The Kind Worth Killing

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In a tantalizing set-up reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith’s classic Strangers on a Train… 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. What was the purpose of Richards ex-girlfriend (Karen), and that guy that Joan slept with (George, who attended her wedding as the plus one with one of her husbands collage friends)? Were they teaming up because they both had some connected to the school shooting, or to Joan's husband, or some other connection.... nope. pointless

Thank you to Harper Collins and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Look up the term “psychological thriller” in the dictionary and I’m pretty sure Swanson’s face will be there. He has shown himself to be the true master of this subject with books like THE KIND WORTH KILLING and HER EVERY FEAR. What I love about Swanson is he takes a situation (like the quiet couple living next door to a nosy neighbor) and you think you know what is going to happen. But then, he turns that case upside down and heads the characters into a totally unpredictable direction. Brilliant. So very entertaining for the reader! From there, for George, at least, it's downhill all the way. Not just once, but several times, Jane (who George now knows really is a woman named Liana from Florida) begs him to help get her out of a bind - and he agrees despite knowing that the long-ago murder he's now convinced she really did commit may be just the tip of the iceberg. Authors, if you are a member of the Goodreads Author Program, you can edit information about your own books. Find out how in this guide.The story takes place in Boston and Florida, and I enjoyed the author's descriptions of the steamy summertime, of dark old pubs, and of abandoned, creepy, houses buzzing with flies. At times, the descriptions reminded me of a movie (which I think this book could be very successfully adapted into) such as Along Came a Spider. As well as the strong sense of place, the author also creates a well-paced story that is never boring. Overall, this is a clever thriller and it’s so good to reconnect with Kimball and Lily again as that relationship is one that will continue to be a source of acute interest. This sequel definitely delivers on its promise as Peter Swanson spins characters making you like those you probably shouldn’t and defies your expectations.

Totally engrossing, I inhaled this book. As with all Swanson books, I adore the cleverly worded title . I can't give it 5 stars though due to THAT ENDING!

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Swanson did a great job in creating fully fleshed out characters. Although not one sympathetic character exists in the book, they are unique and very interesting. It was fun to follow a bunch of psychopaths on a blind collision course. Of course, my favorite is Lily. I admire the insidious way the author leads you to identify with her, making a rather unlikely serial killer not only believable but likable! He weaves just enough negativity into the characters of the victims to make the reader understand the killer's perspective, while still occasionally leaving you wondering if that perspective was indeed accurate. That balance injected just enough hint of an "unreliable narrator" to add to the overall emotional impact. It was the question I’d been asking myself all week. “What I really want to do is kill her.” I smiled with my gin numbed mouth and attempted a little wink just to give her an opportunity to not believe me, but her face stayed serious. She lifted her reddish eyebrows.” A man looks at a woman and imagines her naked, while the woman looks at the man and wonders whether he finds her attractive. It was an uncomfortable and tension filled ride, like when you can hear thunder, you just know the storm is coming soon.

Getting me all excited once again. Sadly it wasn’t for long due to the format of the second half of the book . . . Lily Kintner meets Ted Severson in an airport lounge. A chance encounter that ends in drunkenness and results in both revealing a lot of secrets, heart aches and sadness in their lives, by cheating spouses. The kind worth killing. Why did Joan google Richards name randomly even though they spent years never interacting and that being how she learned about the bombing....instead of hearing about it on the news or from a neighbour??? because you know it's a bombing in her local area. people are going to talk about that.The characters in this book are certainly all flawed, some mentally ill, but I felt them to still be believable. The plot is creepy and at times a little gruesome but if you watch any news or TV dramas you know that people are capable of murder and bizarre killing. In the beginning we aren’t quite sure what is going on with Matthew and what his motives could be, how can he form a relationship with anyone who thinks he is a killer?? The only small gripe I have is that the ending seemed rather abrupt to me. It just ended when I expected there to be more explanation and wrap-up, so it felt a bit unsatisfying. Even though the outcome was clearly implied, after all that buildup, I wish the story took a little more time to see everything to its complete conclusion. After a few drinks and a delay in their flight, he reveals to Lily that his wife is cheating and he wishes she was dead. Lily says that it could be arranged if he really wanted it. He only needs to plan it well and she can help him. She doesn’t see anything wrong with helping him murder his wife. After all, she deserves it for being a horrible person.

This book was all about an intensely suspenseful plot that brought so many twists I felt I had done a workout by the end of the book. Gripping, thrilling and spine tingling. The characterisation was also great with Lily being my favourite heroine and predator. Henry Kimball/Lily Kintner #2 - the much anticipated, eagerly awaited ‘semi-sequel’ to The Kind Worth Killing. ABOUT 'THE KIND WORTH SAVING': There was always something slightly dangerous about Joan. So, when she turns up at private investigator Henry Kimball’s office asking him to investigate her husband, he can’t help feeling ill at ease. Just the sight of her stirs up a chilling memory: he knew Joan in his previous life as a high school English teacher, when he was at the center of a tragedy.Peter Swanson hit the Hollywood lottery. The movie rights have been sold. James Marsh will be directing. Chris Coen will be producing. It should make a spectacular movie. Yep. Just when I got my hopes up the writing style changed and began detailing a scene from one narrator’s perspective, then rewinding it and re-telling it from another narrator’s perspective (and often times rewinding it yet again to tell it from one more person’s point of view). #snore