J.D. Robb discussion

Our September Book of the Month is Nine Lives by Peter Swanson, a complex murder mystery with strong Agatha Christie vibes of And Then There Were None. We'll open discussion on Sept. 15.

Nine strangers receive a list with their names on it in the mail. Nothing else, just a list of names on a single sheet of paper. None of the nine people know or have ever met the others on the list. They dismiss it as junk mail, a fluke - until very, very bad things begin happening to people on the list. First, a well-liked old man is drowned on a beach in the small town of Kennewick, Maine. Then, a father is shot in the back while running through his quiet neighborhood in suburban Massachusetts. A frightening pattern is emerging, but what do these nine people have in common? Their professions range from oncology nurse to aspiring actor.

FBI agent Jessica Winslow, who is on the list herself, is determined to find out. Could there be some dark secret that binds them all together? Or is this the work of a murderous madman? As the mysterious sender stalks these nine strangers, they find themselves constantly looking over their shoulders, wondering who will be crossed off next....

I read an arc of this book and quite enjoyed the mystery. You're in for a treat.

I just requested a copy from the library via the cloud. No wait.

I’m definitely in!

I'm going to read early. The library has it available now.

I want to read this one.

I’m starting this now.

Looking forward to hear everyone's thoughts.

I read this recently and look forward to discussion.

I read the book and I really liked it

Perhaps I had too high/different hopes for this story but a number of things didn't work for me -- firstly there were too many POVs. Reading how multiple characters get the same list over and over again quickly got old. The pacing was slow, especially with constantly changing narrator. I felt like there's not a single character I could "connect" with (perhaps that was a good thing, considering what happened to them!).
And then that disappointing reveal...huh. I can not even say I suffered through this mystery for a "A-HA!" moment to make it all worth it! It seemed like such a lame, stupid and wrong reason for everything!

That’s too bad, Eve. Sorry you were disappointed.

I finished this last night and found it clever. I didn’t have any problems with recalling the characters as the repeated mentions of the names helped. I listened to the story and maybe that made the difference.

The reveal of whodunit and the reason why was a bit underwhelming but by the time it was revealed, I was more immersed in the characters’ lives. The ending was a nice surprise, sort of a balm for all that came before it.

I liked the story more than I expected to do. I've read too many books since this one that I cannot think of much more to say.

The murderer was doing this all for(view spoiler)[ for revenge on his sisters death which he had a big part in but as we learn the parents are too old and have dementia or don't care enough about their children to care that they were murdered so it was sorta a mute point for me on his killing spree. (hide spoiler)] sorry this story did not make sense to me. I had high hopes for it.

Susan wrote: "The murderer was doing this all for[spoilers removed] sorry this story did not make sense to me. I had high hopes for it."

Susan, I’m not sure that was his motivation.

(view spoiler)[I don’t think his motive was revenge, more an atonement or an eye for an eye. All because of his own guilt. It told us more about his twisted thinking than the culpability of everyone else. He killed the next generation of those involved so they could feel what his parents felt. Actually, it was his responsibility to take care of his sister and he failed miserably, then looked to place the blame on all of them. Nice twist that Jessica survived and he ends up being just a serial killer. (hide spoiler)]

I agree with you Eve. The multiple points of view were appreciated, but it slowed the story too much. I was frustrated and had to force myself not to skim.

I agree the reveal of whodunit and the reason why was a bit underwhelming. I expected more.

I failed to understand motivation behind creating the list and killing those people. (view spoiler)[HE was complicit in leaving her sister there. He never bothered to check on her. To see that she got out. When his mother asked about her, he knew where his sister was. He said nothing. There might have been a chance to save her...but he remained silent.

He did nothing to help and protect his sister...his actions [or lack of them] showed he did not care for his sister, yet, he expected others to care?

I don't think any of them though of the consequences...children hardly think of death or how their actions can have deadly outcome. It was really stupid and dangerous thing to do. Terrible accident. What HE did, were premeditated murders...
(hide spoiler)]

It's hard for me to come back to a story after some time and adequately discuss it. I just read too many same genre books one after the other. However, after rereading my review of this book, I recall enjoying the different points of views from the nine characters as it allowed me into each player's head to learn what was going on in his/her life...what turmoil and secrets were tangling. Readers know each player, but not the identity of the villain. I thought it an extremely effective way of delivering this story and paired with Swanson's clean, sharp writing style and short chapters that are numbered counting down, I found it to be very clever and smart way to deliver this story. And as a reader, I enjoy an author who challenges me to figure it out...solve the case and that's what I felt the author did in this one. I rated it 4 stars.

I finished this book last night and thought it was interesting.

I liked having the list of names, and I kept wondering who would be the next victim. I was also wondering if the killer was one of the names on the list or if it was a stranger we hadn't been introduced yet.

I liked the short chapters and getting to know all of the characters. I worried at the end of each chapter if the person featured in the chapter would still be alive at the end of it.

I thought the resolution was a little weak. Why would Jack Radebaugh suddenly decide he had to atone for his sister's death? I'm guessing it had to do with the brain surgery he had 3 years ago. His ex-wife said he changed drastically after that.

That’s a good point. I’d forgotten about that.

Robin wrote: "wondering if the killer was one of the names on the list or if it was a stranger...

I'm guessing it had to do with the brain surgery he had 3 years ago. His ex-wife said he changed drastically after that"

It never dawned on me that the killer would be on the list. Kudos.

I think you are right about the brain surgery. I didn't pick up on that at the time either.