I loved reading this book, as the secrets, lies and danger developed then I got really into this book and knew I had to keep reading!

Holy Moly! I just don’t have words. I am a huge fan of allergy Anne White and have read everything she has written and this just blew my mind. Every time I read one of her books, I think there is no way she can top that and then BAM she comes out with something even better. I love how she writes the psychological parts of these thrillers. You really get into the minds of these characters. It’s just brilliant. Please do not miss this one. A million thanks to netgalley, the publisher and the amazing Loreth Anne White for this book.

Chloe lives with her mom in a small apartment overlooking a beautiful newer built home. Chloe likes to watch and observe people and paint pictures of them. When new neighbors move in with a flashy car and designer clothing she can't help but watch them (and it helps their home doesn't have curtains).

But it's a conversation she overhears one night that was meant to be private that starts the spiraling of her life and her neighbors.

The story is told in present time by the producers of a documentary and the past by the characters of the story. A wild ride!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

Intense! That’s the perfect word to describe this book. From the minute I started reading this, to the minute I finished, I was hooked! Fans of psychological suspense will be thrilled!

The Swimmer is a fairly fast paced and engaging popcorn thriller. It takes it a minute to get going, but once it does, it succeeds in delivering some unanticipated drama which ups the readers intrigue. Interspersed with the various POV, the author has created a “Netflix” series called ‘It’s criminal: the Chloe Cooper Story’ that started out as a podcast but got so popular it got made into a series and gives the reader another perspective, that of investigative reporting,
Chloe is a loner and spies on the new neighbors with binoculars. One day while walking her dog at the beach she sees a jet ski hit and kill a swimmer, she’s convinced the neighbors are in the midst of it all. But just when you think you have all the details sussed out, the author throws another surprise at you so that you want to keep burning through the pages.
The reader gets to see events that take place after the hit and run then shifting to before the hit and run though they do not alternate-they are mixed at random chapters so you have to be paying attention because this is where the twists and misdirections will get you!
Clever twisty take of betrayal, obsession and revenge. This one needs to be on your fall tbr!
Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

The Swimmer is a thriller lover’s wet dream! The depth of the plot was utterly satisfying, like peeling back the layers of an onion. I especially enjoyed the use of mixed media with the true crime podcast transcripts interspersed throughout.

With complex characters, a compelling pace, and an intensely dark, creepy atmosphere, this novel’s plotline leaves you completely unable to put it down. Short, cliffhanger-like chapters keep you holding on for dear life as the relentless suspense of the story knocks you around!

Just when you think you might have the pieces figured out, guess again. Mind-blowing twists and unforgettable turns lie ahead. Grab your popcorn and enjoy the ride with this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

One of the best thrillers I have read this year! What a crazy ride!
The story grabbed my interest right from the beginning and it was hard to put it down. Mystery, lies, secrets and jaw-dropping twists. Loved it!
Both main characters – Chloe and Jemma - were so different and so fascinating. At first, I thought I would like Jemma more than Chloe, but it turned out to be the opposite. The author did an amazing job of developing both characters.
This is a well-written, fast paced thriller that’s perfect for long fall evenings. Highly recommend it.

What can I say? She has done it again. I was hooked from start till finish. I loved the setting and atmosphere in this one. It'll definitely keep you guessing till the end. Her writing is so smooth you can't help but get sucked into the story. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

“When humans are pushed into fight-or-flight survival mode, they become capable of diabolical things…”

Holy crap, what did I just read?! Loreth Anne White is truly a master of psychological suspense! In “The Swimmer”, the story unfolds from multiple points of view - the loner Chloe and Jemma, an influencer who seems to have it all. This was supposed to be a fresh start after a lifetime of heartache for Jemma and her husband Adam. But as Chloe learns from watching them through her window, things aren’t always what they seem. White wastes no time - from the first few pages, the stage is set for some crazy action! The fast pace and multiple points of view, interspersed with documentary style entries, kept me GLUED to the pages. I truly had no idea which way this story was going to go, and the killer twists were incredible. The characters were deeply layered, with complex emotions that made them easier to relate to (even in the craziest of circumstances!) But more than all of that, was the fact that this was a deep look at the human psyche and what lies there, and what people will do if pushed to their limit. Did I also mention there are dogs?!

I have loved every book I have read by this author, but. this one has taken its place as my favorite! This is also one of my top reads of this year. Absolutely don't wait on this story!

”The Swimmer” releases September 10, 2024. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

Chloe spends her time caring for her sick mother, working, and watching people. When new neighbors move into a gorgeous house next door, Chloe is obsessed with watching the couple and learning about their lives through the windows. But one morning while walking her dog on the beach, she sees a woman murdered by a man on a jet ski - and it looks like her two neighbors.

This one was slow, but satisfying and twisty. It read like half book, half podcast or Netflix documentary, which kept it interesting. I would recommend this one for true crime show fans who think they could murder someone and get away with it. One detail bothered me about this book, so if you’ve read it tell me and let’s chat!

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Swimmer
by Loreth Anne White
Pub Date: Sep 10 2024

The Swimmer is a deviously twisty novel of psychological suspense about secrets, neighbors, a need to belong, and murder. A twisty tale of obsession, betrayal and revenge with many twist and turns I did not see coming throughout the entire book! The story is very intense, a very grabbing read which I highly recommend.

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. 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.

Many thanks to #TheSwimmer #NetGalley and #Montlake for providing me with an E-ARC of this book.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Loreth Anne White’s The Swimmer is a masterclass in psychological suspense, weaving a narrative that is intricate and gripping. Set against the misty, enigmatic backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, this novel delves into the human psyche, exploring themes of secrecy, voyeurism, and the desperate need to belong.

The story centers around Chloe Cooper, a socially awkward woman who finds solace in the mundane routines of dog walking, bartending, and caring for her ailing mother. Chloe’s life takes a dark turn when she becomes an unwitting witness to a murder on a fog-shrouded beach. Her new neighbors, the glamorous influencer Jemma Spengler and her husband Adam, a renowned surgeon, become the focal point of her suspicions, and her grip on reality begins to loosen.

White excels in crafting multi-dimensional characters. Chloe’s internal struggles and her voyeuristic tendencies are portrayed with a raw honesty that makes her relatable but unsettling. Jemma and Adam, with their seemingly perfect lives, unravel layer by layer, revealing the cracks in their facade. The dynamic between these characters is charged with tension, making every interaction fraught with potential danger.

White’s prose is lyrical and precise, capturing the eerie beauty of the Pacific Northwest while maintaining a relentless pace. Her ability to create an atmosphere of suspense is unparalleled, with each chapter ending on a note which compels the reader to keep turning the pages. The narrative is peppered with red herrings and subtle clues, making it a delight for fans of the genre who enjoy piecing together the puzzle.

At its core, The Swimmer is a meditation on the human need for connection and the lengths to which people will go to protect their secrets. The novel also explores the concept of the observer and the observed, challenging the reader to question the reliability of perception and the nature of truth.

The Swimmer is a standout novel in the psychological thriller genre.

This is the second book I've read by this author and it won't be the last. This book was juicy and hard to put down. Knowing less is better going into this one and things really move along. The MC really grew on me and her old dog was touching. The way it was told with some interviews sprinkled in was entertaining and I didn't guess what all the goings on were. It was a satisfying ending as well.

From start to finish, the ride was incredibly intense and kept me on the edge of my seat. The story was gripping and expertly paced, making every moment feel vital and exciting.

However, I was a bit let down by the ending. It didn’t quite land the way I had hoped, and I found it a bit unsatisfying compared to the build-up. Despite this, the overall execution of the story was impressive. The journey was so well-crafted that it largely made up for my disappointment with the conclusion.

In summary, while the ending didn’t fully resonate with me, the thrilling ride leading up to it was very well done.

This book was gripping and twisted, there were so many layers to it and I ate them all up! The ending had me tearing up, in a happy way. I loved The Maid's Diary and after now reading The Swimmer, I will read anything Loreth Anne White comes out with! Would love if this one somehow became a series featuring Trinity and the next cases she covers!!

From the start, I had a completely different idea of what was going to happen. The twists started early on in the book and didn’t stop until the very end. However, I didn’t really connect with Chloe or Jemma which made it hard for me to enjoy the story. It also took me well over a week to read because it moved so slowly (and was semi predictable). I wanted to love this one as it was my first Loreth Anne White book, but it just fell flat. If you’re new to the thriller genre, give this one a try!

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.