Rather it was implied that should such and such arise, then such and such would happen. The lose threads were tied up and we find out who the killer is but it was not closed in that the murderer was caught and sent to jail. I did not like that it was an open ending. However, as his truths came out and as the book progressed, I liked him less. Mal was a likable character at the beginning.

Mal the protagonist was a complex a character, and I did feel that his character was developed enough to make the story believable. I did feel that Swanson crafted some interesting characters. There are clues right at the beginning and if you pay attention, you’ll probably guess the killer sooner than later. There were plenty of twists and turns, which kept me guessing, and it wasn’t until about three quarters of the book that it was obvious who the killer was. I also enjoyed the way Mal’s story and his past is slowly revealed.

“ I suppose I could be honest, tell people that I’ve lost interest in mystery novels, that I primarily read history these days, poetry before I go to bed, but I prefer to lie.” A bookseller that lies about books he has read is a big red flag… From the beginning of the book we know he lies. I liked that it was a one person viewpoint even though I know that Mal is an unreliable narrator. The pace did build up toward the end when the twists and turns ramped up and the tone of the book became urgent as we close in on the killer. The pace of the book was steady and I didn’t find it slow. The narrative flowed and I was pulled in right from the beginning. Eight Perfect Murders was a compelling read. The inclusion of these books made the story line interesting but there were many spoilers which will put you off if you haven’t read them.įind Peter Swanson: Website| Facebook | Author’s Style I have not read any of them, but it was nice to see classic mysteries included. Murders by Agatha Christie, Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith, and The Secret History by Donna Tartt, to name a few. Milne, Malice of Forethought by Anthony Burkley Cox, The A. These included The Red House Mystery by A.A. I enjoyed this story line that pays homage to classic mysteries. Now, FBI agent Gwen Mulvey is questioning him about his blog-post and the link between his list and some unsolved murders. Malcolm Kershaw, a mystery aficionado and owner to the Old Devils Bookstore in Boston, published a list of Eight Perfect Murders on his website years before. I really enjoyed this cleverly crafted murder mystery. Swanson’s is known for The Kind Worth Killing and Her Every Fear so I will add those to my to read list!

I love to discover new authors to love and having read Eight Perfect Murders I can honestly say I will be checking out more of Swanson’s work. I feel very late to the Peter Swanson fan party. This is my first book by author Peter Swanson.

Eight perfect murders a novel