Unanswered Questions
Wow! I found the first 50 or so pages of the book somewhat disorganized -- needs more editing as to voice, character,etc. However, about halfway through the book, I couldn't put it down. Even after finishing the book, I still have questions about who did the dastardly deed. At one minute I think she did, the next, he did. Good book for discussion as I am sure there will be many opinions about the ending. Better than I originally thought it would be!
Rated of 5
by Janice M. (Holland, MI)
The Swimming Pool by Holly LeCraw
How long would you keep a secret for someone? This story is about keeping the truth from coming out - with some terrible consequences. It has a murder, a mystery, a romance, adultery and attempted suicide and once you begin reading The Swimming Pool it will be hard to put the book down. The characters in the story seem like people you would see in any town and it made me wonder what lies beneath the surface of the people I see when I am in public. This will make a great book club and beach read.
Rated of 5
by Susan B. (Rutledge, MO)
good writing, but not my cup of tea
On the positive side, I think The Swimming Pool is a very well-written novel, and I found it interesting enough to keep reading to the end. On the less-positive side, I finished the book feeling I should have enjoyed it more. I didn’t care about most of the characters, and couldn’t identify with them or their choices. You might enjoy this book if you enjoy suspense, sexual tension, well-written “spicy bits” (though there aren’t all that many of them), and getting into the heads of characters who are obsessed with their sex-interests and secrets.
Rated of 5
by Angelina A. (New York, NY)
History repeating
A lovely first novel that sets up a question from the beginning that unravels as you read. The descriptions and character development pull you in and get you to read quickly through without putting it down.
Rated of 5
by Erica M. (Chicago, IL)
The Swimming Pool
I had a real problem with the contrivances used to move this plot forward. In part it was a moral issue - my own personal morals; in part the contrivances were just too convenient. On the whole, though, the twists made the reading interesting enough to keep me going to the end and I found I enjoyed the story more by the end than I thought I would. The author has an excellent command of language and description - my problem was with the story, not the writing.
Rated of 5
by Margaret H. (Springfield, VA)
Swimming Pool
Eight years ago Marcella was involved in an affair with a neighbor which ended with a mysterious murder. Now she is engaged in an affair with the neighbor’s son. As the author moves back and forth from the past to the present she examines the reasons that people act as they do and how people are affected by events outside their control, including the unexplained death of parents. This is a passionate love story which hooks the reader even as s/he can foresee the events. It should make a good read for women’s book clubs.
Rated of 5
by Gwendolyn D. (Houston, TX)
Difficult to Put Down
'The Swimming Pool' is a tragic family drama. So many horrible things happen to Marcella, the protagonist of this debut novel, that it’s amazing she is able to function. Her marriage is lost, her lover dies unexpectedly, her child is sent away, and that’s just to start. There’s also an unsolved murder that propels much of the action. Despite these tragic circumstances, this book is not all dark as a new (somewhat twisted) romance develops. This quick-paced drama is entertaining, and the shifting between past and present keeps the reader engaged. I couldn’t put this one down.
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of 5
by Mary S. (Hilton Head Island, SC)
