is an audodidact with a deep desire to belong. In her skewed journey of belonging, she finds herself in several pickles. Desperate to please both the voice in her head and those around her, she must discover who she is and what she stands for. This psychological thriller really dives into the depths of our desire as humans to belong to people, feel safe in the comfort of others, and hold onto relationships with clenched fists, even when we know they are no longer good for us. Thank you #NetGalley and #Montlake for this ARC and incredible read. 4.5 stars!

loved this mystery and keeping secrets and the different point of views. Also loved trying to figure out who did it . I enjoyed the mystery behind it.

Loreth Anne White writes psychological thrillers like no one else. This book is no different! And I think this may be her best work ever!

Our main character Chloe witnesses a swimmer's murder at the beginning of the novel. Subsequently, we get to see Chloe spying on her neighbors and her conviction that the husband killed the swimmer. Is she right, though?

Both the scene and the personalities of White's characters are expertly and effortlessly portrayed in her writing. Chloe Cooper, the main character, was incredibly well-written. Although she has a slightly strange personality, as I read more, I grew to like her.

This book's action begins right away and doesn't stop until the very end. It's far from being a straightforward story; it has several layers. This was so tense that throughout the entire last half, my heart was really racing! With a shocking twist that left me speechless, this is an enjoyable and captivating book. There was far more to this story than first appears.

Additionally, I thought it was great how this book used the modern technique of true crime reporting to provide views from other characters.

Loreth Anne White is a phenomenal psychological thriller author that creates unputdownable stories with unpredictable twists. If you enjoy books with shady characters and excellent story telling with jaw-dropping twist, you should read this book!

Every morning at 7 a.m. Chloe (Creepy Chloe) watches the swimmer (Jemma Spengler) swim. Well, she actually watches everything the Jemma does.

One particular morning while walking her Mom’s dog Brodie, she witnessed Jemma’s murder by an assailant on a jet ski. Chloe has no doubt the perp was Adam, Jemma’s husband).

Chloe has full access to the monstrosity of a house across the back alley from her apartment. Chloe and her Mom call it “Gloom House.” It’s Adam and Jemma Spengler’s home. The home with huge windows with no window coverings.

Chloe finds out Adam is having an affair with Gloria and they share a 2 year old son. His wife has no clue as he makes plans to leave his marriage for his Mistress.

Things take a turn when Jemma Spengler finds out what Adam is up to. This was a roller coaster ride. Nobody can be trusted in this twisty new novel by Loreth Anne White.

I was immediately sucked in. If you think you can guess how it all plays out..Guess again. I enjoyed the ride.

THE SWIMMER is another new standalone novel by Loreth Anne White. Chloe Cooper is a loner who likes to walk her dog on the beach and keep to herself. After seeing a horrific sight in the ocean one day, she finds her life changed, and never to be the same again. This is a good addictive read with one twist that is jaw dropping. The first half is probably stronger than the second but it’s still a twisty read with some clever misdirection from the author, which I really enjoy. The moral of that is to never assume. It’s far from being a simple tale and has layers to it to it which involves the characters back stories which is intriguing. The storytelling is intense, it’s full of tension, it makes you uneasy, there’s a strong sense of claustrophobia and it’s full of atmosphere. I enjoyed the way it plays out with an ‘imperfect’ ending. Another very good and exciting novel by a great thriller/suspense author.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Swimmer by Loreth Anne White.

Well, wasn't this a twisty turny ride. I had a lot of fun reading The Swimmer.

Chloe is in her forties, tends bar, takes car of her mother, and holds a slight obsession with her neighbors. She has especially honed in on Jemma, a wealthy, married woman, who swims faithfully along the cold shoreline, come rain or shine.

So when Chloe sees her neighbor getting plowed over by a jetski one foggy, rainy morning, she immediately knows who it is. But Chloe herself might also have reasons to hide...

I loved watching this unfold. It's a great thriller with just enough ridiculousness that it really keeps you turning the pages. It's fast paced, and throws some real curveballs. Great summer read!

Rating: 3.0/5

This is my second experience of this author's work, having previously read the very impressive, "The Maid's Diary". "The Swimmer", whilst enjoyable and engaging, certainly does not deliver the same consistent levels of quality as Loreth Anne White's previous publication.

The early sections of the novel are very promising. The first chapter delivers unanticipated drama at the end of an otherwise seemingly mundane opening, which succeeds in creating an early sense of intrigue. The author makes use of a Netflix series entitled, "It's Criminal: The Chloe Cooper Story" to anchor the ongoing narrative, with related flashbacks in the intervening chapters to the dramatical historical events involving Chloe. The central character of Chloe Cooper is also quite fascinating, particularly in the earlier encounters the reader has with her.

However, although "The Swimmer" makes enjoyable reading, it is far more overtly sensationalist then "The Maid's Diary" with plot developments that are, admittedly entertaining, but also at the "harder to swallow" end of the scale, which taints the overall impression.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

🤯 F R E A K Y F R I D A Y review 🤯 featuring “The Swimmer” by Loreth Anne White!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Chloe Cooper is a dog walker, bartender, caregiver for her terminally ill mother … and a voyeur like no other. People think Chloe is odd and “different” which is why she keeps to herself as much as possible … or so she tries 👀!

One day while walking her dog on the beach, Chloe witnesses a swimmer get hit twice (and purposely) by a person on a jet ski who takes off after their job is done! A murderous case of jet ski HIT AND RUN and Chloe flees the scene!

But Chloe knows exactly who is involved since she has been spying on her new neighbours across the road who have no blinds yet in their house. Chloe seems to know A LOT about this couple and the secrets she knows could shatter the life they have built forever!

I love a good STALKER psychological thriller and this book had me totally rattled and picking my jaw off of the floor! The creepy voyeur elements kept me on edge and the line up of sinister characters kept the themes of betrayal, revenge and infatuation circling on repeat throughout!

Thank you kindly to @lorethannewhite @montlakeromance_france @amazonpublishing @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This 5 star read releases on September 10, 2024!

The beginning of this book gave me very strong "The Girl on the Train" vibes and I loved it!

I saw every single twist coming and that was kind of a bummer as I hoped I will at least encounter one twist that will throw me off balance but that didn’t happen. Also, some events that happened in the book were too much of a coincidence and kind of hard to believe.

I still thoroughly enjoyed the wild ride and this is definitely one of those unputdownable thrillers that you’d wish time could stop so you can finish it in one-sitting with no interruptions.

Definitely my cup of tea :D

My two favorite things are great thriller books and true crime podcasts, and this book wraps both up in a nice pretty little bow!! I was addicted from the start and loved everything about this book. I have read prior books from.this author and she always does a fantastic job, and again has continued to do so. Definitely recommend!

What an absolutely stunning read and although this is classed as a mystery / thriller it’s so much more than that I I loved everything about it. Sometimes when you first start to read a new book you know right away that it’s going to be special and this was one of those I was immediately drawn into the story and it just got better and better. The main character of Chloe was written just perfect and I really loved her and to be honest I just can’t fault anything at in this book. Some brilliant jaw dropping twists that took me by surprise and that’s a big plus for me as I read a lot of mystery thrillers.
I also particularly liked the format of the book especially with the inclusion of the true crime podcast that really did keep me guessing as to where the story was going and made it even more of a page turner.
So a book I can highly recommend it’s a superb 5 star read and one of my favourites of the year so far.
My thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A riveting psychological suspense novel that captures the reader's interest on the first page and never lets up. White takes readers on a rollercoaster of twists and unexpected turns. Just when you think you've figured out the ending, a final curve awaits with an unexpected and highly satisfying ending.