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Kill Your Darlings
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Kind Worth Killing and Eight Perfect Murders comes an inventive, utterly propulsive murder-mystery in reverse, tracing a marriage back in time to uncover the dark secret at its heart.
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First published June 10, 2025
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About the author
Peter Swanson
21 books13k 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 1,986 reviews
December 20, 2025
I am giving my longest applause—at least an 8-minute ovation! I adore the brilliant writing style and incredibly smart, creative mind of Peter Swanson! I mostly rate each of his books with five blazing stars, and this book may deserve five stars plus one. This is a toxic love story with a great tribute to "Double Indemnity" (the author's deep knowledge of classic film noir always perfectly feeds his plot lines).
We're reading a couple's dysfunctional love story that consists of many ugly secrets, especially one that binds them together even though they want to go their separate ways. They cannot separate because if one of them talks, they both get ruined. There is so much at stake: a wealthy, beautiful life, their powerful appearance as a power couple in society, their son—everything they've built could be destroyed in a second.
Thom, an English literature teacher in his mid-fifties, is an alcoholic, cheater, and self-pitying individual who dreams of writing a bestseller but instead becomes depressed, drinking himself into oblivion to forget. His beautiful, smart wife Wendy is a published poet, more pragmatic compared to Thom's sentimentality. She has built her life on the inheritance from her first husband, who died in an accident. Unlike Thom, she doesn't cheat or indulge in vices like alcohol. Recently, however, she has been trying to get rid of her husband. She even attempted to kill him once, but her plan failed. She detests the person he has become.
Why does she want to kill him so passionately? Why does Thom drink so much, as if punishing himself? Weren't they childhood sweethearts, each other's first kiss? What happened to ruin them? What is the deadly secret they share until death parts them?
Want to learn the whole story? You'll need to go back step by step to understand where things began. An interesting fact about the book is that you'll never learn how their story ends before reading the last chapter, which reveals how they first met. We'll move backward in time until we reach the moment they share a kiss in Georgetown, D.C.—the same place where the priest from "The Exorcist" fell down the stairs. Sometimes you find romance in the most horrific epic places, don't you agree?
When I read the last words, I laughed hard. Well done. I loved how things pieced together backward, reminiscent of the "Memento" movie style, and I adored the heart-throbbing conclusion. This is definitely one of the best thrillers of 2025 and one of Swanson's most amazing works—I couldn't recommend it more.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this fantastically intelligent thriller's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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We're reading a couple's dysfunctional love story that consists of many ugly secrets, especially one that binds them together even though they want to go their separate ways. They cannot separate because if one of them talks, they both get ruined. There is so much at stake: a wealthy, beautiful life, their powerful appearance as a power couple in society, their son—everything they've built could be destroyed in a second.
Thom, an English literature teacher in his mid-fifties, is an alcoholic, cheater, and self-pitying individual who dreams of writing a bestseller but instead becomes depressed, drinking himself into oblivion to forget. His beautiful, smart wife Wendy is a published poet, more pragmatic compared to Thom's sentimentality. She has built her life on the inheritance from her first husband, who died in an accident. Unlike Thom, she doesn't cheat or indulge in vices like alcohol. Recently, however, she has been trying to get rid of her husband. She even attempted to kill him once, but her plan failed. She detests the person he has become.
Why does she want to kill him so passionately? Why does Thom drink so much, as if punishing himself? Weren't they childhood sweethearts, each other's first kiss? What happened to ruin them? What is the deadly secret they share until death parts them?
Want to learn the whole story? You'll need to go back step by step to understand where things began. An interesting fact about the book is that you'll never learn how their story ends before reading the last chapter, which reveals how they first met. We'll move backward in time until we reach the moment they share a kiss in Georgetown, D.C.—the same place where the priest from "The Exorcist" fell down the stairs. Sometimes you find romance in the most horrific epic places, don't you agree?
When I read the last words, I laughed hard. Well done. I loved how things pieced together backward, reminiscent of the "Memento" movie style, and I adored the heart-throbbing conclusion. This is definitely one of the best thrillers of 2025 and one of Swanson's most amazing works—I couldn't recommend it more.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this fantastically intelligent thriller's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium blog
June 10, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
When we read a love story, it often begins with a “meet cute” and continues from there.
But, this is a tale about the DEMISE of a love story, so fittingly, Peter Swanson has decided to tell it, beginning with the end. The story opens in the year 2023, and is told in reverse until the year 1982, when Thom and Wendy, who share a birthday, met at the age of fourteen.
We learn about the moments that defined their lives-and the SECRET that binds them together forever.
And, when Wendy decides that “till death do us part” seems too far off in the future, she may have to give it a nudge.
This is a SLOW BURN 🔥 character study of a marriage, which I found quite depressing, and I wasn’t particularly engaged by it until around the 40% mark. (Hence the three stars) BUT, at that point, I started to become more intrigued by Wendy-as Peter Swanson always writes strong, cunning, capable women, and she is no exception.
The story IS clever, and as we are given more puzzle pieces to explain what happened in Chapter one, it becomes more interesting BUT nothing revealed after that had the same WOW factor as a good twist that comes later on in a story which is told chronologically.
Pay close attention to the very fitting ending-It isn’t as ambiguous as it firsts appears to be, but I had to read the last chapter twice before I caught it!
Peter Swanson remains a favorite author for me, even if this wasn’t my favorite of his books.
NOW AVAILABLE
Thank You to William Morrow for the gifted copy provided by NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.
When we read a love story, it often begins with a “meet cute” and continues from there.
But, this is a tale about the DEMISE of a love story, so fittingly, Peter Swanson has decided to tell it, beginning with the end. The story opens in the year 2023, and is told in reverse until the year 1982, when Thom and Wendy, who share a birthday, met at the age of fourteen.
We learn about the moments that defined their lives-and the SECRET that binds them together forever.
And, when Wendy decides that “till death do us part” seems too far off in the future, she may have to give it a nudge.
This is a SLOW BURN 🔥 character study of a marriage, which I found quite depressing, and I wasn’t particularly engaged by it until around the 40% mark. (Hence the three stars) BUT, at that point, I started to become more intrigued by Wendy-as Peter Swanson always writes strong, cunning, capable women, and she is no exception.
The story IS clever, and as we are given more puzzle pieces to explain what happened in Chapter one, it becomes more interesting BUT nothing revealed after that had the same WOW factor as a good twist that comes later on in a story which is told chronologically.
Pay close attention to the very fitting ending-It isn’t as ambiguous as it firsts appears to be, but I had to read the last chapter twice before I caught it!
Peter Swanson remains a favorite author for me, even if this wasn’t my favorite of his books.
NOW AVAILABLE
Thank You to William Morrow for the gifted copy provided by NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.
July 20, 2025
1.5 stars— I saw that Peter Swanson had written a different style of book entitled, “Kill Your Darlings— A Reverse Murder Mystery”. The gimmick is that the plot begins in the present and is then told in reverse order until it ends when the main characters met in middle school. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not opposed to books/ movies experimenting with styles and narratives. In fact I enjoyed the movie “Memento” which employed a similar narrative style of being told in reverse order so much that I watched it multiple times. Unfortunately, there is a huge difference between the intriguing puzzle of a movie “Memento “ and “Darlings” and that is that “Memento” was full of suspense and twists and turns as a man with amnesia attempts to solve a murder while “Darlings” was a boring backwards journey that had no twists and turns and was just a boring recitation of what had been explained in the first 50 pages of the book. Imagine going into a story knowing everything that happens ahead of time… that is “Darlings’. I read the first 50 pages and I knew the entire story. Unfortunately, the remaining several hundred of pages tells me the same story again but in extreme detail. Woo-hoo. Borrrrr-ing. I diligently kept reading this book hoping there was something more as Swanson is a talented writer but unfortunately that never occurred. The book does switch between the perspectives of the husband and wife (Thom and Wendy) and it may have been a little better if told in a normal way, but there was not a lot of explanation for the climax (which took place in the first 20 pages) in the remainder of the book. I guess the lesson I learned is that books have been written with clues throughout up to the big reveal for hundreds of years for a reason … they are much more entertaining and fun to read that way.
February 16, 2025
3.5🌟
I’m so conflicted!
I am a devoted fan of Peter Swanson, but this latest left me confused and perhaps a bit disappointed.
Let me break it down…
What worked:
The premise. A long married couple who’ve been holding onto a secret for years. A secret they will be taking to their graves. Mind you, this is not a “happily” married couple. Over the years there’s been an excess of infidelity and drinking. What could have led up to put them in this unfortunate place in their lives?
What didn’t work:
Almost the entire story is told in reverse. It took me a while to get my brain to reverse course to where it began making sense. But in the end, each chapter felt repetitive.
The saving grace:
The ending! Bravo! Well done!🙌🏼
I know authors want to explore new directions, whether it be genres or in this case the format. Sometimes it works…in this case not as much.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow
I’m so conflicted!
I am a devoted fan of Peter Swanson, but this latest left me confused and perhaps a bit disappointed.
Let me break it down…
What worked:
The premise. A long married couple who’ve been holding onto a secret for years. A secret they will be taking to their graves. Mind you, this is not a “happily” married couple. Over the years there’s been an excess of infidelity and drinking. What could have led up to put them in this unfortunate place in their lives?
What didn’t work:
Almost the entire story is told in reverse. It took me a while to get my brain to reverse course to where it began making sense. But in the end, each chapter felt repetitive.
The saving grace:
The ending! Bravo! Well done!🙌🏼
I know authors want to explore new directions, whether it be genres or in this case the format. Sometimes it works…in this case not as much.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow
January 3, 2025
Kill Your Darlings is an usual read, kind of Inception meets James M. Cain's The Postman Always Rings Twice. Swanson takes the reader backwards in time, from 2023 (the end of Wendy and Thom Graves' marriage) to 1982 (when Wendy and Thom first met). In between are many secrets and betrayals, and lots and lots of bad behavior by both main characters.
Honestly, while I was super excited to read this book due to the novel format, I'm not entirely sure that it worked for me. There are a few small surprises throughout the story, but the big “secret” of Wendy and Thom's marriage isn't really a secret at all. You know what's going to happen from very early on, and I kept waiting for a big shocking twist that never came. Also, because of the format, this story doesn't have a climax in the traditional sense - most of the excitement is over and done with well before the end of the novel. There were a couple of clever details that made me go “ooh” (the one at the very end was particularly nice), but I'm not sure that they were enough to make the reverse timeline and it's lack of a substantial ending worth it.
This book is also the very definition of a slow burn. There's lots of repetition and nothing happens quickly. With a rare exception or two, you read about events for many, many chapters before (after?) they actually occur.
But, with that said, I didn't dislike this novel. It's entertaining enough and it managed to keep me reading. Wendy and Thom are awful people, but you can't help but wonder what they're going to do next (before? previously?). It's also kind of interesting how they go from “two young kids in super duper love” to whatever special kind of hell their relationship was at the end (beginning? This format is so hard to write about!). Wendy and Thom were convinced as young twenty-somethings that they were destined to be “special,” so how did things fall apart so spectacularly?
My rating: 3.45 stars, rounded down. This isn't my favorite of Swanson's novels and I don't think the unusual format does much to enhance the story (and in some parts actually hinders it), but overall it's an entertaining-ish read that'll make you wonder if your spouse is secretly planning to off you during your next weekend getaway.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is June 10, 2025.
Honestly, while I was super excited to read this book due to the novel format, I'm not entirely sure that it worked for me. There are a few small surprises throughout the story, but the big “secret” of Wendy and Thom's marriage isn't really a secret at all. You know what's going to happen from very early on, and I kept waiting for a big shocking twist that never came. Also, because of the format, this story doesn't have a climax in the traditional sense - most of the excitement is over and done with well before the end of the novel. There were a couple of clever details that made me go “ooh” (the one at the very end was particularly nice), but I'm not sure that they were enough to make the reverse timeline and it's lack of a substantial ending worth it.
This book is also the very definition of a slow burn. There's lots of repetition and nothing happens quickly. With a rare exception or two, you read about events for many, many chapters before (after?) they actually occur.
But, with that said, I didn't dislike this novel. It's entertaining enough and it managed to keep me reading. Wendy and Thom are awful people, but you can't help but wonder what they're going to do next (before? previously?). It's also kind of interesting how they go from “two young kids in super duper love” to whatever special kind of hell their relationship was at the end (beginning? This format is so hard to write about!). Wendy and Thom were convinced as young twenty-somethings that they were destined to be “special,” so how did things fall apart so spectacularly?
My rating: 3.45 stars, rounded down. This isn't my favorite of Swanson's novels and I don't think the unusual format does much to enhance the story (and in some parts actually hinders it), but overall it's an entertaining-ish read that'll make you wonder if your spouse is secretly planning to off you during your next weekend getaway.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is June 10, 2025.
July 17, 2025
A story told in reverse would seem a bit confusing, but somehow it's the only part I liked about this book. The characters totally put me off, they were boring and nothing made me feel that WOW factor to seal the deal for a thriller book.
June 22, 2025
The first attempt at killing her husband was the night of the dinner party. ~Peter Swanson, Kill Your Darlings
My first novel by this author and it's a murder mystery, told in reverse chronological order.
Very clever, but the whole time I'm wondering, "where the heck it this going?"
To a very satisfying conclusion, that's where! I even hooted out loud. Bravo, Mr. Swanson. 🙌
July 6, 2025
A slow burn tale of domestic suspense, Kill Your Darlings centered around one heck of a dastardly pair. Told in reverse order starting with the end, it was a classic Swanson move to focus not on the growing love story, but the demise of it instead. You see, this sweet romance ended—or should I say started—off with quite the bang. Instantly grabbing my attention with the promise of many a dark secret, I flew through this novel in only matter of hours. After all, with quirky characters, plenty of dark humor, and a gasp-worthy last page, it had all of the pieces to make it an out-and-out winner, including one heck of a twist, even if it took a while to get there.
Unfortunately, though, there was plenty that let me down between the attention-grabbing start and shocking last page. The definition of a slow-boiling suspense/thriller, while there was tension imbued within every page, we found out the big plot points way too early on. My biggest pet peeve, though, was how unattached I was to the handful of characters. Perhaps it was due to the original format, but the stop-and-start narrative kept me from really connecting. Alongside of unnecessary details and a repetitive feel, I’m truly sad to report that this newest release by one of my all-time favorite authors landed with a thud rather than a bang.
All said and done, despite being less than blown away by this clever spin on a love story’s undoing, I was nevertheless hooked from beginning to end. Was this down to my preexisting love for the author—or the tension and intrigue that oozed from the pages? I’m not sure I’ll ever be 100% sure, but I am positive that while this wasn’t my favorite by Swanson, it was still an overall good read. An intense character study of the dual POVs as well as marriage, it made me think long and hard. Just the same, it wasn’t the slam dunk that I was expecting, as I much prefer Swanson’s edge-of-your-seat thrill rides over this puzzle-like read. Rating of 3.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Thom and Wendy Graves have been married for over twenty-five years. They live in a beautiful Victorian on the north shore of Massachusetts. Wendy is a published poet and Thom teaches English literature at a nearby university. Their son, Jason, is all grown up. All is well…except that Wendy wants to murder her husband.
What happens next has everything to do with what happened before. The story of Wendy and Thom’s marriage is told in reverse, moving backward through time to witness key moments from the couple’s lives—their fiftieth birthday party, buying their home, Jason’s birth, the mysterious death of a work colleague—all painting a portrait of a marriage defined by a single terrible act they plotted together many years ago.
Eventually we learn the details of what Thom and Wendy did in their early twenties, a secret that has kept them bound together through the length of their marriage. But its power over them is fraying, and each of them begins to wonder if they would be better off making sure their spouse carries their secrets to the grave.
Thank you to Peter Swanson and William Morrow Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 10, 2025
Content warning: alcohol abuse, murder, infidelity, mention of: drowning, knife violence
Unfortunately, though, there was plenty that let me down between the attention-grabbing start and shocking last page. The definition of a slow-boiling suspense/thriller, while there was tension imbued within every page, we found out the big plot points way too early on. My biggest pet peeve, though, was how unattached I was to the handful of characters. Perhaps it was due to the original format, but the stop-and-start narrative kept me from really connecting. Alongside of unnecessary details and a repetitive feel, I’m truly sad to report that this newest release by one of my all-time favorite authors landed with a thud rather than a bang.
All said and done, despite being less than blown away by this clever spin on a love story’s undoing, I was nevertheless hooked from beginning to end. Was this down to my preexisting love for the author—or the tension and intrigue that oozed from the pages? I’m not sure I’ll ever be 100% sure, but I am positive that while this wasn’t my favorite by Swanson, it was still an overall good read. An intense character study of the dual POVs as well as marriage, it made me think long and hard. Just the same, it wasn’t the slam dunk that I was expecting, as I much prefer Swanson’s edge-of-your-seat thrill rides over this puzzle-like read. Rating of 3.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Thom and Wendy Graves have been married for over twenty-five years. They live in a beautiful Victorian on the north shore of Massachusetts. Wendy is a published poet and Thom teaches English literature at a nearby university. Their son, Jason, is all grown up. All is well…except that Wendy wants to murder her husband.
What happens next has everything to do with what happened before. The story of Wendy and Thom’s marriage is told in reverse, moving backward through time to witness key moments from the couple’s lives—their fiftieth birthday party, buying their home, Jason’s birth, the mysterious death of a work colleague—all painting a portrait of a marriage defined by a single terrible act they plotted together many years ago.
Eventually we learn the details of what Thom and Wendy did in their early twenties, a secret that has kept them bound together through the length of their marriage. But its power over them is fraying, and each of them begins to wonder if they would be better off making sure their spouse carries their secrets to the grave.
Thank you to Peter Swanson and William Morrow Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 10, 2025
Content warning: alcohol abuse, murder, infidelity, mention of: drowning, knife violence
April 19, 2025
3.5⭐️ Thom and Wendy Graves, married for over two decades, seemingly have it all. Described as the “twins,” they share the same passion for poetry and English lit, have a grown son, Jason, whom they love, and live in a beautiful home. But Wendy wants to murder Thom and develops a plan to do so. Revisiting their love story in reverse, it is clear that both Thom and Wendy hold a great many secrets, each contributing to the next, which will contribute to Wendy’s current-day predicament.
Let me start by saying that I am a huge fan of Peter Swanson; in fact, he is one of my few auto-buy authors. It therefore pains me to say that I did not love this one. And while I would like to say that I am an outlier here, I fear that I may not be.
There are certain elements to the story that are clear winners. I loved the idea of the love story told in reverse. We are pulled in immediately with Wendy’s decision to murder Thom, and then slowly taken in reverse to the beginning of their creepy and disturbing love story. This felt so original and fresh, and I was immediately taken with this format.
However, the minutiae is where this style lost me. There was clearly a link from chapter to chapter as we rewind time, but there were many scenes where the overabundance of seemingly monotonous detail lost my interest before I could get to the most important “nugget” of the chapter. I found this frustrated me greatly as I started each chapter anxiously awaiting the connection, only to be disappointed.
Another thing I have come to realize is that while this style is fun overall, by the time we get to the beginning, I feel myself less attached to the characters, not more (this has happened to me before with this style). I was more intrigued when we first meet the MCs at the end of their story, than when we ended at the beginning. That is until the final page when a tidbit of information created a truly mic drop moment, and I felt more confused than ever about my feelings towards one of my most anticipated reads.
🎧 Steven Weber narrates the audio. Need I say more? As always, his narration is impeccable and adds a whole other dynamic to an already interesting story. While I didn’t love the overall book as much as I had hoped, Webber helped me to enjoy it more.
Read if you like:
▪️psychological thriller
▪️domestic suspense
▪️slow burn
▪️unique formats
▪️reverse timelines
▪️dual pov
Thank you William Morrow and Harper Audio for the advanced copies.
Let me start by saying that I am a huge fan of Peter Swanson; in fact, he is one of my few auto-buy authors. It therefore pains me to say that I did not love this one. And while I would like to say that I am an outlier here, I fear that I may not be.
There are certain elements to the story that are clear winners. I loved the idea of the love story told in reverse. We are pulled in immediately with Wendy’s decision to murder Thom, and then slowly taken in reverse to the beginning of their creepy and disturbing love story. This felt so original and fresh, and I was immediately taken with this format.
However, the minutiae is where this style lost me. There was clearly a link from chapter to chapter as we rewind time, but there were many scenes where the overabundance of seemingly monotonous detail lost my interest before I could get to the most important “nugget” of the chapter. I found this frustrated me greatly as I started each chapter anxiously awaiting the connection, only to be disappointed.
Another thing I have come to realize is that while this style is fun overall, by the time we get to the beginning, I feel myself less attached to the characters, not more (this has happened to me before with this style). I was more intrigued when we first meet the MCs at the end of their story, than when we ended at the beginning. That is until the final page when a tidbit of information created a truly mic drop moment, and I felt more confused than ever about my feelings towards one of my most anticipated reads.
🎧 Steven Weber narrates the audio. Need I say more? As always, his narration is impeccable and adds a whole other dynamic to an already interesting story. While I didn’t love the overall book as much as I had hoped, Webber helped me to enjoy it more.
Read if you like:
▪️psychological thriller
▪️domestic suspense
▪️slow burn
▪️unique formats
▪️reverse timelines
▪️dual pov
Thank you William Morrow and Harper Audio for the advanced copies.
May 7, 2025
A psychological thriller told in reverse, the novel opens with this line:
“The first attempt at killing her husband was the night of the dinner party.”
Married for 25 years, Wendy is a poet and Thom is a professor of English literature. They are financially secure and have a grown son. Life seems good.
So what went so very wrong?
From here we go back in time to revisit key points and major milestones in their lives to find out what brought them to this point. And the secret that bound them together. The secret, should one of them tell, that will ruin both of them.
This type of storytelling requires some patience but for readers like me who love character-driven stories, especially when the characters are psychopaths, it’s a brilliant and clever way to completely hook the reader.
The tension is high throughout the book with reveals that bring earlier events into sharper focus. By the end, the author has given us a complete picture of the motivations behind the characters actions, leaving no unanswered questions.
It’s difficult to talk about the book without spoilers, so l will just say I found it brilliant and clever. There’s a lot to discuss and I was glad I had my reading buddy Marialyce to chat with.
This was exactly the page-turner I needed!
* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
“The first attempt at killing her husband was the night of the dinner party.”
Married for 25 years, Wendy is a poet and Thom is a professor of English literature. They are financially secure and have a grown son. Life seems good.
So what went so very wrong?
From here we go back in time to revisit key points and major milestones in their lives to find out what brought them to this point. And the secret that bound them together. The secret, should one of them tell, that will ruin both of them.
This type of storytelling requires some patience but for readers like me who love character-driven stories, especially when the characters are psychopaths, it’s a brilliant and clever way to completely hook the reader.
The tension is high throughout the book with reveals that bring earlier events into sharper focus. By the end, the author has given us a complete picture of the motivations behind the characters actions, leaving no unanswered questions.
It’s difficult to talk about the book without spoilers, so l will just say I found it brilliant and clever. There’s a lot to discuss and I was glad I had my reading buddy Marialyce to chat with.
This was exactly the page-turner I needed!
* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
June 17, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ VG-
The Sisters are rambling again and this time it’s about KILL YOUR DARLINGS by PETER SWANSON.
When it comes to thrillers, Peter Swanson always seems to have something unique up his sleeve. With KILL YOUR DARLINGS he’s telling the story in reverse, peeling back the layers of Thom and Wendy Graves’ seemingly perfect marriage one key moment at a time. It's a psychological thriller that’s less about jaw-dropping twists and more about the slow, steady reveal of their, haunting secret.
My Take: Bold, Clever, and Immersive
KILL YOUR DARLINGS by PETER SWANSON is an intriguing and cleverly structured psychological thriller that takes a bold approach with its reverse timeline. The story pulls you backward through the lives of Thom and Wendy Graves, a seemingly perfect couple with a dark, shared secret. Each chapter peels back another layer of their past, revealing key moments in their relationship. Swanson’s writing keeps you hooked, and the structure creates a steady sense of tension and intrigue.
While the slow burn is compelling and the journey fascinating, the payoff doesn’t quite match the buildup. By the time the big reveal comes, it feels more like a confirmation than a shock, and the tidy ending may leave seasoned mystery readers wanting more complexity. Still, the psychological depth and clever unraveling make it an engaging read.
If you’re looking for a book that’s not full of explosive twists but has enough pull to keep you turning the pages, Kill Your Darlings delivers. It’s dark, atmospheric, and worth reading for the journey—even if the destination isn’t quite as jaw-dropping as you’d hope.
Brenda’s Take: Slow-Burn, Intriguing, No Shocking Twists
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Sister’s Final Thoughts
Kill Your Darlings isn’t your typical thriller. It’s not about shocking twists or edge-of-your-seat suspense. Instead, it’s a slow, psychological deep dive into the cracks and flaws of a marriage haunted by a secret. Swanson’s choice to tell the story in reverse adds a layer of intrigue, creating a puzzle-like experience that will keep you engaged, even if it’s at a slower pace.
If you’re a fan of methodical, slow-burn thrillers that focus on psychological depth, this one’s for you. But if you’re after twists that leave your jaw on the floor? You might want to look elsewhere.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.
The Sisters are rambling again and this time it’s about KILL YOUR DARLINGS by PETER SWANSON.
When it comes to thrillers, Peter Swanson always seems to have something unique up his sleeve. With KILL YOUR DARLINGS he’s telling the story in reverse, peeling back the layers of Thom and Wendy Graves’ seemingly perfect marriage one key moment at a time. It's a psychological thriller that’s less about jaw-dropping twists and more about the slow, steady reveal of their, haunting secret.
My Take: Bold, Clever, and Immersive
KILL YOUR DARLINGS by PETER SWANSON is an intriguing and cleverly structured psychological thriller that takes a bold approach with its reverse timeline. The story pulls you backward through the lives of Thom and Wendy Graves, a seemingly perfect couple with a dark, shared secret. Each chapter peels back another layer of their past, revealing key moments in their relationship. Swanson’s writing keeps you hooked, and the structure creates a steady sense of tension and intrigue.
While the slow burn is compelling and the journey fascinating, the payoff doesn’t quite match the buildup. By the time the big reveal comes, it feels more like a confirmation than a shock, and the tidy ending may leave seasoned mystery readers wanting more complexity. Still, the psychological depth and clever unraveling make it an engaging read.
If you’re looking for a book that’s not full of explosive twists but has enough pull to keep you turning the pages, Kill Your Darlings delivers. It’s dark, atmospheric, and worth reading for the journey—even if the destination isn’t quite as jaw-dropping as you’d hope.
Brenda’s Take: Slow-Burn, Intriguing, No Shocking Twists
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Sister’s Final Thoughts
Kill Your Darlings isn’t your typical thriller. It’s not about shocking twists or edge-of-your-seat suspense. Instead, it’s a slow, psychological deep dive into the cracks and flaws of a marriage haunted by a secret. Swanson’s choice to tell the story in reverse adds a layer of intrigue, creating a puzzle-like experience that will keep you engaged, even if it’s at a slower pace.
If you’re a fan of methodical, slow-burn thrillers that focus on psychological depth, this one’s for you. But if you’re after twists that leave your jaw on the floor? You might want to look elsewhere.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.
June 15, 2025
TWO CAN KEEP A SECRET IF…
In Kill Your Darlings Wendy and Thom have been married for 25 years. Wendy a published poet and Thom an English literature teacher live in a beautiful Victorian home and have a son named Jason. Life should be all cosy, but Wendy wants to murder her husband. Their marriage and life together are told in reverse and we uncover the secrets of this couple to get a better understanding on why Wendy wants to end Thom’s life.
WAS THE THRILLER IN THE ROOM WITH US!?
I swear I was so giddy to read this book as Peter Swanson is one of my go to authors especially after his bestselling novel The Kind Worth Killing. Granted none of his other releases have topped that phenomenon but they have been digested well and still been very enjoyable. With this book unfortunately I don’t have the same sentiment.
The book being told in reverse is creative and somewhat unique but in a thriller book you must really execute the beginning, middle and end for it to work and this story didn’t pull it off.
It was such a slooooooooooooow burn book. For me I read a book about a marriage that frankly shouldn’t exist and had to stomach these two unlikeable nuisances. I hybrid this read but I have to commend the narrator for keeping me going, because had I just solely been reading, it would have been a straight DNF!
SOMEONE CALL A THERAPIST!!!!
Wendy and Thom were B-O-R-I-N-G! Two privileged twits beating at their own drums. Wendy tried to come off as sophisticated and smart but read the opposite to me and Thom was a pushover blubbering drunk that should have Serial Infidelity tattooed on his eyeballs. I wasn’t impressed or entertained by these two.
YOU CALL THAT A TWIST!???
From other reviews I am clearly in the minority over the finale twist. I read it, I understood It and I forgot it immediately. With having to slog through a mundane plot I really thought I was going to be rewarded with an Armageddon ending and that simply wasn’t the case. There’s another reveal before the ending that was so briefly spoken about, I thought ‘well what was the point of even including that nugget into the plot’ and just further added to the many plot holes and unanswered questions I have with this story.
Sigh!!! Our favourites can’t always deliver, and I am gutted that this was a miss for me. But I will definitely continue picking up his future releases.
2.5 ⭐
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⋆｡°✩Pre Read⋆｡°✩
My guilty pleasure author has released a new book!
He is one of the reasons I love thrillers so much!
I am so excited to dive into this one!
💚💚💚
In Kill Your Darlings Wendy and Thom have been married for 25 years. Wendy a published poet and Thom an English literature teacher live in a beautiful Victorian home and have a son named Jason. Life should be all cosy, but Wendy wants to murder her husband. Their marriage and life together are told in reverse and we uncover the secrets of this couple to get a better understanding on why Wendy wants to end Thom’s life.
WAS THE THRILLER IN THE ROOM WITH US!?
I swear I was so giddy to read this book as Peter Swanson is one of my go to authors especially after his bestselling novel The Kind Worth Killing. Granted none of his other releases have topped that phenomenon but they have been digested well and still been very enjoyable. With this book unfortunately I don’t have the same sentiment.
The book being told in reverse is creative and somewhat unique but in a thriller book you must really execute the beginning, middle and end for it to work and this story didn’t pull it off.
It was such a slooooooooooooow burn book. For me I read a book about a marriage that frankly shouldn’t exist and had to stomach these two unlikeable nuisances. I hybrid this read but I have to commend the narrator for keeping me going, because had I just solely been reading, it would have been a straight DNF!
SOMEONE CALL A THERAPIST!!!!
Wendy and Thom were B-O-R-I-N-G! Two privileged twits beating at their own drums. Wendy tried to come off as sophisticated and smart but read the opposite to me and Thom was a pushover blubbering drunk that should have Serial Infidelity tattooed on his eyeballs. I wasn’t impressed or entertained by these two.
YOU CALL THAT A TWIST!???
From other reviews I am clearly in the minority over the finale twist. I read it, I understood It and I forgot it immediately. With having to slog through a mundane plot I really thought I was going to be rewarded with an Armageddon ending and that simply wasn’t the case. There’s another reveal before the ending that was so briefly spoken about, I thought ‘well what was the point of even including that nugget into the plot’ and just further added to the many plot holes and unanswered questions I have with this story.
Sigh!!! Our favourites can’t always deliver, and I am gutted that this was a miss for me. But I will definitely continue picking up his future releases.
2.5 ⭐
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩Pre Read⋆｡°✩
My guilty pleasure author has released a new book!
He is one of the reasons I love thrillers so much!
I am so excited to dive into this one!
💚💚💚
July 23, 2025
The book begins in present day 2023 and continues backwards until its conclusion in 1984. Our main protagonists are Thom and Wendy. And, as readers are first introduced to them in 2023, we learn quickly that this is a couple who is not particularly happy with their lives or each other.
So, what happened to them?
What will one of these characters do to find a way forward beyond 2023? A simple divorce? Or, perhaps murder?
Swanson takes readers on a different who-dunnit path, in which the who-dunnit is already known. We, as readers, just don’t fully know the why.
And, what will readers feel as they descend into the past to learn more about this couple?
As more is revealed, the less connected one might feel to this couple. But can it be possible that the best revenge for one of them, is the one they don’t realize, until the readers reach the end of this story?
And, it really is that twist of an ending that lends some credence and satisfaction to a book that takes readers out of its comfort zone, i.e., reading a book in reverse year date order. The problem is that it is the story along the way that may feel a bit awkward and tedious to read.
Still, if readers are willing to be patient, with some very unlikable characters, for that unexpected ending, it might at least be worth reading.
3.5 stars for the ending
So, what happened to them?
What will one of these characters do to find a way forward beyond 2023? A simple divorce? Or, perhaps murder?
Swanson takes readers on a different who-dunnit path, in which the who-dunnit is already known. We, as readers, just don’t fully know the why.
And, what will readers feel as they descend into the past to learn more about this couple?
As more is revealed, the less connected one might feel to this couple. But can it be possible that the best revenge for one of them, is the one they don’t realize, until the readers reach the end of this story?
And, it really is that twist of an ending that lends some credence and satisfaction to a book that takes readers out of its comfort zone, i.e., reading a book in reverse year date order. The problem is that it is the story along the way that may feel a bit awkward and tedious to read.
Still, if readers are willing to be patient, with some very unlikable characters, for that unexpected ending, it might at least be worth reading.
3.5 stars for the ending
June 10, 2025
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Would you like to know how a book ends before you read it? Most readers try to avoid SPOILERS so that they can have an authentic reading experience.
Peter Swanson’s Kill Your Darlings turns this notion on its head by telling the domestic suspense story in reverse order. Intriguing concept, but is this plot device successful?
Nope, it didn’t work for me!
Why?
1. I already knew the ending, so I was less invested in the characters and the plot.
2. It was difficult to get my brain to remember that the story was being told in reverse!
I listened to the audiobook which is expertly read by one of my favorites, Steven Weber, while following along with the Ebook. I enjoyed the audiobook and believe that it is what helped me finish it.
The twists were also not as exciting as I had hoped, and it took a very long time to get there.
Peter Swanson is a hit or miss author for me (with more misses than hits), so I might be taking a break from his work for a while.
2.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 6/10/25
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARCs of Kill Your Darlings in exchange for an honest review.
Would you like to know how a book ends before you read it? Most readers try to avoid SPOILERS so that they can have an authentic reading experience.
Peter Swanson’s Kill Your Darlings turns this notion on its head by telling the domestic suspense story in reverse order. Intriguing concept, but is this plot device successful?
Nope, it didn’t work for me!
Why?
1. I already knew the ending, so I was less invested in the characters and the plot.
2. It was difficult to get my brain to remember that the story was being told in reverse!
I listened to the audiobook which is expertly read by one of my favorites, Steven Weber, while following along with the Ebook. I enjoyed the audiobook and believe that it is what helped me finish it.
The twists were also not as exciting as I had hoped, and it took a very long time to get there.
Peter Swanson is a hit or miss author for me (with more misses than hits), so I might be taking a break from his work for a while.
2.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 6/10/25
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARCs of Kill Your Darlings in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2025
I am a big fan of Peter Swanson book and was so excited to get such an early copy of Kill Your Darlings to read. To be honest, I had no idea what it was about and read it purely because it was written by Swanson.
This was a very different book from this author. The biggest thing was that it was written in reverse. We track the relationship of Wendy and Thom from 2023 back to 1982 when they first met at school. It did take a little to get used to but it was a very clever way to do it. We learn that their relationship has run its course and slowly find out why. This couple have a bond that is keeping them together, something that they did in their past.
I think this is going to have mixed reactions from readers. It wasn’t my favourite book by Swanson, but it was entertaining watching these 2 people that were very hard to like at all, live their lives in reverse. It does mean that the ending was somewhat less exciting than a usual thriller, but Swanson still had a shock for us there too. I did find a few things that I have questions about that were not resolved and I am trying to remember if I missed the signs.
Overall a fun and quite easy read. Publishes on June 10th. Thanks to William Morrow for my advanced copy on NetGalley to read
This was a very different book from this author. The biggest thing was that it was written in reverse. We track the relationship of Wendy and Thom from 2023 back to 1982 when they first met at school. It did take a little to get used to but it was a very clever way to do it. We learn that their relationship has run its course and slowly find out why. This couple have a bond that is keeping them together, something that they did in their past.
I think this is going to have mixed reactions from readers. It wasn’t my favourite book by Swanson, but it was entertaining watching these 2 people that were very hard to like at all, live their lives in reverse. It does mean that the ending was somewhat less exciting than a usual thriller, but Swanson still had a shock for us there too. I did find a few things that I have questions about that were not resolved and I am trying to remember if I missed the signs.
Overall a fun and quite easy read. Publishes on June 10th. Thanks to William Morrow for my advanced copy on NetGalley to read
July 24, 2025
Hmm, interesting, maybe…
Thom & Wendy
What to expect:
~ dual 3rd person POV
~ told in reverse from 2023 back to 1982
~ satisfying conclusion, or beginning rather 😬
Narration notes:
He did fine, but of course I would’ve preferred a female narrator as well.
I’ll try to do a full review soon
Thom & Wendy
What to expect:
~ dual 3rd person POV
~ told in reverse from 2023 back to 1982
~ satisfying conclusion, or beginning rather 😬
Narration notes:
He did fine, but of course I would’ve preferred a female narrator as well.
I’ll try to do a full review soon
December 7, 2024
Smart, addictive, and five-star stunning!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just when I thought I might never feel crazy absolute love for another mystery/thriller Peter Swanson drops this brilliant gem, and I fell hard for it. Kill Your Darlings has well developed characters, a creative plot that had me giddy at every turn, pulled together with streamlined writing that is everything I love in a novel. The slight tinge of noir the atmosphere held added the perfect edge to the overall story.
A twenty-five-year marriage is bound to have seen its share of ups and downs, with some long-held secrets, and momentous occasions thrown in the mix. For Thom and Wendy Graves, the weight of their shared past is throwing a wrench into the present. The timeline begins with scenes from their current life and travels back through the history of their relationship. Uncovering the layers of milestones the pair had experienced separately and together kept me turning pages long into the night.
Going into this one blind made for an amazing read. The finish with a flourish was reminiscent of a mic drop.
All the Stars!!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing the Advance Readers Copy for review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just when I thought I might never feel crazy absolute love for another mystery/thriller Peter Swanson drops this brilliant gem, and I fell hard for it. Kill Your Darlings has well developed characters, a creative plot that had me giddy at every turn, pulled together with streamlined writing that is everything I love in a novel. The slight tinge of noir the atmosphere held added the perfect edge to the overall story.
A twenty-five-year marriage is bound to have seen its share of ups and downs, with some long-held secrets, and momentous occasions thrown in the mix. For Thom and Wendy Graves, the weight of their shared past is throwing a wrench into the present. The timeline begins with scenes from their current life and travels back through the history of their relationship. Uncovering the layers of milestones the pair had experienced separately and together kept me turning pages long into the night.
Going into this one blind made for an amazing read. The finish with a flourish was reminiscent of a mic drop.
All the Stars!!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing the Advance Readers Copy for review
December 10, 2025
Yeah, this wasn't for me, like at all!!!!
How a couple devolved into murder!!!!
How a couple devolved into murder!!!!
February 24, 2025
Swanson and his shocking endings 🤯😱😮💨👏🏼 no one does it like him!!!
if you like THE KIND WORTH KILLINNG series you’ll like this. it’s not as good (bc TKWK is impossible to beat—it’s my fave thriller ever forever!) but it’s got a lot of the same vibes.
also read if you like: murder mysteries, unique books, domestic thrillers, thrillers with a lil murder, quick books (under 300 pages)
this book is very unique in how the story is told and that will either be a hit or miss with readers. it’s told BACKWARDS… so the book starts with present day and each chapter takes you back in time to see how you got to this part. it’s not flashbacks—it truly just keeps going backward. this took a bit to get used to but i loved it. it’s hard to be unique with thrillers and plot twists and devices and i applaud Swanson for trying that out and executing it well!
the ending really bumped the book up for me. it was so good. i ALWAYS say this but if a thriller is wrapped up too perfectly and without a little something sinister/bang at the end, i’m bummed out. and Swanson’s books always deliver with a shocking ending!
this comes out in June and is a quick binge. pick it up and have fun!!!
thanks to William Morrow for the gifted early copy. Swanson remains a fave thriller author for me 🤝
if you like THE KIND WORTH KILLINNG series you’ll like this. it’s not as good (bc TKWK is impossible to beat—it’s my fave thriller ever forever!) but it’s got a lot of the same vibes.
also read if you like: murder mysteries, unique books, domestic thrillers, thrillers with a lil murder, quick books (under 300 pages)
this book is very unique in how the story is told and that will either be a hit or miss with readers. it’s told BACKWARDS… so the book starts with present day and each chapter takes you back in time to see how you got to this part. it’s not flashbacks—it truly just keeps going backward. this took a bit to get used to but i loved it. it’s hard to be unique with thrillers and plot twists and devices and i applaud Swanson for trying that out and executing it well!
the ending really bumped the book up for me. it was so good. i ALWAYS say this but if a thriller is wrapped up too perfectly and without a little something sinister/bang at the end, i’m bummed out. and Swanson’s books always deliver with a shocking ending!
this comes out in June and is a quick binge. pick it up and have fun!!!
thanks to William Morrow for the gifted early copy. Swanson remains a fave thriller author for me 🤝
June 9, 2025
Massive thanks to @williammorrowbooks #partner @petermswanson for the #gifted copy and @netgalley for the e-ARC.
This was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year! When it arrived I started jumping up and down screaming! @williammorrowbooks I JUST LOVE YOU GUYS 😍😍😍. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Thom and Wendy Graves have been married for more than twenty years-five years. They’ve had a virtuous life. They have experienced many life altering moments together. They’ve achieved goals within their careers. Had a wonderful son.
But, Wendy is worried the guilt of their sins will be the death of them. Or, should I say of Thom’s.
I will tell you that this is a slow burn thriller. The story is told in reverse. This is their love story.
I enjoyed this one, but, my only quibble is some of the pacing slows down at bit. However, I still loved it and hope you will too!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year! When it arrived I started jumping up and down screaming! @williammorrowbooks I JUST LOVE YOU GUYS 😍😍😍. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Thom and Wendy Graves have been married for more than twenty years-five years. They’ve had a virtuous life. They have experienced many life altering moments together. They’ve achieved goals within their careers. Had a wonderful son.
But, Wendy is worried the guilt of their sins will be the death of them. Or, should I say of Thom’s.
I will tell you that this is a slow burn thriller. The story is told in reverse. This is their love story.
I enjoyed this one, but, my only quibble is some of the pacing slows down at bit. However, I still loved it and hope you will too!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 6, 2025
I wish I could say I liked this this but alas, my second meh book back to back.
This is my first ever Peter Swanson book and I know how beloved he is by his fans so please don’t come for me. I just didn’t find anything about this book that I enjoyed. I struggled with the execution of messing with time. I typically LOVE books, movies, games that do this but it has to be done right and unfortunately it felt like it wasn’t done with purpose.
I didn’t love the writing, I didn’t find it thrilling, the timelines weren’t done with intention. BUT it wasn’t so bad that I wouldn’t try another book by this authour. Some of my favourites have misses and I think this may be his miss.
This is my first ever Peter Swanson book and I know how beloved he is by his fans so please don’t come for me. I just didn’t find anything about this book that I enjoyed. I struggled with the execution of messing with time. I typically LOVE books, movies, games that do this but it has to be done right and unfortunately it felt like it wasn’t done with purpose.
I didn’t love the writing, I didn’t find it thrilling, the timelines weren’t done with intention. BUT it wasn’t so bad that I wouldn’t try another book by this authour. Some of my favourites have misses and I think this may be his miss.
June 15, 2025
Domestic Suspense story about a long marriage and while it was not what I expect from Swanson, I did find it engrossing and the plot device - told in reverse chronological order - did keep me reading to see how we got to the end of it or rather “the beginning”. Disappointed that there were no “twists” which I also expect from Swanson, and it’s a slow burner for the page count but I can appreciate that the author tried something different.
December 11, 2024
3.5 stars
The Sisters are rambling again and this time it’s about Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson
When it comes to thrillers, Peter Swanson always seems to have something unique up his sleeve. With Kill Your Darlings he’s telling the story in reverse, peeling back the layers of Thom and Wendy Graves’ seemingly perfect marriage one key moment at a time. It's a psychological thriller that’s less about jaw-dropping twists and more about the slow, steady reveal of their, haunting secret.
My Take: Slow-Burn, Intriguing, No Shocking Twists
Let me just start with this: I wasn’t sure about this book after reading it. A backward timeline? Seeing and piecing things together before it’s revealed? Slow-paced, and no shocking twists?
So, Thom and Wendy Graves have a secret. And that secret? It’s haunting Thom. You can practically feel the tension creeping through the pages as Thom unravels, drink by drink. Wendy? She’s not exactly the picture of support, her plan: to kill her darling.
The story dives deep into their marriage, exploring their personalities, choices, and the events that led them to their breaking point. While this intense character study is fascinating, it also slows the story down.
Here’s the thing sometimes moving backward in time can become confusing but Peter Swanson manages to pull it off. He creates a sense of suspense that keeps you hooked, making you want to know what happened earlier. This also puts you one step ahead in figuring out what happened so there are no shocking twists revealed.
In the end, it’s a compelling read. The reveal, well it’s not the payoff I wanted or expected but it did work.
The Sister’s Final Thoughts
Kill Your Darlings isn’t your typical thriller. It’s not about shocking twists or edge-of-your-seat suspense. Instead, it’s a slow, psychological deep dive into the cracks and flaws of a marriage haunted by a secret. Swanson’s choice to tell the story in reverse adds a layer of intrigue, creating a puzzle-like experience that will keep you engaged, even if it’s at a slower pace.
If you’re a fan of methodical, slow-burn thrillers that focus on psychological depth, this one’s for you. But if you’re after twists that leave your jaw on the floor? You might want to look elsewhere.
I received a copy from the publisher through Edelweiss
For Norma's Bold, Clever, and Immersive take, check out her review here
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Sisters are rambling again and this time it’s about Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson
When it comes to thrillers, Peter Swanson always seems to have something unique up his sleeve. With Kill Your Darlings he’s telling the story in reverse, peeling back the layers of Thom and Wendy Graves’ seemingly perfect marriage one key moment at a time. It's a psychological thriller that’s less about jaw-dropping twists and more about the slow, steady reveal of their, haunting secret.
My Take: Slow-Burn, Intriguing, No Shocking Twists
Let me just start with this: I wasn’t sure about this book after reading it. A backward timeline? Seeing and piecing things together before it’s revealed? Slow-paced, and no shocking twists?
So, Thom and Wendy Graves have a secret. And that secret? It’s haunting Thom. You can practically feel the tension creeping through the pages as Thom unravels, drink by drink. Wendy? She’s not exactly the picture of support, her plan: to kill her darling.
The story dives deep into their marriage, exploring their personalities, choices, and the events that led them to their breaking point. While this intense character study is fascinating, it also slows the story down.
Here’s the thing sometimes moving backward in time can become confusing but Peter Swanson manages to pull it off. He creates a sense of suspense that keeps you hooked, making you want to know what happened earlier. This also puts you one step ahead in figuring out what happened so there are no shocking twists revealed.
In the end, it’s a compelling read. The reveal, well it’s not the payoff I wanted or expected but it did work.
The Sister’s Final Thoughts
Kill Your Darlings isn’t your typical thriller. It’s not about shocking twists or edge-of-your-seat suspense. Instead, it’s a slow, psychological deep dive into the cracks and flaws of a marriage haunted by a secret. Swanson’s choice to tell the story in reverse adds a layer of intrigue, creating a puzzle-like experience that will keep you engaged, even if it’s at a slower pace.
If you’re a fan of methodical, slow-burn thrillers that focus on psychological depth, this one’s for you. But if you’re after twists that leave your jaw on the floor? You might want to look elsewhere.
I received a copy from the publisher through Edelweiss
For Norma's Bold, Clever, and Immersive take, check out her review here
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
December 13, 2024
I hate that I spent so much time on this book, but I really thought the ending would really wrap it all up nicely. This fell so so flat for me. It was told in a reverse chronological order and i truly did not see the point of that.
Wendy and Thom murder Wendy’s husband so she can have his money. They get away with it. It’s such an easy thing for Thom to do. And he murdered a woman the same night and never was a suspect. Again, I felt like I just kept waiting for the twist. It NEVER came. The story was so dry and drawn out at some points.
There was a lot of infidelity to the story as well. Wendy “knew” and was apparently unphased, meanwhile, Thom was so riddled with guilt he drank himself stupid every night. Wendy despised him for it and ended up murdering him in the beginning of the book (again because it was told in reverse). I, again, thought it would end with the present to tie it all together? Nope.
Really disappointed, because I truly have enjoyed Swanson’s stories in the past. This one was not it for me.
Thanks to NetGalley, Swanson, and William Morrow Publishing for this eARC.
Wendy and Thom murder Wendy’s husband so she can have his money. They get away with it. It’s such an easy thing for Thom to do. And he murdered a woman the same night and never was a suspect. Again, I felt like I just kept waiting for the twist. It NEVER came. The story was so dry and drawn out at some points.
There was a lot of infidelity to the story as well. Wendy “knew” and was apparently unphased, meanwhile, Thom was so riddled with guilt he drank himself stupid every night. Wendy despised him for it and ended up murdering him in the beginning of the book (again because it was told in reverse). I, again, thought it would end with the present to tie it all together? Nope.
Really disappointed, because I truly have enjoyed Swanson’s stories in the past. This one was not it for me.
Thanks to NetGalley, Swanson, and William Morrow Publishing for this eARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2025
I really enjoy Swanson’s brand of crime fiction. He stages his stories in ways that are new to me, and with his killers being characters you wouldn’t expect to be wielding a knife or a gun. This tale is a case in point, told in a non-linear way. In fact, it’s told in reverse. I really didn't expect this to work, but it does. Spectacularly!
We learn that a mature married couple share a secret. It’s one that they most certainly do not wish the wider world to know about. It binds them together, in a way that’s a little uncomfortable. Thom is an English teacher and a drinker. He has an eye for the women, too. Wendy tends house, but she’s also a published writer of poetry. Their union is awkward but pragmatic.
As we steadily delve back into their earlier lives, we gain more knowledge of their previous selves, of the growing enmity between them and of deeds each has logged up in their past. I kept thinking that this was an odd way to digest the tale, and yet it kept unearthing surprises and also presented evidence as to why some subsequent events had transpired.
The ending, when it came, was perhaps surprising and perhaps not – though there is certainly a nice twist at the death. But moreover, I’d become so invested in both of the main characters that I genuinely felt quite emotional when the last page was turned. It's one of my favourite reads of the year, without any doubt.
My thanks to Faber and Faber Ltd for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
We learn that a mature married couple share a secret. It’s one that they most certainly do not wish the wider world to know about. It binds them together, in a way that’s a little uncomfortable. Thom is an English teacher and a drinker. He has an eye for the women, too. Wendy tends house, but she’s also a published writer of poetry. Their union is awkward but pragmatic.
As we steadily delve back into their earlier lives, we gain more knowledge of their previous selves, of the growing enmity between them and of deeds each has logged up in their past. I kept thinking that this was an odd way to digest the tale, and yet it kept unearthing surprises and also presented evidence as to why some subsequent events had transpired.
The ending, when it came, was perhaps surprising and perhaps not – though there is certainly a nice twist at the death. But moreover, I’d become so invested in both of the main characters that I genuinely felt quite emotional when the last page was turned. It's one of my favourite reads of the year, without any doubt.
My thanks to Faber and Faber Ltd for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 11, 2024
3.5 Stars
Wendy and her husband Thom are both respected academics with Wendy having published a book of poetry and Thom being a tenured professor. They have built themselves a good life and live in a nice home in a quaint New England town overlooking the water. Everything seems to be going well for them except for one small thing: Wendy wants Thom dead!
The novel spans from 1982 through 2023, but it starts in 2023 and works its way back to finish in 1982. It’s a very interesting concept. However, I can’t say that it worked for me with this novel. We start out in 2023 with a bang and then work our way backwards. While there are certain twist and turns, there wasn’t much to hold my attention. I found myself getting bored. Some chapters./years are dedicated towards major milestones in their lives, but then other chapters/years delve into their dynamic and give insight into why Wendy wants to murder Thom. It just felt a bit choppy to me and not fluid enough for me as a reader to hold my attention.
Now for that ending….. I totally missed it the first time. I think it was because I fully wasn’t paying attention due to what I described above that when I hit the acknowledgments, I knew that I had to have missed something. I flipped back and reread and had that. Ohhhhhhhhh moment. It was a good ending for sure.
This book is certainly a good read. I just have read a ton of Swanson’s previous books and while this is up there, it’s not the best but that’s just my opinion. There are a ton of glowing reviews and five star ratings out there with mine being an outlier opinion. If you've never read Swanson before, I think this is a great one to start with and even if you have, totally give it a read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Wendy and her husband Thom are both respected academics with Wendy having published a book of poetry and Thom being a tenured professor. They have built themselves a good life and live in a nice home in a quaint New England town overlooking the water. Everything seems to be going well for them except for one small thing: Wendy wants Thom dead!
The novel spans from 1982 through 2023, but it starts in 2023 and works its way back to finish in 1982. It’s a very interesting concept. However, I can’t say that it worked for me with this novel. We start out in 2023 with a bang and then work our way backwards. While there are certain twist and turns, there wasn’t much to hold my attention. I found myself getting bored. Some chapters./years are dedicated towards major milestones in their lives, but then other chapters/years delve into their dynamic and give insight into why Wendy wants to murder Thom. It just felt a bit choppy to me and not fluid enough for me as a reader to hold my attention.
Now for that ending….. I totally missed it the first time. I think it was because I fully wasn’t paying attention due to what I described above that when I hit the acknowledgments, I knew that I had to have missed something. I flipped back and reread and had that. Ohhhhhhhhh moment. It was a good ending for sure.
This book is certainly a good read. I just have read a ton of Swanson’s previous books and while this is up there, it’s not the best but that’s just my opinion. There are a ton of glowing reviews and five star ratings out there with mine being an outlier opinion. If you've never read Swanson before, I think this is a great one to start with and even if you have, totally give it a read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2025
I just feel sad after reading this book, mainly because I did not like it. It hurts me so much to say this because I adore Peter Swanson. His "The Kind Worth Killing" series is probably one of the most entertaining series ever, and it will always hold that distinction.
But my, oh my, this new release from him is so bland and predictable. I liked the concept of the story being told backwards, but did it work for me as a reader? Not so much. The execution was creative, but the characters were flat and unrelatable. I couldn't connect with or sympathize with Wendy or Thom; they were both terrible characters. Also, since the chapters were arranged backwards, I became less invested in how the plot unfolded because I already knew what the ending was. Sadly, even the twists were not able to save this for me.
This is definitely a miss for me. I am so sorry, Mr. Swanson. I will never stop reading anything you put out in the future, but I'll just pretend I didn't read this one.
But my, oh my, this new release from him is so bland and predictable. I liked the concept of the story being told backwards, but did it work for me as a reader? Not so much. The execution was creative, but the characters were flat and unrelatable. I couldn't connect with or sympathize with Wendy or Thom; they were both terrible characters. Also, since the chapters were arranged backwards, I became less invested in how the plot unfolded because I already knew what the ending was. Sadly, even the twists were not able to save this for me.
This is definitely a miss for me. I am so sorry, Mr. Swanson. I will never stop reading anything you put out in the future, but I'll just pretend I didn't read this one.
January 9, 2025
ARC for review. To be published June 10, 2025.
3 stars.
The story of Thom and Wendy Graves is told in reverse. They’ve been married for twenty five years and live an erudite life in Massachusetts. They share Jason, their adult son and Wendy is a published poet while Thom teaches English literature at the local university. Oh, and Wendy wants to murder her husband.
Why? We go backward in time to find out and visit the couple’s important moments. A joint 50th birthday party, buying their home, Jason’s birth and then a singular event that results in thoughts of killing Thom.
“The happiest people are the ones who are able to forget their past. Don’t be sentimental about people.”
So, I get where Wendy is coming from. She’s a psychopath, sure, but I understand. Interesting book.
3 stars.
The story of Thom and Wendy Graves is told in reverse. They’ve been married for twenty five years and live an erudite life in Massachusetts. They share Jason, their adult son and Wendy is a published poet while Thom teaches English literature at the local university. Oh, and Wendy wants to murder her husband.
Why? We go backward in time to find out and visit the couple’s important moments. A joint 50th birthday party, buying their home, Jason’s birth and then a singular event that results in thoughts of killing Thom.
“The happiest people are the ones who are able to forget their past. Don’t be sentimental about people.”
So, I get where Wendy is coming from. She’s a psychopath, sure, but I understand. Interesting book.
May 13, 2025
4-5 stars
This is Thom and Wendy Graves’ story. They’ve been married for 25 years and live in New Essex in Northern Massachusetts. Wendy is a poet and Thom is a Professor of English Literature at a nearby university. Wendy is growing increasingly tired of Thom, his long, dull monologues, his excessive drinking, his philandering and frankly, she wants to murder him. The multiple reasons for this murderous desire are not simple and we learned the truth of their marriage and what lies behind it, in reverse from November 2023 back to Then. The pair have a powerful secret which binds them together, but it appears that Thom is about to blow that to smithereens, if Wendy doesn’t do him in first.
I wonder if the inspiration for this latest novel from one of my favourite authors comes from the brilliant film ‘Memento’ starring Guy Pearce. If so, this “homage” certainly does it justice. I think it’s a very good slow burner psychological thriller which does require concentration which is no bad thing! I thoroughly enjoy the way it’s told in reverse as it goes full circle but the most delicious part for me are the two main characters. Wendy is quite something, she’s tough, strong, incredibly smart and certainly manipulative. Thom is definitely impossible and I get how Wendy feels! For a start, never mind the rest, he talks way, way too much. Their dysfunctional marriage lends itself to some tense and colourful scenes and behind the dysfunction lurks something very ugly. It gets darker and darker as it goes back in time and it’s always full of atmosphere created by their relationship, their personalities and by the places in which it’s set.
It takes a lot of skill to tell a story this way and keep me interested. Inevitably, there’s some repetition but it doesn’t bother me much. As for the ending, it is so so clever, in fact, it’s a cracker of an ending. Very well played sir.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Faber and Faber for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
This is Thom and Wendy Graves’ story. They’ve been married for 25 years and live in New Essex in Northern Massachusetts. Wendy is a poet and Thom is a Professor of English Literature at a nearby university. Wendy is growing increasingly tired of Thom, his long, dull monologues, his excessive drinking, his philandering and frankly, she wants to murder him. The multiple reasons for this murderous desire are not simple and we learned the truth of their marriage and what lies behind it, in reverse from November 2023 back to Then. The pair have a powerful secret which binds them together, but it appears that Thom is about to blow that to smithereens, if Wendy doesn’t do him in first.
I wonder if the inspiration for this latest novel from one of my favourite authors comes from the brilliant film ‘Memento’ starring Guy Pearce. If so, this “homage” certainly does it justice. I think it’s a very good slow burner psychological thriller which does require concentration which is no bad thing! I thoroughly enjoy the way it’s told in reverse as it goes full circle but the most delicious part for me are the two main characters. Wendy is quite something, she’s tough, strong, incredibly smart and certainly manipulative. Thom is definitely impossible and I get how Wendy feels! For a start, never mind the rest, he talks way, way too much. Their dysfunctional marriage lends itself to some tense and colourful scenes and behind the dysfunction lurks something very ugly. It gets darker and darker as it goes back in time and it’s always full of atmosphere created by their relationship, their personalities and by the places in which it’s set.
It takes a lot of skill to tell a story this way and keep me interested. Inevitably, there’s some repetition but it doesn’t bother me much. As for the ending, it is so so clever, in fact, it’s a cracker of an ending. Very well played sir.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Faber and Faber for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
June 30, 2025
I'LL BE STRAIGHTFORWARD:
I don't like "BACKWARDS" books.
I applaud the author for experimenting with a reverse chronological format, but this format did not work for me.
I was, however, intrigued with the book's "Why would a loving wife want to murder her husband?" premise.
I am a HUGE Peter Swanson fan and realize that nobody bats 1000% (not even talented authors!).
Moving FORWARD, and I will be eagerly awaiting Peter Swanson's future releases.
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Steven Webber.
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