A thrilling, twisted murder story

The kind worth killing from Peter Swanson is a psychological thriller filled with deception and murder. With its unexpected twists and turns, this book kept me on the edge of my seat as I quickly read it from start to finish.

On an overnight flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the stunning and mysterious Lily Kintner. After drinking one martini too many, the two strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing very intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage falling apart and his wife Miranda, who he is convinced is cheating on him. Ted and his wife were mismatched from the start – he the rich businessman, she the artistic free spirit – a contrast that once sparked their passion but has now become a cliché.

But their game gets a little darker when Ted jokes that he might kill Miranda for what she did. Lily says calmly without hesitation, “I'd love to help.” After all, there are people who are worth killing, like a lying, smelly, unfaithful spouse…

Back in Boston, the tangled bond between Ted and Lily grows stronger as they begin to plot Miranda's death. But there are a few things from Lily's past that she hasn't told Ted, namely her experience in the art and craft of murder, a journey that began in her very early teens. Suddenly, these co-conspirators find themselves embroiled in a chilling game of cat and mouse that neither of them can survive… with a wily and very determined detective hot on their heels.

Let’s be honest, the characters in The kind worth killing are deeply flawed, fascinating, and utterly unlikable. Yet even with these characters that you want to hate, Peter Swanson masterfully creates a story that is super entertaining. The author uses their individual motivations and actions to make them despicable, yet compelling at the same time. Swanson does a great job of focusing each chapter on a specific character's point of view, allowing us to try to understand each character's role without becoming confused.

Despite the dark theme of The kind worth killingI found the book entertaining and gripping right up to the end. The author's writing style is suited to this type of story, it captivates me and draws me into the characters' web of deceit and manipulation. The pacing was just right and each twist added new layers of complexity to the plot.

The biggest surprise and success of this novel was its relevance to where I live. Swanson takes us on a journey through Maine, including the roads I take on my way to the office every morning. Unbeknownst to me when I first opened the novel, the addition of places like Orono, Kittery, and Bangor gave me a much deeper connection to the novel and allowed me to fall in love with the book on a more personal level.

While some may find the ending abrupt or unsatisfying, I read this novel long after its publication and know that the story continues in some ways in the pages of The kind worth saving was enough for me to enjoy the ending. The introduction of Henry Kimball and his continuation in the next novel softened the blow and made me curious about the next part of the series.

The kind worth killing by Peter Swanson is a wild journey to Maine with lots of twists, murders and complex, horrific characters. The story is well written and had me hooked from the start, but I have to say I am a little biased with my love for my home state of Maine. Swanson did a really good job with his first novel, no wonder the Washington Post said it “should be a contender for the title of best crime novel of 2014.”

The kind worth killing is available in bookstores everywhere. The audio book, spoken by Johnny Heller, Karen White, Kathleen Early and Keith Szarabajkais available at Libro.fm!