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DS Alexandra Cupidi #5
The Wild Swimmers
If only Alexandra Cupidi had turned south instead of north, she would have found the dead woman.
Instead it is her vulnerable daughter Zoë who stumbles across Mimi Greene's lifeless body on the shoreline. A regular wild swimmer with a group of close friends, it's out of character for Mimi to have been swimming alone, especially in bad weather. DS Cupidi starts to suspect this is more than just an accidental drowning.
Meanwhile, her friend and colleague Jill Ferriter receives a mysterious letter from a man who claims to be her father. Stephen Dowles has been in prison for the last twenty years, convicted of two brutal and senseless murders.
With Cupidi obsessed by the death of Mimi Greene, Ferriter must lean on Bill South to uncover the facts around Dowles' conviction, revisiting old colleagues and criminals.
The Wild Swimmers is an explosive return to the DS Alexandra Cupidi Series, where the shores of the south Kent coastline expose deadly secrets.
Instead it is her vulnerable daughter Zoë who stumbles across Mimi Greene's lifeless body on the shoreline. A regular wild swimmer with a group of close friends, it's out of character for Mimi to have been swimming alone, especially in bad weather. DS Cupidi starts to suspect this is more than just an accidental drowning.
Meanwhile, her friend and colleague Jill Ferriter receives a mysterious letter from a man who claims to be her father. Stephen Dowles has been in prison for the last twenty years, convicted of two brutal and senseless murders.
With Cupidi obsessed by the death of Mimi Greene, Ferriter must lean on Bill South to uncover the facts around Dowles' conviction, revisiting old colleagues and criminals.
The Wild Swimmers is an explosive return to the DS Alexandra Cupidi Series, where the shores of the south Kent coastline expose deadly secrets.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2024
88 people are currently reading
318 people want to read
About the author
William Shaw
20 books534 followersI'm a crime writer and write the Eden Driscoll series set in South Devon, the Alex Cupidi series set in Dungeness, Kent and the Breen & Tozer series set in London in 1968-9.
My most recent book is The Red Shore, the first I the Eden Driscoll series, set in Teignmouth, Devon.
My non-fiction books include Westsiders , an account of several young would-be rappers struggling to establish themselves against a backdrop of poverty and violence in South Central Los Angeles, Superhero For Hire , a compilation and of the Small Ads columns I wrote for the Observer Magazine, and Spying In Guru Land , in which I joined several British religious cults to write about them.
A Song From Dead Lips was the first in a trilogy of books set in London in 1968, featuring DS Cathal Breen and WPC Helen Tozer. It was followed by A House of Knives and A Book of Scars .
I live in Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry.
My most recent book is The Red Shore, the first I the Eden Driscoll series, set in Teignmouth, Devon.
My non-fiction books include Westsiders , an account of several young would-be rappers struggling to establish themselves against a backdrop of poverty and violence in South Central Los Angeles, Superhero For Hire , a compilation and of the Small Ads columns I wrote for the Observer Magazine, and Spying In Guru Land , in which I joined several British religious cults to write about them.
A Song From Dead Lips was the first in a trilogy of books set in London in 1968, featuring DS Cathal Breen and WPC Helen Tozer. It was followed by A House of Knives and A Book of Scars .
I live in Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
April 10, 2024
DS Alexandra Cupidi #5
A report comes in of a dead body at Pen Bars, a shingle spit on the south side of Dungeness which Alex fully expects to be the concrete man abandoned there in the 1990’s and nothing more sinister. Sadly, she’s wrong as it’s the body of a female swimmer which is discovered on the shoreline. This is the start of a difficult and perplexing case that appears to be linked to an online dating app, a group of female wild swimmers and someone from DC Jill Ferriter’s past. For the latter, Jill relies on the help and support of ex-policeman Bill South, a friend and neighbour of Alex, who tries to uncover potentially uncomfortable truths with disastrous consequences.
I like this series and the characters in it and yet again William Shaw has set his readers an intriguing and entertaining puzzle to try to figure out. It’s a multilayered plot and for a long time it’s hard to see how the different strands will conjoin but they do, and do so well. The plot is really interesting and immersive, it’s fast paced and full of well crafted characters who contribute to the storyline with varying degrees of truthfulness. It’s a tricky investigation with several dead ends but it ignites in places and how. It’s full of twists and there are several suspenseful cliffhanger chapter endings where breathe is held and fingers crossed for a positive outcome.
I love the settings and as some are familiar to me that always makes me further invested in the storytelling. The Folkestone area, Hythe, Romney Marshes and Dungeness and so on are described so well that it evokes a strong atmosphere to accompany a good plot. I love the wild swimmers element from Hythe which I’ve seen for myself but rather them that me!
Overall, an entertaining and gripping page turner that holds my attention throughout. Hope there’s more of Alex et al to come.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books, riverrun for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
A report comes in of a dead body at Pen Bars, a shingle spit on the south side of Dungeness which Alex fully expects to be the concrete man abandoned there in the 1990’s and nothing more sinister. Sadly, she’s wrong as it’s the body of a female swimmer which is discovered on the shoreline. This is the start of a difficult and perplexing case that appears to be linked to an online dating app, a group of female wild swimmers and someone from DC Jill Ferriter’s past. For the latter, Jill relies on the help and support of ex-policeman Bill South, a friend and neighbour of Alex, who tries to uncover potentially uncomfortable truths with disastrous consequences.
I like this series and the characters in it and yet again William Shaw has set his readers an intriguing and entertaining puzzle to try to figure out. It’s a multilayered plot and for a long time it’s hard to see how the different strands will conjoin but they do, and do so well. The plot is really interesting and immersive, it’s fast paced and full of well crafted characters who contribute to the storyline with varying degrees of truthfulness. It’s a tricky investigation with several dead ends but it ignites in places and how. It’s full of twists and there are several suspenseful cliffhanger chapter endings where breathe is held and fingers crossed for a positive outcome.
I love the settings and as some are familiar to me that always makes me further invested in the storytelling. The Folkestone area, Hythe, Romney Marshes and Dungeness and so on are described so well that it evokes a strong atmosphere to accompany a good plot. I love the wild swimmers element from Hythe which I’ve seen for myself but rather them that me!
Overall, an entertaining and gripping page turner that holds my attention throughout. Hope there’s more of Alex et al to come.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books, riverrun for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
September 17, 2025
This is the latest in the series by William Shaw featuring DS Alex Cupidi set in the wild marshlands of the Kent coast near Dungeness nuclear power station. The title here refers to a group of four women who regularly swim in the sea near Dungeness.
When a call goes out that someone has drowned, Alex suspects that it's a wild goose chase, but soon comes to regret that when her vulnerable daughter Zoë finds the lifeless body of Mimi Greene.
Meanwhile, Alex's annoying friend and colleague Jill Ferriter has received a letter from a man claiming to be her biological father. The trouble being, for the past 20 years Stephen Dowles has been in Ford Prison after being convicted of two murders.
Alex soon becomes convinced that Mimi's death is no accident and decides to investigate into the lives of her fellow swimmers. While she is so engaged, Ferriter decides to co-opt Alex's neighbour, former community policeman Bill South to uncover the facts around Dowles' conviction, revisiting old colleagues and criminals.
In this novel, Shaw manages to construct and interweave two well plotted and twisted mysteries, both of which I was gripped by, especially with their escalating levels of tension and suspense.
When a call goes out that someone has drowned, Alex suspects that it's a wild goose chase, but soon comes to regret that when her vulnerable daughter Zoë finds the lifeless body of Mimi Greene.
Meanwhile, Alex's annoying friend and colleague Jill Ferriter has received a letter from a man claiming to be her biological father. The trouble being, for the past 20 years Stephen Dowles has been in Ford Prison after being convicted of two murders.
Alex soon becomes convinced that Mimi's death is no accident and decides to investigate into the lives of her fellow swimmers. While she is so engaged, Ferriter decides to co-opt Alex's neighbour, former community policeman Bill South to uncover the facts around Dowles' conviction, revisiting old colleagues and criminals.
In this novel, Shaw manages to construct and interweave two well plotted and twisted mysteries, both of which I was gripped by, especially with their escalating levels of tension and suspense.
May 29, 2024
"The Wild Swimmers" is the fifth installment in William Shaw's crime series featuring DS Alexandra Cupidi. Like its predecessors, "The Wild Swimmers" is an intriguing read with multi-dimensional characters and a fast-paced and immensely gripping plot.
There are two main strands of plots, which at the beginning don't seem to have anything to do with each other but merge at the end of the book. DS Cupidi and her team have to face many dead ends during their investigation, there are quite a few unexpected plot twists and - to my utmost delight - Bill South plays a major role again in this book. The grand finale by the way is really breathtaking.
For me, the DS Alexandra Cupidi series is one of my absolutely favourite crime series. I love the main character Alex, who comes across as a very strong woman. She moved with her teenage daughter Zoë from London to Dungeness on the south coast of Kent to escape from an unhappy affair at work. There she bumps into Bill South, who she sent to prison in the prequel to this series, "The Birdwatcher". As neighbours, they slowly become friends. It's especially Alex's daughter Zoë, who befriends Bill since he is a kind of father figure for her. What is more, they both share a love for the wildlife on Dungeness.
Another thing I love about this crime series is the detailed description of the setting. The author successfully conveys the special atmosphere of this place -the flat salt marshes and the rich and diverse wildlife - to the readers. To me, this place has become so familiar that it almost feels like home. That's one of the reasons why I can't wait to go back there in book #6!
So in a nutshell: If you love complex crime novels with multi-dimensional and credible characters, fast-paced stories with twisty plots and beautiful landscape descriptions, you should definitely put this crime series on your TBR list!
There are two main strands of plots, which at the beginning don't seem to have anything to do with each other but merge at the end of the book. DS Cupidi and her team have to face many dead ends during their investigation, there are quite a few unexpected plot twists and - to my utmost delight - Bill South plays a major role again in this book. The grand finale by the way is really breathtaking.
For me, the DS Alexandra Cupidi series is one of my absolutely favourite crime series. I love the main character Alex, who comes across as a very strong woman. She moved with her teenage daughter Zoë from London to Dungeness on the south coast of Kent to escape from an unhappy affair at work. There she bumps into Bill South, who she sent to prison in the prequel to this series, "The Birdwatcher". As neighbours, they slowly become friends. It's especially Alex's daughter Zoë, who befriends Bill since he is a kind of father figure for her. What is more, they both share a love for the wildlife on Dungeness.
Another thing I love about this crime series is the detailed description of the setting. The author successfully conveys the special atmosphere of this place -the flat salt marshes and the rich and diverse wildlife - to the readers. To me, this place has become so familiar that it almost feels like home. That's one of the reasons why I can't wait to go back there in book #6!
So in a nutshell: If you love complex crime novels with multi-dimensional and credible characters, fast-paced stories with twisty plots and beautiful landscape descriptions, you should definitely put this crime series on your TBR list!
May 22, 2024
The Wild Swimmers by William Shaw is book 5 in the DS Alexandra Cupidi series. It is published on 23 May. Have loved the previous books in this series, which is set around Dungeness, and was looking forward to reading this. I certainly wasn’t disappointed, loved it in fact. Alex is back at Serious Crimes after being on light duties for 12 months. She is not able to ease herself back but needs to hit the ground running. Jill, Alex’s friend and colleague, is not involved in the investigation and has her own side investigation going with the help of Bill South, an ex-copper and neighbour of Alex’s. This turns deadly as someone doesn’t like him digging around. I loved the friendship aspect of the story and how the women supported each other and Zoe, who is traumatised by a body she finds. Alex comes across a group of women who knew the victim and they take Zoe, who is now 19, under their wing. The characters are so varied and such a fascinating mix too. Bill plays a bigger part in this book, and it is good to learn more about him. The story moves at a slower place initially as the clues are gradually uncovered, but when things start to happen, you end up on the edge of your seat. There is a real sense of mystery throughout, with both the threads, and towards the end, so much tension. It really kept my interest and involvement. It was a real pleasure to read.
August 11, 2024
A great series, but this for me, is nowhere near as good as the previous four.
March 7, 2025
Author William Shaw took a few years off from his DS Alexandra Cupidi series to do a couple of standalone novels (as “G. W. Shaw”)—Dead Rich and The Conspirators—before returning to what—to me, at least—is his signature character. This time she’s investigating a murder off the coast of Kent, England, when a woman drowns under mysterious circumstances while swimming with a group of friends … “wild swimmers,” as they’re called. Cupidi’s daughter finds the body and her police partner, DC Jill Ferriter has to recuse herself from the case as she just … well, let’s just say she “knows” the main suspect. This book is different from the other Cupidi novels (there are four “official” ones, and one “unofficial,” which introduced the character), in that it has two separate mysteries, connected by Ferriter. Bill South, introduced in that unofficial novel, The Birdwatcher, looks into the man who claims to be Ferriter’s previously unknown father, while Cupidi—who vanishes for a portion of the book while the South story unwinds—continues her investigation of the drowning. This one is more of a slow burn than the previous novels, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Shaw has a very pleasing writing style, very direct and to the point, but he always has room for details that set the stage (there’s one lovely description of the back of someone’s house that involves lobster pots, that I can’t seem to find, sadly). I’ve been collecting his books in British paperbacks—they are a bit hard to find here in the US, but there is one UK company who sells on ebay (rarewaves) and doesn’t charge for postage, which, in this day and age, often costs more than the book itself. Shaw’s next novel, The Red Shore, will introduce a new detective character, but I hope he returns to Cupidi soon, and for God’s sake, UK, wake up to this series: It’s crying out to be a TV series with Keeley Hawes or Suranne Jones or Gemma Whelan or some other great British actress, plus it takes place in a seldom-seen (on TV at least) picturesque area!
April 6, 2024
I thought I might have forgotten the personalities in this series but within a couple of pages I was back with old friends! I was pulled in opposite directions as to my opinions of the book.
In the positive camp. It was completely page turning, a full immersion read that was fast moving and hard to guess the endgame. I enjoyed it but with reservation.
On the negative side, I found it full of superfluous adjectives and descriptions - not a huge issue but out of place in a pacy story. I also found that a complete suspension of reality was required. Random old cases being turned over, random characters from the long past close at hand and remembering each other, full confessions for no reason (other than as a plot device). The full gamut in a can of (old) worms
Then we have the eponymous Wild Swimmers - a very small group of women with bizarre stereotypical tropes. The intense poet, the troubled young gay woman, the rich, bored housewife etc.... I could swallow it but it felt lazy to me.
With thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for allowing me to read and review
#TheWildSwimmers #NetGalley
In the positive camp. It was completely page turning, a full immersion read that was fast moving and hard to guess the endgame. I enjoyed it but with reservation.
On the negative side, I found it full of superfluous adjectives and descriptions - not a huge issue but out of place in a pacy story. I also found that a complete suspension of reality was required. Random old cases being turned over, random characters from the long past close at hand and remembering each other, full confessions for no reason (other than as a plot device). The full gamut in a can of (old) worms
Then we have the eponymous Wild Swimmers - a very small group of women with bizarre stereotypical tropes. The intense poet, the troubled young gay woman, the rich, bored housewife etc.... I could swallow it but it felt lazy to me.
With thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for allowing me to read and review
#TheWildSwimmers #NetGalley
November 19, 2024
Another enjoyable instalment for DS Cupidi. I enjoy the characters in the book and how they are building strong individual characters. Found this book atmospheric. I did get a little lost at times with the many strands of the story but they all tied up at the end.
February 10, 2025
Fabulous Story
All the Alex Cupidi stories have been so good. I read a lot of crime fiction and put these stories right in the top few. Great characters and such twists and turns that kept me guessing. I hope there will be more in this series.
All the Alex Cupidi stories have been so good. I read a lot of crime fiction and put these stories right in the top few. Great characters and such twists and turns that kept me guessing. I hope there will be more in this series.
May 25, 2024
So great to be back with these characters and the story doesn’t disappoint - an expertly written tale with personal links to the main characters. Thoroughly enjoyed.
June 7, 2024
I love this series. This time we had stories about Alex and Bill. Brilliantly characterised. Beautifully written. One of the best British crime writers around.
June 16, 2024
I was a bit reluctant to spend AUD$19.99 on a Kindle book, but this was a great read!
April 7, 2024
I would have preordered this book if I hadn't been gifted from NetGalley. I have read all William Shaw's Cupidi books, including the prequel.
Initially, I was attracted to the books because they were written where I grew up. But that would have only gone so far. I read them now because they are brilliantly written crime novels. The Wild Swimmers is no exception to this; in fact, it is one of the best.
Most books are made on their first lines, and this one sets the scene perfectly for what is to come. 'It came down to a choice between two directions, north or south.' The body is that of a young swimmer. Was she murdered, did she commit suicide, or was this a tragic accident?
This is the first story throughout the book to a well-thought-out ending. Although the clues were throughout the story, I didn't guess the killer. The second story that runs through is the private life of Cupidi's friend, Jill Ferriter. My favourite character, William South, investigates this additional story.
Part Two of the book changed voices, which I believe I am right in saying hasn't happened before in this series. I loved this aspect as it was told from the perspective of South. The prequel to this series, Birdwatcher, is also his story and one of my favourites.
The two stories combine perfectly to bring about a satisfying conclusion. Some would describe this as a cosy crime, but I don't think that does it justice. Shaw relies on his brilliant storytelling and unforgettable characters to tell an enthralling crime story that doesn't need blood and gore to entertain.
If the mark of a good book is one you can't put down, then I didn't stop reading this until 1 am. I read the whole book in one sitting, it is enthralling. Preorder this today if you like crime set in a beautiful landscape with fantastic characters. Until it is released, spend your time reading the first four.
Now, thanks to William Shaw, I need to go and wander in the shingle to look for a concrete man I never knew existed, even though I have lived in the area for nearly 50 years. Read the book, and you will understand.
Initially, I was attracted to the books because they were written where I grew up. But that would have only gone so far. I read them now because they are brilliantly written crime novels. The Wild Swimmers is no exception to this; in fact, it is one of the best.
Most books are made on their first lines, and this one sets the scene perfectly for what is to come. 'It came down to a choice between two directions, north or south.' The body is that of a young swimmer. Was she murdered, did she commit suicide, or was this a tragic accident?
This is the first story throughout the book to a well-thought-out ending. Although the clues were throughout the story, I didn't guess the killer. The second story that runs through is the private life of Cupidi's friend, Jill Ferriter. My favourite character, William South, investigates this additional story.
Part Two of the book changed voices, which I believe I am right in saying hasn't happened before in this series. I loved this aspect as it was told from the perspective of South. The prequel to this series, Birdwatcher, is also his story and one of my favourites.
The two stories combine perfectly to bring about a satisfying conclusion. Some would describe this as a cosy crime, but I don't think that does it justice. Shaw relies on his brilliant storytelling and unforgettable characters to tell an enthralling crime story that doesn't need blood and gore to entertain.
If the mark of a good book is one you can't put down, then I didn't stop reading this until 1 am. I read the whole book in one sitting, it is enthralling. Preorder this today if you like crime set in a beautiful landscape with fantastic characters. Until it is released, spend your time reading the first four.
Now, thanks to William Shaw, I need to go and wander in the shingle to look for a concrete man I never knew existed, even though I have lived in the area for nearly 50 years. Read the book, and you will understand.
February 28, 2025
There is a simplicity and clarity to William Shaw’s writing that belies its power. These are novels that generate their own quiet gravitational pull, compelling the reader to continue, to become familiar with the protagonists, to experience the south Kent coastal locations, to become privy to secrets of the past, secrets that exert their own irresistible power.
‘The Wild Swimmers’ exemplifies all these qualities, as DS Alexandra Cupidi investigates the murder of Mimi Greene, a member of a small group of regular wild swimmers. Simultaneously, Alex’s colleague Jill Ferriter and friend William South become embroiled in a mystery concerning Jill’s father, a man convicted of two murders some twenty years ago.
This is crime fiction of the highest order, demonstrating the potency that lies in the everyday lives of families and communities, a potency of the past that threatens to overwhelm the present. William Shaw’s writing is both effective and affecting. Of course, these are gripping mysteries but, for me, it is the tone, an atmospheric melancholy, and the characterisation, of protagonists whose lives speak to the reality of the human condition, that will always keep me coming back for more.
‘The Wild Swimmers’ exemplifies all these qualities, as DS Alexandra Cupidi investigates the murder of Mimi Greene, a member of a small group of regular wild swimmers. Simultaneously, Alex’s colleague Jill Ferriter and friend William South become embroiled in a mystery concerning Jill’s father, a man convicted of two murders some twenty years ago.
This is crime fiction of the highest order, demonstrating the potency that lies in the everyday lives of families and communities, a potency of the past that threatens to overwhelm the present. William Shaw’s writing is both effective and affecting. Of course, these are gripping mysteries but, for me, it is the tone, an atmospheric melancholy, and the characterisation, of protagonists whose lives speak to the reality of the human condition, that will always keep me coming back for more.
February 16, 2025
William Shaw's fifth novel in the Det. Alex Cupidi series continues the established quality in all the previous volumes, including those featuring his related Bill South character.
A woman's body is found on the beach, leading to the investigation of her death and a main suspect who seems to have disappeared into the woodwork. At the same time, a colleague of Cupid's has approached Bill South for help on an unrelated matter, which leads South on a journey he may not return from and involves violent criminals from the past and with names most don't even want to speak.
Shaw's novel then continues on, maintaining enjoyable reading material just as in the past.
Frankly, here in the US, it is disappointing the novels of William Shaw are not talked of more, just like that of Garry Disher and Andrian McKinty.
A woman's body is found on the beach, leading to the investigation of her death and a main suspect who seems to have disappeared into the woodwork. At the same time, a colleague of Cupid's has approached Bill South for help on an unrelated matter, which leads South on a journey he may not return from and involves violent criminals from the past and with names most don't even want to speak.
Shaw's novel then continues on, maintaining enjoyable reading material just as in the past.
Frankly, here in the US, it is disappointing the novels of William Shaw are not talked of more, just like that of Garry Disher and Andrian McKinty.
April 10, 2024
I’ve not read the previous books in this series but I will certainly go back and do so after having read Wild Swimmers.
I love crime fiction and this book was a great addition to the list. The characters are interesting and multi-layered. The plot was good and not overly complicated. There are a few bits where you have to suspend your disbelief as always with these books but nothing outrageous. Overall a great read.
I love crime fiction and this book was a great addition to the list. The characters are interesting and multi-layered. The plot was good and not overly complicated. There are a few bits where you have to suspend your disbelief as always with these books but nothing outrageous. Overall a great read.
March 16, 2025
Loved this latest installment in the Cupidi series. The characters are simply wonderful. I found the storyline very compelling throughout the novel, although I was a bit disappointed with the ending, which I thought could be stronger. I'll be waiting for the next in the series for more about Alex, Zoe and Bill.
January 4, 2026
This was a good crime novel which I read very quickly. There are two storylines introduced at the very beginning: Alex and her daughter Zoe find a body on the beach and Jill is contacted by a prisoner claiming to be her father. The storylines don't end up linked as they do in some books. I liked both of the investigations and am sad this is the last book in the series.
March 10, 2025
I just love these books by William Shaw! Each one is a complicated mystery and I like seeing how everyone plays a part in solving them. Great characters and very atmospheric setting. Also I like how nothing is as it seems and I can never figure out who the murderer is!
August 26, 2025
CAWPILE 7.29
4 STARS
The most recent/last? book in the DS. Alexandra Cupidi series and I really enjoyed it. Having been with these characters for 5 books, the highs and lows experienced in this story felt really impactful.
Not a lot I can say as I don't want to spoil any previous books or indeed the plot of this one but if you enjoy crime/procedural series then this one is good.
4 STARS
The most recent/last? book in the DS. Alexandra Cupidi series and I really enjoyed it. Having been with these characters for 5 books, the highs and lows experienced in this story felt really impactful.
Not a lot I can say as I don't want to spoil any previous books or indeed the plot of this one but if you enjoy crime/procedural series then this one is good.
November 26, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It's the fifth in the series. He is such a good writer makes you want to keep reading and not to have to wait too long for his next book.
September 14, 2024
Really enjoyed this book in the series plenty of twists and turns
September 1, 2024
I love this series, partly because it's all set near my home on the Kent coast, so the places are familiar. But mainly because Shaw is such a great storyteller. His characters are vivid, imperfect and real, and I love the relationship between single mum/detective Alex Cupidi and her awkward - but likeable - teenage daughter Zoe.
The action rattles along, and I find this series hard to put down, once I begin.
This one starts with a body washing up on the shore of Dungeness, and leads us to a group of wild swimmers in Hythe, the drug underworld across Kent, and a marina near Rochester where pretty much everything that could go wrong does. All of our main characters are placed in danger - and some good new characters are introduced who I hope we'll meet again in future books.
The action rattles along, and I find this series hard to put down, once I begin.
This one starts with a body washing up on the shore of Dungeness, and leads us to a group of wild swimmers in Hythe, the drug underworld across Kent, and a marina near Rochester where pretty much everything that could go wrong does. All of our main characters are placed in danger - and some good new characters are introduced who I hope we'll meet again in future books.
July 8, 2024
William Shaw's Alexandra Cupidi series is one that I love. I can hear the birds calling overhead and taste the salt in the air while I search for shells in the sand. Yes, he puts me right in the middle of the setting. Having written a couple of standalone thrillers, I was ecstatic to see that he'd come back to this area and these characters again.
As always, the mysteries concerning the wild swimmer and the convicted killer are strong ones with plenty of twists and turns, but it's the cast of characters that I love seeing again and again. After being a hermit for several books, it would appear that Bill South has finally begun to heal from the emotional turmoil of The Birdwatcher as he takes a larger role in The Wild Swimmers. And speaking of wild swimmers, the group of women that Mimi Greene had joined is a strange collection of personalities.
The two main characters, Alex and her daughter Zoë have come full circle. The trauma of finding Mimi has made Zoë terrified of being in a setting in which she had been passionately in love. And with all the determination of a nineteen-year-old, she is now acting older and more judgemental than her mother. Alex, who used to be a certified city girl who hated the country, now loves the beaches and marshlands of southeastern England. The only way Alex hasn't really changed is in her tendency to jump in before she thinks-- sometimes with dangerous consequences, sometimes not.
If you love strong mysteries peopled with multifaceted characters who live in a setting you can see and hear and feel and taste, you must read this series. Start with The Birdwatcher so you don't miss one little bit!
As always, the mysteries concerning the wild swimmer and the convicted killer are strong ones with plenty of twists and turns, but it's the cast of characters that I love seeing again and again. After being a hermit for several books, it would appear that Bill South has finally begun to heal from the emotional turmoil of The Birdwatcher as he takes a larger role in The Wild Swimmers. And speaking of wild swimmers, the group of women that Mimi Greene had joined is a strange collection of personalities.
The two main characters, Alex and her daughter Zoë have come full circle. The trauma of finding Mimi has made Zoë terrified of being in a setting in which she had been passionately in love. And with all the determination of a nineteen-year-old, she is now acting older and more judgemental than her mother. Alex, who used to be a certified city girl who hated the country, now loves the beaches and marshlands of southeastern England. The only way Alex hasn't really changed is in her tendency to jump in before she thinks-- sometimes with dangerous consequences, sometimes not.
If you love strong mysteries peopled with multifaceted characters who live in a setting you can see and hear and feel and taste, you must read this series. Start with The Birdwatcher so you don't miss one little bit!
July 6, 2024
Number five in the DS Allexandra Cupidi series, although I always consider that it all started with The Birdwatcher in which we are introduced to William (Bill) South, retired police officer with a dark past. He features in most of the plots in the series. Indeed, in The Wild Swimmers he is really the key protagonist, occupying most of the plot. In a field of characters Alex is almost an also ran.
Alex's daughter Zoë stumbles across Mimi Greene's lifeless body on the shoreline. Mimi is a wild swimmer with a group of close friends and DS Cupidi starts to suspect this is more than just an accidental drowning.
Meanwhile, Her friend and colleague Jill Ferriter receives a mysterious letter from a man who claims to be her father who has been in prison for the last twenty years, convicted of two brutal murders. Enter Bill South to try and uncover the facts around Stephen Dowles' conviction. Here is where it all gets rather complicated and at times difficult to follow, what with Cupidi's investigation and South's, going in different directions.
It's good, but not as good as previous books in the series - in my opinion.
Alex's daughter Zoë stumbles across Mimi Greene's lifeless body on the shoreline. Mimi is a wild swimmer with a group of close friends and DS Cupidi starts to suspect this is more than just an accidental drowning.
Meanwhile, Her friend and colleague Jill Ferriter receives a mysterious letter from a man who claims to be her father who has been in prison for the last twenty years, convicted of two brutal murders. Enter Bill South to try and uncover the facts around Stephen Dowles' conviction. Here is where it all gets rather complicated and at times difficult to follow, what with Cupidi's investigation and South's, going in different directions.
It's good, but not as good as previous books in the series - in my opinion.
June 13, 2025
I do like a murder by the sea.
This has been a great series from William Shaw and excellent to see it ending, apparently, on a high note. I will miss Dungeness
This has been a great series from William Shaw and excellent to see it ending, apparently, on a high note. I will miss Dungeness
May 16, 2024
Well... it's about time we had another book in this series and, boy, was it worth the three year wait! Although, that said, I did have his other books to keep me going - the ones he writes under GW Shaw. Which are also excellent reads.
Going back to Alex Cupidi - and usual series rules apply - I know I say that with all series, but there are some which definitely benefit from this. Character backstory and development and all that jazz. And this one definitely fits that category.
We start with Alex getting a call about a body on the beach. She is not convinced so allows her daughter Zoe to accompany her. She is in a bit of a world of her own so doesn't hear Zoe until she has been shouting a while, having actually found the body. A body which turns out to be Mimi Green, a regular wild swimmer. Further investigation reveal her to be a strong swimmer who doesn't usually go out alone, especially in dodgy weather. Alex therefore isn't convinced it is just an accident...
If that wasn't enough to get your juices flowing, we also have another intriguing investigation. It appears that Jill Ferriter has received a letter from her father. Well, one from a man claiming to be. And it that wasn't strange enough, he is currently in prison, and has been for the past twenty years, for two brutal murders. Jill tries to talk to Alex but she has her hands full with Mimi's death so she turns instead to Bill South to assist her.
Oh my days. I have really missed the characters in this book. You know when you don't actually realise you have missed someone until you reconnect with them and get that warm fuzzy feeling and it's like the years apart have meant nothing... yeah... that!
And it was more than wonderful to have Bill back front and centre with his own, absolutely gripping investigation. It's a cold case so he has to dig back to the past. Reconnecting with an old friend to get Jill the answers she needs and deserves.
The wild swimming case was just as intriguing and kept my attention nicely as it progressed, delivery twist after shock as Alex peeled back the layers until the truth was finally laid bare.
And the setting, which is really kinda a character in its own right delivered once again. I am usually not a fan of over-description in a book, I find it slows my reading down too much and I do admit to being a bit impatient, but in this case, the setting is integral to the case and so is well worthy and deserved of the wonderful description the author delivers. Other than that, the writing is tight and with no superfluous waffle, allows the pace to remain high and the story to get on with itself very well indeed. Ramping up until delivering the final denouement, which left me wholly satisfied.
In fact the only downside of the book was realising that I had finished and so would have to say goodbye to the characters once again. Hopefully it won't be three years until we meet again...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Going back to Alex Cupidi - and usual series rules apply - I know I say that with all series, but there are some which definitely benefit from this. Character backstory and development and all that jazz. And this one definitely fits that category.
We start with Alex getting a call about a body on the beach. She is not convinced so allows her daughter Zoe to accompany her. She is in a bit of a world of her own so doesn't hear Zoe until she has been shouting a while, having actually found the body. A body which turns out to be Mimi Green, a regular wild swimmer. Further investigation reveal her to be a strong swimmer who doesn't usually go out alone, especially in dodgy weather. Alex therefore isn't convinced it is just an accident...
If that wasn't enough to get your juices flowing, we also have another intriguing investigation. It appears that Jill Ferriter has received a letter from her father. Well, one from a man claiming to be. And it that wasn't strange enough, he is currently in prison, and has been for the past twenty years, for two brutal murders. Jill tries to talk to Alex but she has her hands full with Mimi's death so she turns instead to Bill South to assist her.
Oh my days. I have really missed the characters in this book. You know when you don't actually realise you have missed someone until you reconnect with them and get that warm fuzzy feeling and it's like the years apart have meant nothing... yeah... that!
And it was more than wonderful to have Bill back front and centre with his own, absolutely gripping investigation. It's a cold case so he has to dig back to the past. Reconnecting with an old friend to get Jill the answers she needs and deserves.
The wild swimming case was just as intriguing and kept my attention nicely as it progressed, delivery twist after shock as Alex peeled back the layers until the truth was finally laid bare.
And the setting, which is really kinda a character in its own right delivered once again. I am usually not a fan of over-description in a book, I find it slows my reading down too much and I do admit to being a bit impatient, but in this case, the setting is integral to the case and so is well worthy and deserved of the wonderful description the author delivers. Other than that, the writing is tight and with no superfluous waffle, allows the pace to remain high and the story to get on with itself very well indeed. Ramping up until delivering the final denouement, which left me wholly satisfied.
In fact the only downside of the book was realising that I had finished and so would have to say goodbye to the characters once again. Hopefully it won't be three years until we meet again...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
April 27, 2025
The Wild Swimmers by William Shaw is number 5 in the Detective Superintendent Alexandra Cupidi series, or is it number 6 if you include the prequel; The Birdwatcher?
Alexandra is due to return to work the following day after a prolonged stress related absence when she receives a call from a colleague asking her to check out a report of a dead body near where she lives. Used to false alarms in the area Alexandra decides to go for a walk with her 19-year-old daughter, Zoë when they share the task by one walking North, the other South and as bad luck would have it, it is Zoë who finds the deceased wild swimmer, Mimi Greene, lifeless on the shoreline. Distraught and alone Zoë attempts to resuscitate the obviously dead woman and is devastated when her attempts are to no avail.
When it is determined that Mimi's death was not accidental, Alexandra takes the case on to find whoever was responsible, and quickly zeros in a dating app date of Mimi's who quickly deletes their app profile once news of the mysterious death is made public. Alexandra's friend & colleague, Jill, soon realises that she also knows the murder suspect as she herself has been on a date with him via the app and is therefore recused from the investigation, which is probably good fortune as she is distracted by receiving a mysterious letter from a man in prison who is claiming to be her previously unknown father. As he's currently serving a 20-year sentence for two brutal murders she is clearly concerned by this unexpected contact.
As Alexandra is forbidden to have any contact with Jill during the investigation, neither can turn to each other for their usual support and the sense of isolation is heightened as the complexity of the murder case increases and also further mysterious messages are uncovered.
The Wild Swimmers is a two for the price of one mystery novel. There's the current day murder combined with the investigation into events leading to the prosecution of the man purporting to be Jill's father and if you are a crime and mystery fan then this is a treat, as both tales are well developed and will lead you guessing to pretty much the last page turn. This is an excellent series by an excellent writer and an easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐ on this occasion. If you've not experienced the author yet, then you should and you are in for a treat.
Alexandra is due to return to work the following day after a prolonged stress related absence when she receives a call from a colleague asking her to check out a report of a dead body near where she lives. Used to false alarms in the area Alexandra decides to go for a walk with her 19-year-old daughter, Zoë when they share the task by one walking North, the other South and as bad luck would have it, it is Zoë who finds the deceased wild swimmer, Mimi Greene, lifeless on the shoreline. Distraught and alone Zoë attempts to resuscitate the obviously dead woman and is devastated when her attempts are to no avail.
When it is determined that Mimi's death was not accidental, Alexandra takes the case on to find whoever was responsible, and quickly zeros in a dating app date of Mimi's who quickly deletes their app profile once news of the mysterious death is made public. Alexandra's friend & colleague, Jill, soon realises that she also knows the murder suspect as she herself has been on a date with him via the app and is therefore recused from the investigation, which is probably good fortune as she is distracted by receiving a mysterious letter from a man in prison who is claiming to be her previously unknown father. As he's currently serving a 20-year sentence for two brutal murders she is clearly concerned by this unexpected contact.
As Alexandra is forbidden to have any contact with Jill during the investigation, neither can turn to each other for their usual support and the sense of isolation is heightened as the complexity of the murder case increases and also further mysterious messages are uncovered.
The Wild Swimmers is a two for the price of one mystery novel. There's the current day murder combined with the investigation into events leading to the prosecution of the man purporting to be Jill's father and if you are a crime and mystery fan then this is a treat, as both tales are well developed and will lead you guessing to pretty much the last page turn. This is an excellent series by an excellent writer and an easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐ on this occasion. If you've not experienced the author yet, then you should and you are in for a treat.
May 23, 2024
Detective Sergeant Alexandra Cupidi, due to start back on the serious crimes unit after being away because of stress, is sent to investigate the report of a dead body on the beach at
Dungeness. It‘s a young woman, later identified as one of a group of women who go wild swimming in the area.
Meanwhile a close friend and colleague of Alex’s, Detective Constable Jill Ferriter, who has never known her father, now receives a message from Stephen Dowles claiming to be that man. The trouble is he is in prison for murder and about to be released. Jill wants Alex’s
advice as what to do.
Alex visits the beach where the women swim, the dead woman had been identified as Mimi Greene. Alex asks the other three swimmers about Mimi; they tell her that she was a very strong swimmer and would never have drowned. So begins a murder investigation and Alex and the team need to speak to Malcolm who was in a relationship with Mimi, but no one seems to know his surname.
Meanwhile as Alex is so busy with Mimi’s murder, she hasn’t time to investigate the man claiming to be her friend’s father. Jill therefore asks a close neighbour and friend Bill, a retired police officer, to help her. Reluctantly he agrees to find out more for her. However, little does he know what depths he is getting into. His enquiries lead to his life being put in grave danger when he unearths evidence of past cover ups within the police force concerning drug dealing. Corruption was rife back in the early 1990’s in his area.
As Alex looks further into the death of Mimi, she also finds connections to the past, dealing with drug trafficking. It becomes a very complicated and baffling case. Who and where is Malcolm, a person whose name keeps cropping up in connection with the murder and Bill’s enquiries? Who could possibly have killed Mimi and why?
Is Bill’s old friend and colleague from the police force as straight as he always seemed? A really complex murder enquiry which turns into so much more, set in the wonderfully descriptive wild beauty and desolation of the coast around Dungeness.
Thoroughly recommended for readers who enjoy a very complicated case to unravel.
------
Reviewer: Tricia Chappell
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
Dungeness. It‘s a young woman, later identified as one of a group of women who go wild swimming in the area.
Meanwhile a close friend and colleague of Alex’s, Detective Constable Jill Ferriter, who has never known her father, now receives a message from Stephen Dowles claiming to be that man. The trouble is he is in prison for murder and about to be released. Jill wants Alex’s
advice as what to do.
Alex visits the beach where the women swim, the dead woman had been identified as Mimi Greene. Alex asks the other three swimmers about Mimi; they tell her that she was a very strong swimmer and would never have drowned. So begins a murder investigation and Alex and the team need to speak to Malcolm who was in a relationship with Mimi, but no one seems to know his surname.
Meanwhile as Alex is so busy with Mimi’s murder, she hasn’t time to investigate the man claiming to be her friend’s father. Jill therefore asks a close neighbour and friend Bill, a retired police officer, to help her. Reluctantly he agrees to find out more for her. However, little does he know what depths he is getting into. His enquiries lead to his life being put in grave danger when he unearths evidence of past cover ups within the police force concerning drug dealing. Corruption was rife back in the early 1990’s in his area.
As Alex looks further into the death of Mimi, she also finds connections to the past, dealing with drug trafficking. It becomes a very complicated and baffling case. Who and where is Malcolm, a person whose name keeps cropping up in connection with the murder and Bill’s enquiries? Who could possibly have killed Mimi and why?
Is Bill’s old friend and colleague from the police force as straight as he always seemed? A really complex murder enquiry which turns into so much more, set in the wonderfully descriptive wild beauty and desolation of the coast around Dungeness.
Thoroughly recommended for readers who enjoy a very complicated case to unravel.
------
Reviewer: Tricia Chappell
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
August 25, 2024
This was my first time reading William Shaw’s DS Cupidi series – I have to confess it wasn’t one I had heard of before but that’s hardly surprising given the sheer number of such series.
Anyway, I liked the sound of this one when I read the blurb and wasn’t too deterred by the fact that it was the fifth in a series. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything and that’s a credit to Shaw in his writing – he doesn’t write to alienate a new reader.
The one thing that I could possibly have done with was a little background on why Cupidi had been on stress leave – I assumed due to something that happened on a previous case but without knowing what, it was difficult to tell whether this character was her normal self when she returned to work. It seemed to me that she was, there was no second guessing herself or nervousness around any aspect of what she was doing. Is that realistic for someone returning to work after a long layoff? Maybe, but it was difficult to tell without any context of the reason for the leave, or even a hint at what had caused it.
Having said that, I really enjoyed this tight thriller – I did think the joint narratives would marry together in the end but perhaps it was better that they didn’t – too many writers tie themselves in knots trying to link up convoluted plots and this, in a sense, is more honest. After all, there’s never just one mystery in a small town or area.
The characters were believable and appealing – I particularly thought Zoe, Cupidi’s daughter, was written very authentically.
The mysteries were good and, while I had an inkling on what was going on for Bill’s side, Cupidi’s mystery was well executed, with some good red herrings and strong characterisation, even down to the bit players like the women they interviewed about Malcolm.
I also really enjoyed Shaw’s description of place – I felt cold when he talked about the swimmers on the headland, wrapping themselves in dry robes, etc. I had an image of the area, the towns, the police station. It was vividly written and drew me in.
My thanks to Quercus Books / Riverrun for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Anyway, I liked the sound of this one when I read the blurb and wasn’t too deterred by the fact that it was the fifth in a series. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything and that’s a credit to Shaw in his writing – he doesn’t write to alienate a new reader.
The one thing that I could possibly have done with was a little background on why Cupidi had been on stress leave – I assumed due to something that happened on a previous case but without knowing what, it was difficult to tell whether this character was her normal self when she returned to work. It seemed to me that she was, there was no second guessing herself or nervousness around any aspect of what she was doing. Is that realistic for someone returning to work after a long layoff? Maybe, but it was difficult to tell without any context of the reason for the leave, or even a hint at what had caused it.
Having said that, I really enjoyed this tight thriller – I did think the joint narratives would marry together in the end but perhaps it was better that they didn’t – too many writers tie themselves in knots trying to link up convoluted plots and this, in a sense, is more honest. After all, there’s never just one mystery in a small town or area.
The characters were believable and appealing – I particularly thought Zoe, Cupidi’s daughter, was written very authentically.
The mysteries were good and, while I had an inkling on what was going on for Bill’s side, Cupidi’s mystery was well executed, with some good red herrings and strong characterisation, even down to the bit players like the women they interviewed about Malcolm.
I also really enjoyed Shaw’s description of place – I felt cold when he talked about the swimmers on the headland, wrapping themselves in dry robes, etc. I had an image of the area, the towns, the police station. It was vividly written and drew me in.
My thanks to Quercus Books / Riverrun for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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