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sardinetin's review against another edition
3.0
A solid thriller, with one or two slightly odd scenes (kangaroo attack, anyone?) and unfinished threads that meant I couldn't quite give it 4 stars. Very much enjoyed the descriptions of Italy though - really made me want to visit Positano!
kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
3.0
Writers who take the decision to build their novels around characters who are less than sympathetic, veering towards frustrating, appear to be making one of the braver literary decisions you can come across. Needless to say Rebecca Wilding is a difficult prospect in THE LOST SWIMMER.
The central narrator, with the story told in the first person, Rebecca has the sort of mind that's difficult to spend time in. Incredibly passive and dangerously whingy she seems to almost relish the things that go wrong in her life. For somebody who is a Professor, and Head of Department she's a surprisingly easy target to set up. From the allegations of financial impropriety and fraud, to the possibility that her husband Stephen is having an affair, Rebecca seems unable to perceive danger no matter how much piles up at her door, and seems strangely unwilling to actually precipitate any sort of confrontation, or any sort of action that might resolve things.
Instead, after she, and her favoured staff in her University Department are accused of everything possible from a Dean with a chip on her shoulder and a desire to annoy everyone in range, Rebecca heads off to Greece in the hope that whilst she's over there, she can solve the conspiracy that's happening back at home, and win her husband back. Which is an interesting decision on any level, not just because at this stage she can't prove / doesn't necessarily know for sure that Stephen's actually having an affair.
The pace of the book is also teasing and languid, building pace slowly, although there could be many readers who spend the first half wondering what the point of everything is - especially as there is a lot of opportunity to pick the instigator of the frame into which Rebecca willingly walks. Where THE LOST SWIMMER really excels is in the descriptions of landscape, and sea and in some of sub-characters who were vivid and engaging.
Obviously THE LOST SWIMMER is a book that's exploring the nature of love and trust. It's uncomfortable when you're looking at a relationship from inside the head of somebody so conflicted, so fragile, so unsure particularly when on other levels she must be competent, intelligent and capable. An odd experience to read, THE LOST SWIMMER is definitely quite a conversation starter and will probably be one of those books that readers either love or hate.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-lost-swimmer-ann-turner
The central narrator, with the story told in the first person, Rebecca has the sort of mind that's difficult to spend time in. Incredibly passive and dangerously whingy she seems to almost relish the things that go wrong in her life. For somebody who is a Professor, and Head of Department she's a surprisingly easy target to set up. From the allegations of financial impropriety and fraud, to the possibility that her husband Stephen is having an affair, Rebecca seems unable to perceive danger no matter how much piles up at her door, and seems strangely unwilling to actually precipitate any sort of confrontation, or any sort of action that might resolve things.
Instead, after she, and her favoured staff in her University Department are accused of everything possible from a Dean with a chip on her shoulder and a desire to annoy everyone in range, Rebecca heads off to Greece in the hope that whilst she's over there, she can solve the conspiracy that's happening back at home, and win her husband back. Which is an interesting decision on any level, not just because at this stage she can't prove / doesn't necessarily know for sure that Stephen's actually having an affair.
The pace of the book is also teasing and languid, building pace slowly, although there could be many readers who spend the first half wondering what the point of everything is - especially as there is a lot of opportunity to pick the instigator of the frame into which Rebecca willingly walks. Where THE LOST SWIMMER really excels is in the descriptions of landscape, and sea and in some of sub-characters who were vivid and engaging.
Obviously THE LOST SWIMMER is a book that's exploring the nature of love and trust. It's uncomfortable when you're looking at a relationship from inside the head of somebody so conflicted, so fragile, so unsure particularly when on other levels she must be competent, intelligent and capable. An odd experience to read, THE LOST SWIMMER is definitely quite a conversation starter and will probably be one of those books that readers either love or hate.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-lost-swimmer-ann-turner
tonyriver's review against another edition
3.0
I really rate this 3 1/2 stars. I have delayed writing a review as I am conflicted on this book. I really enjoyed it, I thought the heroine was solid and interesting - I cared about her. I loved that it was essentially Australian, although it included the exotic locations in Europe to jazz it up.
However some parts of the story were a little clunky. I felt the repeated mentions of the fear of her partners infidelity and the potential person he might be with was lacking subtlety. It seemed to be mentioned too often and really with little evidence that she should feel this affair was happening. When we find out he truth it seemed a little too pat. Maybe a stronger editing hand could have helped polish this line in the story.
I liked the relative reality of the story outcome... little pandering to expectations of the reader but managing to extract a comfortable ending with hope for the key protagonists future.
The heroine has an interesting career and friends and the authors writing is mostly strong. (While a debut novel, the author is very experienced as a screenwriter.) I had no trouble keeping interested and engaged in the story and was keen to pick it up each day.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this book.
cactuswildflower's review against another edition
3.0
Initially, I picked this book up because of the setting & it is safe to say that is the thing I enjoyed most whilst reading. As a thriller/mystery, the story is a little slow and then seemed to come to an abrupt conclusion. I did not altogether dislike reading this book; I think I was just hoping for a little more intrigue.
calli's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
sophs1ibrary's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘The sand was washed clean today, stretching wide at low tide.’
Rebecca Wilding is a forty-seven year old archaeology professor. Married, with two adult children away at university, Rebecca has time to pursue her interest in ancient Greek artefacts and to consolidate her career. But suddenly, things start to go wrong. Budget cuts within Rebecca’s department at the university are likely to translate into job losses, and her superior Priscilla is undermining and belittling her. Her husband Stephen has become secretive, and Rebecca wonders whether he is having an affair. Anomalies are uncovered in the university accounts Rebecca is responsible for, and she is accused of fraud.
Stephen and Rebecca travel to Greece, Italy and Paris where, around longstanding professional engagements, they’ve planned a magnificent holiday. Rebecca hopes to uncover the truth about the fraud she’s been accused of, and that she and Stephen will rekindle their love.
But, while holidaying on the Amalfi Coast, Stephen goes swimming and does not return. And fresh allegations against Rebecca follow.
‘Truth was growing increasingly elusive and I was contributing; if I went down that path I could get tangled in my own lies.’
There are a couple of mysteries and many twists and turns in this novel. Has Rebecca been set up? If so, by whom and why? Why was Stephen so secretive? Was Stephen having an affair, and with whom? Has Stephen disappeared, or has he drowned?
This story unfolds at a fast pace, and I found it difficult to put down. I thought I’d figured it out a couple of times, and then had to reconsider as yet another twist added new possibilities. And the ending? Well, I wanted more.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Rebecca Wilding is a forty-seven year old archaeology professor. Married, with two adult children away at university, Rebecca has time to pursue her interest in ancient Greek artefacts and to consolidate her career. But suddenly, things start to go wrong. Budget cuts within Rebecca’s department at the university are likely to translate into job losses, and her superior Priscilla is undermining and belittling her. Her husband Stephen has become secretive, and Rebecca wonders whether he is having an affair. Anomalies are uncovered in the university accounts Rebecca is responsible for, and she is accused of fraud.
Stephen and Rebecca travel to Greece, Italy and Paris where, around longstanding professional engagements, they’ve planned a magnificent holiday. Rebecca hopes to uncover the truth about the fraud she’s been accused of, and that she and Stephen will rekindle their love.
But, while holidaying on the Amalfi Coast, Stephen goes swimming and does not return. And fresh allegations against Rebecca follow.
‘Truth was growing increasingly elusive and I was contributing; if I went down that path I could get tangled in my own lies.’
There are a couple of mysteries and many twists and turns in this novel. Has Rebecca been set up? If so, by whom and why? Why was Stephen so secretive? Was Stephen having an affair, and with whom? Has Stephen disappeared, or has he drowned?
This story unfolds at a fast pace, and I found it difficult to put down. I thought I’d figured it out a couple of times, and then had to reconsider as yet another twist added new possibilities. And the ending? Well, I wanted more.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
shelleyrae's review against another edition
4.0
The Lost Swimmer is a low key psychological thriller from debut author Ann Turner.
University department Head Rebecca Wilding is under extraordinary pressure both professionally and personally. Accused of embezzlement by a hostile colleague and fretting about her husband's increasingly odd behaviour, she hopes that she can resolve both situations during a long planned overseas trip. Instead, Rebecca finds herself in the midst of a crisis when the she becomes the target of the fraud investigation and then she is suspected of murder when her husband disappears without a trace.
I've been trying to write this review for three days but somehow can't quite find the words. This is not a reflection on the novel which I really enjoyed, but I have to move on, so here are some scattered thoughts:
* Told in the first person, the narrative is immediate and tense, and I was never quite sure whether I could trust Rebecca or not.
* I felt there were some inconsistencies in the characterisation of Rebecca, she didn't always behave in ways that made sense.
* I'd guessed the identity of the person framing Rebecca fairly early on but still had doubts all the way through given the multiple red herrings, any of whom would have been reasonable suspects.
* Stephen's disappearance has less relevance to the story than I expected from the synopsis.
* The pace is steady and Turner builds the suspense throughout the novel. I read it quickly gripped by the spiraling tension.
* The descriptions of landscape and sea are vivid, especially those of the Amalfi Coast.
* An atmospheric debut exploring the themes of trust, betrayal, loss and love.
"Truth was growing increasingly elusive and I was contributing; if I went down that path I could get tangled in my own lies."
renee_conoulty's review against another edition
4.0
Rebecca is an Australian University professor carrying some baggage from her past. She is happily married with two grown children, when she begins to suspect her husband is having an affair. The funding cuts at the University are also placing pressure on Rebecca and then to top it all off, she is placed under investigation for embezzlement involving a European bank. Rebecca and her husband had a European working holiday planned and during this trip Rebecca tries to find out the truth.
Rebecca's paranoia builds and I wasn't sure who to trust until it all came out. The first part of the book is slower paced, building the story but that last part kept me turning the pages! I liked Rebecca and could relate to how she felt at the end of the book. You don't always notice things as they are happening - hindsight has 20:20 vision.
I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rebecca's paranoia builds and I wasn't sure who to trust until it all came out. The first part of the book is slower paced, building the story but that last part kept me turning the pages! I liked Rebecca and could relate to how she felt at the end of the book. You don't always notice things as they are happening - hindsight has 20:20 vision.
I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.