Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson Narrator: Graham Halstead
Published by HarperAudio on March 3, 2020
Genres: Mystery
Length: 10 hours, 18 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
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 A. B. C. Murders, Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train, and Ira Levin’s Death Trap.
But no one is more surprised than Mal, now the owner of the Old Devils Bookshop 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.
Eight Perfect Murders was not exactly what I expected. But that’s usually a good thing. The main character ran a book shop in Boston. I enjoyed the bookish things and the different authors and books discussed.
The book shop owner, before he was an owner, and was an employee, wrote his first post for the shop’s blog. It was a list of books which had eight perfect murders. He had visions of being a blog star or something but it only got a couple comments and that was the end.
Several years later, Mal is contacted by an FBI agent who thinks someone is using his list to murder people. The agent asks him to consult on the book and the murders as an expert of sorts. It appears the killer is maybe halfway through the list. The investigation is interesting in its examination of the books and whether they fit to the murders.
As they continue to investigate, Mal’s personal history including his wife and her death are woven into the background, along with all the people he knows as it becomes more clear the killer must know him somehow. Then new murders start happening on the list and Mal gets increasingly more entangled.
I enjoyed this story which builds adding a creepy detail each step of the way. So it’s not really shocking or twisty, as much as a suspenseful climax when each piece is added to the pile. It seemed very Dexterish that the ones killed were bad guys in the first place. But it isn’t really the killer’s place to judge.
Narration:
The narrator was very easy to understand and sounded appropriate for the characters. I have heard him before in another Peter Swanson audiobook I got from the library. I was very comfortable listening and able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:
About Peter Swanson
Peter Swanson is the author of six 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 thriller, Eight Perfect Murders. 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.
A graduate of Trinity College, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Emerson College, he lives in Somerville, Massachusetts with his wife and cat.
| Rating Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Plot |
|
| Writing |
|
| Characters |
 |
| Narration (Audio) |
|
| Overall: | |
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- 🎧 We Solve Murders by Richard Osman @richardosman #NicolaWalker @PRHAudio #LoveAudiobooks - September 17, 2024
- Sunday Post – 15 September 2024 @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality - September 15, 2024
- Series on Saturday: HGTV Edition @katecarlisle @JulietBlackwell #CallieCarpenter @dianekellybooks @bennett_jenna @mstessabailey #SeriesOnSaturday - September 14, 2024
Oh this one looks intriguing and I didn’t know about it so I would be curious to try
I think the review of the plots of the 8 murder mysteries was especially interesting.
I just got this and will be listening soon. Wonderful that you enjoyed it and I like that it has a slow build like his other books. Excellent review, Anne?
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it too.
I enjoyed your review, Anne! I can definitely see that comparison to Dexter. I think the author likes that kind of scenario because he’s used it in a couple of his books. I definitely remember it in The Kind Worth Killing.
Yes but I have the same problem with it as I do with the death penalty. If no one saw them do it and was an honest, reliable person, what if the wrong person gets executed? And who is an honest reliable person? I guess undoctored video might be good evidence but who has that?
Anyway, it was an enjoyable read with all the mystery classics revisited.
Yeah, following a list like that would be on the creepy side making the book fun in a suspenseful-way. 🙂
I liked it. In fiction, it is intriguing to try to figure it out.
I’m excited to read this one!! And I will love it if its kind of like Dexter!
Kind of. I hope you love it.
This is one that I hope to read or listen to at some point. I like the premise of the story and have heard fantastic things about this author. Great review!
Thank you! I really enjoy this author and it’s definitely in my regular groove of mystery.
(another unspammed)