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Swingers
Kim Karlsen just found a dead body in her pool.
During a swingers’ party, Billy Karlsen disappears into his home office, not keen on his wife Kim’s kind of parties but willing to overlook this single flaw in his otherwise exquisite trophy wife.
Kim’s sexuality is one thing she’s had control over in her life. And she’ll be damned if any husband forces her to make herself small. Still, it’s Dallas, Texas, and Kim keeps her open marriage as secret as possible.
There are 7 suspects.
Her life changes in a moment when Billy turns up dead in the pool later that night. Six guests, plus Kim, are the only people who were in the house, and Detective Troy Underwood already has his sights set on Kim as the killer.
As the investigation unfolds, Kim questions everything she knows about her closest friends.
Did her deceased financial advisor husband owe money to Dan and Amanda, the power couple that she catches making a suspicious purchase at the super center?
Could elementary school teachers, Nicole and Jason, not be as wholesome as they seem?
Or could her very best friend, Jackie, and her husband Nathan, have been responsible that night?
Kim’s head spins with possibilities.
And things keep getting worse.
Kim finds out that there’s a lot she didn’t know about her late husband. From relatives to relationships, Billy is full of surprises, even from beyond the grave.
Kim’s ex-husband and good friend, Michael, helps her navigate the investigation and juggle the care of their fifteen year old daughter, Olivia, who gets expelled for the first time in her life.
As things get more out of control, Kim wonders how well you can ever truly know another person, and in the end…
How well do you really want to know anyone?
During a swingers’ party, Billy Karlsen disappears into his home office, not keen on his wife Kim’s kind of parties but willing to overlook this single flaw in his otherwise exquisite trophy wife.
Kim’s sexuality is one thing she’s had control over in her life. And she’ll be damned if any husband forces her to make herself small. Still, it’s Dallas, Texas, and Kim keeps her open marriage as secret as possible.
There are 7 suspects.
Her life changes in a moment when Billy turns up dead in the pool later that night. Six guests, plus Kim, are the only people who were in the house, and Detective Troy Underwood already has his sights set on Kim as the killer.
As the investigation unfolds, Kim questions everything she knows about her closest friends.
Did her deceased financial advisor husband owe money to Dan and Amanda, the power couple that she catches making a suspicious purchase at the super center?
Could elementary school teachers, Nicole and Jason, not be as wholesome as they seem?
Or could her very best friend, Jackie, and her husband Nathan, have been responsible that night?
Kim’s head spins with possibilities.
And things keep getting worse.
Kim finds out that there’s a lot she didn’t know about her late husband. From relatives to relationships, Billy is full of surprises, even from beyond the grave.
Kim’s ex-husband and good friend, Michael, helps her navigate the investigation and juggle the care of their fifteen year old daughter, Olivia, who gets expelled for the first time in her life.
As things get more out of control, Kim wonders how well you can ever truly know another person, and in the end…
How well do you really want to know anyone?
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2023
163 people are currently reading
2093 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
May 19, 2023
Wow! That ending still has me reeling! To say it was a shock is an understatement. This is the first thriller I’ve read by this author, but definitely will not be the last. It was fast paced and grabbed my attention from the first page. The lines between victim and villain were blurred, and had me questioning who could be trusted in this twisted tale. Thank you BookSirens for my ARC.
April 26, 2023
"He'd always tell me no, go ahead, do your thing. But there was resentment there. There was judgement. I sort of walked around in constant fear that he'd bring a priest to the house to exorcise me one day. But now that day would never come. Now I'm out of the marriage I've wanted out of for a long time."
First of all, gotta say, receiving an email entitled Swingers made me question what on earth I was opening up. I'd completely forgotten that I'd signed up to get a copy from the author months ago. Not gonna lie, I was a little afraid to open it.
This was such a fun read. I mean, what could be more exciting than a murder at a swingers party?
Kim and six of her friends are having fun at her house when she finds her husband dead in the pool. The only suspects are her closest friends, no one else was there... right?
A fast paced whodunit with plenty of twists. I just wish it had been a little longer because what a way to end a book.
Highly recommend.
First of all, gotta say, receiving an email entitled Swingers made me question what on earth I was opening up. I'd completely forgotten that I'd signed up to get a copy from the author months ago. Not gonna lie, I was a little afraid to open it.
This was such a fun read. I mean, what could be more exciting than a murder at a swingers party?
Kim and six of her friends are having fun at her house when she finds her husband dead in the pool. The only suspects are her closest friends, no one else was there... right?
A fast paced whodunit with plenty of twists. I just wish it had been a little longer because what a way to end a book.
Highly recommend.
April 27, 2023
I really liked this book. It had a different style with the swingers angle. It really gripped me from the beginning and didn’t let go until the last page. I read it within a day due to its fast pace. I will definitely read more by this author. I was all set to leave 5 stars. The reason I didn’t is due to the last twist. I hate it when author’s feel they can’t leave well enough alone. However, I enjoyed the book enough to only dock one star. It’s definitely worth a read! Thanks to BookSirens for an ARC!
April 26, 2025
scattered writing, predictable, bad editing.
The sentences are written like this. They’re short. Scattered. The main character comes off as dumb. There are loopholes/mistakes the editor should have picked up on and maybe should’ve suggested more descriptive, full sentences rather than several short sentences that a high schooler could’ve written themselves. I finished it because I try to avoid not finishing books. I wanted to see if I was right about the guilty party in the story, and I was. Thankfully it took me less than a day to read and I don’t feel like I completely wasted my weekend.
The sentences are written like this. They’re short. Scattered. The main character comes off as dumb. There are loopholes/mistakes the editor should have picked up on and maybe should’ve suggested more descriptive, full sentences rather than several short sentences that a high schooler could’ve written themselves. I finished it because I try to avoid not finishing books. I wanted to see if I was right about the guilty party in the story, and I was. Thankfully it took me less than a day to read and I don’t feel like I completely wasted my weekend.
May 23, 2023
Highly disappointed. I was really attracted to the story line and it being a psychological thriller made me even more interested in reading it, but it definitely lacked overall. It definitely kept me interested but it was very predictable and I wasn't even phased by the ending. Not sure if I would read more by this author in the future or if her other psychological thrillers are even worth pursuing.
April 27, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up. I really wanted to love this book, but it fell a bit flat for me. I enjoyed the writing style and some of the twists that kept me guessing, but ultimately I found the ending to be predictable.
I also feel like a few themes were repeated so many times that they just became redundant, and I kept thinking “I KNOW ALREADY.”
Here are some examples:
1. Michael is SUCH a good guy. No one could ever be as good of a person and the MC had to let him go because she didn’t deserve him.
2. Billy is a HUGE jerk but he has money.
3. Jackie is SO gorgeous. She could be a model. She is beautiful.
4. Olivia LOVES video games. Basically the only thing she does through this entire book is play video games. Which we understand because she’s a teenager.
5. The MC thinks she’s the WORST human alive. Her self-deprecating is very apparent.
I’m not trying to be harsh and did really enjoy the book still which is why I’m rounding it up to 4 stars just some of these redundancies got a little annoying after being repeated so much. Overall the writing style was great and the premise has some fresh originality that I appreciated a lot.
I also feel like a few themes were repeated so many times that they just became redundant, and I kept thinking “I KNOW ALREADY.”
Here are some examples:
1. Michael is SUCH a good guy. No one could ever be as good of a person and the MC had to let him go because she didn’t deserve him.
2. Billy is a HUGE jerk but he has money.
3. Jackie is SO gorgeous. She could be a model. She is beautiful.
4. Olivia LOVES video games. Basically the only thing she does through this entire book is play video games. Which we understand because she’s a teenager.
5. The MC thinks she’s the WORST human alive. Her self-deprecating is very apparent.
I’m not trying to be harsh and did really enjoy the book still which is why I’m rounding it up to 4 stars just some of these redundancies got a little annoying after being repeated so much. Overall the writing style was great and the premise has some fresh originality that I appreciated a lot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2024
Disappointing - spoiler alert.
I found this story unbelievable and inconsistent. The daughter was her highest priority yet she had swinger parties and got naked with her husband's secretary in the family pool ... while the daughter was home? She has no idea where all the business money went but didn't investigate beyond checking her balances. She treated the teenage daughter like she was ten years old yet nobody questioned how she got roofies and dragged a grown man into the pool? She couldn't decide who she desired more, her ex husband or the secretary? How convenient that Michael, the worlds greatest father, left a note laying around to explain everything including why he set his be!oved daughter up to take the fall ... after he got away with murder. And you gotta love the loose lipped detective who provides his daughter with dirt to bully her classmates. The whole story was rather ridiculous. And sorry but the writing just wasn't good. Full of grammatical errors. I don't typically include 'spoilers' in my reviews but this one was already rotten.
I found this story unbelievable and inconsistent. The daughter was her highest priority yet she had swinger parties and got naked with her husband's secretary in the family pool ... while the daughter was home? She has no idea where all the business money went but didn't investigate beyond checking her balances. She treated the teenage daughter like she was ten years old yet nobody questioned how she got roofies and dragged a grown man into the pool? She couldn't decide who she desired more, her ex husband or the secretary? How convenient that Michael, the worlds greatest father, left a note laying around to explain everything including why he set his be!oved daughter up to take the fall ... after he got away with murder. And you gotta love the loose lipped detective who provides his daughter with dirt to bully her classmates. The whole story was rather ridiculous. And sorry but the writing just wasn't good. Full of grammatical errors. I don't typically include 'spoilers' in my reviews but this one was already rotten.
September 28, 2023
I wasn't sure that I would enjoy this book but I have previously read a few other books by Marnie Vinge which I did enjoy, so I thought I would give it a chance. Wow! The ending to that book was not what I expected. The book was fast paced and kept me engaged the whole time. There were plenty of twists throughout the book. Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of Swingers by Marnie Vinge. I gave it a 4 star rating and I would definitely recommend this book to others.
January 26, 2025
This story is a rollercoaster of suspense and intrigue, with Kim Karlsen smack dab in the middle of a tangled web of secrets and lies. The plot kicks off with a bang—literally—when her husband Billy's body is found floating in their pool during a swingers' party. Talk about a party foul!
Kim is a force to be reckoned with; she's a woman who refuses to be boxed in by societal norms, yet finds herself caught in a murder investigation that threatens to unravel her carefully constructed life. The tension between her desire for control and the chaos that ensues is electric.
The supporting cast is a colorful bunch, each with their own secrets and motives. Dan and Amanda, Nicole and Jason, and Kim's best friend Jackie and her husband Nathan—all add to the suspense, making you question everyone's innocence.
The twists and turns keep coming, especially as Kim uncovers jaw-dropping truths about her late husband. The involvement of her ex-husband Michael and their daughter Olivia adds another layer of complexity.
Overall, this story is a wild ride that keeps you guessing until the very end. The shocking twists left me gobsmacked, and I needed a moment to process what I had just read. It's a testament to the idea that you can never truly know someone, and that even the most controlled lives can spiral into chaos. Buckle up!
Kim is a force to be reckoned with; she's a woman who refuses to be boxed in by societal norms, yet finds herself caught in a murder investigation that threatens to unravel her carefully constructed life. The tension between her desire for control and the chaos that ensues is electric.
The supporting cast is a colorful bunch, each with their own secrets and motives. Dan and Amanda, Nicole and Jason, and Kim's best friend Jackie and her husband Nathan—all add to the suspense, making you question everyone's innocence.
The twists and turns keep coming, especially as Kim uncovers jaw-dropping truths about her late husband. The involvement of her ex-husband Michael and their daughter Olivia adds another layer of complexity.
Overall, this story is a wild ride that keeps you guessing until the very end. The shocking twists left me gobsmacked, and I needed a moment to process what I had just read. It's a testament to the idea that you can never truly know someone, and that even the most controlled lives can spiral into chaos. Buckle up!
June 16, 2024
First, if you think this one will be spicy, it’s really not.
It was an ok read.
I’m not usually one to critique writing because anyone who writes a book is doing more than me! So kudos to the author. However, sometimes the writing wasn’t great……”The rumble of the truck brings a memory, sharp as the cut-off lid of an aluminum can.” Who would say that???
The story moved along but never really got to “psychological thriller” level for me.
The chapters aren’t too long which I liked.
Overall, not bad but not great.
It was an ok read.
I’m not usually one to critique writing because anyone who writes a book is doing more than me! So kudos to the author. However, sometimes the writing wasn’t great……”The rumble of the truck brings a memory, sharp as the cut-off lid of an aluminum can.” Who would say that???
The story moved along but never really got to “psychological thriller” level for me.
The chapters aren’t too long which I liked.
Overall, not bad but not great.
April 19, 2024
This was a fun, quick read. I really liked the murder during a swingers party idea. I felt like it would be unique. I wish the party and the characters were a little more detailed. I feel like we didn’t get enough of the characters. We didn’t get to know them or gather enough details about them to have the fun of suspecting them in the murder. I did really like how twisted the ending was. Overall not a bad read. Worth it for the ending.
June 24, 2023
This was my first Marnie Vinge book, and I loved it! Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen or who the killer could be, BOOM, I was wrong! This was a fun, twisty read with some spice! Loved the suspense, the end blew my mind, and I can't wait to read more of Marnie's books! Highly recommend this one!
May 2, 2023
I just finished this book by #MarnieVinge and all I can say is WOW!!! This book was amazing. Love the darkness, the deceit and lies. I was totally shocked. Keep it up and I can’t wait for your next book!
June 16, 2025
“Swingers” by Marnie Vinge is a fun, twisted, and thrilling ride! It is packed with shocking turns and keeps you guessing the whole way through. It’s a wild story about trust, secrets, and how little we may truly know the people closest to us. I couldn’t put it down and flew through it in one sitting!
October 9, 2025
Woah - so good! Man did that get your brain working the whole time. It was way better than I was expecting! Loved it! There will be lots to talk about at Book Club with this one!
June 3, 2023
Woah - stop what you’re doing and add this to your TBR! I have only seen this book talked about once and was intrigued by the unique plot of a swingers party gone wrong.
Kimberly is married to Billy, who doesn’t approve of her lifestyle as a swinger. One summer evening, three couples gather at Kim and Billy’s house for a swingers party. Billy has secluded himself in his home office while the party is going on. Later that night, during the party, Billy turns up dead in the pool. There are 7 suspects. Does anyone really know their spouse? Their friends?
This book sucked me in from the first chapter. Every chapter took a different turn that had me second guessing and triple guessing who I thought was responsible for Billy’s murder. I stayed up late reading because I had to know what happened. Once I finally got to the “whodunit” part I was shocked! Once I thought I was positive of what happened, BAM, I read the last chapter - I literally closed my kindle and stared into nothingness trying to digest what I just read.
Kimberly is married to Billy, who doesn’t approve of her lifestyle as a swinger. One summer evening, three couples gather at Kim and Billy’s house for a swingers party. Billy has secluded himself in his home office while the party is going on. Later that night, during the party, Billy turns up dead in the pool. There are 7 suspects. Does anyone really know their spouse? Their friends?
This book sucked me in from the first chapter. Every chapter took a different turn that had me second guessing and triple guessing who I thought was responsible for Billy’s murder. I stayed up late reading because I had to know what happened. Once I finally got to the “whodunit” part I was shocked! Once I thought I was positive of what happened, BAM, I read the last chapter - I literally closed my kindle and stared into nothingness trying to digest what I just read.
May 1, 2024
I was leaning towards 3-3.5 stars, it was okay, I thought I seen where it was going a few times. Writing style shows it’s a bit average, has lots of potential. The ending is what raised my rating. The double twist (if you want to call it that because I saw the first “twist” coming a mile away) is what raised my review. Grammatical errors and typos always annoy me too. But overall, I enjoyed the read and couldn’t put it down in the end!
July 19, 2023
Fun and interesting read!! Couples gather for a party and one is found dead. The search for who killed him and all the twists made this great! loved the short chapters and fast pace. The last turn I didn't expect at all. You will be guessing right up until the last page !! Thank you to booksirens for allowing to me read this arc for my honest review !!!
May 14, 2023
3.5⭐️ A little repetitive, but I couldn’t put it down! I was surprised at the “ending” - I’m usually pretty good at guessing twists and I had not guessed this one! But then another twist came and I was disappointed my original thought was correct. Would still read more by this author in the future
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2023
What in the world !?!?! I am speechless 🙊 😶 I did not see the ending coming at all. I guess we never know anyone. I loved how it kept me guessing, loved how fast paced it was and love the characters but holy crap that ending blew me away.
Thanks booksiren for the ARC
Thanks booksiren for the ARC
May 25, 2023
4 swinging couples.
1 dead swinger.
During a swinger party.
To quote my all-time favorite scary movies...Everyone’s a suspect.
The book is much better than my quick, novice summary above. I was so vested in finding out who did it that I was TOTALLY blindsided by the ending. It literally left me with my jaw on the floor. I was like, "Whaaaaaa? SERIOUSLY!?!"
This is the second book by this author that I've read (both being ARCs) and I very much look forward to reading more!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
1 dead swinger.
During a swinger party.
To quote my all-time favorite scary movies...Everyone’s a suspect.
The book is much better than my quick, novice summary above. I was so vested in finding out who did it that I was TOTALLY blindsided by the ending. It literally left me with my jaw on the floor. I was like, "Whaaaaaa? SERIOUSLY!?!"
This is the second book by this author that I've read (both being ARCs) and I very much look forward to reading more!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 14, 2023
Very solid plot line. I suspected everyone. The ending felt a bit rushed but I liked it.
June 14, 2023
Good, good, good 👍
January 3, 2024
I loved this fast paced thriller! Don’t let the title turn you away! Great book!
January 10, 2024
Good thriller. Lots of surprises and definitely a different slant than the average domestic thriller. Has a "gasp" surprise at the very end.
June 16, 2024
Definitely a fun easy read. I clocked the twist pretty early but the reveal was still fun.
July 24, 2024
Wow what a book especially for a debit author. The audiobook is excellent and I highly recommend it. It is a bit sexual as the content does have a lot of swinger thoughts and a few acts.
February 22, 2025
pre-dict-a-ble. easy to guess. easy to assume. hard as heck to get through bc sooOoOoo boring. nothing happened the ENTIRE book until the last 10% and even the “twist” was boring
April 23, 2025
An interesting situation that I haven’t ever seen before attracted me to this one but I felt the story moved a bit slow and then all at once very quickly wrapped up.
July 3, 2023
Really great twist! Thought I had it figured out, but I was wrong!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews