Eight Perfect Murders

A Novel

By: Peter Swanson

Narrated by: Graham Halstead

"Fiendish good fun." (Anthony Horowitz)

From the hugely talented author of Before She Knew Him comes a chilling tale of psychological suspense and an homage to the thriller genre tailor-made for fans: the story of a bookseller who finds himself at the center of an FBI investigation because a very clever killer has started using his list of fiction’s most ingenious murders.

Years ago, bookseller and mystery aficionado Malcolm Kershaw compiled a list of the genre’s most unsolvable murders, those that are almost impossible to crack - which he titled "Eight Perfect Murders" - chosen from among the best of the best including Agatha Christie’s ABC Murders, Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train, Ira Levin’s Death Trap, A. A. Milne's Red House Mystery, Anthony Berkeley Cox's Malice Aforethought, James M. Cain's Double Indemnity, John D. Macdonald's The Drowner, and Donna Tartt's A Secret History.

But no one is more surprised than Mal, now the owner of the Old Devils Bookstore in Boston, when an FBI agent comes knocking on his door one snowy day in February. She’s looking for information about a series of unsolved murders that look eerily similar to the killings on Mal’s old list. And the FBI agent isn’t the only one interested in this bookseller who spends almost every night at home reading. There is killer is out there, watching his every move - a diabolical threat who knows way too much about Mal’s personal history, especially the secrets he’s never told anyone, even his recently deceased wife.

To protect himself, Mal begins looking into possible suspects...and sees a killer in everyone around him. But Mal doesn’t count on the investigation leaving a trail of death in its wake. Suddenly, a series of shocking twists leaves more victims dead - and the noose around Mal’s neck grows so tight he might never escape.

©2020 Peter Swanson (P)2020 HarperAudio

Excellent!

I love Peter Swanson and am in awe at the consistency and frequency in which he turns out really entertaining novels. My stars are based on my level of enjoyment. This is not my favorite of his novels but is definitely better than other novels which I have given 5 stars.

I like a slow burn and this was certainly that. The storyline was fairly unique. Bonus points, as always, if you’re from New England because there are so
many references. The main character’s development was really good. I figured the main mystery but there were some surprises.

Loved it!

I have loved all the books I’ve read of Peter Swanson. He is a very talented author. He’s very clever and I bet he really could plan a perfect murder. This book was great. It wasn’t fast paced, but it was far from boring. I love books with narrators that you aren’t sure if you can trust them. This story was well done. And it even gave me a few books to add to my “want to read” list.

Quarantine perfect thriller

Peter Swanson has outdone himself! This is a superb book with a superb ending!!!! You need to get this!

Intriguing!

I really liked this audio book. It held my interest. It was exciting. The narrator was very good!

Very Satisfying

I was intrigued from the beginning. I enjoyed hearing about the other mystery books/writings, most of which I haven't read. but, now I want to!
The writer made it easy to follow along and the narrator was good at making the characters come to life. I felt like I was walking through the story with them.

99% of the books i read are mystery, so I am used to figuring it out. This book was not too predictable. I had a few thoughts on where it was going, but I was not completely correct and it kept me listening to find out.

Good Story. Worth a credit.

What a thrill

Most people who love books also love the idea of owning a book store. The main character Is easy to like and you have already stepped into his shoes. He takes you on a trip so thrilling that at the end of his narrative you step out of his shoes and just blink.
Plus he gives us a list of books that may be new to us.

Good murder mystery

This is a good story, with excellent narration. Mr. Swanson has captured the essence of the great mystery writers, giving you little clues along the way, but letting those little tidbits build to the climax without tipping his hand. Love that the MC is a bookseller, the dream job of any true book lover. Surprising twist ending.

Excellent read!

Wonderful story. A first person noir like story. You will have to decide to believe the narrative or not.

Really Great Twists and Allusions

I really loved this book! It’s a murder mystery for those who love murder mysteries in that it alludes to some of my favorites and introduces more. It’s told in a believable, relatable, but very interesting voice, it respects that the reader may be thinking two steps ahead and accounts for this, and the narration is great too. This is my first book by the author, but I want to read the rest now!

Ah, finally!

So satisfying! If you’ve been feeling a little let down by your recent reads, let this book reassure you that the good stuff is still out there. More cerebral than gory, this is a mystery of the mind. It’s filled with references to other crime novels, some I’ve read, and some that are now added to my list.
Thank you, Peter Swanson!