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The Swimmer
Helen is a retired teacher living on the Irish coast. She enjoys the peace and quiet - despite the burden of Margaret, her unpleasant sister. Margaret arrived three years ago for a short holiday, but somehow managed to stay and worm her way into Helen's life.
One day, Helen sees a man struggling in the sea and decides to investigate. She doesn't quite know what it is, but something about it feels very strange...
One day, Helen sees a man struggling in the sea and decides to investigate. She doesn't quite know what it is, but something about it feels very strange...
96 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 2022
562 people are currently reading
1977 people want to read
About the author
Graham Norton
40 books2,754 followersGraham William Walker is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist, known by his stage name Graham Norton. He is the host of the comedy chat show The Graham Norton Show and the BBC commentator of the Eurovision Song Contest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 449 reviews
October 28, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️¼ — A brilliantly composed Novella, that swims upstream in the wake of the copious amounts of humans that have lived, loved & yearned!
There’s a certain quiet majesty to The Swimmer by Graham Norton—a novel that creeps up on you with the calm of still water, only to pull you under with its emotional undertow. I’ve long admired Norton’s uncanny ability to fuse wit and melancholy, but here, he’s operating in a different register altogether. This is a book about secrets, loss, and the inescapable gravity of one’s past—handled with restraint, empathy, and that distinctly Irish ache that lingers like rain on slate.
At its heart, The Swimmer tells of Helen—who returns to rural Ireland after her father’s death—and the mysterious stranger, Joe, who literally swims into her life. From the moment he emerges from the river, dripping in both symbolism and sorrow, the tone shifts from pastoral calm to something more profound. Norton’s storytelling is deceptively simple: he doesn’t rush, doesn’t embellish, yet somehow crafts entire emotional worlds between commas. It’s that quietness that gives the novel its power; the silences feel heavier than the words.
What makes this stand apart from Norton’s earlier works like Holding or Home Stretch is its maturity of mood. The humour is dialed down; the introspection turned up. The prose is painterly, almost cinematic—each page soaked in a sense of place and memory. You can smell the turf smoke, feel the chill of the water, and hear the echo of things unsaid. There’s an elegiac beauty to it that reminded me of Colm Tóibín’s Brooklyn or John Boyne’s The Heart’s Invisible Furies—that same quiet devastation couched in human decency.
Characterisation is where Norton truly excels. Helen feels layered—fractured, defensive, yearning for a simpler truth. Joe, meanwhile, is that rare literary creation: a man whose presence alone reorders the emotional furniture of everyone around him. By the final chapters, when the secrets finally surface, I found myself holding my breath—not for the twist itself, but for the tenderness with which Norton lands it.
If I were to quibble, it’s only that I anticipated the final reveal slightly earlier than intended, which shaved that last sliver of shock. But the emotional resonance more than compensates. The Swimmer isn’t a thriller—it’s a lament, a love story, and a meditation on belonging all at once.
A beautifully wrought, quietly devastating novel. Norton proves—again—that he’s not a TV personality who writes books; he’s a writer who happens to be extraordinary on television.
There’s a certain quiet majesty to The Swimmer by Graham Norton—a novel that creeps up on you with the calm of still water, only to pull you under with its emotional undertow. I’ve long admired Norton’s uncanny ability to fuse wit and melancholy, but here, he’s operating in a different register altogether. This is a book about secrets, loss, and the inescapable gravity of one’s past—handled with restraint, empathy, and that distinctly Irish ache that lingers like rain on slate.
At its heart, The Swimmer tells of Helen—who returns to rural Ireland after her father’s death—and the mysterious stranger, Joe, who literally swims into her life. From the moment he emerges from the river, dripping in both symbolism and sorrow, the tone shifts from pastoral calm to something more profound. Norton’s storytelling is deceptively simple: he doesn’t rush, doesn’t embellish, yet somehow crafts entire emotional worlds between commas. It’s that quietness that gives the novel its power; the silences feel heavier than the words.
What makes this stand apart from Norton’s earlier works like Holding or Home Stretch is its maturity of mood. The humour is dialed down; the introspection turned up. The prose is painterly, almost cinematic—each page soaked in a sense of place and memory. You can smell the turf smoke, feel the chill of the water, and hear the echo of things unsaid. There’s an elegiac beauty to it that reminded me of Colm Tóibín’s Brooklyn or John Boyne’s The Heart’s Invisible Furies—that same quiet devastation couched in human decency.
Characterisation is where Norton truly excels. Helen feels layered—fractured, defensive, yearning for a simpler truth. Joe, meanwhile, is that rare literary creation: a man whose presence alone reorders the emotional furniture of everyone around him. By the final chapters, when the secrets finally surface, I found myself holding my breath—not for the twist itself, but for the tenderness with which Norton lands it.
If I were to quibble, it’s only that I anticipated the final reveal slightly earlier than intended, which shaved that last sliver of shock. But the emotional resonance more than compensates. The Swimmer isn’t a thriller—it’s a lament, a love story, and a meditation on belonging all at once.
A beautifully wrought, quietly devastating novel. Norton proves—again—that he’s not a TV personality who writes books; he’s a writer who happens to be extraordinary on television.
July 23, 2022
I read Graham Norton’s biography some time ago and thoroughly enjoyed his writing so when he started writing novels I couldn’t resist. I have now read all four of his novels and found all of them written to an incredibly high standard. So well written with characters that come to life on the pages, you really should give them a try.
The Swimmer is a short read but there is so much on offer, great characters, an atmospheric read and an intriguing mystery.
The main character Helen is sitting looking out at the ocean, enjoying some time to herself when she spots an unknown swimmer. The stranger never returns from the ocean and is assumed to have died in the sea. For some reason Helen does not feel comfortable with this assumption and won’t let things lie.
The characters are the real plus point for me in Graham Norton’s novels, interesting and easy to imagine. A quick read but so enjoyable.
The Swimmer is a short read but there is so much on offer, great characters, an atmospheric read and an intriguing mystery.
The main character Helen is sitting looking out at the ocean, enjoying some time to herself when she spots an unknown swimmer. The stranger never returns from the ocean and is assumed to have died in the sea. For some reason Helen does not feel comfortable with this assumption and won’t let things lie.
The characters are the real plus point for me in Graham Norton’s novels, interesting and easy to imagine. A quick read but so enjoyable.
May 25, 2022
I really like it. The little book kept me wanting more and the suspense was very well paced as well. I was surprised at how quality it seemed and how much could be packed in such a short story.
I figured the solution before the ending and the ending seemed a bit rushed, which is really the only reason I took a star away. Lovely.
I figured the solution before the ending and the ending seemed a bit rushed, which is really the only reason I took a star away. Lovely.
July 26, 2022
An old lady spots a swimmer from the comfort of her beach house before falling asleep. An hour later she wakes up and the swimmer is gone. But his bag is still on the beach. Anyone else would have figured the swimmer went home and simply forgot his bag. But she’s retired and this is the most exciting thing that’s happened to her in a long time. So she quickly decides to investigate.
Celebrities and fiction writing don’t always do so well together. That’s because the books don’t actually need to be all that good, as they can mostly be sold by the celebrity’s name value alone. Graham Norton’s already got more than one fiction book under his belt though and considering this is a novella, I thought it might be to perfect way to dip my toe in the water and see if his books might be for me.
The writing style is quite good, easily grabbing us from the first page. The protagonist is likeable and fleshed out pretty well for such a short story. In terms of plot, it’s a decent little mystery. Not much actually happens here, though there is a really good twist at the end.
A perfect introduction to Graham Norton’s fiction writing. It’s a short, cozy and relaxing but rather uneventful read.
Celebrities and fiction writing don’t always do so well together. That’s because the books don’t actually need to be all that good, as they can mostly be sold by the celebrity’s name value alone. Graham Norton’s already got more than one fiction book under his belt though and considering this is a novella, I thought it might be to perfect way to dip my toe in the water and see if his books might be for me.
The writing style is quite good, easily grabbing us from the first page. The protagonist is likeable and fleshed out pretty well for such a short story. In terms of plot, it’s a decent little mystery. Not much actually happens here, though there is a really good twist at the end.
A perfect introduction to Graham Norton’s fiction writing. It’s a short, cozy and relaxing but rather uneventful read.
August 25, 2022
Fun and fast pace, I really enjoyed it and I couldn’t have guessed that plot twist.
An excellent quick one.
An excellent quick one.
December 22, 2023
Relishing in finally having a bit of peace and quiet, Helen takes a moment to herself to sit and watch the ocean just outside her front door. As she watches, she sees a stranger swim out into the ocean, a trip from which he never returns. Missing, presumed dead, there is something that doesn't quite sit right with Helen about his disappearance.
I found myself at once warming to the character of Helen and becoming as intrigued as she was about what was going on. Being slightly older as a character, she is quite steady and you feel that immediate trust in her instincts.
I found myself at once warming to the character of Helen and becoming as intrigued as she was about what was going on. Being slightly older as a character, she is quite steady and you feel that immediate trust in her instincts.
September 1, 2022
For a short one, I really loved this quiet mystery set on the Irish coast by one of my favourite authors.
Helen is a retired teacher living with her sister and finding it tiresome.She sees a swimmer go into the sea and when he doesn't emerge again she raises the alarm...and feels she has to investigate.
I loved the humour, laid back tempo and the small town vibes.
Helen is a retired teacher living with her sister and finding it tiresome.She sees a swimmer go into the sea and when he doesn't emerge again she raises the alarm...and feels she has to investigate.
I loved the humour, laid back tempo and the small town vibes.
January 3, 2023
I love Quick Reads. I managed this short story in just over an hour.
The swimmer is a crime mystery thriller by Graham Norton. A writer I have previous enjoyed and whose character development and story telling is as good as many more established authors.
Quick Reads are an invitation to new readers to find joy and interest in reading. The vocabulary and sentence building of the story assist in the process of getting into a book. More regular readers will find they are a place where interesting writers offer their skills in the short story format.
Many are put off by close small print and thick volumes of pages that have not end in sight. New and less confident readers can find books accessible and manageable in this abbreviated offering. When the quality of story as in this case is so good then picking up a book is a delight and hopefully a habit forming hobby.
The Swimmer is a fresh twist on the mystery of the clothes left on the beach, a missing person and the lack of a body.
A book that demands to be read with an ending few will see coming with drama and thrills along the way.
A riveting and rewarding read.
The swimmer is a crime mystery thriller by Graham Norton. A writer I have previous enjoyed and whose character development and story telling is as good as many more established authors.
Quick Reads are an invitation to new readers to find joy and interest in reading. The vocabulary and sentence building of the story assist in the process of getting into a book. More regular readers will find they are a place where interesting writers offer their skills in the short story format.
Many are put off by close small print and thick volumes of pages that have not end in sight. New and less confident readers can find books accessible and manageable in this abbreviated offering. When the quality of story as in this case is so good then picking up a book is a delight and hopefully a habit forming hobby.
The Swimmer is a fresh twist on the mystery of the clothes left on the beach, a missing person and the lack of a body.
A book that demands to be read with an ending few will see coming with drama and thrills along the way.
A riveting and rewarding read.
December 27, 2022
An enjoyable short read, my first experience of a book by Graham Norton. Descriptive in location with some interesting characters, bordering on cosy mystery with a reveal that took me by surprise. Definitely worth your time.
November 30, 2023
The Swimmer by Graham Norton
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5*)
I knew Graham Norton only from his tv-show and for a long time I didn‘t know, he is also a writer. When I first found that novel I really liked the premise of it and since it is just a short novel I thought I‘d give it a try. 🙂
„Helen is a retired teacher living on the Irish coast. She enjoys the peace and quiet - despite the burden of Margaret, her unpleasant sister. Margaret arrived three years ago for a short holiday, but somehow managed to stay and worm her way into Helen's life. One day, Helen sees a man swimming in the sea. She doesn't quite know what it is, but something about it feels very strange.“
I thought it would maybe get to a 3-Star or even less but I was really surprised. It was a solid 5-Star-Read for me. It actually felt like one of the old Agatha Christie crime novels, combined with some deeper thoughts like „Our Souls at Night“. No fancy-shmancy psycho-thriller with more twists than pages and too much unnecessary drama but a solid mystery with loveable characters and a great atmosphere. I liked that one very much and I‘m sure this wasn‘t my last Norton. 100% recomandation. 😁👍🏻
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5*)
I knew Graham Norton only from his tv-show and for a long time I didn‘t know, he is also a writer. When I first found that novel I really liked the premise of it and since it is just a short novel I thought I‘d give it a try. 🙂
„Helen is a retired teacher living on the Irish coast. She enjoys the peace and quiet - despite the burden of Margaret, her unpleasant sister. Margaret arrived three years ago for a short holiday, but somehow managed to stay and worm her way into Helen's life. One day, Helen sees a man swimming in the sea. She doesn't quite know what it is, but something about it feels very strange.“
I thought it would maybe get to a 3-Star or even less but I was really surprised. It was a solid 5-Star-Read for me. It actually felt like one of the old Agatha Christie crime novels, combined with some deeper thoughts like „Our Souls at Night“. No fancy-shmancy psycho-thriller with more twists than pages and too much unnecessary drama but a solid mystery with loveable characters and a great atmosphere. I liked that one very much and I‘m sure this wasn‘t my last Norton. 100% recomandation. 😁👍🏻
April 24, 2022
Enjoyed this one. I really enjoy quick reads to break up other books
March 26, 2023
Read this book if you like short observatory sentences. There’s a lot of them. It has no flow. This is my review.
August 25, 2024
I discovered this little gem by Graham Norton quite by accident. The Swimmer is a novella, a quick listen/read, but no less absorbing or deeply plotted than his other novels.
What a delight it was to listen to this narrated by Graham Norton himself. It makes me want to go back and listen to each of his other novels, despite having already read them.
I enjoyed this story, about Helen, retired school teacher living a quiet life in an Irish coastal town. It was funny, intriguing, and caught me by surprise with the twist. Deceptively simple, Graham Norton is simply a master at tapping into human nature and the need we all have for connection.
Highly recommended.
What a delight it was to listen to this narrated by Graham Norton himself. It makes me want to go back and listen to each of his other novels, despite having already read them.
I enjoyed this story, about Helen, retired school teacher living a quiet life in an Irish coastal town. It was funny, intriguing, and caught me by surprise with the twist. Deceptively simple, Graham Norton is simply a master at tapping into human nature and the need we all have for connection.
Highly recommended.
February 15, 2023
I’ve always been a fan of Graham Norton’s personality and sense of humour, so I’ve been quite curious to see how well that translated to the written world. This was an impressive sample that has sold me on his skills. Although only 80 pages long, Norton still finds a way to establish enough about this world that you can invest in the characters and feel at least some of the tension in those final pages.
August 6, 2022
3.5 stars. It's a quick read, 80 pages, so a short mystery. I have to say I liked this novella/short story more than I expected to. I bought it in an impulse, wondering if Graham Norton could be a fun writer with a topic like this and I am kinda over the whole 'what happened/who dunnit' genre. But this actually had some whit to it. Though I do admit, the sisters Helen and Margaret almost immediately reminded me of Patty and Selma Bouvier, the two sisters in The Simpsons and that made it a lot more fun. Over all, I finished it in one sitting, liked the twist in the end and enjoyed the writing over all.
August 16, 2023
wundervoll! schade, dass es so kurz ist.
June 3, 2022
I love Graham Norton's books and, even though this was a short story, it didn't disappoint. The characters were developed and the story was interesting, although I had guessed the motive. My only complaint was that the prose was quite clunky, often saying "that is" or "I will" rather than "that's" or "I'll' but I wondered if this was to do with the book being aimed at people who struggle with reading, as I haven't noticed this in his other books.
October 22, 2024
What a sweet little mystery story! A quick and entertaining read.
April 14, 2022
I loved this! My sister brought it for me as an introduction to Graham Norton. I know him from the tele, but not his books, so this was a perfect place to start.
Helen is fantastic, and I can see this being a mini-book series. PI Helen lol
A fabulous cosy murder mystery.
I Highly recommend it. And I’ll be reading more from Graham Norton.
Helen is fantastic, and I can see this being a mini-book series. PI Helen lol
A fabulous cosy murder mystery.
I Highly recommend it. And I’ll be reading more from Graham Norton.
January 5, 2023
I don’t know why I keep reading short stories when I’m not a fan of them 🙈 this was a very mild mystery about a man who goes missing. There’s also a very mild twist at the end. I didn’t really like his writing style either!
May 7, 2022
A boring start. One plot twist which you couldn’t see coming. The others, you could see coming.
Overall, okay for a short story.
Overall, okay for a short story.
May 30, 2022
I don't normally enjoy short stories as there is little time for the characters to develop and often the endings are quite sudden and unsatisfactory, but this managed to have characters with depth and came together nicely at the end. A good short read, perfect for a few quiet hours on the sofa.
October 8, 2025
This was quite simplistic, there wasn’t much depth to the plot or characters. Overall the story was fine but it’s not particularly memorable.
November 19, 2023
Good way of passing the time
Graham Norton’s strength is the depiction of Irish life - the small towns, the quirky townsfolk, the pub-centered traditions, and of course, throw in a Gardai officer or two. This very quick read ticks all those boxes, with a side helping of crime, and luckily, everything gets wound up in time for dinner. With potatoes, of course.
Graham Norton’s strength is the depiction of Irish life - the small towns, the quirky townsfolk, the pub-centered traditions, and of course, throw in a Gardai officer or two. This very quick read ticks all those boxes, with a side helping of crime, and luckily, everything gets wound up in time for dinner. With potatoes, of course.
July 27, 2024
Graham Norton schafft es sogar auf so wenigen Seiten glaubwürdige und differenzierte Charaktere zu erschaffen. Der Kriminalfall selbst ist durchaus spannend. Ich mag es aber lieber, wenn ich mit meinen Vermutungen nicht richtig liege :)
April 7, 2024
2,5*.
Wenig überraschend, sprachlich unauffällig. Das Verschwinden des Mannes ist aber mysteriös genug, um den Kurzkrimi anzulesen, und die Protagonistin ist interessant genug, um dranzubleiben.
Wenig überraschend, sprachlich unauffällig. Das Verschwinden des Mannes ist aber mysteriös genug, um den Kurzkrimi anzulesen, und die Protagonistin ist interessant genug, um dranzubleiben.
June 5, 2022
This is the first book I've read by Graham Norton and although only 80 pages, I really enjoyed it. A cracking little crime novel.
I will definitely look for others by him.
I will definitely look for others by him.
February 28, 2024
Ich bin völlig ohne Erwartungen an diese Novelle von Graham Norton gegangen und irgendwie war’s überraschend nett.
July 17, 2024
Helen is a retired teacher living on the Irish coast. She enjoys the peace and quiet - despite the burden of Margaret, her unpleasant sister. Margaret arrived three years ago for a short holiday, but somehow managed to stay and worm her way into Helen's life.
One day, Helen sees a man struggling in the sea and decides to investigate. She doesn't quite know what it is, but something about it feels very strange...
I tend to be wary of reading books by celebrities who have made their name doing something else. For that reason I had thus far avoided reading any of Graham Norton's novels. When I saw that he was going to be writing one of this year's "Quick Reads" I thought that would be an ideal opportunity to dip a toe into the water and sample his work.
I am a huge admirer of a well-written short story. There is a real skill in being able to craft a properly rounded story within only a hundred or so pages. The Swimmer is a really atmospheric and engaging read, with a whole lot of mystery packed into such a short book.
For a short taster of the author's writing this has certainly made me want to read more. With a mystery on the cosier side of crime, it still really makes a mark and with some moments of humour in amongst the sadness.
One day, Helen sees a man struggling in the sea and decides to investigate. She doesn't quite know what it is, but something about it feels very strange...
I tend to be wary of reading books by celebrities who have made their name doing something else. For that reason I had thus far avoided reading any of Graham Norton's novels. When I saw that he was going to be writing one of this year's "Quick Reads" I thought that would be an ideal opportunity to dip a toe into the water and sample his work.
I am a huge admirer of a well-written short story. There is a real skill in being able to craft a properly rounded story within only a hundred or so pages. The Swimmer is a really atmospheric and engaging read, with a whole lot of mystery packed into such a short book.
For a short taster of the author's writing this has certainly made me want to read more. With a mystery on the cosier side of crime, it still really makes a mark and with some moments of humour in amongst the sadness.
July 30, 2022
A quick and harmless read, this short story/tiny novella by Graham Norton is set in West Cork (as most of his books are) and tells the story of a woman (Helen) who sees a man heading for a swim one day. The man doesn’t return from his swim, leaving a shopping bag with his clothes behind, presumed drowned. Helen feels uneasy about it though, and when no body is found, she begins to do some investigating of her own.
I’ve enjoyed Graham Norton’s three novels, they have a certain charm and this story does too. It was a really gentle, uncomplicated read that would be perfect for someone who is looking to get (back) into reading, or who isn’t a confident reader.
I picked it up for €1.40 in a local bookshop and I imagine these “quick reads” books are readily available at the library too.
I’ve enjoyed Graham Norton’s three novels, they have a certain charm and this story does too. It was a really gentle, uncomplicated read that would be perfect for someone who is looking to get (back) into reading, or who isn’t a confident reader.
I picked it up for €1.40 in a local bookshop and I imagine these “quick reads” books are readily available at the library too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 449 reviews