I love William Shaws books and this didn't disappoint
Lots of twists turns and red herrings as always

William Shaw's *The Wild Swimmers* is a chilling and atmospheric thriller that plunges readers into the dark depths of a seemingly idyllic coastal community. When a wild swimmer's body washes ashore, DS Alexandra Cupidi is drawn into a complex investigation that uncovers a web of secrets lurking beneath the surface.

Shaw masterfully crafts a sense of place, with the windswept beaches and brooding seascapes of Dungeness becoming almost a character in themselves. The evocative descriptions create a palpable atmosphere of unease, perfectly complementing the chilling mystery at the heart of the novel.

The narrative expertly weaves together multiple storylines, each adding layers of intrigue and suspense. Alongside the murder investigation, we delve into the personal struggles of Cupidi and her colleague Jill Ferriter, both grappling with their own demons. These interwoven narratives add depth and complexity, creating a rich tapestry of human emotions and motivations.

While the plot twists and turns keep you guessing, it's the characters that truly elevate this novel. Cupidi is a compelling protagonist, flawed yet determined, and her vulnerability makes her all the more relatable. The supporting cast is equally well-drawn, each with their own secrets and hidden agendas.

*The Wild Swimmers* is a gripping read that will appeal to fans of atmospheric crime fiction. Shaw's masterful storytelling, combined with the chilling setting and compelling characters, make this a truly unforgettable thriller.

This was my first time reading William Shaw’s DS Cupidi series – I have to confess it wasn’t one I had heard of before but that’s hardly surprising given the sheer number of such series.
Anyway, I liked the sound of this one when I read the blurb and wasn’t too deterred by the fact that it was the fifth in a series. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything and that’s a credit to Shaw in his writing – he doesn’t write to alienate a new reader.
The one thing that I could possibly have done with was a little background on why Cupidi had been on stress leave – I assumed due to something that happened on a previous case but without knowing what, it was difficult to tell whether this character was her normal self when she returned to work. It seemed to me that she was, there was no second guessing herself or nervousness around any aspect of what she was doing. Is that realistic for someone returning to work after a long layoff? Maybe, but it was difficult to tell without any context of the reason for the leave, or even a hint at what had caused it.
Having said that, I really enjoyed this tight thriller – I did think the joint narratives would marry together in the end but perhaps it was better that they didn’t – too many writers tie themselves in knots trying to link up convoluted plots and this, in a sense, is more honest. After all, there’s never just one mystery in a small town or area.
The characters were believable and appealing – I particularly thought Zoe, Cupidi’s daughter, was written very authentically.
The mysteries were good and, while I had an inkling on what was going on for Bill’s side, Cupidi’s mystery was well executed, with some good red herrings and strong characterisation, even down to the bit players like the women they interviewed about Malcolm.
I also really enjoyed Shaw’s description of place – I felt cold when he talked about the swimmers on the headland, wrapping themselves in dry robes, etc. I had an image of the area, the towns, the police station. It was vividly written and drew me into the writing.

My thanks to Quercus Books / Riverrun for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this, another belter from William Shaw's Alexandra Cupidi series. It's been a while since the last one and it does not disappoint. Great storyline, tense, twisty and gripping. Definitely recommend reading all of the series in order, starting with The Birdwatcher. The backstories to each of the main characters builds in each book. Quite short chapters, great pacing and great to be back with these characters. I really enjoyed Jill's storyline in this one and that Bill is the one to help her. The sense of place is always strong in these stories and a I feel as though I have been to Dungeness, even though I haven't. Just loved it and hope we don't have to wait quite as long for the next! Highly recommend.

I love Alexandra Cupidi mysteries and loved this one which is one the best in this series. Tense, twisty and gripping.
If you already read the other novels you will catch up with the well developed characters and the William Shaw's excellent storytelling will keep you hooked and turning pages.
I loved the short chapters and how the different stories were never confusing and kept surprising me.
I read it in one afternoon as I was home and it was an excellent afternoon.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I hadnt read the other books in the series but the title just appealed to me. I really enjoyed it, yes I think I would have got more out of it if I knew more of the back stories, however it intrigued me so much that I am now going to go back to see what happened.
The crime itself was very well thought out. The key character though is the setting and it worked so well, it just kept me so engrossed. Another new series for me.

When Alex Cupidi is called out to a reported body on the shoreline she thinks that it is someone mistaking a sculpture for a real body. But when her daughter Zoe finds a dead woman Alex is thrown into what may be a murder investigation. Her colleague Jill has to be removed from the investigation but she has her own issues, a man has contacted her to say he is her father. Jill asks Bill to help and this draws him back into the murky world of drugs in Kent in the 1990s.
I really enjoy reading Shaw's books as there is always a rock solid plot at the heart. However makes these books a little more special is the fact that the characters are nuanced and the back stories are impeccably woven together. In addition there is a real sense of love for the setting, the landscape and wildlife of Dungeness in particular are wonderfully described.

Thoroughly enjoyed.

I have told everyone they need to read this !

The story was compelling and kept me hooked right from the get-go .
I look forwards to reading more from William

Another enjoyable and intriguing novel from William Shaw. It's got the vivid atmosphere and sense of place I've come to expect from Shaw's books, and a nuanced complexity to the characters, their relationships and their actions.

Book 5 in the DS Alexandra Cupidi Investigations series and reads well as a stand alone but always useful to have read the previous books for context. It’s been a long wait! A wild swimmer is found, on the Kent coast drowned, by Alex’s daughter Zoe and Alex doesn’t think it’s accidental. Told in dual POV’s by Alex and Bill this is a well written and beautifully descriptive police procedural. I feel like I know the areas mentioned in the books even though I’ve never been there.

Briefly, the dead woman’s boyfriend Malcolm has disappeared and cannot be traced. Meanwhile Alex’s colleague Jill has received a startling text from Ford Prison and because Alex is caught up in the drowning Jill asks retired PC Bill South for help. He was involved in the original case. Alex has to follow police procedures but because Jill knew the drowned person she is off the case so, she, with Bill, starts their own search.

Bit by bit the investigations come together but not before both Alex and Bill find themselves in serious danger. A well paced novel with great characters and some good twists and turns that kept me on my toes. A very clever and entertaining thriller with two storylines that become neatly intertwined with shocking consequences. Great read.

Well... it's about time we had another book in this series and, boy, was it worth the three year wait! Although, that said, I did have his other books to keep me going - the ones he writes under GW Shaw. Which are also excellent reads.
Going back to Alex Cupidi - and usual series rules apply - I know I say that with all series, but there are some which definitely benefit from this. Character backstory and development and all that jazz. And this one definitely fits that category.
We start with Alex getting a call about a body on the beach. She is not convinced so allows her daughter Zoe to accompany her. She is in a bit of a world of her own so doesn't hear Zoe until she has been shouting a while, having actually found the body. A body which turns out to be Mimi Green, a regular wild swimmer. Further investigation reveal her to be a strong swimmer who doesn't usually go out alone, especially in dodgy weather. Alex therefore isn't convinced it is just an accident...
If that wasn't enough to get your juices flowing, we also have another intriguing investigation. It appears that Jill Ferriter has received a letter from her father. Well, one from a man claiming to be. And it that wasn't strange enough, he is currently in prison, and has been for the past twenty years, for two brutal murders. Jill tries to talk to Alex but she has her hands full with Mimi's death so she turns instead to Bill South to assist her.
Oh my days. I have really missed the characters in this book. You know when you don't actually realise you have missed someone until you reconnect with them and get that warm fuzzy feeling and it's like the years apart have meant nothing... yeah... that!
And it was more than wonderful to have Bill back front and centre with his own, absolutely gripping investigation. It's a cold case so he has to dig back to the past. Reconnecting with an old friend to get Jill the answers she needs and deserves.
The wild swimming case was just as intriguing and kept my attention nicely as it progressed, delivery twist after shock as Alex peeled back the layers until the truth was finally laid bare.
And the setting, which is really kinda a character in its own right delivered once again. I am usually not a fan of over-description in a book, I find it slows my reading down too much and I do admit to being a bit impatient, but in this case, the setting is integral to the case and so is well worthy and deserved of the wonderful description the author delivers. Other than that, the writing is tight and with no superfluous waffle, allows the pace to remain high and the story to get on with itself very well indeed. Ramping up until delivering the final denouement, which left me wholly satisfied.
In fact the only downside of the book was realising that I had finished and so would have to say goodbye to the characters once again. Hopefully it won't be three years until we meet again...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Did not realise that this was a book in a series but I found it ok as a stand-alone. Plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing. I enjoyed the flow of the writing. I would definitely read the next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Alex is asked to go and find the body of a reported drowned swimmer. Thinking it's a hoax, she takes Zoe with her and unfortunately Zoe is the one that finds the body of a woman. At the same time Hill wants to speak to Alex about her long lost father who has been in touch. As usual things are a lot more complicated than they seem and because she doesn't get the opportunity to ask Alex before Alex gets embroiled in a murder case, she asks Bill to help her. In turn this puts Bill in a vulnerable place and as time does on, things take a dangerous turn for everyone involved.
A real page turner of a book.

It's good to have Alex Cupidi back after William Shaw's diversion into the thriller. His police procedurals are always a joy and DS Cupidi is an excellent lead. Dungeness provides an ominous backdrop and the plotting is as good as ever. The only slight blemish for me was the way in which the two separate plot threads felt a little too separate.

Really struggled reading this, got to 25% in and had to stop. I will not be reviewing this book on any social media for the author as it was not for me

The Wild Swimmers is an exceptionally good police crime thriller from William Shaw featuring D S Alexandra Cupidi.

The book is well written and moves along at a good pace with well sketched out characters both main and supporting.

There are two main plot lines which are skilfully woven and do not confuse or detract from one another.

This series continues to improve with every further novel despite all of the books being of an exceedingly high standard which is huge credit to an excellent author.

So if you like crime fiction this is most definitely one for you.

A welcome return for DS Alexandra Cupidi, The Wild Swimmers sees her colleague Jill Ferriter and neighbour Bill South embroiled in a decades-old case that may be linked to Jill's estranged father, while Cupidi investigates the death of a swimmer off the Kent coast. As always, the location is the real draw here - the marshes and windswept beaches of Romney, Dungeness and Hythe are almost another character in the series - and is one of the key ingredients that makes me recommend the series to those who love the Ruth Galloway novels.

The action moves apace and tension mounts as Cupidi's daughter is drawn into the investigation and Bill is the victim of an attempted drowning. If I had one criticism, it's that the book sometimes takes meandering detours which feel like they should become more than they do - reminisces of the second summer of love, when ravers descended on the marshes in the early 1990s, felt like a promising and fascinating diversion but after a couple of mentions, it seemed to just peter out as a plotline.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 - recommended for fans of Elly Griffiths, Sarah Ward or Peter May.

This story starts with DS Cupidi taking her daughter Zoë with her when she goes on a job to check on a body in the dunes nearby. As there is a piece of sculpture there which is a body, Alex is sure that this will simply be a the usual false alarm that they get from time to time. However it is Zoë that finds an actual dead body. Both of them are left very unsettled by this. As the person was a wild swimmer Zoë is not at all happy when her mother decides to join the group of wild swimmers while investigating the case.

In addition to this thread Bill South has been talking to Jill Ferriter about the man who claims to be Jill's father. He is not that happy about it, preferring peace and quiet these days, however with Alex (Jill's normal confidante) occupied he has little choice. The man who is claiming to be Jill's father is a known career criminal currently in jail for murder. Again reluctantly Bill agrees to find out more.

The book follows these two different threads by initially taking Alex's side of the story and then changing to see Bill's investigations through his eyes. It's fair to say that I am a fan of this series and have read and enjoyed the previous books. There are other good crime novels out there however I do really like the main characters in this series. Alex is very good and here interactions with Zoë (& vice versa) and good. I really like Zoë 's development as a character through this series. Bill, ex cop who has served time in prison - do read book 0 in the series - is also an excellent character for me. Put the three of them together and I will definitely continue reading this series - I would really prefer none of them to be sidelined!

The writing has a good pace and the story is developed well - simply makes for good reading for me. 4.5/5

Cleverly constructed around two storylines, this fifth instalment doesn't disappoint. The first mystery centres around the drowning of a wild swimmer, the second one digs deep into the past of one of the other protagonists. It is unnecessary to explain the plots, just know that they will keep you guessing and only towards the very end do you get some idea as to what is going on. One of this series strengths is its description of the landscape and the way in which it becomes part of the story. If you have read the other ones, you will probably enjoy it more because you have a better idea of how the chatacters relate to one another. A great read for traditional crime fiction fans.

The Wild Swimmers is the fifth book in this wonderful and imaginative series set around Dungeness and Kent.
Between finishing The Trawlerman, number four and starting this one, I had the pleasure of reading a short story set within this series setting, “Prospect Cottage” by William Shaw. His affinity with this area and creative ability to capture its allure and fascination was demonstrated in this short story.

The Wild Swimmers is further evidence of Shaw’s talent and storytelling skill set. I was drawn into the mystery from the very beginning. No shivering bather slowly letting the water creep up one’s costume; more the run, skip, hurdle the waves to dive (belly flop) into the sea.

A great title and an activity that has increasing interest in groups who have found joy, support and companionship in regularly venturing into open water.

This author mixes his stories with varied plots in often fresh and insightful ways. Faithful to his characters he pushes them to their limits and brings the best out of them.

This is a DS Alexandra Cupidi series in essence but the role played here by Bill South is like a melodious group of violins emerging from the orchestra and leading the symphony. A tune you expected but not from the string section.

Alex has her own investigation to pursue, Bill has this unofficial nose around into an old case as well here.

I loved this cameo and the joy it brings Bill to have such an active role is clear to see. His efforts unfold in surprising ways and the charm of the man is evident. He is a favourite character of mine and his journey here makes this a worthwhile read alone.

The author has the ability to dip into modern culture and contemporary issues to cement his writing as relevant and up to date. Wild swimming aside the drug scene is again dealt with convincingly and police corruption once more touched upon.

But it is the humanity and frailty of individuals that stand out for me and undoubtedly these qualities display the hand of this fine and under appreciated writer.