Swimming in the Dark

An atmospheric psychological drama, Swimming in the Dark, the fourth novel by award-winning New Zealand writer Paddy Richardson, explores the themes of family, oppression, fear and the strength it takes to rise above them. Set in New Zealand, this contemporary, haunting tale unites four women, Serena and her sister Lynette, and school teacher Ilse Klein and her mother, Gerda, struggling against a legacy of fear, shame and guilt.Fifteen year old Serena Freeman is the youngest child of a family wi [...]

Great read, really enjoyed it.

I haven’t read many books written by New Zealand authors, so when Swimming in the Dark came into my hands through a giveaway win, I was keen to delve into this crime thriller. Swimming in the Dark is a story about four different women, who become conjoined by a dangerous secret. At the heart of this secret is the young Serena Freeman. Despite coming from a disadvantaged background, Serena is a high achieving student until something terrible happens to her. Serena feels she has no choice but to [...]

The horrid sick feeling in the pit of my stomach remained for the duration.What a compelling and disturbing tale. It is going to take some serious thought before I can formulate coherent thoughts about this one.Paddy Richardson has written a compelling page turner that left me with a very sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. From the very first chapter I had a feeling that I knew where this was heading, and I wasn’t wrong but I only scraped the surface of what was coming.Serena Freeman is th [...]

This book is set in my home town of Alexandra. It gave me nightmares. I was far too familiar with the setting and it preyed on my mind as I visualised every scene. This book has two threads, one set in East Germany before the wall came down, and one in Alexandra. Occasionally I found it slightly muddled as it flicked from place to place, both threads were interesting and well developed and the story of the family being stalked by the Stazi was great even if I sometimes got a bit lost figuring ou [...]

A fascinating crime novel circling four women - Serena, Lynnette, Ilse and Gerda. It takes place over several decades, and in both Leipzig, Germany and Alexandra, NZ.I wasn't sure what to make of this at first, but the way the novel pulls you in and sweeps you up in the characters, it is impossible not to become invested. The central figures are all strong and unique, and have endured many trials to become as they are.This novel does not shy away from the moral grey areas it encounters, instead [...]

Absolutely riveting read. The layers of past and present, the women whose lives intersect and change trajectory because of those chance meetings - it's a seriously well-crafted story, and I found it impossible to put down. (Literally - I finished this in a day because I couldn't stop reading.) It explores such a deep range of issues, from everyday domestic tragedies to international refugees. There's themes of guilt and culpability and the choices we make and what our actions (and inaction) caus [...]

A really good novel, set in Alexandra (New Zealand) and Leipzig (Germany). This weaves together the stories of Serena, a teenage girl who is [SPOILER ALERT] groomed and abused by a sexual predator, her teacher Ilse who left East Germany as a child, and Ilse's mother Gerda, who lives with her daughter now in Alexandra.Paddy Richardson's writing is deceptively simple, but the story is well-crafted, well plotted, has authentic dialogue, believable motivations, good pace and suspense, and some surpr [...]

this was a good, fast read with a plot that moved along fairly quickly with some interesting twists, and generally believeable characters (although there were some things that just didn't gel - such as ilse feeling too old to wear a bikini because she is over 30). unfortunately the plot kept making me think of the tv series "top of the lake", which i found very problematic; predatory policeman and pregnant teen was just a bit too similar to that. but otherwise it was good. the contrast of small [...]

This book moved fast and maintained my interest enough for me to finish in three days (work days that is). A brilliant psychological thriller about control and power that draws in many themes from the last days of East Germany through to modern day New Zealand. A brilliant tale of women of different generations caught up in a difficult and frightening situation of authoritarian powerlessness and control who eventually draw on their profound lives experiences to fight back. It's the first time I' [...]

Every now and again you come across an author who writes fabulous books, and yet, sadly seems to stay too far below the radar. New Zealander Paddy Richardson is one of the best thriller writers around these days, one who undoubtedly deserves a much bigger readership than she seems to have garnered. Full Review at Reviewing the Evidence: reviewingtheevidence/r

Beautiful writing, gripping and horrifying, heart-breaking and heart-warming! As I read I kept thinking about the surveillance net slowing being lowered over us here - very bloody scary. I'm utterly impressed with how she married the research and made it feel totally organic to the story - in fact, deeply jealous!

Overall concept of three very different women, and how they come together, was the one redeeming feature of this book. Otherwise I found it tedious and ingenuous apparently throwing in what the author may have considered obligatory concepts for contemporary reading.

Loved this book. A fast, pacy read from the start. It had me hooked on a lot of levels. The characters were great, their stories fascinating - if harrowing - and the psychological thriller side of it did not descend into farce. Believable and emotional, a must read.

Wonderful way the author wrought the lives of two families of different cultures, and times, into one story of fears and problems. In the resolution, the characters find new strengths. I will be reviewing it at ad-it-reviewed-it.c

A dark, gritty story of the kindness of strangers in an unforgiving world. Richardson takes us through the darkness of these character's lives to show hope and belief in the future. A story of four women linked by adversity but who triumph in the end.

A beautiful story of overcoming oppression with love from the most unexpected people. Loved it.

Will be looking for more of this authors books

Set in New Zealand