Book Review - The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding

Title: The Drowning Woman
Author: Robyn Harding
Genre: Thriller
Published: 2023
 
Description: Lee Gulliver never thought she’d find herself living on the streets, but when her restaurant fails and she falls deeper into debt, she leaves her old life behind with nothing but her clothes and her car. In Seattle, she parks in a secluded spot by the beach to lay low and plan her next move – until early in the morning, she sees a sobbing woman throw herself into the ocean. Lee hauls the woman back to the surface, but instead of appreciation, she is met with fury. The drowning woman, Hazel, tells her that she wanted to die, that’s she’s trapped in a toxic, abusive marriage, that she’s a prisoner in her own home. Lee has thwarted her one change to escape her life.
 
Out of options, Hazel retreats to her gilded cage, and Lee thinks she’s seen the last of her, until her unexpected return the next morning. Bonded by disparate but difficult circumstances, the woman soon strike up a close and unlikely friendship. And then one day, Hazel makes a shocking request: she want Lee to help her disappear. It’ll be easy, Hazel assures her, but Lee soon learns that nothing is as it seems, and Hazel may not be the friend Lee thought she was.
 
Review: When Lee, a woman who has lost everything and lives on the streets, sees a woman walking into the sea one morning, she rescues her without hesitation. But the woman, Hazel, was there for a reason. She wanted to get away from her violent, dominant husband. They become friends, but Lee also becomes entangled in a web of secrets and lies.
 
The strength of this thriller lies in the layered plot and clever use of perspective shifts. Lee is an interesting and compelling character. She has been through a lot and finds herself in hopeless situations. Hazel remains a mysterious character for longer. She raises a lot of questions. Can she be trusted? What is her real motive? The interaction between Hazel and Lee are the backbone of the story.
 
I did not particularly like either of the characters though, but I could empathize with both. I just couldn't understand how both women let themselves be so easily charmed by a man who, in my eyes, wasn't that special. And I'm not talking about Hazel’s abusive husband in this case, because that is a more difficult situation. I can’t relate to that either, but I can understand Hazel’s behavior and actions.  
 
I always enjoy thrillers about trust, lies and hidden motives. “The Drowning Woman” had a lot of that. Author Robyn Harding did a good job writing a page turner. Her writing style is accessible and fluent and there is a good balance between suspense and character development. The tension does lack in the second half and I just didn’t like the ending. It had too many loose ends. It felt rushed and a bit abrupt. But I still think it’s a good read I would recommend. Perfect thriller to read on your Summer vacation.
 
Rating: 3/ 5