Cover Image: Rules for Perfect Murders

Rules for Perfect Murders

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Thank you to NetGalley for this free copy in exchange for an honest review. A self-aware crime mystery that scratches my literary itch at the same time! Swanson often seems to create premises I thoroughly enjoy, novel in their concoction and maintaining an element of intrigue throughout. It's not a hugely suspenseful ride but it's a delight to read, celebrating the mystery genre and packing a punch of its own at the same time. I will admit sometimes the pacing was a little off for me but other than that I had a really good time with this one!

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Rules for Perfect Murders

I whipped through this one because I could not put it down! A great thriller with a ton of classic mystery references.

Malcolm Kershaw works at a bookstore and would consider himself an aficionado of mystery novels. One day when the FBI comes to him to ask about one of his blog posts “eight perfect murders” things start to unravel for Malcolm. He created the post based of books he thinks contain the most perfect untraceable murders but now murders are occurring that look eerily close to the eight perfect murders he suggests. Is he a suspect? Or is someone watching Malcom
Malcom's every move?

As a huge Peter Swanson fan, I was not disappointed. Malcom is our only narrator and he controls the pace of this story. He's an unreliable narrator and it was hard to predict where things would go! Nothing was as it seems and I was hooked right up till the very end.

Be prepared that there are several spoilers for classic mystery novels (including at least 3 Agatha Christie books)! But the addition of all the classic mystery’s just add to the story!

This book is clever because Swanson jumps between small and big reveals constantly! The plot never stops unraveling and that’s what makes it fun.

One of my auto buy authors who never seems to disappoint.

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I was initially drawn to this book by the fact that the eight perfect murders are in some of my favourite books. I thought the premise was excellent and the story didn’t disappoint.
Mal writes a blog post detailing what he believes are the eight perfect murders in mystery stories. But someone is using his list to cover up their crimes.
The characters are brilliantly built up and the story leaves you guessing right to the end. It started out a bit slowly and I was worried that there wasn’t going to be much more to the plot than re-describing the murders from the books on the list. But it ended up as so much more than this. Just beware- if you haven’t read any of the stories that are mentioned there are huge spoilers in this book!

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An enjoyable game of cat and mouse between the narrator and the reader. A definite for fans of crime fiction from all eras, this pays homage to eight 'perfect' murders from across crime literature. It's the kind of book you can't really explain without giving something of the plot away, but it should keep intrepid readers alert for clues and red herrings, and self-congratulatory pats on the back for recognising what's going on. Clever and entertaining, but perhaps a little too self-indulgent and pleased with itself, which slightly dampened my enthusiasm as it progressed. 3.5 stars.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

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The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of this book is: Rules for Perfect Murders is basically a love letter to mystery fiction. Throughout the whole thing it’s discussing a whole host of beloved mysteries by authors like Agatha Christie, Patricia Highsmith and Donna Tartt. Even with the killer copying the murders from fiction, the love for this list of books, and others within the genre remains all the way through. It’s a book about books, who doesn’t want more of that in their life?

Rules For Perfect Murders is such a quick and easy read. Before I knew it, I’d read over half the book in just one sitting. It’s interesting and strangely captivating despite the story itself feeling kind of slow.

I’m not sure how I feel about the main character Malcolm. He seems very dull and lives a very routine kind of life, but the more you read the more you realise how much that isn’t true. I liked that aspect of his character, but I wasn’t so fond of the way he tells his story. I didn’t feel any emotional connection to him or what was going on his life, so the whole thing itself just wasn’t that thrilling for me.

I thought I knew who was committing the murders around three-quarters of the way through, but I was very wrong. The killer was a major disappointment to me. I didn’t really buy it. I was more invested in my own conspiracy theories than the actual event unfolding right in front of me. Let’s face it, I’d kind of tuned out at that point. But the killer’s explanation was just… well it was kind of naff. It was so underwhelming, worse than finding out the killer’s identity. I just didn’t like their motivation for doing anything. It was taking a very long walk only to arrive and then leave right away. It was just very boring to me and it didn’t seem like a realistic reason for committing so many murders.

Aside from really disliking the ending, I feel like this was a decent read, just not one I was that invested in. I try not to compare authors’ other works when they’re totally different to one another, but I didn’t feel half as much in this book as I did while reading The Kind Worth Killing and I guess that does factor in a lot into my rating. Maybe it made me set my expectations too high, but I genuinely don’t believe I’d have given this book a higher rating had I not read and loved one of his other books. This is a 3-star read at best, no matter how many ways I think about it.

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This was not what i was expecting in a good way. The beginning promised something else but i like what it delivered. The plot was developed and i liked how it gave nods to the crime novels in the list in the action itself. I was not expecting the killer to be who it was but there were some moments where i recognised what was happening from the novels it references. This is a great read for any fan of crime fiction as this is pretty much a long love letter to it.

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As someone who loves reading crime novels, this one ticked all the boxes for me. Even before I got my hands on it and read the blurb, I was utterly hooked. I just hoped it would live up to my expectations.

The book starts with a bookshop owner, Malcolm, being visited by a member of the FBI who has linked recent murders and a blog written by him. The blog is his view on crime novels that feature perfect murders. Malcolm gets involved in the investigation and circumstances of these murders and reads the books to explore more. I liked Malcolm and his quirky bookstore employees and customers. I also enjoyed the book being set during the Winter and the scenes set in the snow and cold. It's an excellent book to curl up with in front of the fire.

There are lots of twists as the book unravels, but I loved the way this was done. At times, it was laid out overtly and gave a wink to the crime genre that made me laugh out loud. But others were hidden, and I didn't see them coming. Is it the best crime novel you're ever likely to read? No, I don't think so, but it is fun and clever and very entertaining. There is a lot to like about it.

It was also quite the coincidence that earlier this year, I'd read Strangers on a Train, by Patricia Highsmith. Having a familiarity with this novel, made this book come even more to life for me and it also made me want to re-read The Secret History by Donna Tartt as well as dip into other books on the blog list. If you've not read the books mentioned, their plots are revealed so if you're precious about that sort of thing, be aware.

Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I'd recommend it to others, particularly those who enjoy the crime genre. And the answer to my earlier question, did it meet my expectations? Yes, it certainly did.

Thanks to Peter Swanson, the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

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I was pleasantly surprised to find myself utterly absorbed in Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson. Originally titled "Rules for Perfect Murders" the plot sounded intriguing when I was offered the chance to read an eARC from NetGalley. Malcolm is the owner of a specialist crime/mystery book store in Boston. A widower with two employees, his cat Nero who lives in the book store and a small number of close friends, he lives a quiet life surrounded by books. So Malcolm is surprised when an FBI agent visits him to quiz him on a possible link between a number of recent unsolved murders and an opinion piece blog post titled "Eight Perfect Murders" he'd written years earlier.

There are so many hidden/suggested clues throughout this book and even out-right flags at some points. It is almost a challenge to the reader to pick the narrator's account apart and try to solve the crimes yourself adding that extra little bit of excitement and enjoyment.

Eight Perfect Murders is well-written, well-paced and kept me guessing; it's one of those books that has you questioning each character. A "whodunnit" of Cluedo proportions!

The only slight downfall for me is that Eight Perfect Murders inadvertently gives away the plot of the eight books on Malcolm's list - although our narrator does warn us about this in advance so I guess I can't really complain!

I'd highly recommend this "whodunnit" which is a completely different concept to anything else I've read in a long time. Enjoyable, intriguing and anything where the main character is devoted to books is always going to be a hit with me!!

A big thank you to NetGalley, Peter Swanson and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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A modern mystery with a classic feel that pays tribute to some of the best thrillers of the 20th century.

Bookshop owner Malcolm Kershaw once published an entry for the store’s official blog titled ‘Eight Perfect Murders' – a compiled list of his top favourite perfectly executed murders in crime fiction.

Now it appears Malcolm's list is being used as a killer's playbook. Several recent murders committed in the Boston area appear to be eerily similar to twists in two of those mystery novels. And as the body count rises it quickly becomes clear that the murderer intends to reenact all eight.

Psychological suspense coupled with a puzzling, layered mystery, Rules for Perfect Murders is littered with clues, twists, and misdirection. I was utterly hooked in by the intriguing, creepy premise, transfixed while reading, and completely satisfied by the ending. The snowy winter and the bookstore setting added to my sense of foreboding, claustrophobia and the notion of a killer closing in. It goes without saying that I relished every mention of book titles, plots, editions, collections, and love of reading in general.

You need to know that the plot of this book contains massive spoilers for the eight mystery novels mentioned in the blog post; The Red House Mystery – A.A. Milne (1922), Malice Aforethought – Anthony Berkeley Cox (1931), Double Indemnity – James M. Cain (1943), Strangers on a Train – Patricia Highsmith (1950), The Drowner – John D. Macdonald (1963), Deathtrap – Ira Levin (1978), The Secret History – Donna Tartt (1992), and The ABC Murders – Agatha Christie (1936), as well as two other Christie novels, And Then There Were None {1939), and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926). So, if you have plans to read any of these, I advise you to do so beforehand.

The novel is written as a fictitious memoir, narrated in the first person by Malcolm Kershaw. It opens with a ‘Disclaimer' that explicitly states that our protagonist is omitting certain details, so right from the onset we know he's unreliable, but not why, what, and to what extent, he's hiding. A fast-paced, quick read that I ripped through in no time, and you will too.

I now consider Rules for Perfect Murder Peter Swanson's finest. He definitely brought his A-game on this one.

I'd like to thank Netgalley, Faber & Faber, and Peter Swanson for the e-ARC.

Publication Date: 5th March, 2020.
US Title: Eight Perfect Murders. (Out 3rd March, 2020).

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This was a really intelligent and well crafted love letter to the mystery novel, but ultimately, it just slightly fell short for me. It tells the story of a bookseller who creates a blog post of the eight perfect murders in crime fiction. Flash forward a few years and the FBI turn up on his doorstep because someone is killing people, following the order and methods of his list.

The Positives: The pacing of this book was incredibly well done, given that I read this in pretty much one sitting! I loved the way that it was written, as a 'memoir' in which the bookseller talks to you as the reader and reveals things about himself and his past in small doses, ensuring that your interest is always piqued. I thought the layering of the narrative and plot was very good - the book starts as one thing and ends as something quite different.

The Negatives: I really felt like a lot of the twists and turns in the narrative were quite predictable and although there was a lot of originality in some aspects of the narrative, the overall plot was quite formulaic. I thought that the conclusion was a little too ridiculous and just didn't really ring true for me.

Overall, this was a compelling book that kept me turning the pages, but it just missed the mark a little bit for me.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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What’s not to enjoy about a book about books? Bookshop owner Malcolm finds himself being questioned by the FBI about a list of books he put on the bookshops blog many years ago about eight perfect murders, he turns detective to see if he can find the identity of the person who is carrying out the murders but not all is as it may seem. A real homage to the thriller genre and has made me want to add a lot of classic reads mentioned to my tbr list.

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I've read and enjoyed the majority of Peter Swanson's previous books and have admired how "different" they all are (no group of "friends" stranded on an island or in a remote hotel in the depths of winter here!) from each other. This one is again very different and to my mind a hugely successful homage to the classic crime novels of the past, but also an ingenious update to the genre.

Mr Swanson takes us on a thrilling ride and slowly but logically we reach the destination; I was rather delighted to discover that he'd been toying with us for the duration of the book.

Highly recommended, and my thanks to Faber & Faber and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read "Rules for Perfect Murders"

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Note: This book is also known as “Eight Perfect Murders.”

It starts out almost like a cozy mystery with an unassuming, likable bookseller being drawn into a murder case. The murderer seems to be recreating “perfect” murders from classic mysteries. The FBI agent investigating the case goes to our main character Malcolm as an expert on classic literary murders because he owns and works in a bookstore specializing in mystery and crime novels. In the past he even wrote a blog post for the bookstore titled “Eight Perfect Murders” which the murder seems to be following. The FBI going to Malcolm for help seemed a bit tenuous and unlikely but I was willing to go with it as it made for a great setup. Turns out the FBI has good reason to go to Malcolm and as they investigate further it becomes clear that some of the victims had a connection to Malcolm. This is where things get really juicy!

Malcolm is entirely pleasant if a bit introverted. He loves his cat Nero who lives in the bookstore and has a nice, quiet life. It’s all a bit quaint and familiar but hold on to your hats because something is coming that upends everything. The story takes a sharp turn that had my mouth hanging open in shock. I won’t give even a hint about what happened but holy crow it blew my mind!

For me this truly was the “perfect” thriller. The literary premise leading to an absolutely shocking twist was just so darn good. I was lulled by the benign, almost cozy beginning then the rug was pulled out from under my assumptions pretty early on and the story only got better from there. I could not have predicted where this story was going to go. From beginning to end, “Rules for “Perfect Murders” was a fantastic and brilliant book and I can’t recommend it highly enough!

Thank you to Faber & Faber for providing an Electronic Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley for review.

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Many other reviewers have given good a good summary of the plot without giving away spoilers, so I won't go into that here because I can't do it better than it's already been done. So ...

I wasn't sure what to make of this at first. I wondered who, what, why for at least the first chapter and then I fell into it and was pretty much riveted. It's a great slow burn, lots of plot, lots of deadends, lots of guessing who, what and why and mostly not getting it right which is always a good feeling. The clues are there and when you get to the end you remember seeing them but not noticing them. Some parts of the plot need now clues because Malcolm is that rare thing in crime fiction: a truly reliable narrator. Mostly.

I hadn't read any Peter Swanson before this and I'm definitely going to be reading his back catalogue now.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

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Just a little too smugly clever to be a great read. Didn't really grip me, even though I loved the recommendations about other mystery books. My 'want to read' pile has certainly grown. Although this is a cleverly written book, the characters don't grab you and the plot is terribly unbelievable, even for fiction!

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"I truly imagined that my adult existence would be far more booklike than it turned out to be."
A thriller for, and about, thriller book lovers! And I was thrilled to receive an eARC of Rules For Perfect Murders from Faber Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review - thank you!
This is the UK title for Peter Swanson's new release, Eight Perfect Murders. Can you actually go wrong with this author? No way.
Malcolm Kershaw is the owner of Old Devils Bookstore in Boston. A blog article he wrote years earlier referencing his favorite murders in crime classics, becomes the basis for a serial murder investigation.
The whodunnit might be pretty straightforward, but it's the how-and-whydunnit that is the crux of the action. Fantastic premise, a reminder why we all anxiously await new Peter Swanson books!
Eight Perfect Murders is for release in North America on March 3, Rules for Perfect Murders in the UK on March 5.

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This one had me gripped from the get-go and was not at all what I expected. I expected a plodding story but it was zippy and kept me interested most of the way through. It got a bit confusing/lost about 1/3 of the way through then it regains its direction and pace until the end. Recommended,

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Fan of mystery and suspense will love this!!!
Malcolm Kershaw is a co-owner of a bookstore-Old Devils, years before he has written a list with the eight perfect murders:
1.Red House
2..Malice Aforethought
3.The A.B.C. Murders
4.Double Indemnity
5.Strangers on a Train
6. The Drowner
7.Deathtrap
8.The Secrect History


Malcolm is not a reliable narrator what we know is through his eyes. Malcolm is quiet, lonely and depressive- this last one because the death of his wife. Throughout the book we are told that he was never loved enough by his parents andnot even for his wife the one person who was suposed to but I very much doubt that.
His complicate relationship with her and others around him-like his employees and his friend Brian Murray show us how much he has disconnected from his world.

The FBI believes that this list is probably being used to copycat the murders in the books to real life.. But is he a suspect too? Even reading some parts I was so connect that I could not stop it because the main protagonist could not be who he says that is or could he be not?? And why the detective is so interesting in him. Are they related some way?

So many layers. When I started to read the book I loved that the author uses the books mysteries as a subplot to what is really happening in the book. Peter Swanson knows his niche and I am a glad to have read this one.

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Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an unbiased review.
Absolutley loved this book.
Very cleverly written and without giving away too much of the plot is has made me go and read some of the books that are referred to within this novel.
Full of twists, just the way I like my books

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Malcolm Kershaw was the co-owner and manager of the Old Devils Bookstore on Beacon Hill in Boston. The store specialises in crime novels, but Mal has given up reading crime. His life's been pretty chaotic of late: It's five years since his wife, Claire Mallory, died and he's never really got over it. She was driving whilst inebriated, having just been to see the man with whom Kershaw suspected she was having an affair. His interest in crime fiction comes back when he's approached by Special Agent Gwen Mulvey. She's interested in a blog post he wrote a few years ago: My Eight Perfect Murders.

Her interest had been piqued after the murders of Robin Callahan (notorious news anchor), Jay Bradshaw and Ethan Byrd. There's a bird connection in each of the names and this made her think about Agatha Christie's The ABC Murders. A closer examination of the list brings up other unsolved murders which probably have a connection to books on the list, particularly Patricia Highsmith's Strangers on a Train and The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Is someone using the list as a template, or is there another link to Malcolm Kershaw? Can the killer be stopped before the list is completed?

When I picked this book up I thought that it would be a light-hearted look at various crimes and how they might compare to their fictional equivalents. Surely a story based on this list would be just too contorted? Well, I was wrong on both counts. This isn't light-hearted with the occasional nod to some of the greats of crime fiction - and it's definitely not too contorted.

Malcolm Kershaw makes for a superb lead character. He's introverted and inclined to over-think his relationships with other people. He's also an unreliable narrator: it takes him a long time to tell anyone - even himself - the full truth of what has been happening. There's a neat contrast with special agent Mulvey - who's also hiding her own secrets.

The plot is decidedly twisty and towards the end, you're going to going to have to pay close attention or you'll get lost. I didn't spot whodunnit, despite the fact that all the clues were there.

I have to give a warning about spoilers. The plot makes it impossible not to discuss whodunnit in each of the eight books and you might be better checking these books and Agatha Christie's The Murder of Robert Ackroyd if you're not keen on reading crime novels in the knowledge of the twist that comes at the end. If you've already read them you'll enjoy the trip down memory lane - and you might even be tempted into some rereading.

I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag see a review copy.

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