Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea posts the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book she decided to read based on the opening. Feel free to grab the banner and play along.
My chosen book for this week is The Swimming Pool by Louise Candlish which will be published on 5 May 2016.
Blurb
It’s summer, and for teachers Ed and Natalie Steele this means six weeks off work with their young daughter Molly. Their lives are predictable and uncomplicated — or at least they were until they meet the Faulkners.
Suddenly, glamorous Lara Faulkner, a former actress leading an eccentrically lavish lifestyle, is taking Natalie under her wing and the stability of summer takes an exciting turn.
But are there hidden motives behind this new friendship? And when the end-of-summer party at the lido is cut short by a blackout, Natalie realizes that she’s been kept in the dark all along. Goodreads
~ ~ ~
First Chapter ~ First Paragraph ~ Intro
Prologue
I am running through the streets of Elm Hill.
It is late evening, summer’s end, and the streetlamps burn synthetic holes in the darkening sky. Deep in the rack of streets on the east side of the park, the mild air feels hostile, the near-silence thunderous.
Chapter 1
31 August 2015, 12.15am
She coughs in her sleep.
I spring to her bedside to check that her chest is rising and falling as it should, that her pulse is steady and skin warmed. In the dimmed light, I can see the vestiges of stickers glued on the headboard in younger years, pictures of kittens and ponies and love hearts; all things nice.
Children grow and it strikes the parents at both miracle and loss.
Please note that these excerpts comes from a proof copy
I’m intrigued but then I’m a fan of this author after loving The Sudden Departure of the Frasers last year…
Would you read on? Please leave your comments and links in the comments box below
Cleopatra Loves Books 
Hmmm, prologue again, and a descriptive one at that. I don’t mind slow starts, but this one doesn’t really intrigue me.
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I haven’t started this one yet but based upon the previous two books I’ve read by this author things should soon pick up (I hope!)
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not really sure based on that opening. The prologue didn’t strike me as particularly menacing or foreboding and then chapter one seemed rather bland.
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Yes it isn’t the best of openings but hopefully something will happen quite soon!
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It sounds like an interesting premise, Cleo. I wonder if it’s one of those ‘slow-burn’ kinds of stories, where the pace picks up as you go along?
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I’m hoping so Margot – I haven’t started this one yet but the other two books I read by this author were very good so I’m hoping they will.
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Oh wow, I’m curious and from the blurb it reminds my of the hook in Under the Influence by Maynard –
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Oh yes now you mention it there are similarities…
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I would read on. Something’s going to happen… This author is new to me so I’ll have to check her out since you are a fan!
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The Sudden Departure of the Frasers was a great read, and she’s written lots of books, perfect for holiday reading I’d say.
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Is it bad to say I already knew the answer before I even read your post. I have only read The Sudden Departure of the Frasers but loved it – felt like I had found a new author – and this sounds as good. (the answer is yes by the way!)
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Haha not bad at all! I ‘found’ Louise Candlish through the same book, I also read The Disappearance of Emily Marr and have another in the TBR cupboard – looking forward to reading this one now!
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I’m in – want to know what is going on and what will happen next. Cleo, you are bad for my budget. LOL
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Haha I’d like to say I’m sorry but a comment like that makes me feel so much better for doing the same with your recommendations.
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This is a new-to-me author. I’m going to check out her previous novel.
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I loved The Sudden Disappearance of the Frasers which I’ve recommended far and wide 😉
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I’m really curious about the book, but admit the prologue didn’t immediately grab me. I like the opening of the first paragraph though–the scene described is one I can relate to.
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It is easier when you can relate to the opening – I think I’m going to like this book although I haven’t started it yet!
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Oh, yes, more, please! I get such a sense of foreboding with those opening lines, and I always worry about strangers who take people under their wings. Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog.
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Yes those people are definitely the ones to watch – thanks for the return call!
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Oh, yes, I would definitely keep reading! I’ll be on the lookout for this book. It looks really good and great for a summer read!
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Yes – I just need some warm weather and a swimming pool!
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What is she kept in the dark about? Hmmm.
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I would read on because I really like the line ‘streetlamps burn synthetic holes in the darkening sky.’
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