Kill Show

A True Crime Novel

By: Daniel Sweren-Becker

Narrated by: Megan Tusing, Desmond Manny, Pun Bandhu, Melissa Redmond, Byron Wagner, Christine Lakin, Stacy Gonzalez, Xe Sands, Fred Sanders, Sara Morsey, Chris McLinden, Robert Fass

“Riveting, original, and chillingly plausible, Kill Show is both an urgent reckoning with the ethics of true crime and a tense mystery in its own right. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.”—Flynn Berry, Edgar Award–winning author of Northern Spy

When sixteen-year-old Sara Parcell goes missing, it’s an utter tragedy—and an entertaining national obsession—in this thoughtful and addictively listenable novel that offers a fresh and provocative take on whodunits and true crime.

Sara Parcell disappeared without a trace on a crisp April morning in Frederick, Maryland. Her tragic story was a national obsession and the centerpiece of a controversial television docuseries that followed her disappearance in real time. But is it possible that everyone missed the biggest secret of all?

Ten years after these events, the people who knew Sara best are finally ready to talk. In this genre-bending novel, Daniel Sweren-Becker fashions an oral history around the seemingly familiar crime of a teenage girl gone missing. Yet Kill Show, filled with diabolical twists and provocative social commentary, is no standard mystery. Through “interviews” with family members, neighbors, law enforcement, television executives, and a host of other compelling characters, Sweren-Becker constructs a riveting tale about one family’s tragedy—and Hollywood’s insatiable desire to exploit it.

By revealing the seedy underbelly of the true crime entertainment machine, Kill Show probes literary territory beyond the bounds of the standard whodunit; it’s a thoughtful exploration into America’s obsession with the mysteries, cold cases, and violent tales we turn to for comfort. Groundbreaking, fast-moving, and informed, this is a novel about who’s really responsible for the tragedies we love to consume.

©2023 Daniel Sweren-Becker (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Compelling

Smart look at the opportunism and manipulation of reality programming. There are a LOT of surprises in the plot. Very compelling.

thought provoking story!

Overall an enjoyable read with good narration. The premise was original and the diffrent narrators made it easy to follow the diffrent characters.

Do yourself a favor - READ THIS!

5 stars for this brilliant read, Kill Show, by Daniel Sweren-Becker. This was SO good. Even if you are not a fan of true crime, I really think you will enjoy this! The gist of the story is this- it is a book being written about a girl who went missing ten years earlier (the case has subsequently been solved, although the reader does not know the outcome until the end,) and it's told through "real time" interviews of all relative players to the case - the mom, the dad, the brother, the cop investigating, her friends, the bus driver (suspect) AND most fascinating - the TV producer who created a reality TV show while the search for the girl was happening and the catastrophic sequalae on the case and the outcome. What Sweren-Becker really does so well in this fast paced pseudo-mystery is put media itself under a microscope as well as society and our obsession with true crime. And, the author pulls no punches. The legit effects of true crime podcasts/documentaries on real cases and real lives cannot be understated. There are both benefits and real risks of these online investigations being carried out by armchair detectives with a microphone and a social media account. Innocent people have been accused, tried, and found guilty and their lives ruined by these podcasters and documentarians. But the flip side of that coin is that real crimes are legitimately being solved by these true crime aficionados. The author brilliantly incorporates the current true crime obsessed culture into this fictionalized account, and the twists and turns in this book are like a roller coaster ride at Six Flags! SO FUN! And, if the true crime obsession and brazen media influence themes weren't enough for you - the author deftly incorporates other themes like conspiracy theorists, the fragile male ego, missing white woman syndrome, and the monetary driver behind it all. On top of that, it was just a fast paced and suspenseful story that I could not put down! I freaking LOVED THIS BOOK.

Bad audio production. Spoils the surprise right off the bat. Stopped listening at Ch 10. Asking for money back

Bad audio “over” production. Spoils the surprise right off the bat. Stopped listening at Ch 10.
Character intro is terrible.
Asking for money back

Great book and great performances

Enthralling. Great audiobook! Can’t stop listening to this captivating story. Do yourself a favor and give a listen.

Mediocre

First the positives: the plot is somewhat original, so the book had potential. Unfortunately, the execution was uneven and annoying. The "podcast" format of narrating the book was awful. Maybe it's better in print? I gave up after hearing the father's "from an inmate incarcerated at xxx" filtered voice one too many times! Additionally, the handsome police officer having an affair with the producer from LA was predicable.

The concept is seriously gripping!

Daniel Sweren-Becker brilliantly explores society’s obsession with true crime and how people exploit tragedy for profit, often without considering the impact on those directly affected. The story’s dramatic and sometimes satirical tone is unsettling, as each character seems to be out for their own gain, whether it’s fame or money. No one feels entirely trustworthy, which adds a layer of authenticity. Even at the end, there are still misleading elements, making it feel real—like nothing ties up as neatly as TV often portrays.

Audio is the way to experience this one.

This format worked so well on audio. Voice actors for the detective and the show producer in particular were excellent. I thought the story unfolded well and a couple of the twists caught me out. Not getting into plot details because there’s too much risk of spoilers, but absolutely recommend this for anyone who likes true crime and occasionally questions their own voyeurism. Thanks to the author, cast and crew! I really enjoyed Kill Show.

Fantastic fresh take.

Loved the unfolding of the story. Uniquely told from all participants different perspectives. Felt like an old radio broadcast sans sound effects. Kept me listening to the very end.
Impressive readers.

Thrilling masterpiece

Daniel Sweren-Becker has created a masterpiece. A must read. Really fun read and makes you think about where our society is at-large, especially with respect to fans of true crime reality TV.