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About The Book

The bestselling author of The Party returns with a deliciously twisted story of friendship, retribution and betrayal about a homeless woman fleeing a dangerous past – and the wealthy society wife she saves from drowning, who pulls her into a dark web of secrets and lies.

Lee Gulliver never thought she’d find herself living on the streets – no one ever does – 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.

Parked in a secluded spot by the beach, 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. She’s trapped in a toxic, abusive marriage, and is a prisoner in her own home. Lee has now thwarted her one chance to escape her life.

Out of options, Hazel retreats to her gilded cage. Lee thinks she’s seen the last of her, until Hazel unexpectedly returns the next morning. The women strike up an unlikely friendship and then, one day, Hazel makes a shocking request: she wants Lee to help her disappear. It’ll be easy, Hazel assures her. But Lee soon learns that nothing is as it seems – and that Hazel may not be the friend Lee thought she was …

Praise for The Drowning Woman

‘Pulse-pounding and deliciously unpredictable … Robyn Harding can twist a plot like a corkscrew’ Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of The Girls Are All So Nice Here

‘I’m in absolute awe of Robyn Harding's talent and skill. The Drowning Woman is an astonishing, expertly crafted story … With one killer twist after another and a masterful plot’ Samantha M. Bailey, author of Woman on the Edge

About The Author

Photograph by Tallulah

Robyn Harding is the author of numerous international bestsellers, including The Party, The Arrangement and The Drowning Woman. She has also written and executive produced an independent film. She lives in Vancouver, BC, with her family and two cute but deadly rescue chihuahuas. Visit her at RobynHarding.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @RHardingWriter or Facebook @AuthorRobynHarding.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia (June 7, 2023)
  • Length: 336 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781761422249

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Raves and Reviews

‘Pulse-pounding and deliciously unpredictable, The Drowning Woman is destined to be every thriller lover’s summer obsession. Ratcheting tension and jaw-dropping reveals will leave readers questioning who they can trust – and relishing every moment of the guessing game. Robyn Harding can twist a plot like a corkscrew.’

Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, bestselling author of The Girls Are All So Nice Here

‘I'm in absolute awe of Robyn Harding's talent and skill. The Drowning Woman is an astonishing, expertly crafted story of two damaged women desperate for love and a fresh start whose paths collide then epically crash and burn. With one killer twist after another and a masterful plot, I gasped out loud and flipped through the brilliant pages so quickly that my fingers caught fire. It's one of the most gripping books I've read this year.’

Samantha M. Bailey, author of Woman on the Edge

The Drowning Woman is brilliant. Propelled by two richly drawn women, both victims and perpetrators, who hold the possibility of saving or damning each other, its world is messy and violent in a way that feels frighteningly real and impossible to look away from. The magnetism of Harding’s writing and her jaw-dropping twists make The Drowning Woman one of those rare stories that’s both compulsively readable and full of gravitas. Harding's power as a storyteller is enormous; this book will stick with you long after reading.’

Ashley Winstead, author of The Last Housewife

‘A compelling, intriguing, masterfully crafted thriller that will sweep you up like a runaway train, I absolutely devoured The Drowning Woman. With twist after ingenious twist, this one is stylish and utterly riveting.’

Christina McDonald, author of Do No Harm

‘With deceitful characters who are not what they seem, a myriad of unexpected twists and turns, and a story that moves along at high speed, The Drowning Woman is everything I love in a thriller. Robyn Harding keeps readers hooked until the end.’

Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of Local Woman Missing

‘This edge-of-your-seat thriller combines wildly intricate plot twists and turns with complex, carefully developed characters – and reading it made me wonder if there’s anything Robyn Harding can’t pull off! I had no idea where I was headed, but knew I definitely wanted to be on this propulsive, suspenseful, often shocking ride that explores the ways in which we betray ourselves and others – and just how far we’ll go for redemption.’

Marissa Stapley, New York Times bestselling author of Lucky

‘As twisty and pacey as it gets, The Drowning Woman is a dark and wild ride of redemption, betrayal and friendship between two complex women caught in a tangle of secrets – a total page-turner.’

Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push

‘Every time I thought I knew where this story was going, it swerved in a wholly unexpected direction. A thought-provoking depiction of two seemingly opposite women who learn, in the face of danger, that they are more alike than they could have ever imagined, The Drowning Woman is masterpiece of misdirection, double meaning, and carefully placed clues. Robyn Harding made me believe that I had found my footing multiple times before pulling the rug straight out from beneath me. Brava.’

Stacy Willingham, New York Times bestselling author of A Flicker in the Dark

‘A story of an unlikely friendship takes the darkest of turns in Robyn Harding’s latest excellent thriller. She is one of the very best storytellers and with each book, she exceeds my expectations. The Drowning Woman is no exception.’

Liz Nugent, author of Lying in Wait

‘flawless in its execution’

Toronto Star

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