Short Version:
This book really said “psychopaths, but make it fun.” The idea of undergraduate psychopaths plotting revenge and trying to catch a killer is one with massive potential–and here, that potential was reached. Never Saw Me Coming is dark, twisty, sometimes funny, often chaotic, and highly entertaining.

Long Version:
Look, I think psychopaths are fascinating. At one point, they were an obsessive focus of mine for a few months. I majored in Cognitive Studies in undergrad and loved topics in abnormal psychology (though, I must confess, I did not love my Abnormal Psychology professor–perhaps that is a story for another day). But I think this is the first time I’ve read a work of fiction with a psychopathic narrator (and multiple psychopathic characters)? It was great–psychopathy is a commonly stigmatized condition, and this story addressed it with a solid degree of nuance, which helped with both characterization and plot advancement.

The book is told largely in first-person through Chloe’s eyes, but it also spends chapters in third-person with a couple other characters (Charlie, a golden boy who genuinely wants to learn how to be normal, and Andre, who is only pretending to be a psychopath), presenting a wide view of the different ways in which psychopathic traits can manifest in people. They can be glib and charming or flat and indifferent, some want to fit in, some like to see people suffer–but all of them lack certain feelings like empathy and genuine fear. Viewing the story through their calculating eyes made for a tense read, and a jarring one when their thought processes diverged from what most of us would consider “normal.” None of them were likable per se, but I couldn’t help rooting for them anyway–Chloe, as she plotted her revenge, and all of them as they tried to catch the killer. As a result of their various manifestations of psychopathy, their relationship dynamics are also fascinating, with multiple players all trying to play each other, all used to being the one in control.

Beyond the characters, the story itself was also generally executed well. The hierarchies and structures of the collegiate setting (honors classes, fraternities, social status among peers, and so on) imposed some structural constraints on character behavior, so it was not just a story about unhinged characters set loose in the world, which was highly effective. I also thought I had the killer figured out early on, but had to revise my guess several times as the end approached; the twists added a sufficient amount of complexity but never prevented the book from being an easy-to-follow, binge-readable story.

However, I did have some quibbles with the plot as a whole. The ending “fizzled” a bit more than I had expected given how intensely the rest of the book unfolded, and in fact, it opened up a moral/psychological gray area that was ripe for exploration but instead went untouched. Similarly, there were some side plots I would have liked to see a bit more of, particularly Charles’s internal struggles with learning to behave “normally.” One other small complaint that made me irrationally annoyed was that a few times, the very social media-savvy characters referenced technology features that definitely don’t exist, like the ability to pre-schedule Instagram posts.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t note how interesting the framing/commentary on social science in general was. The descriptions of psychopathy matched quite closely with everything I’ve read about psychopaths. There were questions raised about nature versus nurture, and several points seemed to suggest the blurry line between behavior that is diagnosed as a an actual psychiatric condition and behavioral patterns that are just ethically questionable. And Andre’s storyline raised issues about how the medical system treats Black individuals, often pathologizing things that are actually just isolated incidents in precise circumstances.

At the end of the day, this book is meant to be a psychological thriller that leans heavily into abnormal psychology and uses a little-understood condition to both twist the plot and comment on the psychology field as a whole. And in that regard, it certainly succeeds. It may not be perfect, but it is a heck of a lot of fun.

"Never Saw Me Coming" by Vera Kurian is an incredibly well-crafted and unique psychological thriller that left me thoroughly impressed. The story centers around a group of college students who are all diagnosed as psychopaths and are being studied as part of a research program. However, when a series of murders occurs on campus, the group is forced to band together to try and catch the killer.

What I loved about this book is how it subverts the typical tropes of the thriller genre. The characters are not your typical protagonists and the plot takes unexpected turns that kept me engaged and guessing throughout the entire book. Kurian's writing is sharp and insightful, with a deep understanding of the psychology of psychopaths.

The characters are all well-developed and each one has their own unique voice and perspective. Despite their lack of empathy, I found myself rooting for them and invested in their personal journeys.

Overall, "Never Saw Me Coming" is an impressive debut novel that showcases Kurian's talent as a writer. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a thought-provoking and original thriller that challenges the norms of the genre.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book took me on a ride. It was very addictive, cleverly written, and fun to read. It gets more interesting with each chapter that you don’t want to stop reading it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the arbor for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is what I’m talking about! 😍
Step in the shoes of a true psychopath with this novel! This one had my three faves: unreliable narrators, twists and psychological thrills!
The main character, Chloe, a diagnosed psychopath has murder on her mind in between her college studies.
A definite read for fans of thrillers and of course fans of Dexter 😉

5 stars, basically no notes, everything I love in a thriller, and I want Vera Kurian to be my new best friend lolllll.

This just hit. LOVE the premise, the characters, the tension... if you love sociopathic characters, unreliable narrators, and have been hankering for college-set adult thrillers, pick this up. An ideal example of how you can have college-aged protagonists but sit FIRMLY in the adult thriller space vs. YA.

I really enjoyed this twisty thriller and absolutely did not see the final villain coming! The Simone Biles lines had me snort laughing! Will definitely recommend to all I know!

I was very excited for this novel based on the description, and for the most part it lived up to my expectations. It had a twist I didn't see coming (the reveal of the serial killer hunting down sociopaths living on a college campus participating in a long-term study was totally unexpected for me!) and included some spicy scenes I did not expect but did enjoy. The novel was fast-paced with an exciting plotline, and I look forward to reading what else this author publishes in the future.

Did not like. Different from what I normally read. I would probably pick up another book by this author just to see if I really do like the author’s books or not.

I thought this was a very intriguing read. After reading the description I was excited to read the novel.

Overall, I thought this was a pretty good read. I thought a few things were over the top but still enjoyed the story and I am glad I read it.

I hope to read more from this author.

I felt that this book had too much stuff going on to make a cohesive story. Had potential, but just got dumb toward the end. I liked the premise of the book, but unfortunately, the book became ridiculous and unbelievable when it was already such an unbelievable story.

An interesting synopsis! The book is written in the POV of three characters - though the majority of the book is told in the point of view of Chloe. The novel is fast-paced and hooked me from the beginning. Loved all the twists as well as the unexpected ending - which I am still thinking about! This is a read that I enjoyed.

Never Saw Me Coming is an engaging psychological thriller following a group of psychopaths as they participate in a college research study. The story is told from the perspectives of 3 of the psychopaths as they each battle their own issues as well as coming together to figure out who the campus killer is.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story being told by the 3 different viewpoints as well as the side story of Chloe hunting down Will. The story kept me on my toes as the plot thickened and new twists were added. I truly did not see the ending coming, and as such, I wish it had been told more thoroughly. I also felt the side story of Chloe and Will was not explored as much as it could have been - there was a lot of build up, but the resulting climax didn't seem to match.

Overall, this was a novel I couldn't put down! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

𝟮.𝟱 ⭐️ / 𝟱 ⭐️

Did someone say it’s #thrillerthursday?! I’m back again with yet another unpopular opinion. I found this book to drag out longer than I felt necessary, or maybe it was just a lengthy book, so there was potential with room for character development? I had a hard time because I didn’t necessarily find myself loving or rooting for any of the characters. I did love that it took place in an academic setting alongside a psychopathy study. It made it a very creative premise.

Overall, if you love psychology thriller with a not so surprise ending, various plots, and potential unlikeable characters, this book is for you!

This book really says psychopaths, but make it fun.’ what a totally wild experience.

The premise is super interesting. i think it does attempt at times to show that not everyone with a conduct or personality disorder is a murderer/criminal. i actually found charles to be the most compelling character because of this. you can really see hes genuinely trying to stop his diagnosis from controlling his life and how others perceive him.

This is a mystery/thriller, so of course there has to be some emotionless killing. lol. i really wish more page time was dedicated to chloe and her revenge against will. its set up so well, so youre dying to know what will did and why he deserves to die. but as the story progresses and more POVs are added, it becomes more of a side plot, which i found to be a bit of a bummer.

The overall story is unique and entertaining. i think those interested in psychology and glimpsing inside the minds of people who think completely differently will find this fascinating.

I was excited to read this and it didn’t disappoint, it promised a gripping and turbulent ride. The journey into the mind of a sociopath and killer was particularly fascinating. I didn’t find Chloe particular likeable whereas Andre I liked. Without giving away spoilers it’s a typical “ Cat and mouse” game but a deadly one. Although I did really enjoy the book I did find it quite long and drawn out.

I really didn't know what to expect going into this book except that it was about some college students who were in a special program for psychopaths. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed reading this book told from the POV of a psychopath -who would have thought. .

A fun, engaging thriller for fans of "Teen Killers Club" and those who love a dark campus novel. The rotating perspectives of multiple (potentially) unreliable narrators kept me constantly on my toes and turning pages late into the night!

This is a super unique thriller, where we’re following a group of psychopaths who are apart of a school study. It puts the psychological in psychological thriller. While enjoyable, this was not a very memorable book, and I would’ve liked more information about the study they were apart of.

I’ve read a lot of books with psychopathic characters, but this may be the first time I’ve ever found myself rooting for them… well, some of them anyway. Chloe makes me laugh while at the same time making me glad I don’t actually know her.

I got a few chapters in, and I just couldn’t for the life of me get into this book. I will give it another try later.