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carol9178's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a bit predictable, however a page turner at times.
shirlee2024's review against another edition
4.0
This was a page-turner almost all the way through; yet, the main character was also well developed. Nice suspense and a good twist. At a couple of points, I thought it might cross over into romance, but I was glad that it didn't. Interesting setting on the border of NY, VT, and Canada. I'll look for more from this author.
beastreader's review against another edition
5.0
Troy Chance was on the late ferry on Lake Champlain to Vermont. There were very few people on the ferry and most of them were indoors. Out of the corner of Troy’s vision, she sees a movement. Someone fell into the water from the other ferry. Without a second thought, Troy jumps into the lake after the item. For all she could know, the item could end up to be someone’s trash that they did not want to recycle.
Troy swims to the last location where she saw the item being thrown in. To her surprise, the item ends up being a little boy. Troy rescues the boy. The boy speaks French and very little English. The boy is silent for the most part except to say his name is Paul. When Troy digs into who would throw a little boy over a ferry, she ends up uncovering something way bigger than herself.
Learning to Swim is the debut novel form author, Sara J. Henry. I have to tell you that this book far exceeded my expectations…twice over! I was hooked right from the beginning. The moment Troy jumped into the water; I knew that I was in for the long haul. Paul was an interesting character. His silence spoke louder than his words. He seemed so much wiser than his young years. I like that Troy was a strong, independent woman. She could have just given up and let the police handle Paul but she decided to take matters into her own hands. There was enough mystery and intrigue to make a thriller/suspense fan like me very pleased. Learning to Swim is a nail-bitter, edge of your seat, breath of fresh air! I am keeping my eyes on Ms. Henry and what she comes out with next.
Troy swims to the last location where she saw the item being thrown in. To her surprise, the item ends up being a little boy. Troy rescues the boy. The boy speaks French and very little English. The boy is silent for the most part except to say his name is Paul. When Troy digs into who would throw a little boy over a ferry, she ends up uncovering something way bigger than herself.
Learning to Swim is the debut novel form author, Sara J. Henry. I have to tell you that this book far exceeded my expectations…twice over! I was hooked right from the beginning. The moment Troy jumped into the water; I knew that I was in for the long haul. Paul was an interesting character. His silence spoke louder than his words. He seemed so much wiser than his young years. I like that Troy was a strong, independent woman. She could have just given up and let the police handle Paul but she decided to take matters into her own hands. There was enough mystery and intrigue to make a thriller/suspense fan like me very pleased. Learning to Swim is a nail-bitter, edge of your seat, breath of fresh air! I am keeping my eyes on Ms. Henry and what she comes out with next.
meshuggeknitter's review against another edition
3.0
First half of the book was really good, but dragged for me for the rest of the book.
mmc6661's review against another edition
4.0
this book was not what I was expecting when I first started it. It really turned out to be quite a page turner. A very good storyline and suspense with a bit of a twist. I don't usually care for sequels but I would love to return to the story of Troy and see where life leads her !
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
1.0
1. Supposing you'd just rescued a child from drowning, would you:
a) take the kid home to live with you? or,
b) take the child to the nearest police station or hospital? or,
c) call 911?
2. If that child told you he had been kidnapped, would you:
a) suspect the father because you'd read a newspaper article once about a guy who faked his child's kidnapping to get rid of him? or,
b) call the police?
3. If you suspected someone of kidnapping and murder, would you:
a) go visit them so you can intuit whether or not they might be dangerous? or,
b) call the police already?
3. If you were a wealthy business man whose son had been kidnapped, but was now returned to you, although the kidnappers were still free and knew your son might be able to identify them, would you:
a) wait a week after his return, then head to Home Depot for some new window latches? or,
b) have already had an expensive security system professionally installed?
4. If you made out with a guy, and there were *ahem* indications that he really got into it, when that same guy suddenly kissed you passionately a few days later would you:
a) be surprised because you thought he had liked you like a sister? or,
b) not be surprised at all, really?
5. If you were the owner of a successful marketing business generating millions of dollars, would you:
a) need help with basic computer tasks? or,
b) be proficient at the systems you needed to run your company and have a computer guy on the payroll for the other stuff?
6. If the father of the kidnapped child asked you to come live with them in their home in another city for a while would you:
a) move right on in immediately?
b) consider visiting when work is less busy and your own obligations allow? or
c) think that is more than a little odd and decline politely?
7. If you discovered emails from a guy's murdered wife in on her computer that might shed light on her final movements, would you:
a) email the people who had written her since her disappearance pretending to be her? or,
b) let the husband know about them, especially since you and he are sometimes making out, even though it always kinda surprises you?
c) seriously, the police exist for a reason!
If you answered a) to the above questions, congratulations! You're the author of this book! In this book, Troy, the main character rescues a six-year-old she sees thrown from a ferry as it moves past the ferry she's on. She jumps in and rescues him, swimming back to shore. Then she decides that it might be his parents who threw him off of the ferry. Later, after he's moved in to her house, he tells her he was kidnapped. And then a thriller of sorts ensues, driven mainly by the utter, utter stupidity of the main character and unlikely plot twists that were nonetheless entirely predictable. All secondary characters exist only to help Troy out when she needs it, at which point they no longer need to be bothered with. Also, there's lots of stating the obvious, demonstrating areas the author researched and enough padding to make a decent quilt. Avoid this one.
a) take the kid home to live with you? or,
b) take the child to the nearest police station or hospital? or,
c) call 911?
2. If that child told you he had been kidnapped, would you:
a) suspect the father because you'd read a newspaper article once about a guy who faked his child's kidnapping to get rid of him? or,
b) call the police?
3. If you suspected someone of kidnapping and murder, would you:
a) go visit them so you can intuit whether or not they might be dangerous? or,
b) call the police already?
3. If you were a wealthy business man whose son had been kidnapped, but was now returned to you, although the kidnappers were still free and knew your son might be able to identify them, would you:
a) wait a week after his return, then head to Home Depot for some new window latches? or,
b) have already had an expensive security system professionally installed?
4. If you made out with a guy, and there were *ahem* indications that he really got into it, when that same guy suddenly kissed you passionately a few days later would you:
a) be surprised because you thought he had liked you like a sister? or,
b) not be surprised at all, really?
5. If you were the owner of a successful marketing business generating millions of dollars, would you:
a) need help with basic computer tasks? or,
b) be proficient at the systems you needed to run your company and have a computer guy on the payroll for the other stuff?
6. If the father of the kidnapped child asked you to come live with them in their home in another city for a while would you:
a) move right on in immediately?
b) consider visiting when work is less busy and your own obligations allow? or
c) think that is more than a little odd and decline politely?
7. If you discovered emails from a guy's murdered wife in on her computer that might shed light on her final movements, would you:
a) email the people who had written her since her disappearance pretending to be her? or,
b) let the husband know about them, especially since you and he are sometimes making out, even though it always kinda surprises you?
c) seriously, the police exist for a reason!
If you answered a) to the above questions, congratulations! You're the author of this book! In this book, Troy, the main character rescues a six-year-old she sees thrown from a ferry as it moves past the ferry she's on. She jumps in and rescues him, swimming back to shore. Then she decides that it might be his parents who threw him off of the ferry. Later, after he's moved in to her house, he tells her he was kidnapped. And then a thriller of sorts ensues, driven mainly by the utter, utter stupidity of the main character and unlikely plot twists that were nonetheless entirely predictable. All secondary characters exist only to help Troy out when she needs it, at which point they no longer need to be bothered with. Also, there's lots of stating the obvious, demonstrating areas the author researched and enough padding to make a decent quilt. Avoid this one.
carolpk's review against another edition
3.0
In the acknowledgments for Learning to Swim, Sara J. Henry thanks Michael Robotham for encouraging her to change the title and SFC for the titling. Though I don't know the original title the advice to change it seems sound. Throughout this debut, the images and life lessons that "learning to swim" evoke, fit well.
The premise of Learning to Swim is a grabber. Picture yourself on the ferry on Lake Champlain, I've been there. You are the only person on the open air deck. As the ferry going in the opposite direction passes someone throws hurls something into the water. It might have been trash or even a doll but some instinct tells you it isn't. Without thought you dive overboard into the cold waters and with a bit of struggle actually grab hold of the object and realize it isn't trash nor doll but a young, small boy. On surfacing you realize you and he are now bobbing in the water, the ferry gone and no other boats in sight. You must get to shore. I'm hooked.
As we move on in the story, I must suspend belief a bit to stay in the game. Troy Chance, the diver does get to shore. Most people given the situation would contact the police, tell what they saw and let them handle it. Not Troy. She decides to keep the boy and of course, this allows for the mystery to unfold. Who threw this kid overboard and why. There's enough here to keep me interested if not . Kidnapping, murder, a bit of romance, and one innocent, smart six year old keep me turning the pages. I loved the prime location of Ottawa with bits and pieces of Lake Placid, Lake Champlain and Vermont thrown in. The author includes a bit of herself by empowering Troy with the ability to maintain her bike with expert skill. This wasn't necessary but did work in the plot as it added a bit of the personal to the character Troy.
I very much liked the beginning and I really liked the ending...hoping that this is the end of the story and that the author does not fell compelled to write anything more about these characters.
Learning to Swim won the Anthony Award and Agatha Award for Best First Mystery.
P.S. I just visited the author's website and see there will be a sequel; A Cold and Lonely Place will be released in February. Whether this is a good move remains to be seen. As I stated I was satisfied to leave Troy and the boy, Paul's story where it ended.
I'm really curious as to what this book might have been named if not for intervention of SFC (?). I read something about it sounding like a Bobbsey Twin novel.
The premise of Learning to Swim is a grabber. Picture yourself on the ferry on Lake Champlain, I've been there. You are the only person on the open air deck. As the ferry going in the opposite direction passes someone throws hurls something into the water. It might have been trash or even a doll but some instinct tells you it isn't. Without thought you dive overboard into the cold waters and with a bit of struggle actually grab hold of the object and realize it isn't trash nor doll but a young, small boy. On surfacing you realize you and he are now bobbing in the water, the ferry gone and no other boats in sight. You must get to shore. I'm hooked.
As we move on in the story, I must suspend belief a bit to stay in the game. Troy Chance, the diver does get to shore. Most people given the situation would contact the police, tell what they saw and let them handle it. Not Troy. She decides to keep the boy and of course, this allows for the mystery to unfold. Who threw this kid overboard and why. There's enough here to keep me interested if not . Kidnapping, murder, a bit of romance, and one innocent, smart six year old keep me turning the pages. I loved the prime location of Ottawa with bits and pieces of Lake Placid, Lake Champlain and Vermont thrown in. The author includes a bit of herself by empowering Troy with the ability to maintain her bike with expert skill. This wasn't necessary but did work in the plot as it added a bit of the personal to the character Troy.
I very much liked the beginning and I really liked the ending...hoping that this is the end of the story and that the author does not fell compelled to write anything more about these characters.
Learning to Swim won the Anthony Award and Agatha Award for Best First Mystery.
P.S. I just visited the author's website and see there will be a sequel; A Cold and Lonely Place will be released in February. Whether this is a good move remains to be seen. As I stated I was satisfied to leave Troy and the boy, Paul's story where it ended.
I'm really curious as to what this book might have been named if not for intervention of SFC (?). I read something about it sounding like a Bobbsey Twin novel.
sandin954's review against another edition
3.0
Nominated for many best first novel awards, including the Anthony, this had a pretty entertaining suspense plot with just a touch of romance thrown in though the writing was a bit stilted at times.
kategci's review against another edition
4.0
I have not had the luxury of reading a book from morning to night in many years, but that is what I did yesterday! Learning to Swim captured me on the first page and did not let me go until the last. Troy Chance sees a child thrown into Lake Champlain as she is crossing on the ferry and from there, Sara J. Henry takes us on a ride of emotions as well as suspense. Who is this boy and where did he come from? Troy not only searches for answers to these questions, but answers questions in her own life that she didn't know she had. I have also vacationed in Lake Placid a number of times, so knowing the geography helped draw me into the story. Sara J. Henry's writing is compelling and the novel was so easy to read, I rounded up to 4 stars from 3 1/2.