Name: Adeline's review of The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson
Item: The Kind Worth Killing
Rating: 4
Author: Adeline

Peter Swanson

'Hello there.'I looked at the pale, freckled hand on the back of the empty bar seat next to me in the business class lounge of Heathrow airport, then up into the stranger's face.'Do I know you?'Delayed in London, Ted Severson meets a woman at the airport bar. Over cocktails they tell each other rather more than they should, and a dark plan is hatched - but are either of them being serious, could they actually go through with it and, if they did, what would be their chances of getting away with it?Back in Boston, Ted's wife Miranda is busy site managing the construction of their dream home, a beautiful house out on the Maine coastline. But what secrets is she carrying and to what lengths might she go to protect the vision she has of her deserved future?A sublimely plotted novel of trust and betrayal, The Kind Worth Killing will keep you gripped and guessing late into the night.

The Kind Worth Killing

mmm I love it when the title is quoted in the book

Tabea

“Truthfully, I don't think murder is necessarily as bad as people make it out to be. Everyone dies. What difference does it make if a few bad apples get pushed along a little sooner than God intended? And your wife, for example, seems like the kind worth killing.”

A devious tale of psychological suspense so irresistible that it prompts Entertainment Weekly to ask, “Is The Kind Worth Killing the next Gone Girl?” From one of the hottest new thriller writers, Peter Swanson, a name you may not know yet (but soon will), this is his breakout novel in the bestselling tradition of Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train—and is soon to be a major movie directed by Agnieszka Holland. In a tantalizing set-up reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith’s classic Strangers on a Train… On a night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the stunning and mysterious Lily Kintner. Sharing one too many martinis, the strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing very intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage that’s going stale and his wife Miranda, who he’s sure is cheating on him. Ted and his wife were a mismatch from the start—he the rich businessman, she the artistic free spirit—a contrast that once inflamed their passion, but has now become a cliché. But their game turns a little darker when Ted jokes that he could kill Miranda for what she’s done. Lily, without missing a beat, says calmly, “I’d like to help.” After all, some people are the kind worth killing, like a lying, stinking, cheating spouse. . . . Back in Boston, Ted and Lily’s twisted bond grows stronger as they begin to plot Miranda's demise. But there are a few things about Lily’s past that she hasn’t shared with Ted, namely her experience in the art and craft of murder, a journey that began in her very precocious youth. Suddenly these co-conspirators are embroiled in a chilling game of cat-and-mouse, one they both cannot survive . . . with a shrewd and very determined detective on their tail.

A Novel

Gemma McCarthy

Adeline

& audiobook-Johnny Heller, Karen White, Kathleen Early, Keith Szarabajka ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mar Or

tolerable if you’re jobless (which I am right now) 

*writing style was v undesirable, pacing was okay, the twists were bad….sooooooooo baaaaaaaad………

I’m starting to think that a good thriller is incapable of being written 😔

tanya 

tolerable if you’re jobless (which I am right now) 

*writing style was v undesirable, pacing was okay, the twists were bad….sooooooooo baaaaaaaad………

I’m starting to think that a good thriller is incapable of being written 😔

Just a really easy read of a thriller. Not groundbreaking but really enjoyable, and little plot twists which keep you on your toes. Thought it was a little slow to start, but picked up pace and stayed there. 

Aims

Story had good direction initially but fell extremely flat during the latter half. So many out of character moments that really didn't make sense. I can understand that it may have been to set things up for the sequel but the entire second half of the book felt like a rug pull. First half very memorable but the second half extremely forgettable. chalked. 

Zubi Mendi

Lacklustee ending. The character development is lacking and the ending sucked. Detective kimball character sucks

Paper boy

Aidan

good build up, poor ending. monotonous, random conveniences and luck, lots of unimportant details. ruined characters that were built up in the first half

Jay Tan

Madii

I really enjoyed this book. I've been in a reading slump for more or less 2 months and this book helped me get out of it. The writing style is very easy to understand. The plot was borderline predictable and before you know it, what you predicted does not happen. I didn't struggle understanding the story. Would highly recommend it. 5/5 ⭐.

This book was so good! It took a while for me to get into but when I got into it I was hooked! The ending has also led to the second book extremely well.

Issabelle :)

emelia grace ilgner

this was a good read. i was excited to come back to it every time i had to step away. the characters are quite obviously written by a man, and also none of them very likeable, but nonetheless, it was a fun and exciting read. the closest i’ve gotten to “gone girl” in a while, so if you liked that, you’ll like this.

Nabila Azahra

i loved it. the writing. the alternate pov between characters. the character. the twists. the ending. the way she makes murder sounded like a good idea. and an easy job too. i fucking love every single page of it.

A devious tale of psychological suspense involving sex, deception, and an accidental encounter that leads to murder. Fans of Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train will love this modern reimagining of Patricia Highsmith’s classic Strangers on a Train from the author of the acclaimed The Girl with a Clock for a Heart—which the Washington Post said “should be a contender for crime fiction’s best first novel of 2014.” On a night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the stunning and mysterious Lily Kintner. Sharing one too many martinis, the strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing very intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage that’s going stale and his wife Miranda, who he’s sure is cheating on him. Ted and his wife were a mismatch from the start—he the rich businessman, she the artistic free spirit—a contrast that once inflamed their passion, but has now become a cliché. But their game turns a little darker when Ted jokes that he could kill Miranda for what she’s done. Lily, without missing a beat, says calmly, “I’d like to help.” After all, some people are the kind worth killing, like a lying, stinking, cheating spouse. . . . Back in Boston, Ted and Lily’s twisted bond grows stronger as they begin to plot Miranda's demise. But there are a few things about Lily’s past that she hasn’t shared with Ted, namely her experience in the art and craft of murder, a journey that began in her very precocious youth. Suddenly these co-conspirators are embroiled in a chilling game of cat-and-mouse, one they both cannot survive . . . with a shrewd and very determined detective on their tail.

Date read: 
 February 3-February 4, 2020 

 Actual Rating: 4.00 STARS 

So basically, this was about getting away with murder, featuring Lily Kintner. The very title definitely caught my attention, but I didn't give this a high expectation as I had a fair share of disappointment with thriller mysteries in the past. It was not that easy to please me with this kind of genre. But this book was really very engaging to me from the very start. It was not particularly an easy read, but it was really a kind of read that would make you flip through the pages as quickly as possible until you get to the very end. It would make you anticipate every chapter and would certainly keep your interest in check. And that was what I was looking for in this genre, and I was glad I was able to find these qualities in this book.

At first, it was kind of ridiculous to me on how it was easy for the characters to turn the topic of killing into some kind of a casual talk. But as the story progress, I was kind of amused by the turn of events. There are definitely twists, though not that big and mind-blowing, but still a decent twists that got me more engaged to the story. 

I was actually rooting for Lily after reading her first kill with her first human victim, the pedophile painter Chet, and then with her boyfriend Eric who was cheating on her. I know, it was kind of sick on how she justifies her kills. On how it was better, according to her, if those kinds of people would just disappear from the face of the earth by killing them It was wrong of her but I still empathized with her. I understand where she coming from. And I kind of wished she would really get away with her murders. 

I really liked all the meticulous and calculated planning. How she appeared so casual and calm despite what she did. She was really smart, I'd give her that credit. The thrill towards the ending when she was followed by the detective and I didn't even know if she would get caught or not, I was bracing myself. Though I kind of wished she would get away with what she did, the open indication at the very end where her secret in the meadow about to be exposed, I thought it was the best way to deal with the ending. That even with her thorough plan all throughout her life, it was impossible not to get caught forever. I liked it a lot. 

First Peter Swanson read and I totally loved it. I hoped I would find a good thriller mystery like this again.

Anjorin Molayo 

There had better be a book 2 of this story because it can’t just end like this. I loved the fact that I couldn’t predict what would happen next until the end.

Gwyn Dill

Well written with quite a few good twists!

I will always root for the killer if she's a woman

Megan Christensen

The biggest plottwist was probably around halftime, but other than that I was still suprised throughout the entire book. The plot was very clever and rounded up nicely in the end. I was very captivated by Lily and her actions too, that girl had some serious issues and I don’t think anger management sessions will fix that 😃

Victoria

Bumped this up to 3 stars (from 2). The ending was so bad and it didn't save from all the predictability of the rest of the book. Buuut, bumped it up because I saw that there was a sequel (THANKFULLY) so hopefully, that makes up for the ending of this book.

Eins der ersten Bücher was mich vor der Hälfte komplett überrascht hat! Wirklich mega spannend und psycho, ein minimales bisschen gay und so viel Mord** mehrere Plottwists, die ich nicht erwartet habe, bin verliebt. 

Leon

Who would've thought there would be more twists than a M. Night Shyamalan movie. Absolutely riveting and couldn't put it down, finished it 4 hours,  I had to know how it ended!

molly obrien

Who would've thought there would be more twists than a M. Night Shyamalan movie. Absolutely riveting and couldn't put it down, finished it 4 hours,  I had to know how it ended!



Sarah Pino

I loved this book mostly because of Lily, i found her character and backstory quite interesting. The writing was fast paced and easy to understand

Will reread it soon, review to be updated. 

Lulu Evensen

I loved this book mostly because of Lily, i found her character and backstory quite interesting. The writing was fast paced and easy to understand

Will reread it soon, review to be updated. 

THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER A RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB CHOICE BEST THRILLER, iBOOKS BEST OF 2015 SHORTLISTED FOR THE IAN FLEMING SILVER DAGGER, 2015 SUNDAY TIMES, TATLER, GOOD HOUSEKEEPING AND GOLDSBORO BOOK OF THE MONTH 'Extremely hard to put down!' SOPHIE HANNAH 'Chilling and hypnotically suspenseful ... an instant classic.' LEE CHILD 'Hello there.' I looked at the pale, freckled hand on the back of the empty bar seat next to me in the business class lounge of Heathrow airport, then up into the stranger's face. 'Do I know you?' Delayed in London, Ted Severson meets a woman at the airport bar. Over cocktails they tell each other rather more than they should, and a dark plan is hatched - but are either of them being serious, could they actually go through with it and, if they did, what would be their chances of getting away with it? Back in Boston, Ted's wife Miranda is busy site managing the construction of their dream home, a beautiful house out on the Maine coastline. But what secrets is she carrying and to what lengths might she go to protect the vision she has of her deserved future? A sublimely plotted novel of trust and betrayal, The Kind Worth Killing will keep you gripped and guessing late into the night.

Jacqueline Englund

This was a wild ride. At times I felt like it seemed a little forced, bit overall this was an enjoyable mystery with many twists and turns.

Alexa M

4/4.5 
really good thriller! entertaining and twisty and that last page ! whew. fun all around

Adeline &
The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

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The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson