My thanks to Faber & Faber for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Rules for Perfect Murders’ by Peter Swanson in exchange for an honest review. In the USA it was published as ‘Eight Perfect Murders’.

FBI Agent Gwen Mulvey is investigating a series of unsolved murders that bear a striking resemblance to crimes depicted in classic mystery novels. She contacts Malcolm (Mal) Kershaw the owner of Boston bookshop, Old Devils. The shop specialises in crime and mystery and some years back Malcolm had published a blog article for them titled 'Eight Perfect Murders’. It seems to now being used as a blueprint for a serial killer. Can they identify the killer before all eight murders are re-enacted?

Malcolm is the sole narrator of this intelligent, well crafted mystery. It’s the kind of novel that is great fun for lovers of crime and mystery novels in terms of spotting references.

One small point that may be an issue for some potential readers is that Malcolm’s thoughts on murder mysteries do include major spoilers for the eight ‘perfect murders’ and a few other titles.

Swanson clearly enjoyed himself playing with the tropes of the crime fiction genre as well as having Mal speculate on what makes mystery and crime fiction so popular.

There was a lot to appreciate within this short novel including a cast of memorable characters and a twisty plot. Its mystery bookshop setting reminded me a little of Colin Bateman’s ‘Mystery Man’ series, though Swanson is less comedic in his treatment, even if there is some humour and a touch of satire within.

While this is the sixth novel by Swanson, it is the first that I have read by him. I do have his ‘The Kind Worth Killing’ already on my Kindle and after reading ‘Rules for Perfect Murders’, I plan to read it soon and add his other works to my ever increasing ‘books to read’ list.

FBI Agent Gwen Mulvey needs help to solve a series of murders and enlisted the help of bookshop owner Malcolm Kershaw as he had once posted his "My Eight Favourite Murders".
Which just so happens to be the killer's aswell,between them can they catch the killer?

**This book is also known as Eight Perfect Murders**

Any book-blogging, list-making lovers might want to reconsider, if they are thinking about devising a top ten of their favourite crime fiction novels!

Unreliable narrator and bookseller Malcolm Kershaw runs and part owns The Old Devil's Bookstore specialising in crime fiction, in Boston, Massachusetts. Way back in 2004, Malcolm, now an introverted widower, came up with eight book titles, after quite an agonising ordeal, even going so far as include a couple that he hadn't actually read but had researched the plots, that he included in his blog. These books represented a personal list of the eight perfect murders in crime fiction and they are:

The Red House Mystery (1922) A.A. Milne
Malice Aforethought (1931) Anthony Berkeley Cox
The A.B.C. Murders (1936) Agatha Christie
Double Indemnity (1943) James M. Cain
Strangers on a Train (1950) Patricia Highsmith
The Drowner (1963) John D. MacDonald
Deathtrap (1978) Ira Levin
The Secret History (1992) Donna Tartt

One wintry day, FBI Special Agent Gwen Mulvey shows up at Old Devil's Bookstore and begins to question him about several murders, which could, or not be related to his list. Gwen believes that Malcolm's list is slowly seeping into reality, with a killer progressing their way through it, being guided into committing the perfect murders in actuality. Malcolm becomes embroiled into the investigation, partly to aid the FBI and also maybe as a suspect, and it's fair do's to say he has secrets of his own. Malcolm makes the perfect single narrator; he controls every aspect of the story and I was completely caught up in his tale, eagerly scrolling through the pages to see where I would be taken to next. He incorporates a breadth of knowledge of the mystery genre, and chucks in a number of red herrings, whilst gradually leaking his secrets.

For me, Rules for Perfect Murders (aka Eight Perfect Murders) was a celebration and an appreciation of the mystery genre. Keeping pace with Malcolm as he tried to make sense of events and happenings was quite a feat. I had a lot of fun trying to unravel Malcolm’s secrets and figure out the enigma of the eight perfect murders. I loved this clever book and I think those who have a true love for the craft will love Rules for Perfect Murders. I absolutely adored the author's book, 'Before She Knew Him'. Rules for Perfect Murders has made me a fan of Peter Swanson, all over again!

Thank you to Peter Swanson, Pigeonhole, Faber and Faber, and NetGalley for the complimentary copy and the opportunity to read this book. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

What an unusual story _ and completely riveting. The plot is ingenious and holds the reader's ( well this reader's anyway) attention right to the very end. I would strongly recommend this book to any mystery liver as this is a true mystery from start to finish.

Thanks to Faber and Faber for a much appreciated review copy.

Rules for Perfect Murders is a mystery novel set in and around present day Boston. The story is narrated, in the first person, by Malcolm Kershaw, the co-owner of a specialist mystery book store. As the the tale opens Malcolm is visited by a lone FBI agent, Gwen Mulvey, who asks him about a blog entry he wrote some years previously for the store's website. In the article he identifies eight crime stories which he considers contain perfect (and hence undetectable) murders. Gwen feels that someone may be using the list as the basis for a crime spree and seeks Malcolm's help in developing this idea.

From here the story takes all sorts of twists and turns with Malcolm describing the action. He admits very early on that he is not the most reliable narrator but gradually opens up about past events which he thinks may have a bearing on the killings. His story is much more complex than it first appears and his mental state is obviously fragile.

To describe the story too much more would be difficult without giving too much away but it is certainly an ingenious and page turning book which always is several steps ahead of the reader.

The story takes place during a snowy winter and it is easy to picture customers dropping in to the bookshop to escape the cold. Malcolm, his two assistants, Emily and Brandon and the store cat, Nero are beautifully drawn and easy to visualise. Nero, who has his own back story and his own social media account, is a major draw for visitors to the shop and quickly became my favourite character.

The conclusion, when it comes, is as shocking as it is surprising. The whole story fits together as layers are slowly peeled away and events that have been mentioned, almost in passing, in Malcolm's early narrative become hugely significant.

The book contains themes of guilt, revenge, love and loyalty as well as the inevitable violence surrounding the many deaths that impact the story. It is well worth reading slowly and savouring the way in which the author, a native Bostonian, embodies many tropes of detective fiction within his characters and clearly demonstrates his love for mystery novels.

My only criticism of the book is that it contains major spoilers for a considerable number of the novels it mentions, primarily the eight on the list of perfect murders but also notably The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. If anyone was considering reading any of the following novels and would prefer to read them without spoilers then I would suggest enjoying them before this book. That aside, I would recommend this without any hesitation as a clever and thought provoking crime novel that is both a homage to and different from the stories which have influenced it.

The book includes major spoilers for:
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie)
The ABC Murders (Agatha Christie)
The Red House Mystery (A. A. Milne)
Malice Aforethought (Francis Iles aka Anthony Berkeley Cox)
Double Indemnity (James M. Cain)
Strangers on a Train (Patricia Highsmith)
The Drowner (John D. MacDonald)
Deathtrap (Ira Levin) (Malcolm has never seen or read the play but bases his opinions on the film version)
The Secret History (Donna Tartt)

What was there not to love about this book?! It's a murder mystery that has to do with books and has so many twists and turns! Seemingly perfect murders based on murders in books, one of them being an Agatha Christie. I was hooked right from the start. I read this in one day and will be purchasing a physical copy.

There is something about Peter Swanson’s books in that they always manage to pull the rug out from under you in the best way possible. They genuinely feel unpredictable and have a darkness to them that I just love. Rules For Perfect Murders has a really fun premise. It follows Malcolm Kershaw, a bookseller, who once wrote a blog post about his ‘eight perfect murders’ in mystery fiction. Things get strange when someone starts committing a string of murders using the methods or philosophy of the ones on Malcolm’s list.

This book is honestly the perfect choice for anyone who loves books. Even if you haven’t read all the books mentioned on Malcolm’s list (I had only read three) it really doesn’t take any enjoyment away from the story which weaves the details of each book in so beautifully to the narrative. Book bloggers and frankly most people seem to love lists so the whole idea of Rules For Perfect Murders is brilliantly witty. In fact, the book is fantastically meta without ever taking it that bit too far. Mystery and crime lovers will have so much fun reading this – I certainly did. Equally, fans of classic literature and of movies in the mystery genre will be thoroughly entertained by the twists and turns of the story. Swanson has a tone to his writing that is immediately identifiable as his and also deliciously addictive. I can’t wait to read whatever he comes up with next.

Malcolm is a bookseller, living a seemingly mundane life when one day an FBI agent turns up at his door suggesting that there may be links between some recent murders and a blog he wrote about crime fiction where he listed the perfect murders. After some investigation it appears that there may indeed be a link but does Malcolm know more than he's letting on?

When I started reading this novel I thought I was going to love it. The premise is great and I loved being reminded about favourite novels (the author certainly knows the genre). As it went on though I was less sure of my feelings. Malcolm isn't a particularly interesting character and the twists and turns that you might expect were underwhelming. What ruined it for me though was the dump of information we got at the end. I realise that this is the equivalent of say, Hercule Poirot gathering everyone together to tell them what has happened but it didn't work for me. I was also unconvinced by motive. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This being my first Peter Swanson read I thought the concept for the novel brilliant. A crime novel based on a reading list of eight perfect murders that becomes the basis for real life copy cat murders. What’s not to like?? With fiction blurring into reality this makes for an intriguing read.
When Malcolm Kershaw, owner of the Old Devils bookstore is contacted by an FBI agent Gwen Mulvey about a possible connection between a reading list he put on his bookstore blog and real life murders, a chain of events is set in motion that had me constantly wondering who and what to believe. Mal appears to be an odd,lonely character who may or may not be a very reliable narrator. His wife Claire, a drug addict was killed in a car accident a few years ago and he lives alone with just his cat Nero for company. He’s definitely not a people person and his fellow employees are rather odd characters too. If I’m honest I found his ‘voice’ difficult to engage with especially in the beginning of this novel, with so many references to the list of perfect murders which if you haven’t read many or any of these titles, places you at a slight disadvantage. Having only limited knowledge of these crime novels myself coupled with the kind of memory that doesn’t easily recall plot lines, I felt my enjoyment of this novel was compromised, at least initially.
I did find at times I was struggling to keep hold of all the threads, trying to remember which real life murder had a connection to a fictional crime so this is definitely a read that keeps you on your toes and requires your full attention. The author is always a few steps ahead leading the reader on a merry dance, throwing in details to put you off the scent,making you question the validity of the information Mal as the narrator chooses to divulge. It’s fair to say he has a problem with the truth! The lines between truth and lies, fiction and reality are constantly blurred.
It’s a race to discover the culprit before the eight murders are complete. Could Mal be the killer or is someone trying to frame him or is this something else entirely?
As the book progressed I gradually became more engaged with the storyline so that by the end my overall opinions of this crime novel were drastically improved. Without a doubt this is extremely well written with a cleverly crafted and ingenious plot and it was impossible to even try to second guess each turn of events. By the last few chapters I was totally invested in the outcome and absolutely loved the reveal!! So much so I will now
seek out previous titles by this author. I have no doubt erstwhile fans will not be disappointed.
My thanks as always to the publisher Faber and Faber and Netgalley for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.

Great book that kept me hooked throughout. Not entirely sure about the ending but I will search out other Peter Swanson books as a very enjoyable introduction to this author.

Wow, wow, wow. It sucks you in and doesn't let go. Absolutely raced through this but loved every page. Gripping, twisty, clever and everything in between. I will definitely read more by this author, and will be recommending it to everyone I know. Amazing book, thank you netgalley!

Peter Swanson returns with his latest masterful standalone thriller, Rules for Perfect Murders, and what a devilish treat it is. I mean, what could be better... a pulse-pounding, heart-pumping excitement fest of murders all related in some way or another to a classic mystery book and writer, and when the mounting number of brutal slayings create hysteria amongst the local community the police feel they need to get a handle on the situation. The skilfully plotted mystery novel has you under its spell rapidly and before you know it the conclusion has arrived. The mounting brutal slayings are woven together in a taut fashion and I must admit to loving that the murders were connected to certain popular books. If you enjoy a writer who can have you in shock and awe not knowing what might hit you from leftfield then you cannot go wrong with Rules for Perfect Murders. Many thanks to Faber & Faber for an ARC.

Peter Swanson also wrote Kind Worth Killing For which is in the top 10 books of all time for me so before I started reading this book I felt there was a lot to live up to.
Well - I loved it! I love his writing, style, plots, characters and descriptions of the situations. I would say that the only criticism I have is that he doesn’t write quick enough. More more more!

Why... Please tell me why the book with such potential ended as the one that I almost skipped parts just to find something intriguing. Let's start from the beginning:
Murders based on some well know books, secrets, bookstore owner helping with solving those crimes. It sounds like a great idea for a book and that's what I thought as well, but... Here I am giving this book 2 stars and wondering what went wrong as I had not felt this book at all.
Murders happen and they are based on some novels that were included in the list that was made a few years back and someone was making use of it. Here it was really nice, but soon it started making me bored and interested as the MC was not an exactly enjoyable person to see the world from his perspective.
The ending is A story on its own as it was something that went hard on the crazy road and made this whole read even more understandable to me and just crazy.
I hope that other books from this author will be more fitted into my tastes.

A very enjoyable book. Malcolm list 8 books that have the perfect murder plots in a blog. When an FBI agent connects some unsolved murders to the list ,Gwen enlists Malcolm's help or does she suspect him. I had never read any of the books on the list but had seen couple of film versions. Swanson gives the details of the plots within the narration so would spoil reading those books at a later date.

The plot moves quite briskly, but always leaves you wondering who and why. The latter third of the book does get confusing keeping tabs on 8 murders. I was so keen to find out who the murderer was, that I read the book quite quickly. I might go back to the last few chapters to fully understand all the twists and turns.

I will certainly look out for Peter Swanson's books in future.

I loved this book. It is well thought out and very cleverly written. I am a fan of Peter Swanson’s books and this one did not disappoint.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This book was not what I was expecting from the synopsis, but in the best way! The plot is well developed and gives nods to other crime novels without being too cliche! A great read for any fans of crime novels

Unfortunately I struggled with this book and at times felt like giving up. I however stuck with it and whilst the last few chapters were enjoyable the book as a whole was too slow paced for me. 2.5 stars

Happy Publication Day @peterswanson on Eight Perfect Murders! I'm pretty certain that this is my favourite Peter Swanson novel so far that I've been able to get my hands on (just have to pick up Her Every Fear now).🍷
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Malcolm Kershaw had written an article years prior titled Eight Perfect Murders when an FBI agent shows up at his door. Someone has been going through his "Eight Perfect Murders" article and ticking off the perfect kills one by one. Malcolm then starts to look into who could possible be copycating the deaths in the eight books. 🔪
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This is one that everyone needs to pick up. So start your car and head out to your local bookstore as it is out today 3/3/20! You can thank me later. 🗞📚

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!