A review by bookscoffeehayley
Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

CW: death, violence, gore, mentions of addiction, sexual assault

What a quick, entertaining, contemporary take on the classic whodunit novel! This was the first Peter Swanson book that I’ve read. Was it a ground-breaking mystery? No, but it kept me guessing the whole time!

This was a great palette cleanser for me after reading the Shade and Bone Trilogy and Six of Crows Duo. I really liked the deep dive into classic mysteries, but there are some spoilers for those in this book. I definitely want to pick up some classic mysteries soon, but do be cautious if you are worried about spoilers if you read Eight Perfect Murders.

I didn’t love our narrator, Malcolm Kershaw. The book is written as Mal’s memoir and his voice is a bit pretentious throughout, which was sort of annoying.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, ode to the classics I do think you’ll like this one! I enjoyed it while I was reading, but I don’t think it’s a book that will stick with me.
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