The PremiseĪ large part of what makes Swanson’s new novel so fascinating is its premise. There are so many reasons to pick up Swanson’s latest release, but here are five that stand out the most. Why is the question readers will need to answer, along with many others that come up along the way.Įight Perfect Murders sends readers on a thrilling ride with plenty of well-timed reveals.

And further investigation reveals that the killer may even be attempting to send a message to Malcolm through their actions. When Special Agent Gwen Mulvey visits Malcolm, she informs him that someone’s been copying the murders from his list. These weren’t his favorite books by any means - just the ones where the murderer came as close as possible to plotting the “perfect murder,” one that would be impossible to solve (or even to identify as a murder at all). Years ago, Malcolm wrote the piece “Eight Perfect Murders” for Old Devil’s Bookshop, outlining some of the most flawless murders from thriller novels. Set in Boston, the novel follows bookstore owner Malcolm Kershaw as he finds himself dragged into an FBI murder investigation for a very peculiar reason: The murderer is using an old blog post of his as a blueprint for their crimes. It’s not often readers find a thriller that stands out against the thousands of others on the market, but Peter Swanson’s Eight Perfect Murdersis a novel that sets itself apart - if only because it cleverly pays homage to everything that’s come before it, all while telling a story that feels original and fresh.

(Mar.By Amanda Mullen 3 years ago Peter Swanson’s Eight Perfect Murders is the one mystery book crime readers absolutely need to pick up this month - especially if they love unconventional storytelling.

Swanson will keep most readers guessing until the end. The stakes rise when Kershaw admits he knew one of the victims but chose not to share that with Mulvey. Cain’s Double Indemnity and hopes that Kershaw can give her a lead as to who might be using his list for a campaign of bloodshed.

Mulvey is also looking into a murder that mirrors the circumstances of James M. For example, Mulvey is probing the deaths of three people apparently connected only by having a name related to birds, a setup similar to Agatha Christie’s The A.B.C. In 2004, Malcolm Kershaw, the narrator of this outstanding fair-play crime novel from Swanson ( Before She Knew Him), began working at Boston’s Old Devils Bookstore, where he posted a list on the store’s blog of eight mysteries in which “the murderer comes closest to realizing that platonic ideal of a perfect murder.” Years later, FBI agent Gwen Mulvey tells him she’s investigating multiple killings that she believes may have been influenced by his blog post.

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