The Swimming Pool

By: Mary Roberts Rinehart

Narrated by: Laurel Lefkow

Two reclusive sisters. A crumbling mansion. A dead doppelgänger. The New York Times best seller from the author known as the American Agatha Christie.

The Birches was one of the grand mansions of the 1920s, with a ballroom, tennis courts, and, of course, a swimming pool. But after the crash of '29, when Lois and Judith's father killed himself to escape his debts, the family turned the summer home into a fulltime retreat from the world. Decades later, Judith is the queen of New York society, a fast-living beauty whose nerves are beginning to fray, while Lois still lives in the dilapidated old mansion, writing mystery novels to pay the bills. She is about to encounter a mystery of her own.

To stave off a nervous breakdown, Judith moves in with her kid sister. Terrified of an unnamed threat, she nails her windows shut and locks the door. Soon, a woman is found dead in the pool - a stranger who bears a shocking resemblance to Judith. In a family with a history of tragedy, a chilling new chapter is about to be written.

©1952 Mary Roberts Rinehart; copyright 1980 by Frederick R. Rinehart and Alan G. Rinehart (P)2021 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Fantastic Vintage Mystery!

This is one of my very favorite Mary Roberts Rhinehart mysteries. I love the vintage feel of these stories and the many twists and turns. This one is exceptionally good, and puzzling.

"...at least the man was mine."

Lois could see much, and all but the last detail her man had told her. Judith's man was never hers, he owned her, and she saw only what she wanted to.

Good enough

I enjoyed this enough that I may read more of these in the future. It was strange to read a book with that much 🚬.

Well written and well read

Loved this book ... I did not previously know of the author but this was a really interesting mystery

Some racism

Some racism but often the people of color will play a significant part in the plot that makes them important characters. Rinehart was somewhat progressive for the time. Esp in her turn of the century novels. (1900s). It's a shame we're still battling racism in 2021 as well as voting rights 2 decades into the 21st century. What's wrong with this picture?