Out in paperback now!
Thanks to William Morrow and TLC Book Tours for the free copy in exchange for my honest review and tour spot
BEFORE SHE KNEW HIM – Peter Swanson (Paperback Release February 25th, 2020)
Book Description:
Catching a killer is dangerous—especially if he lives next door
From the hugely talented author of The Kind Worth Killing comes an exquisitely chilling tale of a young suburban wife with a history of psychological instability whose fears about her new neighbor could lead them both to murder . . .
Hen and her husband Lloyd have settled into a quiet life in a new house outside of Boston, Massachusetts. Hen (short for Henrietta) is an illustrator and works out of a studio nearby, and has found the right meds to control her bipolar disorder. Finally, she’s found some stability and peace.
But when they meet the neighbors next door, that calm begins to erode as she spots a familiar object displayed on the husband’s office shelf. The sports trophy looks exactly like one that went missing from the home of a young man who was killed two years ago. Hen knows because she’s long had a fascination with this unsolved murder—an obsession she doesn’t talk about anymore, but can’t fully shake either.
Could her neighbor, Matthew, be a killer? Or is this the beginning of another psychotic episode like the one she suffered back in college, when she became so consumed with proving a fellow student guilty that she ended up hurting a classmate?
The more Hen observes Matthew, the more she suspects he’s planning something truly terrifying. Yet no one will believe her. Then one night, when she comes face to face with Matthew in a dark parking lot, she realizes that he knows she’s been watching him, that she’s really on to him. And that this is the beginning of a horrifying nightmare she may not live to escape. . .
My Thoughts: 5/5 stars
So a couple years ago I read HER EVERY FEAR at the recommendation of Chandra (my soon-to-be partner reader in crime) and Swanson became an auto-buy author for me. ALL THE BEAUTIFUL LIES didn’t disappoint, but I think BEFORE SHE KNEW HIM is right up there with HER EVERY FEAR for me.
Once again, we are given a thrilling ride from start to finish with a great twist at the end! What’s even better about it? I definitely did not see if going in that direction – I feel like this is something Swanson excels at. He hid subtle clues throughout the book but I feel like with the pacing and suspense keeping me sucked in, I may have overlooked some. I love when an author can capture your attention in such a way and when the hints are so expertly woven in that they don’t hit you right away.
Suspicious new neighbors, a true crime obsession, our narrator’s sanity coming into question. Talk about the perfect combination. Hen (short for Henrietta) is our narrator and has come to suspect her new neighbor, Matthew, of being a potential murderer. Some major Rear Window vibes with how she keeps tabs on him but with her mental illness (which is controlled by her new medication) comes into question as she becomes more obsessed. Is she losing her mind? Give me anything with an unreliable narrator and I’ll be hooked.
If you love psychological thrillers, then Peter Swanson should already be on your radar or TBR. If he isn’t, then you need to remedy that immediately! I will continue to pick up whatever he releases and I highly recommend you do the same (any of his will be just what you’re looking for if you’re in need of a thriller).
About the Author:
Peter Swanson is the author of five novels, including The Kind Worth Killing, winner of the New England Society Book Award, and finalist for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger; Her Every Fear, an NPR book of the year; and his most recent, Before She Knew Him. His books have been translated into 30 languages, and his stories, poetry, and features have appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction, The Atlantic Monthly, Measure, The Guardian, The Strand Magazine, and Yankee Magazine. He lives outside of Boston, where he is at work on his next novel.
Find out more about Peter on his website and follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Where to Purchase a Copy:
Jessicamap Reviews 