From the bestselling author of The Party comes a "dark and wild ride of redemption, betrayal, and friendship" (Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push) following a homeless woman fleeing a dangerous past—and the wealthy society wife she saves from drowning.

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 Toyota Corolla. In Seattle, she parks in a secluded spot by the beach to lay low and plan her next move—until early one morning, 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, that she’s trapped in a toxic, abusive marriage, that she’s a prisoner in her own home. Lee has thwarted her one chance to escape her life.

Out of options, Hazel retreats to her gilded cage, and Lee thinks she’s seen the last of her, until her unexpected return the next morning. Bonded by disparate but difficult circumstances, the women soon strike up a close and 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.

"As twisty and pacey as it gets" (Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push).

Most anticipated by Goodreads · Indigo​ · SheReads

"

Robyn Harding is the author of four successful novels including The Secret Desires of a Soccer Mom and Unravelled. Her first teen novel, My Parents are Sex Maniacs, will be published in 2009. She is a contributing editor at Granville Magazine, a lifestyle publication with a focus on sustainability. This is her first nonfiction book. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

"

Robyn Harding's profile page

"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

"A gripping, riveting, and surprising read . . . filled with twists and jaw-dropping moments that will make you scream!"—Medium

“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 a 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

"Robyn Harding is an expert at slowly building creeping dread."—Kate Moretti, New York Times bestselling author of The Spires, Praise for Robyn Harding

"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, #1 bestselling author of Woman on the Edge and Watch Out for Her

“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

"Harding creates powerful character studies, reflects on societal expectations from a variety of viewpoints, and ramps up unmanageable chaos . . . A great choice for fans of Celeste Ng, Gillian Flynn, and Liane Moriarty.”—Booklist, Starred Review, Praise for The Perfect Family

"Robyn Harding has long been one of my favorite, must-read authors."—Hannah Mary McKinnon, Bestselling author of You Will Remember Me, Praise for Robyn Harding

"Quick moving with a plot intricate enough to keep the reader hooked."—Kirkus

"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

"A master of domestic suspense."—Kathleen Barber, Author of Follow Me, Praise for Robyn Harding

"Harding is an adept and skillful writer who writes suspense remarkably well, with seemingly little effort."—BookReporter, Praise for Robyn Harding

“Robyn Harding is one of the most daring thriller writers out there, and The Drowning Woman is no exception. This is a wild ride with twists I never saw coming. A perfect summer read!”—Samantha Downing, international bestselling author of My Lovely Wife

"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, international bestselling author of Lying in Wait

"Harding’s strength is her interesting and complex female characters."—CrimeReads, Praise for Robyn Harding

“No list of thrillers is complete without Robyn Harding."—Real Simple, Praise for Robyn Harding

“A fast-paced, thrilling, gut-wrenching novel with sharp teeth and daring observations about the inner lives of women. I flew through the pages, desperate to get hold of what was going on beneath the surface but Robyn Harding was always one step ahead. Positively exhilarating.”—Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Malibu Rising, Praise for Her Pretty Face

"Robyn Harding weaves a riveting tale that is impossible to put down.”—Bill Clegg, New York Times bestselling author of The End of the Day, Praise for The Party

"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, USA Today Bestselling Author of Do No Harm

"I was hooked from the opening scene and could not look away until I reached the very last page."—Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of The Last to Vanish, Praise for The Party

"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