This was a great read. It was hard to put down. The twist was crazy! I will be thinking of this story for a long time!

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC read of #theswingingbridge to read and review. I am giving this 4 stars. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and storyline of this book. I was intrigued and excited throughout to see how it concluded. Definitely recommend!

I love a psychological thriller. This story had me swirling in twists and turns. I like when the author pulls me into the story as if I was one of the characters. This story did not disappoint me. You'll love it!

Thank you NetGalley and the author, Nathaniel Turner, for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This novella was written really well, providing a greatly detailed, atmospheric and fast paced storyline. I really enjoyed the overall setting, the fictional town of Forrester, set across a moody winter derelict town. The flip between past and present was really clever to leave you turning the pages, and the overall ending, whilst I predicted it, still didn’t disappoint! A thoroughly enjoyed read - and absolutely recommended for those wanting a short, sharp, atmospheric thriller style read

💥 The Swinging Bridge by @nathanielturnerauthor

Pubdate: Oct 6, 2026
Publisher: Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op

Genre: Psychological Mystery Thriller • Novella
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description:
A chilling novella with a shocking twist.

December 21, 1933. America is unraveling. Unemployment grips the nation, and hunger spreads like wildfire.

Eighteen-year-old Sophie, cast out from the orphanage that once sheltered her, turns to the only lifeline left in Forrester County: the textile factory. She expects to find work and her friend, Theodora.

But Theodora is gone. No explanation. No trace. No one will say why. And there’s no job waiting for Sophie.

As Sophie searches for answers, long-buried memories begin to surface, drawing her back to the decaying swinging bridge. There, she begins to suspect Theodora didn’t simply disappear. Someone silenced her.

And whatever happened all those years ago isn’t finished yet.

Thank you to Nathaniel Turner, @victoryeditingngc and @netgalley for the ARC.

My Thoughts:
I couldn’t put this down until I found out what really happened. This was chilling, spooky, atmospheric, and seriously tense.

What got me the most was the helplessness. I desperately wanted to help these characters, but I couldn’t. I was literally gritting my teeth, frustrated and tense, wishing I could step into the story and fight those elders myself. 😭 I felt sad, angry, and anxious throughout the story.

And that atmosphere? Spooky as f*.** 👀 The twists got me GOOD. You know I love a twist I genuinely can’t see coming, and this one delivered.

It’s a short novella, and I finished it in about four hours, but it packed so much suspense, emotion, and mystery into those pages.

A gripping mystery thriller with an eerie atmosphere, buried secrets, and twists that kept me guessing. Definitely one for readers who love dark, fast-paced mysteries with a psychological edge.



#TheSwingingBridge #NetGalley #PsychologicalThriller #MysteryThriller #BookReview

The Swinging Bridge is one of those books that leave you with a serious feeling of dread while reading. I knew there was something else really going on, but I didn’t know what. And when all the pieces fall together? I was on the edge of my seat in disbelief.

Even though this is a short book, the author was able to set the scene clearly and pack quite the punch! It was a much more emotional read than expected. I was genuinely impressed and will look for his future books.

Thanks for the opportunity to read!

ARC Review ❣️

4 Hearts for me! ❤💞

This was one of those short reads that managed to make me deeply uncomfortable in the best possible way. From the beginning, there was this constant feeling that something was terribly wrong, and I found myself needing to keep reading until I understood what was actually happening.

What affected me most was how helpless I felt while reading it. I became so emotionally invested in the characters that there were moments when I genuinely wanted to reach into the story and do something myself. The frustration, anger and anxiety felt surprisingly intense for such a short novella. The eerie setting added another layer of tension, making the whole reading experience feel unsettling and claustrophobic.

And then came the twists 👀 I love it when a story manages to take me in a direction I genuinely wasn't expecting, and this one caught me off guard more than once. I finished the novella in around four hours, but it never felt like the story was lacking because of its length. There was plenty of suspense, mystery and emotional tension packed into those pages.

A gripping and atmospheric psychological mystery with secrets, unsettling moments and twists that kept me questioning what I thought I knew.