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Peter Miles Has to Die: A Novel
“What happens when three women decide to avenge the murder of their best friend? In her riveting debut, Katie Collum explores what we owe the ones we love, and how ordinary life can change in an instant. I couldn’t put this thriller down.”—Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters
Peter Miles has to die. And Dylan Darcy, Priya Shah, and Isabel Guerrero—a bartender, a nurse, and a student—have to be the ones to kill him. As they see it, this local cop deserves death for murdering their best friend and getting away with it. All they need to do to pull off the perfect crime is stick to their carefully prepared plan.
So that’s exactly what they do. Murder, it turns out, is surprisingly easy when you’re fueled by revenge. What comes after is the hard part.
As the dry Texas heat gives way to cooler weather, their blazing rage is replaced by a chill fear. Because there’s a fallout that comes from settling the score against someone like Peter, and it could cost them more than they’ve bargained for. When the lead investigator on the case starts sniffing around for a cop killer, the three friends are not feeling as confident as they did on that fateful night. And when they start receiving death threats, it weakens their resolve even further . . . but it’s too little too late.
What they don’t realize is that this detective has her own reasons for wanting to get to the bottom of Peter’s murder. Reasons that don’t involve them at all. The investigation ramps up, and so does the pressure, leaving Dylan, Priya, and Isabel to wonder if ending his life may end up costing them theirs.
As the guilt of what they’ve done settles in their bones, they realize there’s no going back. Someone is going to have to take the fall.
Peter Miles has to die. And Dylan Darcy, Priya Shah, and Isabel Guerrero—a bartender, a nurse, and a student—have to be the ones to kill him. As they see it, this local cop deserves death for murdering their best friend and getting away with it. All they need to do to pull off the perfect crime is stick to their carefully prepared plan.
So that’s exactly what they do. Murder, it turns out, is surprisingly easy when you’re fueled by revenge. What comes after is the hard part.
As the dry Texas heat gives way to cooler weather, their blazing rage is replaced by a chill fear. Because there’s a fallout that comes from settling the score against someone like Peter, and it could cost them more than they’ve bargained for. When the lead investigator on the case starts sniffing around for a cop killer, the three friends are not feeling as confident as they did on that fateful night. And when they start receiving death threats, it weakens their resolve even further . . . but it’s too little too late.
What they don’t realize is that this detective has her own reasons for wanting to get to the bottom of Peter’s murder. Reasons that don’t involve them at all. The investigation ramps up, and so does the pressure, leaving Dylan, Priya, and Isabel to wonder if ending his life may end up costing them theirs.
As the guilt of what they’ve done settles in their bones, they realize there’s no going back. Someone is going to have to take the fall.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 12, 2025
31 people are currently reading
12135 people want to read
About the author
Katie Collom
3 books51 followersKatie Collom grew up in Mazatlán, Mexico and is a life-long expat and world traveler. She spent four years in Texas and has carried a piece of it with her ever since. Currently, she resides in York, England, with her husband and three cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
April 21, 2025
4.5
i support women’s wrongs
thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
this book was INTENSE and fun and twisty and satisfying. i love books with strong female characters and friendships
the three main characters are connected through friendship but also through a devastating loss and an even more devastating decision after that. their feelings of loss and guilt feel so real, it all jumps off the page.
the ending was immensely satisfying. this book was fast-paced and well written.
i’ll be keeping an eye out for more books from this author
i support women’s wrongs
thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
this book was INTENSE and fun and twisty and satisfying. i love books with strong female characters and friendships
the three main characters are connected through friendship but also through a devastating loss and an even more devastating decision after that. their feelings of loss and guilt feel so real, it all jumps off the page.
the ending was immensely satisfying. this book was fast-paced and well written.
i’ll be keeping an eye out for more books from this author
July 28, 2025
2.75 💫
As much as the premise enticed me, this didn't quite hit the mark for me. The biggest moment of the story takes place a third of the way in, and it seemed to lose steam after that. There was just a lack of tension and emotion. With a story like this, there's almost no way for a true happy ending for everyone, but this one still left me a little frustrated.
I also really was hoping for more emphasis on female friendships, given the plot, but even right from the start, it never really delivered on that aspect. The three girls didn't truly seem to even like each other that much.
The writing itself, the prose, was the high point for me. I can also really appreciate some of the central themes here, surrounding abuse and corruption in the police force, and it was nice seeing those things brought to light.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC.
As much as the premise enticed me, this didn't quite hit the mark for me. The biggest moment of the story takes place a third of the way in, and it seemed to lose steam after that. There was just a lack of tension and emotion. With a story like this, there's almost no way for a true happy ending for everyone, but this one still left me a little frustrated.
I also really was hoping for more emphasis on female friendships, given the plot, but even right from the start, it never really delivered on that aspect. The three girls didn't truly seem to even like each other that much.
The writing itself, the prose, was the high point for me. I can also really appreciate some of the central themes here, surrounding abuse and corruption in the police force, and it was nice seeing those things brought to light.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC.
August 11, 2025
This hooked me right away with a strong premise, three women banding together to avenge their friend’s death by taking down the man responsible. Add in a mid 90s setting (with another timeline in the late 90s) and a secret narrator twist, and I was intrigued from the start. It definitely gave me John Tucker Must Die vibes, only darker and with a revenge driven, suspenseful edge.
The story’s multiple POVs helped keep things dynamic, but the pacing did feel a little uneven. Some stretches flew by with tension and reveals, while others lingered longer than needed. Still, the different perspectives added layers to the mystery, especially once the narrator’s identity was revealed. The blend of friendship drama, vengeance, and shifting alliances kept me turning the pages, even when the momentum dipped a bit.
Overall, I’d give this one a 3.75. It’s twisty, nostalgic, and offers a few genuine surprises. If you enjoy revenge plots with a strong female ensemble and a throwback feel, it’s worth picking up. Just be ready for a few pacing hiccups along the way, but you might forgive them for the sake of the satisfying reveals and the 90s vibe.
April 13, 2025
Collom's debut thriller packs a punch. It explores the deadly consequences of vigilante justice. The premise is deliciously unsettling—three friends commit what they believe is the perfect murder, only to discover that revenge comes with a soul-crushing price tag.
The narrative dances between the sweltering late '90s Texas setting where the murder occurs and the cold, unforgiving walls of the state penitentiary in the early 2000s. What haunted me wasn't figuring out who killed the corrupt cop—we know that from the start—but watching guilt slowly devour the characters from within as they realize there's no escaping what they've done. This structural choice creates a fascinating psychological exploration of how guilt affects each character differently in the aftermath of their violent act.
Against a backdrop of law enforcement sexism and discrimination, the story builds to a genuinely shocking twist that I never saw coming, leaving me both satisfied and disturbed in equal measure.
A big thank you to Bantam Books and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
The narrative dances between the sweltering late '90s Texas setting where the murder occurs and the cold, unforgiving walls of the state penitentiary in the early 2000s. What haunted me wasn't figuring out who killed the corrupt cop—we know that from the start—but watching guilt slowly devour the characters from within as they realize there's no escaping what they've done. This structural choice creates a fascinating psychological exploration of how guilt affects each character differently in the aftermath of their violent act.
Against a backdrop of law enforcement sexism and discrimination, the story builds to a genuinely shocking twist that I never saw coming, leaving me both satisfied and disturbed in equal measure.
A big thank you to Bantam Books and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2025
Trigger Warnings ⚠️ Rape, Murder, Torture. No graphic details.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
Really enjoyed this book, although I really wish he had just died right away, rather than chapters of them planning his murder. Didn't care too much for that, but once it focused on the investigation, it was amazing.
Not sure how I feel about the ending. At the same time, the ending will stick in your brain, making you remember the book forever.
Definitely would recommend this book!
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
Really enjoyed this book, although I really wish he had just died right away, rather than chapters of them planning his murder. Didn't care too much for that, but once it focused on the investigation, it was amazing.
Not sure how I feel about the ending. At the same time, the ending will stick in your brain, making you remember the book forever.
Definitely would recommend this book!
April 10, 2025
Pretty good story. Not who u thought it was & that’s always good. But kinda anticlimactic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2025
The premise of the book had me intrigued from the outset. I really liked the idea of friends coming together to avenge the murder of their best friend. I enjoyed that we got the story from multiple perspectives as it kept the story interesting. The pacing was mixed with some parts happening quickly and then a slower pace as the friends dealt with the fallout of what they did. However, it was well written and I invested in the story and wanted to see what was going to happen.
I have really mixed feelings about the ending as it felt unfair and such a waste (I don't want to give anything away). The book was a good exploration of grief, friendship and how far you'd be willing to go to get justice.
This was a good debut and I look forward to seeing what the author writes next.
I think fans of revenge thrillers will love this one!
Huge thanks to the author, publisher and Love Books Tours for providing a copy of the book to review.
I have really mixed feelings about the ending as it felt unfair and such a waste (I don't want to give anything away). The book was a good exploration of grief, friendship and how far you'd be willing to go to get justice.
This was a good debut and I look forward to seeing what the author writes next.
I think fans of revenge thrillers will love this one!
Huge thanks to the author, publisher and Love Books Tours for providing a copy of the book to review.
May 12, 2025
This book hooked me from the first page and didn’t let go. Katie Collom’s writing is emotional and intense! I was fully pulled into the story of three friends who go after justice on their own after losing someone they love.
It’s fast-paced and full of twists, with real, flawed characters who made me feel every emotion. The way it explores grief, guilt, and revenge felt so real and honest.
Peter Miles Has to Die is a powerful debut that stays with you. I’ll definitely be reading whatever Katie Collom writes next.
It’s fast-paced and full of twists, with real, flawed characters who made me feel every emotion. The way it explores grief, guilt, and revenge felt so real and honest.
Peter Miles Has to Die is a powerful debut that stays with you. I’ll definitely be reading whatever Katie Collom writes next.
August 11, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars!!
I support women’s wrongs!!
Despite my three stars I really enjoyed this book and would recommended reading it! There is just a couple things I would have changed before giving it a higher rating.
This was such a fast paced read!
I loved Dylan and Bree. It helps that I’ve always loved Dylan as a girl’s name. They stood out to me as characters more so than Priya and Isabel.
I wish it focused more on showing the friendship between the three girls. We saw that they met up for girls nights, but it was more told than shown. I know they were going through a traumatic thing, but they never really seemed to get along all that well. I wasn’t very convinced they were super close friends. Especially with Dylan and Priya at each other‘s throat most of the book.
I usually never say this, but I could have used this book to be 100 pages longer. It almost would have been nice to see Beck still alive for a little bit and interacting with the three girls so we could really see how close of a friendship they had. Other than just flashbacks.
Even things like Dylan finding out about Bree would have been interesting to see! It just skipped to the next thing right away.
I did like how it was split into different parts. That flowed well.
I could feel how much the three girls cared about Beck and I instantly hated Peter because he was a disgusting man and I was sad for her death, but I didn’t really feel that connected to her. I was still supportive of the three women because I knew Peter was a bad man.
It is sad to see what women go through. This was a very dark book throughout. No real happy moments.
As terrible as this sounds, I almost wish the girls had no remorse. It was very realistic how they were all feeling after it happened though. I think this would’ve been a little bit more interesting if it was them working to try to not get caught instead of more the emotional side of it. It wasn’t like it was a bad thing that’s how it played out, I was just thinking it would be a little bit different.
I think I went into it thinking it would be a touch unrealistic, that these girls would completely get away with it, but it was very much so grounded in real life. If you go into it knowing that, the different expectations may help you like the book more.
But it was still good despite all of that.
I didn’t really have a clue where this book was going until the end, then I started piecing together the parts in the Texas penitentiary.
It was a sad ending. I should have known it wouldn’t have ended perfectly, but I was still hoping there would be more justice.
It’s a sad world women have to live in, and unfortunately a lot of what happened in here happens in real life too.
I hate to say this was an entertaining read because of all the terrible things that happened in it, but I still do very much recommend picking it up!
3.5 stars!!
I support women’s wrongs!!
Despite my three stars I really enjoyed this book and would recommended reading it! There is just a couple things I would have changed before giving it a higher rating.
This was such a fast paced read!
I loved Dylan and Bree. It helps that I’ve always loved Dylan as a girl’s name. They stood out to me as characters more so than Priya and Isabel.
I wish it focused more on showing the friendship between the three girls. We saw that they met up for girls nights, but it was more told than shown. I know they were going through a traumatic thing, but they never really seemed to get along all that well. I wasn’t very convinced they were super close friends. Especially with Dylan and Priya at each other‘s throat most of the book.
I usually never say this, but I could have used this book to be 100 pages longer. It almost would have been nice to see Beck still alive for a little bit and interacting with the three girls so we could really see how close of a friendship they had. Other than just flashbacks.
Even things like Dylan finding out about Bree would have been interesting to see! It just skipped to the next thing right away.
I did like how it was split into different parts. That flowed well.
I could feel how much the three girls cared about Beck and I instantly hated Peter because he was a disgusting man and I was sad for her death, but I didn’t really feel that connected to her. I was still supportive of the three women because I knew Peter was a bad man.
It is sad to see what women go through. This was a very dark book throughout. No real happy moments.
As terrible as this sounds, I almost wish the girls had no remorse. It was very realistic how they were all feeling after it happened though. I think this would’ve been a little bit more interesting if it was them working to try to not get caught instead of more the emotional side of it. It wasn’t like it was a bad thing that’s how it played out, I was just thinking it would be a little bit different.
I think I went into it thinking it would be a touch unrealistic, that these girls would completely get away with it, but it was very much so grounded in real life. If you go into it knowing that, the different expectations may help you like the book more.
But it was still good despite all of that.
I didn’t really have a clue where this book was going until the end, then I started piecing together the parts in the Texas penitentiary.
It was a sad ending. I should have known it wouldn’t have ended perfectly, but I was still hoping there would be more justice.
It’s a sad world women have to live in, and unfortunately a lot of what happened in here happens in real life too.
I hate to say this was an entertaining read because of all the terrible things that happened in it, but I still do very much recommend picking it up!
August 20, 2025
I really liked this. It kept my interest the entire time and was super fast paced. Vigilante justice is one of my favorite tropes. This takes place in a small town in Texas with corrupt cops. Multiple POVs that will keep you hooked. I liked that it showed how the aftermath of the killings affected each of the girls. It was interesting to see how each of them dealt with the feelings of guilt and shame over the murder they committed. I really liked their friendship.
Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the e-arc.
Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the e-arc.
August 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5
I love an intense psychological thriller, throw in some strong female characters, 90’s nostalgia, suspense and secrets and we have a novel that had me gripped from the very first chapter.
It’s raw, powerful and told with such depth. Exploring grief, guilt, sexism, discrimination and corruption.
The story centres around three friends, Dylan, Pria and Isabel. Still grieving and struggling with the loss of their friend Beck, who they believe was murdered by her abusive ex boyfriend - police officer Peter Miles. Suspecting he has never been charged because he is being protected by ‘his own’, they decide to take justice into their own hands and plot his murder and I was right there with them wanting this man to pay for what he did!
With a detective hot on their heels, can they keep it together or will the guilt fracture the bond they share?
Seeing how the guilt affected each of the characters differently and how they dealt with threats they faced was fascinating. I absolutely loved Dylan Darcy, strong and determined she doesn’t show her feelings easily and what she goes through and how she copes was admirable.
The dual timeline and multiple POV’s kept the pace fast and the tension high. There are twists and turns which kept me guessing throughout, suspecting different people at different times.
I did predict the ending but it took nothing away from the overall plot.
An absolutely amazing debut and one I would 100% recommend to anyone who enjoys a revenge thriller.
I love an intense psychological thriller, throw in some strong female characters, 90’s nostalgia, suspense and secrets and we have a novel that had me gripped from the very first chapter.
It’s raw, powerful and told with such depth. Exploring grief, guilt, sexism, discrimination and corruption.
The story centres around three friends, Dylan, Pria and Isabel. Still grieving and struggling with the loss of their friend Beck, who they believe was murdered by her abusive ex boyfriend - police officer Peter Miles. Suspecting he has never been charged because he is being protected by ‘his own’, they decide to take justice into their own hands and plot his murder and I was right there with them wanting this man to pay for what he did!
With a detective hot on their heels, can they keep it together or will the guilt fracture the bond they share?
Seeing how the guilt affected each of the characters differently and how they dealt with threats they faced was fascinating. I absolutely loved Dylan Darcy, strong and determined she doesn’t show her feelings easily and what she goes through and how she copes was admirable.
The dual timeline and multiple POV’s kept the pace fast and the tension high. There are twists and turns which kept me guessing throughout, suspecting different people at different times.
I did predict the ending but it took nothing away from the overall plot.
An absolutely amazing debut and one I would 100% recommend to anyone who enjoys a revenge thriller.
August 16, 2025
#ad much love for my advance copy @bantambooks & @novelsuspects #partner
& @prhaudio #partner for the ALC
Peter Miles Has to Die
They think Peter Miles killed their best-friend and now they’re going to kill him.
Oof! Loved this book! Finished in one sitting. Also loved the mysterious jailhouse entries - they added more mystery to the story. The story takes place in 1993, but the journal entries are rooted in the future.
Part 1: The girls are planning and executing their plan of kidnapping and killing Peter Miles.
Part 2: Detectives have learned that Peter Miles has been killed. Now they have to figure out what has happened. The twist at the end of this part - AMAZING!
Part 3: The conclusion.
I loved the rep in this book, especially in the women and how they fought back in their own ways against patriarchic views and treatment.
🎧: Also listened to the audio while following along and would recommend the audio or book version. Nicole Cash is another fantastic narrator and she nailed this audiobook.
There’s no laws that protect women before a crime happens to them - only after, if they survive that crime. Outside of restraining orders - which don’t always prevent anything. Loved how this book tackled that issue.
Such a fun read.
Guilt.
Revenge.
Solidarity.
& @prhaudio #partner for the ALC
Peter Miles Has to Die
They think Peter Miles killed their best-friend and now they’re going to kill him.
Oof! Loved this book! Finished in one sitting. Also loved the mysterious jailhouse entries - they added more mystery to the story. The story takes place in 1993, but the journal entries are rooted in the future.
Part 1: The girls are planning and executing their plan of kidnapping and killing Peter Miles.
Part 2: Detectives have learned that Peter Miles has been killed. Now they have to figure out what has happened. The twist at the end of this part - AMAZING!
Part 3: The conclusion.
I loved the rep in this book, especially in the women and how they fought back in their own ways against patriarchic views and treatment.
🎧: Also listened to the audio while following along and would recommend the audio or book version. Nicole Cash is another fantastic narrator and she nailed this audiobook.
There’s no laws that protect women before a crime happens to them - only after, if they survive that crime. Outside of restraining orders - which don’t always prevent anything. Loved how this book tackled that issue.
Such a fun read.
Guilt.
Revenge.
Solidarity.
November 20, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC!
I really liked the idea of this and ended up really enjoying it!
I was skeptical in the first part, I wasn’t having a great time. Everyone felt insufferable for a bit and all the POVs and different timelines (past, present, and future) wasn’t doing it for me.
But then we got part two and I forgave it all because that’s when I really got into it. It’s yet another perspective but I loved the inclusion of it.
My two biggest gripes are very small things but they bugged me way more than they should have.
The first was that these women have lived in Texas AT LEAST since they were 13. Northern Texas but it makes no difference to me. Texas is Texas. She, an adult woman in her mid to late twenties who lived IN TEXAS for likely half of her life, pronounced Julio (as in don julio) with a j, not an h. I cannot accept that.
The second is that it got to 32 degrees one night and the bar parking lot was covered in ice. Just because it’s 32 doesn’t mean everything is ice. Did it rain earlier and that froze? Did it just appear out of nowhere because cold? I don’t know.
Those two things aside, I really liked this book and am very glad I gave it a shot!
I really liked the idea of this and ended up really enjoying it!
I was skeptical in the first part, I wasn’t having a great time. Everyone felt insufferable for a bit and all the POVs and different timelines (past, present, and future) wasn’t doing it for me.
But then we got part two and I forgave it all because that’s when I really got into it. It’s yet another perspective but I loved the inclusion of it.
My two biggest gripes are very small things but they bugged me way more than they should have.
The first was that these women have lived in Texas AT LEAST since they were 13. Northern Texas but it makes no difference to me. Texas is Texas. She, an adult woman in her mid to late twenties who lived IN TEXAS for likely half of her life, pronounced Julio (as in don julio) with a j, not an h. I cannot accept that.
The second is that it got to 32 degrees one night and the bar parking lot was covered in ice. Just because it’s 32 doesn’t mean everything is ice. Did it rain earlier and that froze? Did it just appear out of nowhere because cold? I don’t know.
Those two things aside, I really liked this book and am very glad I gave it a shot!
Want to read
July 20, 2025If you like revenge stories (as I do) you should definitely try Peter Miles Has to Die.
Three friends, upset that the police haven't arrested the guy who killed their friend Beck, decide to take matters into their own hands. That's all you need to know, because I think the synopsis of this gives too much away! This is set in the mid 1990s, with epistolary elements from the late 1990s, which makes for an interesting guessing game.
The story is twisty and surprising and really held my interest. Though I guessed one major element
This is Katie Collom's first book and I'll definitely be on the lookout for her follow-up!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
If you want to read my list of favorite revenge books: you can find it here!
Three friends, upset that the police haven't arrested the guy who killed their friend Beck, decide to take matters into their own hands. That's all you need to know, because I think the synopsis of this gives too much away! This is set in the mid 1990s, with epistolary elements from the late 1990s, which makes for an interesting guessing game.
The story is twisty and surprising and really held my interest. Though I guessed one major element
This is Katie Collom's first book and I'll definitely be on the lookout for her follow-up!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
If you want to read my list of favorite revenge books: you can find it here!
August 26, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. The story is really good. An eye for an eye story. It always makes for compelling thriller reading.
The cover is good. It's designed perfectly for the genre. The colours are good and the bold title is eye catching.
The book is well written and flows nicely. The book is layed out well and the chapter headings help keep the story straight.
I like the Texan setting. I've not read many stories based here but I do enjoy it.
The characters were wonderful. They were well developed and fit into the story beautifully. I liked Isabel best. She has a sweet innocence in spite of her actions.
I definitely recommend this book!! It was a wonderful debut novel.
The cover is good. It's designed perfectly for the genre. The colours are good and the bold title is eye catching.
The book is well written and flows nicely. The book is layed out well and the chapter headings help keep the story straight.
I like the Texan setting. I've not read many stories based here but I do enjoy it.
The characters were wonderful. They were well developed and fit into the story beautifully. I liked Isabel best. She has a sweet innocence in spite of her actions.
I definitely recommend this book!! It was a wonderful debut novel.
August 14, 2025
Thank you NetGalley, Ballantine and Katie Collom for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a quick read and despite gruesome acts in the book, most were off page or not detailed.
There were four best friends until one was murdered, leaving the others reeling from the loss and pain of the injustice when her killer hasn’t been charged. When he shows up at one of their jobs, they decide he must die.
The book details each of the friend’s perspectives on the current timeline, the murdered friend’s perspective from the past and an unnamed perspective from jail.
The story was really interesting and engaging. My biggest complaint was the three best friend’s relationship was very strained to the point where they didn’t seem like very good friends. That being said, love to see woman supporting their friends when they’ve been wronged.
This was a quick read and despite gruesome acts in the book, most were off page or not detailed.
There were four best friends until one was murdered, leaving the others reeling from the loss and pain of the injustice when her killer hasn’t been charged. When he shows up at one of their jobs, they decide he must die.
The book details each of the friend’s perspectives on the current timeline, the murdered friend’s perspective from the past and an unnamed perspective from jail.
The story was really interesting and engaging. My biggest complaint was the three best friend’s relationship was very strained to the point where they didn’t seem like very good friends. That being said, love to see woman supporting their friends when they’ve been wronged.
August 26, 2025
Peter Miles has to Die!
This is such a good crime novel! Multiple points of view, different time frames, all with one aim!
Peter is such an unlikeable character which brings so much credence to the story!
I didn’t work out the person in chapter two until right near the end, which shows how great the thriller is and how complex.
Dylan, Priya and Isabel are all very different as friends and also when plotting murder!
I think this is a great debut thriller with so much to get your teeth into!
This is such a good crime novel! Multiple points of view, different time frames, all with one aim!
Peter is such an unlikeable character which brings so much credence to the story!
I didn’t work out the person in chapter two until right near the end, which shows how great the thriller is and how complex.
Dylan, Priya and Isabel are all very different as friends and also when plotting murder!
I think this is a great debut thriller with so much to get your teeth into!
August 14, 2025
I DID NOT SEE THAT ENDING COMING! This book had me glued to the pages. It alternates between the past, present and an unknown person who is in jail. The entire time I thought I knew who the unknown person was, but boy was I wrong. The plot is unique and refreshing for the mystery & thriller genre.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine | Bantam for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine | Bantam for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 14, 2025
This book had a hurdle to jump for me right away as this is not my usual kind of book. However, I wanted to read it because it seemed to focus on friendships between women and I love that in a book. However, the friendships didn’t really land for me the way I wanted them too. It was an entertaining enough story but I wish there had been more to the characters and their relationships.
September 2, 2025
Peter Miles Has To Die ✨️
- Let yourselves in. Change clothes. Leave lights and stereo on. Exit back. Pick up car. -
Murder | Thriller | Twist
Such an easy to follow read! Jumps straight into the story, no messing around! Dylan, Pria and Isabelle are not letting Peter Miles get away with the murder of their best friend, can they keep it together during the murder investigation?
Bree is a great character, she brings so much to this story having already had a bad experience with Peter Miles!
If you enjoy a book with short chapters that keep you saying just one more then this thriller is for you!
- Let yourselves in. Change clothes. Leave lights and stereo on. Exit back. Pick up car. -
Murder | Thriller | Twist
Such an easy to follow read! Jumps straight into the story, no messing around! Dylan, Pria and Isabelle are not letting Peter Miles get away with the murder of their best friend, can they keep it together during the murder investigation?
Bree is a great character, she brings so much to this story having already had a bad experience with Peter Miles!
If you enjoy a book with short chapters that keep you saying just one more then this thriller is for you!
September 10, 2025
This was not only my first read by this author, it is also actually a debut novel and I honestly would never have guessed.
This was a really cleverly plotted read with some really interesting characters to get to grips with.
I loved the format of this storyline which was set into 3 parts where we meet the main characters, the detective and then progress the storyline to its conclusion.
Told over a dual timeline and also through multiple different pov's were able to get inside each of the characters' heads and really see how the events taking place then and now, have affected each of them differently.
I thought the premise was really good and this had me on on edge at times but also rooting for these three friends who essentially have committed murder themselves - although I'm the wrong, I couldn't help hope that they all got their satisfactory ending and siding with them throughout.
This had the shortest chapters which made this absolutely fly and I could not put this down - sneaking an extra few chapters in each time I picked it up!
I did guess the twist before it came, but this still didn't spoil my enjoyment of this read.
A great book to add to your mystery tbr piles and certainly an author to watch out for.
This was a really cleverly plotted read with some really interesting characters to get to grips with.
I loved the format of this storyline which was set into 3 parts where we meet the main characters, the detective and then progress the storyline to its conclusion.
Told over a dual timeline and also through multiple different pov's were able to get inside each of the characters' heads and really see how the events taking place then and now, have affected each of them differently.
I thought the premise was really good and this had me on on edge at times but also rooting for these three friends who essentially have committed murder themselves - although I'm the wrong, I couldn't help hope that they all got their satisfactory ending and siding with them throughout.
This had the shortest chapters which made this absolutely fly and I could not put this down - sneaking an extra few chapters in each time I picked it up!
I did guess the twist before it came, but this still didn't spoil my enjoyment of this read.
A great book to add to your mystery tbr piles and certainly an author to watch out for.
June 30, 2025
We need half stars - 3.5 is what i would give this one.
The premise of this was interesting - 4 besties - one is murdered. The suspect not charged. The other 3 friends cannot let him off the hook. They hatch a plan because after all "Peter Miles has to Die" for what he did.
I liked it enough, but there was something missing -i think it was the character development. I didn't love the three of them. And maybe i needed more about Bree.
at any rate, I did like the story and thinking - can they really do it? Will they do it?
I would read something else by this author for sure.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book!
The premise of this was interesting - 4 besties - one is murdered. The suspect not charged. The other 3 friends cannot let him off the hook. They hatch a plan because after all "Peter Miles has to Die" for what he did.
I liked it enough, but there was something missing -i think it was the character development. I didn't love the three of them. And maybe i needed more about Bree.
at any rate, I did like the story and thinking - can they really do it? Will they do it?
I would read something else by this author for sure.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book!
August 13, 2025
This was solidly ok- not bad, not great, but fine. I really liked the premise, and I understood the need for multiple POVs, but due to the amount of them, I feel like I didn’t get to know or truly invest in any of the characters. I am pretty character driven reader, so that made the book feel pretty surface level to me. With that being said, I am not the target audience for this book because as I was reading it, I was thinking of people I would recommend it to. A good premise with a good theme, I just wish I would have been captured more by the characters and invested how each of their stories ended in the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2025
When Beck is murdered, her three friends are devastated and angry. Very, very angry. The man who brutally killed her is still walking free. He’s a cop and cops protect one another. There’s only thing to do - Peter Miles has to die.
The three friends underestimated the cost of retaliation. They forget to think about how the guilt would eat them alive. As each of them deal with their remorse and anguish, the police are getting closer to the truth. Someone needs to pay, even if Peter Miles deserved it.
This book is so well written and engaging. With topics of sexism and abuse, it’s easy to see how some of the choices are made by the women in the story. Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine for the eARC.
The three friends underestimated the cost of retaliation. They forget to think about how the guilt would eat them alive. As each of them deal with their remorse and anguish, the police are getting closer to the truth. Someone needs to pay, even if Peter Miles deserved it.
This book is so well written and engaging. With topics of sexism and abuse, it’s easy to see how some of the choices are made by the women in the story. Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine for the eARC.
May 20, 2025
Two and a half stars rounded up to three. Dylan, Priya and Isabel decide to kill cop Peter Miles, after he murders their friend Beck, and gets away with it. But they didn't really think about the aftermath of the crime...
The concept of this book sounded great. But the more I read, the more boring I found it to be. And when you find out who's in prison, it just doesn't ring true at all. Disappointing.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
The concept of this book sounded great. But the more I read, the more boring I found it to be. And when you find out who's in prison, it just doesn't ring true at all. Disappointing.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
August 26, 2025
I can’t believe this is a debut novel. This is definitely an author to watch out for. I devoured this book in one sitting, I just couldn’t put it down. This book is a high-stakes revenge-driven plot with an unflinching exploration of guilt, morality, and loyalty. This isn’t just a story about murder—it’s about the aftermath, the unraveling of friendships, and the price you pay when justice fails you.
At the heart of the story are three friends Dylan, Priya and Isabel. They have known each other since they were kids but have been brought together even more through their grief after their friend, Becky is murdered. And they know who’s guilty. They are bound even tighter by a pact to do the unthinkable: kill the man responsible. Collom does an incredible job giving each of them depth and individuality. Dylan, the bartender, is all raw edges, unemotional and impulsive energy. Priya, the nurse, is steady and cautious, constantly battling her conscience. Isabel, the student, is the youngest and most conflicted, her quiet guilt simmering beneath the surface. Together, they’re messy, flawed, and painfully human, which makes their choices feel disturbingly real.
What impressed me most was how the pacing mirrors the emotional journey. The opening half is tense but controlled as the trio meticulously plan Peter Miles’ murder. You can almost feel their resolve harden with every chapter. But once the deed is done, the story shifts—paranoia sets in, secrets bubble up, and the weight of what they’ve done starts to fracture their bond. The creeping dread of being caught is constant, especially as the lead detective begins digging deeper into the case. And when anonymous death threats start arriving, the tension skyrockets. Can they trust each other to hold fast?
Collom’s writing is sharp and evocative, perfectly capturing the oppressive Texas heat, the small-town claustrophobia, and the way grief can twist into rage. While this is undeniably a revenge thriller, it also raises deeper questions: What would you do if the justice system failed you? How far would you go for the people you love? And how much of yourself are you willing to lose in the process?
The writing is sharp and I loved the short and snappy chapters that still allow you to be immersed in the story . The twists land hard, especially when we realize that the detective hunting Peter’s killer isn’t just doing her job—she has her own motives, which adds a fresh layer of intrigue. By the final chapters, I was torn between racing through the pages and wanting to savor every reveal. The final twist I didn’t see coming and I loved it.
It’s bold, fast-paced, and unforgettable—a reminder that sometimes the scariest part of a murder isn’t committing it… it’s living with it.
At the heart of the story are three friends Dylan, Priya and Isabel. They have known each other since they were kids but have been brought together even more through their grief after their friend, Becky is murdered. And they know who’s guilty. They are bound even tighter by a pact to do the unthinkable: kill the man responsible. Collom does an incredible job giving each of them depth and individuality. Dylan, the bartender, is all raw edges, unemotional and impulsive energy. Priya, the nurse, is steady and cautious, constantly battling her conscience. Isabel, the student, is the youngest and most conflicted, her quiet guilt simmering beneath the surface. Together, they’re messy, flawed, and painfully human, which makes their choices feel disturbingly real.
What impressed me most was how the pacing mirrors the emotional journey. The opening half is tense but controlled as the trio meticulously plan Peter Miles’ murder. You can almost feel their resolve harden with every chapter. But once the deed is done, the story shifts—paranoia sets in, secrets bubble up, and the weight of what they’ve done starts to fracture their bond. The creeping dread of being caught is constant, especially as the lead detective begins digging deeper into the case. And when anonymous death threats start arriving, the tension skyrockets. Can they trust each other to hold fast?
Collom’s writing is sharp and evocative, perfectly capturing the oppressive Texas heat, the small-town claustrophobia, and the way grief can twist into rage. While this is undeniably a revenge thriller, it also raises deeper questions: What would you do if the justice system failed you? How far would you go for the people you love? And how much of yourself are you willing to lose in the process?
The writing is sharp and I loved the short and snappy chapters that still allow you to be immersed in the story . The twists land hard, especially when we realize that the detective hunting Peter’s killer isn’t just doing her job—she has her own motives, which adds a fresh layer of intrigue. By the final chapters, I was torn between racing through the pages and wanting to savor every reveal. The final twist I didn’t see coming and I loved it.
It’s bold, fast-paced, and unforgettable—a reminder that sometimes the scariest part of a murder isn’t committing it… it’s living with it.
January 6, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
In Peter Miles Has to Die, Katie Collum delivers a sharp, morally unsettled debut that interrogates what justice looks like when the system has already failed, particularly for women and people of color in carceral spaces designed to protect men like Peter Miles. Framed as a revenge thriller but structured more like an autopsy of guilt, the novel is less interested in whether murder is justified than in what it costs when rage is the only tool left.
Through Dylan, Priyanka, and Isabel—a working-class bartender, a nurse, and a student—Collum crafts a deliberately intersectional trio whose differences matter. Their varying degrees of precarity shape how they experience risk, fear, and consequence after killing a cop who murdered their friend and walked free. The novel is most effective when it shows how gender, race, immigration status, and class quietly but relentlessly determine who can survive scrutiny and who is always already disposable. The women’s decision is born not of impulsive violence but of institutional exhaustion: a recognition that the legal system has no intention of delivering accountability for their loss.
Collum resists glamorizing vigilante justice. The murder itself is swift; the aftermath is corrosive. As the Texas seasons cool, so does the certainty that bound the women together, replaced by paranoia, fractures in loyalty, and the creeping realization that justice extracted outside the law still replicates its hierarchies. The looming investigation which is led by a female detective with her own buried motives adds a compelling layer, complicating the binary of women versus institution and underscoring how proximity to power can distort solidarity.
If the novel falters slightly, it’s in its final stretch, where the mechanics of the thriller occasionally overtake the psychological depth established earlier. Some emotional beats resolve more neatly than the premise suggests, softening the full weight of what the women have done. Still, Collum’s refusal to offer moral absolution feels intentional: no one emerges unscathed, and no outcome resembles triumph.
Ultimately, Peter Miles Has to Die succeeds as a feminist thriller precisely because it refuses catharsis. It asks what happens after revenge, who is allowed to carry guilt, and how justice bends—or breaks—under patriarchy, policing, and grief. It’s a chilling, socially aware debut that understands violence not as spectacle, but as a consequence of being unheard for too long.
Follow me on instagram! @mother_of_loki
In Peter Miles Has to Die, Katie Collum delivers a sharp, morally unsettled debut that interrogates what justice looks like when the system has already failed, particularly for women and people of color in carceral spaces designed to protect men like Peter Miles. Framed as a revenge thriller but structured more like an autopsy of guilt, the novel is less interested in whether murder is justified than in what it costs when rage is the only tool left.
Through Dylan, Priyanka, and Isabel—a working-class bartender, a nurse, and a student—Collum crafts a deliberately intersectional trio whose differences matter. Their varying degrees of precarity shape how they experience risk, fear, and consequence after killing a cop who murdered their friend and walked free. The novel is most effective when it shows how gender, race, immigration status, and class quietly but relentlessly determine who can survive scrutiny and who is always already disposable. The women’s decision is born not of impulsive violence but of institutional exhaustion: a recognition that the legal system has no intention of delivering accountability for their loss.
Collum resists glamorizing vigilante justice. The murder itself is swift; the aftermath is corrosive. As the Texas seasons cool, so does the certainty that bound the women together, replaced by paranoia, fractures in loyalty, and the creeping realization that justice extracted outside the law still replicates its hierarchies. The looming investigation which is led by a female detective with her own buried motives adds a compelling layer, complicating the binary of women versus institution and underscoring how proximity to power can distort solidarity.
If the novel falters slightly, it’s in its final stretch, where the mechanics of the thriller occasionally overtake the psychological depth established earlier. Some emotional beats resolve more neatly than the premise suggests, softening the full weight of what the women have done. Still, Collum’s refusal to offer moral absolution feels intentional: no one emerges unscathed, and no outcome resembles triumph.
Ultimately, Peter Miles Has to Die succeeds as a feminist thriller precisely because it refuses catharsis. It asks what happens after revenge, who is allowed to carry guilt, and how justice bends—or breaks—under patriarchy, policing, and grief. It’s a chilling, socially aware debut that understands violence not as spectacle, but as a consequence of being unheard for too long.
Follow me on instagram! @mother_of_loki
September 24, 2025
“Beck wasn’t the first to be killed for nothing, nor would she be the last. Sometimes to be a woman felt like the worst luck in the world.”
Peter Miles Has To Die by Katie Collom is the ‘90s girl power revenge killer thriller we all need in our lives.
4.75 / 5.00
When Beck Grant is murdered, her three best friends know in their hearts exactly who did it. And they’re not going to let him walk free much longer. As our friends are about to learn, karma is a bitch, and someone will have to take responsibility – but who’s it going to be?
This was such a great first release from Katie Collom! I ate this book up so quickly and found so many aspects of the story to enjoy. I loved how unique each of the characters were and felt like this was such a realistic group of friends. The focus on women being powerful (in a time where women were just starting to make powerful choices and career moves) was *chef’s kiss*. We also got different perspectives through each of the distinct “parts” of the book which was such a great addition to this story!
Call me morbid, but I wanted more details about Beck’s death, as well as the actual kidnapping and killing. I also HATED the reveal of who was in the penitentiary! I didn’t want it to be that particular character as I feel it really took away from who they were and what they stood for (please reach out to me if you want more details). That being said, I absolutely cannot wait for more from this author
I could not get “Criminal” by Fiona Apple out of my head throughout this book. The song is about a woman who knows how to use her body to get what she wants. Our women also get what they want, using their bodies in very different ways. “I’ve been a bad, bad girl / I’ve been careless with a delicate man” It can definitely be argued that Peter Miles was a delicate man with the way he couldn’t handle a woman rejecting him. “Heaven help me for the way I am / Save me from these evil deeds before I get them done / I know tomorrow brings the consequence at hand / But I keep living this day like the next will never come.” Each of the women knows that murder isn’t a great choice, but move forward with their plan anyway because they just can’t let this man get away with what he’s done. They all have regrets, and one of them even wants to be punished for what they did because she doesn’t feel like they should get away with it.
Connect with me on Instagram (@bookmarks_and_backbeats) for more reviews, musical pairings, and all around good times!
Peter Miles Has To Die by Katie Collom is the ‘90s girl power revenge killer thriller we all need in our lives.
4.75 / 5.00
When Beck Grant is murdered, her three best friends know in their hearts exactly who did it. And they’re not going to let him walk free much longer. As our friends are about to learn, karma is a bitch, and someone will have to take responsibility – but who’s it going to be?
This was such a great first release from Katie Collom! I ate this book up so quickly and found so many aspects of the story to enjoy. I loved how unique each of the characters were and felt like this was such a realistic group of friends. The focus on women being powerful (in a time where women were just starting to make powerful choices and career moves) was *chef’s kiss*. We also got different perspectives through each of the distinct “parts” of the book which was such a great addition to this story!
Call me morbid, but I wanted more details about Beck’s death, as well as the actual kidnapping and killing. I also HATED the reveal of who was in the penitentiary! I didn’t want it to be that particular character as I feel it really took away from who they were and what they stood for (please reach out to me if you want more details). That being said, I absolutely cannot wait for more from this author
I could not get “Criminal” by Fiona Apple out of my head throughout this book. The song is about a woman who knows how to use her body to get what she wants. Our women also get what they want, using their bodies in very different ways. “I’ve been a bad, bad girl / I’ve been careless with a delicate man” It can definitely be argued that Peter Miles was a delicate man with the way he couldn’t handle a woman rejecting him. “Heaven help me for the way I am / Save me from these evil deeds before I get them done / I know tomorrow brings the consequence at hand / But I keep living this day like the next will never come.” Each of the women knows that murder isn’t a great choice, but move forward with their plan anyway because they just can’t let this man get away with what he’s done. They all have regrets, and one of them even wants to be punished for what they did because she doesn’t feel like they should get away with it.
Connect with me on Instagram (@bookmarks_and_backbeats) for more reviews, musical pairings, and all around good times!
August 30, 2025
When Beck was murdered, her friends Priya, Dylan and Isabel knew that Peter Miles, her ex-boyfriend, had done it. He was questioned by the police and released. The girls believe that he was released because he is a police detective and his fellow officers are covering for him. The case has now gone cold. As Dylan is tending the bar where she works, Peter walks in. She had only met him once and he doesn’t recognize her. Forcing herself to be pleasant, it sickens her to see him free. That night she meets up with Priya and Isabel. They decide that Peter has to die and they must be the ones to kill him. Dylan’s plan is carefully researched so that no evidence will point to them, but no plan is perfect. As Dylan continues to serve Peter she also connects with Bree, a woman who enters the bar as a patron but becomes a close friend. When the women actually kill Peter the death of a police officer demands a solution. The detective assigned to the case is Bree Righetti. Beck had come to the police for advice when Peter stalked her. Bree had counseled her and when she was murdered she felt that she failed her. When she starts to put things together, she withholds information from the investigation, protecting the women. Peter really did deserve to die. It is just by chance that the women beat her to it.
Katie Collom’s story is told in chapters that alternate between the three friends, Bree and Becky, as she takes you from the beginning of her relationship with Peter to her death. Collom also takes you to the Texas State Penitentiary, where someone is serving a life sentence for Peter’s murder. Her identity is not revealed until the final chapters. With the pressure placed on the friends as suspects and the feelings of guilt that started to arise Collom keeps you guessing. This was a fast moving story of revenge, the emotional toll that loss takes on loved ones and the importance of recognizing the signs of domestic and verbal abuse. It is sometimes heartbreaking, but it is guaranteed to keep the pages turning to the end. I would like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine/Bantam Books for providing this book.
Katie Collom’s story is told in chapters that alternate between the three friends, Bree and Becky, as she takes you from the beginning of her relationship with Peter to her death. Collom also takes you to the Texas State Penitentiary, where someone is serving a life sentence for Peter’s murder. Her identity is not revealed until the final chapters. With the pressure placed on the friends as suspects and the feelings of guilt that started to arise Collom keeps you guessing. This was a fast moving story of revenge, the emotional toll that loss takes on loved ones and the importance of recognizing the signs of domestic and verbal abuse. It is sometimes heartbreaking, but it is guaranteed to keep the pages turning to the end. I would like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine/Bantam Books for providing this book.
August 21, 2025
Peter Miles Has To Die by Katie Collum is an interesting take on a mystery. The story is told well, interspersed with musings from a woman in prison. The reader is not certain of the identity of this woman until the end. It was an interesting technique. Peter Miles was a bad man, for all he was a policeman. He had used, raped, and killed women with impunity and the women either never reported him or the police could never prove the case. In this murder, it appeared he was being protected by his fellow officers. Beck’s blood and her hair were found in his car. He had stalked her after their breakup. Still he was not in jail. Her friends, Dylan, Isabel, and Priya, and her parents could not get over it. Especially Dylan. She was a bartender and she watched as he came into her bar and flirted and picked up women. She hatched a plan. She got the others to go along with it. At some point Dylan had met a woman named Bree in the bar, with whom she later hooked up and was developing a relationship. Things got complicated when Bree came looking to investigate after Peter’s body had been found and after Dylan had been attacked.
It was a complicated story, which made it hard to put down. Dylan was a good planner, smart. The others went along, but had trouble getting over it once the deed was done. That was when the harassment started, phone calls, damage to cars, and finally the attack on Dylan. They knew who it was: two police detectives. Could they prove it? No. Could they police prove who had killed Peter Miles? No. But, they were getting closer. If Bree told them what she had discovered, they would know. She didn’t. Kind of a backward murder mystery. Very compelling. Beck’s father confessed. The police knew he was lying. Excellent characters. So much grief. So much pain. Interesting plot. What if they had waited? Would Peter Miles have been arrested? Many missing details. You decide.
I was invited to read Peter Miles Has to Die by Balantine Bantam. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BallantineBantam #KatieCollum #PeterMilesHasToDie
It was a complicated story, which made it hard to put down. Dylan was a good planner, smart. The others went along, but had trouble getting over it once the deed was done. That was when the harassment started, phone calls, damage to cars, and finally the attack on Dylan. They knew who it was: two police detectives. Could they prove it? No. Could they police prove who had killed Peter Miles? No. But, they were getting closer. If Bree told them what she had discovered, they would know. She didn’t. Kind of a backward murder mystery. Very compelling. Beck’s father confessed. The police knew he was lying. Excellent characters. So much grief. So much pain. Interesting plot. What if they had waited? Would Peter Miles have been arrested? Many missing details. You decide.
I was invited to read Peter Miles Has to Die by Balantine Bantam. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BallantineBantam #KatieCollum #PeterMilesHasToDie
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