Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson Narrator: Kathleen Early, Keith Szarabajka, Saskia Maarleveld, Sophie Amoss, Graham Halstead, Stephen Graybill
Series: Henry Kimball #3
Published by HarperAudio on June 11, 2024
Genres: Mystery
Length: 8 hours, 24 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Martha Ratliff conceded long ago that she’d likely spend her life alone. She was fine with it, happy with her solo existence, stimulated by her job as an archival librarian, constantly surrounded by thought-provoking ideas and the books she loved. But then she met Alan, a charming and sweet-natured divorcee with a job that took him on the road for half the year. When he asked her to marry him, she said yes, even though he still felt a little bit like a stranger.
A year in and the marriage was good, except for that strange blood streak on the back of one of his shirts he’d worn to a conference in Denver. Her curiosity turning to suspicion, Martha investigates the cities Alan visited over the past year and uncovers a disturbing pattern—five unsolved cases of murdered women.
Is she married to a serial killer? Or could it merely be a coincidence? Unsure what to think, Martha contacts an old friend from graduate school for advice. Lily Kintner once helped Martha out of a jam with an abusive boyfriend and may have some insight. Intrigued, Lily offers to meet Alan to find out what kind of man he really is . . . but what Lily uncovers is more perplexing and wicked than they ever could have expected.
A Talent for Murder is the third in the Henry Kimball / Lily Kintner series. The Kind Worth Saving is the second in the series. I actually got the first book The Kind Worth Killing at the library. Those two books are almost 8 years apart. Now it seems we have an odd series with Henry Kimball and Lily Kintner. Being me, I would read them in order to get the character background. But I don’t remember all the details over the 10 years but I remember some things about the characters.
The pacing is a little slow to start as we get to know Martha present and a bit of her past, picking up as the investigation takes off. She’s a librarian who married about a year ago. She’s now afraid her traveling salesman husband might be a serial killer. She calls her school friend, Lily, to see if she is making sense.
Lily is pragmatic. She is no threat to the general public, only those doing horrific damage to others. She is drawn in by Martha’s situation. They haven’t really kept in touch but Martha knows Lily will be realistic about the facts and help her find the truth. Well, there are plenty of killers available.
Henry Kimball started as a police detective. He is now a private investigator. He functions now as Lily’s sounding board, back up and accomplice in her vigilante justice. He’s good at it too.
I enjoy the odd methods and investigation by Martha, Lily and Henry. They aren’t stupid. Lily, particularly, doesn’t want to get caught up in a police investigation. She cuts to the chase, finding the truth and handling it herself. She wasn’t very careful though and really put Martha and herself in a lot of danger.
In spite of their morally gray actions, I can’t help liking Lily and Henry. They do find the truth and take care of big problems. I keep thinking she should join his PI firm but she’s too dangerous for him. I can’t help wondering what is next for them.
Narration:
The narration had a big cast which blended well into the story. Two of these narrators: Kathleen Early and Keith Szarabajka were on the previous audios in the series. I thought all the narrators did well with their voices; the performances added to my enjoyment. I was able to listen to them all comfortably at 1.5x speed.
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.
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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:
- 24-COYER
I want to read this one! 😀
It’s the third in this very odd series.
The audiobook showed up at my library yesterday! I’m second in line and am looking forward to getting to this one.
I hope you enjoy it. Nice cast of narrators.
Very interesting characters! Glad you could get back in the swing of the series after all that time.
The gaps for writing the books are completely understandable and acceptable. But there is a different feel when reading one book a year versus binging the books closer together. That’s why I do Sunday series and Read-alongs.
I really like this author, it’s time I read one of his books again, I did read the first one!
This series is sort of a meandering one with the books released far apart. I’m not sure he meant it to be a series initially. But when something is a series I like to read them in order to see the progression of the characters.
I think I’d like this series. I can’t believe they’re 8 years apart! I love these narrators!
I really enjoy this author. I think a bunch of things have gone haywire with COVID and all. That may not be related to the time between these. I don’t think he meant it as a series initially.
Eight years between books…wow. Yeah, I wouldn’t remember too many details either!
yes that’s partly why I do Read-alongs and now my Sunday series to read or reread book series more together.
I read my first Peter Swanson earlier this year and absolutely loved it. I really want to read more from him and this one sounds absolutely fantasticd. Love the premise!
This is the third in the series. I’ve read many of his books and enjoyed them. Henry and Lily are bizarre but I enjoy reading their stories.
Interesting find! Curious to see what is next for them.
they are the weirdest. I’ll be curious to see what happens next or if we get more books in this series.