This is Steve Cavanagh’s breakout thriller — it comes so highly recommended from well-known authors, reviewers who read the British editions, early recommendations, and rumors that it’ll be a Book of the Month Club selection, that it’s hard to ignore all the well-deserved 5 star praise. This is really a WOW, WOW, WOW!

There are two gripping parallel stories and four POVs. In the first timeline, Amanda and Wendy meet at a grief support group. Both of them had children murdered by known men who got away with the crimes. They are each drowning in incredible grief and no capacity for forgiveness. Both women have stalked the murderers of the children — men who the police suspect are persons of interest but who cannot prove that they’re guilty. Only Amanda has a POV.

In the second story, Ruth was viciously attacked by an unknown man on a night that her husband Scott had gone out with friends. The killer has piercing blue eyes and two previous (dead) victims; he didn’t finish the job because he heard unrelated sirens. In her case, there are no suspects even though she gave them a detailed description of his face. He’s known as Mr. Blue Eyes. Both Ruth and Scott have POVs, and Ruth is convinced her attacker is stalking them to finish her off.

The fourth POV belongs to Detective Andrew Farrow, who along with his partner Karen Hernandez, can’t prove who murdered Amanda’s daughter and has no suspects in Ruth’s attack or the related killings. He’s known to stubbornly not close cases, but his progress in both these investigations is stifling.

We know upfront this is a “Strangers on a Train” remake — the author even references Patricia Highsmith’s book. But how does the second narrative fit in? Aside from having the same investigating detective? You’ll be gobsmacked when the two tales line up and that ending….again, WOW. 5 stars for this very addictive thriller and the new twist on the old Hitchcock film.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Although eye color is important, since Mr. Blue Eyes is a main villain.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): Set in urban NYC, there is little mention of landscaping.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

I've enjoyed Mr. Cavanaugh's Eddie Flynn books immensely and was excited to read this stand alone novel. It started strong with a lot of promise. It's a fast read and help my attention, but buy the second half, iI was having issues with the plausibility.

For me with a book like this, you have to make the plot and details water tight, but I had some issues. I know this isn't the final printed book, but as a longtime New Yorker, I had some problems with the lists of subway stops and a hotel location. Call me nitpicky, but MILD SPOILER, Airbnb hadn't been invented yet and Target wasn't yet in the city then. Minor? Perhaps, but this pulled me out of the story.

There was one big reveal that I saw coming but another that caught me by total surprise so in the end I'm giving this 4 stars and would say overall I enjoyed it, but not as much as the Flynn books (except for the sixth in the series which I didn't care for at all.)

2.5, rounded up

Hm. Just a run-of-the-mill thriller that barely made it to 3-star land. There were lots of twists, and I do love me a good twist, but they weren’t enough to save this one for me. And damn it, I guessed the last big twist, which had a lead-up of about a third of the book, so I was smug for a really long time before discovering whether I was right. I was impatient to find out, and when I finally did, my smugness mutated and became giant. I was both proud and annoyed: proud of myself for guessing the story and annoyed at the book for being predictable. I would have way preferred being surprised over being all cocky!

The title gives the plot away: it’s the old Strangers on a Train story of trades-y killings. The story is about two women who want revenge on the evil people who have hurt them. They make a pact to kill the other person’s brutalizer, and that way they figure they won’t get caught. It’s okay that we know the premise going into it, because we expect twists that will change the narrative, and we get them. It’s the cleverness of the twists that land the book 3 stars. The story is fast-paced, so that’s another selling point.

I always kick myself when I get tempted by positive reviews and request an advance copy of a thriller, because that’s not my lane and I should know better. I do great with literary thrillers, but I usually don’t like your basic commercial thriller. Often the characters are too shallow, the language too simple, the book too lightweight. And that was the case here. Plus I didn’t buy that seemingly normal people would be up for a killing. Another item on my Complaint Board: the characters seemed sloppy in their actions, which made the story seem like it was carelessly written. I guess if I had loved the book, I wouldn’t have cared about believability so much.

Okay, okay, this editor of yore still nit-picks now and then. So what’s with the book title not having a comma? So hard for me to accept, lol! Everyone knows that commas can be very important! My fridge has a magnet that reads, “I love cooking my family and my pets.” ‘Nuf said! Although the title of this book isn’t confusing without a comma, you have to admit it still needs one. My eyes stutter without it.

My review should be taken with a grain of salt, since this isn’t a genre that I love to begin with. I did love Gone Girl, and I’m always looking for a repeat. Almost always, I’m let down.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

KILL FOR ME, KILL FOR YOU 💭
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We have two gripping parallel stories all about murder/betrayal/brutal attacks and so on, with 4 povs and short chapters, What's not to like??

This book has it's U.S release on March 19th, and I was so invested from beginning to end. I've not read a book by Cavanagh, but it seems he is well loved! While the Strangers on a Train premise has been done before, this was a fresh take on it, and i enjoyed all the breadcrumbs that were left for me.

I'm a complete sucker for murder when it includes heavy grief. Even if the characters aren't really necessarily likable and you think some of their actions are a little far out there. That's the thing about grief-stricken mc's. Are there really any limits when you're not in the right frame of mind? When your loved ones are taken from you when they had a whole life to live? All bets are NOT off... not in a psych thriller like this one.

"She had that look of a life derailed. Grief is an injury."

Thank you, @netgalley / @atriabooks for this ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Excellent

This is a very quick read with some twists, but not so many that it seems contrived.

The book at first alternates between two people. Ruth was savagely attacked in her home by a blue-eyed man with a knife. Her loving husband was out in a bar with friends and seemed to carry a lot of guilt that he was not there to protect her.

Amanda's young daughter was murdered. her husband felt so guilty that it happened while he was supposed to be watching her that he committed suicide. The presumed murderer was the pedophile son of a very wealthy and prominent man. Because the evidence against him was not iron-clad, he wad not charged with the murder..

Amanda is obsessed with getting revenge on the killer. When her attempt at shooting him on the subway goes awry, she is required to attend group therapy sessions with other bereaved adults. She meets a woman, Wendy, at the meeting. Wendy also has not forgiven the murderer of her daughter. They decide to do a "Strangers on a Train" switch and kill each other's murderers so the chance of either of them getting caught is lessened.

I really liked this book. It was a very fast read and I stayed up way too late so that I could finish it. Highly recommended.

I am thrilled that Steve Cavanagh has U.S. representation for this book from ATRIA! Thank You ATRIA for providing a gifted ARC through NetGalley!

With a nod and a wink 😉 to the original “Murder Swap”-Patricia Highsmith’s “Strangers on a Train” (and Alfred Hitchcock’s movie adaptation of that book) we now have “Kill For Me Kill For You”, a new standalone by Steve Cavanagh who is known best for his legal thrillers featuring quick witted attorney, Eddie Flynn.

So does this murder swap offer anything new?

C’mon-it’s the talented Steve Cavanagh!
So, YES, yes it does!!

The book opens on a train, but this time it isn’t where the “plotting” takes place…….

Amanda and Wendy are two women unable to put the past behind them, having lost loved ones to HORRIFIC crimes!

Each has become fixated on the man who destroyed her family, and each desperately wants revenge.

Over drinks one night, they devise a plan to accomplish their goal-“If you kill for me, I’ll kill for you.”
🥃🥃

Ruth is a VICTIM of a BRUTAL assault in her own home. She is now too afraid to leave the hotel room that she has been staying in since her discharge from the hospital.

How will her story intersect with those of the other two women?

In ways you can’t even imagine!

And, then there is that ending…

At first, I wasn’t sure if I liked the final twist when it first began to play out, BUT once the author brought the twist full circle, I changed my mind! Chef’s kiss!

I LOVED IT!! ❤️

Even if you have read the others in this trope-do yourself a favor, and read this one too!

You won’t regret it!

AVAILABLE MARCH 19, 2024

Wow!! This book was fantastic! I loved the twists. The plot was so unique! I read a lot of suspense and thrillers and this one was so great! I will definitely be checking out the author's past books.

An unputdownable thriller that brings a clever spin to a classic trope! I had my reservations at first because the whole swapping murders premise isn't new, but Steve Cavanagh killed it. I was kept guessing the whole time but nothing could have prepared me for brilliant after brilliant twist.

Not only is this an engrossing page-turner that examines how far we are willing to go when pushed to the brink, it also explores grief and loss so effectively that the characters' pain is palpable. I loved the nods to Patricia Highsmith and Hitchcock.

My only gripe is how unrealistic and hard to believe some parts are e.g. I can pretend the characters are so blinded by grief and rage that they become incredibly naive, but that's not how SEO works...?

Nevertheless, I enjoyed every moment and this is a twisted read not to be missed!

I loved this book so much! I will definitely be recommending this to others and I had so much fun following along the story. I’m so excited to see what comes next from this author!

This story was a quick read. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters so I didn’t love it. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Steve Cavanagh isn’t stingy with the twists. I love that about his books. The plot is definitely what you’re coming for. His novels are also always cinematic, in good ways and bad. You feel like you can watch the action happening, maybe even feel like you’re there, but the setting is a little off. This was a fakey New York City. Fine with me, but be aware if it’s going to bother you.

I wonder if my expectations are forever too high after loving Th1rt3en years ago. I found this plot interesting enough to propel me through the novel, but I wanted a little bit more from the book as a whole.

Amanda is barely moving through her days. She still feels loss so deeply and yet right there on the surface. That is until she meets Wendy. Wendy is in a similar position, grieving a loss. Noth women can not let go of the intense anger like most, forgiveness is not an option. An idea forms between the two, kill for me and I'll kill for you. The problem with this plan, the chain of events that follows.

Ruth is a ghost of her old self. She survived a home invasion but no longer feels safe leaving her hotel room. Every man with blue eyes could be the man that took almost everything from her.

Holy moly, wow! This novel is not explosive, it's absolutely dynamite. Told through multiple perspectives you get to see the trail of breadcrumbs and where it leads. Steve took the classic Strangers on a Train up a notch and left you in shock all the way to the end. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

This is my first book by this author, and it did not disappoint. It was an absolute rollercoaster, and I loved every minute of it. I sympathized with all of the main characters at some point In time, and am glad Amanda finally found some peace at the end of the book. 5/5 for me. I will highly recommend this book to everyone.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

What in the BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP did I just read? This was wild and clearly I jumped in blind, I loved this book. It was twisted and completely kept me guessing .

I just finished this and having stayed up way past my bedtime to know what happens next, my brain is buzzing! Cavanagh writes a gripping, jaw-dropping psychological thriller. There are multiple POVs, multiple storylines, and multiple plot twists to come.

Two strangers with trauma in their past meet and realize they both harbor immense anger, loneliness, pain - and a need for revenge. If you kill for me, I’ll kill for you…

In another area of New York City while her husband is away, a woman is attacked by a man in her own home and all she can recall about his description is that dark hair and those piercing blue eyes.

Meanwhile, we get to know the detectives on this case, Farrow and Hernandez, and they add a whole new element to an already wild ride.

I really enjoyed Steve Cavanagh’s writing style, his quick chapters, and his ability to keep me hooked on the line for hours at a time to find out what happens next. This was a fun, exciting, fast-paced read that will have you so confused and yet making predictions until the very last page.

And now to add every other Steve Cavanagh book to my TBR.
Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and Steve Cavanagh for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC for an honest review.

Serial Killer Thriller!! I would definitely recommend! It kept me guessing until the very end! Some of the storyline was a little out there but overall great!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

I really loved it, in fact I preordered myself a finished copy.

4.25⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Setting ~ New York City
Publication date ~ March 19, 2024
Est page Count ~ 351 (64 chapters)
Audio length ~ 11 hours
Narrator ~ Stephanie Cannon
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ child death, murder, suicide, revenge

Our 4 narrators are:
Amanda, whose 6 year old daughter was kidnapped and murdered. Days later her husband is so grief stricken that he takes his own life.
Ruth is brutally attacked in her home and thinks every blue eyed man she sees is her attacker.
Farrow is our detective that has a desire to work the cold cases that no one else wants.
Scott is Ruth's husband

The characters are not particularly likable, but I was fine with that. I enjoyed Detective Farrow and his partner, Hernandez. They had a great working relationship and were good at their job.

This is my first time reading this author and I can see why he's so popular. He gives us some nice tension and twists. I was totally taken by surprise, so woo hoo for that. Of course there were a couple of eye rolling moments, but overall a solid thriller.

Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference, which is just as well since it probably would have bugged me that there is only 1 narrator.

Such a pleasant surprise! A twisty, propulsive cat-and-mouse mystery with empathetic characters facing impossible choices in the face of trauma. I truly didn't expect to be as engrossed in this as I was, and though Cavanagh's writing is sometimes too descriptive for its own good (too much internal monologue and overly specific details can sap the energy from a thriller quickly), I had so much fun going along for this ride.