The Lost Swimmer

At 47 years old, archaeology professor Rebecca Wilding should be having the time of her life. At the peak of her career, with her two children having flown the nest and the support of a devoted husband she is free to follow her passion of travelling to archaeology digs and writing about ancient Greek artefacts. But without warning things start to go wrong. Due to budget cuts Rebecca faces the backlash of colleagues losing jobs at her university, she is being undermined and bullied by her superior at work and her husband of 25 years, Stephen, is acting secretive and staying out late. Worst of all, she is being accused of embezzlement when secret overseas bank accounts bearing her name are discovered by the university accountant – but Rebecca is sure she has never signed the paperwork to open them, let alone illegally transferred money into them. In a desperate effort to get to the bottom of Stephen’s odd behaviour and save her marriage, Rebecca decides to keep the fraud charges from him and goes ahead with a long-planned working holiday to Greece and Italy, where she and Stephen have had many wonderful times in the past. It also gives her the chance to visit the bank where the illegal bank accounts are located, but when she tries to talk to the bank manager she hits a wall – with the Australian authorities investigating the case against her, how much longer will she be able to keep it from Stephen? Despite their get-away he is still acting strangely, disappearing for hours without explanation, taking secretive phone calls and acting distant an distracted. With a sinking heart Rebecca is now certain that he is having an affair – possibly with her worst enemy. Whilst staying in a hotel on the rugged Amalfi coast, Stephen goes swimming and never returns. On the run from local authorities, who accuse Rebecca of her husband’s murder, time is running out to find out what really happened to Stephen.
I loved The Lost Swimmer and it totally captivated me. Partly set in Australia, partly in Greece, Italy and Paris, the author managed to evoke the sights, smells and atmospheres of different shores so vividly that reading it became like armchair travel. The characters are believable, authentic and three dimensional, with Rebecca making an interesting and likeable main protagonist. Her love and loyalty to her husband and her efforts to try and save her marriage despite her suspicions are touching, succeeding in conveying the author’s intentions of a love story forming the basis of the novel. I couldn’t put the book down and read it in one sitting, totally engrossed in its setting and story. The only thing which stops me from giving it the full 5 stars is that it ended a bit too abruptly for my liking ... there was still so many possibilities for an extra twist and a bit more suspense. I fully recommend The Lost Swimmer to anyone who likes a good mystery set in many different interesting locations – this book will want to make you go out and buy an airline ticket. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

This is the first novel by Australian author Ann Turner, while has had success with screen plays she now uses her talent in writing “The Lost Swimmer”. Ann uses her writing skills to bring life into her novel with vibrant detail. I can only hope that Ann continues by producing more novels of this caliber.
University Professor Rebecca Wilding is confronted with two disturbing happenings, major fraud involving her university accounts, and her husband Stephen is having an affair. In the middle of the fraud investigations, where she is the prime suspect both Rebecca and Stephen travel to Greece and Italy as they are committed to deliver papers at conferences in Italy.
Whilst on the Amalfi coast Stephen fails to return from a swim. The local police are not convinced that Stephen has not been murdered. In an attempt to discover leads Rebecca flees to Paris trusting that she can uncover the reason for Stephen’s disappearance and who is behind the fraud.

The Lost Swimmer by Ann Turner has a calm beginning to it. The storytelling quite unique and attention grabbing and it hooks you in.Her sentence structure contained enough descriptive words to paint a gorgeous picture in your head. There was different storylines present and they all intertwined coercively. It was like being in a rollercoaster anticipating that gut-dropping and gut-wrenching feeling associated with loops accept you didn’t know when it was coming. I knew the twists and turns were there but I didn’t how soon or how later in the book I would approach it. Overall this book was great summer read with exotic place, handsome men and gripping characters that will tear you emotionally. Now I really want to go to Naples and Athens!

Lost swimmer What an amazing debut novel! This debut novel is a hit for the author and the publisher. I'd love to see it on the big screen. The plot is complex, frightening (that this can happen to an everyday person) and plain brilliant. The main character was put thru so much I am surprised she kept it together. I think her desire to find her husband no matter what he had done was her true strength. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed such a riveting read as The Lost Swimmer.

I want to start off by saying that I don't usually read books like this but the description of the novel had me intrigued and I am glad that I picked it up. The suspense is fantastically written keeping you on your toes the whole way. Just when I think I had the story line worked out another twist was brought into play. Leaving me feeling lost all over again but in a good way. This was the first thing I had read from Ann but it will not be the last. Absolutely enjoyed every minute of this novel.

‘The sand was washed clean today, stretching wide at low tide.’

Rebecca Wilding is a forty-seven year old archaeology professor. Married, with two adult children away at university, Rebecca has time to pursue her interest in ancient Greek artefacts and to consolidate her career. But suddenly, things start to go wrong. Budget cuts within Rebecca’s department at the university are likely to translate into job losses, and her superior Priscilla is undermining and belittling her. Her husband Stephen has become secretive, and Rebecca wonders whether he is having an affair. Anomalies are uncovered in the university accounts Rebecca is responsible for, and she is accused of fraud.
Stephen and Rebecca travel to Greece, Italy and Paris where, around longstanding professional engagements, they’ve planned a magnificent holiday. Rebecca hopes to uncover the truth about the fraud she’s been accused of, and that she and Stephen will rekindle their love.
But, while holidaying on the Amalfi Coast, Stephen goes swimming and does not return. And fresh allegations against Rebecca follow.

‘Truth was growing increasingly elusive and I was contributing; if I went down that path I could get tangled in my own lies.’

There are a couple of mysteries and many twists and turns in this novel. Has Rebecca been set up? If so, by whom and why? Why was Stephen so secretive? Was Stephen having an affair, and with whom? Has Stephen disappeared, or has he drowned?

This story unfolds at a fast pace, and I found it difficult to put down. I thought I’d figured it out a couple of times, and then had to reconsider as yet another twist added new possibilities. And the ending? Well, I wanted more.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Rebecca Wilding, an archeology professor, has an enviable lifestyle at the beginning of this book. She has a happy marriage, successful children, a good career, and she lives in a beautiful country setting near the sea. Here there are wild kangaroos and lots of Australian wildlife.

Soon Rebecca's life begins to change, however. She can't get on with her smooth and good-looking boss, and she starts to suspect that her husband is having an affair. But her life really begins to unravel when she is suddenly accused of fraud.

This is a beautifully written and gripping story. We are caught in Rebecca's story from the beginning. A likeable and interesting character, she is easy to sympathise with. The suspense builds gradually as she attempts to find out what's happening.

I also liked the history and classical and mythical allusions. The descriptions of the countryside and Italy and Greece are also evocative.

Ann Turner's debut novel was a book I couldn't put down. It moved along at a cracking pace and the fast movement of the plot validated the deepening fraud and Rebecca's associated confusion, until you felt out of control along with her. The writing moves from gritty to lyrical, and her description of the Amalfi coast is wonderful. Even in the middle of fast paced action, and its bizarre secondary characters, the mood of the Italian landscape is strong. I would recommend this as a top suspense read.

The Lost Swimmer tells the story of Rebecca Wilding. A prominent academic at a university, Rebecca is battling on a number of fronts. Her work life is severely threatened, whether it be a boss who is seemingly out to get her, or a mystery pointing the finger squarely at her. To add to her stresses, Rebecca has increasing doubts about the man she has been married to for several years, and is unable to shake the feeling he is hiding something. As the story progresses, we are shown how Rebecca’s troubles and suspicions plague on her mind, as she is desperate to solve the mystery not only of who is trying to drag her through the mud in her work life, but exactly what is happening in her marriage as well.

I got hooked into this story thanks to a number of elements. It is, first of all is very well-written. The settings are also really effective. From setting the scene of the couple's home to following their travels through Europe, we really get a feel for where they are and what they are experiencing. The most important part, however, is the development of the characters, and I really got drawn in on this level. We are given a detailed insight into Rebecca - how she thinks, how she reasons. She is an academic with a logical mind, and in true fashion she sets out to prove exactly what is going on around her without acting rashly, even though her mind led by her suspicions continues to whirl with possibilities. The entire story is told from her point of view, and so perhaps all of our perceptions of the story are distorted by her suspicions rather than it being a simple story-telling. A great narrative tool! At times certain scenes, particularly at the beginning seemed to drag as scenes with conversations were often broken up by sections of long narration, though this seemed to improve as the story progressed.

My main difficulty with the story I think came because I read the blurb before reading the story. Knowing a major plot point of ‘The Lost Swimmer’ kept me waiting for that event to occur, and considering that, the climatic event felt as though it came a bit too late to the story, though I understand it was important to lay groundwork before the event in order to give context to what occurred afterwards and how Rebecca reacted. In my mind this led to the end of the story feeling a bit rushed, and I had a few unanswered questions, though this was likely intentional to reflect the characters' feelings too.

All in all, a great premise and an engaging read! Congratulations to Ann on her debut novel.

It took me a while to get into this book, but it was definitely worth it. Rebecca is an archaeology professor who has been accused of stealing from the Dept. She is more concerned about people than money. This is a theme throughout.
She travels to Europe with her husband who has secrets of his own.
One day he goes missing while swimming and her life is turned upside down from there.
I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel and look forward to reading more from this author.

I loved this book. Essentially a mystery it drew me in right from the start with a tight narrative and a satisfying resolution. It concerns an academic, Rebecca Wilding, who is accused of misusing university funds and her husband, Stephen, also an academic, whom she suspects of having an affair. Initially set in Australia it soon moves to Italy on the Amalfi coast where her husband disappears. Well crafted and a real page turner.

Rebecca Wilding is having a tough time at Coast University, particularly with the Dean of the Arts faculty, Professor Priscilla Chiton, who seems determined to make her life hell. Priscilla used to be a friend, but now Rebecca suspects she is having an affair with her husband Stephen, Professor of Economics. Rebecca also suspects that Stephen may be dabbling on the stock market again.

Suddenly things start to go very wrong when accounting irregularities crop up and Rebecca is accused of siphoning university funds into her own accounts.

There were some heart stopping moments in this thriller, particularly when they are driving a red sports car up a narrow road on the Amalfi Coast.

Stephen's disappearance leads to Rebecca becoming a chief suspect for his possible murder, and she goes on the run from the police, attempting to track him down in Paris, where she thinks he is meeting up with Priscilla.

A good read: a debut novel from a female Australian author.

Well written and very involved story. Definitely worth a read.

Ann Turner is an outstanding writer. She describes places and events so lyrically that you can feel yourself there.

In The Lost Swimmer, she takes us on a journey of discovery from Australia where an academic couple are struggling in their marriage and their careers, through Greece, Italy and Paris.

Both Rebecca and Stephen are faced with making cutbacks in their respective departments at Coastal University. Rebecca suspects Stephen of having an affair, and stands accused of fraud within her department, but lacks the courage to tell Stephen. Stephen chooses not to confide his secrets to Rebecca and so begins the dance...... Then Stephen goes missing one day while Rebecca is asleep, and as the secrets unfold, the Italian Police accuse her of murdering him.

This book is beautifully written and the author had me suspecting everyone, including at times the narrator. There are no great surprises in this book, but it is a interesting journey to the end.

Thank you to author Ann Turner, Publishers Simon & Schuster (Australia) and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This review will appear on the link below approx 26th May

Australian archaeology professor Rebecca Wilding loved her job at Coastal University in Victoria; she had travelled widely with her work and particularly loved the digs in Athens. As Head, she was in charge of a large number of staff and was feeling the pressure from Priscilla, the Dean over cuts as they were over budget. But when serious discrepancies showed up in the financials with Rebecca’s signature attached to the forms, she was shattered. She knew she had done no wrong but the deepening investigation continued…

Rebecca and her husband Stephen had organised a working holiday to travel to Greece, Italy and Paris; both were to deliver papers in various cities and agreed that combining a holiday would bring them closer together. Rebecca had recently begun suspecting Stephen of having an affair but she had no proof – she hoped the holiday would return to her the Stephen she once knew. Not having told Stephen of the investigation against her, she had hopes of clearing her name while away – but it seemed they both had secrets they were keeping from one another…

The hotel they were staying in on the beautiful Amalfi Coast was serene; the relaxing atmosphere and closeness to The Parthenon meant they spent their days sightseeing and relaxing. But Stephen seemed tense and uptight; and he wouldn’t tell her what was bothering him. One afternoon Rebecca slept while Stephen headed off to have a relaxing swim in the calm waters at the hotel’s beach – in a heartbeat Rebecca’s life became a frenzy of pain, panic, hope and fear…

As Rebecca’s terror built to a crescendo, she felt trapped by events that were out of her control; with time not on her side, she knew she had to unearth the dark secrets that had been following both her and Stephen during their travels as well as while they were on home soil. But in her dazed and exhausted state, could Rebecca find the answers she sought? Could she clear her name? And would she find her beloved husband once again?

What an excellent debut novel by Aussie author Ann Turner! Tense and gripping, the pace was incredibly fast – it was hard to put down. The Lost Swimmer is a compelling and emotional read that engrossed me completely. A highly suspenseful thriller, I have no hesitation in recommending The Lost Swimmer very highly.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.

Life should be good for Rachel Wilding. She's at the top of her profession as a Professor of Archaeology at a small coastal University where her husband Stephen is also a successful academic, a professor of Economics. They have a beautiful house on a lovely coastline and their two children have grown up and are leading their own lives in the city. However, things are not going well at work. Her Dean is making life difficult for her and a serious case of fraud has been uncovered for which Rachel is under investigation. On top of that she is worried that her husband is making bad investments on the stock market and may be having an affair. looking forward to getting away from work for a while, Rachel and Stephen decide to go ahead with their summer conference trip to Greece and Italy.

On the whole, I thought this was a very good first novel. There is plenty of intrigue to keep the reader interested right the way through. The settings were beautifully described, first the rugged Victorian coast and idyllic beaches and then the Amalfi coast including that horrendous coastal road that is every bit as scary as described. The plot was well thought out with plenty of twists and turns and red herrings with the tension building up slowly at first and then relentlessly as Rachel deals with the allegations of fraud and mistrust and then the fear that her husband has drowned. I felt a real empathy for Rachel and the terrible situation that she was in, although as we discover she is a strong woman capable of confronting her fears head on. I would have liked to have got a bit more of a feel for Stephen's character as I felt there were quite a few unanswered questions and loose ends, particularly about what Stephen was really up to and about the nature of his disappearance. Apart from that, I really enjoyed this well written mystery.

4.5 stars

The Lost Swimmer is a thrilling debut novel with themes of love and trust. Water is also a strong theme, both the attraction to the water and the fear of it.
How well do we know our loved ones, our husband or our wife? Rebecca and Stephen each had their own internal struggles and while seeming to support and love each other on the outside they found when things got difficult neither of them could turn to the other to confide in or seek help.

The story was quite believable it had my mind whirling and I, like the narrator, was jumping to conclusions suspecting everyone, jumping back and forward as more clues were revealed.

With beautiful settings and an intriguing plot The Lost Swimmer has enough twists and turns to keep those pages swiftly turning.

I will be eagerly watching for more by Ann Turner.

With thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

I’ve read some great new thrillers lately, and this one continues with that trend.

The Lost Swimmer is Australian Turner’s debut novel, but she’s not exactly a novice, having screenwriting and movie direction in her resume, and I think it shows in the easy confidence of her writing.

Rebecca is an archaeology professor at an Australian university, and the opening few chapters shows how she is struggling to come to terms with her position of middle management: paperwork and budgets and juggling staff. Her stress levels rise considerably when she has to deal with the university dean, the vindictive Priscilla. Things go from bad to worse when a major discrepancy in the university finances is discovered, and Rebecca is the main suspect.

Rebecca makes the decision to keep the investigation into her university finances a secret from her husband, Stephen, who in turn seems to have some secrets of his own, so many that she starts to wonder if he’s having an affair. Of course, his strange behaviour could all be just her imagination, and Rebecca decides to go ahead with their already previously planned overseas holiday.

I always love books set in Australia. Turner’s descriptive passages are beautiful, and the way she paints the Australian flora and fauna with her words is worth the price of this book alone. Once Rebecca and Stephen arrive in Greece, and then travel to Italy, however, was when her writing rose to another level of wonderful for me.

Arriving in Europe also subtly raises the level of tension in the plot. I kept thinking of Hitchcock films whilst reading the passages of Rebecca and Stephen’s sightseeing. There was always that small, seemingly ordinary, moment in these scenes that added another layer to that belief that something sinister was lurking.

When finally that ‘thing’ happens I wasn’t disappointed, and I turned pages like a mad thing to reach the outcome.

I must admit the missing half a star for this book is pretty much due to the ending, as I’m not completely convinced I like it. However, it didn’t take away any of my enjoyment for the book overall. I highly recommend it and will be eager to read Turner’s next novel.

4.5 stars out of 5

A gripping tale.

Ever feel like you have no control over something? Rebecca Wilding does. She is an archaeology professor at an Australian university and has been accused of misappropriating department funds. She also suspects her husband Stephen is having an affair and that he has been making risky investments with their money.

Rebecca hopes a shared working holiday to Europe will give her an opportunity to investigate the discrepancies with the university bank accounts and work on her relationship with Stephen. But before she can resolve anything, Stephen disappears while swimming at the beach near their Italian hotel and Rebecca is accused of being involved.

Ann Turner describes situations and settings in great detail. An encounter with a kangaroo at Rebecca’s home in Australia was particularly vivid and memorable. The scenes in Italy had me imagining I was there (or wishing I was), and I felt outrage on her behalf when she was accused of something she hadn’t done.
The plot was interesting and kept me involved and curious about what was going to happen next. How was Rebecca going to discover who was framing her for fraud and what was Stephen hiding from her?

I did feel the main characters were fairly shallow and that a number of secondary characters didn't seem significant until well into the book, meaning I had to go back and revisit their initial appearances, but overall this is a good story and I enjoyed reading it.