Martha has always believed she’s cursed when it comes to love. Every relationship has ended in disaster, leaving the quiet librarian to embrace a solitary life with nothing but her beloved books for company. But then she met Alan. He was older, yes, but he was kind, devoted, and truly seemed to love her. Before long, they were married, and for the first time, Martha thought her luck had finally changed.
Yet, even in marriage, loneliness lingers. As a traveling salesman, Alan spends most of his time on the road, peddling teacher-themed tchotchkes at education conventions. A year into their relationship, Martha realizes she barely knows the man she married. Then she finds blood on the collar of one of his shirts. Her unease grows as she digs deeper, uncovering a series of murdered women, each killed in a city that coincides with Alan’s travels.
Could her husband be a serial killer, or is it all a terrible coincidence? Unsure of what to believe, Martha reaches out to an old graduate school friend, Lily Kintner. Lily has a knack for handling dangerous men. Eager to uncover the truth, Lily agrees to investigate Alan. What she discovers is far more twisted and sinister than they ever imagined.
In A Talent for Murder, Peter Swanson once again proves his knack for crafting gripping, twist-filled thrillers. Having long admired his stand-alone novels, I grabbed this one when I spotted it at my local library. It wasn’t until I was well into the story that I realized it’s actually the third book in a series that began with The Kind Worth Killing. Fortunately, A Talent for Murder works just fine on its own.
Swanson wastes no time pulling readers in, opening with a tragic perspective from one of the victims. The story was heading toward a fairly predictable conclusion until Swanson flipped the script entirely. The twist caught me completely off guard, shifting the novel’s trajectory to make the final act even more intense and satisfying than I had expected. Fast-paced and full of surprises, A Talent for Murder is a sharp, exhilarating mystery that proves Swanson is writing at the top of his game.
For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2025, 21)
I've read a few of his books that I really enjoyed. And I love when an author is able to flip the script and completely surprise you while still writing a satisfying ending. This sounds like a fun twisty thriller, and one I want to read! :D
ReplyDeleteIt was a good one!
DeleteAs you may know, I'm not a thriller reader but this does sound very good.
ReplyDeleteThis one sucked me in from the very start!
DeleteFinally finding love and then suspecting your new husband is a serial killer? Oh I feel bad for that woman. This sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that such a bummer?
DeleteI think I need to try this title and author. It sounds perfectly chilling!
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't read him before, I highly recommend!
DeleteOh, this sounds so good and I like that you don't have to read the previous two books to enjoy this one. I'll add it to my TBR!
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy!
DeleteThat has to be a nightmare to think your husband is a serial killer! It's interesting that the author wrote from one of the victim's POVs.
ReplyDeleteRight? It was such a hook at the start of the book!
Delete"The story was heading toward a fairly predictable conclusion until Swanson flipped the script entirely."
ReplyDeleteDon't you just love it when it happens? and in a way that makes sense, I guess, not for shock value only?
It’s what keeps me hooked on these mind-bending mysteries!
DeleteThis sounds like a great, twisty thriller. I love when a book can surprise me and completely flip the script.
ReplyDeleteIt's the best!
DeleteI can't remember off the top of my head if I have read anything by him. But his name sounds familiar. If this does okay as a stand-alone like you said, I think I will see if our library has it!
ReplyDeleteGo for it! I've really enjoyed most of his books.
Deletefast paced and full of surprises sure sounds good to me
ReplyDeleteRight?
DeleteLove a good twist! What makes it a series? It sounds like totally different characters/story.
ReplyDeleteI haven’t read the first two books, so I’m not sure. But I really enjoyed this one, so I might go back and start from the beginning.
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