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Swans Don't Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer's Daughter
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I don’t usually rate non-fiction, but since I received an ARC of this one, I felt like I should—and this was absolutely a 5-star non-fiction read for me.
Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer by Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an incredibly well-written true crime book that completely pulled me in. What made it even more fascinating was that I had never heard of this case before, which made the entire story feel fresh and incredibly intriguing.
The premise alone is jaw-dropping: a serial killer becomes a crime victim when his own daughter is brutally murdered. When law enforcement can’t solve the case and it eventually goes cold, he turns to Sheryl McCollum and the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute for help. From there, things take a turn you wouldn’t expect—because what happens when a serial killer becomes the bait to catch another killer?
Beyond the shocking case itself, one of the things I loved most about this book was learning more about Sheryl McCollum. Her passion for solving cases and finding answers for victims is so clear throughout the book. What really stood out to me is how committed she is to seeking justice for someone, even when their family members may have done terrible things. That kind of compassion and dedication is something we need more of in the legal system.
This was a gripping, thought-provoking true crime story that kept me hooked the entire time. If you enjoy true crime, cold cases, and learning about the investigative process from someone who truly cares about the victims, this is definitely one to pick up.
Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer by Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an incredibly well-written true crime book that completely pulled me in. What made it even more fascinating was that I had never heard of this case before, which made the entire story feel fresh and incredibly intriguing.
The premise alone is jaw-dropping: a serial killer becomes a crime victim when his own daughter is brutally murdered. When law enforcement can’t solve the case and it eventually goes cold, he turns to Sheryl McCollum and the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute for help. From there, things take a turn you wouldn’t expect—because what happens when a serial killer becomes the bait to catch another killer?
Beyond the shocking case itself, one of the things I loved most about this book was learning more about Sheryl McCollum. Her passion for solving cases and finding answers for victims is so clear throughout the book. What really stood out to me is how committed she is to seeking justice for someone, even when their family members may have done terrible things. That kind of compassion and dedication is something we need more of in the legal system.
This was a gripping, thought-provoking true crime story that kept me hooked the entire time. If you enjoy true crime, cold cases, and learning about the investigative process from someone who truly cares about the victims, this is definitely one to pick up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Swans Don't Swim in a Sewer had an incredibly interesting premise and a genuinely fascinating true story at its core. A serial killer asking for help solving his own daughter’s murder? That immediately grabbed my attention, and honestly, the title is excellent as well.
Unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to the potential.
This is one of those books where a strong editor could have made all the difference. The same points are repeated over and over again throughout the book, yes, she was a young mother of two, yes, he was a serial killer but still had rights, yes, the investigators worked hard on the case. After a while it started to feel like the book was going in circles instead of moving forward.
The structure was also very messy. At times it felt less like a focused true crime narrative and more like a long presentation of the author, the investigative team, and their background work. The actual case, which was by far the most compelling part, often got buried under repetition and scattered storytelling.
That’s what makes this especially disappointing: there really was the foundation for a great read here. The case itself is unique and disturbing, and there are moments where the tension and emotional complexity come through. But the pacing, organization, and constant repetition made it frustrating to get through.
A fascinating idea that never fully became the gripping book it could have been.
Unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to the potential.
This is one of those books where a strong editor could have made all the difference. The same points are repeated over and over again throughout the book, yes, she was a young mother of two, yes, he was a serial killer but still had rights, yes, the investigators worked hard on the case. After a while it started to feel like the book was going in circles instead of moving forward.
The structure was also very messy. At times it felt less like a focused true crime narrative and more like a long presentation of the author, the investigative team, and their background work. The actual case, which was by far the most compelling part, often got buried under repetition and scattered storytelling.
That’s what makes this especially disappointing: there really was the foundation for a great read here. The case itself is unique and disturbing, and there are moments where the tension and emotional complexity come through. But the pacing, organization, and constant repetition made it frustrating to get through.
A fascinating idea that never fully became the gripping book it could have been.
April 3, 2026
ARC from Net Galley
Unfortunately this one was not for me. I found it quite boring when from the premise I thought it was going to be a really interesting take on a true crime case.
A serial killers daughter is murdered, detectives team up with the father to find his daughter’s killer? I found this intriguing.
But actually this is much more about the detectives/team trying to solve the cold case, explaining their backstories and tactics for solving cold cases and didn’t really give all that much detail on the case itself (I guess being a cold case with few suspects and so old it’s hard to do this).
An example; we had two chapters on cadaver dogs, why the woman likes to work with them, her backstory of how she came to work with them and what they do… but the fathers five murders we’re summed up very matter of fact, he killed a because of this, then b because of that, then c because of this. And that was about it.
I was expecting more interaction with the father, more ‘psychology’ if you will delving into the mind of a murdered and how this can help solve crimes but there was very little of that, just a lot of repetition about how sorry he was, and how he now ‘knows how it feels’. There were some letters from prison to the team, but otherwise very little interaction or discussion around the father’s input other than asking them for help.
Sadly I just found it a bit of a slog to get through.
I think if you have interest in cold cases and the procedural side of things with methodical explanation, you would like this! If you like me were more interested in the minds of killers and details on crime cases, then probably I would give it a miss.
I do love the name and cover though!
Unfortunately this one was not for me. I found it quite boring when from the premise I thought it was going to be a really interesting take on a true crime case.
A serial killers daughter is murdered, detectives team up with the father to find his daughter’s killer? I found this intriguing.
But actually this is much more about the detectives/team trying to solve the cold case, explaining their backstories and tactics for solving cold cases and didn’t really give all that much detail on the case itself (I guess being a cold case with few suspects and so old it’s hard to do this).
An example; we had two chapters on cadaver dogs, why the woman likes to work with them, her backstory of how she came to work with them and what they do… but the fathers five murders we’re summed up very matter of fact, he killed a because of this, then b because of that, then c because of this. And that was about it.
I was expecting more interaction with the father, more ‘psychology’ if you will delving into the mind of a murdered and how this can help solve crimes but there was very little of that, just a lot of repetition about how sorry he was, and how he now ‘knows how it feels’. There were some letters from prison to the team, but otherwise very little interaction or discussion around the father’s input other than asking them for help.
Sadly I just found it a bit of a slog to get through.
I think if you have interest in cold cases and the procedural side of things with methodical explanation, you would like this! If you like me were more interested in the minds of killers and details on crime cases, then probably I would give it a miss.
I do love the name and cover though!
May 24, 2026
I appreciated the honest reflections and facts of the story. It seemed very little if anything was held back and honestly represents all the good, bad, and ugly that can occur when people commit crimes. All connected are impacted regardless of the role they play. And ultimately, everyone deserves the best you have as if it were you or your loved one as the victims, how would you want to see the team responding. This story makes you think and ask questions. I also appreciated the author’s approach to asking and receiving help. Rarely does one person have the expertise or skill to handle and prove all complexities of these type of cases. Sometimes you got to set ego aside and be vulnerable. I love the storytelling in this book. Easy to follow, understand the evidence as well as the assessment of the evidence within the context. I would read any book by this author! And yes, I am a fan of Zone 7.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Amazing writing for this true crime story. I had never even heard of this before so I was excited to read and the author did a great job of reporting the facts and also the personal side of things. It was an easy read and very easy to follow as the timeline for everything is laid out well. I really loved the name and the cover of this book as well. This is one of the better true crime books that I have read lately. The author also makes it a point to know that the serial killer in this book was absolutely held accountable for what he did. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Impressive story about a very interesting legal case in Georgia. A serial killer's daughter is killed, and he goes to the detective who caught him for help. The investigation of this cold case winds up in the hands of the author, Sheryl McCollum. It's a very unique case and the writing style is well-written. It's also very frank about the realities of evidence-gathering and the legal system. 5 stars. Thanks to Post Hill Press and Netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an impressive story about a very unique case out of Georgia. The author has had quite a career and this case highlights her desire to help families of victims. This family wasn’t your typical one needing her help, yet she jumped in and gathered a team to assist. An excellent true crime read.
June 7, 2026
I found this an interesting read from page one. Sheryl McCollum takes the reader right alongside her as she explains all the gritty hard work involved in solving a cold case.
June 8, 2026
Learned a lot from this book.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews