Death of a Wild Swimmer
written by Peter Boland
published by Joffe Books
on 2 April 2025
A Charity Shop Detective Mystery (Book 5)
Zooloo’s Book Tours – Schedule
Peter Boland
After studying to be an architect, Pete realised he wasn’t very good at it. He liked designing buildings he just couldn’t make them stand up, which is a bit of a handicap in an industry that likes to keep things upright. So he switched to advertising, writing ads for everything from cruise lines to zombie video games.
After becoming disillusioned with working in ad agencies, he switched to writing thriller novels (or was it because he just wanted to work at home in his pyjamas?). He soon realised there’s no magic formula. You just have to put one word in front of the other (and keep doing that for about a year). It also helps if you can resist the lure of surfing, playing Nintendo Switch with his son, watching America’s Next Top Model with his daughter and drinking beer in a garden chair.
My review
My first read of Peter Boland’s work, Death of a Wild Swimmer, proves to be an engaging and clever cosy mystery. While it is the fifth book in The Charity Shop Detective Agency series, it stands perfectly well on its own, making it accessible for both long-time fans and newcomers alike.
When Colin Barclay, a retired PE teacher and wild-swimming enthusiast, is found dead in a secluded cove, Fiona, Daisy, and Partial Sue—the formidable trio behind the counter at Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop—find themselves entangled in another puzzling case. They are approached by Beth, a mysterious customer convinced that Colin’s death wasn’t just a tragic accident but murder. Their investigation leads one of them to join the local wild swimming club, diving deep into a world filled with secrets, suspicions, and unexpected dangers.
Boland delivers a fun and well-paced mystery filled with clever misdirections and red herrings. The balance between light-hearted charm and more serious moments is handled expertly, ensuring the novel never loses its cosy appeal while still providing depth to the mystery. His engaging storytelling and witty characterisation make this an enjoyable read from start to finish.
As someone who has friends who enjoy wild swimming but personally prefers to avoid even warm water, the idea of plunging into the freezing sea sends shivers down my spine! Yet, the atmospheric setting and vivid descriptions made it easy to immerse myself in the story, even if I’d never dream of taking the plunge myself.
With its well-crafted plot, entertaining sleuths, and satisfying twists, Death of a Wild Swimmer is a delightful addition to the cosy mystery genre. If you love a good amateur detective story with a touch of humour and heart, this is definitely one to add to your reading list.
Thank you to Peter Boland, Joffe Books, NetGalley and Zooloo’s Book Tours for including me on this book tour and introducing me to another great author – and book series. The tour, hosted by Zooloo’s Book Tours, runs from 2 to 8 April – follow along with the Book Tour Schedule
#PeterBoland #DeathOfAWildSwimmer #JoffeBooks #ZooloosBookTours #VirtualBookTour #ACharityShopDetectiveAgencyMystery #BookReview
All views expressed are my own. This review, or parts of it, may also be shared on my social media channels and various book platforms. Links are accurate at the time of publication.
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