The Lost Swimmer

by Ann Turner

Rebecca Wilding, an archaeology professor, traces the past for a living.

But suddenly, truth and certainty is turning against her. Rebecca is accused of serious fraud, and worse, she suspects – she knows – that her husband, Stephen, is having an affair.

Desperate to find answers, Rebecca leaves with Stephen for Greece, Italy and Paris, where she can uncover the conspiracy against her, and hopefully win Stephen back to her side, where he belongs. There’s too much at stake – her love, her work, her family.

But on the idyllic Amalfi Coast, Stephen goes swimming and doesn’t come back.

In a swirling daze of panic and fear, Rebecca is dealt with fresh allegations. And with time against her, she must uncover the dark secrets that stand between her and Stephen, and the deceit that has chased her halfway around the world.



A stunning debut about trust from a new Australian voice

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Contemporary, Book Club, Australia

384 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2015

About the author

Ann Turner is an award-winning screenwriter and director, avid reader, and history lover. She is drawn to salt-sprayed coasts, luminous landscapes, and the people who inhabit them all over the world. She is a passionate gardener.

Her films include the historical feature Celia starring Rebecca Smart — which Time Out listed as one of the fifty greatest directorial debuts of all time, Hammers Over The Anvil starring Russell Crowe and Charlotte Rampling, and the psychological thriller Irresistible starring Susan Sarandon, Sam Neill, and Emily Blunt. Ann has lectured in film at the Victorian College of the Arts.

Returning to her first love, the written word, in her debut novel The Lost Swimmer Ann explores themes of love, trust and the dark side of relationships. She is currently working on her second novel, Out of the Ice, a mystery thriller set in Antarctica.

Ann was born in Adelaide and lives in Victoria.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Australian archaeology professor Rebecca Wilding loved her job at Coastal University in Victoria; she had travelled widely with her work and particularly loved the digs in Athens. As Head, she was in charge of a large number of staff and was feeling the pressure from Priscilla, the Dean over cuts as they were over budget. But when serious discrepancies showed up in the financials with Rebecca’s signature attached to the forms, she was shattered. She knew she had done no wrong but the deepening investigation continued…

Rebecca and her husband Stephen had organised a working holiday to travel to Greece, Italy and Paris; both were to deliver papers in various cities and agreed that combining a holiday would bring them closer together. Rebecca had recently begun suspecting Stephen of having an affair but she had no proof – she hoped the holiday would return to her the Stephen she once knew. Not having told Stephen of the investigation against her, she had hopes of clearing her name while away – but it seemed they both had secrets they were keeping from one another…

The hotel they were staying in on the beautiful Amalfi Coast was serene; the relaxing atmosphere and closeness to The Parthenon meant they spent their days sightseeing and relaxing. But Stephen seemed tense and uptight; and he wouldn’t tell her what was bothering him. One afternoon Rebecca slept while Stephen headed off to have a relaxing swim in the calm waters at the hotel’s beach – in a heartbeat Rebecca’s life became a frenzy of pain, panic, hope and fear…

As Rebecca’s terror built to a crescendo, she felt trapped by events that were out of her control; with time not on her side, she knew she had to unearth the dark secrets that had been following both her and Stephen during their travels as well as while they were on home soil. But in her dazed and exhausted state, could Rebecca find the answers she sought? Could she clear her name? And would she find her beloved husband once again?

What an excellent debut novel by Aussie author Ann Turner! Tense and gripping, the pace was incredibly fast – it was hard to put down. The Lost Swimmer is a compelling and emotional read that engrossed me completely. A highly suspenseful thriller, I have no hesitation in recommending The Lost Swimmer very highly.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book. I was hoping for a suspenseful and gripping mystery but was sorely disappointed. I would disagree with the reviews that state this book was generally well-written. I found it to be awkwardly written and, in fact, overwritten. Very early on I began merely skimming the endless descriptions of the beach, etc. Not to mention the repeated use of 'gossamer' and a bizarre kangaroo attack incident. And yet, for all that, the characters themselves are quite shallow and ill-defined. The main character is entirely inconsistent - madly in love with her husband one minute, wildly suspicious he is having an affair the next - and her reactions to the accusation of fraud and embezzling seem illogical. Transitions are poor; interactions between characters and dialogue are clunky. Sense of suspense is basically nonexistent, and the manner in which the plot plays out is disappointing. I persevered to the end to get the 'answers', such as they were, but was totally unengaged and cannot recommend this novel.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m confused as to what I want to rate The Lost Swimmer as. On one hand Ann Turner has delivered quite a compulsive read, but on the other hand it was also disappointing. Perhaps my expectations were set too high?

Why was I disappointed?

-The Lost Swimmer was quite slow burning, the husband doesn’t go missing until well over the halfway mark
-I felt that there wasn’t really a ‘kaboom’ ending
-The main character (Rebecca Wilding) was very tiresome
-Exploration of characters was shallow

(so The Lost Swimmer doesn’t fully deliver as a thriller, and it doesn’t fully deliver as literary fiction)

In saying the above I enjoyed reading it and it is pretty good for a debut. The Lost Swimmer made enough of an impression that if Ann Turner has another book published I will read it for sure.

Thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The Lost Swimmer is a thrilling debut novel with themes of love and trust. Water is also a strong theme, both the attraction to the water and the fear of it.
How well do we know our loved ones, our husband or our wife? Rebecca and Stephen each had their own internal struggles and while seeming to support and love each other on the outside they found when things got difficult neither of them could turn to the other to confide in or seek help.

The story was quite believable it had my mind whirling and I, like the narrator, was jumping to conclusions suspecting everyone, jumping back and forward as more clues were revealed.

With beautiful settings and an intriguing plot The Lost Swimmer has enough twists and turns to keep those pages swiftly turning.

I will be eagerly watching for more by Ann Turner.

With thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life should be good for Rachel Wilding. She's at the top of her profession as a Professor of Archaeology at a small coastal University where her husband Stephen is also a successful academic, a professor of Economics. They have a beautiful house on a lovely coastline and their two children have grown up and are leading their own lives in the city. However, things are not going well at work. Her Dean is making life difficult for her and a serious case of fraud has been uncovered for which Rachel is under investigation. On top of that she is worried that her husband is making bad investments on the stock market and may be having an affair. looking forward to getting away from work for a while, Rachel and Stephen decide to go ahead with their summer conference trip to Greece and Italy.

On the whole, I thought this was a very good first novel. There is plenty of intrigue to keep the reader interested right the way through. The settings were beautifully described, first the rugged Victorian coast and idyllic beaches and then the Amalfi coast including that horrendous coastal road that is every bit as scary as described. The plot was well thought out with plenty of twists and turns and red herrings with the tension building up slowly at first and then relentlessly as Rachel deals with the allegations of fraud and mistrust and then the fear that her husband has drowned. I felt a real empathy for Rachel and the terrible situation that she was in, although as we discover she is a strong woman capable of confronting her fears head on. I would have liked to have got a bit more of a feel for Stephen's character as I felt there were quite a few unanswered questions and loose ends, particularly about what Stephen was really up to and about the nature of his disappearance. Apart from that, I really enjoyed this well written mystery.

With thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an e-copy of this book to read and review.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading through my friends' reviews I realise that I wasn't as taken by this debut novel as they were. Whilst I enjoyed the story overall and wanted to get to the end to find out what happened and there were some moments of real tension and suspense, I wasn't totally convinced. I can't quite put my finger on what stopped me from completely loving this but there was something that felt a little stilted and perhaps staged in the writing. Having said that there are many parts of it I enjoyed, especially once they got to Greece and Italy and I did warm to some of the characters. But I felt like there were two stories here that didn't quite jell for me. I can see the potential, however, and so I will definitely be on the look out for more from this author. My overall score would have to be 3.5 stars.

[Lynxie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lost Swimmer is sold to us as a thriller, a story of mystery and suspense. It does possess elements of all three of those genres for certain, but it has some serious pacing issues to contend with before it reaches the likes of the best of those genres.

If it takes 65% of the book before the main mystery occurs, I think you might lose a lot of your readers prior to the excitement. It was a slow, meandering burn of a read. It built lots and lots of the Australian countryside into the story, even the local wildlife had a few cameo appearances.

But despite the long lead-time to the action, we don't get a great deal of information about the characters. We're introduced to a bevy of supporting characters that work with Rebecca (our protagonist) and thrust very quickly into the turmoil of her working life. This does play a pivotal role in the story, but it's not the main mystery.

And, speaking of the main mystery - what happened to her missing husband, Stephen - what an epic let down. After the slow building burn of the book, the ending felt so rushed it was almost like the reveal of what happened to Stephen was an afterthought.

I didn't really connect with Rebecca; the main thing I enjoyed about reading from her POV was her daily romps with Big Boy, their dog. With the exception of the 'roo' incident. That seemed placed there for convenience and to provide the slower start with some sort of drama.

Now, the copy I have I got from NetGalley, but it was appallingly formatted for the kindle. The line breaks were all off, the first letter of the first word in a chapter was on its own line, while the rest of the word was on the next paragraph line. Scene breaks, signified by an *, ran into the scene before, the * appearing at the start of the new paragraph. There were also some minor spacing issues with punctuation marks. I am sure this is not indicative of the finished product, but it was the silver bullet for an already wounded animal. By far one of the worst formatted books I've gotten from NetGalley.

**Note: I was given an electronic copy of this book in return for an honest review**

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The sand was washed clean today, stretching wide at low tide.’

Rebecca Wilding is a forty-seven year old archaeology professor. Married, with two adult children away at university, Rebecca has time to pursue her interest in ancient Greek artefacts and to consolidate her career. But suddenly, things start to go wrong. Budget cuts within Rebecca’s department at the university are likely to translate into job losses, and her superior Priscilla is undermining and belittling her. Her husband Stephen has become secretive, and Rebecca wonders whether he is having an affair. Anomalies are uncovered in the university accounts Rebecca is responsible for, and she is accused of fraud.

Stephen and Rebecca travel to Greece, Italy and Paris where, around longstanding professional engagements, they’ve planned a magnificent holiday. Rebecca hopes to uncover the truth about the fraud she’s been accused of, and that she and Stephen will rekindle their love.
But, while holidaying on the Amalfi Coast, Stephen goes swimming and does not return. And fresh allegations against Rebecca follow.

‘Truth was growing increasingly elusive and I was contributing; if I went down that path I could get tangled in my own lies.’

There are a couple of mysteries and many twists and turns in this novel. Has Rebecca been set up? If so, by whom and why? Why was Stephen so secretive? Was Stephen having an affair, and with whom? Has Stephen disappeared, or has he drowned?

This story unfolds at a fast pace, and I found it difficult to put down. I thought I’d figured it out a couple of times, and then had to reconsider as yet another twist added new possibilities. And the ending? Well, I wanted more.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Lizzy Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ann Turner’s debut novel, The Lost Swimmer, is prefaced with a quote from Heraclitus: "Everything flows and nothing abides, everything gives way and nothing stays fixed." (Heraclitus c. 535-475 BC)

Both the theme of “time” and the image of water pervade the novel.

The first-person narrator, Rebecca Wilding, is a professor of archaeology at the generically-named Coastal University in regional Victoria. She is passionate about ancient artefacts, and the layers of time that make up history. When Rebecca was little, her father drowned at sea, and she has since been wary of water. Despite this, she and her husband Stephen, another academic, have chosen to live close to an ocean beach. Together they travel to Greece and, from there, to Italy, soaking up the past, travelling by boat and holidaying by the sea.

With a first-person narrative, if you’re a thriller reader, you’re primed to suspect an unreliable narrator. Turner does a good job of laying seeds of doubt as we follow Rebecca’s story as she faces more than one mystery that threatens her happiness. These include financial problems that beset her in her role as a less-than-conscientious Head of her department; as well her suspicions about her one-time friend, Priscilla, the attractive Dean, who may or may not be deliberately undermining Rebecca’s job – or, worse, be after her husband. Then there are a plethora of secondary characters whose allegiance to Rebecca may be self-serving, who help and/or hinder her as she attempts to save her family from calamity and discover the truth. And there’s Stephen, the seemingly ideal husband and loving father, who appears to be keeping secrets.

The Lost Swimmer is billed as a “stunning literary thriller” on the front of my review copy. It made me wonder what the publicists think constitutes “literary”. Certainly there are eloquent descriptions and the story is intelligent in its approach, but there is very little in the way of figurative language; the narrative is straightforward linear realism; and there doesn’t appear to me to be layers of ideological or philosophical complexity.

Maybe I’m missing something?

The Lost Swimmer offers a good, solid story and it’s a fine achievement for a debut author who is also, according to the information from the publisher, “an award-winning screenwriter and director”. I can see it as a film.

This review first appeared on my blog.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lost Swimmer is a low key psychological thriller from debut author Ann Turner.

University department Head Rebecca Wilding is under extraordinary pressure both professionally and personally. Accused of embezzlement by a hostile colleague and fretting about her husband's increasingly odd behaviour, she hopes that she can resolve both situations during a long planned overseas trip. Instead, Rebecca finds herself in the midst of a crisis when the she becomes the target of the fraud investigation and then she is suspected of murder when her husband disappears without a trace.

I've been trying to write this review for three days but somehow can't quite find the words. This is not a reflection on the novel which I really enjoyed, but I have to move on, so here are some scattered thoughts:

* Told in the first person, the narrative is immediate and tense, and I was never quite sure whether I could trust Rebecca or not.
* I felt there were some inconsistencies in the characterisation of Rebecca, she didn't always behave in ways that made sense.
* I'd guessed the identity of the person framing Rebecca fairly early on but still had doubts all the way through given the multiple red herrings, any of whom would have been reasonable suspects.
* Stephen's disappearance has less relevance to the story than I expected from the synopsis.
* The pace is steady and Turner builds the suspense throughout the novel. I read it quickly gripped by the spiraling tension.
* The descriptions of landscape and sea are vivid, especially those of the Amalfi Coast.
* An atmospheric debut exploring the themes of trust, betrayal, loss and love.

"Truth was growing increasingly elusive and I was contributing; if I went down that path I could get tangled in my own lies."

[Lee at ReadWriteWish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read some great new thrillers lately, and this one continues with that trend.

The Lost Swimmer is Australian Turner’s debut novel, but she’s not exactly a novice, having screenwriting and movie direction in her resume, and I think it shows in the easy confidence of her writing.

Rebecca is an archaeology professor at an Australian university, and the opening few chapters shows how she is struggling to come to terms with her position of middle management: paperwork and budgets and juggling staff. Her stress levels rise considerably when she has to deal with the university dean, the vindictive Priscilla. Things go from bad to worse when a major discrepancy in the university finances is discovered, and Rebecca is the main suspect.

Rebecca makes the decision to keep the investigation into her university finances a secret from her husband, Stephen, who in turn seems to have some secrets of his own, so many that she starts to wonder if he’s having an affair. Of course, his strange behaviour could all be just her imagination, and Rebecca decides to go ahead with their already previously planned overseas holiday.

I always love books set in Australia. Turner’s descriptive passages are beautiful, and the way she paints the Australian flora and fauna with her words is worth the price of this book alone. Once Rebecca and Stephen arrive in Greece, and then travel to Italy, however, was when her writing rose to another level of wonderful for me.

Arriving in Europe also subtly raises the level of tension in the plot. I kept thinking of Hitchcock films whilst reading the passages of Rebecca and Stephen’s sightseeing. There was always that small, seemingly ordinary, moment in these scenes that added another layer to that belief that something sinister was lurking.

When finally that ‘thing’ happens I wasn’t disappointed, and I turned pages like a mad thing to reach the outcome.

I must admit the missing half a star for this book is pretty much due to the ending, as I’m not completely convinced I like it. However, it didn’t take away any of my enjoyment for the book overall. I highly recommend it and will be eager to read Turner’s next novel.

4.5 stars out of 5

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ann Turner is an outstanding writer. She describes places and events so lyrically that you can feel yourself there.

In The Lost Swimmer, she takes us on a journey of discovery from Australia where an academic couple are struggling in their marriage and their careers, through Greece, Italy and Paris.

Both Rebecca and Stephen are faced with making cutbacks in their respective departments at Coastal University. Rebecca suspects Stephen of having an affair, and stands accused of fraud within her department, but lacks the courage to tell Stephen. Stephen chooses not to confide his secrets to Rebecca and so begins the dance...... Then Stephen goes missing one day while Rebecca is asleep, and as the secrets unfold, the Italian Police accuse her of murdering him.

This book is beautifully written and the author had me suspecting everyone, including at times the narrator. There are no great surprises in this book, but it is a interesting journey to the end.

Thank you to author Ann Turner, Publishers Simon & Schuster (Australia) and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling · Rating 3 out of 5]

My View:
This is a another book that is a slow burn – it took me a very long time to get involved in this narrative and after I finished reading I was not sure what the book was trying to achieve, what genre this was trying to fit into- mystery, thriller, romance…there was a little bit of everything here. My biggest issue with the narrative was about the relationship between Rebecca and her husband Stephen – for a relationship that was largely rock solid, supportive and trusting (at least at the beginning of the book and at the point the investigation of fraud begins) I could not believe that Rebecca would withhold details of this major investigation from her husband, it just didn’t make sense to me and I could not suspend my disbelief to go along with this aspect of the narrative. I know she was sworn to secrecy but….I just could not accept this. Further there were too many red herrings, too many threads that were left hanging or just not followed up or explained for my enjoyment.

However moments of extremely beautiful prose and breathtaking scenery saved this book from being mundane. It is clear that the author writes with a cinematic view of the world, such is the vividness and realism of the description of the drive along the Amalfi coast that I never want to venture there – I hate cliff tops and narrow windy roads which hug the coastline – sheer drops inches away, tourist coaches honking with bravado as they bulldoze their way around hairpin bends, an accident just waiting to happen. Some extremely evocative writing, the author’s love of this countryside is very obvious.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly at the end of The Lost Swimmer I'm not entirely sure what I think about it.

One thing, the settings, resonated over and above everything else - I loved the descriptive sense of the places the characters visited and the immersive way Ann Turner pulls you into their world but that, in and of itself, wasn't enough to make me love it. Also the kangaroo attack felt totally out of place. I'm not even sure what that was meant to achieve..

ANYWAY as for the rest of the tale it was a slow burner, following Rebecca Wilding as she is accused of serious fraud, suspects her husband is having an affair then goes off on a sort of jet setting road trip to prove her innocence. Or have a holiday. Both really I guess. Then her husband disappears....

He hangs around for most of the book though so that is not really the mystery element so much as it is a plot thread of the fraud element - really this is more a kind of character study of Rebecca who to me was endlessly whiny and entitled. I probably couldn't blame Stephen for disappearing if I thought about it for long. Having said that, The Lost Swimmer is strangely compelling, when Marie Claire describe it as a page turner they are actually not far off. Despite its flaws it draws you in.

Whilst the ending was rather abrupt and I had a sense of despair at times about Rebecca's attitude towards Stephen which had no cohesion whatsoever, also her inability to see the blatantly obvious about who it was who was involved in the fraud, I have to say that it did hold my interest all the way through. A strange hybrid of brilliant staging and lack lustre character execution, we are back to I'm not sure what I think about this one.

[Tracy Shephard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the uneasy tension that Ann Turner manages to make her reader feel in this fabulous novel she also gives the most PERFECT holiday read and an ideal holiday destination.

This book is brilliant, it builds at a easy pace and is a perfect blend of description and tale.

Rebecca is a lady who is having a hard time, accused of a serious crime with a husband she doesn't really trust, her travel plans make a turn for the worse when her husband Stephen goes missing, presumed drowned.

Ms Turner does a good job of making you think you have guessed the outcome then letting you down gently. I cannot praise her writing and her imagination of plot highly enough.

The Lost Swimmer is an excellent well-played drama, and would make a marvellous TV show. It is an effortlessly and flawless stylish novel and is one I loved reading.

From the start to the end it grips and I for one was happy to sit and read. With a glass of wine and a sunny day, I found The Lost Swimmer to be entertaining and was truly captivated.

[Tylah Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was incredibly boring. It took me so long to get through this one. Overly descriptive, not much of a story at all, ending was terribly done and dull. I’m surprised I even continued through this to finish it.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
At 47 years old, archaeology professor Rebecca Wilding should be having the time of her life. At the peak of her career, with her two children having flown the nest and the support of a devoted husband she is free to follow her passion of travelling to archaeology digs and writing about ancient Greek artefacts. But without warning things start to go wrong. Due to budget cuts Rebecca faces the backlash of colleagues losing jobs at her university, she is being undermined and bullied by her superior at work and her husband of 25 years, Stephen, is acting secretive and staying out late. Worst of all, she is being accused of embezzlement when secret overseas bank accounts bearing her name are discovered by the university accountant – but Rebecca is sure she has never signed the paperwork to open them, let alone illegally transferred money into them.

In a desperate effort to get to the bottom of Stephen’s odd behaviour and save her marriage, Rebecca decides to keep the fraud charges from him and goes ahead with a long-planned working holiday to Greece and Italy, where she and Stephen have had many wonderful times in the past. It also gives her the chance to visit the bank where the illegal bank accounts are located, but when she tries to talk to the bank manager she hits a wall – with the Australian authorities investigating the case against her, how much longer will she be able to keep it from Stephen? Despite their get-away he is still acting strangely, disappearing for hours without explanation, taking secretive phone calls and acting distant an distracted. With a sinking heart Rebecca is now certain that he is having an affair – possibly with her worst enemy. Whilst staying in a hotel on the rugged Amalfi coast, Stephen goes swimming and never returns. On the run from local authorities, who accuse Rebecca of her husband’s murder, time is running out to find out what really happened to Stephen.

I loved The Lost Swimmer and it totally captivated me. Partly set in Australia, partly in Greece, Italy and Paris, the author managed to evoke the sights, smells and atmospheres of different shores so vividly that reading it became like armchair travel. The characters are believable, authentic and three dimensional, with Rebecca making an interesting and likeable main protagonist. Her love and loyalty to her husband and her efforts to try and save her marriage despite her suspicions are touching, succeeding in conveying the author’s intentions of a love story forming the basis of the novel. I couldn’t put the book down and read it in one sitting, totally engrossed in its setting and story. The only thing which stops me from giving it the full 5 stars is that it ended a bit too abruptly for my liking ... there was still so many possibilities for an extra twist and a bit more suspense. I fully recommend The Lost Swimmer to anyone who likes a good mystery set in many different interesting locations – this book will want to make you go out and buy an airline ticket. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[G.G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unputdownable! Just the thing to get you through a slow day or a sleepless night.

The narrator is a university professor and the author obviously knows her world well: the descriptions of "universities [that are] as much about business as the acquisition of knowledge", of "academics talking endlessly about each other" (both p. 45)--to say nothing of the grotesqueries of "mediation sessions" at Coastal University's "Counselling and Wellbeing Centre" (chapters 6 & 7)--are convincingly done. Ditto the way that academics globe-trot to conferences and often have friends--good friends--in far-flung locations: that aspect of the novel is also completely persuasive. I also liked the narrator's concluding reflections:

As archaeologists we imagine history, based on the secrets of discovered artifacts. We interpret and find meaning, always expecting that there is a story to tell. But what we say, how we say it, depends on us, not the people whose lives we dig up. (p. 336)

Marco and Adriana, the owner/managers of the Delle Mare hotel on the Amalfi coast where the second half of the novel is set, are perhaps a little too good to be true--but who cares? One is there with the characters; even reading this in the depths of a Tokyo winter, I could smell the fresh rosemary, lemons, and salt in the air.

The author's website (http://www.annturnerauthor.com/good-t...) reveals that she is at work on a screenplay version. Can't wait to see it!

[Melinda Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Swimmer is a rich thriller with an intriguing plot and authentic Australian narrative.
Rebecca is a professor at a struggling university, where staff and budget cuts are occurring throughout the faculties. Attempting to maintain her integrity to her staff and deliver quality programs to students, Rebecca finds herself at loggerheads with Priscilla, the head of department.

Whilst her husband Stephen works at the university in a similar role, there’s a lack of connection between the two that makes speaking about her trysts at work difficult. Stephen waves her off and doesn’t engage in the conversations surrounding the office politics.

When matters at work become even harder to bear than usual, and blame is heaped upon Rebecca for errors she knows she didn’t make, she begins to consider her rival Priscilla more closely. A wifes intuition tells her that there’s more going on between her husband and Priscilla than she knows at this point in time.

Her job takes her around the world for conferences, and whilst she tries to unravel the mess at work, she’s also trying to patch up her marriage. However as she digs deeper, she realizes that maybe the two are more related than she could have ever expected. Has Stephen committed the ultimate betrayal?

With a powerful prose and majestic Australian setting, “The Lost Swimmer” takes you on a fascinating journey that has you questioning who Rebecca can trust, and where the guilt truly lies.

[lukritiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lost Swimmer by Ann Turner has a calm beginning to it. The storytelling quite unique and attention grabbing and it hooks you in.Her sentence structure contained enough descriptive words to paint a gorgeous picture in your head. There was different storylines present and they all intertwined coercively. It was like being in a rollercoaster anticipating that gut-dropping and gut-wrenching feeling associated with loops accept you didn’t know when it was coming. I knew the twists and turns were there but I didn’t how soon or how later in the book I would approach it. Overall this book was great summer read with exotic place, handsome men and gripping characters that will tear you emotionally. Now I really want to go to Naples and Athens!

[Barbara Rohde · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Essentially a mystery it drew me in right from the start with a tight narrative and a satisfying resolution. It concerns an academic, Rebecca Wilding, who is accused of misusing university funds and her husband, Stephen, also an academic, whom she suspects of having an affair. Initially set in Australia it soon moves to Italy on the Amalfi coast where her husband disappears. Well crafted and a real page turner.

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Swimmer was a fantastic read- I was hooked from start to finish!
In fact I was so hooked I ended up missing my tram stop because I was too busy reading!!
Ann writes so cinematically I felt like I was on Amalfi coast. Engaging and interesting plot, compelling until the last page.
If you're looking for a beautifully written thriller, I can't recommend this book enough.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was gripping and much better than The Girl on the Train. Although I did suspect who it was that framed Rebecca quite early on, I didn't guess what had happened to Stephen. I do recommend it for being a less conventional thriller. I wouldn't ordinarily think a book about academic fraud would be exciting but it was.

[Michael Livingston · Rating 1 out of 5]

This did nothing for me - poorly developed characters, implausible relationships and a pretty ludicrous plot that is mostly just red herrings and stressing out. The weirdly aggressive minor characters scattered throughout Italy were super weird as well - anyway, can't win them all I guess.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I received an advance copy from the publisher through work.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Setting: Melbourne, Australia/Greece/Italy/Paris; modern day.
Archaeology professor Rebecca Wilding is having a hard time at work as her boss, Priscilla, seems determined to force through staffing cuts and other economies. But Rebecca is also worried that her husband, economics professor Stephen, is having an affair - which he denies. Rebecca is hoping that the couple's European holiday, coinciding with both of them addressing different conferences, will bring the couple closer together. But, shortly before they leave, Rebecca is accused of financial irregularities in her department - and they embark on their trip with all this hanging over them. Yet their holiday appears to be a success until Stephen apparently goes swimming off the Amalfi coast in Italy and doesn't return. Italian police suspect that Rebecca has killed her husband while Rebecca is not even sure that Stephen is dead.....
I was surprised to find that this was the author's debut novel as it was so accomplished and well-written. Narrated throughout by Rebecca, the emotional rollercoaster that is her life at the time really comes across, supported by a variety of larger-than-life characters. Great and largely unexpected ending and I am pleased that I already have her second novel ready to read. My only criticism is that the cover of the book is not something that would normally draw me to select the book - and the cover of the second book is equally uninspiring in my opinion! - 8.5/10.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca Wilding is in the prime of her life where everything should be perfect, she has a great job, wonderful husband, adult kids and the perfect beach house. Yet slowly everything begins to unravel, the university she works at is facing cutbacks, she is at loggerheads with the dean, she faces allegations of fraud and the possibility her husband is having an affair.

Travelling from Australia to Europe for work Rebecca and her husband Stephen try to reconnect but deception and paranoia weighs the marriage down.

The book is part mystery and part dissection of relationships. Turner creates a rich tapestry of characters that are flawed, vivid settings and powerful prose. It is easy to lose yourself in this book as you try to determine where the guilt lies.

As a reader I found Rebecca a frustrating character, there were several times I wanted to scream at her and that was good. She made mistakes, she took the wrong turn, made a poor judgement and was fixated on the wrong things. I liked her imperfections.

I want to write more but I do not want to give away anything as a reader this is the kind of book where you need to follow and appreciate the unravelling of the mystery. You do not want people giving away endings. There is twists, turns and red herrings to keep your interest in the book. I really liked that there are loose ends and an open ending to some elements as it is more reflective of life. If you want a nice neat package of an ending this is not for you but I liked it, as we cannot know all the reasons.

This is a strong debut novel and I am sure it will become a book club favourite as there is plenty to debate.

[Belinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book opens with archaeology professor Rebecca Wilding going for a run with her dog Big Boy. Over the course of the next 50 pages, we find out her husband is terrible, her job is terrible and her children are terrible. After reading this litany of horribleness, I felt like I'd just gone out to lunch with someone who'd had a horrible day and who had just complained non-stop throughout the whole thing. It is not fun hanging out with that type of person! So I hopped on to Goodreads to see if the book got less depressing as it went on. The general consensus seemed to be you found Rebecca's first-person narration irritating and the book annoyed you, or you did not find it irritating and you really enjoyed the book. I found Rebecca's first-person narration irritating, so I read the last two chapters to find out what happened and called it a day.

I am giving this book two stars instead of one because I think the story had a lot of potential. With a decent copy editor (e.g., Australian universities do not have tenure and no one professor would supervise 14 PhD candidates; surely no university professor would advise a student not to go to a location because years earlier she knew someone who died there in a freak accident) and a decent structural editor (perhaps change the story to flashback to add suspense; add some comic relief to stop the unrelenting whining; explain why Rebecca actually wants to be with her husband since he's really awful to her) the book could have been really good. Here's hoping the author gets some better help next time.

[Kerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca Wilding is having a tough time at Coast University, particularly with the Dean of the Arts faculty, Professor Priscilla Chiton, who seems determined to make her life hell. Priscilla used to be a friend, but now Rebecca suspects she is having an affair with her husband Stephen, Professor of Economics. Rebecca also suspects that Stephen may be dabbling on the stock market again.

Suddenly things start to go very wrong when accounting irregularities crop up and Rebecca is accused of siphoning university funds into her own accounts.

There were some heart stopping moments in this thriller, particularly when they are driving a red sports car up a narrow road on the Amalfi Coast.

Stephen's disappearance leads to Rebecca becoming a chief suspect for his possible murder, and she goes on the run from the police, attempting to track him down in Paris, where she thinks he is meeting up with Priscilla.

A good read: a debut novel from a female Australian author.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca is an Australian University professor carrying some baggage from her past. She is happily married with two grown children, when she begins to suspect her husband is having an affair. The funding cuts at the University are also placing pressure on Rebecca and then to top it all off, she is placed under investigation for embezzlement involving a European bank. Rebecca and her husband had a European working holiday planned and during this trip Rebecca tries to find out the truth.

Rebecca's paranoia builds and I wasn't sure who to trust until it all came out. The first part of the book is slower paced, building the story but that last part kept me turning the pages! I liked Rebecca and could relate to how she felt at the end of the book. You don't always notice things as they are happening - hindsight has 20:20 vision.

I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.