The Kind Worth Killing: A Novel

Peter Swanson

Feb 2015 · Sold by Harper Collins

About this ebook

A devious tale of psychological suspense perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train—and is soon to be a major movie directed by Agnieszka Holland.

In a tantalizing set-up reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith’s classic Strangers on a Train… On a night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the stunning and mysterious Lily Kintner. Sharing one too many martinis, the strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing very intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage that’s going stale and his wife Miranda, who he’s sure is cheating on him. Ted and his wife were a mismatch from the start—he the rich businessman, she the artistic free spirit—a contrast that once inflamed their passion, but has now become a cliché.

But their game turns a little darker when Ted jokes that he could kill Miranda for what she’s done. Lily, without missing a beat, says calmly, “I’d like to help.” After all, some people are the kind worth killing, like a lying, stinking, cheating spouse. . . .

Back in Boston, Ted and Lily’s twisted bond grows stronger as they begin to plot Miranda's demise. But there are a few things about Lily’s past that she hasn’t shared with Ted, namely her experience in the art and craft of murder, a journey that began in her very precocious youth.

Suddenly these co-conspirators are embroiled in a chilling game of cat-and-mouse, one they both cannot survive . . . with a shrewd and very determined detective on their tail.

 

Ratings and reviews

FAST PACED TWISTY THRILL RIDE! GREAT READ! "My only companion at that moment was my younger self... We understood that survival was everything. It was the meaning of life. And to take life was, in many ways, the greatest expression of what it meant to be alive..." This is a MUST READ esp. for fans of mystery and psychological thrillers! I was hooked from the first page. Amy Dunne (Gone Girl) has met her match in Lily Kintner (Kind Worth Killing). The book is very well written, fast paced, and filled with twists and turns.

It's rare that I categorize a book into the "couldn't put it down" category, but this book is just that. It's the perfect combination of high quality literature and suspenseful mystery.

This was one of the best books I've ever read. The twists and turns were so well executed that I didn't see them coming until they were right in front of me. The multiple viewpoints were also well done. They can be challenging, but the author weaved them together well. Quite enjoyable. The ending was something else too.

About the author

Peter Swanson is the New York Times bestselling author of The Kind Worth Killing, winner of the New England Society Book Award and finalist for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger; Her Every Fear, an NPR book of the year; and Eight Perfect Murders, a New York Times bestseller, among others. His books have been translated into 30 languages, and his stories, poetry, and features have appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction, The Atlantic Monthly, Measure, The Guardian, The Strand Magazine, and Yankee Magazine. He lives on the North Shore of Massachusetts, where he is at work on his next novel.