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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Similar vibes to the first book which is why I think it got downgraded for me. It was still a good/fun read but not quite as enjoyable as the first book
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not one of my favourite Peter Swanson books. I did feel a bit disappointed with this because I normally love his books and I loved the Kind Worth Killing (the first in this series) so thought this would match it but it fell a little flat. I felt that after the killer ending in the first book this would tie up the big cliffhanger but the result of that was a bit of a let down! I did enjoy reading it and the storyline and twists were good but there it was a bit slow in places and felt like something was missing.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
This sequel to The Kind Worth Killing brings back private investigator Henry Kimball, who is drawn into a tangled web of secrets when a former student, Joan, hires him to investigate her husband’s infidelity. As the case unfolds, past and present collide, revealing unexpected connections and dark motives. I found myself deeply attached to Henry and Lily, still curious about their continuing stories. Coming off the momentum of book one, which was a 5-star read for me, this one felt a bit more complex with multiple POVs and characters that occasionally made things confusing. While the twists weren’t as shocking as in the first book, the mystery steadily built up, keeping me engaged. A solid thriller overall—I’m definitely ready for book three!
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gah, this was terrible. DNF @ 81%
Normally I devour Peter Swanson books. The Kind Worth Killing (#1) is my favorite by this author and it was also a top 10 book that year--it might even be in the top 20 of all time for suspense/psyche thrillers for me, but this is more than a "least favorite." I nearly hated it.
Overall it was very very boring and the school shooting felt either gratuitous or like trauma porn which made me ill.
I also loathed the narrator. His voice isn't desirable to begin with but he also sounds like he's well into middle age (55+) but the character is 32-35. It didn't work.
Mostly the story is just BORING with almost no mystery/thriller and you don't care about literally anyone. It was all throw away. Lazy writing, unrealistic characters, MULTIPLE overly convenient situations to advance the plot (more on that) that are also unbelievable, attempts to be twisty or clever and an author who must think I'm stupid. Am I really supposed to believe one person can know this many sociopaths and they all live in small-ass-town Massachusetts?
What really set me off was the "clue" Kimball comes across that helps him "figure things out." It was absurd! I can't even imagine something more dumb.
I am sorely disappointed but glad I waited for a library copy instead of buying it. (I almost bought it when it was released; I was stoked/anticipating it that much!)
SUMMARY: Kimbal is on his third career as a PI, after being a disgraced police officer (the story in #1) and for one year before that a HS english teacher; having left that career when one student (James) shot and killed another student (Madison) and then himself in Kimbal's english class.
In the present, Joan, who was a student in Kimbal's class, and also Madison's friend, has hired Kimbal to snoop on her husband, who she believes is having an affair with a woman from work (Pam).
While Kimbal is investigating, he gets a little too close to Pam (this is a real problem for him, he became obsessed with a suspect, Lily, in #1 which is why he's not a cop anymore) and sleeps with her (whoops!).
The next day Kimbal follows Pam to where he believes she's going to rendezvous with Joan's husband (Richie) only once he gets there he hears two gun shots. OH NO! Once inside, Kimbal finds what appears to be a murder-suicide (Richie killing Pam, then himself). What terrible luck Kimbal has this happened to him all over again!
In other chapters, we flash back to when Joan was 15 on summer break and meets Richard (not the future husband) and the two of them (both sociopaths) plot and then kill Richard's cousin, Duane.
In the "now" chapters, Kimbal starts becoming suspicious about the Richie-Pam murder, and calls upon, you guessed it: Lily! for help. Kimbal also reads a poem (I can't make this shiitake up) which makes him realize Joan killed Duane and GASP! Maybe she is behind the Pam murder and maybe somehow she is involved in the James-Madison school shooting! oMGEEEE
At this juncture Richard (the friend, not the dead husband) is introduced as a new narrator and he's your typical cartoonish murder-happy sociopath. Predictably, someone gets nervous about Kimbal putting things together and tries to kill him which leads to Lily taking over as narrator and case-solver, or some shit.
I gave up at this point. I couldn't force myself to listen to another minute, even though I was on a long car ride without any other options (lesson learned: download a backup book!)
Maybe there is some twist at the end that makes this not total trash, but I doubt it.
Normally I devour Peter Swanson books. The Kind Worth Killing (#1) is my favorite by this author and it was also a top 10 book that year--it might even be in the top 20 of all time for suspense/psyche thrillers for me, but this is more than a "least favorite." I nearly hated it.
Overall it was very very boring and the school shooting felt either gratuitous or like trauma porn which made me ill.
I also loathed the narrator. His voice isn't desirable to begin with but he also sounds like he's well into middle age (55+) but the character is 32-35. It didn't work.
Mostly the story is just BORING with almost no mystery/thriller and you don't care about literally anyone. It was all throw away. Lazy writing, unrealistic characters, MULTIPLE overly convenient situations to advance the plot (more on that) that are also unbelievable, attempts to be twisty or clever and an author who must think I'm stupid. Am I really supposed to believe one person can know this many sociopaths and they all live in small-ass-town Massachusetts?
What really set me off was the "clue" Kimball comes across that helps him "figure things out." It was absurd! I can't even imagine something more dumb.
I am sorely disappointed but glad I waited for a library copy instead of buying it. (I almost bought it when it was released; I was stoked/anticipating it that much!)
SUMMARY: Kimbal is on his third career as a PI, after being a disgraced police officer (the story in #1) and for one year before that a HS english teacher; having left that career when one student (James) shot and killed another student (Madison) and then himself in Kimbal's english class.
In the present, Joan, who was a student in Kimbal's class, and also Madison's friend, has hired Kimbal to snoop on her husband, who she believes is having an affair with a woman from work (Pam).
While Kimbal is investigating, he gets a little too close to Pam (this is a real problem for him, he became obsessed with a suspect, Lily, in #1 which is why he's not a cop anymore) and sleeps with her (whoops!).
The next day Kimbal follows Pam to where he believes she's going to rendezvous with Joan's husband (Richie) only once he gets there he hears two gun shots. OH NO! Once inside, Kimbal finds what appears to be a murder-suicide (Richie killing Pam, then himself). What terrible luck Kimbal has this happened to him all over again!
In other chapters, we flash back to when Joan was 15 on summer break and meets Richard (not the future husband) and the two of them (both sociopaths) plot and then kill Richard's cousin, Duane.
In the "now" chapters, Kimbal starts becoming suspicious about the Richie-Pam murder, and calls upon, you guessed it: Lily! for help. Kimbal also reads a poem (I can't make this shiitake up) which makes him realize Joan killed Duane and GASP! Maybe she is behind the Pam murder and maybe somehow she is involved in the James-Madison school shooting! oMGEEEE
At this juncture Richard (the friend, not the dead husband) is introduced as a new narrator and he's your typical cartoonish murder-happy sociopath. Predictably, someone gets nervous about Kimbal putting things together and tries to kill him which leads to Lily taking over as narrator and case-solver, or some shit.
I gave up at this point. I couldn't force myself to listen to another minute, even though I was on a long car ride without any other options (lesson learned: download a backup book!)
Maybe there is some twist at the end that makes this not total trash, but I doubt it.
3.5 stars, maybe I'd have appreciated it more if I knew the characters from the first book?
Not as exciting as the first but an easy quick read if you need a background book