About the Book

The Kind Worth Killing

The Kind Worth Killing

Author: Peter Swanson
Pages: 311
ISBN: 0062267523
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
Publisher: William Morrow
Released: February 3, 2015

Rating:

Goodreads

Synopsis

A devious tale of psychological suspense involving sex, deception, and an accidental encounter that leads to murder. Fans of Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train will love this modern reimagining of Patricia Highsmith’s classic Strangers on a Train from the author of the acclaimed The Girl with a Clock for a Heart—which the Washington Post said “should be a contender for crime fiction’s best first novel of 2014.”

On a night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the stunning and mysterious Lily Kintner. Sharing one too many martinis, the strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing very intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage that’s going stale and his wife Miranda, who he’s sure is cheating on him. Ted and his wife were a mismatch from the start—he the rich businessman, she the artistic free spirit—a contrast that once inflamed their passion, but has now become a cliché.
But their game turns a little darker when Ted jokes that he could kill Miranda for what she’s done. Lily, without missing a beat, says calmly, “I’d like to help.” After all, some people are the kind worth killing, like a lying, stinking, cheating spouse. . . .

Back in Boston, Ted and Lily’s twisted bond grows stronger as they begin to plot Miranda's demise. But there are a few things about Lily’s past that she hasn’t shared with Ted, namely her experience in the art and craft of murder, a journey that began in her very precocious youth.

Suddenly these co-conspirators are embroiled in a chilling game of cat-and-mouse, one they both cannot survive . . . with a shrewd and very determined detective on their tail.


Buy the Book


Our Review


The multiple character POV’s added to the suspense, while the various twists had me re-evaluating my ending predictions. Swanson does a fantastic job making the main (villainous) character likeable! It was odd rooting for a murderer, but alas, I was.

The plot, although not original, had good momentum in the beginning, but I definitely prefer more action with a book such as this. Excessive details of landmarks and weather with only a handful of action points is what really slowed the book down for me. It felt more like a mystery and less like a thriller as the book progressed.

Overall, the mainstream plot combined with mediocre action points is what ultimately decided my 3 star review. The various plot twists are this book’s best quality and for that alone it’s worth the read, even if it’s not my favorite.

 

Detailed Rating Report
Plot
Characters
Writing Style
Pace
Overall:

About Peter Swanson

Peter Swanson is the author of many novels, including The Kind Worth Killing, winner of the New England Society Book Award, and finalist for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, Her Every Fear, an NPR book of the year; and his most recent, Eight Perfect Murders. His books have been translated into over 30 languages, and his stories, poetry, and features have appeared in Asimov’s Science FictionThe Atlantic MonthlyMeasureThe GuardianThe Strand Magazine, and Yankee Magazine.

A graduate of Trinity College, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Emerson College, he lives in Somerville, Massachusetts with his wife and cat.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges: