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The Killer You Know
I'll murder three strangers. And you'll know it was me. That way we'll all be connected. Always.
When Will jokes about becoming a serial killer, his friends just laugh it off. But Adeline can't help but feel there's something more sinister lurking behind his words.
Fifteen years later, Adeline returns to Blythe for a reunion of the old gang - except Will doesn't show up. Reminiscing about old times, they look up the details of his supposed murder spree. But the mood soon changes when they discover two recent deaths that match.
As the group attempt to track Will down, they realise that he is playing a sinister game that harks back to one they used to play as kids. Only this time there are lives at stake...
A gripping and atmospheric debut psychological thriller - perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Alex Marwood.
When Will jokes about becoming a serial killer, his friends just laugh it off. But Adeline can't help but feel there's something more sinister lurking behind his words.
Fifteen years later, Adeline returns to Blythe for a reunion of the old gang - except Will doesn't show up. Reminiscing about old times, they look up the details of his supposed murder spree. But the mood soon changes when they discover two recent deaths that match.
As the group attempt to track Will down, they realise that he is playing a sinister game that harks back to one they used to play as kids. Only this time there are lives at stake...
A gripping and atmospheric debut psychological thriller - perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Alex Marwood.
432 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2018
102 people are currently reading
4321 people want to read
About the author
S.R. Masters
4 books159 followersS R Masters grew up around Birmingham in the UK and lives in Oxford with his wife and children. His award winning short fiction and quirky novels have been published internationally. Labelled as "a writer to watch" by Publishers Weekly, his books include THE TRIAL (HarperCollins), THE KILLER YOU KNOW (Sphere) and HOW TO KILL WITH KINDNESS (HarperCollins).
His next book is a roller coaster thriller called THE DROP, out with HarperCollins (UK) and Sourcebooks (US) in 2026.
His next book is a roller coaster thriller called THE DROP, out with HarperCollins (UK) and Sourcebooks (US) in 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews
April 20, 2019
This is SR Masters dark and disturbing debut psychological thriller featuring five friends living in Blyth as teenagers, all with various problematic issues, who spent their summers in 1997 and 1998 together. They all disband to never see other until years later in 2015 when a nostalgic reunion is organised so they can catch up with each other and reminisce about the good old days. Adeline, who puts out a successful film podcast with Xan and Jon returns, staying at a hotel because she and her mother have a poor relationship. Adeline is the primary narrator, although Steve, Rupesh, recently divorced and a doctor, Jen, a failed actress now a teacher, and Will, the odd one out, the group weirdo, give their own perspectives in the past and the present. When Will fails to turn up to the reunion, the friends remember his detailed plans for the future and how he would disappear, becoming an undetected serial killer, disguising murders as suicides, but how they would be able tell it is him because of the signs he would leave behind. A crass attempt at a joke to freak them out, right?
Except that with the 4 remaining friends at a loose end, they decide to see if they can locate him as 2 possible deaths, deemed suicides, have the group rattled, has Will put his macabre plan in action? Is one or more of them in danger? Gradually details of their past emerge, how Steve and Adeline felt an immediate attraction to each other on their first meeting, Jen and Rupesh's close relationship, Will's increasing status as the strange loner. However, nothing is as it seems, not in the past and not in the present. There is Steve's need to be the leader, organise adventures and games to keep them occupied, irked by Rupesh's challenge to his authority. Adeline's neighbour, Mr Strachan, his mistreatment of his dog triggers hatred and fear within the group. As each member of the group plans their dedication to ratify their commitment to each other, petty rivalries, intense personal dramas and emotional entanglements, typical of teenagers, shape the group. By the end of the story, as the pieces begin to connect, the toxic nature of the group becomes clear, nostalgia can be a disease, memories unreliable, and is Will really the killer of the group?
Masters certainly makes an impact with this well plotted and compelling fast paced psychological thriller. In part it is a coming of age novel, with all the themes and dynamics that factor into teenage life, the desire to fit in, jealousies, intense emotions, the varied machinations behind the scenes, drugs, feelings of betrayal and more. I don't think any of the characters are particularly likeable and none are reliable narrators. However, the characterisation is done with skill, you cannot help being pulled into the story, wanting to know how it all ends. For those that read plenty of psychological thrillers, there is much that is familiar about the format of the novel, it is Will's future plans to be a serial killer that differentiates this. One of the highlights of the book are the 1990s references to music, movies and culture. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
Except that with the 4 remaining friends at a loose end, they decide to see if they can locate him as 2 possible deaths, deemed suicides, have the group rattled, has Will put his macabre plan in action? Is one or more of them in danger? Gradually details of their past emerge, how Steve and Adeline felt an immediate attraction to each other on their first meeting, Jen and Rupesh's close relationship, Will's increasing status as the strange loner. However, nothing is as it seems, not in the past and not in the present. There is Steve's need to be the leader, organise adventures and games to keep them occupied, irked by Rupesh's challenge to his authority. Adeline's neighbour, Mr Strachan, his mistreatment of his dog triggers hatred and fear within the group. As each member of the group plans their dedication to ratify their commitment to each other, petty rivalries, intense personal dramas and emotional entanglements, typical of teenagers, shape the group. By the end of the story, as the pieces begin to connect, the toxic nature of the group becomes clear, nostalgia can be a disease, memories unreliable, and is Will really the killer of the group?
Masters certainly makes an impact with this well plotted and compelling fast paced psychological thriller. In part it is a coming of age novel, with all the themes and dynamics that factor into teenage life, the desire to fit in, jealousies, intense emotions, the varied machinations behind the scenes, drugs, feelings of betrayal and more. I don't think any of the characters are particularly likeable and none are reliable narrators. However, the characterisation is done with skill, you cannot help being pulled into the story, wanting to know how it all ends. For those that read plenty of psychological thrillers, there is much that is familiar about the format of the novel, it is Will's future plans to be a serial killer that differentiates this. One of the highlights of the book are the 1990s references to music, movies and culture. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
January 31, 2018
Easiest 5* I've given this year and probably for a while before that. Brilliantly atmospheric tale of toxic friendship, with a killer hook - what if one of your gang turned out to be a serial killer? Loved it. More nearer publication when I'm actually SUPPOSED to be reading it. :)
September 17, 2018
You are a bored teenager during the summer hanging around with a bunch of your friends. The five of you have been together all summer with lack of anything else to do in your small town. One of your friends states it is his goal in life to become a serial killer. You all laugh and think yeah okay weirdo, lay off the drugs. Yet there is something disturbing about the depth of details he goes into. He states there will be 3 murders all made to look like a suicide. He gives you all the details, so you will know it was his work when you hear about them. You laugh it off and other jokes are made. Years go by, you all drift apart. You don't think about the drunken drug fueled conversation of youth. Or do you?
Fast forward 16 years. The gang wants to get back together for a reunion. Everyone shows but one person. The person that claimed he would become a killer. You turn to google and are terrified by what you find.....
I was reading another book when I received an advanced copy of The Killer You Know. I had been highly anticipating reading this particular book. The premise was so intriguing. I thought I would just read one chapter, just to get a feel for it. Nope, it was all over at that point. The author had hooked me and I had to keep reading.
Right from the start you are pulled in by the promise of a possible killer. A killer you may know. I spent the whole time looking for clues and trying to unravel the truth. I kept figuring out what really happened, except I was wrong. The author managed to keep me guessing until the end.
I also quite enjoyed the 1990's. So I especially appreciated all the references to the 1990's bands. It brought back a flood of memories. I almost felt nostalgic. You know what it means when you experience nostalgia don't you? You don't? Well read the book and you will!
It is hard to believe this is Mr. Masters first novel. Bravo! It was fantastic. I can't wait to read more from him.
5 Fantastic stars from me!
Thank you to S.R. Masters for this advanced read copy.
Fast forward 16 years. The gang wants to get back together for a reunion. Everyone shows but one person. The person that claimed he would become a killer. You turn to google and are terrified by what you find.....
I was reading another book when I received an advanced copy of The Killer You Know. I had been highly anticipating reading this particular book. The premise was so intriguing. I thought I would just read one chapter, just to get a feel for it. Nope, it was all over at that point. The author had hooked me and I had to keep reading.
Right from the start you are pulled in by the promise of a possible killer. A killer you may know. I spent the whole time looking for clues and trying to unravel the truth. I kept figuring out what really happened, except I was wrong. The author managed to keep me guessing until the end.
I also quite enjoyed the 1990's. So I especially appreciated all the references to the 1990's bands. It brought back a flood of memories. I almost felt nostalgic. You know what it means when you experience nostalgia don't you? You don't? Well read the book and you will!
It is hard to believe this is Mr. Masters first novel. Bravo! It was fantastic. I can't wait to read more from him.
5 Fantastic stars from me!
Thank you to S.R. Masters for this advanced read copy.
November 7, 2018
What a great story, although it was a bit long and slow for a bit. But that twist at the end completely shocked me. Friends as kids who get back together for a reunion.. except for one....
July 7, 2019
So I have had this book in my TBR section for awhile.
I like the premise greatly. The plot concerns a group of friends, one of whom tells the others they want to grow up to be a serial killer.
He says he will commit three murders and explains how he will do it so later on in life, his friends will know it is him.
Years go by. When the group gets together for a reunion and the above mentioned Gent does not show up they turn to google..and discover a few shocking crimes committed in exactly the same way he had said he would commit them.
Great premise!
This is kind of odd for me but I am going to recommend this book even though it was not for me. I skimmed but did not read in its entirety.
There are reasons for that. First off, one character has many health issues. That is told from the first few pages. It is not a small piece of the book but is a major plot point. Being that people I love and care about, have had many health issues in the last few years, I found the opening rather grim. I guess I'd say that is not some thing I am interested in reading about at this time .
Second the book is long. I mean it is over 400 pages. Perhaps I'd have hung in there, had it been shorter. I have no issues with long books, but I generally find I like my thrillers a bit shorter. I tend to read some long Historical Fiction books and that doesn't bother me.
Then there was the pacing. I expected a furiously, plot driven quick read moving at a lightning pace.
That is not what this is. I would say if you like a slow burn..then this is for you. It moves very slowly and since it clocks in over four hundred pages, it's alot.
And then there is the plot. I find I am tiring of books that focus on groups of friends, one or more of whom have secrets. I just read a great one like that..The Hunting Party..but I am seeing more and more of this genre and I think I need a break. I had been looking forward to this and am keeping the book in case, at some point I want to pick it up again.
Please understand I am not calling this a bad book. I skimmed much of it and it is well written. But there are always going to be some books that do not fit the reader's needs at the current time. That is what this felt like for me. When you take the length, the focus on illness, the slow pace and the strong feeling of melancholy running through the book.. all of which maybe fine for someone else..I decided to skim. I did read the ending.
I do sometimes rate books I have not finished, especially if I have read over fifty pages which I did do here. Also I would not want to write a long review without a rating as I always wonder if it will look like I am giving zero stars. In this case..fans of slow moving long mysteries about friends and the secrets they keep will most likely want to read this.
I like the premise greatly. The plot concerns a group of friends, one of whom tells the others they want to grow up to be a serial killer.
He says he will commit three murders and explains how he will do it so later on in life, his friends will know it is him.
Years go by. When the group gets together for a reunion and the above mentioned Gent does not show up they turn to google..and discover a few shocking crimes committed in exactly the same way he had said he would commit them.
Great premise!
This is kind of odd for me but I am going to recommend this book even though it was not for me. I skimmed but did not read in its entirety.
There are reasons for that. First off, one character has many health issues. That is told from the first few pages. It is not a small piece of the book but is a major plot point. Being that people I love and care about, have had many health issues in the last few years, I found the opening rather grim. I guess I'd say that is not some thing I am interested in reading about at this time .
Second the book is long. I mean it is over 400 pages. Perhaps I'd have hung in there, had it been shorter. I have no issues with long books, but I generally find I like my thrillers a bit shorter. I tend to read some long Historical Fiction books and that doesn't bother me.
Then there was the pacing. I expected a furiously, plot driven quick read moving at a lightning pace.
That is not what this is. I would say if you like a slow burn..then this is for you. It moves very slowly and since it clocks in over four hundred pages, it's alot.
And then there is the plot. I find I am tiring of books that focus on groups of friends, one or more of whom have secrets. I just read a great one like that..The Hunting Party..but I am seeing more and more of this genre and I think I need a break. I had been looking forward to this and am keeping the book in case, at some point I want to pick it up again.
Please understand I am not calling this a bad book. I skimmed much of it and it is well written. But there are always going to be some books that do not fit the reader's needs at the current time. That is what this felt like for me. When you take the length, the focus on illness, the slow pace and the strong feeling of melancholy running through the book.. all of which maybe fine for someone else..I decided to skim. I did read the ending.
I do sometimes rate books I have not finished, especially if I have read over fifty pages which I did do here. Also I would not want to write a long review without a rating as I always wonder if it will look like I am giving zero stars. In this case..fans of slow moving long mysteries about friends and the secrets they keep will most likely want to read this.
August 29, 2018
'The Killer You Know' is a highly accomplished debut that reminds me a lot of 'The Chalk Man' by C. J. Tudor as both feature a dual timeline and follow a group of young friends as they grow up and move on with their lives. 'The Chalk Man' is one of my best reads of the year, and I found this to be just as compelling.
It's December, 2015, and Adeline has moved back to the village of Blythe, where she spent her formative years, to reunite with her childhood cronies for a Christmas Eve get together. Through a series of flashbacks she remembers the time when she and the group of five friends spent the summer holidays of 1998 together roaming the countryside, trying to avoid their parents as much as possible. and during the final days they each discuss what they intend to do with their lives once they've completed their education. There's Jen who became a teacher but aspired to be an actress. Rupesh, a doctor and divorcee and Steve, who was once in a romantic relationship with Adeline. The fifth and final acquaintance she shared her summers with was Will, a loner and an introvert who was more than a little bit odd. When Will doesn't show up at the reunion the others recall exactly what he said to them back in 1998. His aspirations had been macabre to say the least - he wanted to become a serial killer, which at the time was taken with a pinch of salt by the circle of friends. As they have nothing better to do on a cold December evening, they decide to try and track him down. but Will is playing a brutal game of cat and mouse. Will the five friends be able to locate him before he strikes again or will they die trying?
This is part thriller, part coming-of-age novel, and I happened to love every single second of it! Although at just about every step it reminded me of 'The Chalk Man', it is still a thoroughly original and unique concept, with a style of writing that pulls you deeper into the story and some excellent twists in there for good measure. If you're a thriller reader who is sick of seeing the same done-to-death concepts, then I suggest you try this. As a seasoned reader of the genre, I rarely happen upon truly awe-inspiring thrills and spills, but this book excited me a lot! You could do a lot worse than picking up a copy of this for your bookshelf, and I expect most crime buffs will be as blown away as I was whilst enjoying this. If Masters' can produce such a wonderful debut I literally cannot wait to read more of his work. Superb!
Many thanks to Sphere for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
It's December, 2015, and Adeline has moved back to the village of Blythe, where she spent her formative years, to reunite with her childhood cronies for a Christmas Eve get together. Through a series of flashbacks she remembers the time when she and the group of five friends spent the summer holidays of 1998 together roaming the countryside, trying to avoid their parents as much as possible. and during the final days they each discuss what they intend to do with their lives once they've completed their education. There's Jen who became a teacher but aspired to be an actress. Rupesh, a doctor and divorcee and Steve, who was once in a romantic relationship with Adeline. The fifth and final acquaintance she shared her summers with was Will, a loner and an introvert who was more than a little bit odd. When Will doesn't show up at the reunion the others recall exactly what he said to them back in 1998. His aspirations had been macabre to say the least - he wanted to become a serial killer, which at the time was taken with a pinch of salt by the circle of friends. As they have nothing better to do on a cold December evening, they decide to try and track him down. but Will is playing a brutal game of cat and mouse. Will the five friends be able to locate him before he strikes again or will they die trying?
This is part thriller, part coming-of-age novel, and I happened to love every single second of it! Although at just about every step it reminded me of 'The Chalk Man', it is still a thoroughly original and unique concept, with a style of writing that pulls you deeper into the story and some excellent twists in there for good measure. If you're a thriller reader who is sick of seeing the same done-to-death concepts, then I suggest you try this. As a seasoned reader of the genre, I rarely happen upon truly awe-inspiring thrills and spills, but this book excited me a lot! You could do a lot worse than picking up a copy of this for your bookshelf, and I expect most crime buffs will be as blown away as I was whilst enjoying this. If Masters' can produce such a wonderful debut I literally cannot wait to read more of his work. Superb!
Many thanks to Sphere for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
August 22, 2018
This is a very exciting debut novel – without doubt, S.R. Masters is an author to watch for in the future. It has a very contemporary feel and is set partly in 1998 and partly in 2015.
It is Christmas, 2015, and Adeline is returning to the small village of Blythe, where she moved as a resentful teen. Adeline does a movie podcast with friends Jon and Xan. However, her love of films came from those teenage years, when she became friends with Jen, Steve, Rupesh and Will. Having always had a difficult relationship with her mother, Adeline is keen to escape the house and have a reunion with those friends, who were once so important to her. There was Jen, now a teacher, who always wanted to be an actress. Rupesh, now a divorced doctor. Steve, who she was once romantically linked with. Then there was Will; always something of an outsider, a little odd.
When Will doesn’t turn up for the Christmas Eve reunion, the others discuss their summer camping trip, sixteen years before. The question they had posed, was what would they all be doing as adults. Will had announced that he wanted to be a serial killer. He would vanish, one year, and kill three people… Before long, the others are questioning where Will has, in fact, vanished to? Is he planning to fulfil his bizarre announcement, made so long ago? The group really do not have anything better to do, and various things they want to escape from, so they are suddenly all involved in trying to uncover Will’s whereabouts.
What follows is a fascinating account of that summer, in 1998, when the five friends roamed the countryside, trying to kill time and experiencing the highs and lows of teenage relationships, the group dynamics and a feud with Adeline’s neighbour, Mr Strachan. There is also the story, told along-side this, of the search for Will and whether he is, as they begin to suspect, a murderer…
This is a clever, original and interesting crime novel, with great characters and a really good story. Unusually for a novel with a dual time frame, I enjoyed both the current, and past, storylines. I highly recommend this and will look out for future books from Mr Masters. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
It is Christmas, 2015, and Adeline is returning to the small village of Blythe, where she moved as a resentful teen. Adeline does a movie podcast with friends Jon and Xan. However, her love of films came from those teenage years, when she became friends with Jen, Steve, Rupesh and Will. Having always had a difficult relationship with her mother, Adeline is keen to escape the house and have a reunion with those friends, who were once so important to her. There was Jen, now a teacher, who always wanted to be an actress. Rupesh, now a divorced doctor. Steve, who she was once romantically linked with. Then there was Will; always something of an outsider, a little odd.
When Will doesn’t turn up for the Christmas Eve reunion, the others discuss their summer camping trip, sixteen years before. The question they had posed, was what would they all be doing as adults. Will had announced that he wanted to be a serial killer. He would vanish, one year, and kill three people… Before long, the others are questioning where Will has, in fact, vanished to? Is he planning to fulfil his bizarre announcement, made so long ago? The group really do not have anything better to do, and various things they want to escape from, so they are suddenly all involved in trying to uncover Will’s whereabouts.
What follows is a fascinating account of that summer, in 1998, when the five friends roamed the countryside, trying to kill time and experiencing the highs and lows of teenage relationships, the group dynamics and a feud with Adeline’s neighbour, Mr Strachan. There is also the story, told along-side this, of the search for Will and whether he is, as they begin to suspect, a murderer…
This is a clever, original and interesting crime novel, with great characters and a really good story. Unusually for a novel with a dual time frame, I enjoyed both the current, and past, storylines. I highly recommend this and will look out for future books from Mr Masters. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
December 27, 2019
“The Killer You Know” is a fantastic, dark and disturbing début psychological thriller written by author S R Masters. It features five friends that lived in Blythe while they were in their teens and spent the summers of 1997 and 1998 together. Each one has their own problems and issues to deal with.
They all move on and don’t see other again until, in 2015, a nostalgic reunion is organised, so they meet up with each other and reminisce about good times past. Adeline, a successful film pod-caster along with Xan and Jon returns and stays at a hotel because she has a strained relationship with her mother. Adeline is the main narrator, however, Steve, recently divorced Dr Rupesh, teacher, Jen, and Will, the odd guy, all offer their own perspectives in both the past and the present.
When Will doesn’t show up at the reunion, the friends remember his preference for disappearing and the games they used to play about becoming an undetected serial killer and disguising murders as suicides.
The rest of the friends try to locate Will, however, two deaths that were deemed suicides have the four of them deeply concerned that Will may have carried out his grisly plan. Gradually, details of their pasts begin to emerge…
This was such a compelling read for me! It was so well plotted and a brilliant and fast-paced psychological thriller. Not only a thriller, but it was also a coming-of-age novel with all the angst, issues and dynamics that are part of being a teenager. The intense emotions, the desperate need to fit in or at least be tolerated or accepted, the jealousies and feelings of betrayal.
For me, S R Masters’ characterisation was incredibly skilful, although none of the characters appealed to me, nor were they particularly reliable as narrators. This however complemented the story. Far from being an average psychological thriller, I found myself totally fascinated by this book. I think it was Will's interest in serial killers that made it special.
I will be looking out for more by S R Masters in the future.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Little, Brown Book Group UK via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
They all move on and don’t see other again until, in 2015, a nostalgic reunion is organised, so they meet up with each other and reminisce about good times past. Adeline, a successful film pod-caster along with Xan and Jon returns and stays at a hotel because she has a strained relationship with her mother. Adeline is the main narrator, however, Steve, recently divorced Dr Rupesh, teacher, Jen, and Will, the odd guy, all offer their own perspectives in both the past and the present.
When Will doesn’t show up at the reunion, the friends remember his preference for disappearing and the games they used to play about becoming an undetected serial killer and disguising murders as suicides.
The rest of the friends try to locate Will, however, two deaths that were deemed suicides have the four of them deeply concerned that Will may have carried out his grisly plan. Gradually, details of their pasts begin to emerge…
This was such a compelling read for me! It was so well plotted and a brilliant and fast-paced psychological thriller. Not only a thriller, but it was also a coming-of-age novel with all the angst, issues and dynamics that are part of being a teenager. The intense emotions, the desperate need to fit in or at least be tolerated or accepted, the jealousies and feelings of betrayal.
For me, S R Masters’ characterisation was incredibly skilful, although none of the characters appealed to me, nor were they particularly reliable as narrators. This however complemented the story. Far from being an average psychological thriller, I found myself totally fascinated by this book. I think it was Will's interest in serial killers that made it special.
I will be looking out for more by S R Masters in the future.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Little, Brown Book Group UK via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
November 14, 2018
This was an interesting premise. One I enjoyed reading about, and hadn't really seen exactly like this before.
The bond between the group of friends was lovely to see, and although one of them had a startling, creepy revelation, we carried on with the dynamics and eventually all was revealed.
I was guessing right the way through and looked out for all those bits and pieces that I was hoping could let me in on what was going to happen. I didn't guess who/if/why the killer was, if there was one?!
Lot's of references to past times. The 90's references were great. I enjoyed those - the 90's rocked!
It felt a bit Stephen King-y, with the small community in the summertime - perhaps a bit IT and a bit Stand by Me.
I enjoyed it - however the flashbacks got a little repetitive. In that respect it was a bit like The Girl Before - where we saw different people's perspectives on the same event... Not a fan of this particular style.
The pace of the book was good. I would recommend to others, but I wouldn't read it again. :)
I received a copy via NetGalley for an honest review.
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
The bond between the group of friends was lovely to see, and although one of them had a startling, creepy revelation, we carried on with the dynamics and eventually all was revealed.
I was guessing right the way through and looked out for all those bits and pieces that I was hoping could let me in on what was going to happen. I didn't guess who/if/why the killer was, if there was one?!
Lot's of references to past times. The 90's references were great. I enjoyed those - the 90's rocked!
It felt a bit Stephen King-y, with the small community in the summertime - perhaps a bit IT and a bit Stand by Me.
I enjoyed it - however the flashbacks got a little repetitive. In that respect it was a bit like The Girl Before - where we saw different people's perspectives on the same event... Not a fan of this particular style.
The pace of the book was good. I would recommend to others, but I wouldn't read it again. :)
I received a copy via NetGalley for an honest review.
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
July 5, 2023
"All of this started the night Will told us he was going to be a serial killer."
Another book with dual timelines and multiple POVs. The first timeline follows Adeline, Jen, Steve, Will, and Rupesh, all bored teens living in a small village with nothing much to do other than sit around watching movies. We jump between each of their POVs as we follow them right up to their last summer before going off to college, and how their friendships end. The second timeline is all but Will having a little reunion. Soon, they start reminiscing about the old days and start to wonder if Will really did make good on his promise to become a serial killer. They soon realise that sometimes the past should just be left in the past.
This one took some work to get thorough. It was a little long-winded and, in all honesty, probably could have been a bit shorter. Having said that, it was an enjoyable read. I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed with the ending, though.
Another book with dual timelines and multiple POVs. The first timeline follows Adeline, Jen, Steve, Will, and Rupesh, all bored teens living in a small village with nothing much to do other than sit around watching movies. We jump between each of their POVs as we follow them right up to their last summer before going off to college, and how their friendships end. The second timeline is all but Will having a little reunion. Soon, they start reminiscing about the old days and start to wonder if Will really did make good on his promise to become a serial killer. They soon realise that sometimes the past should just be left in the past.
This one took some work to get thorough. It was a little long-winded and, in all honesty, probably could have been a bit shorter. Having said that, it was an enjoyable read. I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed with the ending, though.
August 9, 2018
The synopsis of the book sounded really interesting, but unfortunately the story just didn't hold my attention, and I found the plot very implausible. It was a bit of a struggle to get to the end if I'm honest, as I didn't really care about any of the characters or their outcome.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2019
Some of us are lucky enough to form lifelong friendships when we are younger but more often or not friendships drift apart once we leave school and our lives go in different directions.
Adeline hasn't seen Will,Steve,Jen and Rupesh for fifteen years so she is equally surprised,shocked and intrigued when she receives an email inviting her to a reunion of her old gang. Adeline returns to the small,isolated village of Blythe where she lived during her late teenage years for the reunion - except Will doesn't show up.
As the group catch up and reminisce they suddenly remember a comment that Will made one night when they were younger. A comment that at the time they had all thought was strange but very funny.
`You need to kill at least three people to be a serial killer, right? So that's what I'll do`
Out of curiosity they search online for crimes that match the murders that Will described and are shocked to discover two murders that exactly match. Could their old friend really be a killer? Was he really being serious all those years ago?
Things take a serious turn after the gang start searching for Will, they start receiving mysterious letters,then someone close to them is seriously hurt. Someone is playing a sinister game and if the game don't play along....one of them could be next.
The Killer You Know is divided into four parts and flips back and forth between the gangs teenage escapades in 1997 - 1998 and their search for Will in 2016. The chapters are quite long and are voiced in the present day by Adaline in the first person perspective and in the past by all the members of the gang in the third person perspective. The five main characters were realistic and each one of them irritated me at one time or another as the stories in each time frame unfolded. I couldn't say that anyone of them was very likeable but I can definitely say that there was one of them that I definitely didn't like,not even one tiny little bit. I loved the vivid descriptions of the places around Blythe where the gang used to hang out. The fields of maize,the bridge and the train tracks all sounded like places I would have enjoyed exploring when I was a teenager. Places that were fun to explore during the day but had a creepy,sinister atmosphere once it got dark.
This is a very well written part mystery/part coming of age tale of young love,jealousy,friendship,manipulation,deception and people and things not always being what they appear. There is quite a few twists and turns and the story defiantly keeps the reader guessing throughout. Actually, even now I'm not 100% sure who the killer was. I really enjoyed this enthralling debut story and will definitely be reading more books written by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Little Brown Books Group UK/Sphere for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review and Anne Carter of Random Things Tours for the opportunity to take part in the Blog tour
Adeline hasn't seen Will,Steve,Jen and Rupesh for fifteen years so she is equally surprised,shocked and intrigued when she receives an email inviting her to a reunion of her old gang. Adeline returns to the small,isolated village of Blythe where she lived during her late teenage years for the reunion - except Will doesn't show up.
As the group catch up and reminisce they suddenly remember a comment that Will made one night when they were younger. A comment that at the time they had all thought was strange but very funny.
`You need to kill at least three people to be a serial killer, right? So that's what I'll do`
Out of curiosity they search online for crimes that match the murders that Will described and are shocked to discover two murders that exactly match. Could their old friend really be a killer? Was he really being serious all those years ago?
Things take a serious turn after the gang start searching for Will, they start receiving mysterious letters,then someone close to them is seriously hurt. Someone is playing a sinister game and if the game don't play along....one of them could be next.
The Killer You Know is divided into four parts and flips back and forth between the gangs teenage escapades in 1997 - 1998 and their search for Will in 2016. The chapters are quite long and are voiced in the present day by Adaline in the first person perspective and in the past by all the members of the gang in the third person perspective. The five main characters were realistic and each one of them irritated me at one time or another as the stories in each time frame unfolded. I couldn't say that anyone of them was very likeable but I can definitely say that there was one of them that I definitely didn't like,not even one tiny little bit. I loved the vivid descriptions of the places around Blythe where the gang used to hang out. The fields of maize,the bridge and the train tracks all sounded like places I would have enjoyed exploring when I was a teenager. Places that were fun to explore during the day but had a creepy,sinister atmosphere once it got dark.
This is a very well written part mystery/part coming of age tale of young love,jealousy,friendship,manipulation,deception and people and things not always being what they appear. There is quite a few twists and turns and the story defiantly keeps the reader guessing throughout. Actually, even now I'm not 100% sure who the killer was. I really enjoyed this enthralling debut story and will definitely be reading more books written by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Little Brown Books Group UK/Sphere for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review and Anne Carter of Random Things Tours for the opportunity to take part in the Blog tour
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June 5, 2023This debut novel has a contemporary feel with an interesting mix of thriller and nostalgia a la Stephen King in 'Stand By Me'. It follows a group of friends who are torn apart at age sixteen by a number of strange events. With a unique concept, a relatable protagonist, and a well-written dual time frame, it also has one of the most intriguing opening lines I've ever read: "All of this started the night Will told us he was going to be a serial killer."
March 22, 2019
The Killer You Know was my first read by this author and what a read it was! It came across my goodreads feed and the cover grabbed me right away. I love a book about old friendships and secrets from the past! This book does not disappoint! I was reeled in from the beginning and stayed on the edge of my seat all the way through. I found myself trying to work it out when I wasn’t even reading. A few times I thought I had it figured out but each scenario of mine turned out to be wrong. This was a twisty, turny, unputdownable book of suspense and thrill! I will definitely be stalking this author’s page for future books! Easily the best read of 2019 so far!
April 18, 2019
So a bunch of young people (kids, really) come up with a dare based game that resurfaces with much more dire implications at their reunion almost two decades later. Sounds familiar at all? If so, it may be because that’s a lot like the plot of Christopher Yates’ Black Chalk, a superlative thriller and infinitely superior to this one. To be fair, I’m not calling this book a rip off, it does enough of its own thing to be considered an original, just saying that if you want to read a thriller with a similar story, go for Yates. This one was decent enough, but never really got above that, too many detractors. And now for the list of detractors…#1, potentially the main thing, the book is dramatically overwritten, nothing about it should merit more than, say, 300 pages, not the 400some it comes in at, #2, of equal or potentially higher significance, not a single likeable or especially interesting character. #3, a huge no no for a thriller, only one major plot twist and one you can easily figure out miles in advance. The writing is actually pretty good, but you end up following around a bunch of characters you don’t really care about (although the main one does have an absolutely awesome job of doing a podcast about movies) for much too long down to its inevitable and predictable conclusion…that just is way too far from optimal for the genre that should be, well that should be thrilling. The novel, possibly due to its being a debut, meanders exhaustively and exhaustingly from past to present from perspective to perspective, but in the end fails to engage, albeit manages to entertain, somewhat. Something of a frustrating experience, for some reason I expected more. The original concept actually does hook you…the notion that one of your childhood friends can turn out to be a serial killer and it may be down to you eventually to track him down. But the execution left a lot to be desired. Thanks Netgalley.
July 15, 2018
Z "Nigdy się nie dowiesz" wiązałam ogromne nadzieje, liczyłam na trzymający w napięciu thriller z kilkoma świetnymi zwrotami akcji, od których głowa mi eksploduje. I co? I jajco. Zacznę może od dobrych stron, nie ma ich wiele, więc szybko pójdzie: bardzo podoba mi się taki trochę "kredziarzowy" klimat powieści, a także sam pomysł na fabułę - z realizacją jest już jednak nieco gorzej. A może inaczej: realizacja leży i kwiczy w bólach.
Grupka przyjaciół z młodości spotyka się po latach, by powspominać stare, dobre czasy. Na spotkaniu nie pojawia się Will, który w młodości był z deczka dziwny i wykoncypował sobie, że za kilkanaście lat zrobi karierę jako seryjny morderca (takie nastoletnie marzenia, każdy z nas miał takie, co nie? Hmmm. Nie.). Jakże zdziwiona jest reszta paczki, gdy podczas spotkania dochodzą do wniosku, że zbrodnie, o których fantazjował Will rzeczywiście miały miejsce na przestrzeni ostatniego roku. Postanawiają zabawić się w domorosłych Rutkowskich, dowiedzieć się czegoś więcej o morderstwach i odnaleźć Willa, którego podejrzewają o ich popełnienie. Brzmi super ciekawie, prawda? Niestety książka jest tak przegadana, że ciężko tam o napięcie większe niż podczas wydłubywania kłaczka z pępka. Bohaterowie ciągle tylko gadają o filmach, wspominają dzieciństwo, gadają o filmach, a potem jeszcze trochę gadają o filmach. Nudy, Panie! Nie wiem, co jeszcze mogłabym napisać, chyba tylko tyle, że prawie zarosłam mchem podczas czytania tej powieści. Chciałam jedynie zaznaczyć, że to nie jest beznadziejna książka, nie jest totalnym paździerzem, jest po prostu nużąca i drętwa. I tyle, o!
Grupka przyjaciół z młodości spotyka się po latach, by powspominać stare, dobre czasy. Na spotkaniu nie pojawia się Will, który w młodości był z deczka dziwny i wykoncypował sobie, że za kilkanaście lat zrobi karierę jako seryjny morderca (takie nastoletnie marzenia, każdy z nas miał takie, co nie? Hmmm. Nie.). Jakże zdziwiona jest reszta paczki, gdy podczas spotkania dochodzą do wniosku, że zbrodnie, o których fantazjował Will rzeczywiście miały miejsce na przestrzeni ostatniego roku. Postanawiają zabawić się w domorosłych Rutkowskich, dowiedzieć się czegoś więcej o morderstwach i odnaleźć Willa, którego podejrzewają o ich popełnienie. Brzmi super ciekawie, prawda? Niestety książka jest tak przegadana, że ciężko tam o napięcie większe niż podczas wydłubywania kłaczka z pępka. Bohaterowie ciągle tylko gadają o filmach, wspominają dzieciństwo, gadają o filmach, a potem jeszcze trochę gadają o filmach. Nudy, Panie! Nie wiem, co jeszcze mogłabym napisać, chyba tylko tyle, że prawie zarosłam mchem podczas czytania tej powieści. Chciałam jedynie zaznaczyć, że to nie jest beznadziejna książka, nie jest totalnym paździerzem, jest po prostu nużąca i drętwa. I tyle, o!
March 12, 2018
I know it's only early March but I think I may have already found a strong contender for my book of the year.
But Rachel, I hear you ask, don't you usually love tragic love stories? Well yes I do. but there is a tragic love story here - one fuelled by nostalgia, deception and what might have been - so you see, right up my street.
The Killer You Know is the story of a group of kids, thrown together by circumstance and splintered apart at the age of sixteen by a series of strange events that none of them really know the truth about.
Sixteen years later they meet again and the events of the summer of 1998 finally come to a head and nothing is as it seems.
Masters' debut is a triumph, a story as slippery as an eel and a narrative voice that you'll find very hard to stop reading. There was a point, about two thirds of the way in, when I thought I'd worked it out, and then I didn't know. And then it turned out my first instinct had been right….until I read that ending and began to doubt myself all over again. There are no neatly tied loose ends here, just the rawness of real life.
The Killer You know has shades of Stranger Things and a wonderful homage to Stephen King's IT, it is creepy and will make you revaluate every relationship you've ever had and every memory you think you know. It's a book that will stay with me for a while and one of those rare treats that will bear up to a second read in a month or two.
Out in August, I cannot recommend this highly enough - I think it's going to be big.
With thanks to the author for an ARC.
But Rachel, I hear you ask, don't you usually love tragic love stories? Well yes I do. but there is a tragic love story here - one fuelled by nostalgia, deception and what might have been - so you see, right up my street.
The Killer You Know is the story of a group of kids, thrown together by circumstance and splintered apart at the age of sixteen by a series of strange events that none of them really know the truth about.
Sixteen years later they meet again and the events of the summer of 1998 finally come to a head and nothing is as it seems.
Masters' debut is a triumph, a story as slippery as an eel and a narrative voice that you'll find very hard to stop reading. There was a point, about two thirds of the way in, when I thought I'd worked it out, and then I didn't know. And then it turned out my first instinct had been right….until I read that ending and began to doubt myself all over again. There are no neatly tied loose ends here, just the rawness of real life.
The Killer You know has shades of Stranger Things and a wonderful homage to Stephen King's IT, it is creepy and will make you revaluate every relationship you've ever had and every memory you think you know. It's a book that will stay with me for a while and one of those rare treats that will bear up to a second read in a month or two.
Out in August, I cannot recommend this highly enough - I think it's going to be big.
With thanks to the author for an ARC.
July 10, 2019
The synopsis of this book sounded pretty interesting but oh wow was it boring. I was way longer than it needed to be and it just dragged. None of the characters were that interesting or likeable which made caring about their story impossible.
I guessed how it was all going to end because it was so obvious. The author basically had a big arrow saying this is the bad guy. I was hoping that because it was made so obvious there would be an added dramatic twist but unfortunately, there wasn’t.
Not one I would recommend. There are much better thrillers out there.
I received a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review
I guessed how it was all going to end because it was so obvious. The author basically had a big arrow saying this is the bad guy. I was hoping that because it was made so obvious there would be an added dramatic twist but unfortunately, there wasn’t.
Not one I would recommend. There are much better thrillers out there.
I received a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review
September 22, 2019
Visit the locations in the novel
This is an interesting and gripping read. What would you do if one of your friends had told the group that they were going to be a serial killer and years later, you discovered that those same crimes HAD been committed and that the friend in question had gone AWOL.
Well that is the premise of this fine read - a mix of Stand by Me and the classic tales of youngsters who say things to annoy their friends, torment each other, make dares etc.. The characters were all very well developed and different. There were flashbacks to remind them and us, the reader, what they had thought and said at the time, how dares had gone too far etc...and they were clear enough to show the difference between the child's view and the adults which made it all the more chilling and foreboding.
I did think the novel was a bit long though and I got a bit lost in the middle with all the comings and goings but on the whole this was a pacy, solid read. Nice to read something which is totally different to what you normally do.Set in the lovely village of Hampton in Arden but only loosely....wait until you read the book to realise why.
May 9, 2019
My Review
This book is a coming of age story wrapped in a mystery then wrapped again in 90’s nostalgia. It’s a gift you will want to slowly open and enjoy each layer.
First layer is a dual timeline , this worked really well for me and I enjoyed both the present and past . My age probably helped as I remember the 90’s with great fondness ( although I was slightly older than they were cough cough) . Funnily enough in 1997 I was working at Blockbusters video rental and there are some cracking movie references littered throughout including one of my favourites Grosse Pointe Blank. If you haven’t seen it I highly recommend it .
The second layer is the homage to Stephen King , subtle similarities to the body (or stand by me you may know it as) . This is also a coming of age story , teenage anxiety and hormones playing a part as they form a friendship around movie watching and a game called The Dedication.
I’m a big King fan owning all of his books ( including a rare first edition of cycle of the werewolf) so felt like S R Masters had written this book just for me .
Great characters who are really easy to warm to despite having some pretty major idiosyncrasies and as for the mystery I didn’t have a Scooby Doo so well played.
This is a solid 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ as the narrative was a little slow in places I couldn’t give 5 but damn it was close.
This book is a coming of age story wrapped in a mystery then wrapped again in 90’s nostalgia. It’s a gift you will want to slowly open and enjoy each layer.
First layer is a dual timeline , this worked really well for me and I enjoyed both the present and past . My age probably helped as I remember the 90’s with great fondness ( although I was slightly older than they were cough cough) . Funnily enough in 1997 I was working at Blockbusters video rental and there are some cracking movie references littered throughout including one of my favourites Grosse Pointe Blank. If you haven’t seen it I highly recommend it .
The second layer is the homage to Stephen King , subtle similarities to the body (or stand by me you may know it as) . This is also a coming of age story , teenage anxiety and hormones playing a part as they form a friendship around movie watching and a game called The Dedication.
I’m a big King fan owning all of his books ( including a rare first edition of cycle of the werewolf) so felt like S R Masters had written this book just for me .
Great characters who are really easy to warm to despite having some pretty major idiosyncrasies and as for the mystery I didn’t have a Scooby Doo so well played.
This is a solid 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ as the narrative was a little slow in places I couldn’t give 5 but damn it was close.
February 23, 2018
The Killer You Know is a book that grips you by the hand straight away - just as if you might be one of its gang of brilliantly rendered characters - then leads you through a maze of twists and turns, not letting you go until it is done with you. This plot genuinely keeps you guessing. Moreover, Masters perfectly captures the ever-shifting dynamics and evolving loyalties of these '90s teens – now adults - who have shared particularly bright, bittersweet and dark times. It is this fascinating interplay of relationships that powers an unsettling past-present tale, one formed of interwoven perspectives and peppered with witty film and music references from that era, as well as raising key philosophical questions. Buy this book if you love outstanding characters who engage and surprise, and who will linger with you long after the final page. A thrilling read and an exceptional debut novel.
March 23, 2018
If you loved Stephen King's "Stand By Me" then this is definitely one for you. A wonderful mix of thriller and nostalgia, told through the view-point of a group of friends, who drifted apart after school and come together once again to put old demons to rest.
There are lots of film references that really bring the story to life and the author does a great job of separating and explaining both the individual characters as well as jumping between the past and the present as a way of bringing all the nuances together.
The plotting is tight, the twists keep coming to make the reader question each possible theory as to who the murderer is (or indeed if there actually is one). Impressive debut and look forward to the next one.
There are lots of film references that really bring the story to life and the author does a great job of separating and explaining both the individual characters as well as jumping between the past and the present as a way of bringing all the nuances together.
The plotting is tight, the twists keep coming to make the reader question each possible theory as to who the murderer is (or indeed if there actually is one). Impressive debut and look forward to the next one.
April 24, 2019
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am lover of thrillers, so I had high hopes going into this one. But unfortunately, reading this felt like a chore. The plot took a long time to get going, and once it did, I didn't really care about the characters, I just wanted it to get to the point. And the ending consisted of so much over-explaining, I felt like the plot was trying to convince me that all of it made sense. And sure, it did make sense, in some very strange, if-you-squint-and-really-think-about-it way, which is the reason I'm not giving it 1 star. This was too convoluted for me to really get into, unfortunately.
I am lover of thrillers, so I had high hopes going into this one. But unfortunately, reading this felt like a chore. The plot took a long time to get going, and once it did, I didn't really care about the characters, I just wanted it to get to the point. And the ending consisted of so much over-explaining, I felt like the plot was trying to convince me that all of it made sense. And sure, it did make sense, in some very strange, if-you-squint-and-really-think-about-it way, which is the reason I'm not giving it 1 star. This was too convoluted for me to really get into, unfortunately.
April 7, 2019
Not a bad book but very slow to start.
Well, this certainly was an interesting story. This book was full of twists and turns that you never knew what to expect. Once you get going with this storyline this book is guaranteed to keep you gripped to every page.
A decent read with a good storyline. I instantly fell in love with the characters and really enjoyed reading their journey. Once you get into the storyline it is very immersive.
Fabulous work
Well, this certainly was an interesting story. This book was full of twists and turns that you never knew what to expect. Once you get going with this storyline this book is guaranteed to keep you gripped to every page.
A decent read with a good storyline. I instantly fell in love with the characters and really enjoyed reading their journey. Once you get into the storyline it is very immersive.
Fabulous work
May 7, 2019
All of this started the night Will told us he was going to be a serial killer”
This is S.R. Masters debut novel, a psychological thriller set in 2015, with flashbacks to the late 90’s.
December 2015, and Adeline has come home to Blythe….she’s stopped by to visit her parents. she didn’t have a particularly close relationship with them, but her mum is ill….but nothings changed and the little digs are still there.
A reunion of her teenage friends has been arranged and so she leaves her parents as soon as she can as she wants to meet her old gang, Jen. Steve, Rupresh and Will.
They all arrive except for Will….
As they catch up, they begin to talk about Will, and his surprising revelation as a teenager that he was going to be a serial killer. He was planning on disappearing for a year and killing three people and making it look like suicide……he would know it was murder and so would his friends now…
He even went into details, a festival hanging by a guy rope and a drowning in Loch Ness and a third close to home…..
They laugh about how weird Will was, until they google festival suicide and things start to get real…..it’s a coincidence isn’t it ? Will wouldn’t really kill someone would he? Does Steve know more than he’s letting on?
What follows is a creepy, unsettling psychological thriller interspersed with a coming of age drama….the trials and tribulations of being a teenager…..and a feud with the odd Mr Strachan and his dog. Slow burning and tension filled thriller….brilliant.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
This is S.R. Masters debut novel, a psychological thriller set in 2015, with flashbacks to the late 90’s.
December 2015, and Adeline has come home to Blythe….she’s stopped by to visit her parents. she didn’t have a particularly close relationship with them, but her mum is ill….but nothings changed and the little digs are still there.
A reunion of her teenage friends has been arranged and so she leaves her parents as soon as she can as she wants to meet her old gang, Jen. Steve, Rupresh and Will.
They all arrive except for Will….
As they catch up, they begin to talk about Will, and his surprising revelation as a teenager that he was going to be a serial killer. He was planning on disappearing for a year and killing three people and making it look like suicide……he would know it was murder and so would his friends now…
He even went into details, a festival hanging by a guy rope and a drowning in Loch Ness and a third close to home…..
They laugh about how weird Will was, until they google festival suicide and things start to get real…..it’s a coincidence isn’t it ? Will wouldn’t really kill someone would he? Does Steve know more than he’s letting on?
What follows is a creepy, unsettling psychological thriller interspersed with a coming of age drama….the trials and tribulations of being a teenager…..and a feud with the odd Mr Strachan and his dog. Slow burning and tension filled thriller….brilliant.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
July 30, 2021
Ta książka była tak do niczego, że nawet nie wiem jak to skomentować.
December 12, 2018
Oh boy.. this book. I can't. So let's start with the positive. This book is amazingly written. The characters really make you feel emotions(mostly hatred in my case when it comes to the first 2. Can't remember hating someone this much). Some people may say The Killer You Know was very slow, but in this case it's good. It makes you better understand the characters motives and gives you the chance to realise what is really going on. I ussually do not like books that are written from 2 time periods but in this case I enjoyed it very much. I also enjoyed seeing the world through everyones eyes. There are a lot of good qualities in this book, it's entertaining, original and is a great read. But even though I gave it 4 stars I'd like to focus on the negatives, cause the book doesn't have much of them but they are significant.
Now the negative side of the book is mostly spoilers so don't read on if you don't want them.
The books follows Adeline who is a total and utter imbecile. I am sorry but I absolutely could not like her. She was just too dimwitted. Why you ask? You'll see soon. Other characters worth mentioning are Will, a poor weird boy from an awful family that no one really understands and cares for, who I personally liked and felt immensely sorry for. And Steve who is a utter, forgive the word, dipshit and asshole and I cannot remember honestly a time I hated a character as much as Steve. It was clear to me very early in the book that Will who said he would be a murderer isn't really at fault- it's Steve. Who is also a psychopath. Steve manipulated everyone when he was a kid and he is doing the same as an adult. Back then he killed his dog, killed his neighbours dog and did other nasty thing. Now he murders people and frames poor Will(who is now a junkie who'd been in a mental asylum like 7 times) for everything. Why I hear you ask? Because Will didn't do what Steve wanted him to do. And when someone doesn't do exactly as Steve says, he takes his revenge on them. When Will nearly ruins his plan, he MURDERS HIM AS WELL. And kidnaps Rupesh(another from their gang) and nearly murders him too. When Rupesh and the last member Jen realise it's Steve, Adeline ofcourse does not believe. Oh no, not her perfect Stevie, he looks like an actor so surely he couldn't have done these things. I noticed a 100 pages in what was really going on but it took everyone else the rest of the book. Adeline nearly gets herself killed to realise Steve is a douche. Which is why I kind of despise her a bit as well.
All in all very good book and I was sad to finish it, but Adeline and Steve really irritated me too much. Also how could you treat poor Will like that. He found dead animals and burried them cause he thought they deserved a funeral. He was precious and deserves happiness. Thank you for your attention.
Now the negative side of the book is mostly spoilers so don't read on if you don't want them.
The books follows Adeline who is a total and utter imbecile. I am sorry but I absolutely could not like her. She was just too dimwitted. Why you ask? You'll see soon. Other characters worth mentioning are Will, a poor weird boy from an awful family that no one really understands and cares for, who I personally liked and felt immensely sorry for. And Steve who is a utter, forgive the word, dipshit and asshole and I cannot remember honestly a time I hated a character as much as Steve. It was clear to me very early in the book that Will who said he would be a murderer isn't really at fault- it's Steve. Who is also a psychopath. Steve manipulated everyone when he was a kid and he is doing the same as an adult. Back then he killed his dog, killed his neighbours dog and did other nasty thing. Now he murders people and frames poor Will(who is now a junkie who'd been in a mental asylum like 7 times) for everything. Why I hear you ask? Because Will didn't do what Steve wanted him to do. And when someone doesn't do exactly as Steve says, he takes his revenge on them. When Will nearly ruins his plan, he MURDERS HIM AS WELL. And kidnaps Rupesh(another from their gang) and nearly murders him too. When Rupesh and the last member Jen realise it's Steve, Adeline ofcourse does not believe. Oh no, not her perfect Stevie, he looks like an actor so surely he couldn't have done these things. I noticed a 100 pages in what was really going on but it took everyone else the rest of the book. Adeline nearly gets herself killed to realise Steve is a douche. Which is why I kind of despise her a bit as well.
All in all very good book and I was sad to finish it, but Adeline and Steve really irritated me too much. Also how could you treat poor Will like that. He found dead animals and burried them cause he thought they deserved a funeral. He was precious and deserves happiness. Thank you for your attention.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2018
This is a very exciting debut novel – without doubt, S.R. Masters is an author to watch for in the future. It has a very contemporary feel and is set partly in 1998 and partly in 2015.
It is Christmas, 2015, and Adeline is returning to the small village of Blythe, where she moved as a resentful teen. Adeline does a movie podcast with friends Jon and Xan. However, her love of films came from those teenage years, when she became friends with Jen, Steve, Rupesh and Will. Having always had a difficult relationship with her mother, Adeline is keen to escape the house and have a reunion with those friends, who were once so important to her. There was Jen, now a teacher, who always wanted to be an actress. Rupesh, now a divorced doctor. Steve, who she was once romantically linked with. Then there was Will; always something of an outsider, a little odd.
When Will doesn’t turn up for the Christmas Eve reunion, the others discuss their summer camping trip, sixteen years before. The question they had posed, was what would they all be doing as adults. Will had announced that he wanted to be a serial killer. He would vanish, one year, and kill three people… Before long, the others are questioning where Will has, in fact, vanished to? Is he planning to fulfil his bizarre announcement, made so long ago? The group really do not have anything better to do, and various things they want to escape from, so they are suddenly all involved in trying to uncover Will’s whereabouts.
What follows is a fascinating account of that summer, in 1998, when the five friends roamed the countryside, trying to kill time and experiencing the highs and lows of teenage relationships, the group dynamics and a feud with Adeline’s neighbour, Mr Strachan. There is also the story, told along-side this, of the search for Will and whether he is, as they begin to suspect, a murderer…
This is a clever, original and interesting crime novel, with great characters and a really good story. Unusually for a novel with a dual time frame, I enjoyed both the current, and past, storylines. I highly recommend this and will look out for future books from Mr Masters. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
It is Christmas, 2015, and Adeline is returning to the small village of Blythe, where she moved as a resentful teen. Adeline does a movie podcast with friends Jon and Xan. However, her love of films came from those teenage years, when she became friends with Jen, Steve, Rupesh and Will. Having always had a difficult relationship with her mother, Adeline is keen to escape the house and have a reunion with those friends, who were once so important to her. There was Jen, now a teacher, who always wanted to be an actress. Rupesh, now a divorced doctor. Steve, who she was once romantically linked with. Then there was Will; always something of an outsider, a little odd.
When Will doesn’t turn up for the Christmas Eve reunion, the others discuss their summer camping trip, sixteen years before. The question they had posed, was what would they all be doing as adults. Will had announced that he wanted to be a serial killer. He would vanish, one year, and kill three people… Before long, the others are questioning where Will has, in fact, vanished to? Is he planning to fulfil his bizarre announcement, made so long ago? The group really do not have anything better to do, and various things they want to escape from, so they are suddenly all involved in trying to uncover Will’s whereabouts.
What follows is a fascinating account of that summer, in 1998, when the five friends roamed the countryside, trying to kill time and experiencing the highs and lows of teenage relationships, the group dynamics and a feud with Adeline’s neighbour, Mr Strachan. There is also the story, told along-side this, of the search for Will and whether he is, as they begin to suspect, a murderer…
This is a clever, original and interesting crime novel, with great characters and a really good story. Unusually for a novel with a dual time frame, I enjoyed both the current, and past, storylines. I highly recommend this and will look out for future books from Mr Masters. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
September 10, 2022
Good but saw the "twist" coming
May 14, 2019
This is part whodunnit, part psychological thriller, and part serial killer thriller. When a group of friends meet up for a reunion having not seen each other since their teenage years, they start reminiscing about the past. One of their number hasn’t turned up and they recall how he said he wanted to become a serial killer, that having learned that one needs to commit three murders to be categorised as a serial killer, one day he would go off the radar and kill three people in three particular ways, making their deaths appear like suicides. They would read about the deaths, realise he had gone to ground, and know he had fulfilled his promise.
The friends - Adeline, Rupesh, Jen and Steve - talk about their missing friend, Will, recalling how strange and odd he was. Wracking their brains, they dredge up the ways Will said he would kill his victims and stage their suicides - the method of death, the locations he would do it - and they Google these on their phone. They are horrified to discover that deaths as described have occurred, and combined with the fact that Will does indeed appear to have gone off the radar, they fear the worst. So begins their investigation, none of them taking it too serious at first, all of them starting to do so as the narrative unfolds.
The novel is structured in alternating chapters, those set in 2015, the year of the reunion, and the summer of 1998 (though a couple of the past chapters are set in 1997). The 2015 chapters are all told from Adeline’s perspective and she is the novel’s main protagonist, while the chapters set in the 90’s alternate from each character, so we gradually learn how their teenage years were perceived by each of them in turn. It is an effective structure which allows the author to tease out the tensions amongst what at first appears to be a close-knit friendship group.
As teenagers, the group lived in the small village of Blythe and it is to here that they return for their reunion. Another reviewer on Amazon compared the chapters in the 90’s in particular as akin to something Stephen King might write, and with its depiction of young people coming of age, while grappling simultaneously with the boredom of rural living and a growing sense of foreboding, there’s definitely something in that comparison. Another author who’s work it compares is CJ Tudor’s novels. Obviously King and Tudor write horror and supernatural suspense, while Masters has written a crime/suspense novel, but there’s definitely a strong similarity. Stretching the comparison a little further, the 2015 chapters where the characters have to return to where they grew up to slay their demons is akin to King’s novel It, where the characters have to return to finally deal with the demonic clown Pennywise.
The Killer You Know is a well crafted crime novel and one that kept me interested to the end. Needless to say things aren’t as simple and straightforward as they first appear and the friends quest to find out if Will has indeed become a serial killer opens up a Pandora’s Box of adolescent grudges and tensions that perhaps would have been left buried in the past. It’s well plotted, keeping the reader guessing and second guessing and there are plenty of twists, though when the final denouement comes it’s clear that Masters left a trail of clues throughout (plus the odd red herring of course). All in all this was a thoroughly enjoyable debut and this is an author to watch.
The friends - Adeline, Rupesh, Jen and Steve - talk about their missing friend, Will, recalling how strange and odd he was. Wracking their brains, they dredge up the ways Will said he would kill his victims and stage their suicides - the method of death, the locations he would do it - and they Google these on their phone. They are horrified to discover that deaths as described have occurred, and combined with the fact that Will does indeed appear to have gone off the radar, they fear the worst. So begins their investigation, none of them taking it too serious at first, all of them starting to do so as the narrative unfolds.
The novel is structured in alternating chapters, those set in 2015, the year of the reunion, and the summer of 1998 (though a couple of the past chapters are set in 1997). The 2015 chapters are all told from Adeline’s perspective and she is the novel’s main protagonist, while the chapters set in the 90’s alternate from each character, so we gradually learn how their teenage years were perceived by each of them in turn. It is an effective structure which allows the author to tease out the tensions amongst what at first appears to be a close-knit friendship group.
As teenagers, the group lived in the small village of Blythe and it is to here that they return for their reunion. Another reviewer on Amazon compared the chapters in the 90’s in particular as akin to something Stephen King might write, and with its depiction of young people coming of age, while grappling simultaneously with the boredom of rural living and a growing sense of foreboding, there’s definitely something in that comparison. Another author who’s work it compares is CJ Tudor’s novels. Obviously King and Tudor write horror and supernatural suspense, while Masters has written a crime/suspense novel, but there’s definitely a strong similarity. Stretching the comparison a little further, the 2015 chapters where the characters have to return to where they grew up to slay their demons is akin to King’s novel It, where the characters have to return to finally deal with the demonic clown Pennywise.
The Killer You Know is a well crafted crime novel and one that kept me interested to the end. Needless to say things aren’t as simple and straightforward as they first appear and the friends quest to find out if Will has indeed become a serial killer opens up a Pandora’s Box of adolescent grudges and tensions that perhaps would have been left buried in the past. It’s well plotted, keeping the reader guessing and second guessing and there are plenty of twists, though when the final denouement comes it’s clear that Masters left a trail of clues throughout (plus the odd red herring of course). All in all this was a thoroughly enjoyable debut and this is an author to watch.
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