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Don't Swipe Right
The mystifying world of online dating gets a terrifying, clever, and darkly hilarious twist in this unputdownable thriller.
Gwen Turner has made a bloody mess of her life. She recently broke up with the best man she’s ever known for reasons even she can’t admit to herself and quit a lucrative job to open her own coffee shop. To top it all off, her best friend is getting married and leaving her behind in singlehood.
Along with too much cheap wine and bad reality TV, Gwen turns to a dating app to help fill the void in her life. Swiping through the few eligible bachelors left in town, she spends her evenings out on one disastrous date after another. But when a string of murders suddenly occurs in her small coastal English city, she’s shocked by the connection between each of the victims—they’ve all been on a date with her.
Before she knows what’s happening, Gwen finds herself the main suspect in a serial killer’s murderous spree, and the only way she can clear her name is to track down her former dates (even those that have ghosted her) and unmask a killer before it’s too late.
Gwen Turner has made a bloody mess of her life. She recently broke up with the best man she’s ever known for reasons even she can’t admit to herself and quit a lucrative job to open her own coffee shop. To top it all off, her best friend is getting married and leaving her behind in singlehood.
Along with too much cheap wine and bad reality TV, Gwen turns to a dating app to help fill the void in her life. Swiping through the few eligible bachelors left in town, she spends her evenings out on one disastrous date after another. But when a string of murders suddenly occurs in her small coastal English city, she’s shocked by the connection between each of the victims—they’ve all been on a date with her.
Before she knows what’s happening, Gwen finds herself the main suspect in a serial killer’s murderous spree, and the only way she can clear her name is to track down her former dates (even those that have ghosted her) and unmask a killer before it’s too late.
324 pages, Paperback
First published June 22, 2023
738 people are currently reading
50325 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,541 reviews
February 24, 2023
Gwen Turner is still devastated by the breakup of a long term relationship, but enough is enough, she’s joined the new dating app Connector, and she’s putting herself out there again (well, at least dipping her toes in)!
Problem is, each date seems to be worse than the one before, and then comes the mother of all dates, a serial killer intent on murdering all of her previous dates!
Don’t Swipe Right may be a murder mystery, but it was also a fun read ( you don’t often get to say that when a serial killer is involved). Gwen is determined to find out who the perpetrator is, but the police see her as the prime suspect. I have to say it kept me guessing, and entertained, and boy was I shocked to discover who the killer really was!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
Problem is, each date seems to be worse than the one before, and then comes the mother of all dates, a serial killer intent on murdering all of her previous dates!
Don’t Swipe Right may be a murder mystery, but it was also a fun read ( you don’t often get to say that when a serial killer is involved). Gwen is determined to find out who the perpetrator is, but the police see her as the prime suspect. I have to say it kept me guessing, and entertained, and boy was I shocked to discover who the killer really was!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
July 28, 2023
HONDA CIVIC RELIABLE 3-STARS!!!! THIS IS NOT A BAD BOOK!!
Writing: fine | Plot: fun | Ending: oh fr??
SYNOPSIS
Gwen is tryna get back in the saddle after a traumatic breakup, but things goes from bleak to abysmal when her dates start getting picked off one by one.
MY OPINION
This was one of my most-anticipated reads of the summer and I'm so glad it didn't disappoint. For those unfamiliar with the Honda Civic Reliable rating, this means it's a SOLID book that I would still happily recommend but it's just lacking that je ne sais quoi to take it into 4/5 star territory. Some people may refer to these as 'popcorn thrillers'. It came and did what it needed to do, and that's that.
Also, hats off to the author for a great FMC. It's low-key daring when men try to write snarky, young women because most of the times it veers into super-bitch territory (AHEM Harry Hole and Ragdoll series). I won't say that Gwen will be everyone's cup of tea, but think of her as a grittier Finlay Donovan or like the FMC of any Lindsey Kelk book. She's certainly not perfect and she definitely uses humour as a shield to ward off feeling things, but she's funny and trying her best.
Not only does Chilton do a great job capturing the voice of a snarky 29-year-old woman who's hit a couple speed bumps in life recently, but he did a fantastic job writing realistic and cringeworthy dates. I guess my expectations for men writing women's experiences is resting at the ocean floor with the 16-eyed critters that haunt my dreams, but I was really impressed with how he captured the dates and our knee-jerk reaction to be 'nice' and try not to upset the beast. My only issue was Gwen trying to right the ship when Josh revealed himself to be a racist douche. She seemed more upset with him calling her posh than him nearly chanting Make Britain Great Again in the middle of mini-golf.
Comedic thrillers can be hard to pull off because most of the time they start of super funny and punchy but lose steam as they go along. I thought the jokey jokes were pretty evenly dispersed throughout the book, and there were several legit laugh out loud moments. Chilton does get a lil deep with it when necessary but overall it's a pretty light read. A good palate cleanser if you just finished Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter or something equally gory and depraved.
Like the Finlay Donovan series, yeetage of disbelief required. This is citizen and lowkey cop gone rogue. And like miss Finlay and her horny detective, we have a (unnecessary IMO) love story between Gwen and Dandy Lyons that includes sex in his superior's office (professionalism? never heard of her LOL). This was my least favourite part but I guess Dandy needed a reason why he was risking it all for the biscuit (yeah, I said it). My second least fave part was the ending. I'm not gonna get into any spoilies but I can't say I'm rockin with that choice. CONSIDER YOURSELF @-ed GWEN (iykyk). This could be a great book club discussion though.
Overall, a funny and low-stakes (feels weird saying that given all the death) murder-mystery that can be read in an afternoon while you ignore your responsibilities.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: legit funny, good balance of jokes throughout, serious when needed, 'fun' and interesting premise, everyone's a suspect, fast-paced, bingeable
Cons: love story between detective and Gwen, sometimes they went a lil too rogue, some eyeroll moments (the taser scene at the end.... plz), not on board with Gwen's decision when her and the baddie meet face-t0-face
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
Writing: fine | Plot: fun | Ending: oh fr??
SYNOPSIS
Gwen is tryna get back in the saddle after a traumatic breakup, but things goes from bleak to abysmal when her dates start getting picked off one by one.
MY OPINION
This was one of my most-anticipated reads of the summer and I'm so glad it didn't disappoint. For those unfamiliar with the Honda Civic Reliable rating, this means it's a SOLID book that I would still happily recommend but it's just lacking that je ne sais quoi to take it into 4/5 star territory. Some people may refer to these as 'popcorn thrillers'. It came and did what it needed to do, and that's that.
Also, hats off to the author for a great FMC. It's low-key daring when men try to write snarky, young women because most of the times it veers into super-bitch territory (AHEM Harry Hole and Ragdoll series). I won't say that Gwen will be everyone's cup of tea, but think of her as a grittier Finlay Donovan or like the FMC of any Lindsey Kelk book. She's certainly not perfect and she definitely uses humour as a shield to ward off feeling things, but she's funny and trying her best.
Not only does Chilton do a great job capturing the voice of a snarky 29-year-old woman who's hit a couple speed bumps in life recently, but he did a fantastic job writing realistic and cringeworthy dates. I guess my expectations for men writing women's experiences is resting at the ocean floor with the 16-eyed critters that haunt my dreams, but I was really impressed with how he captured the dates and our knee-jerk reaction to be 'nice' and try not to upset the beast. My only issue was Gwen trying to right the ship when Josh revealed himself to be a racist douche. She seemed more upset with him calling her posh than him nearly chanting Make Britain Great Again in the middle of mini-golf.
Comedic thrillers can be hard to pull off because most of the time they start of super funny and punchy but lose steam as they go along. I thought the jokey jokes were pretty evenly dispersed throughout the book, and there were several legit laugh out loud moments. Chilton does get a lil deep with it when necessary but overall it's a pretty light read. A good palate cleanser if you just finished Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter or something equally gory and depraved.
Like the Finlay Donovan series, yeetage of disbelief required. This is citizen and lowkey cop gone rogue. And like miss Finlay and her horny detective, we have a (unnecessary IMO) love story between Gwen and Dandy Lyons that includes sex in his superior's office (professionalism? never heard of her LOL). This was my least favourite part but I guess Dandy needed a reason why he was risking it all for the biscuit (yeah, I said it). My second least fave part was the ending. I'm not gonna get into any spoilies but I can't say I'm rockin with that choice. CONSIDER YOURSELF @-ed GWEN (iykyk). This could be a great book club discussion though.
Overall, a funny and low-stakes (feels weird saying that given all the death) murder-mystery that can be read in an afternoon while you ignore your responsibilities.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: legit funny, good balance of jokes throughout, serious when needed, 'fun' and interesting premise, everyone's a suspect, fast-paced, bingeable
Cons: love story between detective and Gwen, sometimes they went a lil too rogue, some eyeroll moments (the taser scene at the end.... plz), not on board with Gwen's decision when her and the baddie meet face-t0-face
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
May 21, 2024
3.5 stars ✨
If you are looking for a darkly comic, entertaining book-this one might fit the bill!
Things aren’t going very well for Gwen Turner.
She still isn’t over her last boyfriend, Noah, and her best friend Sarah is getting married in a few days and moving out of their shared flat.
Gwen turns to the dating app, CONNECTOR, to help fill the void but so far all of her SWIPES have led to one disastrous date after another and the same end result-BLOCKING each match as soon as she can walk (run!) away!!
No one is more surprised than Gwen when a string of murders suddenly occurs in her small town and she learns from the Police that there seems to be only one connection between each of the victims—they’ve all been on a date with her-arranged through CONNECTOR.
She is suddenly the main SUSPECT and with the Police not really wanting to look elsewhere, she decides she will have to investigate on her own…
FOR THE MOST PART, this is a highly original, and really fun story which kept me amused-especially the chapters which give us the “fly on the wall” peek of what happened on each of her dates, and the two which share with us “what happened with Noah”.
It would have been a solid 4 stars if not for the slightly ridiculous and very OTT ending which let me down.
A buddy read with DeAnn. Did the ending work for her? Be sure to check out her amazing review!
Original Title: Don’t Swipe Right
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to Gallery/Scout Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
If you are looking for a darkly comic, entertaining book-this one might fit the bill!
Things aren’t going very well for Gwen Turner.
She still isn’t over her last boyfriend, Noah, and her best friend Sarah is getting married in a few days and moving out of their shared flat.
Gwen turns to the dating app, CONNECTOR, to help fill the void but so far all of her SWIPES have led to one disastrous date after another and the same end result-BLOCKING each match as soon as she can walk (run!) away!!
No one is more surprised than Gwen when a string of murders suddenly occurs in her small town and she learns from the Police that there seems to be only one connection between each of the victims—they’ve all been on a date with her-arranged through CONNECTOR.
She is suddenly the main SUSPECT and with the Police not really wanting to look elsewhere, she decides she will have to investigate on her own…
FOR THE MOST PART, this is a highly original, and really fun story which kept me amused-especially the chapters which give us the “fly on the wall” peek of what happened on each of her dates, and the two which share with us “what happened with Noah”.
It would have been a solid 4 stars if not for the slightly ridiculous and very OTT ending which let me down.
A buddy read with DeAnn. Did the ending work for her? Be sure to check out her amazing review!
Original Title: Don’t Swipe Right
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to Gallery/Scout Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
November 16, 2023
Swiped isn't exactly fine literature, but it is a whole lot of fun. It also made me very, very glad that I met my husband long before Tinder was a thing. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm no stranger to online dating. I might be dating (Ha! How punny!) myself here, but I met my first serious, non-high school boyfriend on AOL Personals, way back when you had to use dial-up and wait twelve minutes for your potential date's photo to load. Spent six years with the guy, despite the fact he ghosted me on our first date because he went to the wrong Kmart location (the only place within walking distance for then-carless me – it was, um, a very … romantic Kmart, okay?!) on the wrong road on the wrong side of town, and then got annoyed that he couldn't find me and turned off his phone and went home and didn't contact me again until weeks later. (I was not a smart teenager, you guys.) Years later, by the time OkCupid made it's appearance, I was a little more internet dating-savvy and managed to snag my now-husband (I mean “now-husband” in the “he - obviously - wasn't my husband when I met him” sense, not in the “eventually he won't be my husband anymore” sense) … after a few terrible, terrible dates with other guys, anyway. So what am I trying to say here? I've completely forgotten at this point. Oh, yeah, so I'm no stranger to internet dating, but the idea of Tinder and having strangers out there swiping left and right on me just freaks me out for some reason.
Anyway, oh, right, the book. It's too bad I actually have to write a review here, because I'd love to tell y'all all about the date who kept sniffing the shoes at Kmart. Yes, it was another Kmart date. Don't judge.
Okay, so … the book. Such a fun and original premise. Such fun and exasperating characters. Gwen (the main character) is full of bad decisions and is a total spaz, but it's kind of what makes the book work? If she'd just calmly sat back and waited for the police to solve the murders, it wouldn't have been much of a novel, yeah? The stories of all of her terrible dates are hilarious, and I probably would have taken a golf club to that one guy, too.
The plot is twisty and turny and I think I suspected just about every character of being the murderer at one point or another … and so did Gwen, for that matter. You do kind of have to suspend disbelief when it comes to the big reveal because it's not exactly the most plausible sequence of events, but it's still tremendously entertaining. And is it possible that Gwen is hiding a secret or two of her own?
Swiped will likely resonate with anyone who has ever attempted online dating with less than ideal results. It's a delightful (and murderous) read, full of suspense and humor and cleverness and fuckboys (Gwen's word, not mine).
Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
Anyway, oh, right, the book. It's too bad I actually have to write a review here, because I'd love to tell y'all all about the date who kept sniffing the shoes at Kmart. Yes, it was another Kmart date. Don't judge.
Okay, so … the book. Such a fun and original premise. Such fun and exasperating characters. Gwen (the main character) is full of bad decisions and is a total spaz, but it's kind of what makes the book work? If she'd just calmly sat back and waited for the police to solve the murders, it wouldn't have been much of a novel, yeah? The stories of all of her terrible dates are hilarious, and I probably would have taken a golf club to that one guy, too.
The plot is twisty and turny and I think I suspected just about every character of being the murderer at one point or another … and so did Gwen, for that matter. You do kind of have to suspend disbelief when it comes to the big reveal because it's not exactly the most plausible sequence of events, but it's still tremendously entertaining. And is it possible that Gwen is hiding a secret or two of her own?
Swiped will likely resonate with anyone who has ever attempted online dating with less than ideal results. It's a delightful (and murderous) read, full of suspense and humor and cleverness and fuckboys (Gwen's word, not mine).
Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
January 25, 2023
4 - 5 stars rounded up
This book grabs you from the very funny start at the (groans, from hell) Hen Do from which Gwen retreats to the ladies and desperately swipes through dating app Connector as her best friend Sarah is now abandoning her to singledom. After a curious incident with one potential date via the app, he sends her a cryptic message about a dead jogger. To her shock the deadman is Rob Hamilton, who Gwen dates (once, that was enough) two weeks ago. Shortly afterwards , two policeman turn up at her door. It gets worse, way, way worse . ……
This book is exactly why I really like reading and reviewing debuts as methinks we have a cracking writer here! Right from the start I love the tone as at times it’s funny, at others it’s wry and ironic, it veers into deadpan and when needs must, it’s serious, though you can always count on Gwen to break the tension with a really smart remark. The dialogue is so good as the banter goes back and forth.
This is a very good blend of perfect pitched humour with a very twisty, suspenseful mystery and police investigation. It’s fast paced and even the backtracking doesn’t halt the momentum and serves to give us further information.
The characterisation is very good, I really like Gwen, she’s a quip a minute but with pluck, bravery and gumption, well, some of the time! A big shout out to for policeman Dandy Lyon’s who is my kind of policeman!! Wouldn’t it be great to “meet“ these two again as they’re far too good characters for a one off. The plot builds, escalates, barrels and turns its way to a, hallelujah, a good ending.
Overall, this is a very promising and highly entertaining debut which I recommend.
This book grabs you from the very funny start at the (groans, from hell) Hen Do from which Gwen retreats to the ladies and desperately swipes through dating app Connector as her best friend Sarah is now abandoning her to singledom. After a curious incident with one potential date via the app, he sends her a cryptic message about a dead jogger. To her shock the deadman is Rob Hamilton, who Gwen dates (once, that was enough) two weeks ago. Shortly afterwards , two policeman turn up at her door. It gets worse, way, way worse . ……
This book is exactly why I really like reading and reviewing debuts as methinks we have a cracking writer here! Right from the start I love the tone as at times it’s funny, at others it’s wry and ironic, it veers into deadpan and when needs must, it’s serious, though you can always count on Gwen to break the tension with a really smart remark. The dialogue is so good as the banter goes back and forth.
This is a very good blend of perfect pitched humour with a very twisty, suspenseful mystery and police investigation. It’s fast paced and even the backtracking doesn’t halt the momentum and serves to give us further information.
The characterisation is very good, I really like Gwen, she’s a quip a minute but with pluck, bravery and gumption, well, some of the time! A big shout out to for policeman Dandy Lyon’s who is my kind of policeman!! Wouldn’t it be great to “meet“ these two again as they’re far too good characters for a one off. The plot builds, escalates, barrels and turns its way to a, hallelujah, a good ending.
Overall, this is a very promising and highly entertaining debut which I recommend.
October 19, 2024
maybe i’ve just read too many freida mcfadden books- but this book was too easy to guess who the killer was
June 26, 2024
REVIEW TO COME!!!!!
WHAT????? THIS BOOK WAS TWISTED AS A TWISTY STRAW😱😱😱!!!!!!!!
WHAT????? THIS BOOK WAS TWISTED AS A TWISTY STRAW😱😱😱!!!!!!!!
May 13, 2024
0.5 ⭐️. If I could give this book zero stars, I would. Going into this book, I really thought it was right up my alley -- a young thirty-something navigating online dating and running into a true crime adventure. Everything about this book was WRONG.
From the jump, something felt off about these characters. We open up at a bachelorette/ hen party where the main character is "celebrating" her best friend's upcoming nuptials. She is supposedly the maid of honor for a friend whom she has been close with for years and years...yet she is questioning everything about the upcoming marriage and dips out of the bachelorette early. Throughout the book, she asks her best friend "are you really sure, no really, are you sure you want to marry this man?" It's just not how supportive friends talk. A GOOD FRIEND would care about their best friend more than this main character is.
As I continue reading, everything about this main character's actions and thoughts around dating seemed "off" -- she goes on a million and a half dates, references herself as being a "manic pixie girl" in her former relationship, and sleeps with the first person who gives her a little bit of attention. Then I looked into the author more and everything clicked into place...the author is a man using a vague author name (presumably to hide the fact that this book about female dating is written by the very type of person the main character is DATING).. The author allegedly went on a number of dates and used various dating apps as "research" for this book....but it's obvious he didn't learn anything.
The only characters that actually had any dimension were the MEN whom the main character went on dates with. Please see some excerpts from the book that (I think were meant to be ~satire~ but actually read as the author's inner monologue -- his true thoughts):
-- "I love women," he says. "And by love, I actually mean respect. I'm actually really pissed that my latest screenplay doesn't pass the Bechdel test. Granted it's an arbitrary bar to judge by, and my work has some feminist theme in it that are hopefully a little more deep-rooted than that, but I do worry about it.
-- " I mean, the characters are all women, of course, which was really refreshing to write. They're all fighting over the same man, a rather dashing chap names Jeb. It really helped me write the female struggle. --- I MEAN WHAT!!!!!!
-- "You think it's not my place, as a man, to tell these women's stories. You're quite right, we've heard enough male voices now. Time to let women have a go. Now, normally, I'd totally agree, but I really think this might be my best work, so maybe we could make an exception for little old me?" -- BRO, WHAT! Are we supposed to APPLAUD you to RECOGNIZING this? and YET you STILL wrote a book centering women & the female perspective of dating with this SH!!T peppered into it?
I'm so over this book. It was such a waste and this author should NEVER write about women again.
(t/y to NetGalley & Galley/Scout Press for an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review)
From the jump, something felt off about these characters. We open up at a bachelorette/ hen party where the main character is "celebrating" her best friend's upcoming nuptials. She is supposedly the maid of honor for a friend whom she has been close with for years and years...yet she is questioning everything about the upcoming marriage and dips out of the bachelorette early. Throughout the book, she asks her best friend "are you really sure, no really, are you sure you want to marry this man?" It's just not how supportive friends talk. A GOOD FRIEND would care about their best friend more than this main character is.
As I continue reading, everything about this main character's actions and thoughts around dating seemed "off" -- she goes on a million and a half dates, references herself as being a "manic pixie girl" in her former relationship, and sleeps with the first person who gives her a little bit of attention. Then I looked into the author more and everything clicked into place...the author is a man using a vague author name (presumably to hide the fact that this book about female dating is written by the very type of person the main character is DATING).. The author allegedly went on a number of dates and used various dating apps as "research" for this book....but it's obvious he didn't learn anything.
The only characters that actually had any dimension were the MEN whom the main character went on dates with. Please see some excerpts from the book that (I think were meant to be ~satire~ but actually read as the author's inner monologue -- his true thoughts):
-- "I love women," he says. "And by love, I actually mean respect. I'm actually really pissed that my latest screenplay doesn't pass the Bechdel test. Granted it's an arbitrary bar to judge by, and my work has some feminist theme in it that are hopefully a little more deep-rooted than that, but I do worry about it.
-- " I mean, the characters are all women, of course, which was really refreshing to write. They're all fighting over the same man, a rather dashing chap names Jeb. It really helped me write the female struggle. --- I MEAN WHAT!!!!!!
-- "You think it's not my place, as a man, to tell these women's stories. You're quite right, we've heard enough male voices now. Time to let women have a go. Now, normally, I'd totally agree, but I really think this might be my best work, so maybe we could make an exception for little old me?" -- BRO, WHAT! Are we supposed to APPLAUD you to RECOGNIZING this? and YET you STILL wrote a book centering women & the female perspective of dating with this SH!!T peppered into it?
I'm so over this book. It was such a waste and this author should NEVER write about women again.
(t/y to NetGalley & Galley/Scout Press for an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review)
April 18, 2024
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ½
Genre: Mystery Thriller
The plot of this story revolves around the concept of online dating and the circumstances that may arise when something goes wrong. After going through a difficult breakup with the man she loves, the protagonist, Gwen Turner, turns to an online dating app in order to find a new romantic partner. What Gwen didn’t expect was for things to go that wrong.
In her city, there is a string of murders that have taken place. What comes as a surprise to the protagonist, however, is the fact that all of the men who were murdered were men that she had dated. As a result of this, she is the primary suspect in the commission of all of these murders!
In order for Gwen to be able to find the real killer and demonstrate that she is innocent, she needs to collect additional information from all of her dates and make an effort to track down each and every one of them.
This was a fun book to read because it was a combination of comedy and suspense. The narrative struck the ideal balance between the two, in my opinion. Although I would not go so far as to say that I felt a connection with the main character, I believe that she was someone that a great number of other readers would find extremely endearing.
This thriller, like many others that have been released in recent years, suffers from the fact that it is not realistic in any way. There are instances where over-the-top situations in the plot are evident, but fortunately, they do not affect the fun gained out of it if you are not too critical about them. Overall, it was a good and entertaining read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
Genre: Mystery Thriller
The plot of this story revolves around the concept of online dating and the circumstances that may arise when something goes wrong. After going through a difficult breakup with the man she loves, the protagonist, Gwen Turner, turns to an online dating app in order to find a new romantic partner. What Gwen didn’t expect was for things to go that wrong.
In her city, there is a string of murders that have taken place. What comes as a surprise to the protagonist, however, is the fact that all of the men who were murdered were men that she had dated. As a result of this, she is the primary suspect in the commission of all of these murders!
In order for Gwen to be able to find the real killer and demonstrate that she is innocent, she needs to collect additional information from all of her dates and make an effort to track down each and every one of them.
This was a fun book to read because it was a combination of comedy and suspense. The narrative struck the ideal balance between the two, in my opinion. Although I would not go so far as to say that I felt a connection with the main character, I believe that she was someone that a great number of other readers would find extremely endearing.
This thriller, like many others that have been released in recent years, suffers from the fact that it is not realistic in any way. There are instances where over-the-top situations in the plot are evident, but fortunately, they do not affect the fun gained out of it if you are not too critical about them. Overall, it was a good and entertaining read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
March 6, 2024
i don't like when main characters are "funny" because they are never actually funny
June 9, 2023
Watch out for the ‘book joke’ it’s kinda badly good and it did get me thinking….
Anyway thats by the by,the book itself is a rare humorous yet dark Serial killer Whodunit based around a dating app and the users on it and how our main character,Gwen,seems to be causing the deaths of anyone she meets via it
It had me chuckling throughout and is at times tongue in cheek yet others a serious look at how these apps work and how people can manipulate them for devious means
Gwen is great, a bit over feisty sometimes but loved her and her musings and her way of talking to the reader,the rest of the cast are if not wholly loveable have a bit of likeable in them, hidden at times but there
An unusual read but a good one that fully enjoyed
Anyway thats by the by,the book itself is a rare humorous yet dark Serial killer Whodunit based around a dating app and the users on it and how our main character,Gwen,seems to be causing the deaths of anyone she meets via it
It had me chuckling throughout and is at times tongue in cheek yet others a serious look at how these apps work and how people can manipulate them for devious means
Gwen is great, a bit over feisty sometimes but loved her and her musings and her way of talking to the reader,the rest of the cast are if not wholly loveable have a bit of likeable in them, hidden at times but there
An unusual read but a good one that fully enjoyed
May 21, 2024
Swiped was a fun read and maybe that’s because I like hot mess lead characters. So much more fascinating than reading about someone who has their life all figured out and going according to plan.
Gwen Turner recently broke up with her boyfriend and so she’s singlehandedly running the coffee shop that was supposed to be a joint business venture. She starts using a dating app but each date is a disaster. A string of murders occur in her small town and Gwen realizes the victims are men she met thru the app. So now police view her as a suspect but Gwen is worried she might be the killer’s next victim.
Lots of humor in this one and it’s definitely a sit back, relax, and enjoy the show type read. The big reveal is the weak spot but given it was an otherwise entertaining read, I can just roll with it.
Gwen reminds me of Izzy Spellman from Lisa Lutz’s Spellman series so if you enjoy that as author’s writing, Swiped is right up your alley. Looking forward to reading more books by L.M. Chilton.
Thank you Gallery Books for sending me a free copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
Gwen Turner recently broke up with her boyfriend and so she’s singlehandedly running the coffee shop that was supposed to be a joint business venture. She starts using a dating app but each date is a disaster. A string of murders occur in her small town and Gwen realizes the victims are men she met thru the app. So now police view her as a suspect but Gwen is worried she might be the killer’s next victim.
Lots of humor in this one and it’s definitely a sit back, relax, and enjoy the show type read. The big reveal is the weak spot but given it was an otherwise entertaining read, I can just roll with it.
Gwen reminds me of Izzy Spellman from Lisa Lutz’s Spellman series so if you enjoy that as author’s writing, Swiped is right up your alley. Looking forward to reading more books by L.M. Chilton.
Thank you Gallery Books for sending me a free copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
April 17, 2023
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Gwen is currently stuck in a dating nightmare. Date after date, full of useless guys who are only after one thing. And it's not a long term relationship. Add in a useless coffee van, with equally useless assistant, and a ton of broken dreams and Gwens life couldn't really get any worse. Until all those dates start turning up dead, and Gwen turns into suspect number one.
This was a really fun, campy romantic suspense that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's very fast paced and easy to read, leaving the reader constantly guessing who the killer could be. I'd say it's similar in vein to Sweetpea in that it's far fetched, but as the reader you're still happy to go along for the ride. Although the conclusion definitely pulled me out of the story a bit with just how outlandish it got.
Gwen is an interesting, if not exactly likeable character. She's full of quick wits, but she's also pretty judgemental at times too - especially of poor old Audrey. She's also makes some very dubious decisions, often throwing herself in harms way for no reason that had me rolling my eyes. Because of her actions throughout the course of the plot I can't say I ever warmed to her as a character, and I really didn't like how her story arc played out, but I enjoyed the plot enough to see it through to the end.
Quick and exciting thriller, but the plot jumped the shark a bit, and took the main character in a direction I couldn't get on board with. However, I'd definitely pick up another thriller by this author for the fun ride.
Gwen is currently stuck in a dating nightmare. Date after date, full of useless guys who are only after one thing. And it's not a long term relationship. Add in a useless coffee van, with equally useless assistant, and a ton of broken dreams and Gwens life couldn't really get any worse. Until all those dates start turning up dead, and Gwen turns into suspect number one.
This was a really fun, campy romantic suspense that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's very fast paced and easy to read, leaving the reader constantly guessing who the killer could be. I'd say it's similar in vein to Sweetpea in that it's far fetched, but as the reader you're still happy to go along for the ride. Although the conclusion definitely pulled me out of the story a bit with just how outlandish it got.
Gwen is an interesting, if not exactly likeable character. She's full of quick wits, but she's also pretty judgemental at times too - especially of poor old Audrey. She's also makes some very dubious decisions, often throwing herself in harms way for no reason that had me rolling my eyes. Because of her actions throughout the course of the plot I can't say I ever warmed to her as a character, and I really didn't like how her story arc played out, but I enjoyed the plot enough to see it through to the end.
Quick and exciting thriller, but the plot jumped the shark a bit, and took the main character in a direction I couldn't get on board with. However, I'd definitely pick up another thriller by this author for the fun ride.
November 18, 2023
I liked the premise but the ending didn't make sense (the timeline was all off!) and was very unsatisfying.
February 4, 2024
i enjoyed this so much!
the best way to describe this book is as a ‘lighthearted serial killer/murder mystery’, which sounds like a strange combination.
it has a lot of sarcasm and a good sense of humor, and frankly it just works. ♡
❥𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚:
gwen is newly single and ready to mingle! 💃🏻
what better way to start dating then to go online and start swiping.
when every guy she’s been on a date with turns up dead, and the police are looking in her direction, gwen is determined to find out who the killer is..
❥𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏:
i’m not claiming this book to be the pinnacle of literature, but let me tell you, it’s definitely a page-turner.
even with all the murders happening, i personally see it more as a mystery than a thriller.
don’t get me wrong, i mean- can you imagine the stress gwen must have felt? so it’s surprising that the book doesn’t feel all that tense. throughout, i found myself trying to figure out who the killer could be, instead of being stressed for gwen. after being suspicious of basically every character in the book at some point, i can proudly announce to have figured out the killer after reading 90% of this book. 💀
safe to say, all the misdirections and twists and turns in the story had me completely fooled!
the best way to describe this book is as a ‘lighthearted serial killer/murder mystery’, which sounds like a strange combination.
it has a lot of sarcasm and a good sense of humor, and frankly it just works. ♡
❥𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚:
gwen is newly single and ready to mingle! 💃🏻
what better way to start dating then to go online and start swiping.
when every guy she’s been on a date with turns up dead, and the police are looking in her direction, gwen is determined to find out who the killer is..
❥𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏:
i’m not claiming this book to be the pinnacle of literature, but let me tell you, it’s definitely a page-turner.
even with all the murders happening, i personally see it more as a mystery than a thriller.
don’t get me wrong, i mean- can you imagine the stress gwen must have felt? so it’s surprising that the book doesn’t feel all that tense. throughout, i found myself trying to figure out who the killer could be, instead of being stressed for gwen. after being suspicious of basically every character in the book at some point, i can proudly announce to have figured out the killer after reading 90% of this book. 💀
safe to say, all the misdirections and twists and turns in the story had me completely fooled!
June 25, 2024
4.3/5⭐️
holy fuuuuuuu, this was so good and I ate it up!! i couldn’t trust anyone and it gave me more trust issues that I already had. the plot twist was INSANE and I never in a million years could have imagined. LM Chilton you’re a genius🫡
holy fuuuuuuu, this was so good and I ate it up!! i couldn’t trust anyone and it gave me more trust issues that I already had. the plot twist was INSANE and I never in a million years could have imagined. LM Chilton you’re a genius🫡
Read
April 12, 2024Deleting my review..
June 17, 2024
Holy shit a man wrote this??? A man wrote not only a believable heroine, but several realistic dates with shit men as well? Hot damn, what a surprise.
June 22, 2024
3.5 rounded up to 4 for GR! this was such a fun audio binge. it was laugh-out-loud funny and the ending was surprising.
if you’re a fan of the FINLAY DONOVAN series or Dolly Alderton’s GHOSTS or GOOD MARERIAL, you’ll enjoy this one! similar vibes, very funny, a good blend of litfict, mystery and semi-romance and an overall quick binge.
the audiobook format was perfect because it gave it more comedic value and you got a good vibe for the character’s personality. plus the narrator is British which is always a vibe!
the premise: after a bad breakup, a woman joins a dating app and goes on a bunch of dates. but then everyone she went on dates with happens to turn up dead… and sometimes she was the last to see them alive. is she a secret serial killer? or being set up?
it’s not a WOW OMG read it now book but i had a great time binging it and would reco it for a quick beach binge/audio listen on a car ride!
if you’re a fan of the FINLAY DONOVAN series or Dolly Alderton’s GHOSTS or GOOD MARERIAL, you’ll enjoy this one! similar vibes, very funny, a good blend of litfict, mystery and semi-romance and an overall quick binge.
the audiobook format was perfect because it gave it more comedic value and you got a good vibe for the character’s personality. plus the narrator is British which is always a vibe!
the premise: after a bad breakup, a woman joins a dating app and goes on a bunch of dates. but then everyone she went on dates with happens to turn up dead… and sometimes she was the last to see them alive. is she a secret serial killer? or being set up?
it’s not a WOW OMG read it now book but i had a great time binging it and would reco it for a quick beach binge/audio listen on a car ride!
June 23, 2024
…. of course always the woman who goes crazy over her fiancé doing the shit we predicted trope
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2024
Review to come.
March 11, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Swiped.
** Minor romance-y spoilers ahead **
Gwen Turner's life isn't going well and she's been drowning her sorrows in booze and a lot of bad dates from a dating app.
Then her dates are suddenly being picked off one by one by a serial killer and Gwen is forced to face the poor decisions she's made in her life may have led right to this moment.
It's hard to like Gwen; she's immature, even though she's nearly 30, a borderline alcoholic, with no confidence and self esteem.
I'm not sure why she makes the poor decisions she does; because she still misses her dad and she's got unresolved Daddy issues?
She's a lousy friend to her BFF, checking her dating apps at her BFF's bachelorette party, looking to fill the void in her soul after she broke up with her boyfriend.
Gwen takes it upon herself to solve the crimes, playing Nancy Drew, stumbling into numerous dead bodies just as the police arrive so the authorities are convinced she did it.
Of course, there's a love interest in the cop character, and there's no real police work going on since he shares info with her, spends a lot of time with her, knows her through a mutual friend from high school.
I was hoping for a dark narrative but the tone is romance-y, with childish undertones.
I did sympathize with Gwen's disastrous dates via the app, and it was interesting to learn about how algorithms work, but Gwen was just so annoying.
I guessed the identity of the killer correctly and the point of the story is that friends come before men, but the narrative, the characters, and the story was just average for me.
The writing was good, the tone peppy and humorous, which wasn't what I expected.
I think readers who prefer murders with romance and a sunnier vibe would really enjoy this.
I'm not the ideal reader for this.
** Minor romance-y spoilers ahead **
Gwen Turner's life isn't going well and she's been drowning her sorrows in booze and a lot of bad dates from a dating app.
Then her dates are suddenly being picked off one by one by a serial killer and Gwen is forced to face the poor decisions she's made in her life may have led right to this moment.
It's hard to like Gwen; she's immature, even though she's nearly 30, a borderline alcoholic, with no confidence and self esteem.
I'm not sure why she makes the poor decisions she does; because she still misses her dad and she's got unresolved Daddy issues?
She's a lousy friend to her BFF, checking her dating apps at her BFF's bachelorette party, looking to fill the void in her soul after she broke up with her boyfriend.
Gwen takes it upon herself to solve the crimes, playing Nancy Drew, stumbling into numerous dead bodies just as the police arrive so the authorities are convinced she did it.
Of course, there's a love interest in the cop character, and there's no real police work going on since he shares info with her, spends a lot of time with her, knows her through a mutual friend from high school.
I was hoping for a dark narrative but the tone is romance-y, with childish undertones.
I did sympathize with Gwen's disastrous dates via the app, and it was interesting to learn about how algorithms work, but Gwen was just so annoying.
I guessed the identity of the killer correctly and the point of the story is that friends come before men, but the narrative, the characters, and the story was just average for me.
The writing was good, the tone peppy and humorous, which wasn't what I expected.
I think readers who prefer murders with romance and a sunnier vibe would really enjoy this.
I'm not the ideal reader for this.
March 29, 2024
Swiped has a fun premise - Gwen learns that a man she went on a date with a few weeks ago has been murdered. She’s surprised - but only had one date with him and didn’t know him well so she wasn’t overly distraught. Until she learns the next man she went on a date with also turned up dead. She starts trying to figure out what’s happening and the police are also interested in what they can learn from her.
For the first half, I thought this was a fun ride. Over the top and unbelievable, but I was willing to roll with it and see where we were headed. However by the end it really felt like a slog. I find it annoying when things are held from the reader that the main character knows - like telling us Gwen wrote another name on the list and then tore it off. And just dangling that in front of us for ages. Too many red herrings drawn out for too long. And then a final showdown/ending that was too over the top and annoying - though by then I was already over it. This really lost me well before the end and it’s a bummer because a fun premise and fun beginning.
Thank you Gallery Books and Netgalley for the free book to review.
For the first half, I thought this was a fun ride. Over the top and unbelievable, but I was willing to roll with it and see where we were headed. However by the end it really felt like a slog. I find it annoying when things are held from the reader that the main character knows - like telling us Gwen wrote another name on the list and then tore it off. And just dangling that in front of us for ages. Too many red herrings drawn out for too long. And then a final showdown/ending that was too over the top and annoying - though by then I was already over it. This really lost me well before the end and it’s a bummer because a fun premise and fun beginning.
Thank you Gallery Books and Netgalley for the free book to review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2024
Η Γκουέν, μετά τα χωρισμό της από τον Νοα και λίγο πριν το γάμο της καλύτερης της φίλης, έχει βγει ραντεβού με άντρες μέσω μιας εφαρμογής γνωριμιών. Όταν όμως ένας ένας, βρίσκονται νεκροί κι η αστυνομία της χτυπά την πόρτα, προσπαθεί μόνη της να βρει τον δολοφόνο.
Θα τα καταφέρει;
Η ηρωίδα μας όπως καταλαβαίνεται ψάχνει να βρει αυτό που είχε, χωρίς να ξεκαθαρίζει γιατί το έχασε. Η αναζήτηση του ανθρώπου που κρύβεται πίσω απ τις δολοφονίες, βγάζει στη φόρα τον ντετέκτιβ που κρύβει μέσα της. Αλλά τα ευτράπελα φυσικά δεν λείπουν. Παράλληλα, δείχνει το ρόλο των social media στις ζωές των ανθρώπων και πόσο εύκολα μπορεί κανείς να εξαπατηθεί από έναν οποιοδήποτε χρήστη.
Ένα ευκολοδιαβαστο cozy mystery που δεν θα καταλάβετε πότε το ολοκληρώσατε! Όσοι έχετε διαβάσει Φίνλεϊ Ντόνοβαν, θα νιώσετε τα vibes πιστέψτε με!
3,5 αστέρια
November 27, 2023
Oh my GOD!! Swiped has me guessing until the very last chapter. The last 10% of the book I read at lightning speed because I needed to know how this was going to end. I was so invested in the story and seeing who was behind the murders and the connection (LOL) to our main character. I was NOT disappointed at the reveal. I think this book accomplished what it set out to do, as it was a fast paced and quick witted read. Gwen is an easy character to root for and I got roped in immediately once the murders started. I think the ending was a little unhinged but in a surprisingly good way! I’m happy I read this - plus, isn’t the cover stunning?? Thanks so much to NetGalley and Gallery books for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 1, 2024
After breaking up with her boyfriend, Gwen takes to the “Connector” dating app. But when her past dates start being murdered, Gwen tries to solve the crime riddle and work out who it is before anyone else gets hurt.
I loved this! A quirky little chick lit cross crime thriller.
Gwen was hilariously funny and so relatable. The tales of her bad dates were brilliant and every time I thought I knew who the killer was, I didn’t!
It definitely kept me on my toes and turning those pages.
I loved her banter with Detective Lyons and really felt her anxiety in some of the scenarios she ended up in.
Very clever.
I read this for free on Amazon Prime Reading, thank you to the author for being so generous.
I loved this! A quirky little chick lit cross crime thriller.
Gwen was hilariously funny and so relatable. The tales of her bad dates were brilliant and every time I thought I knew who the killer was, I didn’t!
It definitely kept me on my toes and turning those pages.
I loved her banter with Detective Lyons and really felt her anxiety in some of the scenarios she ended up in.
Very clever.
I read this for free on Amazon Prime Reading, thank you to the author for being so generous.
November 13, 2023
A pink and fluffy serial killer novel!
I know…serial killer books shouldn’t be fluffy. They should be dark and depraved and intense. Or…should they?
Because this is frothy and fluffy and is full of ice cream vans and hen parties and, yes, a little killing. (Or a bit more than a little.)
Gwen is a fun character. Her life is messy. Her love life is messier. And the whole thing where her dates are ending up dead? Messiest of all!
The book is lighthearted and charming and it’s so much fun figuring out who our killer is!
I absolutely adored this in a Lisa Frank Sparkly Unicorn way and I make no apology!
• ARC via Publisher
I know…serial killer books shouldn’t be fluffy. They should be dark and depraved and intense. Or…should they?
Because this is frothy and fluffy and is full of ice cream vans and hen parties and, yes, a little killing. (Or a bit more than a little.)
Gwen is a fun character. Her life is messy. Her love life is messier. And the whole thing where her dates are ending up dead? Messiest of all!
The book is lighthearted and charming and it’s so much fun figuring out who our killer is!
I absolutely adored this in a Lisa Frank Sparkly Unicorn way and I make no apology!
• ARC via Publisher
Read
May 15, 2024Review to come
January 5, 2024
This book is a mystery/thriller, but I noticed right before I read it that it was also in the romance category. I went into this with some trepidation because I historically am not a fan of romance novels, but I didn’t need to worry - this is an original thriller that just happens to deal with the subject of dating.
Gwen and her longtime boyfriend, Noah, broke up, and being a younger woman, she immediately joins a dating app to “get back out there”. Get back out there she does, with some very lackluster first dates. The entire situation is quite boring for Gwen, until the men she met on the app start getting murdered. She probably would rather it had stayed boring! It seems that people with big money can pay a little extra for more exposure on this app, and Gwen may be having some troubles dating because of that…
You see, these men are being murdered in the order of their dates with Gwen, and there is also someone threatening her from a number she doesn’t know. The book flashes back to each date, and gives us glimpses into the time they had with her. Those were actually my favorite chapters, as we find out a little about each man’s personality and why they didn’t make it to a second date (aside from the dying part). Also, who is threatening Gwen? Is someone trying to set her up for these murders? She didn’t end up liking any of the guys, and a couple were total jerks, but she didn’t want to kill them.
This was a very different way of writing a murder mystery, and I liked the format a lot. When Gwen suspected that the dating app algorithm was off, she found her own hacker - who found even more damning evidence. There are a lot of hackers out there; not everything online is as it seems, of course. This is both a cautionary tale, and a fun mystery. Four stars!
(Thank you to Gallery Books, L.M. Chilton, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on May 21, 2024.)
Gwen and her longtime boyfriend, Noah, broke up, and being a younger woman, she immediately joins a dating app to “get back out there”. Get back out there she does, with some very lackluster first dates. The entire situation is quite boring for Gwen, until the men she met on the app start getting murdered. She probably would rather it had stayed boring! It seems that people with big money can pay a little extra for more exposure on this app, and Gwen may be having some troubles dating because of that…
You see, these men are being murdered in the order of their dates with Gwen, and there is also someone threatening her from a number she doesn’t know. The book flashes back to each date, and gives us glimpses into the time they had with her. Those were actually my favorite chapters, as we find out a little about each man’s personality and why they didn’t make it to a second date (aside from the dying part). Also, who is threatening Gwen? Is someone trying to set her up for these murders? She didn’t end up liking any of the guys, and a couple were total jerks, but she didn’t want to kill them.
This was a very different way of writing a murder mystery, and I liked the format a lot. When Gwen suspected that the dating app algorithm was off, she found her own hacker - who found even more damning evidence. There are a lot of hackers out there; not everything online is as it seems, of course. This is both a cautionary tale, and a fun mystery. Four stars!
(Thank you to Gallery Books, L.M. Chilton, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on May 21, 2024.)
March 4, 2024
3,5 ✨
Resumo, vou me manter solteira e longe das dating apps.
Gostei, entreteve-me imenso mas em imensas partes achei demasiado irrealista.
Desconfiei de toda a gente e mesmo assim no final fiquei chocada com o verdadeiro assassino.
Resumo, vou me manter solteira e longe das dating apps.
Gostei, entreteve-me imenso mas em imensas partes achei demasiado irrealista.
Desconfiei de toda a gente e mesmo assim no final fiquei chocada com o verdadeiro assassino.
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