Short review: This is a love letter to crime novels and it's brilliantly executed. In this instance, it's all about the journey, not the destination, this is something that I concluded in retrospect.

My advice:  In this book, there are massive spoilers for novels mentioned below. The information is randomly disseminated and can't be avoided as it pertains to the murders in the present story. If you plan on reading any of the following, do it before picking up this book.

- And then there were none

- The ABC murders

- The mysterious affair at stylesp

- The murder of Roger Ackroyd

- Strangers on a train

- Deathtrap

- The drowner

- Double indemnity

- The secret history

- The red house mystery

- Malice aforethought

Long review, no spoilers:

The plot is straightforward: Malcolm, a bookshop manager and crime novel expert has written a blog about his 8 favourite perfect murders from classic fiction, an FBI agent shows up and reveals that someone is potentially committing those exact murders in real life. He starts helping with the investigation, and we are taken on a personal journey of loss, paranoia and trauma.

The story is told in first person from Malcolm's pov. The pace is compelling, little details and reveals are continuously added, thus keeping the mystery and interest high. There are multiple characters, events and timelines crisscrossing, along with tidbits inserted from other crime novels.

Characters: Mal felt like he was running from reality the whole time, he often seemed to be a non-reliable narrator, withholding information from his peers, the FBI and us as well.

The other characters felt jagged somehow - not like caricatures, more like broken pieces of glass, we only got to see a piece of their lives. The writing was lovely, I can see a clear evolution in Peter Swanson's writing style. There were a few parts that were over-present such as drink and meal orders, some Boston related geography/driving instructions as well as repeating events multiple times (all 3 are typical for a Swanson novel).

Climax: The twist was not satisfactory for me, I won't spoil it, but I can honestly say it came from nowhere in my opinion. The actual ending dragged unnecessarily, as the story had ended for about 10 pages.

Overall, I enjoyed this thriller, it kept me reading for 2 days, introduced me to a lot of crime novels that sound fantastic. Just to manage expectations, I would add that this story has Mal at the center, not the murders/mystery.

Pet peeve/common concern: This spoils a lot of twists from the novels mentioned (to be fair, they've been published for decades). Again I caution fans of the genre, if you plan on reading any of them, either do it before reading this or go into it having accepted that the killers and twists will be revealed.

Rating: 4.25

In all honesty I wasn’t expecting to like Rules for Perfect Murders as much as I did. If asked I would say that the Mystery/Crime genre is my least favourite, but Peter Swanson has gained a fan with this book.

Rules for Perfect Murders was fast-paced and easy to read. It also had me almost gasping with shock on several occasions.

THIS REVIEW WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS

Malcolm Kershaw, the owner of Old Devils mystery bookshop, is contacted one day by FBI agent Gwen Mulvey. Gwen wants his help to solve a series of seemingly unrelated murders which she believes may be based on a blog post he wrote years earlier.

The blog post in question was titled ‘My Eight Favourite Murders’ and contained a list of eight mystery books with what he considered to be perfect murders.

Can they stop the murderer before the list is completed?

The author warns us over and over that as a narrator he is highly unreliable, but I still didn’t get even one of the big twists. In fact, for much of the book I was convinced that Emily was the murderer.

“Disclaimer: while what you are about to read is largely true, I have re-created some events and conversations from memory. A few names and identifying characteristics have changed to protect the innocent.”

The above was on the very first page and was our first warning from the author and there were more to follow.

“If these words are ever read, then I am sure that the reader might have already guessed that I have more to do with these crimes than I’ve been letting on.”

“I don’t trust narrators any more than I trust the actual people in my life. We never get the whole truth, not from anybody.”

One big plus for the book for me is that it has a few lists of books in it and most of them were books I have never heard of. Even though they were Mystery books I would still consider reading some of them.

The main list in the book, the list of eight favourite murders was comprised entirely of books I hadn’t read and mostly of books I haven’t heard of. Some of the books I would like to read since reading this book.

The Red House Mystery – Agatha Christie
Malice Afterthought – Anthony Berkeley Cox
The A.B.C murders – Agatha Christie
Double Indemnity – James M Cain
Strangers on a Train – Patricia Highsmith
The Drowner – John D. Macdonald
Death Trap - Ira Levin
The Secret History – Donna Tartt
I loved how this book kept me guessing the entire time and I would definitely recommend it.

There is little I can add to other reviews detailing the classic murder plots played out here. I’ve read one or two of the books and seen some of the movies mentioned, all quite some time ago, and I was delighted to be reminded of them. I found this novel enormously entertaining. It is skilfully plotted, well paced with snippets of information and clues dropped in at just the right intervals and kept me guessing throughout, especially as to who was telling the truth. I enjoyed the characters, too, the narrator Malcolm of course, but also his co-workers, his customers and his cat. Highly recommended.

Peter Swanson created again an intriguing and complex suspense novel. Malcom Kershaw runs a bookstore. Years ago he wrote a blog post on his website listing eight perfect murders in crime fiction. One day a young FBI agent comes to his shop and tells him that somebody may commit murders like the ones in the books on his list. And one murdered person is linked to Malcolm.

This is as much as you should know about the plot. Malcolm is our narrator and be careful to trust him. He is a manipulative narrator. This is not so much about who is the killer. It is more about what Malcolm is telling us and when. I also liked how the eight classic murder stories were woven into the story. The plot itself is far-fetched but it is a fun read. Swanson’s stories are always unique, well told and very entertaining even when they are unrealistic. This was my fourth book from him and definitely not my last. I am always looking forward with what he will come up next.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars

👏🏻 Brilliant, brilliant thriller! I read it in two sittings and only paused to go out to lunch! I LOVED the atmosphere, the plot and the characters. I especially loved the bookish world that this thriller is set in!

👍🏻 While I did see a few twists coming, I loved the reveal and the ending! It’s a fast paced read that doesn’t ressemble anything else I’ve read recently.

👎🏻 Nothing bad that I would change!

First off I want to thank @netgalley, @harpercollins & @petermswanson for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Wow ! I am in complete shock over this wonderful masterpiece. I am so sad I have not read a Swanson novel before this one, you can make sure I will read whatever he writes. This book has left me speechless.
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The whole concept of this book is wonderfully thought out, it's so well detailed and written. Everything just flows perfectly from one piece of the puzzle onto the next, you have no choice but to be completely shocked after each revelation that comes. But wait you think you know where Swanson is headed ? Believe me you have no idea. This book grabbed me and threw me in a direction, picked me back up and threw me completely another way. I am completely in shock as to how an author can manage to mind blow me as much as this. This is a non stop thrill ride from page one, you'll be hooked believe me. The plot was so well constructed and felt so real, it brought so much realism to the book. I do believe there's stuff in this book that has actually really happened in real life (as I've seen mentioned on other reviews).
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The ending what can I say, I am speechless! This book was clever, dark, twisty, suspensful, thrilling, what more do I have to say just go read it NOW !!

Is there such a thing as a perfect murder? Makes you wonder!!

Eight Perfect Murders is a fun book that plays tribute to murder mysteries , thrillers and to readers everywhere.

Malcolm who runs a mystery bookstore , The Old Devil ( how I wish I could go there and browse) writes a blog entitle My Eight Favourite Murders. What a list it is !

Someone is following that list and the FBI is investigating. It leads back to Malc. Twists and turns and not the ending I was guessing !!!!!!!!!!!

I don't want to give anything away so get your copy !

I have written down all the books mentioned and off I go to read the ones I have missed.

Cant wait to get my hard copy of Eight Perfect Murders !!

Thanks to NetGalley and Faber and Faber Limited , Faber & Faber for an intriguing fun read !!

This is my first Peter Swanson novel and it kept me on the edge of my seat.
Malcolm Kershaw runs a crime bookshop. Years earlier he wrote a blog post on the crime novels with the most perfect murders. Now an FBI agent has enlisted his help as it appears someone is using that blog as a blueprint for his or her own murders.
But Mal Kershaw is not a reliable narrator and we begin to doubt what and who we can trust.
I found this thriller ingenious and thoroughly enjoyed it
Yes, as others have said, the ending is perhaps a little weaker than the rest of the book, but this is really gripping and more than just a little creepy.
Recommended.

I am a huge fan of books about books so I was incredibly excited to read the newest novel from one of my favorites, Peter Swanson!

In this story, we follow Malcolm, a bookstore owner in Boston who, years ago, compiled a list of murders from popular mystery novels (ie. Agatha Christie, Patricia Highsmith, etc) which he believed to be the “perfect murders.” Now Malcolm is shocked to find out that someone has been copying the murders from his compiled list. The killer also appears to have the inside scoop on Malcolms own secrets. Now Malcolm is determined to find out what is happening in order to protect himself.

I really enjoyed the literary references in this book. I thought it was a very unique concept and was executed pretty well. The story kept me engaged for the most part. Overall, I found this to be a decent mystery on the lighter side. It would be great for anyone who is looking to dip their toes into this genre. Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy!

Peter Swanson writes the dream novel for crime and mystery fiction aficionados as he pays tribute to the genre, with the ideal unreliable narrator in bookseller Malcolm Kershaw who runs and part owns The Old Devil's Bookstore specialising in crime fiction, in Boston, Massachusetts. Many years ago Kershaw compiled in his blog a personal list of the eight perfect murders in crime fiction, it comprises of Agatha Christie’s A. B. C. Murders, Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train, Ira Levin’s Death Trap, A. A. Milne's Red House Mystery, Anthony Berkeley Cox's Malice Aforethought, James M. Cain's Double Indemnity, John D. Macdonald's The Drowner, and Donna Tartt's A Secret History. In a wintry Boston in the present, FBI Special Agent Gwen Mulvey turns up at Kershaw's bookstore, convinced his list is bleeding from fiction into reality, with a killer working his way through it, guided into committing the perfect murders in real life.

Mulvey co-opts Kershaw into her investigation as they re-read and discuss the books on the list, he is aware he is a suspect, with more of his personal history slowly and skilfully revealed in the narrative. Malcolm is a loner, who struggles to connect with people beyond the initial developments of a relationship, the one and only exception being his beloved wife, Claire Mallory, a woman with her own past trauma and other issues. From childhood, his favourite genre has always been crime fiction although in more recent times he has not been able to read it, instead cribbing from reviews for current crime fiction to cover for his contemporary lack of knowledge. As he visits crime scenes with Mulvey, it becomes increasingly clear as more murders occur replicating those from the original list, that a killer is targeting those connected to him, getting ever closer to the bookseller himself, triggering Kershaw's urgent investigation to identify the killer.

Swanson litters this entire novel with other literary references to numerous well known crime novels, and I should warn readers who want to read from the blog list that they should do so prior to reading this as there are major spoilers included. The creation of the central protagonist, Malcolm Kershaw, and his development is done with skill and Swanson draws on classic well known tropes in the crime fiction genre with panache. This is the perfect multilayered read for crime fiction readers, and I have no doubt that this book will go down a storm on publication. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Faber and Faber for an ARC.

Initial thoughts
I requested this book because its description caught my attention. It seemed something new, something exciting. And I liked the cover too.

Description
A series of death, unsolved murders lead FBI agent Gwen Mulvey to a bookshop called Old Devils. Owner Malcolm Kershaw posted a blog about his eight favourite murders, 8 books which in his opinion are about perfect murders. Gwen thinks the murders have some connection with Kershaw’s list. Someone reenact the murders from those books. But who? And why? And what is their connection to Kershaw?

Main characters
The lead character is Malcolm Kershaw. He is one sneaky guy with so many secrets that I’ surprised he can keep track of them. He starts his own investigation and while he does he tells the reader about his past, about his wife and what happened to her. I didn’t exactly like him but didn’t dislike him either. He hides a lot of himself, doesn’t have many friends but doesn’t seem to mind. He is definitely smart but does stupid things from time to time. He is human after all. Okay, maybe I did like him. Because of his human-ness.

I would call the killer the other main character. Let’s just say that the killer is deranged and mad. The motive behind the murders is pure madness.

Supporting characters
There are some. FBI agent Gwen Mulvey is one of them. We get to know her a little, her past mostly but only because she has a connection to Malcolm's wife. I thought her investigation will get more part in the book because she is intelligent and driven and I very much like characters like that, like her but she only has some minor role.
Malcolm’s employees at the bookshop are Emily and Brandon. They are mentioned but just in passing, mostly their relationship with Malcolm. Emily is reserved, Brandon is her exact opposite.
Marty Kingship is a regular buyer at the bookstore, him and Malcolm became friends. He is an ex-cop, that is how he comes into the story.

Writing style
The story is written from the point of view of Malcolm, in the first person. I’ve always liked those books better, they make me feel more connected to the narrator.
The pacing is fast, no boring parts, twists all the way through the story. The book kept my attention, I wanted to know who the killer is, why he kills, what Malcolm hides.

Ending
Well...the ending is the reason why I’m giving 4 stars instead of 5. The way the killer’s identity is revealed didn’t leave me breathless. And what happens afterwards left me wanting.

All in all I enjoyed this book and I recommend it if you are a mystery and crime fan.

Thank you to NetGalley and Faber & Faber for my copy. All opinions are my own.

Peter Swanson has done it again! Rules for Perfect Murders is a solid, well-constructed thriller about eight murders resembling crimes depicted in classic mystery novels. Our main character Malcolm Kershaw gets caught up because of the blog post he once posted online featuring the very same eight murders these new unsolved murders resemble. Can the killer be stopped? Is Malcolm involved? Filled with plenty of twists and turns, readers will have a hard time putting this one down. Highly recommended if you enjoy classic mystery novels or if you're looking for a good, solid mystery to read.

Mr Swanson has done it again and written a fantastically clever thriller. As per usual there are several threads running throughout the story and half the fun is trying to figure out where it's going and who dunnit.

The only thing I would say is the book was too short! I always want to carry on reading his plots as they are so well thought out and presented to us.

Honestly one of his best books yet

For me it was actually too clever a concept- the perfect murder in literature are brought to life by a serial killer craving attention

Well enough written however there was a lot of explaining to do for readers who were unfamiliar with the original 8 books - that’s where it all fell flat.

Some will love it though

Malcolm Kershaw is a bookshop owner, that specialises in crime and mystery books. An FBI agent enlists his help with a number of unsolved murders that appear to link in with a blog post he wrote several years ago about perfect fictional murders. Slowly details are revealed that indicate that Malcolm is not all that he appears to be.
This story is full of twists and surprises. Just what you would expect from a Peter Swanson novel.
Ironically, Malcolm states at the beginning of the novel that he no longer enjoys reading crime novels, but this book is actually a homage to the classic murder mystery novels of Agatha Christie et al.
It was a quick read and I found the shortness of the book disappointing. For me the story fizzled out towards the end which was a shame. Nevertheless, it was still very entertaining to read.

I am a huge fan of Peter Swanson having read and enjoyed all books. The Kind Worth Killing being my favourite but "Rules For Perfect murders" The title I read it as but also known as Eight Perfect Murders ran a staggeringly close second place to that book.

Crime book shop Owner Malcolm Kershaw had written a blog identifying what he believed to be 8 perfect murders from crime literature. An FBI agent contacts him when bodies are found that follow the pattern of some of the murders mentioned in his list and he is drawn into the investigation.

The character Malcom lets the reader know the books and the authors and I found myself googling them, some of which I knew of and others that I had seen as movies.

The book is a real page turner, has you guessing, and guessing again as to who the perpetrator or perpetrators might be.

Has a real twist to the book, which is always a selling point for me and had me enthralled from start to finish.

Thanks got Netgalley UK and publishers Faber And Faber for allowing me to review this book before it's release date of 3rd March (kindle) and 5th March (Hardback) for a fair and honest review

What a fun book! The premise lends homage to classic murder mysteries, from Strangers on a Train to the more recent TheSecret History (sadly, as I find that novel highly overrated). Mal is a bookstore owner who once published a list of eight perfect murders in literature. Now, someone has taken this list to inspire some murders. Mal is recruited by the FBIto help find the killer and the reader is brought along for the ride as secrets are revealed and red herrings keep the reader guessing as to the identity of the murderer and Mal’s possible link to the murders.

It’s a gripping thriller and with its plot recalling classic murders novels, it may just add a few more books to one’s reading list!

Thank you to Faber & Faber, as well as NetGalley, for the ARC.

just wow!
peter swanson always delivers perfectly constructed stories that one could not put aside!
though i usually prefer books from female pov i could instantly connect with mal the main character!
the end totally matches up with the whole book;
a huge recommendation for everybody who loves good thrillers, books and cats
thank you #netgalley

Mal wrote a blog years ago about 8 perfect murders from classic mystery novels and now someone is actually committing those murders. If you are a fan of of classic mystery novels that are mentioned in this book then I think you’ll love it. I wasn’t familiar with the books mentioned so it wasn’t as enjoyable for me. It was a clever concept but the pace was slow and repetitive at times. This is probably my least favourite Peter Swanson book (The Kind Worth Killing For is my one of my all time favourite books) but I’m sure many people will love this book.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for granting my wish! Book is out March 3rd, 2020.

This was a really interesting and clever thriller. Not like anything I have read previously.

This book is told in a memoir format. You follow Malcom as he is visited by a detective one day, who is concerned that someone is copying a list that he wrote of eight perfect murders in crime and mystery books, someone is bringing those murders to life and Malcom needs to find out who.

I've not read a book like this before. It is essentially a crime book about crime books. It is very clever and definitely a unique thriller.

However, I would add that this book has major spoilers for lots of famous crime books. Some of the more popular books that are spoiled in this book include the secret history by Donna Tart, ABC murders and the murder of roger Ackroyd.

I loved the writing style. It was really engaging and easy to read.