The Swell
"The holiday getaway takes a suspenseful turn." —The Washington Post
Cut off from the rest of the world, a group of elite surfers are determined to find the perfect waves at any cost . . . even murder.
Three years ago, surfer Kenna Ward swore off the water for good after her boyfriend's tragic death. But she is drawn back to the beach when her best friend, Mikki, announces her engagement to a man Kenna has never met—a member of a tight-knit group of surfers. Kenna travels with Mikki to a remote Australian beach, entering a dangerous world where the waves, weather, and tides are all that matter, meeting the reclusive group that will do anything to keep their surf spot a secret.
This coastal paradise has a dark side, and Kenna is shocked by the extremes the surfers are prepared to go to for the next thrill. When she learns about mysterious deaths and disappearances within the group, her suspicion is heightened. Soon, Kenna realizes that in order to protect Mikki and herself, she must become one of them . . . and hope she isn't the next to go missing.
Cut off from the rest of the world, a group of elite surfers are determined to find the perfect waves at any cost . . . even murder.
Three years ago, surfer Kenna Ward swore off the water for good after her boyfriend's tragic death. But she is drawn back to the beach when her best friend, Mikki, announces her engagement to a man Kenna has never met—a member of a tight-knit group of surfers. Kenna travels with Mikki to a remote Australian beach, entering a dangerous world where the waves, weather, and tides are all that matter, meeting the reclusive group that will do anything to keep their surf spot a secret.
This coastal paradise has a dark side, and Kenna is shocked by the extremes the surfers are prepared to go to for the next thrill. When she learns about mysterious deaths and disappearances within the group, her suspicion is heightened. Soon, Kenna realizes that in order to protect Mikki and herself, she must become one of them . . . and hope she isn't the next to go missing.
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Community Reviews
In the Summer of 2021, in Aruba on the beach, I read a great debut book called "Shiver" by Allie Reynolds. It was a thriller involving a bunch of former pro snowboarders. Since, I love snowboarding and thrillers I knew it would be a great book and I was right. Now she has a her second book called "The Swell" this time involving a group of surfers so I immediately tried to get the ARC to read and was so happy to be selected to review it.
Spoiler free quick synopsis: Thirty year old Kenna Ward is living in England when she hears her best friend is getting married to some guy she hasn't met. She goes to Australia in secret to meet up with her (Mikki) when they tell her they are about to head out to some secret beach in a park in Australia to surf and they invite her. Concerned for her friend, she heads with them and meets up with a group of unique surfers who live and surf on this secret beach and defend it all costs. Kenna slowly gets back into surfing as she stopped soon after her boyfriend died surfing a wave she didn't want him on.
What follows is a great book of mystery/murder/intrigue/and above of a love of surfing. You will be knee deep in surfing and localism. While you didn't need to have a love of snowboarding to read her first book, a appreciation of surfing is really required to fully enjoy this book. Or at least a appreciation of a groups obsession over a certain subject, in this case surfing. The parts of them sharing their obsession with surfing are amazing and interesting to read. While I have snowboarded my whole life, I have never surfed before but still loved the surfing side story.
Pros: This book is written much better then her debut book. While "Shiver" was entertaining, I thought the narrative bordered on YA with the somewhat immature banter between everyone. This one is much better suited for adults with Kenna's conversation constantly intertwined with her thoughts. There was a lot going on with each of the characters and the book handles it all, expertly, with Kennas POV alternately shared with each characters quick chapter POVs. There are several great twists and a killer ending.
Cons: It did get slow towards the middle...... In fact, I was sure I was going to give this book four stars but the last 50 pages was amazing. Basically, we get a brutal twist and then the last 50 pages is basically a train wreck. In a good way! After the ending I was so entertained that I had to give this one the full five stars.
Highly recommended and Allie Reynolds is on the must read list.
Book given free for honest review.
Spoiler free quick synopsis: Thirty year old Kenna Ward is living in England when she hears her best friend is getting married to some guy she hasn't met. She goes to Australia in secret to meet up with her (Mikki) when they tell her they are about to head out to some secret beach in a park in Australia to surf and they invite her. Concerned for her friend, she heads with them and meets up with a group of unique surfers who live and surf on this secret beach and defend it all costs. Kenna slowly gets back into surfing as she stopped soon after her boyfriend died surfing a wave she didn't want him on.
What follows is a great book of mystery/murder/intrigue/and above of a love of surfing. You will be knee deep in surfing and localism. While you didn't need to have a love of snowboarding to read her first book, a appreciation of surfing is really required to fully enjoy this book. Or at least a appreciation of a groups obsession over a certain subject, in this case surfing. The parts of them sharing their obsession with surfing are amazing and interesting to read. While I have snowboarded my whole life, I have never surfed before but still loved the surfing side story.
Pros: This book is written much better then her debut book. While "Shiver" was entertaining, I thought the narrative bordered on YA with the somewhat immature banter between everyone. This one is much better suited for adults with Kenna's conversation constantly intertwined with her thoughts. There was a lot going on with each of the characters and the book handles it all, expertly, with Kennas POV alternately shared with each characters quick chapter POVs. There are several great twists and a killer ending.
Cons: It did get slow towards the middle...... In fact, I was sure I was going to give this book four stars but the last 50 pages was amazing. Basically, we get a brutal twist and then the last 50 pages is basically a train wreck. In a good way! After the ending I was so entertained that I had to give this one the full five stars.
Highly recommended and Allie Reynolds is on the must read list.
Book given free for honest review.
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