Before She Knew Him
by Peter Swanson
Praise For This Book:
"Mr. Swanson unfolds this creepy story with the assurance and economy of a master. Surprises follow one another with inevitability, until the final electrifying jolt." - Wall Street Journal

"[A] neatly knotted suspense story." - New York Times Book Review

"There's a neat twist at the end, but the real surprise is the way characters are allowed to grieve their losses, a luxury not always allowed in stories of this type. For a fast-paced thriller, Before She Knew Him achieves an impressive significance in its pauses." - BookPage

"[Swanson] knows how to ration his twists and where in the narrative to place them, devoting just the right amount of time to exploring the ramifications of each new development before spinning the story off in an ominous new direction... De Palma, or Hitchcock... would kill for the film rights." - The National (UK)

"In trademark style, Swanson's ingenious plotting throws up tantalising clues and then slowly unravels them through a series of shocking revelations, leaving readers confused, bemused and racing to the last page. Compelling, creepy, and psychologically astute, this is stylish thriller writing at its very best." - The Guardian (UK)

"This acutely perceptive writer has become a master of psychological chills and thrills, transforming what appears to be 'cosy domestic' into something infinitely more dangerous and deadly... A sizzling slice of his unique brand of domestic noir... Tingling with tension [and] brimming with menace." - The Guardian (UK)

"In Peter Swanson's expert hands, one woman's discerning observation at a quiet suburban dinner party unfolds into a gripping, twisty, psychologically complex thriller. I could not put it down." - Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of The Wife

"A twisty, fast-paced tale that depicts picket-fence suburbia's seamy, murderous underside... Swanson is at his best in exploring the kinship-or what some see as the kinship-between artist and killer, one of the themes of Swanson's great model and forebear, Patricia Highsmith... A dark, quick-moving, suspenseful story." - Kirkus Reviews

"What would happen if a serial killer met the perfect confidant, someone who would never be believed if they revealed his secrets? Nothing good... Swanson has crafted another bar-raising psychological thriller with this tense, unexpected spin on serial killers and those obsessed with them." - Booklist

Publisher's Website

Best Historical Fiction Book
Recent Book Reviews
Book Review -  Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Take My Hand
By Dolen Perkins-Valdez
I learned a lot from this book. I know racial injustices exist, and the Government oversteps boundaries, mostly with minority groups, especially Blacks. But each time I learn of yet another instance of governmental ...More

 Book Review - Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy
Goodnight Beautiful
By Aimee Molloy
This book kept me guessing, and I loved it! It's an easy, satisfying read you won't want to put down. Suddenly, Sam goes missing, and everything begins to unravel. There were several twists and turns ... More
Book Review - The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Midnight Library
By Matt Haig
I would love to find a magical library that lets me explore the what-ifs of life. In fact, I think this was my favorite part of the book. Who doesn't have a regret or two, or wonder how life would be with different choices? ...More

 What To Read Next - West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
West With Giraffes
By Lynda Rutledge
Based on an actual event, West with Giraffes is an endearing story about transporting two young giraffes across the country in 1938. 17-year-old Woody, a dust bowl orphan, finds his way to NY during ...More
Visit Our Blog
Browse A Little
PBR book reviews and Reading guides for book clubs
Visit out Etsy Shop
10 Books I Can't Stop Recommending