Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Nine Lives by Peter Swanson Narrator: Jacques Roy, Mark Bramhill
Published by HarperAudio on March 15, 2022
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Length: 7 hours, 11 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Nine strangers receive a list with their names on it in the mail. Nothing else, just a list of names on a single sheet of paper. None of the nine people know or have ever met the others on the list. They dismiss it as junk mail, a fluke - until very, very bad things begin happening to people on the list. First, a well-liked old man is drowned on a beach in the small town of Kennewick, Maine. Then, a father is shot in the back while running through his quiet neighborhood in suburban Massachusetts. A frightening pattern is emerging, but what do these nine people have in common? Their professions range from oncology nurse to aspiring actor.
FBI agent Jessica Winslow, who is on the list herself, is determined to find out. Could there be some dark secret that binds them all together? Or is this the work of a murderous madman? As the mysterious sender stalks these nine strangers, they find themselves constantly looking over their shoulders, wondering who will be crossed off next..
I always enjoy this author and find his writing to be very twisty. I expected since one of the names on the list was an FBI agent there would be some police procedural aspects, they would figure it out and save many of them. Well nothing was as expected.
The people on the list are found, questioned for commonalities and offered protections. There doesn’t seem to be much connection and it’s frustrating as people are killed. We get parts of the killer’s plans but nowhere near all of them or enough to identify him until much later. It’s so convoluted I never would have figured it out.
We also get a view into the people on the list and their lives, the good, the bad and the ugly. They are people and have their positives and their flaws. Some of them are more likeable than others. It’s sad to say but none of them are so wonderful that I felt determined for them to survive. I did feel like the characters were well developed and realistic overall.
It’s suspenseful and exciting to the end. I highly recommend this mystery and this author.
Narration:
The narrators were both new to me. I was comfortable with their voices and enjoyed the performance. I was 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.
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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.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 22-COYER
You definitely made me curious about this one!
I really enjoy this sort of thing and Swanson hasn’t disappointed me.
Ooh this sounds good! And I love the title😁 Thanks for sharing, Anne.
I hope you get to read it. Swanson is a good choice as he tells a twisty tale but normally a clear ending.
I’m such a Swanson fan and love his twisty style! Got this one on deck. Great review, Anne💜
Thanks Jonetta. I’m sure you will love it.
Oh I’ve never read this author but I love the sound of this
oh if you like the mystery thriller suspense genre I highly recommend this author. He writes primarily stand alones so pick anything. He has never disappointed me.
I’m really looking forward to reading this one!
Enjoy! I think all his books are good.
Twisty is a favorite type of mystery read. 🙂 Thanks for putting me on to a new to me author.
He’s really good, well-written. I never guess the real thing.
This sounds amazing! I love a suspenseful and twisty thriller.
I think you will like everything by this author then.
This does sound exciting, I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you Wendy. I hope you get to try it, or any of his books.
I have not read this author but I really want to. This sounds like it would be a good place to start.
I think all of this author’s books are good so just pick whichever one appeals to you. They are all standalone, at least the ones I have read.
I like the sound of this one. His last one was crazy and not very many likable characters either, but it was one I wanted to keep reading to find out how it all turned out.
Well I don’t know if I really liked the characters here. They were a mix though, just like in the real world.