I really loved what part that I read and I was really getting into the book. But my copy was missing a lot of pages, so I decided not to continue with the book until the publication date. I can’t wait until the book comes out and I can finally go back to reading it. I have a feeling it’s going to be 4 or 5 stars.

A twisty psychological suspense thriller about two completely opposite women - one rich and one homeless - each drowning from life struggles in different ways.

For Hazel it's a controlling, psychopathic husband who she swears is going to kill her unless she can escape first and Lee is living out of her car after her restaurant closed and she was forced to declare bankruptcy, bilking a dangerous loan shark who wants to exact his pound of flesh. A fateful night brings these two women together and their lives are never the same again, one trying to help the other while the other tries to use her as a scapegoat.

Told in alternating POVs this one kept me on my toes and was great on audio read by new to me narrators, Brittany Wilkerson and Henriette Zoutomou. Hands down this is my new favorite book by Canadian mystery author Robyn Harding! Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Librofm for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!

The book I had the pleasure of reading is a thrilling tale of friendship born from a shared experience of deep pain and turmoil. From the outset, the author expertly captivates readers with a narrative that is as haunting as it is inspiring.

The story centers around two individuals, each carrying their own burdens and scars from a troubled past. Their lives intersect in the aftermath of a suicide attempt, and an unlikely bond forms between them. As the plot unfolds, we witness the development of a unique and intricate friendship, built upon a foundation of mutual understanding and support.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this book is the theme of trust. Despite their troubled backgrounds, the characters find solace in each other's presence and gradually learn to trust one another. This trust becomes a driving force as they embark on a collaborative journey, united by a common purpose. The author skillfully explores the complexities of trust and its transformative power, keeping readers engrossed in the evolving dynamics between the characters.

The story takes unexpected twists and turns, leaving readers constantly on the edge of their seats. The author skillfully maintains a sense of suspense and mystery throughout, creating a narrative that is as thrilling as it is emotionally resonant. As the characters navigate their individual struggles and confront their past traumas, the reader is taken on a rollercoaster of emotions, feeling their pain, loneliness, and ultimately their unyielding desire to never be alone again.

The author's writing style is evocative and powerful, painting vivid imagery and immersing the reader in the characters' tumultuous world. The raw emotions conveyed through the prose are both gripping and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page is turned.

In conclusion, this book is a compelling exploration of friendship, trust, and the resilience of the human spirit. It takes readers on a twisty and emotional journey that will leave them deeply moved and questioning the power of genuine connections. Whether you are a fan of thrillers or simply appreciate a thought-provoking story, this book is a must-read. Its ability to delve into the darkest corners of the human experience while offering a glimmer of hope is a testament to the author's storytelling prowess.

The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding is my first book by this incredible author. If I were you, I would pick this book up but you better drop everything else because you won’t be able to put it down. A heart pounding story with many twists, my jaw was sore from it dropping on the floor so many times. An extremely well written suspenseful story told in dual point of views. This is one you really don’t want to try and figure out, just sit back……..well try and sit back…….and just enjoy the ride. Ms. Harding will keep you on the edge of your seat. I highly recommend this one and will look for more by this awesome author.

Thank you NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and Robyn Harding for this incredible thriller to read and review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
#netgalley. #grandcentralpublishing. #robynharding. #thedrowningwoman. #arc

I fell in love with Robyn Harding's books a few years ago when I read The Arrangement. This book did not disappoint! I flew through it and couldn't put it down.
This book mostly follows the main character, Lee who is homeless and living in her car, on the run, and literally has no one. One day, while parked on the beach, she hears a woman's cries and spots her drowning in the water. Lee rescues the woman, Hazel, and finds that although Hazel looks perfect from the outside, she has a scary, troubled marriage. The two become close, and from here the twists begin!
The Drowning Woman is broken up into four parts, told through alternating perspectives, and the twists are GOOD! This books is the perfect binge-worthy read! It has everything you want in a thriller, twists, suspense, and betrayal.

The Drowning Woman
4 stars
After reading The Swap and devouring it in ~1 day I was SO excited to get my hands on Robyn Harding’s latest domestic thriller!

Overall loved this, especially the first 75%, it kept my attention and I was so intrigued and couldn’t wait to find out what happened next!

After one of the big twists, the story seemed to go in circles slightly for me. There was a lot going on but at the same time it felt a little redundant? Still good/very exciting but I personally thought from ~the 75-90% portion gave me a little pause, however in no way should that deter you from picking this one up!

Loved:
Fast paced right from the start!
Unique, and very realistic MC perspective
Short-ish Chapters
Multiple POV

This was a classic domestic thriller, with so many twists and turns! I’d totally recommend it for a summer beach thriller read

This book was just okay. Honestly, I wasn’t as intrigued as I would have liked. I didn’t love the ending. I felt like there was a lot left out and the pieces weren’t tied up. Some of the plots were left unfinished.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

There has been so much hype going around about The Drowning Woman, that I had to read it! And...WOW!!
I was so drawn to Lee's character and admired her determination to get herself through the difficult circumstances life was throwing her way. And then there's Hazel...the woman that Lee "saves."
I was definitely sucked into this thrilling story. The story twists at one point and I didn't know who to believe.

Couldn't put this book down!! Highly recommend reading and it definitely lived up to the hype!!

The Drowning Woman is a grab you right from the start thrill ride, but It's Robyn Harding, and so I wasn't at all surprised. I've loved everything she's published. Robyn's ability to build the plot, adding layer upon carefully constructed layer, speaks to me as a reader, but just when I think I know where's she's going, she throws a pivot, and I'm left frantically flipping pages in a race to the finish, Although the two main characters are at times unlikeable, they're always relatable, and I couldn't help but root for them to succeed. In short, another Robyn Harding masterpiece!

I really enjoyed this one! It kept me interested through the entire book and I really felt a connection with the characters. Lee and Hazel both had me feeling so empathetic to their situation and I kept wishing that they would find a way out. And as for the male characters, I never expected the twists at the end…you just wait. And the ending (chefs kiss), perfection! This book was full of twists that kept me guessing and reading late into the night. Well worth the read and I highly recommend! 4.5 out of 5 stars, rounding up to 5 on goodreads.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Robyn Harding for providing me with this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Check out my #AuthorElevatorSeries Interview with Robyn!

The master of misdirection and twists, bestselling author Robyn Harding returns following The Perfect Family with her latest captivating thriller and thirteenth novel, THE DROWNING WOMAN —two complex women form an unlikely friendship caught up in a dangerous web of deceit, secrets, and lies.

A homeless woman living in her car saves a wealthy, troubled housewife from drowning—changing their life.

Top 5 thrillers of 2023: Harding pulls out all the stops and checks all the boxes—her best yet!

Lee Gulliver, age 34, grew up in the Catskills, and she led a comfortable life. Once a young successful restaurant owner (The Aviary) in New York City is now homeless in Seattle, living out of her older model Toyota sedan, trying to survive.

Due to the pandemic and taking a loan from a man who wanted his money back no matter what, she was forced to run. She had to admit her business, her dream, had failed.

She never dreamed of being in this dire situation. She now works at a shady Uncle Jack's diner, making barely enough to get by. She parks her car under bridges at night, fearing for her life, with a knife by her side.

Then one night, her window was broken, and her purse was stolen while she was inside the car trying to sleep. SCARY! She is mortified trying to sneak into the YMCA and places for free showers with other vagrants now like herself. She has nowhere to turn, and her family hates her with no friends. Plus, there is Damon, the bad guy who will kill her.

She finally decides to drive to an upscale beach neighborhood for a safer spot to park at night while sleeping, even though further to drive to work.

Then one early April morning, she spots a woman crying on the beach at dawn. She is walking into the frigid Pacific with her expensive running gear. She goes under.

Lee runs out to save her before she drowns. She gets a blanket out of her car and sits with her. How could this woman living in this neighborhood with these expensive clothes have a life worse than hers?

Soon she learns the woman's name is Hazel Laval, and she is in an abusive, toxic marriage. She lives in prison and is only allowed out of the house for a run or quick grocery shopping.

Her husband, Benjamin, is a wealthy, powerful, sadist criminal defense lawyer. Their BDSM relationship turns abusive (master and slave), and she begs Lee to help her escape. She cannot go to the police since her husband is well-connected and powerful.

The two women form a friendship. Lee knows this man must be a monster for Hazel to give up this life of privilege and luxury. However, there is something off.

Lee, desperate for connection, the two develop a bond and a plan to help Hazel escape her life. Hazel's biggest worry is her mother, that is in a care facility paid for by her husband. She has threatened if she tries to escape, her mother is as good as dead.

In the meantime, here is Jesse Thomas, a man Lee meets with a killer body and works as a trainer at a gym. However, can she trust him? Nothing is as it appears.

Told from two POVs: Lee and Hazel. The two devise a plan. However, can Hazel be trusted?

What comes next is fast-paced twists and action, high adrenaline, misdirection, and INTENSE suspense when someone winds up DEAD. You have no clue where the author is taking you, but you are enjoying the ride.

As a huge fan of the author, having read six of her latest thrillers, she is a pro at intricate plots, twists, and well-developed characters. In THE DROWNING WOMAN, I enjoyed how she brilliantly crafts a scene from one point of view, and then we see it again from a different perspective.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I enjoyed both women, especially Lee. An edge-of-your-seat thriller, what a ride! From redemption, friendship, and betrayal, caught up in a tangle of secrets.

Wildly entertaining! And that wickedly satisfying Epilogue! The Nest— priceless! Addictive, highly creative, absorbing, binge-worthy, and prime for the big small, or big screen!

Harding fans will devour it! For fans of intelligent domestic thrillers—if you have not read Robyn's books, I highly recommend them. THE DROWNING WOMAN is a favorite.

Check out my #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A Interviews with Robyn, where we go behind the scenes of the book & the author:

THE DROWNING WOMAN
THE PERFECT FAMILY
THE SWAP

Thanks to #GrandCentralPublishing for a gifted ARC via #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased the hardcover copy.

Blog Review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 13, 2023
My Rating: 5 🌟STARS ++
May 2023 Must-Read Books
Top Books of 2023

Thank you @netgalley, @thrillerbookloverspromotions, and @robynharding for sending me a copy to read and review!

➡️THOUGHTS:
Ok, this one is giving What Remains a run for it’s money for favorite book of June! WOW! This book is full on unreliable narrators and keeps you flipping pages! I love that the author had my head spinning because what I thought was happening, would all of a sudden switch gears and this went on often! I freaking couldn’t get enough of it!

This is told from Hazel and Lee’s POV, divided into 4 sections. Lee is a down on her luck woman living out of her car who happens to witness a woman (Hazel) trying to drown herself while sleeping on the beach. What goes on next will blow your mind!!!

Wow, what a ride The Drowning Woman was, and it was exactly the kind of thriller I've been looking for a while now!! I went into this book without knowing very much about it and it was my first book by this author, but it definitely did not disappoint! I was so hooked on the story, which had short and quick chapters that pulled me in right from the beginning. I constantly want to be reading this book that was filled with questionable characters and twist after twist that kept me on edge. I really enjoyed the fast pacing, the multiple POV and how things wrapped up (yay for a satisfying ending!!).

Overall, I loved this thriller and would say this one is probably my favourite thrillers that I've read so far this year! If you are looking for a suspenseful, twisty, wild and bingeable thriller that will keep you turning pages, check out The Drowning Woman, out June 13! I can't wait to read more of Harding's backlist.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Ok I totally binged this book! I started it late one night and ended up flying through 1/3 and then found myself thinking about it all day at work the next day, anxiously waiting to get home to it!

It was incredibly propulsive and was just oozing with misdirections! Things are never as they seem and I always relish being kept on my toes and continually guessing!

While it may require a bit of suspended belief at times, it didn’t bother me enough to find it still extremely entertaining! I don’t want to give too much away so I’m just going to say, clear your schedule and buckle up, you’re in for a wild ride!

4.5 stars rounded to 5 for goodreads

Thank you @blondethrillerlover @grandcentralpub @netgalley for a copy of this book. This story is about Lee, who is down on her luck and a random chance meeting she meets Hazel and forms a friendship. Lee and Hazel are both in bad situations and they figure a plan to help each other. The story turns when Lee figures that things are not what it seems. You don't know who to trust and the story keeps you guessing. I love the multiple POV and how intense the story was.

Oh my goodness this book. It was wild and twisty and crazy good! I could not figure out what in the world was going on and as soon as I thought I knew, boom, here comes another twist and off we go in a different direction. This is told in two POVs, Lee’s and Hazel’s, and it was just brilliantly done. I really loved this one, of course I recommend it, it is just fantastic and I think you really need to go in blind. I have been a fan of Robyn Harding for a long time now and she never lets me down. This is another solid read by her that will absolutely be on my shelves.

The audiobook for this one is wonderful, I really enjoyed listening to this and following along with the book. If you can listen to this one then I suggest reading it this way.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing, Thriller Book Lovers Promotions and Novel Suspects for the digital copies to review.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars
*
Yes! This book will be the book of the summer! This is my first book by Robyn Harding but will definitely not be my last!! I feel like I’ve been saying that a lot more recently, but I’ve just read so many good new to me authors that I feel like I need their entire backlist of books!! This book just sucks you in and is so easy to read. I feel like I just flew through it. I feel like the characters and their struggles are so relatable and it just makes you care so much about their story and what they are experiencing. Definitely one you should pick up if you love fast paced thrillers that keep you guessing!!
*
This review will be posted to my Instagram blog (read_betweenthecovers) in the near future!

I really liked this book. It sucked me in right from the first few pages and I didn't want to put it down until I was finished!
After the pandemic, and the failure of her business, Lee finds herself homeless, without anyone around to offer any support, until she meets Hazel, saves her life, and they become each other's only friend. Lee is determined to help her friend escape an abusive relationship, and just as the plan is about to go down, giving both her, and her new friend a fresh start, the plan unravels and they are both tangled in a web of lies, murder and double crossing.
I thought the storyline was unique, the writing had just the right amount of twists and turns, and the pacing kept me on my toes!
If definitely give this one a recommendation!
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Lee hauls Hazel out of the ocean and saves her life. Living in her car and separate from close human contact, Lee is ripe for any lies and plans that Hazel may conjure up thereafter.

This book is intense but easy to read. There are several intertwined plans and goals from the principle characters. As the friendship between Lee and Hazel grows, they quickly travel towards the conclusion of the evil intents of others…and maybe themselves. The story seems innocent of the surface but it is far more convoluted below.

The characters are relatable even if you have never been homeless or rich. All of us have felt the emotions that rise from these pages. At times, the reader will want to shout out the famous “Don’t do it!” or want to shake a character for their bad choices.

I love this story. It was different, enthralling, and emotion inducing. It deserves 5 stars. I have read Robin Harding’s books before and this one even exceeded my expectations from this author.


I received an ARC from Grand Central Publishing thought NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

OMG -- That was amazing—such an easy five stars from me.

I am so thankful to Hachette Audio, Robyn Harding, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for sending me advanced physical, audio, and digital access to this twisty, multiple-narrative thriller -- A TRIPLE THREAT. The Drowning Woman hits shelves on June 13, 2023, so mark your calendars, yall.

This is the story of two women who come from troubling backgrounds and have found themselves contrived in the same upsetting situation. Lee Gulliver lost everything after COVID-19, including her restaurant, home, and familial connection. Left to sleep in her car after her going-nowhere waitressing job, she hears a woman crying on the beach and then attempts to commit SOO-ICIDE. Hazel is ready to leave her life of luxury behind, and end it all, because her husband is keeping her captive as his slave and she's fearing for her life.

Lee decides to band together to help her new friend to escape the horrors of her marriage, while also ensuring that she acquires some funds to start over new, herself. However, Lee meets a rather attractive suitor, Jesse, and it just so happens that he's quite familiar with Hazel and her abusive husband in more ways than one.

What are all of these characters' motives and how deeply buried are their secrets?