The Swimming Pool: A gripping, twisty suspense from the bestselling author of Our House

Reviews

Stu Cummins

It’s that reality that makes her books so compelling for me. Associated with this is the theme of possession and obsession, as Natalie teeters on the brink of losing her relationship with her husband in her pursuit of a passionately close friendship with Lara. You may just find it makes quite a splash…

If you want to read something that feels like eavesdropping on local gossip, whilst also packing a real punch, why not lose yourself in the turbulent waters of The Swimming Pool? I loved how seamlessly Candlish meandered through the different timelines and used them to great effect to gradually peel back the many layers of the plot.

I found myself mistrustful and verging on disliking almost everyone involved in this story! Being the kind of reader I am, I can only conclude that this book ends with a darkness that I wasn’t expecting! It also demonstrates how powerful a writer Candlish is, as lead character Natalie is really rather unlikeable, yet is imbued with such plausible humanity that despite her shortcomings, I was still very much sided with her.

The dark mystery at the heart of the plot is blended so beautifully with the human emotion, making it a really satisfying read on so many levels. However, with her usual panache, Candlish ripped that proverbial rug from right out under me and slapped me in the face with a far more shocking conclusion than I thought was coming! Louise Candlish’s The Swimming Pool is another perfectly constructed thriller that combines a mysterious plot, with an unforgettable cast of characters. Many of you will have read it, but if you haven’t, it’s one worthy of adding to the top of your TBR.