The Swimmer by Loreth Anne White @loreth @rebabuhr @BrilliancePub

the setup…
Chloe Cooper is a 40-year old bartender living in a modest apartment, caring for her ailing mother. She’s socially awkward and her world doesn’t extend much beyond work, caretaking and daily walks of her mother’s aging dog Brodie. When new neighbors Dr. Adam and Jemma Spengler move into the “Gloom House” across the street, Chloe takes stalker-ish interest in Jemma. He’s a renowned surgeon and she’s a lifestyle influencer who just moved to Vancouver from Ontario. Jemma has an early morning swimming routine, which coincides with Chloe’s walk with Brodie. As she watches the swimmer on one foggy morning, a jet ski collides with the woman and it’s obviously intentional.

the heart of the story…
It’s just impossible to say much more without ruining the experience other than more about these characters. Chloe calls the Spengler home the Gloom House because of its ugly architectural design predominance of glass, which allowed her to witness a lot from her own apartment window. The Spenglers have lots of secrets, individually and as a couple. Chloe unwittingly gets in the middle of all this, way over her head.

the narration…
Wow. It’s really hard to believe there was only one person giving voice to this story! Buhr’s mastery of character distinctions included an elderly British woman who I thought was a second performer. Just outstanding work!

the bottom line…
Buckle up and get ready for a bumpy, twisty roller coaster of a ride! This was brilliant characterization and plotting. Every time I thought I knew what was what, a new wrinkle would emerge. And, part of the story includes a podcast about the crime. I’m a fan of the author and this is just next level writing. Run, don’t walk or wait, to get this book, preferably on audio.

Book Info

• Release Date: September 10, 2024
• Narrator: Reba Buhr
• Audio Length: 10 hours, 5 minutes
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio

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Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)