Swimming in the Dark

by Paddy Richardson

In a small New Zealand town, four women find their lives inextricably linked by a secret that could bring about their undoing... or set them free.

Serena Freeman, a once-promising high school student, has started to retreat from life and one night does not return home. Her sister, Lynnie Freeman, is carving out a successful career and is desperate to distance herself from her troubled past. But on hearing of Serena's disappearance, Lynnie is forced to return to the town of Alexandra to look for her.

The only link to Serena's disappearance is Ilse Klein, a quietly dedicated English teacher who longs for her lost childhood in Germany and the sense of belonging it gave her. She lives with her mother, Gerda Klein, who is beset by a devastating depression each winter and plagued by memories of Stasi Germany. The Kleins learned long ago that there is safety in silence, can they break a lifelong habit?

Haunting and compelling, Swimming in the Dark explores the nature of guilt and fear, the power of friendship and the strength of the human spirit.

Genres: Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2014

Reviews

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 5 out of 5]

An atmospheric psychological drama, Swimming in the Dark, the fourth novel by award-winning New Zealand writer Paddy Richardson, explores the themes of family, oppression, fear and the strength it takes to rise above them.

Set in New Zealand, this contemporary, haunting tale unites four women, Serena and her sister Lynette, and school teacher Ilse Klein and her mother, Gerda, struggling against a legacy of fear, shame and guilt.
Fifteen year old Serena Freeman is the youngest child of a family with a reputation for wildness and petty criminal behaviour in the suburbs of Otago. Studious and quiet, she has tried hard to avoid being tarred with the same brush, hoping to one day escape and create a new life, as her eldest sister, Lynnie, did seven years before. When Serena disappears no one seems to care but Lynette returns to Alexandra to search for her, determined to uncover the secrets her younger sister has been hiding.
Their worlds collide when Ilsa inadvertently learns Serena's secret, a secret that revives terrible memories for Gerda of her time in Stasi Germany.

Beautifully written, this is a complex and gripping novel which I couldn't put down. I'm loathe to reveal this story's secrets, and at a loss to articulate its power other than to say I was held captive by the undercurrent of suspense, moved by the character's struggles, and stunned by the novel's conclusion.

A must read.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was an engaging read but probably tackled too many themes and social issues to do any of them justice. The book was set in New Zealand which was a point of interest but probably could have been set in any small community.

[Aneets · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was promising for the first 0-40 pages and then morphed into the type of book that was trying to be too many things at once. It took away from the story and left me unsatisfied and rolling my eyes a few times. 2 stars.

[Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros - powerful tale about power structures, police corruption and how these systems persist through silence of the masses and fear-mongering.
Another great theme is sorority and the community women foster in crisis.

Cons - The NZ idioms and references make me feel ill and the German stoicism also is icky. Understandable, but icky nonetheless. Never want to read the words “sweet as” ever again.

Sometimes the writing is too matter of fact and way too reliant on anecdotes. It feels like an info dump rather than context to understand the characters. Also could have done with clearer structure as sometimes the time jumps were confusing.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a small New Zealand town, four women find their lives inextricably linked by a secret that could bring about their undoing...or set them free.

Serena Freeman, a once-promising high school student, has started to retreat from life, and one night does not return home. her sister, Lynnie Freeman is carving out a successful career and is desperate to distance herself from her troubled past. But on hearing of Serena's disappearance, Lynnie is forced to return to the town of Alexandra to look for her.

The only link to Serena's disappearance is Ilse Klein, a quietly dedicated English teacher who longs for her lost childhood in Germany and the sense of belonging it gave her. She lives with her mother, Gerda Klein, who is beset by a devastating depression each winter and plagued by memories of Stasi Germany. The Kleins learned a long time ago that there is safety in silence, can they break a lifelong habit?

Haunting and compelling, SWIMMING IN THE DARK explores the nature of guilt and fear, the power of friendship and the strength of the human spirit.

****************************

[Hannah Owenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, I struggled to put it down and really enjoyed it. I loved the different characters and perspectives and how the timeline moved back and forth - I think it did this really well. In the beginning I found the writing a little clunky, but after a while I realised (or at least I think!) it was to reflect that particular character, as later on it the book the style changed to suit other characters.

So great this was set in New Zealand, having just driven through Clyde a few weeks ago, and living in Wellington it was good to picture the scenes, but at the same time this could be set anywhere and you would enjoy it.

I’ll definitely look out for Paddy’s books again. Really enjoyed it :)

[Debbie Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was our book club's book this month and as such I had never heard of it before or had any idea what to expect. It was a compelling read and drew me in with each of the women's secrets. It was fast paced and believable with history thrown in! I have actually been to this town in New Zealand so could sort of visualise the setting and small town vibe. It was haunting in places and left a dead weight of dread ion my stomach at times but I'm so glad I read it. It will be interesting to hear what the others think when we have our book club meeting.

[Amy Heap · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in New Zealand, with flashbacks to East Germany, this is the story of the ways in which a group of women in a small New Zealand town have suffered, and how they can come together to seek safety and a future. A teenaged girl from the wrong side of the tracks begins to lose her promise and hope for the future, and her favourite teacher, a German immigrant who lives with her mother, is put in a situation where she needs to confront her past. It's about abuse of power on a small and grand scale, the legacy of family history, and the strength of women, against the odds.

[Stephen Kibble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, really enjoyed it.

[Seb Sebastian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really my kind of book but ending definitely made up for slow beginning. I also liked how the character back stories were relevant to the ending and how it affected their actions at the end.

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read many books written by New Zealand authors, so when Swimming in the Dark came into my hands through a giveaway win, I was keen to delve into this crime thriller. Swimming in the Dark is a story about four different women, who become conjoined by a dangerous secret. At the heart of this secret is the young Serena Freeman. Despite coming from a disadvantaged background, Serena is a high achieving student until something terrible happens to her. Serena feels she has no choice but to flee her sleepy small town of Alexandra in New Zealand. Serena’s disappearance triggers older sister Lynnie’s homecoming to Alexandra, a place she left years ago and vowed never to return to. Lynnie’s search for her younger sister leads her to Serena’s English teacher, Illse Klein, a demure but passionate teacher and her kind hearted mother Gerda. Together, these women become bound together and their connection is tested to its very limits.
Although the subject matter is dark and murky, Swimming in the Dark was a book I enjoyed very much. I l loved how the book shifted effortlessly between the beautiful settings of the present in the New Zealand town of Alexandra and the past in Leipzig, Germany. These two locales were contrasted with ease, I could picture both settings perfectly through Richardson’s descriptive writing. Swimming in the Dark was a book that I found was rich in tone, it maintains a measured level of tension for the entirety of the novel. In terms of characters, Richardson has worked hard to create believable and layered characters. Of all the characters, I engaged with Gerda, the German mother’s back story the most. Upon reading, I found that through reading Gerda’s story, I took away a piece of history about Stasi Germany. It is a place and time period I confess to not knowing much about prior to reading Swimming in the Dark. Swimming in the Dark is a book that offers the reader so much. From the story I was able to pull out the themes of friendship, kindness to strangers, the bonds of familial relationships, long held guilt and overcoming adversity.
I love to discover new writing talent and Paddy Richardson is strong voice in New Zealand crime fiction, that I am looking forward to reading much more from in the future.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The horrid sick feeling in the pit of my stomach remained for the duration.

What a compelling and disturbing tale. It is going to take some serious thought before I can formulate coherent thoughts about this one.

Paddy Richardson has written a compelling page turner that left me with a very sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. From the very first chapter I had a feeling that I knew where this was heading, and I wasn’t wrong but I only scraped the surface of what was coming.

Serena Freeman is the youngest child in a troubled family. It’s easy to make assumptions but I will stick to what I know. Mum has had a string of partners, some of them not very nice, and has quite a reputation for sharing her bed rather indiscriminately which doesn’t go down very well with the married women in town. Serena’s eldest sister Lynnie escaped town as early as she could, running away in the early hours of the morning when she was only 15. The boys have been in and out of trouble and it put Serena at a disadvantage from the time she started school – everyone knew the Freemans. Serena is very different from her family, she’s a quiet and studious girl who does well at school and keeps out of trouble. Until the year she starts distancing herself from everyone, and everything.

The remainder of the review is live at: http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...

[Daysanddreaming · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating crime novel circling four women - Serena, Lynnette, Ilse and Gerda. It takes place over several decades, and in both Leipzig, Germany and Alexandra, NZ.
I wasn't sure what to make of this at first, but the way the novel pulls you in and sweeps you up in the characters, it is impossible not to become invested. The central figures are all strong and unique, and have endured many trials to become as they are.
This novel does not shy away from the moral grey areas it encounters, instead following where they lead. It looks at questions of justice and judgement, of secrecy and silence, of oppression and freedom, and lets the reader feel the uncertainties of the characters themselves as these issues arise.
I really enjoyed this, both as a crime novel, and as a very unique piece of women's literature.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is set in my home town of Alexandra. It gave me nightmares. I was far too familiar with the setting and it preyed on my mind as I visualised every scene. This book has two threads, one set in East Germany before the wall came down, and one in Alexandra. Occasionally I found it slightly muddled as it flicked from place to place, both threads were interesting and well developed and the story of the family being stalked by the Stazi was great even if I sometimes got a bit lost figuring out who was who and waiting to get back to the main storyline about a young abused girl in Alexandra. The finale is really full on, incredibly fast moving, maybe too fast. But ultimately it is a good suspense book and I'm pleased I read it and will certainly read more from this local author, who obviously has spent a long hot summer or two in my home town.

[Philippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good novel, set in Alexandra (New Zealand) and Leipzig (Germany). This weaves together the stories of Serena, a teenage girl who is [SPOILER ALERT] groomed and abused by a sexual predator, her teacher Ilse who left East Germany as a child, and Ilse's mother Gerda, who lives with her daughter now in Alexandra.
Paddy Richardson's writing is deceptively simple, but the story is well-crafted, well plotted, has authentic dialogue, believable motivations, good pace and suspense, and some surprises.
It is a story of survival and courage, with some great strong characters.
I did wonder at the end of it all what the reactions were of the township to the missing policemen, and what Serena's mother's reactions were to the events.

[Swuun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely riveting read. The layers of past and present, the women whose lives intersect and change trajectory because of those chance meetings - it's a seriously well-crafted story, and I found it impossible to put down. (Literally - I finished this in a day because I couldn't stop reading.) It explores such a deep range of issues, from everyday domestic tragedies to international refugees. There's themes of guilt and culpability and the choices we make and what our actions (and inaction) cause or prevent. And there's the women - I loved that! All of the point of view characters are women, and it's all about their lives and their experiences and their bonds: mothers and daughters, sisters, friends, saviors and protectors. A total treat of a book.

[Helen Varley · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a good, fast read with a plot that moved along fairly quickly with some interesting twists, and generally believeable characters (although there were some things that just didn't gel - such as ilse feeling too old to wear a bikini because she is over 30). unfortunately the plot kept making me think of the tv series "top of the lake", which i found very problematic; predatory policeman and pregnant teen was just a bit too similar to that. but otherwise it was good. the contrast of small town new zealand with leipzig under the GDR and the stasi was realistically written and the spying and privacy invasion is very pertinent in today's digital & political climate.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book moved fast and maintained my interest enough for me to finish in three days (work days that is). A brilliant psychological thriller about control and power that draws in many themes from the last days of East Germany through to modern day New Zealand. A brilliant tale of women of different generations caught up in a difficult and frightening situation of authoritarian powerlessness and control who eventually draw on their profound lives experiences to fight back. It's the first time I've read this author, but it won't be the last.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and again you come across an author who writes fabulous books, and yet, sadly seems to stay too far below the radar. New Zealander Paddy Richardson is one of the best thriller writers around these days, one who undoubtedly deserves a much bigger readership than she seems to have garnered. Full Review at Reviewing the Evidence: http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com/r...

[Mandy Hager · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful writing, gripping and horrifying, heart-breaking and heart-warming! As I read I kept thinking about the surveillance net slowing being lowered over us here - very bloody scary. I'm utterly impressed with how she married the research and made it feel totally organic to the story - in fact, deeply jealous!

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful way the author wrought the lives of two families of different cultures, and times, into one story of fears and problems. In the resolution, the characters find new strengths. I will be reviewing it at ...

http://read-it-reviewed-it.blogspot.c...

[Leanne Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark, gritty story of the kindness of strangers in an unforgiving world. Richardson takes us through the darkness of these character's lives to show hope and belief in the future. A story of four women linked by adversity but who triumph in the end.

[Di Dunning Saunders · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall concept of three very different women, and how they come together, was the one redeeming feature of this book. Otherwise I found it tedious and ingenuous apparently throwing in what the author may have considered obligatory concepts for contemporary reading.

[Judith Yeabsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. A fast, pacy read from the start. It had me hooked on a lot of levels. The characters were great, their stories fascinating - if harrowing - and the psychological thriller side of it did not descend into farce. Believable and emotional, a must read.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story of overcoming oppression with love from the most unexpected people. Loved it.

[Jodie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in New Zealand

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will be looking for more of this authors books

[Vonne Learmonth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great storey