Swiped by L.M. Chilton -- Starting June 3rd 2025

[Jenn]

The mystifying world of online dating gets a terrifying, clever, and darkly hilarious twist in this unputdownable thriller.

Gwen Turner has made a bloody mess of her life. She recently broke up with the best man she’s ever known for reasons even she can’t admit to herself and quit a lucrative job to open her own coffee shop. To top it all off, her best friend is getting married and leaving her behind in singlehood.

Along with too much cheap wine and bad reality TV, Gwen turns to a dating app to help fill the void in her life. Swiping through the few eligible bachelors left in town, she spends her evenings out on one disastrous date after another. But when a string of murders suddenly occurs in her small coastal English city, she’s shocked by the connection between each of the victims—they’ve all been on a date with her.

Before she knows what’s happening, Gwen finds herself the main suspect in a serial killer’s murderous spree, and the only way she can clear her name is to track down her former dates (even those that have ghosted her) and unmask a killer before it’s too late.

[Sibil]

chapters 1-9
(view spoiler)[I wasn't so invested in the beginning, the parts at the hen-do were not so great, but once the cops knocked on Gwen's door, I was way more interested!
But the guy with whom Gwen matched on the app was strange. I mean, who acts like that for a single murder? (Okay, it's not just one, but people shouldn't already know. And sure, it's sensible but it's not realistic at all) And why on earth does he send the article to her? Come on! But maybe he is the murderer?

And to be honest, I think Noah is dead too.

Also... Why is Gwen telling the cops that the dates went well when they were disasters?? I mean, if she said that they went well and let it at that, okay, but if she says that wasn't bad and then proceeded to tell a horror story about a date... Why?? (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

chapters 10-18
(view spoiler)[Parker messages are creepy.
And I am not so happy with Gwen starting her own investigation right away. She just gave the names of her dates to the police, she should at least wait a couple of days to see if they did something or not.
And the scene at the golf course when she tries to get Josh's (I think it was Josh) contact from the guy who worked there was cringeworthy.

And I am now strongly convinced that Gwen is stupid. She knows that the police will read the messages she exchanged with the murdered guys. She knows there were people around when she had all these disastrous dates from hell (so people can testify about them), and she is always going to tell the police what happened on the dates, so... Why is she lying to them?? And I get that she is shocked, but she is behaving like a teen throwing a tantrum.

And there is more. Is it possible that every single date was with someone who was not decent in the least? I mean, it's highly improbable to find your prince charming in the first match on the app (or even on the second, or third) but the dates can go wrong without being disasters like hers!! And all the guys said strange things about the app, she wants so badly to play the sleuth, and the only good clue that is around, she just ignores. It's soooooo annoying! (hide spoiler)]

[ellen]

Sibil wrote: "chapters 1-9
I wasn't so invested in the beginning, the parts at the hen-do were not so great, but once the cops knocked on Gwen's door, I was way more interested!
But the guy with whom Gwen match..."

(view spoiler)[ Interesting take you have that Noah is dead. I can see that, or the possibility that he is being held hostage somewhere. Her BFF's, soon-to-be husband, Richard is giving major red herring vibes. I'm not faulting Gwen for not going into full detail with the police at first. Online dating is the pits, but trying to explain it to police when it shows a pattern and her at the center, is very incriminating. It might not be the best plot-moving device, but if Gwen was forthright with the police in the beginning we wouldn't get her to start investigating. Again, not the strongest reasoning, but it does add some tension. (hide spoiler)]

[ellen]

Sibil wrote: "chapters 10-18
Parker messages are creepy.
And I am not so happy with Gwen starting her own investigation right away. She just gave the names of her dates to the police, she should at least wait a ..."

(view spoiler)[ But the comments from the mini-golf clerk and even the few comments from Det. Forrester was judgemental and sexist regarding her interaction with Josh. Det. Forrester was judgemental to Gwen about her first date with Rob and how she supposedly left him in the standing rain (even his friends said that), even though she told them about his abhorrent behavior of inappropriate touch and how he publicly humiliated her and demeaned her to strangers because he thought she owned him even though she told him no, and that he should get over his ex first. Det. Forrester doesn't view the behavior of these men as problematic or even concerning and that Gwen is overreacting. The teenager commented on how she was that woman from that date and nothing about the guy who grabbed her. I think her behavior is justifiable especially now that she is a person of interest.

I would like to know who the 6th name was and why that one is hidden.

Of course, the hints that the men have to pay money to match is bringing back memories of the scandals of OkCupid and Tinder when they first started in the 2010s. I remember using those services and feel like I am reading my diaries of the streams of bad and horrific dates I went on. (hide spoiler)]

[ellen]

Chp. 26: (view spoiler)[ This chapter I am now at a 2 star rating. Still enjoyable, but yes, I concede, Gwen is an idiot. The first time investigating I could get with due to the hostility and violence that occurred with Josh on their date and how the police were treating her. But now, just blindly running around and actually encountering the murderer and running after them with no plan or weapon. Dumb. (hide spoiler)]

[ellen]

Chp. 31: (view spoiler)[ Oh jeez. The Seb date sounds like every “nice guy” I’ve encountered. Yes, man, please tell me the supposed inner workings and thoughts of the modern woman. The self-righteous, philosophical mansplaining was nauseating. But, also, he’s the killer?! Interesting developments about Charlie though. Maybe they are a team of killers. (hide spoiler)]