Review: The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

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.

Review

There has been quite a buzz around Peter Swanson’s newest book. I haven’t read any of his books yet but I had a copy of The Kind Worth Killing so I thought it was a good place to start.

This ended up being such a good, twisty read. I was hooked right from the first page and the first twist actually left me breathless. It’s the kind of thriller that gets you all excited because you can’t really tell what will happen next. Things started spiraling out of control from the first chapter and it ended up being such a crazy ride that had my head spinning.

I can’t say much about the plot without spoiling it. Ted meets Lily on a plane and they end up discussing murdering his wife, Miranda. Why would Lily offer to help Ted commit such a crime? What is in it for her? Do they finally get to do it? These were the questions running through my mind as I read the story. I thought I knew where it was going but like Jon Snow, I knew nothing!

The Kind Worth Killing is really a gift to all fans of thrillers. If you enjoy this genre, then you have to read this book. It is fast-paced, shocking, addictive and mega-twisty. The ending is so good but haunting, I feel like I need to track down the author and questioning him. What a brilliant, suspenseful read!