The Swap: A Mystery

I’m surprised that this is Boyarsky’s first novel, it reads as though it were written by a more experienced author.

It’s exciting, with plenty of mystery and twists. You never know who to trust! You really feel for the main character and what she’s going through, although you can see that she brings plenty of it on herself. She doesn’t help her own predicament much! Still, internally shouting at characters for being so stupid is all part of the fun. It’s very much like watching a horror movie and shouting ‘don’t go upstairs!’

Obviously, there are aspects of the book that strain credulity, but I was able to overlook those parts and enjoy the story.

The Swap: A Mystery by Nancy Boyarsky is a fun mystery book. It is not quite a cozy mystery but it is also not a suspense or mystery thriller (just a very good mystery). Nicole and Brad Lewis are flying to London for the summer. Brad’s office has sent him across the pond to handle an acquisition. Nicole insisted on going with Brad because she felt that they need the time together, not apart, to work on their marriage. They arranged to swap houses with a couple named Lowry. The Lowry’s would live in the Lewis’ condo in LA while the Lewis lived in the Lowry’s home in Cheswick. Nicole starts having trouble from the moment they land at Heathrow. First she is missing a suitcase, then someone breaks into the house and locks Nicole in the bathroom, and then she is attacked at the museum. This is just the beginning of Nicole’s adventure in the United Kingdom. Nicole is determined to find out what happened to the Lowry’s (who never showed up in LA) and why someone keeps trying to kidnap her. Read The Swap: A Mystery to find out what happens to Nicole and the solution to the mystery! Happy Reading!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book was actually a quite enjoyable yarn, with a few implausible bits that did not really harm the overall effect. If it had been written with a few more punchy paragraphs (like Reacher), then I believe I might have given it 5 stars. I always usually tell a good book by the number of times I put it down, but for some reason this book kept me really interested. Good descriptions of the characters, and the London underground. Hope the new author has another one ready soon?

In this story, The Swap. Nicole Lewis arranges a swap of her and her husband Brad house in California for a place in London, where Brad will be working for the summer. Brad’s sectary comes also and that was not what she wanted, she wanted time at least a little time with her husband. After settling in the next day she finds out the Lowry’s did not make it to their home in California and also there was a problem with the car she left at the home. After speaking with the police from California she is contacted by Scotland Yard. She begins to take in her surroundings and starts to notice not only things in the home but also when she is out. She also surprises someone when she comes home early one day. This goes on for a while but she cannot get anyone to believe her so she starts her own investigation since her husband is not around. This takes her to the underground and into situations that she surprises herself in overcoming. A very good story with some twist and turns to keep you going as to what is happening. A good book.

I really enjoyed this book; I found the protagonist's story to be interesting, but the uber villain plot was a tad overreaching. Overall, though, a satisfying read.

All the reviews I found on this book were super positive, but I was less charmed.

Mostly because I couldn't see how this book was any different from at least a dozen or more books I read before. Nicole swaps her house in California for one in London for the summer to be able to see the real London and accompany her husband, who's working in London. Almost as soon as she arrives, weird things start happening, and why are the Lowrys, whom they switched homes with, not answering their phones...

While it started out quite interesting, near the end it was filled with every cliché ever. The villain really was one dimensional (if he even had a single dimension), and the other bad guys were caricatures. The ending was too dramatic all together (and something I'd seen before already).

Because the start actually wasn't that bad and I could see some real potential (this could have been a really good book but for the turn it took), still 2.5 stars, but I wouldn't really recommend it.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!