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tiphreads's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
While this isn’t a groundbreaking novel or even story line ,, it is smooth, fast paced , dark and engaging.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Rape, Mental illness, and Physical abuse
ignited_redqueen75's review
5.0
Simply great
Intense and riveting, Peter Swanson always keeps me on the edge of my seat with his amazing books and story telling.
Intense and riveting, Peter Swanson always keeps me on the edge of my seat with his amazing books and story telling.
suzeqt's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mtzbookworm64's review
4.0
I felt the book had a slow start with some predictability- but the ending was great with a twist I didn’t see coming! Brings to light some issues on mental health issues people may not know. Interesting thriller.
lillyvannilly's review
3.0
A 4 stars read for me with a 5 star ending. This book started out a little on the slower side for me but as I got towards the halfway mark I found myself more interested in the story and how it was going to play out, but the end of the novel I became completely engrossed and needed to finish ASAP.
UPDATE: I changed my reading to 3 stars (3.5 if good reads had that option) I decided to change it because I just finished another book that wasn’t quite 5 stars but a solid high 4 and ranked much above this one for me so I couldn’t justify giving this a 4 compared to other 4’s I’ve read
UPDATE: I changed my reading to 3 stars (3.5 if good reads had that option) I decided to change it because I just finished another book that wasn’t quite 5 stars but a solid high 4 and ranked much above this one for me so I couldn’t justify giving this a 4 compared to other 4’s I’ve read
laurenb's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
thephdivabooks's review
5.0
The best type of psychological thriller, in my opinion, is the type that leaves your mind spinning after you finish and your jaw dropped, and rereading the final scenes to try and understand if you read that right. Peter Swanson’s Before She Met Him is like falling through a rabbit hole where everything is backwards, upside-down, tilting, and reversed until you get to the end and you try to think backwards and understand how you could have missed it!
I truly don’t want to give away too much, but I can’t recommend this book enough! It is a bit of a wild ride. You will think you know where it is headed and then at some point you’ll realize it has taken a series of turns and turned into a different story than you imagined. And that will keep happening! Everything will be subtly different—bad is sometimes good, murder is sort of mundane, the most deceitful are the most honest. And then expect it all to change again!
Hen and Lloyd have just moved to a new neighborhood when they are invited to dinner with another couple, Matt and Mira. But when Hen spots an item displayed on Matt’s shelf, she knows something isn’t right. The item is linked to a murder that occurred two years prior, and suddenly Hen knows exactly who Matt is and what he may have done.
But Hen has her own secrets. An obsession with this very murder led her down a dark path. Now, she is trying to convince her husband to believe her, but how can he after everything Hen has done? Suddenly, Hen’s obsession seems to have re-emerged. But just because she is jumping back into old habits, doesn’t mean she is wrong…
Truly I found all of the characters in this fascinating, but Hen is particularly interesting. She’s that perfect sort of fragile and spirited that makes you not entirely sure if she is stable or reliable as a narrator. The story itself has some turns and the ending is (pardon the pun) absolutely killer! Seriously, I never saw it coming! That’s all I’m willing to say because I’m afraid to spoil. But do yourself a favor and read this book!!!
Thank you to TLC Book Tours and William Morrow Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.
I truly don’t want to give away too much, but I can’t recommend this book enough! It is a bit of a wild ride. You will think you know where it is headed and then at some point you’ll realize it has taken a series of turns and turned into a different story than you imagined. And that will keep happening! Everything will be subtly different—bad is sometimes good, murder is sort of mundane, the most deceitful are the most honest. And then expect it all to change again!
Hen and Lloyd have just moved to a new neighborhood when they are invited to dinner with another couple, Matt and Mira. But when Hen spots an item displayed on Matt’s shelf, she knows something isn’t right. The item is linked to a murder that occurred two years prior, and suddenly Hen knows exactly who Matt is and what he may have done.
But Hen has her own secrets. An obsession with this very murder led her down a dark path. Now, she is trying to convince her husband to believe her, but how can he after everything Hen has done? Suddenly, Hen’s obsession seems to have re-emerged. But just because she is jumping back into old habits, doesn’t mean she is wrong…
Truly I found all of the characters in this fascinating, but Hen is particularly interesting. She’s that perfect sort of fragile and spirited that makes you not entirely sure if she is stable or reliable as a narrator. The story itself has some turns and the ending is (pardon the pun) absolutely killer! Seriously, I never saw it coming! That’s all I’m willing to say because I’m afraid to spoil. But do yourself a favor and read this book!!!
Thank you to TLC Book Tours and William Morrow Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.
lynguy1's review
4.0
BEFORE SHE KNEW HIM by Peter Swanson is a great psychological thriller. Henrietta (Hen) Mazur and her husband Lloyd Harding have just moved into a new house near Boston, Massachusetts. Hen is an illustrator and has found a studio within walking distance. She also seems to have her bipolar disorder under control with the right meds. When their next door neighbors Matthew and Mira Dolamore invite them over for dinner Hen notices a sports trophy that looks similar to one that disappeared when a young man in their old neighborhood was murdered. Is Hen imagining things or is there something sinister going on?
Hen is a character that you can root for. She felt read and had depth. Her internal and external conflicts were well defined and believable. They arose out of characterization and circumstance rather than feeling contrived or forced.
The title was intriguing and very fitting. The prose was well-written and compelling. The plot was intense, suspenseful, shocking , absorbing, and definitely kept me engaged. The ending was unexpected with some real surprises. Overall, this book was a fabulous read.
I won a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks go to Goodreads, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Hen is a character that you can root for. She felt read and had depth. Her internal and external conflicts were well defined and believable. They arose out of characterization and circumstance rather than feeling contrived or forced.
The title was intriguing and very fitting. The prose was well-written and compelling. The plot was intense, suspenseful, shocking , absorbing, and definitely kept me engaged. The ending was unexpected with some real surprises. Overall, this book was a fabulous read.
I won a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks go to Goodreads, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.