What do readers think of The Swimming Pool by Holly LeCraw? Write your own review.

This book started out slowly, and I kept waiting for the plot to kick in. The characters were flat and did not draw me into their world. Expanding Callie's story may have improved the story line. Definitely not a page turner; I had to force myself to finish it.

The Swimming Pool is very enjoyable and keeps your interest throughout the whole book. The plot takes some interesting twists and at times compels you to keep reading!

'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.

I wish I could give several 'number grades' to this book for various aspects; 5 for character development and dialogue, 3 for plot development, etc.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and felt the shifts among time and point of view were done well, it seemed as though some point were being missed, not the least of which was the guilty party of the seven year old murder mystery. Perhaps subtlety is wasted on me, but this missing piece was a big disappointment.

I don't think stories have to be strictly categorized, but this book seemed to waver uncertainly among psychological thriller, murder mystery, romance and serious fiction.

I will still, however, look for more of this author's work. (Should probably be a 3.5)

This is a debut novel from Holly Lecraw. Let's hope that the next ones will get better. Tthe premise of the book revolves around two family's,the Atkinson's and the McClatchey's, with plenty of tragedy and secrets to go around, not to mention a little post-partum depression and lots of pent up anger. Sadly I really had no empathy for the characters, mostly due to the lack of development. They were either one-dimensional or lost in another dimension altogether. Also the flashbacks to the past really didn't help matters or clear up to much. This was an ARC copy and the lack of proofing and editing was noticeable. I finished this novel for the review. If it wasn't for that I probably wouldn't have made it. Some may like it,not my cup of tea.

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.

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.

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.