I heard that this was quite different from Peter Swanson usual novels, but I really loved Before She Knew Him so I thought I would give this one a try. I agree that it’s different however if you are a fan of classic mystery novels and “whodunits” you will most likely enjoy this one!

I must warn you that there are spoilers of classic mystery novels, so if you haven’t read them, you might want to read them before reading this one. I didn’t mind since I will mostly forget everything soon anyways lol but just be warned.

The story is narrated solely by Mal, therefore, we are only getting his version of the story. This initially made me suspicious, especially after he mentioned The murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie since we only have one version of the events. I usually really love difference POVs but I must say it really worked in this book.

Overall, this novel wasn’t a page-turner thriller, it was really a classic mystery setup, and the story was predictable in a sense, but you must absolutely read until the end. I was definitely surprised on how everything came together and ended. Great execution!

Despite being thrilled to receive an ARC, I’m afraid, overall this is just an OK read for me.

It’s an exciting premise, especially for an avid reader, as it’s based in a bookstore, where a bookseller finds himself in the middle of an FBI investigation as he’s questioned about a blog he wrote years ago about ‘eight perfect murders’. There are references to some fabulous books and I had high hopes. However, unfortunately, I just found it plodding and slow and I really struggled to stay engaged.

I very much appreciate the opportunity to preview and thanks to NetGalley and the publishers.

2*

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and it’s quirky theme. Didn’t expect to enjoy it but soon became caught up in the twists and turns as the story developed. Definitely recommended to those who enjoy this genre.

Swanson does it again! I’ve loved his books since I found his first one on a friend’s recommendation and the new installment of his work continues the trend of well developed characters and a nice, twisty story. Two thumbs up.

Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy in return for my honest review. Thrilling novel, absolutely loved it. Hooked from start to finish. If you love a good mystery this is definitely one to read.

A clever and inventive mystery which is a particular treat for aficionadoes of the genre. I loved how we are slowly taken into the narrator's confidence and are led down false trails along the way. Very enjoyable.

This was a good read, it also made me want to go out and read the perfect murders list! There were a few twists in the book which took me by surprise and it was definitely good enough to make me speed through it to the end.

"Books are time travel. True readers all know this. But books don't just take you back to the time in which they were written, they can take you back to different versions of yourself"

When I first found out about this book I just knew that I was gonna love it, and I was right! It's the perfect read for all those classic mysteries fans. I was caught up in the story from page one, reading it in less than a day. It is a big puzzle where at first you think it impossible for all the pieces to fit, but when you reach the end the only thing left is a big bow to wrap it all up.

I found Malcolm a likable character. In the tradition of some of the most famous classic whodunits we soon find out that he is an unreliable narrator, and that maybe not everything is as straightforward as he is telling us. This made him such a more interesting character.

I just loved all the book references, specially cause most of those books were between my first reads of the genre when I was a teen so, as the quote above says, they took me back to a different version of myself.

Although the revealing of the killer was a bit anticlimatic, and I'm sure if you're a hardcore mystery fan probable you guessed who the culprit was, the journey there was so enjoyable that I didn't mind that one bit.

Perfect homage to the old-school crime novel that will appeal to all those classic murder mysteries fans.

Thanks to Netgalley and Faber & Faber for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

After hearing fantastic reviews about this book I requested an ARC through Netgalley which I was lucky enough to be sent. I’m so glad I was as I really enjoyed it. I was a bit underwhelmed at first but once the story started unfolding, wow.

Malcolm Kershaw is the part owner of Old Devils book store. Malcolm has always been a lover of the mystery thriller and when he took over the shop he wrote a list of 8 perfect unsolvable murders to get away with listed from some of the classics.

Now someone has this list and has started to kill people in line with the list. Why are they doing this ? Is it something to do with Malcolm? Just what is he hiding ? Then the layers start to unfold and the story really gets going. It took me a while to work out who it was as the secrets and red herrings come thick and fast until the fitting ending.

If you love a good mystery and suspense read this is definitely for you. Highly recommended.

A good idea poorly executed.
The premise is great: a killer follows a "Perfect murders" list written by the main character but then throughout the story each book is described and the ending/twist revealed. The story is not particularly well constructed and to be honest the ending is completely over the top. The author has tried too hard on this occasion and i will definitely remember that book for for the wrong reasons.

Here is a real treat for crime fiction aficionados, with its homage to the mystery crime classics such as 'Strangers on a Train' and ''Then There Were None'. Most devotees of the genre will be familiar with the titles quoted, either as novels or film adaptations, and much of the enjoyment of the plot centres around the way these fictional storylines inspire the copycat ‘perfect’ murders in the ingenious metafictional and unreliable narration.
I must confess I did not guess the identity of ‘Charlie’, the perpetrator of the crimes, and am now having to re-read the first section to find the clues I missed the first time around!
This is the first novel I have read by Peter Swanson and I will definitely be reading more.
Just one more thing (as Columbo would say) - why does the narrator only list eight perfect murders and not ten – which seems a more likely number for a list … just asking!

I have mixed feelings about this book but on balance I did really enjoy it. My reservations stem mainly from the fact that it made me want to read some of the classic crime novels referenced, but I now feel as if I have too much of an idea of the plots so may not enjoy them as much. I was also quite disappointed that I worked out most (but not all) of the answer so early on in the book.

Having said all that, I did enjoy the characters and the bookshop setting and I will be working my way through the references texts that I haven't already read.

If you love classic thrillers, you'll REALLY love this.

Taking inspiration from the classics, "Rules for Perfect Murders" sees a bookseller dragged into the investigation of a series of seemingly unconnected 'perfect' murders.

With the link apparently a blog post but no motive to be found, what's really going on?

Romping good fun.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

The bewildered innocent drawn into a investigation by a rogue FBI agent, but at the pace of a Sunday repeat of Midsomer Murders, but how deeply is he really involved...

I really enjoyed this book, but I think the reader will get the most out of it if they have read a lot of crime fiction. I had read most, but not all, of the books on ‘the list’, and have now added some to my kindle- some I haven’t read yet and some to re-read. It is a cleverly drawn out plot, with some likeable characters, and the usual twists we expect from a book of this genre. It should maybe come with a spoiler alert for the books on ‘the list’, as it does give away the endings, but this is necessary for the plot. And really, lovers of crime fiction should have read these books anyway!

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book, I liked it but it was a very different read, not only is it an old time thriller but a book about books too.

Rating: 4.5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

This is the first book I read from Peter Swanson and I have to say that I like his style of writing. Not only I found the story and the final twist interesting, but also I loved the fact that is a book about books. I'm a huge fan of Agatha Christie, so it was a nice surprise to read about it in this book.

What is this book about?

A few years back, a librarian called Malcolm Kershaw wrote a blog post titled "My Eight Favourite Murders" featuring Agatha Christie, Patricia Highsmith and Donna Tartt. Fast forward to the present, few unresolved murderers have called the attention of FBI Agent Gwen Mulvey, who seems to have found a link between all of them: An old blog entry about perfect murderers written by Malcom Kershaw.

I couldn't put it down until the end. Although I had a hard time following the people and the events of the unresolved murderers and how they are related to each of the books, I still enjoyed this book and I will recommend you to read it.

*Thanks to Faber and Faber Ltd for sending me an advanced copy of this book! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Thanks to NetGalley and Faber Books for the advanced electronic copy. Rules for Perfect Murders (or ’Eight Perfect Murders’ as it will be published outside of Australia) is another stellar read from Peter Swanson. This book starts in a book store, and crosses paths with a murder investigation led by the FBI. For all crime readers, this has the makings of an engaging read and it did not disappoint! There are a number of twists and turns, some of which I did realise whilst I was reading, but the book will have you guessing right up until the end. I did find the main character a bit shallow at times, though not unlikeable. The way that the story is told from his viewpoint takes the reader alongside the mystery.

I really enjoyed this novel. It reminded me of Anthony Horowitz (in a good way). It is murder mystery narrated in the first person. There are nods to classic novels and authors and everything ties well together. I would highly recommend it.

I don’t think I have the literary training or refinement to have done this book justice. I felt completely out of my depth. It wasn’t what I was expecting at all and was very over heavy on classical references to books. There was an abundance of quotes, nods to authors, and I’m sure a lot more that I didn’t even notice or pick up on.
The plot seemed at points very overly complicated, and I did feel at times that the FBI agent and Mal were really trying to shoehorn the murders into the similarities they wanted to find between the books on the list of Mal’s ‘Eight Perfect Murders’. Some of their theories did seem a bit fanciful. However, toward the end, it did seem to be a little clearer. This isn’t a book that you can just read, though, and go with. You really need to concentrate and keep up with what is going on. You need to remember things that have been said no matter how small as they might be significant later on.
There were sections that I found incredibly dull, and I wondered whether to give up on the book entirely and then there were others that I felt drawn in by. I enjoyed Mal’s history with his wife, Claire, for example. This was quite fascinating, so when he started to narrate what actually happened to her, I felt glued to the book. Likewise, with the end of the book, when everything starts to come together. I thought I’d stop reading last night at around 70% and read the rest today, but I found myself unable to put it down as I needed to know the final outcome.
I’m not 100% sure I’m entirely understanding or following what even happened at the end of the book and it has left me a bit open-mouthed and confused. Was he, wasn’t he, huh? I have no idea so just go with Helen!
This was an ok read and kept my attention just enough to make it pleasant but not quite enough to take my mind off everything happening in my personal life at the moment, which is what I need. It also wasn’t quite what I expected and certainly wasn’t anywhere near as good as the other Peter Swanson book that I have read that prompted me to request this in the first place.