Knowledge has a price…

Set in 1979 and 2004, Anyone But Her tells the story of Suzanne—named for the Leonard Cohen song and adored by her mother, Alex, who is killed during a robbery at Alex’s record store when Suzanne is 14. Both as a teen and later in adulthood, Suzanne searches for clues about unresolved circumstances around Alex’s death. But what happens when she discovers what she thought she wanted to know?

• Winner, 2025 Colorado Book Award (Thriller)

• Winner, 2024 Indie Author Project Contest (Mystery/Thriller)

• Finalist, 2025 WILLA Literary Award (Mystery/Thriller)

• Westword Best of Denver 2025, “Best Nationally Published Novel”

• Colorado Public Radio 2024 Books We Love

To read the story behind the Zoe’s Records keyring (and an Anyone But Her excerpt), click here.

A reading group guide is here.

Available in print, ebook, and audio. For a limited time, the ebook is only $0.99! Grab your copy from any of these retailers:

• Bookshop

• Your favorite independent bookseller (find one via Indie Bound)

• These local/regional favorites of mine:

  • The Bookies

  • West Side Books

  • Mountain Shire Books & Gifts (Winter Park, CO)

• Amazon

• Barnes & Noble

• Books a Million

• Apple Books

• Kobo

• Additional ebook retailers

• Audiobooks dot com

• Libro (audiobook)

READER REVIEWS are greatly appreciated! If you’ve read Anyone But Her, please post a review. Click here for links to major reader review sites.

National and Local Reviews

• “Suzanne’s story, both past and present, is an unflinching portrayal of a family gone haywire, when, in the face of tragedy, communication lacks and secrecy builds.” — BookLife

• “Cynthia Swanson excels in creating evocative, compelling scenarios…highly recommended for novel readers seeking disparate characters and twists and turns that are not easily predictable.” — Midwest Book Review

• “This page-turning novel doles out just enough clues and red herrings to keep you guessing...As a bonus for Denverites, the city’s past and present landmarks pepper the novel.” — Bess Maher, The Bookies bookstore, for The Colorado Sun

• “This psychological suspense novel is masterfully crafted, distinctly Denver, and a must-read for anyone who loves a gripping, edge-of-your-seat mystery.” — Denver Life magazine

• “…a frightening and gripping path to the truth…a tale that is enriched with details on the music of the time and the feeling of enduring love. For all who love a solid mystery.” — firstClue Reviews

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