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Henry Kimball/Lily Kintner #3
A Talent for Murder
A newlywed librarian begins to suspect the man she married might be a murderer—in this spectacularly twisty and deviously clever novel by Peter Swanson, New York Times bestselling author of The Kind Worth Killing and Eight Perfect Murders.
Martha Ratliff conceded long ago that she’d likely spend her life alone. She was fine with it, happy with her solo existence, stimulated by her work as a librarian in Maine. But then she met Alan, a charming and sweet-natured salesman whose job took him on the road for half the year. When he asked her to marry him, she said yes, even though he still felt a little bit like a stranger.
A year in and the marriage was good, except for that strange blood streak on the back of one of his shirts he’d worn to a conference in Denver. Her curiosity turning to suspicion, Martha investigates the cities Alan visited over the past year and uncovers a disturbing pattern—five unsolved cases of murdered women.
Is she married to a serial killer? Or could it merely be a coincidence? Unsure what to think, Martha contacts an old friend from graduate school for advice. Lily Kintner once helped Martha out of a jam with an abusive boyfriend and may have some insight. Intrigued, Lily offers to meet Alan to find out what kind of man he really is . . .but what Lily uncovers is more perplexing and wicked than they ever could have expected.
Martha Ratliff conceded long ago that she’d likely spend her life alone. She was fine with it, happy with her solo existence, stimulated by her work as a librarian in Maine. But then she met Alan, a charming and sweet-natured salesman whose job took him on the road for half the year. When he asked her to marry him, she said yes, even though he still felt a little bit like a stranger.
A year in and the marriage was good, except for that strange blood streak on the back of one of his shirts he’d worn to a conference in Denver. Her curiosity turning to suspicion, Martha investigates the cities Alan visited over the past year and uncovers a disturbing pattern—five unsolved cases of murdered women.
Is she married to a serial killer? Or could it merely be a coincidence? Unsure what to think, Martha contacts an old friend from graduate school for advice. Lily Kintner once helped Martha out of a jam with an abusive boyfriend and may have some insight. Intrigued, Lily offers to meet Alan to find out what kind of man he really is . . .but what Lily uncovers is more perplexing and wicked than they ever could have expected.
272 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2024
1935 people are currently reading
44948 people want to read
About the author
Peter Swanson
21 books13.1k followersPeter Swanson is the author of six 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 thriller, Eight Perfect Murders. His books have been translated into 30 languages, and his stories, poetry, and features have appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction, The Atlantic Monthly, Measure, The Guardian, The 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.
A graduate of Trinity College, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Emerson College, he lives in Somerville, Massachusetts with his wife and cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,896 reviews
July 4, 2025
Firstly, I must confess my unwavering fandom for "The Kind Worth Killing," the book that introduced readers to the eccentric, highly unique, and very dangerous yet intelligent Lily Kintner, along with the once-police-officer-turned-private-investigator Henry Kimball: the poet of disturbed limericks. That book blew my mind, and its predecessor, "Kind Worth Saving," proved to be a riveting and mind-bending sequel. While it didn't shake me to the core like the first book with its clever twist, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
When I discovered that Peter Swanson was bringing back this unusual duo for another intriguing mystery with a compelling plot—a meek librarian suspecting she's married to a serial killer—I couldn't contain my excitement. I would have traded anything for an early copy of this book. Thankfully, William Morrow gave me the amazing opportunity to dive into this digital reviewer copy, making me scream "Yessss" and pump my fist in the air Judd Nelson-style at the end of Breakfast Club while "Don't You Forget About Me" played in my head!
I must admit, I wish I hadn't devoured this book so quickly, but I simply couldn't help myself. I was hooked from the opening scene: a teachers' convention, a polygamous and eccentric young teacher, Josie Nixon, seeking a quick hookup that ends in tragedy. We are then introduced to Martha Ratliff, an old friend of Lily from college, who works as an archival librarian and ties the knot with a sweet, man of few words, a little odd but always kind salesman. He spends half of the year at various teachers' conventions selling quirky merchandise. When Martha finds a bloodstain on the back of her husband's shirt, she becomes alarmed. Her rich imagination and obsession with investigating mysteries lead her to connect the dots, discovering that each time her husband goes on a business trip, a murder occurs nearby where he stays. Could these incidents be mere coincidences, or is there something sinister about her husband that she needs to uncover? Could it be connected to the curse her college friend placed on her?
Martha decides to seek help from the person who saved her from a sexual predator she was dating. Enter Lily, recently moved to her childhood home to live with her divorced parents, who reluctantly share the same house for financial and health reasons. Lily, currently between jobs, is pen-palling with Henry Kimball. When Martha shares her story, Lily gets intrigued and decides to visit the next teachers' convention to meet Martha's husband in person. Little does she expect to be drawn into something even twistier that requires her to call on Henry to team up against.
Overall, the ending was spectacular! It's always a pleasure to read a new Lily Kintner/Henry Kimball book. Aren't they a match made in heaven? I need another sequel ASAP! And I hope the next book will be a little longer, or I'll practice reading a little slower.
A heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing one of my most anticipated books' digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
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When I discovered that Peter Swanson was bringing back this unusual duo for another intriguing mystery with a compelling plot—a meek librarian suspecting she's married to a serial killer—I couldn't contain my excitement. I would have traded anything for an early copy of this book. Thankfully, William Morrow gave me the amazing opportunity to dive into this digital reviewer copy, making me scream "Yessss" and pump my fist in the air Judd Nelson-style at the end of Breakfast Club while "Don't You Forget About Me" played in my head!
I must admit, I wish I hadn't devoured this book so quickly, but I simply couldn't help myself. I was hooked from the opening scene: a teachers' convention, a polygamous and eccentric young teacher, Josie Nixon, seeking a quick hookup that ends in tragedy. We are then introduced to Martha Ratliff, an old friend of Lily from college, who works as an archival librarian and ties the knot with a sweet, man of few words, a little odd but always kind salesman. He spends half of the year at various teachers' conventions selling quirky merchandise. When Martha finds a bloodstain on the back of her husband's shirt, she becomes alarmed. Her rich imagination and obsession with investigating mysteries lead her to connect the dots, discovering that each time her husband goes on a business trip, a murder occurs nearby where he stays. Could these incidents be mere coincidences, or is there something sinister about her husband that she needs to uncover? Could it be connected to the curse her college friend placed on her?
Martha decides to seek help from the person who saved her from a sexual predator she was dating. Enter Lily, recently moved to her childhood home to live with her divorced parents, who reluctantly share the same house for financial and health reasons. Lily, currently between jobs, is pen-palling with Henry Kimball. When Martha shares her story, Lily gets intrigued and decides to visit the next teachers' convention to meet Martha's husband in person. Little does she expect to be drawn into something even twistier that requires her to call on Henry to team up against.
Overall, the ending was spectacular! It's always a pleasure to read a new Lily Kintner/Henry Kimball book. Aren't they a match made in heaven? I need another sequel ASAP! And I hope the next book will be a little longer, or I'll practice reading a little slower.
A heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing one of my most anticipated books' digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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June 11, 2024
Henry Kimball/ Lily Kintner #3
“The Kind Worth Killing” sits on my all time favorites shelf, and I never expected that Peter Swanson would bring these characters back in 2023, 8 years later with the worthy sequel “The Kind Worth Saving”.
I request this author’s work without even reading the book synopsis, and had no idea that this was the third in the series! 😂
But, that was a pleasant surprise as Lily Kintner is one of my all time favorite fictional characters and I never mind spending time with her. She can be as cold as ice, but if she counts you as one of her nearest and dearest, she can be fiercely loyal too.
Martha Ratliff was happily single-an archival librarian, surrounded by the books she loved. But then she met Alan, a divorcee with a job that took him on the road for half the year selling gimmicky items to teachers at conventions. Although he still felt like a bit of a stranger when he proposed, the companionship of this sweet but goofy man for the rest of her life sounded nice.
A year in and the marriage was good, except for a couple of things…
The first was how she would watch him arrive home and “almost practice” plastering a smile on his face before walking through their front door. The second thing- a strange streak of BLOOD 🩸 on the back of one of the shirts he’d worn to a conference in Denver.
Her curiosity turning to suspicion, Martha investigates the cities that Alan traveled to over the past year and uncovers a disturbing pattern—five unsolved cases of murdered women.
Is she married to a serial killer?
She needs to run her crazy theory past someone and can only think of one person who she could possibly confess her suspicions to-Lily Kintner-an old friend from graduate school.
Intrigued, Lily offers to meet Alan to find out what kind of man he really is . . .after all she is always curious about whether or not people are the kind worth killing or the kind worth saving…
What she discovers is SHOCKING and she will have to turn to one of HER old friends-a limerick loving P.I. named Henry Kimball for assistance.
This is CLASSIC Swanson!
I was enthralled from the FIRST page, and didn’t want to put this ENTERTAINING book down!
Although I found the first half to be a bit stronger than the second half-which had a bit of “telling rather than showing”, I am going with 4.5 stars and rounding up because there is no denying that I was completely enraptured by this book.
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Thank You to William Morrow for the gifted ARC provided through Edelweiss. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
October 12, 2024
4.0 stars— I know I’m a little late to the party, but I finally got around to reading “A Talent for Murder” by Peter Swanson. This was my first Peter Swanson book, and I found it very cleverly written with several twists and turns I wasn’t expecting. The story begins with the death of a teacher at a large training conference. The wife (Martha)of one of the vendors at the conference begins suspecting her husband (Alan)of being involved in the murder of the attendee. She drafts a friend to help her investigate whether her husband (with whom she is stuck in a loveless marriage) was behind this and possibly other unsolved murders. The book definitely takes off from there with a strange but interesting vibe from start to finish. I put this one in the category of a book for the thriller book lover who has read so many formulaic thriller plots that reading this book is a huge breath of fresh air. That definitely held true for me. I enjoy it when a character is unexpectedly killed off or when a criminal is smarter than the investigators or law enforcement officers that are trying to apprehend him. Henry and Lilly, the so-called private investigators, use a lot of luck and several unbelievable deductions that you have to look over, but the story held my interest until the end. I am definitely looking forward to reading some of Swanson’s earlier books to see if they are as well plotted and interesting as this one was.
June 20, 2024
Lily Kitner and Henry Kimball #3
I didn't realize this was third in the series when I requested, but thrilled to see it!
In this installment, we meet Martha Ratliff, a lonely librarian who decides to say "Yes" to Alan Peralta. He seemed so very sweet and easy going. She wasn't especially attracted to him, but at least he kept her company!
Later, Martha's imagination goes wild and she starts obsessing over Alan's frequent business trips. Just what is Alan up too?! 😱
I flew through the first half of the book. After Martha starts suspecting Alan, it is off to the races. There is a twist (Game changer) that may give you pause. I do admit the second half had me skimming a bit. It was somewhat predictable with too much telling/ re-hashing of events. However, Swanson always has a way of keeping the pages flipping until the very last page!
Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC. OUT on June 11, 2024
I didn't realize this was third in the series when I requested, but thrilled to see it!
In this installment, we meet Martha Ratliff, a lonely librarian who decides to say "Yes" to Alan Peralta. He seemed so very sweet and easy going. She wasn't especially attracted to him, but at least he kept her company!
Later, Martha's imagination goes wild and she starts obsessing over Alan's frequent business trips. Just what is Alan up too?! 😱
I flew through the first half of the book. After Martha starts suspecting Alan, it is off to the races. There is a twist (Game changer) that may give you pause. I do admit the second half had me skimming a bit. It was somewhat predictable with too much telling/ re-hashing of events. However, Swanson always has a way of keeping the pages flipping until the very last page!
Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC. OUT on June 11, 2024
June 23, 2024
Book: 3.5⭐
Audio Narration: 4.5⭐
When librarian Martha Ratliff, begins to suspect her husband Alan Peralta, a traveling salesman by profession to whom she has been married for a little over a year, of being a serial killer, she reaches out to Lily Kintner, an old friend from graduate school, for help. When they were students, Lily had once helped Martha get out of a difficult situation. Lily, despite having lost touch with Martha after graduation, agrees to help her. The narrative follows Lily and Martha as they dig deeper into Alan’s life. When their “investigation“ takes a dark turn, Lily turns to P.I. Henry Kimball for assistance.
The Kind Worth Killing remains my favorite Peter Swanson novel to date, and I thoroughly enjoyed following Lily Kintner and Henry Kimball in The Kind Worth Saving. Needless to say, I was eager to read the author’s latest offering.
The narrative is presented from the perspectives of Martha, Lily and the killer. The premise is intriguing and the author deftly weaves all past and present threads of the story into a cohesive narrative. I loved the first half of the novel - a strong start and a dark and suspenseful vibe kept me immersed in the story until the midway mark . I was surprised by the twist (which is always a plus point). Lily is a fascinating character – shrewd, twisted and as devious as ever, but I would have liked it if Kimball had a larger role to play. There aren’t any major twists or reveals in the second half of the novel, which suffers from repetitiveness and uneven pacing with more telling than showing. However, the chilling finale more than makes up for the slow second half and I’ll say this much, Lily does not disappoint!
In my opinion, this installment would have made for a more intense read had it been condensed into a novella. Overall, I did enjoy this novel, just not as much as the previous installments in the series. I do look forward to reading more from Peter Swanson in the future.
I paired my reading with the audiobook, which definitely enhanced my overall experience with the novel. The incredible full-cast narration featuring Sophie Amoss, Stephen Graybill, Saskia Maarleveld, Graham Halstead, Kathleen Early and Keith Szarabajka made for an entertaining immersion reading experience.
I don’t think this book would work as a standalone and would recommend reading the previous installments in series order before this one.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
Audio Narration: 4.5⭐
When librarian Martha Ratliff, begins to suspect her husband Alan Peralta, a traveling salesman by profession to whom she has been married for a little over a year, of being a serial killer, she reaches out to Lily Kintner, an old friend from graduate school, for help. When they were students, Lily had once helped Martha get out of a difficult situation. Lily, despite having lost touch with Martha after graduation, agrees to help her. The narrative follows Lily and Martha as they dig deeper into Alan’s life. When their “investigation“ takes a dark turn, Lily turns to P.I. Henry Kimball for assistance.
The Kind Worth Killing remains my favorite Peter Swanson novel to date, and I thoroughly enjoyed following Lily Kintner and Henry Kimball in The Kind Worth Saving. Needless to say, I was eager to read the author’s latest offering.
The narrative is presented from the perspectives of Martha, Lily and the killer. The premise is intriguing and the author deftly weaves all past and present threads of the story into a cohesive narrative. I loved the first half of the novel - a strong start and a dark and suspenseful vibe kept me immersed in the story until the midway mark . I was surprised by the twist (which is always a plus point). Lily is a fascinating character – shrewd, twisted and as devious as ever, but I would have liked it if Kimball had a larger role to play. There aren’t any major twists or reveals in the second half of the novel, which suffers from repetitiveness and uneven pacing with more telling than showing. However, the chilling finale more than makes up for the slow second half and I’ll say this much, Lily does not disappoint!
In my opinion, this installment would have made for a more intense read had it been condensed into a novella. Overall, I did enjoy this novel, just not as much as the previous installments in the series. I do look forward to reading more from Peter Swanson in the future.
I paired my reading with the audiobook, which definitely enhanced my overall experience with the novel. The incredible full-cast narration featuring Sophie Amoss, Stephen Graybill, Saskia Maarleveld, Graham Halstead, Kathleen Early and Keith Szarabajka made for an entertaining immersion reading experience.
I don’t think this book would work as a standalone and would recommend reading the previous installments in series order before this one.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
April 27, 2024
4.5 rounded up
Lily Kitner and Henry Kimball #3
Alan Peralta and Martha Ratliff meet and later marry, however, although obviously she thinks he’s a nice man, part of her feels as if she has married a stranger. All her instincts tell her that he makes no sense. She begins to observe him more closely and starts to suspect he’s not only acting a part in his life with her but of much, much more. Later, this suspicion deepens and she does some investigating and what she discovers is very alarming. Has she married a killer? Is he living a life of pretence to cover up his crimes? Lily Kittner is Martha‘s friend from university, Lily having saved her from a toxic relationship. She might just be the perfect person to discuss her concerns with and so she does. Lily is on the case and later she involves Kimball.
Peter Swanson does it again! This is so good, it’s a glide through read and a series I love. Lily is fascinating and it’s fair to say that she’s not the usual brand of central protagonist and her relationship with Kimball is also unusual but there’s trust between them. Lily’s perspective illuminates Martha’s past and her personality, which takes the storytelling into entirely different territory. There are several pull you up sharp moments during Lily’s quest to discover the truth which sends my mind into a tailspin and asking a multitude of questions.
Herein lie games. Deadly ones. There’s manipulation. Masterful and skilful. There are evil intentions. Calculated and cold. Lily and Kimball are on the trail of a truly awful, wicked and vindictive killer, perhaps the most dangerous they have been encounted to date. The investigation gets as twisted as, the tensions at times is off the scale and there are moments of breath inhaling suspense.
The first half pulls you in as it’s full of curiosity, The second half socks it to you although the conclusion could perhaps have been a bit stronger although the ultimate ending is a very satisfying just desserts.
Overall, it’s a really entertaining, multilayered read and a classic Swanson novel. He’s an author I admire and will always want to read especially this series.
It’s dark obviously (well it is Kitner and Kimball), but it is utterly gripping. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Faber and Faber for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Lily Kitner and Henry Kimball #3
Alan Peralta and Martha Ratliff meet and later marry, however, although obviously she thinks he’s a nice man, part of her feels as if she has married a stranger. All her instincts tell her that he makes no sense. She begins to observe him more closely and starts to suspect he’s not only acting a part in his life with her but of much, much more. Later, this suspicion deepens and she does some investigating and what she discovers is very alarming. Has she married a killer? Is he living a life of pretence to cover up his crimes? Lily Kittner is Martha‘s friend from university, Lily having saved her from a toxic relationship. She might just be the perfect person to discuss her concerns with and so she does. Lily is on the case and later she involves Kimball.
Peter Swanson does it again! This is so good, it’s a glide through read and a series I love. Lily is fascinating and it’s fair to say that she’s not the usual brand of central protagonist and her relationship with Kimball is also unusual but there’s trust between them. Lily’s perspective illuminates Martha’s past and her personality, which takes the storytelling into entirely different territory. There are several pull you up sharp moments during Lily’s quest to discover the truth which sends my mind into a tailspin and asking a multitude of questions.
Herein lie games. Deadly ones. There’s manipulation. Masterful and skilful. There are evil intentions. Calculated and cold. Lily and Kimball are on the trail of a truly awful, wicked and vindictive killer, perhaps the most dangerous they have been encounted to date. The investigation gets as twisted as, the tensions at times is off the scale and there are moments of breath inhaling suspense.
The first half pulls you in as it’s full of curiosity, The second half socks it to you although the conclusion could perhaps have been a bit stronger although the ultimate ending is a very satisfying just desserts.
Overall, it’s a really entertaining, multilayered read and a classic Swanson novel. He’s an author I admire and will always want to read especially this series.
It’s dark obviously (well it is Kitner and Kimball), but it is utterly gripping. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Faber and Faber for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
July 5, 2025
How well do we really know the people we think we love?
Martha’s husband, Alan is a travelling salesman. And, they have a really neat, rather compact and comfortable marriage. As a librarian she is content with her life. But when he comes back from one of his trips with blood on one of his shirts, she begins to question what exactly happens at his “selling” conferences, after all.
And, as she begins the painstaking research, to figure out what her husband might be up to, she is uncomfortable enough about what she discovers, that she calls one of her friends from college, Lily Kintner for support.
Now, as I mention Lily Kintner, for those who have not read this series, please understand that this is book #3. It is best if you read the series, to know Lily and Henry from book 1, so you understand their characters fully. You can read this as a stand-alone, but you will appreciate this story better, if you have followed the series.
Back to this story…
Martha and Lily have their own past, in which Lily helped rescue her from an ill-fated relationship with Ethan Saltz back in graduate school.
How can Lily help her discover if her husband could be a potential serial killer? And, will Henry Kimball be able to also help when Lily ventures into dark and deadly territory?
What will readers discover in this twisty, riveting, page-turning tale? And, when all seems to be clear, don’t be so sure. This author has a way of throwing many twists that will keep readers going up to the very last page!
4.5 stars rounded up.
Martha’s husband, Alan is a travelling salesman. And, they have a really neat, rather compact and comfortable marriage. As a librarian she is content with her life. But when he comes back from one of his trips with blood on one of his shirts, she begins to question what exactly happens at his “selling” conferences, after all.
And, as she begins the painstaking research, to figure out what her husband might be up to, she is uncomfortable enough about what she discovers, that she calls one of her friends from college, Lily Kintner for support.
Now, as I mention Lily Kintner, for those who have not read this series, please understand that this is book #3. It is best if you read the series, to know Lily and Henry from book 1, so you understand their characters fully. You can read this as a stand-alone, but you will appreciate this story better, if you have followed the series.
Back to this story…
Martha and Lily have their own past, in which Lily helped rescue her from an ill-fated relationship with Ethan Saltz back in graduate school.
How can Lily help her discover if her husband could be a potential serial killer? And, will Henry Kimball be able to also help when Lily ventures into dark and deadly territory?
What will readers discover in this twisty, riveting, page-turning tale? And, when all seems to be clear, don’t be so sure. This author has a way of throwing many twists that will keep readers going up to the very last page!
4.5 stars rounded up.
June 29, 2024
What an absolute surprise upon realizing this was book three of the Henry Kimball/Lily Kintner series! I had no clue as I downloaded the audio. (Insert Happy Dance.💃)
Martha has been leading a very simple life. Until Alan enters her life.
He quickly proposes. Though he still feels somewhat like a stranger to her, she accepts. It's got to be a better than being alone, and she assumes she will eventually grow to love him. (Oh, naïve Martha.)
So what happens when she begins to suspect the worst in Alan? Could he really be a murderer?
Can she stop him before he turns on her?
With nowhere else to turn she contacts her old college friend, Lily Kintner. If anyone knows how to handle a hot mess like this…it’s Lily!
This was a great addition to the series with a few great twists along the way. My fingers are crossed that Peter Swanson is busy writing book four right now!
🎧 The audio was amazing with a full cast of narrators.
Martha has been leading a very simple life. Until Alan enters her life.
He quickly proposes. Though he still feels somewhat like a stranger to her, she accepts. It's got to be a better than being alone, and she assumes she will eventually grow to love him. (Oh, naïve Martha.)
So what happens when she begins to suspect the worst in Alan? Could he really be a murderer?
Can she stop him before he turns on her?
With nowhere else to turn she contacts her old college friend, Lily Kintner. If anyone knows how to handle a hot mess like this…it’s Lily!
This was a great addition to the series with a few great twists along the way. My fingers are crossed that Peter Swanson is busy writing book four right now!
🎧 The audio was amazing with a full cast of narrators.
June 9, 2024
My question is for BOTM: Why?
This book dragged. The characters were so flat and dull, and there was nothing particularly interesting about the story, which is wild for a book full of killers. There is no mystery to this, as we are told who the main antagonist is pretty early on. Then the reader has to endure recaps of conversations that were already read without any further perspective added to them.
Whoever described this book as “twisty” was just throwing together buzzwords to promote this book. I’d have described it more as a flat line. No signs of life.
I couldn’t wait for this book to be over.
This book dragged. The characters were so flat and dull, and there was nothing particularly interesting about the story, which is wild for a book full of killers. There is no mystery to this, as we are told who the main antagonist is pretty early on. Then the reader has to endure recaps of conversations that were already read without any further perspective added to them.
Whoever described this book as “twisty” was just throwing together buzzwords to promote this book. I’d have described it more as a flat line. No signs of life.
I couldn’t wait for this book to be over.
June 23, 2024
If you’ve devoured "The Kind Worth Killing" and "The Kind Worth Saving," get ready for another wild ride with our favorite femme fatale, Lily. This book is packed with fresh faces and one standout character who will blow your mind. It’s a thrilling, twisty, and deliciously dark adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Don’t miss out on this utterly gripping and wickedly entertaining tale!
July 2, 2024
A Talent for Murder was gripping stuff!
First came A Kind Worth Killing, then A Kind Worth Saving, and now we have A Talent for Murder, and all three have totally and utterly bowled me over with their shocking and unpredictable twists, and fast-paced, edge-of-my-seat plots. Just like the first two books in the series this suspenseful domestic noir thriller can be enjoyed as a standalone, but you'd be missing out on some screwed up, mind boggling character histories if you intend to skip them.
I recommend going into this one blind, so I've decided to skip a synopsis in order not to give a thing away. All I'll say is that one page in and I was already engrossed in Josie's story. In this series pretty much all of the characters are unlikable, and untrustworthy, but their predicaments suck you in, and some of them you just can't help caring if they live or die. There was quite a bit of ‘tell’ rather than ‘show' backstories included, but they were exciting, tense, and interesting enough for it not to bother me.
I have no hesitation in recommending A Talent for Murder. Just don't get too attached to anyone, as you never know what direction the story is going to take.
I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Faber & Faber, and Peter Swanson for the e-ARC.
UK Release Date: 4th July 2024.
First came A Kind Worth Killing, then A Kind Worth Saving, and now we have A Talent for Murder, and all three have totally and utterly bowled me over with their shocking and unpredictable twists, and fast-paced, edge-of-my-seat plots. Just like the first two books in the series this suspenseful domestic noir thriller can be enjoyed as a standalone, but you'd be missing out on some screwed up, mind boggling character histories if you intend to skip them.
I recommend going into this one blind, so I've decided to skip a synopsis in order not to give a thing away. All I'll say is that one page in and I was already engrossed in Josie's story. In this series pretty much all of the characters are unlikable, and untrustworthy, but their predicaments suck you in, and some of them you just can't help caring if they live or die. There was quite a bit of ‘tell’ rather than ‘show' backstories included, but they were exciting, tense, and interesting enough for it not to bother me.
I have no hesitation in recommending A Talent for Murder. Just don't get too attached to anyone, as you never know what direction the story is going to take.
I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Faber & Faber, and Peter Swanson for the e-ARC.
UK Release Date: 4th July 2024.
June 23, 2024
Another winner in the books for Peter Swanson! 🏆
This is the third book in the Henry Kimball/Lily Kintner series, and once again the author delivered another mind blowing thriller! 🤯
This story starts off with newlywed Martha Ratliff (now Peralta), suspecting her new husband of possibly being a serial killer. Her husband, Alan, often travels out of town for conventions selling educational merchandise. Coincidentally, each town that her husband travels to, a death of a woman seems to occur… With this news, and Martha’s suspicions she contacts her old college friend Lily Kintner. Lily will know what to do, as she helped her with an abusive ex boyfriend that she struggled with in college.
Once again, Lily is back wittier than ever and she is more than happy to help her old friend Martha figure out if her new husband is a serial killer or not. Thankfully, Lily’s old friend Henry Kimball is there to help out as well.
I enjoyed this book, but I did feel that it did drag out a bit in the middle and some parts were very repetitious. I also would have liked more of Henry Kimball in this book. Therefore, I’m giving this book four stars instead of five.
The ending of this book was phenomenal, and I am hoping that we see another book in this series 🤞 as I will be first in line!! (Oh, and if you haven’t read the first two books, no worries as this book can totally be read as a standalone). I highly recommend reading this!
This is the third book in the Henry Kimball/Lily Kintner series, and once again the author delivered another mind blowing thriller! 🤯
This story starts off with newlywed Martha Ratliff (now Peralta), suspecting her new husband of possibly being a serial killer. Her husband, Alan, often travels out of town for conventions selling educational merchandise. Coincidentally, each town that her husband travels to, a death of a woman seems to occur… With this news, and Martha’s suspicions she contacts her old college friend Lily Kintner. Lily will know what to do, as she helped her with an abusive ex boyfriend that she struggled with in college.
Once again, Lily is back wittier than ever and she is more than happy to help her old friend Martha figure out if her new husband is a serial killer or not. Thankfully, Lily’s old friend Henry Kimball is there to help out as well.
I enjoyed this book, but I did feel that it did drag out a bit in the middle and some parts were very repetitious. I also would have liked more of Henry Kimball in this book. Therefore, I’m giving this book four stars instead of five.
The ending of this book was phenomenal, and I am hoping that we see another book in this series 🤞 as I will be first in line!! (Oh, and if you haven’t read the first two books, no worries as this book can totally be read as a standalone). I highly recommend reading this!
July 13, 2024
Martha Ratliff conceded long ago that she’d likely spend her life alone. She was fine with it, happy with her solo existence, stimulated by her work as a librarian in Maine. But then she met Alan, a charming and sweet-natured salesman whose job took him on the road for half the year. When he asked her to marry him, she said yes, even though he still felt a little bit like a stranger.
A year in and the marriage was good, except for that strange blood streak on the back of one of his shirts he’d worn to a conference in Denver. Her curiosity turning to suspicion, Martha investigates the cities Alan visited over the past year and uncovers a disturbing pattern—five unsolved cases of murdered women.
Is she married to a serial killer? Or could it merely be a coincidence? Unsure what to think, Martha contacts an old friend from graduate school for advice. Lily Kintner once helped Martha out of a jam with an abusive boyfriend and may have some insight. Intrigued, Lily offers to meet Alan to find out what kind of man he really is…but what Lily uncovers is more perplexing and wicked than they ever could have expected.
I don’t know how Peter Swanson does it. From the very first chapter, A Talent for Murder had my attention. With three hypnotic primary POVs and one shocking twist after another, my utter adoration only grew along with the page count. And while there was a definite Hitchcockian vibe to this killer plot, the characters were without a doubt the stars of the show.
After falling in love with The Kind Worth Killing eight years ago, I realized that it wasn’t just the superlative plot or mind-blowing twists that had captured my heart. Oh no, it was the show-stopping duo of Kintner and Kimball. Lily, in fact, is one of my all-time favorites personas. Chillingly intelligent but also increasingly humanized as the series moves along, she just couldn’t be better. This time around, though, the cast was complete with one altogether perfect game-playing villain.
Told in three parts, the plot morphed and shifted with each deft transition. With plenty of blind twists that had me smiling with glee, there wasn’t a chance of me seeing behind the shrewdly drawn curtain. Point in fact was that brilliant conclusion. From the chilling premise to the heart-stopping climax, the immersive storytelling that is Swanson’s signature style hit all the right chords. Needless to say, I’m already ready and waiting for book four in the series.
All said and done, this thrilling ride was yet another slam dunk by this master of suspense. Both a heart-pounding game of cat-and-mouse and a satisfying continuation of the Kintner and Kimball saga, there wasn’t a thing not to love in this quick, easy read. Well, except that I wish that it had been longer. After all, I could happily lose myself in Swanson’s gifted musings for days on end. So if you haven’t yet discovered this captivating series, here’s your chance to dive in ASAP. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to William Morrow and Peter Swanson for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 11, 2024
Trigger warning: kidnapping, mention of: stroke
A year in and the marriage was good, except for that strange blood streak on the back of one of his shirts he’d worn to a conference in Denver. Her curiosity turning to suspicion, Martha investigates the cities Alan visited over the past year and uncovers a disturbing pattern—five unsolved cases of murdered women.
Is she married to a serial killer? Or could it merely be a coincidence? Unsure what to think, Martha contacts an old friend from graduate school for advice. Lily Kintner once helped Martha out of a jam with an abusive boyfriend and may have some insight. Intrigued, Lily offers to meet Alan to find out what kind of man he really is…but what Lily uncovers is more perplexing and wicked than they ever could have expected.
I don’t know how Peter Swanson does it. From the very first chapter, A Talent for Murder had my attention. With three hypnotic primary POVs and one shocking twist after another, my utter adoration only grew along with the page count. And while there was a definite Hitchcockian vibe to this killer plot, the characters were without a doubt the stars of the show.
After falling in love with The Kind Worth Killing eight years ago, I realized that it wasn’t just the superlative plot or mind-blowing twists that had captured my heart. Oh no, it was the show-stopping duo of Kintner and Kimball. Lily, in fact, is one of my all-time favorites personas. Chillingly intelligent but also increasingly humanized as the series moves along, she just couldn’t be better. This time around, though, the cast was complete with one altogether perfect game-playing villain.
Told in three parts, the plot morphed and shifted with each deft transition. With plenty of blind twists that had me smiling with glee, there wasn’t a chance of me seeing behind the shrewdly drawn curtain. Point in fact was that brilliant conclusion. From the chilling premise to the heart-stopping climax, the immersive storytelling that is Swanson’s signature style hit all the right chords. Needless to say, I’m already ready and waiting for book four in the series.
All said and done, this thrilling ride was yet another slam dunk by this master of suspense. Both a heart-pounding game of cat-and-mouse and a satisfying continuation of the Kintner and Kimball saga, there wasn’t a thing not to love in this quick, easy read. Well, except that I wish that it had been longer. After all, I could happily lose myself in Swanson’s gifted musings for days on end. So if you haven’t yet discovered this captivating series, here’s your chance to dive in ASAP. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to William Morrow and Peter Swanson for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 11, 2024
Trigger warning: kidnapping, mention of: stroke
December 18, 2023
What would you do if you suspected that your husband was a serial killer? I personally don't know that I'd call up an old friend that I hadn't seen in fifteen years (because … awkward!), but it somehow works in A Talent for Murder. I requested this book from NetGalley not realizing that it was the third in a series, but it ended up being a non-issue. There are some references to previous events and relationships, but overall it works perfectly fine as a stand-alone as long as you don't mind that you're missing some of the backstory.
This is the second novel I've read by Peter Swanson, and it's the second one where the murderer is revealed halfway through the story. I don't know if this is his usual modus operandi, but it's an enjoyable switch-up from the usual mystery format with the big reveal at the end. I can't say that I really enjoyed the chapters from the point of view of the killer since they're (obviously) rather depraved, but it's certainly not a POV that you'd get in most murder mysteries.
And speaking of characters, does anyone else think that Lily is a little ... disturbed? So far no one else has mentioned it in their reviews (granted, there's only six on Goodreads as I write this), but I find her to be unsettling. I think that it's partly her lack of remorse when it comes to murder, but I dunno – perhaps I'd understand her more if I'd read the two previous books. Her personality isn't necessarily a bad thing since it's nice to have a different sort of protagonist every once in awhile, but she's definitely not someone that I'd want to be friends with in real life.
The mystery itself is quite entertaining, and I enjoyed following along with Martha's (and later Lily's) investigations into her husband's suspicious business trips. I didn't see the identity of the killer coming at all, although it made perfect sense once they were revealed.
And the ending? I was in no way expecting what happened, although it's a further example of why Lily freaks me out. She's definitely got some Dexter vibes going on.
Overall, A Talent for Murder was an enjoyable and suspenseful read. I'm obviously not Lily Kintner's biggest fan, but she's an intriguing main character and I definitely need to go back and read the two previous books now. 3.75 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
This is the second novel I've read by Peter Swanson, and it's the second one where the murderer is revealed halfway through the story. I don't know if this is his usual modus operandi, but it's an enjoyable switch-up from the usual mystery format with the big reveal at the end. I can't say that I really enjoyed the chapters from the point of view of the killer since they're (obviously) rather depraved, but it's certainly not a POV that you'd get in most murder mysteries.
And speaking of characters, does anyone else think that Lily is a little ... disturbed? So far no one else has mentioned it in their reviews (granted, there's only six on Goodreads as I write this), but I find her to be unsettling. I think that it's partly her lack of remorse when it comes to murder, but I dunno – perhaps I'd understand her more if I'd read the two previous books. Her personality isn't necessarily a bad thing since it's nice to have a different sort of protagonist every once in awhile, but she's definitely not someone that I'd want to be friends with in real life.
The mystery itself is quite entertaining, and I enjoyed following along with Martha's (and later Lily's) investigations into her husband's suspicious business trips. I didn't see the identity of the killer coming at all, although it made perfect sense once they were revealed.
And the ending? I was in no way expecting what happened, although it's a further example of why Lily freaks me out. She's definitely got some Dexter vibes going on.
Overall, A Talent for Murder was an enjoyable and suspenseful read. I'm obviously not Lily Kintner's biggest fan, but she's an intriguing main character and I definitely need to go back and read the two previous books now. 3.75 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
July 4, 2025
A very smart and clever thriller! I read a lot of thrillers and this is a must read because it’s so refreshingly different.
Martha is a quiet librarian who thinks she’s destined to be alone, until she finds quiet, nerdy Alan, a salesman who travels for work. Life isn’t all that exciting after they marry, but she’s content.
Until she finds a spot of blood on one of Alan’s shirts, and she witnesses him acting strangely. She does some sleuthing and discovers there were unsolved murders in the cities where Alan traveled to for work. Is Alan a serial killer?
Martha asks her old friend Lily Kintner to assist her in the investigation, and eventually Henry Kimball is brought in as well. What they find is darker than anything she imagined.
I flew through this book and had to pick my jaw up off the floor more than once. I loved the characters and the dynamic between Kintner & Kimball.
Endings are difficult but Swanson nailed this one. It was perfect!
I highly recommend the audiobook. The full cast audio performance was excellent.
Martha is a quiet librarian who thinks she’s destined to be alone, until she finds quiet, nerdy Alan, a salesman who travels for work. Life isn’t all that exciting after they marry, but she’s content.
Until she finds a spot of blood on one of Alan’s shirts, and she witnesses him acting strangely. She does some sleuthing and discovers there were unsolved murders in the cities where Alan traveled to for work. Is Alan a serial killer?
Martha asks her old friend Lily Kintner to assist her in the investigation, and eventually Henry Kimball is brought in as well. What they find is darker than anything she imagined.
I flew through this book and had to pick my jaw up off the floor more than once. I loved the characters and the dynamic between Kintner & Kimball.
Endings are difficult but Swanson nailed this one. It was perfect!
I highly recommend the audiobook. The full cast audio performance was excellent.
February 25, 2024
Oh Peter Swanson you have done it again! I cannot get enough of his books, seriously, if you have not read this author what are you doing with your life. He has been an auto read for me for a very long time now, The Kind Worth Killing one of my all time favourite thriller books. He is just so clever at getting the reader hooked and thinking that they know what is going on and then bam! Plot twist that changes everything. I love it.
Not only is this a Peter Swanson book, it is a Lily Kitner and Henry Kimball book!! i thought getting a sequel to A Kind Worth a killing last year was exciting, but now we have a book 3!! And it is perfect. These 2 characters are just brilliant, together and on their own. I had so much fun reading this, with a smile on my face from start to finish. I did binge it in a few hours, not seeing the need to put it down.
This time, Lily is contacted by an old school friend, Martha. Martha has serious concerns about her travelling salesman husband, and is starting to think that he might be a serial killer. Lily is the only person she can think of that might take er seriously and help her. And so the fun begins.
Reading a Peter Swanson book is just a delight. You need this book and characters in your life… your can thank me later.
Thank you so so so much to William Morrow for my advance copy of A Talent For Murder. Published on June 11th, this is a must read.
Not only is this a Peter Swanson book, it is a Lily Kitner and Henry Kimball book!! i thought getting a sequel to A Kind Worth a killing last year was exciting, but now we have a book 3!! And it is perfect. These 2 characters are just brilliant, together and on their own. I had so much fun reading this, with a smile on my face from start to finish. I did binge it in a few hours, not seeing the need to put it down.
This time, Lily is contacted by an old school friend, Martha. Martha has serious concerns about her travelling salesman husband, and is starting to think that he might be a serial killer. Lily is the only person she can think of that might take er seriously and help her. And so the fun begins.
Reading a Peter Swanson book is just a delight. You need this book and characters in your life… your can thank me later.
Thank you so so so much to William Morrow for my advance copy of A Talent For Murder. Published on June 11th, this is a must read.
June 15, 2024
Was this third book needed?… No…Did I enjoy it?... Yes I did!
Peter Swanson has once again brought back our faves Henry Kimball and Lily Kintner in a Talent for Murder
In this book we have newlywed Martha who suspects her hubby Alan is a serial k!ller and seeks the help from old friend Lily Kitner to investigate and find out if her man Alan is a dirty scumbag.
Back when they were in university Lily helped Martha out with an abusive boyfriend so she is keen to help her old friend again now, but while scoping out Alan, Lily uncovers a way more dangerous reveal than she could have imagined…OOOOOOH SCANDALOUSSSSS!!!!
As mentioned above there really was no need for a third book in this series, but I devoured this one up and dare I say I think I preferred it over the sequel (The Kind Worth Saving). I have become accustomed to Peter’s way of writing and his building of suspense and throwing in a curveball in ACT 2, so this book wasn’t as shocking or mind-blowing for me. BUT I love me some Lily Kintner and Peter did not change her character in anyway so she’s still the same beloved psychopath that we have all come to love and adore, and because she plays such a big role in this book I ATE IT UP!
Part 1-Had my interest piqued with Martha and her relationship with Alan. I enjoyed the flashback of Martha and Lily when they were in university and how their friendship formed.
Part 2- Didn’t thrill per se but it kept me interested for the most part and again Lily is what kept me so engaged. She’s just such a BAD B!
Part 3- Meh!!!
The ending was as expected and the final POV was sooooo cringe I honestly could have done without, but overall this was a classic Swanson thriller.
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ LILY!
➽ Short chapters
➽ Easy quick read
➽ Entertaining for the most part
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ Predictable
➽ Martha and Alan characters individually was boring and lackluster
➽ Unnecessary detail
➽ A little bit repetitive
➽ Cringe / dullest ending
I personally don’t think we need a continuation of this franchise but because I do enjoy Swanson’s work if he was to write a fourth I would most likely still read it 🤣
3.5 ⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
The Kind Worth Killing is one of my favourite thrillers of ALL TIME!!
Peter help!! My last read has me in a corner crying my eyes out in disappoint.
Prevent a slump and do me right with this one prettyyy pleassseee 🙏🏾❤️❤️
Peter Swanson has once again brought back our faves Henry Kimball and Lily Kintner in a Talent for Murder
In this book we have newlywed Martha who suspects her hubby Alan is a serial k!ller and seeks the help from old friend Lily Kitner to investigate and find out if her man Alan is a dirty scumbag.
Back when they were in university Lily helped Martha out with an abusive boyfriend so she is keen to help her old friend again now, but while scoping out Alan, Lily uncovers a way more dangerous reveal than she could have imagined…OOOOOOH SCANDALOUSSSSS!!!!
As mentioned above there really was no need for a third book in this series, but I devoured this one up and dare I say I think I preferred it over the sequel (The Kind Worth Saving). I have become accustomed to Peter’s way of writing and his building of suspense and throwing in a curveball in ACT 2, so this book wasn’t as shocking or mind-blowing for me. BUT I love me some Lily Kintner and Peter did not change her character in anyway so she’s still the same beloved psychopath that we have all come to love and adore, and because she plays such a big role in this book I ATE IT UP!
Part 1-Had my interest piqued with Martha and her relationship with Alan. I enjoyed the flashback of Martha and Lily when they were in university and how their friendship formed.
Part 2- Didn’t thrill per se but it kept me interested for the most part and again Lily is what kept me so engaged. She’s just such a BAD B!
Part 3- Meh!!!
The ending was as expected and the final POV was sooooo cringe I honestly could have done without, but overall this was a classic Swanson thriller.
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ LILY!
➽ Short chapters
➽ Easy quick read
➽ Entertaining for the most part
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ Predictable
➽ Martha and Alan characters individually was boring and lackluster
➽ Unnecessary detail
➽ A little bit repetitive
➽ Cringe / dullest ending
I personally don’t think we need a continuation of this franchise but because I do enjoy Swanson’s work if he was to write a fourth I would most likely still read it 🤣
3.5 ⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
The Kind Worth Killing is one of my favourite thrillers of ALL TIME!!
Peter help!! My last read has me in a corner crying my eyes out in disappoint.
Prevent a slump and do me right with this one prettyyy pleassseee 🙏🏾❤️❤️
July 10, 2024
Peter Swanson has delivered once again! I was completely engrossed in A Talent for Murder and enjoyed reading about Henry Kimball and Lily Kintner once again! I found this book to be gripping, shocking, and hard to put down! Peter Swanson nails it every time. If you have not read a book by him, what are you waiting for????? This book has a little bit of everything that I enjoy in books - great writing, tension, mystery, suspense, great dialogue, complex characters, and mounting danger.
When Martha Ratliff met Alan, she thought she met a traveling businessman, who would make her happy. But after seeing blood on one of his shirts, she begins to investigate. When she notices a coincidence between his travels and murders, she enlists her old college friend, Lily Kintner, for advice. Woohoo! I knew things were about to get fabulous when Lily came on the scene!!!!
This is the third book in the series, and it was fantastic! I loved the cat and mouse. Lily is such a great and complex character. I love reading about her and have my fingers crossed that there will be more books in the future. If you have not read The Kind Worth Killing: A Novel and The Kind Worth Saving: A Novel, I highly recommend reading them as well. This book would work as a stand-alone, but the first two books are fantastic and once you start reading, you will not want to stop.
Gripping, shocking, tense, and a riveting page turner!
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
When Martha Ratliff met Alan, she thought she met a traveling businessman, who would make her happy. But after seeing blood on one of his shirts, she begins to investigate. When she notices a coincidence between his travels and murders, she enlists her old college friend, Lily Kintner, for advice. Woohoo! I knew things were about to get fabulous when Lily came on the scene!!!!
This is the third book in the series, and it was fantastic! I loved the cat and mouse. Lily is such a great and complex character. I love reading about her and have my fingers crossed that there will be more books in the future. If you have not read The Kind Worth Killing: A Novel and The Kind Worth Saving: A Novel, I highly recommend reading them as well. This book would work as a stand-alone, but the first two books are fantastic and once you start reading, you will not want to stop.
Gripping, shocking, tense, and a riveting page turner!
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
May 28, 2025
Incoherent
Huh…?!
This book was disappointing on so many levels. From the plot twist to the way the storyline was structured, everything felt disjointed and poorly executed. The characters lacked depth and meaningful back stories, making it hard to connect with or care about their journey. The entire narrative came off as wacky and inconsistent.
And that ending... it was beyond disappointing and downright confusing. It felt like it didn’t even belong to the rest of the book—almost as if it were a last-minute, bizarre idea thrown in or a poor attempt to inject a plot into an otherwise plotless story. Rather than tying things together, it left me wondering what the point of it all was.
Here’s the thing with Peter Swanson—he’s a hit-or-miss author. When he’s good, he delivers a masterpiece. But when he’s off, it’s a complete flop, and unfortunately, this book falls firmly into the latter category. There seems to be no in-between with him.
Huh…?!
This book was disappointing on so many levels. From the plot twist to the way the storyline was structured, everything felt disjointed and poorly executed. The characters lacked depth and meaningful back stories, making it hard to connect with or care about their journey. The entire narrative came off as wacky and inconsistent.
And that ending... it was beyond disappointing and downright confusing. It felt like it didn’t even belong to the rest of the book—almost as if it were a last-minute, bizarre idea thrown in or a poor attempt to inject a plot into an otherwise plotless story. Rather than tying things together, it left me wondering what the point of it all was.
Here’s the thing with Peter Swanson—he’s a hit-or-miss author. When he’s good, he delivers a masterpiece. But when he’s off, it’s a complete flop, and unfortunately, this book falls firmly into the latter category. There seems to be no in-between with him.
June 18, 2024
Let's talk talent.
The author of "A Talent for Murder" has a talent for writing.
Yes, "A Talent for Murder" is talented Peter Swanson's third Henry Kimball/Lily Kinter book and it was a winner.
Is a newlywed librarian's husband a talented serial killer?
Enter Lily Kintner, the librarian's friend, soon to be followed by Henry Kimball.
From start to finish, talented author Peter Swanson had me engaged, entertained, and enthralled.
Although the first half was stronger than the final chapters, the book was fast-paced, compelling, and unputdownable.
I listened to the full-cast audiobook read by talented narrators Sophie Amoss, Stephen Graybill, Saskia Maarleveld, Graham Halstead, Kathleen Early, and Keith Szarabajka.
All talented narrators did a superb job with the narration.
Talented Peter Swanson is one of my go-to authors and I always look forward to his future releases.
4.5 stars
July 11, 2024
4+ stars!
A clever, twisty, compulsively readable instalment in this fantastic thriller series!
A woman suspects her husband may be a serial killer. She reaches out to an old friend to help her figure out if her suspicions are true.
I was beyond excited to find out this series was continuing (this is Book 3). Books 1 and 2 were equally clever, manipulative and entertaining and remain one of my favourite thriller series.
The characters are what make this series stand out. The private investigator/amateur sleuth main characters are truly unforgettable. They are not your usual “heroes”. They are sneaky, conniving, quirky, unpredictable, snarky and manipulative.
This storyline is intriguing from the start and keeps you hanging on every word until the very final page. So many unexpected shocking twists that had me not wanting to put the book down. At 255 pages, this book wastes no words and is easy to fly through. The writing is smooth and concise and gets the reader wrapped up in the plot within the first couple pages.
It’s clear to see this was another winner for me in this series! I can only hope this author is brewing up another storyline to continue with these truly unforgettable characters. Highly recommend this series! This book could easily be read as a standalone but do yourself a favour and start with Book 1 as it will be extremely worthwhile for the character building aspect.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy! Thank you to my lovely local library for the physical loan!
A clever, twisty, compulsively readable instalment in this fantastic thriller series!
A woman suspects her husband may be a serial killer. She reaches out to an old friend to help her figure out if her suspicions are true.
I was beyond excited to find out this series was continuing (this is Book 3). Books 1 and 2 were equally clever, manipulative and entertaining and remain one of my favourite thriller series.
The characters are what make this series stand out. The private investigator/amateur sleuth main characters are truly unforgettable. They are not your usual “heroes”. They are sneaky, conniving, quirky, unpredictable, snarky and manipulative.
This storyline is intriguing from the start and keeps you hanging on every word until the very final page. So many unexpected shocking twists that had me not wanting to put the book down. At 255 pages, this book wastes no words and is easy to fly through. The writing is smooth and concise and gets the reader wrapped up in the plot within the first couple pages.
It’s clear to see this was another winner for me in this series! I can only hope this author is brewing up another storyline to continue with these truly unforgettable characters. Highly recommend this series! This book could easily be read as a standalone but do yourself a favour and start with Book 1 as it will be extremely worthwhile for the character building aspect.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy! Thank you to my lovely local library for the physical loan!
June 12, 2024
this is the third book in THE KIND WORTH KILLING series and it was a blast. its on the shorter side so you can easily binge it by the pool or beach this summer 😎
if you’re new here, THE KIND WORTH KILLING is my favorite thriller of all time 🖤🔪 it’s shocking, addicting and has the best cliffhanger ending. last year it got a sequel, THE KIND WORTH SAVING, and now it has a third book, A TALENT FOR MURDER. i recommend reading them in order for the best experience, but you can get away with this as a standalone if you choose. but, it’ll spoil the first two!
A TALENT FOR MURDER revisits a side character in THE KIND WORTH KILLING. she finds signs that make her husband look like a serial killer, and she calls in Lily to help. but what Lily helps discover is what you least expect 👀
in usual Swanson fashion, there’s a shocking twist about halfway through (maybe at the end of part 1?) that will change everything. the ending of this one maybe fell a little flat for me but overall it was such a fun ride and great to be back in Lily and Henry’s world again. while i could read their books forever, maybe this is the final one?
TLDR—a great thriller series! serial killer trope, shocking twists, quick bad bingeworthy reads.
if you’re new here, THE KIND WORTH KILLING is my favorite thriller of all time 🖤🔪 it’s shocking, addicting and has the best cliffhanger ending. last year it got a sequel, THE KIND WORTH SAVING, and now it has a third book, A TALENT FOR MURDER. i recommend reading them in order for the best experience, but you can get away with this as a standalone if you choose. but, it’ll spoil the first two!
A TALENT FOR MURDER revisits a side character in THE KIND WORTH KILLING. she finds signs that make her husband look like a serial killer, and she calls in Lily to help. but what Lily helps discover is what you least expect 👀
in usual Swanson fashion, there’s a shocking twist about halfway through (maybe at the end of part 1?) that will change everything. the ending of this one maybe fell a little flat for me but overall it was such a fun ride and great to be back in Lily and Henry’s world again. while i could read their books forever, maybe this is the final one?
TLDR—a great thriller series! serial killer trope, shocking twists, quick bad bingeworthy reads.
June 25, 2024
Talent Show
This third Lily Kintner novel boasts multifaceted skill sets in its characters but the most talented is the author himself. I found the calm and cool storytelling as opposed to frenetic and emotional was more impactful and increased the macabre feeling.
I didn’t have to wait long for the action to begin with the first murder taking place early in the book. A bit shocking in its nonchalance, it fit perfectly with the author’s detached writing style, giving me the shivers.
This can be read as a stand alone but I am happy that I read The Kind Worth Killing as that's still an all time favorite.
4.5 Stars rounded up.
This third Lily Kintner novel boasts multifaceted skill sets in its characters but the most talented is the author himself. I found the calm and cool storytelling as opposed to frenetic and emotional was more impactful and increased the macabre feeling.
I didn’t have to wait long for the action to begin with the first murder taking place early in the book. A bit shocking in its nonchalance, it fit perfectly with the author’s detached writing style, giving me the shivers.
This can be read as a stand alone but I am happy that I read The Kind Worth Killing as that's still an all time favorite.
4.5 Stars rounded up.
June 18, 2025
I listened to A Talent for Murder on audiobook and it is narrated fabulously with several different characters' points of views. This is my second Swanson book. I also read The Kind Worth Killing and rated it five stars. I have many Swanson books on my TBR.
Martha Ratlift recently married Alan. He travels frequently to conferences and due to some sleuthing on Martha's part, she notices that a young woman dies in the cities when Alan visits. Martha reaches out to an old friend, Lily Kitner. Lily had helped Martha escape an abusive relationship many years earlier. Martha confides her concerns about her husband to Lily.
A quote from BrainyQuote sums this book up well, "The most satisfying thrillers send ordinary people into battle against the forces of evil....and bring them out bloodied but whole."
Highly recommend!
Martha Ratlift recently married Alan. He travels frequently to conferences and due to some sleuthing on Martha's part, she notices that a young woman dies in the cities when Alan visits. Martha reaches out to an old friend, Lily Kitner. Lily had helped Martha escape an abusive relationship many years earlier. Martha confides her concerns about her husband to Lily.
A quote from BrainyQuote sums this book up well, "The most satisfying thrillers send ordinary people into battle against the forces of evil....and bring them out bloodied but whole."
Highly recommend!
July 11, 2024
EXCERPT: . . . and somehow he talked her into stepping outside on the balcony in order to face her fears. They were both naked out there, the sky swarming with stars, their bodies drying in the cool night air. It was actually good - exciting, really - maybe only because it was dark and she couldn't actually see how high up they were, or maybe it was because she was now having the kind of experience that she thought she might have on this trip. Something new, and a little dangerous. She felt alive, but she also felt excited that the next day she would be returning home. It was time. And now she had new ideas for her classroom, plus she couldn't wait to see Travis, tell him all about her weekend. They hadn't spoken that day at all. Suddenly she realised just how much she missed him.
And that was when she was thrown off the balcony.
ABOUT ' A TALENT FOR MURDER': Martha Ratliff conceded long ago that she’d likely spend her life alone. She was fine with it, happy with her solo existence, stimulated by her job as an archival librarian, constantly surrounded by thought-provoking ideas and the books she loved. But then she met Alan, a charming and sweet-natured divorcee with a job that took him on the road for half the year. When he asked her to marry him, she said yes, even though he still felt a little bit like a stranger.
A year in and the marriage was good, except for that strange blood streak on the back of one of his shirts he’d worn to a conference in Denver. Her curiosity turning to suspicion, Martha investigates the cities Alan visited over the past year and uncovers a disturbing pattern—five unsolved cases of murdered women.
Is she married to a serial killer? Or could it merely be a coincidence? Unsure what to think, Martha contacts an old friend from graduate school for advice. Lily Kintner once helped Martha out of a jam with an abusive boyfriend and may have some insight. Intrigued, Lily offers to meet Alan to find out what kind of man he really is . . . but what Lily uncovers is more perplexing and wicked than they ever could have expected.
MY THOUGHTS: Peter Swanson has a talent for writing deliciously twisty and deviously clever books, and A Talent for Murder definitely fits the bill. I read this book overnight, unable to put it aside.
The characters enthralled me. Lily Kinter we have encountered previously in The Kind Worth Killing and The Kind Worth Saving, but don't feel that you have to have read these previous books to enjoy this one. It can definitely be read as a stand-alone. A Talent for Murder is, initially, more about Martha, a librarian with a very active imagination and a curiosity that is off the scale.
We all know that saying Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you, well, in this case just because what Martha's imagining sounds like something out of a novel, doesn't mean it doesn't have some basis in fact. And no, this is NOT a spoiler! Give the woman some credit. Although, to be fair, Martha does believe she is affected by a curse placed on her by a rival in college . . .
Reading A Talent for Murder is kind of like watching a car wreck happen in front of you. You can see it happening, you don't want to watch, but there is no way in hell that you can look away. A couple of times I found myself thinking 'I don't want to read this!' as I greedily read on. I swear that at the end of Part One, my heart actually stopped!
A Talent for Murder is a book of unusual relationships - Josie and Travis, Martha and Alan, Lily and Henry. The relationships alone have enough material for a good novel, without the twists, intrigue and suspense that Swanson has injected. It is a story of manipulation, of spine-chilling evil, of characters who are chameleons. I loved it despite the fact that there is a bit more 'telling' than 'showing' in parts of the book. And please, can we have a little more Henry in the next?
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#ATalentforMurder #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: A graduate of Trinity College, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Emerson College, Peter Swanson lives on the North Shore of Massachusetts with his wife and cat.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Faber and Faber via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
And that was when she was thrown off the balcony.
ABOUT ' A TALENT FOR MURDER': Martha Ratliff conceded long ago that she’d likely spend her life alone. She was fine with it, happy with her solo existence, stimulated by her job as an archival librarian, constantly surrounded by thought-provoking ideas and the books she loved. But then she met Alan, a charming and sweet-natured divorcee with a job that took him on the road for half the year. When he asked her to marry him, she said yes, even though he still felt a little bit like a stranger.
A year in and the marriage was good, except for that strange blood streak on the back of one of his shirts he’d worn to a conference in Denver. Her curiosity turning to suspicion, Martha investigates the cities Alan visited over the past year and uncovers a disturbing pattern—five unsolved cases of murdered women.
Is she married to a serial killer? Or could it merely be a coincidence? Unsure what to think, Martha contacts an old friend from graduate school for advice. Lily Kintner once helped Martha out of a jam with an abusive boyfriend and may have some insight. Intrigued, Lily offers to meet Alan to find out what kind of man he really is . . . but what Lily uncovers is more perplexing and wicked than they ever could have expected.
MY THOUGHTS: Peter Swanson has a talent for writing deliciously twisty and deviously clever books, and A Talent for Murder definitely fits the bill. I read this book overnight, unable to put it aside.
The characters enthralled me. Lily Kinter we have encountered previously in The Kind Worth Killing and The Kind Worth Saving, but don't feel that you have to have read these previous books to enjoy this one. It can definitely be read as a stand-alone. A Talent for Murder is, initially, more about Martha, a librarian with a very active imagination and a curiosity that is off the scale.
We all know that saying Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you, well, in this case just because what Martha's imagining sounds like something out of a novel, doesn't mean it doesn't have some basis in fact. And no, this is NOT a spoiler! Give the woman some credit. Although, to be fair, Martha does believe she is affected by a curse placed on her by a rival in college . . .
Reading A Talent for Murder is kind of like watching a car wreck happen in front of you. You can see it happening, you don't want to watch, but there is no way in hell that you can look away. A couple of times I found myself thinking 'I don't want to read this!' as I greedily read on. I swear that at the end of Part One, my heart actually stopped!
A Talent for Murder is a book of unusual relationships - Josie and Travis, Martha and Alan, Lily and Henry. The relationships alone have enough material for a good novel, without the twists, intrigue and suspense that Swanson has injected. It is a story of manipulation, of spine-chilling evil, of characters who are chameleons. I loved it despite the fact that there is a bit more 'telling' than 'showing' in parts of the book. And please, can we have a little more Henry in the next?
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#ATalentforMurder #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: A graduate of Trinity College, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Emerson College, Peter Swanson lives on the North Shore of Massachusetts with his wife and cat.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Faber and Faber via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
June 17, 2024
4 "solid & serviceable" stars for this thriller. Not my favorite of his, but still pretty decent overall. I thought, however, the second part was a bit derivative, perhaps 🤷🏻♀️ - it just felt like something I'd read before, perhaps more than once... I'd still be up for more Lily someday, but I hope for maybe something fresher for Swanson's next🤞🏻
August 10, 2024
I will read ANYTHING Peter Swanson writes!! 😍
4.5 shining stars for one of my favorite thrillers so far this year!!
(Full RTC 😉)
4.5 shining stars for one of my favorite thrillers so far this year!!
(Full RTC 😉)
March 10, 2024
Thank you SO much to William Morrow for my copy of A Talent For Murder. THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE SWANSON! It’s about Martha, a woman who thinks she’s cursed in love. She has always had bad luck with men, but finally meets Alan, a nice man who travels half the year for his job. She decides to marry him, but remembers the curse when she finds blood on his shirt after a conference. She is suspicious, so she decides to investigate the recent cities that Alan has traveled to and discovers a pattern of death and unsolved murders.
Martha begins to think she may have married a serial killer, and enlists her graduate school friend Lily to help investigate Alan. After all, Lily helped Martha in the past, and she knows she can trust her. But what Lily finds is so much deeper and darker than Martha could have imagined.
Thoughts: THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING. So many layers and so twisted. I loved that it was part of the Lily Kitner series and the way she is involved is just perfect. I thought the layers in this story were genius and it kept going deeper and deeper. I loved that Henry Kimball was still involved in the story and that you get to see how his relationship with Lily continued after the first two books.
This book is dark and has triggers for stalking, murder, psychopathy, sexual sadism, assault, and rape. You can absolutely read it as a stand alone book, but the other ones set it up to be an even better read. I can’t recommend this book enough- 5 stars!
Martha begins to think she may have married a serial killer, and enlists her graduate school friend Lily to help investigate Alan. After all, Lily helped Martha in the past, and she knows she can trust her. But what Lily finds is so much deeper and darker than Martha could have imagined.
Thoughts: THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING. So many layers and so twisted. I loved that it was part of the Lily Kitner series and the way she is involved is just perfect. I thought the layers in this story were genius and it kept going deeper and deeper. I loved that Henry Kimball was still involved in the story and that you get to see how his relationship with Lily continued after the first two books.
This book is dark and has triggers for stalking, murder, psychopathy, sexual sadism, assault, and rape. You can absolutely read it as a stand alone book, but the other ones set it up to be an even better read. I can’t recommend this book enough- 5 stars!
June 8, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
Oooooo! Pete!!!! You got me. Lots of great twists!
*I read TKWK but skipped TKWS so when I read this one, it was nice to know Lily’s story, but I didn’t remember much. IMO, this felt like a standalone story.
Oooooo! Pete!!!! You got me. Lots of great twists!
*I read TKWK but skipped TKWS so when I read this one, it was nice to know Lily’s story, but I didn’t remember much. IMO, this felt like a standalone story.
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