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A review by maliha_reads
A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson
dark
mysterious
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
4.25
Was a third book in the series necessary? No. But did I eat it up like it was literary crème brûlée? Absolutely.
A Talent for Murder is a deliciously unsettling thriller that tiptoes between domestic suspense and psychological mind games, with just enough noir to keep you second-guessing your instincts. Swanson delivers a story that starts with a quiet librarian, Martha, and her too-good-to-be-true husband, Alan—a man whose travel schedule suspiciously overlaps with a trail of murdered women. Casual, right?
The plot thickens when Martha enlists Lily Kintner, a morally ambiguous friend with a shadowy past, to investigate. What follows is a cat-and-mouse game layered with deception, unexpected alliances, and a few gasp-worthy reveals. Swanson’s signature move—revealing the “whodunnit” halfway through—works surprisingly well here, shifting the tension from mystery to motive.
What keeps this from being a full five-star read? Some of the twists stretch believability, and the killer’s endgame feels a bit rushed. But the pacing, the morally gray characters, and the eerie sense of “what would you do?” make this a standout in the genre.
4.25 stars for a thriller that’s clever, compulsively readable, and just the right amount of unhinged.
A Talent for Murder is a deliciously unsettling thriller that tiptoes between domestic suspense and psychological mind games, with just enough noir to keep you second-guessing your instincts. Swanson delivers a story that starts with a quiet librarian, Martha, and her too-good-to-be-true husband, Alan—a man whose travel schedule suspiciously overlaps with a trail of murdered women. Casual, right?
The plot thickens when Martha enlists Lily Kintner, a morally ambiguous friend with a shadowy past, to investigate. What follows is a cat-and-mouse game layered with deception, unexpected alliances, and a few gasp-worthy reveals. Swanson’s signature move—revealing the “whodunnit” halfway through—works surprisingly well here, shifting the tension from mystery to motive.
What keeps this from being a full five-star read? Some of the twists stretch believability, and the killer’s endgame feels a bit rushed. But the pacing, the morally gray characters, and the eerie sense of “what would you do?” make this a standout in the genre.
4.25 stars for a thriller that’s clever, compulsively readable, and just the right amount of unhinged.