🔪 Book Review: The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson (Kindle Edition)
A dark, twisty psychological thriller that explores the seductive power of revenge, the danger of secrets, and the chilling allure of morally ambiguous characters—Peter Swanson delivers a masterclass in suspense and misdirection.
🧠 Overview
Published in 2015, The Kind Worth Killing begins with a chance encounter at Heathrow Airport between Ted Severson, a wealthy businessman, and Lily Kintner, a mysterious woman with a calm demeanor and a chilling proposition. Over martinis, Ted confesses that his wife Miranda is cheating on him. When he jokes about killing her, Lily responds, “I’d like to help.” What follows is a modern reimagining of Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train, but with far more psychological complexity and narrative layers.
Swanson uses multiple first-person narrators to unravel a story filled with deceit, manipulation, and murder, keeping readers off-balance with every chapter.
✨ Key Themes & Highlights
- 🧠 Unreliable narrators: The story unfolds through the perspectives of Ted, Lily, Miranda, and Detective Henry Kimball, each with secrets and shifting motives
- 👩🎓 Lily’s backstory: Flashbacks reveal Lily’s chilling history with murder, painting her as one of the most complex female villains in recent thriller fiction
- 🕵️ Cat-and-mouse tension: As alliances shift and bodies pile up, the novel becomes a psychological chess match
- 💬 Morality and justice: Swanson challenges readers to consider whether some people truly are “the kind worth killing”
“Swanson proves himself a master of misdirection and the unreliable narrator, crafting a story that keeps you guessing until the very end.” — Bookclb review
💬 Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: 4.03/5 from over 100,000 ratings
- 📖 Readers praise the book’s tight plotting, unexpected twists, and dark psychological depth
- 🧾 Some found the ending shocking and satisfying, while others noted that certain twists were telegraphed early
- 💬 “A camera-ready mystery made for the silver screen… intricately plotted and fast-paced.” — Washington Independent Review of Books
⚠️ Considerations
- 📚 Dark subject matter: Includes themes of infidelity, murder, and manipulation—best suited for mature readers
- 🧾 Multiple POVs: While enriching, the shifting perspectives may feel disorienting to some
- 🎥 Film potential: The novel has been optioned for a movie adaptation, reflecting its cinematic appeal
🏁 Final Verdict
The Kind Worth Killing is a gripping and morally provocative thriller that keeps readers hooked with its layered characters and relentless twists. Peter Swanson’s elegant prose and psychological insight make this a standout in the genre—perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Tana French, or classic noir with a modern edge.
