This story captures the reader’s interest right away. The first page starts with our protagonist, Chloe, setting the timeline for murdering another student. The setting is a college campus in Washington DC during a season complicated by protests. The core group of people we are following are all anonymous to each other, but enrolled in a psychological research trial that has provided each of them scholarships to attend the university. The trial is a study of psychopathy and trying to show that interventional steps to retrain the way that they process information and behave can help them to live more mainstream lives.
The problems begin when a murder occurs in the psychology building and the dying person is found by one of the students enrolled in the study. Naturally everyone is uneasy with this event but then a second murder occurs, involving another participant in the study and now there is a serial killer. Several of the students find other participants and they start to try to work together to find out who the murderer is. Of course, none of them know each other well and being psychopaths, are particularly uncertain as to who to trust and not trust. The one thing they do know is that the major professor conducting the research was the treating psychologist of the most notorious serial killer in the past 20 years that the school has had.
How does present day tie into the history of the school and the psychologist’s involvement with the prior case?
Can they stay safe and who can be trusted?
Who might die and who might live?
Lots of questions and the author does a good job of tying things together in an interesting way.
Definitely recommend!
#NeverSawMeComing #Netgalley #Harlequin #ParkRow

I loved that this book was nothing like I've ever read before!
Solid "WTH" is going on type of read. Fast-paced & entertaining.

University is a strange time, full of new people, new classes, new expectations. What you don't expect is psychopaths, per se! But at Adams University there are at least seven which means I was hooked into Never Saw Me Coming straightaway. What a ride! Thanks to Harlequin, Park Row and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit that I'm a True Crime fan that doesn't yet entirely understand the difference between psychopathy and sociopathy. I know there is a difference and I know that it is an important one, but I couldn't quite explain the finer details to you. I do know the stigma around it is intense, in part due to the very easy way in which we use the word 'psycho' as an insult, joke, or film title. So imagine you are a psychopath and are invited to become part of a study that aims to not "fix" you, but give you tools to cope, to appear more "normal"? I found this a fascinating idea and thankfully Kurian does take the time to walk the knife's edge between the fun and drama of her plot and the more earnest discussion of mental health and psychopathy.

Chloe has a plan. She is part of a clinical study of psychopaths, which means she has to be smart about her plan. But as a psychopath, that should come easy to her. She has no idea who else is in the study but this quickly changes when another member is found dead. And not just dead, but straight-up murdered. Together with Charles and Andre, two other students in the study with their own secrets, she tries to balance finding a murderer while trying to get away with potential murder. The plot of Never Saw Me Coming is a riot and I loved experiencing it through Chloe, Charles and Andre's eyes. They each have a clear and different voice and their experiences vary wildly as well, which gives the reader various viewpoints with which to approach the plot. I must say Chloe was my favourite, even though she is a bit dramatic and does occasionally run riot. Her actions aren't always logical, but they were

Vera Kurian crafts a brilliant story that takes some Dark Academia influences but makes them shiny and new. There are secrets, weird professors, old buildings and death, but it never runs along the expected lines. At times the two plot lines, Chloe's plan and the murders taking place, battle for supremacy, but Kurian manages to bring them together satisfactorily in the end. Kurian strikes a great balance between high tension and light moments, making sure we never forget that were dealing with young students who also want to hang out, date and drink, not just hunt down killers. While Never Saw Me Coming technically doesn't end on a cliffhanger, I would love for Kurian to continue with these characters. What can I say, I adored these three characters!

Thrilling and snappy, Never Saw Me Coming was a delight to read! I adored the characters and enjoyed the high stakes plot. I can't wait to read more by Vera Kurian!

9/9: Edited to include link.

There was just something about Never Saw Me Coming that made it impossible to resist this story, and I knew that I simply HAD to read it as soon as I first read the blurb. I mean, having a bunch of psychopaths as main characters and a setting on a campus? How can I say no to that?! And I have to say that this book more than delivered for me. Well written, suspenseful, entertaining, twisted... And without doubt recommended if you like a good thriller.

Never Saw Me Coming is a thriller that is extremely engaging, addictive and suspenseful at the same time. The key is probably in the fact that we have multiple psychopaths in the spotlight, and I love how this makes you question everything that is happening while at the same time strangely rooting for them. The character development is simply brilliant. Their interactions, reactions, flaws, actions... It all seems very realisticly done and I love just how likeable they are despite the fact that you probably shouldn't like them in that way. I definitely didn't expect myself to be rooting for them, that's for sure! But it really makes connecting to the story itself so much easier.

The plot uses a multiple POV structure, but the majority is told through the eyes of Chloe Sevre. Fellow psychopath program participants Andre and Charles both help giving insight in the whole situation as well, and they are also very useful for keeping you on your toes and putting you on the wrong track. Nothing is as it seems and we not only have serial killer references, but also the murders happening as well as Chloe's grand plan to kill Will. Everything seems to overlap, lines between good and bad are blurred and you will find yourself unable to stop reading until you reach the end and discover the truth.

The writing is extremely engaging, and combined with a well developed plot and fascinating characters I just kept turning page after page desperate to learn more. The plot twists are cleverly handled as well, and like I said before: having psychopaths as main characters is without a doubt very handy as you constantly wonder if they are hiding something and whether they are telling the truth. All in all Never Saw Me Coming turned out to be a very successful read for me, and I definitely can't wait what Vera Kurian has in store for us next.

A thriller centered around a college program centered around providing therapy to psychopaths in the hopes that they can live normal lights. Sign me up!

I loved this book from start to finish. As obvious from the premise, the main characters were flawed but so very interesting, funny, and enjoyable to read about. I loved the mental health and therapy rep in this book. Based on the portrayals of the various individuals in this story, I was not surprised to find out that Kurian has a PhD in social psychology. She fully expresses the complexity of an Antisocial Personality Disorder diagnosis and how, just like all mental health concerns, the cluster of symptoms is expressed differently in different people.

I loved the psychopath premise to this story line. In my opinion, that really gives you a true thriller reading experience. On the other hand, this book had multiple point-of-views that seemed to be all over the place. It was also a tad longer than it needed to be. The plot was unique (especially for someone that reads a lot of thrillers), and the ending made it worth the drudging through the middle, so I really am glad I took the time to read it.

As the rating suggests, I had mixed feelings about this book.

On the plus side, it was edgy, full of psychological tension, and always had me guessing what would come next. Kurian had my attention from the first page and never let it go. The basic premise of a serial killer targeting psychopaths was novel, brilliant, and captivating.

On the negative side, I suppose the sex and language were there to ensure we had a decided awareness of Chloe's lack of conscience. I can handle a bit of both but the intensity and frequency were a bit off-putting for me.

This synopsis had me at psychopath! Not sure what that says about me! haha

Never Saw Me Coming follows a unique group of 7 diagnosed psychopaths that are part of a study at University. It's told mainly from the POV of Chloe Sevre, a well-crafted and memorable character!

This novel has everything I love in crime fiction. A group of psychopaths. Check. A serial killer. Check. A dark academia setting. Check. Dark academia has been my go-to in this genre recently. I can't get enough!

Thank you NetGalley and Park Row Books for an e-arc of this new fun thriller! I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by this author.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

It’s no surprise that I love a good psychological thriller. Throw in a serial killer, an academic setting and I’m all in! This book was completely addicting and original and I loved every second of it!

What could possible go wrong when a group of psychopaths are invited to participate in a group study at a college so that their behaviors could be observed? That’s what we find here and I just loved that not only do we meet such an incredible and twisted set of characters, but that they all to their own degree become unreliable to some extent. My favorite, of course, was Chloe – what a trip she was. You just never knew what to expect from her and I could not get enough of her. While most of the book is narrated by her, there are some chapters that are narrated by other characters so that we get inside some of the other psychopath’s heads, too.

This book really kept me on my toes, guessing where things were ultimately heading the entire time. We know that Chloe is intent on exacting revenge for a wrong done to her years ago. But, it turns out someone else is looking to exact some revenge of their own on this group. It’s quite clever on the author’s part that you really aren’t sure where this all fits in…and who is behind things.

I had so many different theories as I raced through this book…and I love that. I thought I had this all worked out so many times, only to be completely blindsided in the end.. This book is cleverly plotted and the writing is sharp and engaging. I am definitely going to be keeping an eye out for this author – I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Like most freshmen (and freshwomen!) Chloe Sevre finds herself juggling her Bio and French coursework with the demands of college life, including partying and navigating new social circles. Unlike most of her peers, though, she is also juggling her plot to kill her childhood rapist, who likewise is attending Adams University in DC. She’s attending Adams on a scholarship of sorts, invited as she is to attend for free as long as she participates in a research program designed to study psychopaths. It’s an intriguing premise, and Kurian’s plot answers the question of “what could possibly go wrong by gathering a group of psychopaths together in one place to study them?”. But someone begins offing other participants in the study, and Chloe has the added problem of ensuring she’s not a victim at the same time. Kurian captures both the stress of that first year in college and the mindset of those who, like Chloe, suffer from the violent chronic mental disorder. At times you will empathize with Chloe and fellow study participant Charles. At others you will despise them, and that’s okay. There is enough mystery and second-guessing in this plot to keep any fan of thrillers turning the pages. You will love this debut novel by this promising author.

Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian is a fast-paced, fun thriller about three students trying to track down a murderer at their Washington DC college. The three main characters are students participating in a university psychopath study, a program aimed at rehabilitating those with psychopathic tendencies; but early on two students in the study are killed. The story is told in the perspectives of the three students and I really ended up enjoying their stories even if they could be dark at times. It’s twisty and swiftly paced which kept my interest and had some unexpected conclusions. I was about a third into the book, but waited for the audiobook to finish because it’s read by one of my favorite narrators, Brittany Pressley. As expected, it’s fabulously read and I flew through it in a day! A perfect thriller for the fall.

Thank you Park Row / Harlequin and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

The Review

This was such a fantastically written and gripping thriller. The author takes the classic balance of whodunnit mystery storytelling and haunting thriller vibes and flips the script by having the targeted victims in this case diagnosed psychopaths. This is so unique, as it explores psychopathy as a diagnosis and mental health condition rather than a term just for unhinged criminal minds, while also exploring that facet of the general public’s thinking with morally corrupt characters that fit this description. The layered and complex nature of the character development is what really invites readers into this narrative, delivering shocks and twists not seen since the revelations of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

The atmosphere and tone were what really captured my attention as a reader. The author perfectly found the right blend of chilling personality traits from not just the mystery “killer”, but the protagonists of this narrative as well, and the dark humor that readers can’t help but shakily chuckle at. Readers won’t be able to help to get chills as the author delves into the mindset of these characters, and you won’t be able to help to imagine how many people you know or walk by every day, harboring these thoughts and mindsets. That’s always a good indication of a successful thriller.

The Verdict

A masterful, haunting, and engaging mystery and thriller read, author Vera Kurian’s “Never Saw Me Coming” is a must-read thriller of 2021. The unique character perspectives and chilling atmosphere are incredible driving forces to keep readers invested, and the shocking twist revelation of the killer and their motivation will leave readers falling off their seats.

Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian is a thriller novel with a bit of mystery wrapped up with it. The book follows Chloe, a freshman at John Adams University who receives a full ride scholarship to participate in a confidential study. However this study is not your ordinary study. Instead, it follows a group of 7 students diagnosed with psychopathy including Chloe. However the study is not the only reason Chloe as at John Adams and soon her life becomes intertwined with the other students after two are murdered.

This book has a fantastic premise and was what hooked me from the start. The book is told from multiple perspectives, but is mostly from Chloe's narration. There are some narrators such as the graduate student Elena who only show up once or twice which can make knowing who is narrating a bit difficult at times because the chapter names don't indicate the narrator. However the narrative voice from each character was compelling, particularly the students with psychopathy. It was interesting to see how gender, age, class, and other factors influenced how their psychopathy manifested.

The pacing was intentional, with each chapter building upon the last. At times it was a bit jumpy with it seemign like things went unmentioned before picking back up a few narrators later. Regardless, the build to the end was well done and I loved trying to solve the various mysteries of who the psychopath/killer was and who was running the instagram account.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book for those who want a bit of mystery with their thriller and an original premise.

Many thanks to the publisher Park Row Books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Looooved this! What a unique & interesting premise. This one was so fun and I couldn't put it down. I loved the characters and the whole feel for this one. So good!

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Never Saw Me Coming is one of the most engaging and absorbing thrillers I have read this year. It’s so good!!!!

Right from chapter one I was hooked on the story. Chloe, a freshman at John Adams University in Washington D.C, is a diagnosed psychopath. She’s been given a full ride scholarship to attend the University if she participates in a study about psychopaths set up by a program director at the University, Dr. Wyman. But Chloe has a dark secret and has given herself 60 days to finish something she has been plotting for years.

That premise alone would have drawn me in, but we also get perspectives from several other students in the study as well as the psychologist, Dr. Wyman. Multiple POVS, especially in a thriller, always make the story better IMO. It added to the tension and suspense in a satisfying way.

The main characters were interesting and I found the discussion and exploration of psychopathy fascinating. The author has a PhD in social psychology and you can tell. My slight criticism is with a few of the secondary characters whom I wish had been more fleshed out and would have made the ending more impactful.

The pacing was masterfully done. I’m amazed that this is the author’s first book! Whenever the story came close to slowing down, we’d get another revelation or clue that would get me excited about the plot again.

And it was smartly written. Too many times I read thrillers and mysteries that have so many plot holes and characters who do things that don’t make sense, but I barely found any of this in Never Saw Me Coming. A few minor things gave me pause, but on the whole I was super impressed at how much thought went into plotting this story.

I’d highly recommend Never Saw Me Coming if you are looking for a fast-paced thriller with an unusual premise and enough red herrings to keep you doubting your predictions until the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row Books for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

A mixed bag thriller, Never Saw Me Coming looks at what it means to be a psychopath and if they can be cured.

Chloe is headed to college and has a plan. But her plan isn't books and boys, it's murder and revenge. Chloe has a past trauma that she wants vengeance for and at a DC-based college not only can she get that revenge, she can also get a full scholarship. Chloe is one of seven students in a clinical study of psychopaths and if there is a way to allow these people to adapt to the world around them. Things are going well as horrible until one of the students in the study is killed. Suddenly, Chloe isn't the only one with murder on her mind.

The mystery that unfolds interestingly as the study is the one that is targeted. Who wants these psychopaths dead? How even knows who they are? Has one of their own turned against them? Since none of them can trust one another, the reader can't trust any of them either. But we try to guess and lay emotional bets on the outcome.

Vera Kurian drives me crazy with the use of psychopath-- it's on almost every page and many times with multiple instances. Yes, we get. These people are psychopaths. Yes, we realize the psychopathic behaviors, you don't have to tell us every time it happens. We readers are smarter than you think.

The other issue is that I really don't like Chloe. While she is better than the main character in Catcher in the Rye, she is nowhere near as likable as someone with Dexter Morgan. While I want Chloe to complete her main objective, I can't stand her on a daily basis. She doesn't even attempt to really follow the program, she just doesn't want to get caught. With her lack of empathy, I can't empathize.

On the flip side, I did like most of the other characters. Kurian takes the time to look at the different ways antisocial personalities can manifest. Charles is more the social climber type, while Trevor lives up to the stereotype of no impulse control. This gives some realism that other writers might have passed on. I enjoy hearing their responses to the prisoner's dilemma and the trolley problem. There is a good nature versus nurture debate. There is a lot of power of nurture here that activates an inherent aspect.

An interesting concept, Never Saw Me Coming is a tense mystery that will remind you every other page you are dealing with psychopaths.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. A group of students classified as psychopaths are given a full ride to college in exchange for being test subjects. They are part of a unique clinical study that monitors their mood and movements via smart watch. The idea is to find out what makes them tick. Interesting right??

I really enjoyed Never Saw Me Coming. The characters were interesting and their actions were fascinating, especially the psychopaths. I definitely felt their lack of empathy! Overall this was an entertaining read with a very satisfying conclusion.

Thanks to Park Row Books and Netgalley for my copy!

An old plot with completely new characters.
All the MC's are diagnosed psychopaths attending college.
Yes please!
This put a new spin on the "killer on campus" plot.
I was worried that the characters wouldn't be able to pull this together, but they are so vibrant and interesting that you get totally sucked into their lives.
Much love to NetGalley and HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing for my DRC.

Another novel about an unhinged female main character, another 4 star read. Give! Me! More!!! I loved this. I liked that Chloe was unapologetic in her thoughts and actions, and I liked that Kurian showed the contrast between her and Charles. He intrigued me a lot, and I really loved the way we got to know him. Andre’s POV was also great, and absolutely a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, I didn’t like the additions of some of the other POVs added as I think they took away from the main plot. The cheating plotline also could have been tweaked and I would have preferred it to be, but I guess it makes sense with… who they are as people. Overall, I really enjoyed the novel and look forward to Kurian’s next novel!

Let's just take a trip down memory lane with a group of psychopaths. Fun right?!

What a wild and fun experience.

The premise is very interesting focusing on personality disorders and well psychopaths. Talk about a popcorn read my friends.

Lots of emotionless killings going on here. I was really hoping that there would have been more time for Chloe's revenge against Will. It's set up creepingly good and dying to know what/how it went down. But, as the story progresses, there are lots more characters and POVs throughout the story and Chloe/Will became a side plot.

This story was absolutely unique and fresh in the thriller genre. It was fascinating to look into the minds of a psychopath or into a mind that is quick dark.

And that ending... definitely didn't see that coming!

Thank you so much to Park Row for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

4/5 stars

Pub date : 9/7/21
Pub to GR: 9/6/21