The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson Narrator: Kathleen Early, Keith Szarabajka, Helen Laser, Micky Shiloah
Series: Henry Kimball #2
Published by Blackstone Audiobooks, HarperAudio on March 7, 2023
Genres: Mystery
Length: 8 hours, 37 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
There was always something slightly dangerous about Joan. So, when she turns up at private investigator Henry Kimball's office asking him to investigate her husband, he can't help feeling ill at ease. Just the sight of her stirs up a chilling memory: he knew Joan in his previous life as a high school English teacher, when he was at the center of a tragedy.
Now Joan needs his help in proving that her husband is cheating. But what should be a simple case of infidelity becomes much more complicated when Kimball finds two bodies in an uninhabited suburban home with a "for sale" sign out front. Suddenly it feels like the past is repeating itself, and Henry must go back to one of the worst days of his life to uncover the truth.
Is it possible Joan knows something about that day, something she's hidden all these years? Could there still be a killer out there, someone who believes they have gotten away with murder? Henry is determined to find out, but as he steps closer to the truth, a murderer is getting closer to him, and in this hair-raising game of cat and mouse only one of them will survive.
The Kind Worth Saving is the second in the series. I actually also got the first book The Kind Worth Killing at the library. The books are almost 8 years apart. The characters who are carried over to this book are Henry Kimball and Lily Kintner.
Henry Kimball is no longer a police detective. He is now a private investigator. He is hired by Joan who was a high school student of his back in the short time he taught English. She was in the class where a student shot a girl and then killed himself. Joan thinks her husband is cheating and hires Henry to follow him and find out.
Henry follows both the husband and the woman. Joan thinks they go to a house that is for sale on Fridays. Henry follows all week and then they are both at the house. Henry discovers them dead. It looks like the husband shot the mistress and then himself.
It just feels odd to Henry. Joan has always made him feel that way. Henry looks into people who could be working with Joan. He goes to visit Lily and tells her his suspicions about Joan.
The start of the story is Henry with flashbacks to Joan and Richard in high school. The other current points of view don’t really come in until after Henry gets suspicious of Joan. That’s when things get more interesting and we get all four perspectives. It gets dicey with a sort of who will get killed.
There’s definitely some moral ambiguity. Henry already knows Lily has gone after people; after all, she tried to kill him once. He suspects Joan and Richard. In some respects, none of them is a very likeable character. But I do like Henry and surprisingly, Lily. They walk a bit outside the lines to see justice served.
Narration:
This was a different kind of narration than usual. There were four narrators for the four point-of-views. These were Joan, Richard, Lily Kintner, and Henry Kimball. I was happy to find I could listen to them all comfortably at 1.5x speed. Two of these narrators were on the previous audio in the series. I thought they all did well with their voices; the performances added to my enjoyment.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Kathleen Early
Kathleen Early has performed on Broadway, as well as performing off-Broadway and at a number of regional theaters. She has made forays into the film and television world, winning a Beverly Hills Film Festival Outstanding Female Performance Award for her part in Trip in a Summer Dress. She was most recently seen as Dr. Dasiy Pepman on Grey’s Anatomy, and will be Nurse Kathy on the upcoming series Miami Medical.
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.
- 🎧 Good Turn by Dervla McTiernan @DervlaMcTiernan#AoifeMcMahon @HarperAudio #LoveAudiobooks - January 18, 2025
- Read-along & #Giveaway:On the Edge by Ilona Andrews @ilonaandrews @ilonaandrews.bsky.social @reneeraudman @AceBooksPub @acebookspub.bsky.social @TantorAudio @tantoraudio.bsky.social #Read-along #GIVEAWAY @victoria7401.bsky.social - January 17, 2025
- Thrifty Thursday: Jodi Burnett edition @Jodi_writes #JodiBurnett #ThriftyThursday #KindleUnlimited - January 16, 2025
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
I was hoping this would be edgy with respect to the characters! Excellent review, Anne💜 I can’t wait to get to this one.
Thanks Jonetta. It’s definitely edgy.
Sounds good. I’ve only read Eight Perfect Murders by Swanson which I enjoyed, although the ending of it did leave me feeling a little cold.
His books are bizarre but I enjoy them.
I have the audiobook of the first book but haven’t read it yet. It sounds like I need to try to get to it and this one sometime soonish.
It would definitely be easier to read them together.
Oh, this sounds really good! Wonderful review, Anne.
Thank you Wendy. I always like his books. They are weird though.
Oh yeah, this one really tempts me just from reading your review on it.
I’d read the first one and then this one. Although I didn’t remember too much since it has been so many years. I always like to read in order to build the characters well.
The first book took place eight years earlier? I like Kathleen Early’s performance in the Will Trent series, so I’d be inclined to listen to this one.
I listen to all his books. They are psychological and weird. yes 8 years! I think it would be easier if you read them together. I might have to go back and read the first one again if there is another book out in the next year or two.
Intriguing!!
yes, another round of mostly unlikeable characters. That seems to be what I am getting with psychological thrillers right now.
I read Nine Lives last year and loved it. I am planning on reading all of his books but with so many reading challenges to complete I am not sure when I can get started.
yes, I’ve been reading all his books.