Review “EIGHT PERFECT MURDERS” By Peter Swanson

Swanson’s “Eight Perfect Murders” make for one perfect read.

From the beginning, you know that the narrator is holding something back. But is he an “unreliable” narrator? Or just a traumatized one? The latter is reasonable, since he lost his beloved wife, Claire, by violence not that long ago.

Malcolm Kershaw, the narrator, is part owner and full manager of a mystery bookstore called Old Devils in Boston. When he first started working there for the previous owner, he was asked to do their blog. One of his entries was called, “Eight Perfect Murders,” and listed eight of his favorite mysteries, ones that he felt used clever, ingenious, foolproof murder plots.

When a string of murders are committed, an FBI agent, Gwen Mulvey, comes to the bookstore to talk to Malcolm about the now-old list on the blog. She feels that three recent murders are mimicking “The A.B.C. Murders” by Agatha Christie, one of the novels on his list. The agent feels that some others are similar to the novel plots on his list also. Malcolm resists the idea at first, but doesn’t resist his attraction to the agent very strenuously. Murders continue happening, sticking to the script, and both Gwen and Malcolm are in trouble.

Review “Eight Perfect Murders” by Peter Swanson

To listen to author interviews check out Suspense Radio, CLICK HERE