What do you think?
Rate this book
Kill for Me
An einem kalten New Yorker Abend lernen sich zwei Frauen in einer Selbsthilfegruppe für Trauernde kennen: Amanda und Wendy können nicht mit der Vergangenheit abschließen, nachdem sie ihre Liebsten durch brutale Verbrechen verloren haben. Beide warten vergeblich darauf, dass der Täter zur Rechenschaft gezogen wird. So schließen sie einen Pakt: Amanda wird den Mann töten, der Wendys Tochter vergewaltigt und ermordet hat. Und Wendy wird Wallace Crone umbringen, den Mörder von Amandas kleiner Jess. Doch der Plan geht schrecklich schief. Denn eine der beiden spielt ein falsches Spiel …
512 pages, Paperback
First published July 20, 2023
8971 people are currently reading
240671 people want to read
About the author
Steve Cavanagh
32 books11.5k followersSteve Cavanagh is a critically acclaimed, Sunday Times best-selling author of the Eddie Flynn series which has sold a million copies in the UK. His third novel, The Liar, won the CWA Gold Dagger for Crime Novel of the year 2018. Thirteen won the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime novel of the year 2019. FIFTY FIFTY was a Richard and Judy Book club choice, and the BBC Between The Covers book club choice. All of his novels have been nominated for major awards. He is a consistent International bestseller.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 23,439 reviews
October 29, 2025
Your TBR is a mile long, you say? Who cares! Better move this one to the top of your list.
Kill for Me, Kill for You has been getting so much buzz, and rightly so. It takes inspiration from Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train, where the title characters propose swapping murders so neither will get caught. And this story takes that premise and just goes to town on it.
Sometimes you know from the very first page if a thriller is going to thrill you, and that's what happened here. I opened the book, and I was immediately riveted. It grabbed me so hard. When I was reading it, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. And when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it and itching to get back to it.
This was such a fascinating, twisty, crazy story, it makes me wonder how Steve Cavanagh ever came up with it. And it reminds me never to get on the bad side of authors because wow, can they come up with some ingenious ways of killing people and have no one be the wiser.
I think part of the reason this story works so well is that not only is it brilliantly plotted, but it's also constructed in such a way as to squeeze every last drop of suspense and enjoyment out of it. There's a lot of different ways to tell the same story, some more effective than others, and I feel like Cavanagh came up with the absolute best way to tell this story here and that's why it's so unputdownable.
When it comes to thrillers, everyone always wants to know if the reveals are so amazing they'll knock your socks off. But I don't like to make too big a deal of them. It's hard to say if what surprises one reader will work for another. There were moments in this book I saw coming, ones I didn't see coming, and also ones that were a bit too out there for me. But all told, they delivered on the goods and kept me thoroughly entertained.
Whether you should add this book to your mile-long TBR is an easy call. If you're a thriller fan, this is a must read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
Kill for Me, Kill for You has been getting so much buzz, and rightly so. It takes inspiration from Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train, where the title characters propose swapping murders so neither will get caught. And this story takes that premise and just goes to town on it.
Sometimes you know from the very first page if a thriller is going to thrill you, and that's what happened here. I opened the book, and I was immediately riveted. It grabbed me so hard. When I was reading it, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. And when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it and itching to get back to it.
This was such a fascinating, twisty, crazy story, it makes me wonder how Steve Cavanagh ever came up with it. And it reminds me never to get on the bad side of authors because wow, can they come up with some ingenious ways of killing people and have no one be the wiser.
I think part of the reason this story works so well is that not only is it brilliantly plotted, but it's also constructed in such a way as to squeeze every last drop of suspense and enjoyment out of it. There's a lot of different ways to tell the same story, some more effective than others, and I feel like Cavanagh came up with the absolute best way to tell this story here and that's why it's so unputdownable.
When it comes to thrillers, everyone always wants to know if the reveals are so amazing they'll knock your socks off. But I don't like to make too big a deal of them. It's hard to say if what surprises one reader will work for another. There were moments in this book I saw coming, ones I didn't see coming, and also ones that were a bit too out there for me. But all told, they delivered on the goods and kept me thoroughly entertained.
Whether you should add this book to your mile-long TBR is an easy call. If you're a thriller fan, this is a must read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
May 14, 2024
WHAT A RIDE 😨 I *inhaled* this book omfg. No notes. Gripping from beginning to end. Move it to the top of your TBR if it’s not there already.
August 11, 2023
I would love to live in the authors head, as I’m sure it must be a very interesting place based on his brilliant ideas and ability to pen them down. This was another smashing hit, punching me in the face with surprise after surprise. I remember thinking, well this reminds me of.. and then everything turned around into an unusual plot that I’ve never encountered before. The plot and twists wasn’t all though, the cherry on the top was how intense and suspenseful it was. Cavanagh has an incredible talent and even if he veered of in a different direction than the Flynn series, it has his trademark and I couldn’t get enough of it.
January 15, 2025
I really liked this until I really didn’t. The premise was really fun and gave me Gone Girl vibes of two grieving women teaming up in a Blacktop Wasteland sort of way. And it stuck to that premise until it started betraying all the characters actions in the end.
At some point we get a reveal that one perspective was in the past and while I thought that was very apparent from the beginning, perhaps my spidey senses were just acutely attuned. But it laid it out like WOW. I don’t typically mind my guesses coming to fruition in thrillers but the way it was written felt like a TADA.
And then we are made to believe that this clearly traumatized woman who EXCLUSIVELY goes after blue eyed men, suddenly changes everything about it to get hands on for the first time herself with a random (not her MO) that didn’t fit the ritual to gain access in murdering an ENTIRE FAMILY??? It was explained to us in a shotty DSM 5 snippet that serial killers can kill more rapidly under stress but that doesn’t mean it gets random to the point of brutally murdering children suddenly. I just don’t understand.
And then to top it off, the psychotic man who hunts and murders women is the saviour of the day by helping the main character out cause she was helpful to him in hunting down his victim that got away?? If you think that sentence is convoluted, just imagine reading the entire book. It’s so unbelievably convoluted (truly the best word to describe it) and frankly is reaped in misogyny. I’m so baffled by the last 100 pages of this book because I didn’t get those impressions earlier in the book and feel silly for not realizing sooner. It betrays every single character in the process from the clearly traumatized murdering woman, the grieving mother and widow. And I guess I can be fine with the detective who clearly knows the truth…
BUT this book goes off the rails and crashes in a burning heap at the bottom of the cliff. Big bummer because 85% of it was fun.
UPDATE: The more I think about this the more bitter and angry I get. How does a man write this and nobody questions him on his choices?? Out of 4 main characters, 3 are women, and the hero turns out to be the man who stalks and murders women?? I cannot. Changing this to a 1 star.
SECOND UPDATE: I’m still so bitter about this book and glad to see I’m not alone. How is this book so popular? I wish the hero of the book wasn’t a literal woman murdering psychopath. Ugh. Almost a year later and this is still one of the worst conclusions of a book I’ve ever read.
At some point we get a reveal that one perspective was in the past and while I thought that was very apparent from the beginning, perhaps my spidey senses were just acutely attuned. But it laid it out like WOW. I don’t typically mind my guesses coming to fruition in thrillers but the way it was written felt like a TADA.
And then we are made to believe that this clearly traumatized woman who EXCLUSIVELY goes after blue eyed men, suddenly changes everything about it to get hands on for the first time herself with a random (not her MO) that didn’t fit the ritual to gain access in murdering an ENTIRE FAMILY??? It was explained to us in a shotty DSM 5 snippet that serial killers can kill more rapidly under stress but that doesn’t mean it gets random to the point of brutally murdering children suddenly. I just don’t understand.
And then to top it off, the psychotic man who hunts and murders women is the saviour of the day by helping the main character out cause she was helpful to him in hunting down his victim that got away?? If you think that sentence is convoluted, just imagine reading the entire book. It’s so unbelievably convoluted (truly the best word to describe it) and frankly is reaped in misogyny. I’m so baffled by the last 100 pages of this book because I didn’t get those impressions earlier in the book and feel silly for not realizing sooner. It betrays every single character in the process from the clearly traumatized murdering woman, the grieving mother and widow. And I guess I can be fine with the detective who clearly knows the truth…
BUT this book goes off the rails and crashes in a burning heap at the bottom of the cliff. Big bummer because 85% of it was fun.
UPDATE: The more I think about this the more bitter and angry I get. How does a man write this and nobody questions him on his choices?? Out of 4 main characters, 3 are women, and the hero turns out to be the man who stalks and murders women?? I cannot. Changing this to a 1 star.
SECOND UPDATE: I’m still so bitter about this book and glad to see I’m not alone. How is this book so popular? I wish the hero of the book wasn’t a literal woman murdering psychopath. Ugh. Almost a year later and this is still one of the worst conclusions of a book I’ve ever read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
I haven’t read a thriller/mystery that I couldn’t put down in so long!!!! The twist(s) got me & I was INVESTED from start to finish
It’s basically about two women going through different things, but the overall theme is revenge 🫡
I haven’t read a thriller/mystery that I couldn’t put down in so long!!!! The twist(s) got me & I was INVESTED from start to finish
It’s basically about two women going through different things, but the overall theme is revenge 🫡
March 19, 2024
I am thrilled that Steve Cavanagh has U.S. representation for this book from ATRIA! Thank You ATRIA for providing a gifted ARC through NetGalley!
With a nod and a wink 😉 to the original “Murder Swap”-Patricia Highsmith’s “Strangers on a Train” (and Alfred Hitchcock’s movie adaptation of that book) we now have “Kill For Me Kill For You”, a new standalone by Steve Cavanagh who is known best for his legal thrillers featuring quick witted attorney, Eddie Flynn.
So does this murder swap offer anything new?
C’mon-it’s the talented Steve Cavanagh!
So, YES, yes it does!!
The book opens on a train, but this time it isn’t where the “plotting” takes place…….
Amanda and Wendy are two women unable to put the past behind them, having lost loved ones to HORRIFIC crimes!
Each has become fixated on the man who destroyed her family, and each desperately wants revenge.
Over drinks one night, they devise a plan to accomplish their goal-“If you kill for me, I’ll kill for you.”
🥃🥃
Ruth is a VICTIM of a BRUTAL assault in her own home. She is now too afraid to leave the hotel room that she has been staying in since her discharge from the hospital.
How will her story intersect with those of the other two women?
In ways you can’t even imagine!
And, then there is that ending…
At first, I wasn’t sure if I liked the final twist when it first began to play out, BUT once the author brought the twist full circle, I changed my mind!
I LOVED IT!! ❤️
Even if you have read the others in this trope-do yourself a favor, and read this one too!
You won’t regret it!
Review for Patricia Highsmith’s “Strangers on a Train” : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
NOW AVAILABLE!!
With a nod and a wink 😉 to the original “Murder Swap”-Patricia Highsmith’s “Strangers on a Train” (and Alfred Hitchcock’s movie adaptation of that book) we now have “Kill For Me Kill For You”, a new standalone by Steve Cavanagh who is known best for his legal thrillers featuring quick witted attorney, Eddie Flynn.
So does this murder swap offer anything new?
C’mon-it’s the talented Steve Cavanagh!
So, YES, yes it does!!
The book opens on a train, but this time it isn’t where the “plotting” takes place…….
Amanda and Wendy are two women unable to put the past behind them, having lost loved ones to HORRIFIC crimes!
Each has become fixated on the man who destroyed her family, and each desperately wants revenge.
Over drinks one night, they devise a plan to accomplish their goal-“If you kill for me, I’ll kill for you.”
🥃🥃
Ruth is a VICTIM of a BRUTAL assault in her own home. She is now too afraid to leave the hotel room that she has been staying in since her discharge from the hospital.
How will her story intersect with those of the other two women?
In ways you can’t even imagine!
And, then there is that ending…
At first, I wasn’t sure if I liked the final twist when it first began to play out, BUT once the author brought the twist full circle, I changed my mind!
I LOVED IT!! ❤️
Even if you have read the others in this trope-do yourself a favor, and read this one too!
You won’t regret it!
Review for Patricia Highsmith’s “Strangers on a Train” : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
NOW AVAILABLE!!
March 19, 2024
4.5⭐️
Having read and loved the author’s Eddie Flynn series, this is my first time reading any of his standalone novels (I’ve yet to read Twisted) and I loved it!
Amanda and Wendy meet in a grief support group, bond over drinks and share their stories of loss with one another. Both have lost a loved one as a result of separate acts of heinous crime and believe that law enforcement has failed to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice. They devise a plan to help one another – “kill for me kill for you” - each with a foolproof alibi to keep themselves off the radar of investigators.
Sounds familiar, right? Initially, though I was enjoying the plot, the well-fleshed-out characters and the incredible writing, I was prepared for a formulaic read. You’ll agree that a Patricia Highsmith-like plot (I loved the way the author weaves the same into the narrative), though enjoyable, isn’t quite unpredictable. I WAS WRONG! (I love when that happens!)
I won’t say more because I do not want to give too much away. The plot progression is a tad slow initially, but after the 25% mark, with its multiple twists, shocking revelations and satisfying ending, this was UNPUTDOWNABLE! (I felt one thread was left somewhat unresolved. Can we hope for a sequel?) Told through multiple perspectives, the suspenseful narrative kept me hooked until the very last page. (I’m still thinking about the ending and it’s been a few days since I finished the book!) There are moments where I couldn't not feel sympathetic toward the main characters and in others, questioned their choices or was horrified by their actions. This is a thriller that sets you on an emotional roller-coaster along with its characters. There are aspects that would require a suspension of disbelief, but fans of this genre would agree that is to be expected in such stories. Don’t overthink it and enjoy the wild ride!
Is this my favorite Cavanagh novel? Probably not. The author sets a high bar with his Eddie Flynn series. But there is no doubt that Cavanagh is a master storyteller and with his latest offering, he does not disappoint! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Kill For Me Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh, and can't wait to read more from this talented author in the future!
P.S. Though this novel is not part of the author’s Eddie Flynn series, a character we’ve met in the books is mentioned briefly. Loved that!
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
Having read and loved the author’s Eddie Flynn series, this is my first time reading any of his standalone novels (I’ve yet to read Twisted) and I loved it!
Amanda and Wendy meet in a grief support group, bond over drinks and share their stories of loss with one another. Both have lost a loved one as a result of separate acts of heinous crime and believe that law enforcement has failed to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice. They devise a plan to help one another – “kill for me kill for you” - each with a foolproof alibi to keep themselves off the radar of investigators.
Sounds familiar, right? Initially, though I was enjoying the plot, the well-fleshed-out characters and the incredible writing, I was prepared for a formulaic read. You’ll agree that a Patricia Highsmith-like plot (I loved the way the author weaves the same into the narrative), though enjoyable, isn’t quite unpredictable. I WAS WRONG! (I love when that happens!)
I won’t say more because I do not want to give too much away. The plot progression is a tad slow initially, but after the 25% mark, with its multiple twists, shocking revelations and satisfying ending, this was UNPUTDOWNABLE! (I felt one thread was left somewhat unresolved. Can we hope for a sequel?) Told through multiple perspectives, the suspenseful narrative kept me hooked until the very last page. (I’m still thinking about the ending and it’s been a few days since I finished the book!) There are moments where I couldn't not feel sympathetic toward the main characters and in others, questioned their choices or was horrified by their actions. This is a thriller that sets you on an emotional roller-coaster along with its characters. There are aspects that would require a suspension of disbelief, but fans of this genre would agree that is to be expected in such stories. Don’t overthink it and enjoy the wild ride!
Is this my favorite Cavanagh novel? Probably not. The author sets a high bar with his Eddie Flynn series. But there is no doubt that Cavanagh is a master storyteller and with his latest offering, he does not disappoint! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Kill For Me Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh, and can't wait to read more from this talented author in the future!
P.S. Though this novel is not part of the author’s Eddie Flynn series, a character we’ve met in the books is mentioned briefly. Loved that!
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
April 30, 2025
Kill for Me, Kill for You is a fast-paced Psychological Thriller that follows a few different perspectives. I would say the stars of our show are Ruth and Amanda, two women struggling to overcome personal tragedies.
We also get the perspective of Detective Farrow, familiar to both women, as well as Ruth's husband, Scott.
Ruth was attacked in her home by a man stalking New York City, the Blue-Eyed Killer. Ruth survived, but was left with lasting injuries. Will she ever be able to feel safe again?
We follow Ruth and Scott as they try to navigate the aftermath of this attack. It's a lot for the couple to try to work through. It has truly shattered their lives.
Amanda lost a child, and within a week, her husband. She's been living with the pain for a while. It never gets easier.
She has recently joined a support group and it's there that she meets Wendy. The two women bond over their shared feelings and end up hanging out outside of group.
As they talk over drinks one night, they come up with a plan for revenge, straight out of Strangers on a Train.
I don't want to say anything more about this. You should be able to judge whether you want to read it or not. It's a tough one to talk about without revealing too much.
Just know, I had fun with it. I really enjoyed getting to know all of the characters. The build-up of learning about their lives and situations that led them to where they were, I found it fascinating. I was glued to the pages.
I was actually surprised about getting the Detective's perspective. I wasn't sure where he was going to come out in the overall narrative, but I always enjoy an investigator's perspective, so it was a happy surprise.
I was so curious how this was all going to come together, as any connections amongst the characters were initially blurry. I loved watching it play out.
With this being said, I will admit that, even though this was an enjoyable ride, it was slightly uneven for me. Once the biggest reveal occurred, when those pieces fell in place, I felt satisfied, but there was still quite a bit of book left.
I feel like I lost a little interest after that reveal. However, it did pick back up for me again in the final moments.
At the end of the day though, this was highly entertaining. Did I want to grab popcorn? Hell yes, and let it be known, this is absolutely a compliment from me.
I'm excited to pick up more of Cavanagh's work.
Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me a copy to read and review. This was a definite win for me!!
We also get the perspective of Detective Farrow, familiar to both women, as well as Ruth's husband, Scott.
Ruth was attacked in her home by a man stalking New York City, the Blue-Eyed Killer. Ruth survived, but was left with lasting injuries. Will she ever be able to feel safe again?
We follow Ruth and Scott as they try to navigate the aftermath of this attack. It's a lot for the couple to try to work through. It has truly shattered their lives.
Amanda lost a child, and within a week, her husband. She's been living with the pain for a while. It never gets easier.
She has recently joined a support group and it's there that she meets Wendy. The two women bond over their shared feelings and end up hanging out outside of group.
As they talk over drinks one night, they come up with a plan for revenge, straight out of Strangers on a Train.
I don't want to say anything more about this. You should be able to judge whether you want to read it or not. It's a tough one to talk about without revealing too much.
Just know, I had fun with it. I really enjoyed getting to know all of the characters. The build-up of learning about their lives and situations that led them to where they were, I found it fascinating. I was glued to the pages.
I was actually surprised about getting the Detective's perspective. I wasn't sure where he was going to come out in the overall narrative, but I always enjoy an investigator's perspective, so it was a happy surprise.
I was so curious how this was all going to come together, as any connections amongst the characters were initially blurry. I loved watching it play out.
With this being said, I will admit that, even though this was an enjoyable ride, it was slightly uneven for me. Once the biggest reveal occurred, when those pieces fell in place, I felt satisfied, but there was still quite a bit of book left.
I feel like I lost a little interest after that reveal. However, it did pick back up for me again in the final moments.
At the end of the day though, this was highly entertaining. Did I want to grab popcorn? Hell yes, and let it be known, this is absolutely a compliment from me.
I'm excited to pick up more of Cavanagh's work.
Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me a copy to read and review. This was a definite win for me!!
October 28, 2024
This book is an absolute BANGER!! I found myself ripping through the pages and reading until the small hours of the morning - simply not being able to put my kindle down!
Easily handing over 5 unforgettable and thrilling stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✨ For fans of The Silent Patient and Gone Girl, a razor-sharp and Hitchcock-inspired psychological thriller about two ordinary women who make a dangerous pact to take revenge for each other after being pushed to the brink.✨
╰┈➤ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂
Amanda has recently lost her young daughter in an extremely tragic way - she was murdered and she knows who has done it but due to his father being a very rich and very powerful man in NYC as well as the perp being careful in his crimes, nothing has stuck and he's a free man just living his life. Shortly after the death of her daughter Jess, her husband Luis, who blames himself entirely for their daughter's death, commits suicide.
Completely alone and with her life utterly shattered... Amanda now has to participate in a court ordered group therapy for grieving parents due to violating the restraining order placed on her for stalking the man she believes killed her daughter.
In group therapy she meets a mother of a young girl who was r@ped and murdered by her school teacher. After getting to know one another over the course of a few days, many drinks and bonding conversations- a plan is hatched.
They will swap murders- Amanda will kill the man who r@ped and killed Naomi's daughter and Naomi will in turn kill the man who killed Amanda's daughter... nothing better than revenge to get these grieving mothers the closure they need...
While in another part of the city, Ruth is home alone when the beautiful brownstone she shares with her husband, Scott, is invaded. She’s attacked by a man with piercing blue eyes, who disappears into the night. Will she ever be able to feel safe again while the blue-eyed stranger is out there?
╰┈➤ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
I'm blown away, I'm speechless, I'm so freaking impressed how these twists crept up on me and I had no clue until the author wanted me to know!
I love thrillers, always have... but to be honest. In recent years, I have really struggled to find some good ones. This story is hands down - extraordinary, cunning, and suspenseful - laced with apprehension and anticipation. Leaving the reader full of fear and anxiety, but NEEDING to know what happens.
I honestly had my heart beating out of my chest as I read as fast as I could while these characters were putting themselves in harms way to do unthinkable things - or to find out the truth to other things. You know what I'm talking about - that feeling of omg don't go there, don't do that- you're going to get caught... omg. I was on the edge of my seat, biting my actual nails!
The story is told in third person with alternating POV's- the main ones being Amanda and Ruth. Sprinkled in are also, Scott's - husband to Ruth as well as the detective working both cases - Farrow.
I would say that right from the first page, the pace is a little slower than I would have expected but still very enjoyable. Once you get to around 25% in - it's off to the races. Plan to stay up until you finish the book!
Expected Publication March 19, 2024
╰┈➤ 🗣️ 𝓗𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓵𝔂 𝓡𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝓕𝓸𝓻 𝓕𝓪𝓷𝓼 𝓞𝓯:
╰⪼ Thrillers/Psych Thrillers
╰⪼ Detectives
╰⪼ Edge of your seat story telling
╰⪼ Unexpected twists and turns
╰⪼ Very satisfying conclusion
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and Steve Cavanagh for the complementary copy in exchange for my honest review. 🌺💗
Easily handing over 5 unforgettable and thrilling stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✨ For fans of The Silent Patient and Gone Girl, a razor-sharp and Hitchcock-inspired psychological thriller about two ordinary women who make a dangerous pact to take revenge for each other after being pushed to the brink.✨
╰┈➤ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂
Amanda has recently lost her young daughter in an extremely tragic way - she was murdered and she knows who has done it but due to his father being a very rich and very powerful man in NYC as well as the perp being careful in his crimes, nothing has stuck and he's a free man just living his life. Shortly after the death of her daughter Jess, her husband Luis, who blames himself entirely for their daughter's death, commits suicide.
Completely alone and with her life utterly shattered... Amanda now has to participate in a court ordered group therapy for grieving parents due to violating the restraining order placed on her for stalking the man she believes killed her daughter.
In group therapy she meets a mother of a young girl who was r@ped and murdered by her school teacher. After getting to know one another over the course of a few days, many drinks and bonding conversations- a plan is hatched.
They will swap murders- Amanda will kill the man who r@ped and killed Naomi's daughter and Naomi will in turn kill the man who killed Amanda's daughter... nothing better than revenge to get these grieving mothers the closure they need...
While in another part of the city, Ruth is home alone when the beautiful brownstone she shares with her husband, Scott, is invaded. She’s attacked by a man with piercing blue eyes, who disappears into the night. Will she ever be able to feel safe again while the blue-eyed stranger is out there?
╰┈➤ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
I'm blown away, I'm speechless, I'm so freaking impressed how these twists crept up on me and I had no clue until the author wanted me to know!
I love thrillers, always have... but to be honest. In recent years, I have really struggled to find some good ones. This story is hands down - extraordinary, cunning, and suspenseful - laced with apprehension and anticipation. Leaving the reader full of fear and anxiety, but NEEDING to know what happens.
I honestly had my heart beating out of my chest as I read as fast as I could while these characters were putting themselves in harms way to do unthinkable things - or to find out the truth to other things. You know what I'm talking about - that feeling of omg don't go there, don't do that- you're going to get caught... omg. I was on the edge of my seat, biting my actual nails!
The story is told in third person with alternating POV's- the main ones being Amanda and Ruth. Sprinkled in are also, Scott's - husband to Ruth as well as the detective working both cases - Farrow.
I would say that right from the first page, the pace is a little slower than I would have expected but still very enjoyable. Once you get to around 25% in - it's off to the races. Plan to stay up until you finish the book!
Expected Publication March 19, 2024
╰┈➤ 🗣️ 𝓗𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓵𝔂 𝓡𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝓕𝓸𝓻 𝓕𝓪𝓷𝓼 𝓞𝓯:
╰⪼ Thrillers/Psych Thrillers
╰⪼ Detectives
╰⪼ Edge of your seat story telling
╰⪼ Unexpected twists and turns
╰⪼ Very satisfying conclusion
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and Steve Cavanagh for the complementary copy in exchange for my honest review. 🌺💗
January 17, 2025
4.5 🌟 really interesting and unique!!
May 5, 2024
I'm back in my thriller era 😚🔪🩸
I read my first Steve Cavanagh book, Th1rt3en, last year and it was probably one of the highlights of 2023 for me (obviously it was a solid 5 star read as well and if you love legal/homicidal thrillers focusing on serial killers and you haven't read it yet, you absolutely should read it asap). And you should read this too :)
When I read the description for this book, I thought maybe it sounds too familiar to strangers on a train, the kind worth killing and a few other thrillers so it would probably feel like rereading those stories. Well, it did feel like that but also didn't. I want to say this was almost more engaging. It's obvious the inspiration was drawn from strangers on the train but it still manages to be fresh and much more fun, jaw-dropping twists. I'm beginning to appreciate it more and more when twists in thrillers actually make sense and fit perfectly in the narrative than when it seems like it was quickly made up by the author at the end of the story.
It's safe to say I'm going to spend my weekend binge-reading the Eddie Flynn series. And this guy right here is now an auto-buy author for me. 😌
I read my first Steve Cavanagh book, Th1rt3en, last year and it was probably one of the highlights of 2023 for me (obviously it was a solid 5 star read as well and if you love legal/homicidal thrillers focusing on serial killers and you haven't read it yet, you absolutely should read it asap). And you should read this too :)
When I read the description for this book, I thought maybe it sounds too familiar to strangers on a train, the kind worth killing and a few other thrillers so it would probably feel like rereading those stories. Well, it did feel like that but also didn't. I want to say this was almost more engaging. It's obvious the inspiration was drawn from strangers on the train but it still manages to be fresh and much more fun, jaw-dropping twists. I'm beginning to appreciate it more and more when twists in thrillers actually make sense and fit perfectly in the narrative than when it seems like it was quickly made up by the author at the end of the story.
It's safe to say I'm going to spend my weekend binge-reading the Eddie Flynn series. And this guy right here is now an auto-buy author for me. 😌
August 18, 2023
A twisted version of Strangers on a Train. Really good concept and there are sections where the tension is sky high and there are some good twists. However, it just doesn’t work for me as I can’t buy into what transpires. Too barking even for me. So here I am 🙋♀️waving from outlier 🏝️. For the record I love the authors Eddie Flynn books but I don’t seem to find his stand alones work quite so well for me.
A buddy read with Jayme and DeAnn and I’m pleased to say they enjoyed it much more than I did so be sure to check out their reviews.
A buddy read with Jayme and DeAnn and I’m pleased to say they enjoyed it much more than I did so be sure to check out their reviews.
November 7, 2024
thrillers are so back.
May 8, 2024
In a Nutshell: An interesting psychological thriller with regular twists along the way. Inspired from the classic murder swap “Strangers on the Train”, which I haven’t read/watched and hence I could enjoy this as a fresh story. The ending might not work for everyone. An entertaining ride if you follow the golden rule of contemporary thriller reading: Do not overthink!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
I had two advantages before beginning this read:
👉 No first-hand knowledge of any murder-swap book, even the one this is supposedly based on: Patricia Highsmith’s ‘Strangers on the Train’. I haven’t even watched the Hitchcock movie based on the classic. Thus I had no idea how the plot would go.
👉 No experience with any Steve Cavanagh book prior to this. This is the first time I’m reading his work.
As such, I went in blind, with no (great) expectations about anything, despite the hype surrounding this novel. Plus, I prepped myself to suspend disbelief – a mandatory requirement for contemporary thrillers, which seem to thrive on OTT scenes, an overload of coincidences and minimal common sense. All of this worked in favour of my reading experience.
Bookish Yays:
🤩 The perfect title for such a plot. It tells you everything you need to know and then shows you how little you know.
🤩 Amanda and Ruth – two women so caught up in their past that they can’t even face the present with their whole minds. They are flawed, impulsive, and broken. More importantly, both had their grey areas. I loved the imperfection of their characters, portraying how devastating the impact of grief can be, and how people handle trauma differently.
🤩 Farrow was an exceptional character. He is the kind of detective who uses his head as well as his heart, a pleasant change from the usual depiction of focussed and professional officers. I also love how his chronic back pain was used as a plot device, and not just in the action scenes. In most books, injuries and illnesses are conveniently forgotten after a couple of chapters, but here, it is actually a vital part of the plot throughout. Farrow’s partner Hernandez is also an effective character.
🤩 The portrayal of grief and PTSD: I don’t expect deep introspective writing from psychological thrillers, so it was a surprise to see the realistic way in which the emotional upheaval after a tragedy was depicted.
🤩 A steady build-up to the story, going slow in the beginning and consistently revving up the pace until the final showdown. I like how it took its time to establish the backstory for its characters, though this might not satisfy those readers who seek pacy action from the start.
🤩 Plenty of twists along the way. Though not all of them were unexpected, they were still enough to keep me entertained and hooked.
🤩 There are some clues that help figure out the link between Amanda and Ruth, but the journey is still enjoyable. The discovery of the expected truth didn’t reduce my surprise.
🤩 Many chapters end with mini-cliffhangers, making it tough to keep the book aside.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 The violent scenes are pretty gruesome, but the author handles them with care and doesn’t dwell on them too long. That said, in one particular instance, I have no idea how the target survived after an attack with that kind of weapon.
😐 Implausible circumstances, unbelievable actions, impulsive decisions – all these are eye-roll-inducing, but present in almost every thriller nowadays, The difference is that these felt toned down and hence not so frustrating in this story, at least to me.
😐 There are several barbs against the then-US president that seem unnecessary, Though the significance of these comes out later, the political jabs are still distracting.
😐 I am a tad unsure about the final twist. I mean, I WAS impressed! No way I saw THAT coming and I just went slack-jawed at that reveal. It was a brave writing choice. But it is also not a settled ending, so if you like all things neatly tied, beware! I love how the story kept some things dangling (Life doesn’t always end at the perfect endpoint; why should books?), but I wasn’t entirely convinced by the revelation made as this final reveal negates the said person’s earlier behavioural pattern.
Bookish Nays:
🙄 This line: “They [serial killers] are the great white sharks of the human species.” NO! Sharks don’t kill for fun or for an adrenaline rush; humans do. Let’s not insult sharks and further spread such myths.
🙄 The writing is overly descriptive at times, especially when it is focussing on the physical actions of a character. This affects the pace.
All in all, my initial response after completing the novel was quite positive. But as I dwelt on the plot, and especially on the ending, the questions start popping up. I should have remembered my policy: don’t overanalyse!
Though I am not too convinced about certain turnarounds in the characters’ behaviour, the book still offers an entertaining ride. The atypical ending that leaves some things unsaid, will probably be a dealbreaker for some readers. But IMHO, authors have the right to decide what fate they want for a character they created, and just as in real life, karma doesn’t always work.
Is this ending leaving an avenue open for a sequel? Not sure. But if yes, I’m definitely in.
Definitely recommended to thriller fans, if you remember to go with the flow, don’t mind the slow-ish start, and are okay with unsettled character arcs.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “Kill for Me, Kill for You”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
New York City. Ever since Amanda’s daughter and husband died, she has been focussed on avenging their deaths while still struggling to cope with her loneliness and grief. At a counselling session, she bumps into Wendy, who is also intent on a revenge plan against the man who destroyed her family. As they unburden to each other, they come up with a plan: You kill for me, I’ll kill for you.
Ruth, who also lives in NYC, had been a confident professional until the day a stranger with piercing blue eyes entered her house and attacked her. It was just luck that she survived, but her attacker has been untraceable. Ever since the traumatic incident, Ruth is petrified to be alone, though her husband Scott assures her that she’s safe.
How will Amanda and Wendy’s mutual-revenge plan work? Will Ruth ever feel safe again and will her attacker be found? What is the connection between the two arcs?
The story comes to us in the third person perspectives of Amanda, Ruth, Scott, and Farrow – the detective who worked on both Amanda’s and Ruth’s cases.
I had two advantages before beginning this read:
👉 No first-hand knowledge of any murder-swap book, even the one this is supposedly based on: Patricia Highsmith’s ‘Strangers on the Train’. I haven’t even watched the Hitchcock movie based on the classic. Thus I had no idea how the plot would go.
👉 No experience with any Steve Cavanagh book prior to this. This is the first time I’m reading his work.
As such, I went in blind, with no (great) expectations about anything, despite the hype surrounding this novel. Plus, I prepped myself to suspend disbelief – a mandatory requirement for contemporary thrillers, which seem to thrive on OTT scenes, an overload of coincidences and minimal common sense. All of this worked in favour of my reading experience.
Bookish Yays:
🤩 The perfect title for such a plot. It tells you everything you need to know and then shows you how little you know.
🤩 Amanda and Ruth – two women so caught up in their past that they can’t even face the present with their whole minds. They are flawed, impulsive, and broken. More importantly, both had their grey areas. I loved the imperfection of their characters, portraying how devastating the impact of grief can be, and how people handle trauma differently.
🤩 Farrow was an exceptional character. He is the kind of detective who uses his head as well as his heart, a pleasant change from the usual depiction of focussed and professional officers. I also love how his chronic back pain was used as a plot device, and not just in the action scenes. In most books, injuries and illnesses are conveniently forgotten after a couple of chapters, but here, it is actually a vital part of the plot throughout. Farrow’s partner Hernandez is also an effective character.
🤩 The portrayal of grief and PTSD: I don’t expect deep introspective writing from psychological thrillers, so it was a surprise to see the realistic way in which the emotional upheaval after a tragedy was depicted.
🤩 A steady build-up to the story, going slow in the beginning and consistently revving up the pace until the final showdown. I like how it took its time to establish the backstory for its characters, though this might not satisfy those readers who seek pacy action from the start.
🤩 Plenty of twists along the way. Though not all of them were unexpected, they were still enough to keep me entertained and hooked.
🤩 There are some clues that help figure out the link between Amanda and Ruth, but the journey is still enjoyable. The discovery of the expected truth didn’t reduce my surprise.
🤩 Many chapters end with mini-cliffhangers, making it tough to keep the book aside.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 The violent scenes are pretty gruesome, but the author handles them with care and doesn’t dwell on them too long. That said, in one particular instance, I have no idea how the target survived after an attack with that kind of weapon.
😐 Implausible circumstances, unbelievable actions, impulsive decisions – all these are eye-roll-inducing, but present in almost every thriller nowadays, The difference is that these felt toned down and hence not so frustrating in this story, at least to me.
😐 There are several barbs against the then-US president that seem unnecessary, Though the significance of these comes out later, the political jabs are still distracting.
😐 I am a tad unsure about the final twist. I mean, I WAS impressed! No way I saw THAT coming and I just went slack-jawed at that reveal. It was a brave writing choice. But it is also not a settled ending, so if you like all things neatly tied, beware! I love how the story kept some things dangling (Life doesn’t always end at the perfect endpoint; why should books?), but I wasn’t entirely convinced by the revelation made as this final reveal negates the said person’s earlier behavioural pattern.
Bookish Nays:
🙄 This line: “They [serial killers] are the great white sharks of the human species.” NO! Sharks don’t kill for fun or for an adrenaline rush; humans do. Let’s not insult sharks and further spread such myths.
🙄 The writing is overly descriptive at times, especially when it is focussing on the physical actions of a character. This affects the pace.
All in all, my initial response after completing the novel was quite positive. But as I dwelt on the plot, and especially on the ending, the questions start popping up. I should have remembered my policy: don’t overanalyse!
Though I am not too convinced about certain turnarounds in the characters’ behaviour, the book still offers an entertaining ride. The atypical ending that leaves some things unsaid, will probably be a dealbreaker for some readers. But IMHO, authors have the right to decide what fate they want for a character they created, and just as in real life, karma doesn’t always work.
Is this ending leaving an avenue open for a sequel? Not sure. But if yes, I’m definitely in.
Definitely recommended to thriller fans, if you remember to go with the flow, don’t mind the slow-ish start, and are okay with unsettled character arcs.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “Kill for Me, Kill for You”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
February 3, 2025
THIS WAS INSANE ARE YOU KIDDING
This was STRESSFUL!! The most intense and thrilling book I’ve read in a while. Some parts had me legitimately quaking in my boots 😂
This was STRESSFUL!! The most intense and thrilling book I’ve read in a while. Some parts had me legitimately quaking in my boots 😂
March 26, 2025
If revenge is sweet, then this novel is a five-course meal with a twisty, gut punching dessert you’ll never see coming. A psychological thriller so sharp it could cut glass!
Amanda and Wendy, two women with shattered pasts, are drowning in grief and thirsting for vengeance. When they meet by chance, they concoct the perfect plan: If you kill for me, I’ll kill for you. What could possibly go wrong? (Spoiler: Everything.) Their pact spirals into a labyrinth of deception, double-crosses, and pulse-pounding tension, proving that when it comes to murder, there’s no such thing as a clean break.
Cavanagh’s signature razor sharp writing and Hitchcockian suspense makes every page electric. The plot twists hit like a freight train, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, he pulls the rug out from under you, again. And Ruth’s harrowing encounter with the blue-eyed intruder? A chilling subplot that tightens the noose on an already breathtaking narrative.
For fans of Gone Girl and The Silent Patient, this is a revenge story for the ages, dark, deliciously devious, and utterly unputdownable. If you love thrillers that keep you up at night, this one is to die for.
🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪-Five freshly sharpened blades, because this thriller cuts deep.
Amanda and Wendy, two women with shattered pasts, are drowning in grief and thirsting for vengeance. When they meet by chance, they concoct the perfect plan: If you kill for me, I’ll kill for you. What could possibly go wrong? (Spoiler: Everything.) Their pact spirals into a labyrinth of deception, double-crosses, and pulse-pounding tension, proving that when it comes to murder, there’s no such thing as a clean break.
Cavanagh’s signature razor sharp writing and Hitchcockian suspense makes every page electric. The plot twists hit like a freight train, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, he pulls the rug out from under you, again. And Ruth’s harrowing encounter with the blue-eyed intruder? A chilling subplot that tightens the noose on an already breathtaking narrative.
For fans of Gone Girl and The Silent Patient, this is a revenge story for the ages, dark, deliciously devious, and utterly unputdownable. If you love thrillers that keep you up at night, this one is to die for.
🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪-Five freshly sharpened blades, because this thriller cuts deep.
August 26, 2023
"It's happening," said Naomi. "And you're not going to let me down".
And here we go...
I simply could not resist this Strangers On A Train premise! Murder swap anyone?!
Amanda and Wendy come up with the perfect plan. These two strangers were brought together by chance, both suffering enormous loss. They are broken and want justice for their loved ones.
You won't believe just how far they are willing to go!
It took a bit for me to get into this one, but once it got going, I had a hard time putting it down. Each POV chapter ending on a cliff that begged for one more chapter, the need to know what would come next!
The author gets a little wordy, overly describing things like what a character sees first in the supermarket (and lists it), etc. I got used to it though and the suspense totally hooked me.
The last twist was memorable! A bit of a JOLT that gave me some chills as I stared at the last page! Oh Mr. Blue Eyes I have questions for you!
If you don't mind some brow raising coincidences, this one is a wild, tension filled ride.
Purchased at Blackwells UK online (free shipping to US)
And here we go...
I simply could not resist this Strangers On A Train premise! Murder swap anyone?!
Amanda and Wendy come up with the perfect plan. These two strangers were brought together by chance, both suffering enormous loss. They are broken and want justice for their loved ones.
You won't believe just how far they are willing to go!
It took a bit for me to get into this one, but once it got going, I had a hard time putting it down. Each POV chapter ending on a cliff that begged for one more chapter, the need to know what would come next!
The author gets a little wordy, overly describing things like what a character sees first in the supermarket (and lists it), etc. I got used to it though and the suspense totally hooked me.
The last twist was memorable! A bit of a JOLT that gave me some chills as I stared at the last page! Oh Mr. Blue Eyes I have questions for you!
If you don't mind some brow raising coincidences, this one is a wild, tension filled ride.
Purchased at Blackwells UK online (free shipping to US)
September 2, 2023
*CRACK* That is the sound of Steven Cavanagh knocking it out of the ballpark.
Ruth is viciously attacked in her home aby a man with intense blue eyes. She is left traumatized and frightened. Will she ever feel safe again, knowing her attacker is still out there?
Amanda is suffering after the loss of her daughter and husband. She meets Wendy at a support group, and after having drinks they conclude that they have a lot in common. Inspired by Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train, Wendy suggests " if you kill for me, I’ll kill for you. "
Wowza!!! I had a lot of fun with this book. It was instantly gripping, intense, and hard to put down! I loved the premise and was awed by how well thought out this book down. Cavanagh had me on the edge of my seat, gripping my kindle and swiping those pages wanting to know what shoe would drop next.
Talk about jaw dropping! I did not see one of the reveals coming. I was blind sighted and loved it! That is how you do it!
Well written, well thought out, jaw dropping and heart pounding! I can't wait to read what Steve Cavanagh writes next.
*A fabulous buddy read with Mary Beth. Read her review to see what she thought of this book!
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Ruth is viciously attacked in her home aby a man with intense blue eyes. She is left traumatized and frightened. Will she ever feel safe again, knowing her attacker is still out there?
Amanda is suffering after the loss of her daughter and husband. She meets Wendy at a support group, and after having drinks they conclude that they have a lot in common. Inspired by Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train, Wendy suggests " if you kill for me, I’ll kill for you. "
Wowza!!! I had a lot of fun with this book. It was instantly gripping, intense, and hard to put down! I loved the premise and was awed by how well thought out this book down. Cavanagh had me on the edge of my seat, gripping my kindle and swiping those pages wanting to know what shoe would drop next.
Talk about jaw dropping! I did not see one of the reveals coming. I was blind sighted and loved it! That is how you do it!
Well written, well thought out, jaw dropping and heart pounding! I can't wait to read what Steve Cavanagh writes next.
*A fabulous buddy read with Mary Beth. Read her review to see what she thought of this book!
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
September 9, 2024
3.5✨'s
Steve Cavanagh is an amazing writer and I did enjoy this read, however, I have some conflicting opinions. How I feel about the first half and the second half of the book are completely different. The first half I could not get invested in because I felt the premise was overdone. I have read multiple books and even watched a few movies with the exact same plot. However, halfway through the writer strategically placed a twist to force the plot in a completely different direction. This is what makes Cavanagh a genius because he took a plot thats been done before and brought a whole new spin to it. With that being said, I became invested and enjoyed the rest of the book from that point on.
Plot
This story is told from multiple POV's, the first being Amanda who is dealing with the tragic loss of her six year old daughter and husband. She knows who killed her daughter but there is no way to prove it and Amanda does not want anyone else to deal with the pain she is going through. After being ordered to go to parental loss support group she meets Wendy. Wendy is different but Amanda gravitates to her and soon they find that they have a lot in common. They are both seeking justice against those who harmed their loved ones and come up with a plan: "Kill for me and I'll Kill for you."
Then we meet Ruth and her husband Scott. Ruth was viciously attacked by a man in the safety of her home and barely survived. We follow the trauma and fear Ruth deals with after being released from the hospital and the guilt her husband feels for not being there when she was attacked. What is their place in this story....you will have to read to find out.
Lastly, we follow Detective Farrow, who is familiar with both of these women as he has worked on both of their cases.
The book was okay, some of the plot twists were predictable and some of them shocked me. I struggled with the first half but enjoyed the second half. The pacing also felt slow to me. I feel I went it with extremely high expectations after seeing some of the amazing reviews and maybe that didn't help. For me it was just mediocre, but I could absolutely see where some people would eat this one up. For that reason I would say if you wanted to read it to still give it a try and see which side of the fence you fall on.
✨❤️ Thank you to my Queen Cara for the buddy read! ❤️✨
Thinking I need a good thriller so here we go!❤️
Steve Cavanagh is an amazing writer and I did enjoy this read, however, I have some conflicting opinions. How I feel about the first half and the second half of the book are completely different. The first half I could not get invested in because I felt the premise was overdone. I have read multiple books and even watched a few movies with the exact same plot. However, halfway through the writer strategically placed a twist to force the plot in a completely different direction. This is what makes Cavanagh a genius because he took a plot thats been done before and brought a whole new spin to it. With that being said, I became invested and enjoyed the rest of the book from that point on.
Plot
This story is told from multiple POV's, the first being Amanda who is dealing with the tragic loss of her six year old daughter and husband. She knows who killed her daughter but there is no way to prove it and Amanda does not want anyone else to deal with the pain she is going through. After being ordered to go to parental loss support group she meets Wendy. Wendy is different but Amanda gravitates to her and soon they find that they have a lot in common. They are both seeking justice against those who harmed their loved ones and come up with a plan: "Kill for me and I'll Kill for you."
Then we meet Ruth and her husband Scott. Ruth was viciously attacked by a man in the safety of her home and barely survived. We follow the trauma and fear Ruth deals with after being released from the hospital and the guilt her husband feels for not being there when she was attacked. What is their place in this story....you will have to read to find out.
Lastly, we follow Detective Farrow, who is familiar with both of these women as he has worked on both of their cases.
The book was okay, some of the plot twists were predictable and some of them shocked me. I struggled with the first half but enjoyed the second half. The pacing also felt slow to me. I feel I went it with extremely high expectations after seeing some of the amazing reviews and maybe that didn't help. For me it was just mediocre, but I could absolutely see where some people would eat this one up. For that reason I would say if you wanted to read it to still give it a try and see which side of the fence you fall on.
✨❤️ Thank you to my Queen Cara for the buddy read! ❤️✨
Thinking I need a good thriller so here we go!❤️
March 5, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 4)
Ahhhh!!! I can’t believe we figured out both of the plot twists 👀🤭 Like hello??? Was that really me?? Looks like we’re not that bad at guessing after all 😂 Mystery thriller detective era unlocked 🔎😏 (watch me absolutely suck at the next mystery thriller 💀).
Ngl, this read was actually really good despite figuring out the plot twists 🙂↕️ At first, it was pretty slow and didn’t immediately grab my attention, but later on, I got completely hooked 🤭 The storyline just kept getting more and more interesting 🙂↕️
And the ending?? Hello?? 😭 Should I cry (not in a heart-breaking way) or not?? You know what?? Imma stare at the wall for 10 minutes 🙂↕️ lol. Amanda is seriously so lucky.
I can’t say it’s one of the best mystery thrillers out there, but it was definitely fun and intriguing 🙂↕️🤭
And the best part??? Buddy reading it with my bestie Thea 🥹🫶 All the theories we discussed and the “WAIT WHAT IF” moments were honestly the highlight 🙂↕️ We had so much fun. Tysm for doing this with me 🥹 Looking forward to many more 💋
Last but not least: DON’T TRUST ANYONE!!! 🙂↕️ (especially in books like this).
Yea, that’s it guys. Love y’all 🫶💙
————————————————————
. ݁₊ 🩸⊹ . ݁🔪˖ . ݁ pre-read . ݁₊ 🩸⊹ . ݁🔪˖ . ݁
YKW??? It’s buddy reading tiiiime with my gorgeous bestieeeee, Thea 🤭🫶 and we’re diving into this mystery thriller 💙
Ahhhh!!! I can’t believe we figured out both of the plot twists 👀🤭 Like hello??? Was that really me?? Looks like we’re not that bad at guessing after all 😂 Mystery thriller detective era unlocked 🔎😏 (watch me absolutely suck at the next mystery thriller 💀).
Ngl, this read was actually really good despite figuring out the plot twists 🙂↕️ At first, it was pretty slow and didn’t immediately grab my attention, but later on, I got completely hooked 🤭 The storyline just kept getting more and more interesting 🙂↕️
And the ending?? Hello?? 😭 Should I cry (not in a heart-breaking way) or not?? You know what?? Imma stare at the wall for 10 minutes 🙂↕️ lol. Amanda is seriously so lucky.
I can’t say it’s one of the best mystery thrillers out there, but it was definitely fun and intriguing 🙂↕️🤭
And the best part??? Buddy reading it with my bestie Thea 🥹🫶 All the theories we discussed and the “WAIT WHAT IF” moments were honestly the highlight 🙂↕️ We had so much fun. Tysm for doing this with me 🥹 Looking forward to many more 💋
Last but not least: DON’T TRUST ANYONE!!! 🙂↕️ (especially in books like this).
Yea, that’s it guys. Love y’all 🫶💙
————————————————————
. ݁₊ 🩸⊹ . ݁🔪˖ . ݁ pre-read . ݁₊ 🩸⊹ . ݁🔪˖ . ݁
YKW??? It’s buddy reading tiiiime with my gorgeous bestieeeee, Thea 🤭🫶 and we’re diving into this mystery thriller 💙
May 2, 2024
Title appears legit. An equal swap.
Three different crimes; 3 perpetrators.
Plans are directional until they hit a detour.
Does retribution balance out the scales?
I’ve at last been baptized into the thrilling Cavanagh world.
4⭐️
Three different crimes; 3 perpetrators.
Plans are directional until they hit a detour.
Does retribution balance out the scales?
I’ve at last been baptized into the thrilling Cavanagh world.
4⭐️
April 22, 2024
4.25⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Setting ~ New York City
Publication date ~ March 19, 2024
Est page Count ~ 351 (64 chapters)
Audio length ~ 11 hours
Narrator ~ Stephanie Cannon
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ child death, murder, suicide, revenge
Our 4 narrators are:
Amanda, whose 6 year old daughter was kidnapped and murdered. Days later her husband is so grief stricken that he takes his own life.
Ruth is brutally attacked in her home and thinks every blue eyed man she sees is her attacker.
Farrow is our detective that has a desire to work the cold cases that no one else wants.
Scott is Ruth's husband.
The characters are not particularly likable, but I was fine with that. I enjoyed Detective Farrow and his partner, Hernandez. They had a great working relationship and were good at their job.
This is my first time reading this author and I can see why he's so popular. He gives us some nice tension and twists. I was totally taken by surprise, so woo hoo for that. Of course there were a couple of eye rolling moments, but overall a solid thriller.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference, which is just as well since it probably would have bugged me that there is only 1 narrator.
*Thanks to the author, Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Setting ~ New York City
Publication date ~ March 19, 2024
Est page Count ~ 351 (64 chapters)
Audio length ~ 11 hours
Narrator ~ Stephanie Cannon
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ child death, murder, suicide, revenge
Our 4 narrators are:
Amanda, whose 6 year old daughter was kidnapped and murdered. Days later her husband is so grief stricken that he takes his own life.
Ruth is brutally attacked in her home and thinks every blue eyed man she sees is her attacker.
Farrow is our detective that has a desire to work the cold cases that no one else wants.
Scott is Ruth's husband.
The characters are not particularly likable, but I was fine with that. I enjoyed Detective Farrow and his partner, Hernandez. They had a great working relationship and were good at their job.
This is my first time reading this author and I can see why he's so popular. He gives us some nice tension and twists. I was totally taken by surprise, so woo hoo for that. Of course there were a couple of eye rolling moments, but overall a solid thriller.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference, which is just as well since it probably would have bugged me that there is only 1 narrator.
*Thanks to the author, Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
June 2, 2024
2 ⭐️
This was literally a 5 star read for me until the last 50 pages. Only made worse by the fact that I stayed up until 2:30am to finish it
UPDATE (7 hours later, less ragey)
Until perhaps the 70% I truly believed this would be one of my favorite thrillers of the year. I loved the multiple POV angle, the short chapters, the fast pacing, the basing off of Strangers on a Train. I was on board (ha) and at this point was recommending it to every single person I came in contact with. Note to self: don't recommend books until you finish them.
I don't want to spoil anything in case you consider picking this up... the reveal at the 60ish% mark was pretty iconic I'm not gonna lie. I was still all in and decided I had to stay up to finish the book. Everything after this turned into the hottest dumpster fire. It goes off the rails and jumps off a cliff in a way that turned into the biggest bummer and honestly made it super clear the FMCs were written by a man.
All that to say, there were a few clever twists for which I give the book the aforementioned two stars, but besides that, this ended in the most perplexing and messed up way. The more I think about it the angrier I get. SO bummed.
I think I need to write a spoiler-filled review to fully rid myself of the anger I feel, we shall see.
This was literally a 5 star read for me until the last 50 pages. Only made worse by the fact that I stayed up until 2:30am to finish it
UPDATE (7 hours later, less ragey)
Until perhaps the 70% I truly believed this would be one of my favorite thrillers of the year. I loved the multiple POV angle, the short chapters, the fast pacing, the basing off of Strangers on a Train. I was on board (ha) and at this point was recommending it to every single person I came in contact with. Note to self: don't recommend books until you finish them.
I don't want to spoil anything in case you consider picking this up... the reveal at the 60ish% mark was pretty iconic I'm not gonna lie. I was still all in and decided I had to stay up to finish the book. Everything after this turned into the hottest dumpster fire. It goes off the rails and jumps off a cliff in a way that turned into the biggest bummer and honestly made it super clear the FMCs were written by a man.
All that to say, there were a few clever twists for which I give the book the aforementioned two stars, but besides that, this ended in the most perplexing and messed up way. The more I think about it the angrier I get. SO bummed.
I think I need to write a spoiler-filled review to fully rid myself of the anger I feel, we shall see.
October 20, 2023
Friends just helping friends…right?
Amanda and Wendy have both suffered horrific traumas. After meeting at a support group, they become fast friends. Sharing what brought each of them to the group, a plot begins to develop. Maybe there is potential for both to get their lives back on track.
While the build-up was a bit slow, once it got going it was like a run-away train. Wow! So, you say you want twists? Steve Cavanaugh delivers! As with all thrillers, go in as blind as possible for the best experience!
This stand-alone is a departure from his Eddie Flynn series. (Which I need to make my way back to). But it’s still chocked full of everything we enjoy from this author. So don’t miss out!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books
Amanda and Wendy have both suffered horrific traumas. After meeting at a support group, they become fast friends. Sharing what brought each of them to the group, a plot begins to develop. Maybe there is potential for both to get their lives back on track.
While the build-up was a bit slow, once it got going it was like a run-away train. Wow! So, you say you want twists? Steve Cavanaugh delivers! As with all thrillers, go in as blind as possible for the best experience!
This stand-alone is a departure from his Eddie Flynn series. (Which I need to make my way back to). But it’s still chocked full of everything we enjoy from this author. So don’t miss out!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books
October 30, 2023
I found the whole premise ridiculous and think authors are coming up with stoy lines that are so out there, they are unbelievable.
In this one, we have a woman who carries a peculiar serial killer need, that to eradicate men with blue eyes, who might have been her attacker years ago. Her way of doing so is unique, but once again I found myself wondering if there were that many people willing to kill those that harmed them in such vicious manners.
Definitely a not for me book although I know others really liked it.
In this one, we have a woman who carries a peculiar serial killer need, that to eradicate men with blue eyes, who might have been her attacker years ago. Her way of doing so is unique, but once again I found myself wondering if there were that many people willing to kill those that harmed them in such vicious manners.
Definitely a not for me book although I know others really liked it.
March 18, 2024
This was my first ever read by Steve Cavanagh, and it was a head spinner 🤯 I was highly entertained from the first chapter, all the way through until the last chapter. This was my March BOTM pick, and it’s probably my best pick yet!!
In this story, we have Amanda White who is dealing with the grief and trauma over the loss of her family. She wants revenge on the man who destroyed her family. One night during a grief support group meeting, Amanda meets Wendy and they realize how much they have in common. The two women also realize how nice it would be for the men who destroyed their families to get the punishment they deserve. Think ‘Strangers On A Train’ if you will…
We also have Ruth. Ruth is home alone one Friday night while her husband Scott, is out with some friends. Somebody broke into Ruth’s home and brutally attacked her, stabbing her multiple times. All Ruth can remember is that her attacker had piercing blue eyes. Will Ruth ever feel safe again? And will the NYPD ever be able to find this attacker?
The story contains the multiple POV’s between Amanda, Ruth, and also from Scott (Ruth’s husband). I enjoyed every voice and backstory that they shared. Each chapter and twist grew more intense as the story went on. I literally did not want to put this book down!
I only had one tiny issue that kept me from giving this book five stars, and I wasn’t going to be petty and mention it- but… if the author could be petty and mention it, so could I. What I didn’t like was the few political jabs regarding the President he had to make in the book (they were in the beginning, and there were only a few). This is a thriller, and this book was totally perfect without the jabs. So anyways… with that being said this is still a fun book that I definitely recommend reading!!
In this story, we have Amanda White who is dealing with the grief and trauma over the loss of her family. She wants revenge on the man who destroyed her family. One night during a grief support group meeting, Amanda meets Wendy and they realize how much they have in common. The two women also realize how nice it would be for the men who destroyed their families to get the punishment they deserve. Think ‘Strangers On A Train’ if you will…
We also have Ruth. Ruth is home alone one Friday night while her husband Scott, is out with some friends. Somebody broke into Ruth’s home and brutally attacked her, stabbing her multiple times. All Ruth can remember is that her attacker had piercing blue eyes. Will Ruth ever feel safe again? And will the NYPD ever be able to find this attacker?
The story contains the multiple POV’s between Amanda, Ruth, and also from Scott (Ruth’s husband). I enjoyed every voice and backstory that they shared. Each chapter and twist grew more intense as the story went on. I literally did not want to put this book down!
I only had one tiny issue that kept me from giving this book five stars, and I wasn’t going to be petty and mention it- but… if the author could be petty and mention it, so could I. What I didn’t like was the few political jabs regarding the President he had to make in the book (they were in the beginning, and there were only a few). This is a thriller, and this book was totally perfect without the jabs. So anyways… with that being said this is still a fun book that I definitely recommend reading!!
August 18, 2023
Steve Cavanagh did not disappoint with this particularly clever and twisty AF thriller.
This was my first stand alone read by Cavanagh and I loved it. I did not predict even half of it. Full of mystery and suspense, and extremely fast paced this had my jaw literally drop at more than one twist.
Kill For Me Kill For You is a multi-POV crime thriller, each different perspective told well and each time a POV came about it was important.
I'm not usually the biggest fan of switching POV as something big happens and having to rush through the next one to find out what comes next for the other character, but it definitely worked here because each POV was gripping and I was invested in each character's story.
The ending, well, it was something else. Moral dilemma and a half.
100% would recommend this one!
Published: 25 July 2023 (I'm a little late).
⚠️ Check TWs online ⚠️
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was my first stand alone read by Cavanagh and I loved it. I did not predict even half of it. Full of mystery and suspense, and extremely fast paced this had my jaw literally drop at more than one twist.
Kill For Me Kill For You is a multi-POV crime thriller, each different perspective told well and each time a POV came about it was important.
I'm not usually the biggest fan of switching POV as something big happens and having to rush through the next one to find out what comes next for the other character, but it definitely worked here because each POV was gripping and I was invested in each character's story.
The ending, well, it was something else. Moral dilemma and a half.
100% would recommend this one!
Published: 25 July 2023 (I'm a little late).
⚠️ Check TWs online ⚠️
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 27, 2023
What in the plot twists! This has left me shooketh! Flummoxed! Discombobulated!
Listen! This is how you write a thriller! Had my mind contorting till the very end! It was like watching an episode of Criminal Minds.
With Cavanagh, you can always expect a story that’s cleverly plotted and developed and a read a thriller that’s actually thrilling.
I went through alll of the emotions whilst reading this. Let me briefly tell you how it went because I was having some doubts.
It started off strong.
The middle portion of the story became a bit of a slog for me, I felt disconnected for some reason. But I’ll blame that on me. Because it more than made up for it once a particular plot twist was revealed. Things quickly fell into the place and I felt like I could finally sink into the story.
And I sank. Deep! 🫠
How Cavanagh manages to plot everything out, I don’t know. His mind is not normal. 😩
Which obviously works for when you’re reading a thriller.
As for the state of my mind? It’s not my own right now. It’s with these characters and their insane lives.
I’m hoping we revisit this world somehow. There’s one (two) character in here that I would love to see again.
Let me just get back to my bed and this state of confusion that I’m in. I’m not functioning.
I’ll leave you with this: I was rooting for people I had no business rooting for. 😵💫
(Had the best time buddy-reading this with Ameerah! It’s become tradition for us at this point to read all of Steve Cavanagh’s books together. 🥰)
*Trigger warnings for suicide, grief, loss of a child, loss of loved ones*
Listen! This is how you write a thriller! Had my mind contorting till the very end! It was like watching an episode of Criminal Minds.
With Cavanagh, you can always expect a story that’s cleverly plotted and developed and a read a thriller that’s actually thrilling.
I went through alll of the emotions whilst reading this. Let me briefly tell you how it went because I was having some doubts.
It started off strong.
The middle portion of the story became a bit of a slog for me, I felt disconnected for some reason. But I’ll blame that on me. Because it more than made up for it once a particular plot twist was revealed. Things quickly fell into the place and I felt like I could finally sink into the story.
And I sank. Deep! 🫠
How Cavanagh manages to plot everything out, I don’t know. His mind is not normal. 😩
Which obviously works for when you’re reading a thriller.
As for the state of my mind? It’s not my own right now. It’s with these characters and their insane lives.
I’m hoping we revisit this world somehow. There’s one (two) character in here that I would love to see again.
Let me just get back to my bed and this state of confusion that I’m in. I’m not functioning.
I’ll leave you with this: I was rooting for people I had no business rooting for. 😵💫
(Had the best time buddy-reading this with Ameerah! It’s become tradition for us at this point to read all of Steve Cavanagh’s books together. 🥰)
*Trigger warnings for suicide, grief, loss of a child, loss of loved ones*
January 11, 2024
If Peter Swanson, Harlan Coben, and David Ellis (Look Closer) had a love child, it would be Steve Cavanagh's upcoming thriller, KILL FOR ME, KILL FOR YOU. I had such a freaking blast reading this book!
Go into this book reading as little of the synopsis as possible, but the story is focused on a few different people, all living in fear and anger over crimes being committed against them. When Amanda meets Wendy at a support group, the two bond over their hatred over men who have killed their families and have gotten away with it. When they come up with the plan to kill the culprit for each other, they decide to enact revenge.
Ruth is one of the other POVs we get in this story (I think we have four in total) and she lives in a brownstone with her husband Scott. When she hears a break-in happening while Scott is away, she is attacked by a man with piercing blue eyes—she luckily survives, but lives in constant fear that this attacker is watching her every move.
I don't want to explain more, but this book obviously dives into revenge and fear. There's a lot of twists in this book (one that I called, but it didn't take away my experience), but there was one moment where I audibly gasped. I powered through this book as fast as possible because I truly needed to know what happened. I've never read anything by this author before, but I surely will now as KILL FOR ME, KILL FOR YOU will definitely be in my top reads for 2024. If you like Peter Swanson, Harlan Coben, and David Ellis, you'd be a fool not to read this book.
Go into this book reading as little of the synopsis as possible, but the story is focused on a few different people, all living in fear and anger over crimes being committed against them. When Amanda meets Wendy at a support group, the two bond over their hatred over men who have killed their families and have gotten away with it. When they come up with the plan to kill the culprit for each other, they decide to enact revenge.
Ruth is one of the other POVs we get in this story (I think we have four in total) and she lives in a brownstone with her husband Scott. When she hears a break-in happening while Scott is away, she is attacked by a man with piercing blue eyes—she luckily survives, but lives in constant fear that this attacker is watching her every move.
I don't want to explain more, but this book obviously dives into revenge and fear. There's a lot of twists in this book (one that I called, but it didn't take away my experience), but there was one moment where I audibly gasped. I powered through this book as fast as possible because I truly needed to know what happened. I've never read anything by this author before, but I surely will now as KILL FOR ME, KILL FOR YOU will definitely be in my top reads for 2024. If you like Peter Swanson, Harlan Coben, and David Ellis, you'd be a fool not to read this book.
May 8, 2024
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria, and Steve Cavanagh for a DRC in exchange for an honest review! Now available as of 3.19!!**
"She was looking forward to seeing him. Anticipating the bitter sight of him walking free. It was something to fill the nothing. Until she could figure out a way to kill him."
Amanda knows that as quickly as you can find everything your heart desires...it can all be taken away in an instant. After tragically losing her 6 YEAR OLD daughter, a few days later, her emotionally destroyed husband takes his own life...leaving Amanda TRULY alone. In the time since his passing, she's been fighting to make it through each day...and is hell bent on dispensing a little vigilante justice against the man she holds responsible for the deaths, Walter Crone. She has his routine down pat, and shows up on the train he takes at just the right time, gun in pocket...but her plan falls to pieces, leaving her utterly bereft once again.
Until one night at a grief group, when she finds a sort of comfort she WASN'T expecting...in the form of another woman named Wendy, who she later learns is determined to dispense MORE than a little justice of her own. The two bond over drinks, and Wendy casually asks Amanda if she's ever heard of Patricia Highsmith...specifically, Highsmith's famous Strangers on a Train, where two strangers meet and agree to a devious, cunning, and complex crime: each will murder someone "for" the other...and since nothing would be tying the two 'random' perps together, they feel certain they can 'get away' with BOTH murders.
Although the prospect seems far-fetched in some ways, Amanda is desperate and the more she ponders the possibility of a life without Crone and the possibility the police would NEVER be able to tie it back to her...it almost seems crazy not to try it. But after Amanda learns a bit more about Wendy... is she in over her head? Or does this duplicitous scheme run deeper than she ever could have imagined...and who IS the man she was meant to kill, anyway....and WHY does Wendy want him dead?
Meanwhile, Ruth is recovering from an attack after a home invasion. Her husband Scott was out at the time, and Ruth was stabbed viciously by an unknown attacker...and the police still haven't scooped him up just yet. Part of the reason for this is that Ruth hardly remembers ANYTHING about the man who nearly took her life...aside from his almost shocking, almost inhuman blue eyes. So imagine her surprise when she's finally out and about with her husband one night...and SEES the perp, right in the flesh, from across the room. It turns out that Amanda and Wendy might not be the ONLY two out for revenge in this tale...and something inside Scott tells him he might not get THIS kind of opportunity twice. But what exactly will Detectives Farrow and Hernandez FIND once they start doing a little digging? Will all of these newbie murderers get away with their crimes? Or is there an even more complicated web tying all of them together in more complex -and deadly-ways than they even imagined?
After reading so many rave reviews for MANY different installments of Steve Cavanagh's Eddie Flynn series detailing the compulsively readable, clever, and addicting nature of his books, I've been eagerly chomping at the bit to explore anything Cavanagh I could grab, and luckily this book happened to fall into my hands at the PERFECT time. Having a standalone as a lead in was a great way to a feel for the 'flavor' and see if Cavanagh was the sort of auto-read thriller author I've been longing to add to my list...or if his books would fall into too much of a legal/police procedural lane to FULLY draw me in.
Well. I am nothing short of ECSTATIC to confirm that this devilishly twisty, pulse-pounding, thrill a minute read was JUST the tonic I needed to drag me headlong out of the winter blues and get me primed and ready for SUMMER THRILLER SEASON!😎😱
Cavanagh certainly isn't the first to utilize the Strangers on a Train conceit (see: Peter Swanson's The Kind Worth Killing, along with MANY, many others) and of course, Highsmith walked so some of these newer authors in the genre could run. But what Cavanagh does here to include the premise is nothing short of brilliant: he actually allows his CHARACTER to reference the plot in an almost-meta like way, which plays as both a respectful nod and a way to accelerate the plot forward faster than, well, a bullet train if you will!🚆 After the slow set up at the beginning with the background of Amanda and Ruth, I was beginning to wonder if this was going to play a bit more like a sad domestic drama with a tinge of unsolved mystery thrown in...but ALL I had to do was wait.
Once Amanda and Wendy meet...we are truly off to the races, and promise me, you won't have TIME to look back!
Cavanagh effortlessly tosses us from POV to POV, and I found myself intrigued by ALL of them, which is always such a relief in books like this one, ESPECIALLY ones where you aren't quite sure if you like or trust ANY of the characters. Even the detectives were sharp and funny, not the sort of dimwitted buffoons you often see in thrillers. (You know, the kind where you aren't surprised an armchair detective made the discovery because the ACTUAL detectives are truly THAT incompetent...nope, none of that here!) This has the feel of a popcorn thriller, but it's more like an elevated popcorn read: a gourmet, seasoned popcorn read if you will!🍿 I tore through the virtual pages, blown away by reveal after reveal, and starting to wonder if ANY of my theories (or half baked theories) would come to fruition.
And then I got to THAT twist, at about 96%...and when I say the biggest grin came across my face, and I got that insane rush of adrenaline you ONLY get from a book that is just THAT good, where you want to tell everyone around you just HOW good it was...it's no exaggeration.
When you can actually REPLAY that moment in your mind, almost word for word, even after finishing several books since then...it's a clear indicator that this one is something special...and that it EASILY claimed a well-earned spot in my favorite thrillers list as well as my 2024 favorites list! 👏
And although it's a bit macabre, with a title like this one, I couldn't help but sing it in my head to the melody to "Tea for Two"...
"Tea for two and two for tea...A kill for you, a kill for me." 🔪
...But maybe I should at least skip the tap dancing?
😉
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 for THAT TWIST!
"She was looking forward to seeing him. Anticipating the bitter sight of him walking free. It was something to fill the nothing. Until she could figure out a way to kill him."
Amanda knows that as quickly as you can find everything your heart desires...it can all be taken away in an instant. After tragically losing her 6 YEAR OLD daughter, a few days later, her emotionally destroyed husband takes his own life...leaving Amanda TRULY alone. In the time since his passing, she's been fighting to make it through each day...and is hell bent on dispensing a little vigilante justice against the man she holds responsible for the deaths, Walter Crone. She has his routine down pat, and shows up on the train he takes at just the right time, gun in pocket...but her plan falls to pieces, leaving her utterly bereft once again.
Until one night at a grief group, when she finds a sort of comfort she WASN'T expecting...in the form of another woman named Wendy, who she later learns is determined to dispense MORE than a little justice of her own. The two bond over drinks, and Wendy casually asks Amanda if she's ever heard of Patricia Highsmith...specifically, Highsmith's famous Strangers on a Train, where two strangers meet and agree to a devious, cunning, and complex crime: each will murder someone "for" the other...and since nothing would be tying the two 'random' perps together, they feel certain they can 'get away' with BOTH murders.
Although the prospect seems far-fetched in some ways, Amanda is desperate and the more she ponders the possibility of a life without Crone and the possibility the police would NEVER be able to tie it back to her...it almost seems crazy not to try it. But after Amanda learns a bit more about Wendy... is she in over her head? Or does this duplicitous scheme run deeper than she ever could have imagined...and who IS the man she was meant to kill, anyway....and WHY does Wendy want him dead?
Meanwhile, Ruth is recovering from an attack after a home invasion. Her husband Scott was out at the time, and Ruth was stabbed viciously by an unknown attacker...and the police still haven't scooped him up just yet. Part of the reason for this is that Ruth hardly remembers ANYTHING about the man who nearly took her life...aside from his almost shocking, almost inhuman blue eyes. So imagine her surprise when she's finally out and about with her husband one night...and SEES the perp, right in the flesh, from across the room. It turns out that Amanda and Wendy might not be the ONLY two out for revenge in this tale...and something inside Scott tells him he might not get THIS kind of opportunity twice. But what exactly will Detectives Farrow and Hernandez FIND once they start doing a little digging? Will all of these newbie murderers get away with their crimes? Or is there an even more complicated web tying all of them together in more complex -and deadly-ways than they even imagined?
After reading so many rave reviews for MANY different installments of Steve Cavanagh's Eddie Flynn series detailing the compulsively readable, clever, and addicting nature of his books, I've been eagerly chomping at the bit to explore anything Cavanagh I could grab, and luckily this book happened to fall into my hands at the PERFECT time. Having a standalone as a lead in was a great way to a feel for the 'flavor' and see if Cavanagh was the sort of auto-read thriller author I've been longing to add to my list...or if his books would fall into too much of a legal/police procedural lane to FULLY draw me in.
Well. I am nothing short of ECSTATIC to confirm that this devilishly twisty, pulse-pounding, thrill a minute read was JUST the tonic I needed to drag me headlong out of the winter blues and get me primed and ready for SUMMER THRILLER SEASON!😎😱
Cavanagh certainly isn't the first to utilize the Strangers on a Train conceit (see: Peter Swanson's The Kind Worth Killing, along with MANY, many others) and of course, Highsmith walked so some of these newer authors in the genre could run. But what Cavanagh does here to include the premise is nothing short of brilliant: he actually allows his CHARACTER to reference the plot in an almost-meta like way, which plays as both a respectful nod and a way to accelerate the plot forward faster than, well, a bullet train if you will!🚆 After the slow set up at the beginning with the background of Amanda and Ruth, I was beginning to wonder if this was going to play a bit more like a sad domestic drama with a tinge of unsolved mystery thrown in...but ALL I had to do was wait.
Once Amanda and Wendy meet...we are truly off to the races, and promise me, you won't have TIME to look back!
Cavanagh effortlessly tosses us from POV to POV, and I found myself intrigued by ALL of them, which is always such a relief in books like this one, ESPECIALLY ones where you aren't quite sure if you like or trust ANY of the characters. Even the detectives were sharp and funny, not the sort of dimwitted buffoons you often see in thrillers. (You know, the kind where you aren't surprised an armchair detective made the discovery because the ACTUAL detectives are truly THAT incompetent...nope, none of that here!) This has the feel of a popcorn thriller, but it's more like an elevated popcorn read: a gourmet, seasoned popcorn read if you will!🍿 I tore through the virtual pages, blown away by reveal after reveal, and starting to wonder if ANY of my theories (or half baked theories) would come to fruition.
And then I got to THAT twist, at about 96%...and when I say the biggest grin came across my face, and I got that insane rush of adrenaline you ONLY get from a book that is just THAT good, where you want to tell everyone around you just HOW good it was...it's no exaggeration.
When you can actually REPLAY that moment in your mind, almost word for word, even after finishing several books since then...it's a clear indicator that this one is something special...and that it EASILY claimed a well-earned spot in my favorite thrillers list as well as my 2024 favorites list! 👏
And although it's a bit macabre, with a title like this one, I couldn't help but sing it in my head to the melody to "Tea for Two"...
"Tea for two and two for tea...A kill for you, a kill for me." 🔪
...But maybe I should at least skip the tap dancing?
😉
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 for THAT TWIST!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 23,439 reviews