First-time writer Katie Collom has written a book that will make readers hope that this is the beginning of a long and excellent career. Peter Miles Has To Die is everything a reader could want and more in a mystery. Three friends get together to administer retribution to the person who killed their friend, and Peter Miles is their target. The question is, can the friends plan and execute the scheme without failing under the pressure? The book is well written, and the pages fly. The conclusion was not what I thought it would be, but readers will be more than satisfied. Peter Miles Has To Die is one of those books you tend to overlook, but if you’re lucky, you find it and then read it like there is no tomorrow.

The premise was better than the execution. It started off great then slowed down and seemed to drag. I skipped around a lot until part three. Then it picked up and was nonstop until the end.

A thriller/mystery with strong female friendships wanting to avenge their friend's death. As a cop kills their friend, and essentially gets off. Though not just connected through friendship; also loss/grief and secrets. It also shows that some friendships aren't as deep. This story has multiple POVs. Set in the 90s, three friends think they can plan and commit the perfect murder. yet, they learn the hard lesson that every action comes with a price. fast paced, well written, twisty, with surprises, and an enjoyable read. The ending is happy for some, but not all. This book will definietly stick with you for a long time after you close the book.

This was fast paced and easy to read. I liked the dynamics between Dylan, Isabel, and Priya. The story was easy to follow and I liked all the twists.

This hooked me right away with a strong premise, three women banding together to avenge their friend’s death by taking down the man responsible. Add in a mid 90s setting (with another timeline in the late 90s) and a secret narrator twist, and I was intrigued from the start. It definitely gave me John Tucker Must Die vibes, only darker and with a revenge driven, suspenseful edge.

The story’s multiple POVs helped keep things dynamic, but the pacing did feel a little uneven. Some stretches flew by with tension and reveals, while others lingered longer than needed. Still, the different perspectives added layers to the mystery, especially once the narrator’s identity was revealed. The blend of friendship drama, vengeance, and shifting alliances kept me turning the pages, even when the momentum dipped a bit.

Overall, I’d give this one a 3.75. It’s twisty, nostalgic, and offers a few genuine surprises. If you enjoy revenge plots with a strong female ensemble and a throwback feel, it’s worth picking up. Just be ready for a few pacing hiccups along the way, but you might forgive them for the sake of the satisfying reveals and the 90s vibe.

One year after a tragedy that tore their lives apart, three best friends get together. A dangerous man has resurfaced, and a mysterious woman has popped up in the bar along with him. This man murdered their best friend, and there’s only one conclusion:

Peter Miles Has To Die.

Dylan, Priya, and Isabel know the risks. Taking a life isn’t something to take lightly, but this is an eye for an eye. When the cop who killed their friend Beck is allowed to walk free and shows up in Dylan’s bar, the only option is to make sure he can never kill again.

My one complaint is that the grand reveal of who ends up in jail for the murder is dragged out a bit too much- we get little points of view from someone who was convicted for the murder, but we don’t know who. Not until the 90% mark of the book. However, this was a super easy read and perfectly paced!

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the ARC! Peter Miles Has To Die comes out tomorrow, August 12!

I am running behind! Hoping to get the review posted on socials today!

Peter Miles Has to Die by author Katie Collom is fast-paced and suspenseful. The murder victim and his murderers are known to the reader right away, so the book then becomes an adventure in trying to determine who, if anyone, saw, suspects, will cave and confess, will exact retribution. Even though the victim and perpetrators have been identified, the true identity of other major characters isn’t known to all parties, nor who else felt that Peter Miles must die and who didn’t.

The story is divided into three parts – The Friends, The Detective, and The Scapegoat – and begins in September 1993 after Rebecca Grant has been brutally murdered. Her friends Dylan, Priya, and Isabel know without a doubt Beck’s obsessive cop ex-boyfriend Peter Miles did it, but he’s being protected and the case drags on. That’s when they decide he must die and come up with a plan to do it. Intriguing chapters are inserted that take place in the Texas State Penitentiary, one per year beginning with 1998 and working backwards to the conviction and imprisonment of . . . ??? There are scenes leading up to Beck’s murder and scenes after the trial to provide details about how Beck came to be murdered and how her friends proceed with their lives after someone is found guilty.

Don’t let the writing or the unlikable nature of Beck’s three friends put you off in Part One. Beck’s friends all have issues of their own and are not likeable, and there is evident tension among them. The writing is often stilted and bland. Hang in there, though, because debut author Collum hits her stride in Part Two – The Detective. You realize just how much you don’t know and with all the twists and turns and surprises you aren’t sure where the story will go next and what each person’s role will be. I was able to figure out who The Scapegoat was in Part Three but that knowledge didn’t detract from the story. I never did, however, figure out why the story is set in the 1990’s rather than the present. If there was a clue or explanation I missed it, and the only real difference in day-to-day life I noticed was pagers instead of much cell phone use.

Thanks to Ballantine Bantam Dell | Random House Group for providing an advance copy of Peter Miles Has to Die via NetGalley. I enjoyed it and recommend it. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for the eARC.

Did you love John Tucker Must Die? Then Peter Miles Has to Die is the one for you. A plot focused on revenge with all the twists you could hope for. This was so fun and hard to put down!

Yes, I recommend this book! It was definitely one of my top reads for this genre! Don’t miss it and go out and grab it this week!

i love the mystery and suspense in this one. the revenge trope is one I enjoy and look forward to more

Katie Collom's "Peter Miles Has To Die" is a riveting dark murder mystery that masterfully intertwines multiple timelines and narrators, pulling the reader into a complex web of suspense and intrigue. The narrative structure is brilliantly executed, allowing each voice to add depth and nuance to the evolving mystery.

Collom's storytelling prowess shines as she explores the depths of friendship against a backdrop of secrets, betrayal, and chilling revelations. The shifting timelines are seamlessly woven, enhancing the plot's intensity without ever feeling disjointed. Each narrator brings a fresh perspective, making it impossible to put the book down as you yearn to connect the dots.

The character development is rich and authentic, with friendships portrayed in all their messy, beautiful complexities. The tension builds with every chapter, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the final, jaw-dropping conclusion.

"Peter Miles Has To Die" is an absolute must-read for fans of dark mysteries and intricate narratives. Katie Collom has crafted a masterpiece that will haunt your thoughts long after the last page is turned.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Peter Miles Has to Die
Author: Katie Collom
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: Aug. 12, 2025

Peter Miles Has to Die had an interesting premise, but the story could have been sharper. Four best female friends are torn apart when one of them is killed by a dirty cop…you guessed it, Peter Miles. Turns out Peter Miles is the dirtiest of cops and has gotten away with many bad things, so what are the three surviving “normal” friends going to do? Well, the title gives it away, but he’s going to die, and they are going to murder him. Here’s the dilemma: while they are successful in their quest, the ladies can't live with the guilt. Turns out, being a murderer is not as easy as killing the horrid dude, and they start to fall apart. That is why it is NOT always a good idea to have more than one murderer because getting three girls to keep a secret is almost impossible. Am I right? There is a good twist, and the ending is satisfying, but it is a stretch. I did not like the cover art and the title. The title gives away the story. But it was a fun read, and I was hooked on finding out who would cave in first and confess. Or would they? I look forward to reading Ms. Collom’s next novel.

#PeterMilesHasToDie @netgalley @ballantinebooks #thriller #mystery #suspense #murder #friendship #womensFiction #fiction @strayrhetorist #wearebookish #netgalleyreads

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.

Three friends tried to cope after the murder of their friend, Beck. They knew that her ex, a cop named Peter Miles, was responsible but he was getting away with it and had an alibi and no one seemed to be doing anything. It was time to take matters into their own hands…
I loved the premise of this one. I enjoyed unraveling the past, figuring out how they would carry out their plan, and the drama surrounding it all. I thought this was a great debut and I definitely recommend to anyone looking for a fun thriller.
3.75

This was fine. It didn’t really wow me. But I didn’t hate it either. I was very intrigued by the premise, and I liked the different POVs. The characters were interesting and different enough that they each felt well-rounded. But for a book about a revenge killing, it felt like not a lot happened. It read kind of slow and anticlimactic. I’m not sure I can fully put my finger on what it was, but I felt like something was missing here. But I enjoyed it well enough.

Thanks Bantam Books and Netgalley for this ARC. Peter Miles Has to Die is out 8/12

Peter Miles Has to Die
Katie Collom

PETER MILES HAS TO DIE comes out next Tuesday.

Once there were four of them. Then Beck died. And now it’s just the three of them. There are Dylan, Isabel, and Priya. They have nothing but revenge on their mind. Dylan works at Aces of Spades, a local bar where Peter frequents, and it doesn’t take long for a plan to form.

With no investigation, no jury of peers, no justice. PETER MILES HAS TO DIE.

For the most part, I enjoyed reading PMHTD. Unfortunately, Collom tends to write all the action scenes behind closed doors. Repeatedly, she would cut away from the action. There would be a big lead-up, and then it is alluded to. I wanted more action.

Writing in the very beginning is tough to read. But it smoothed out. The characters feel thin, and I didn’t feel this big desire for revenge within them. You knew they wanted revenge because the words said they did, but their actions didn’t show it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine | Bantam for the advanced copy!

PETER MILES HAS TO DIE…⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5 stars--This was a really interesting storyline. Three friends are devastated by the murder of their friend and decide to seek justice on their own. The characters were well-developed and you could feel their emotions as they wrestled with the decision to kill someone and the guilt that followed. The ending felt a little off and the twist was fairly easy to predict, but overall, I enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader’s copy.

Peter Miles Has to Die drew me in from the synopsis alone because I haven’t heard of anything quite like it. Three friends Dylan, Priya, and Isabel decide to take matters into their own hands when they believe Peter Miles got away with their friend Beck’s murder.
It started off a bit slow since it took almost until the halfway point for them to follow through with their plan, but after that it became very engaging and the pace picked up quickly. I did figure out how the book would end about 75% of the way through, as it was pretty heavily implied, so the ending felt a little anticlimactic.
That said, it’s still a very strong debut and an entertaining read. I’d definitely recommend it if you love all things thriller!

I once heard an interview where the guest talked about how an author's first book is often the most interesting because they play around with structure and flow in ways that someone who has been through it a few times doesn't have the courage to do. I think Peter Miles Has to Die is a good example of this. The book is not one you can just passively absorb. It's split across six (I think!) different POVs, five that are clearly labeled and a sixth that is anonymous. That's a gamble, I started this book, realized how many POVs I'd need to juggle, and restarted to make sure I knew exactly who was saying what. This isn't a book you can passively read.

The switching of POVs also keeps the book moving quickly. At its core, this is a story about revenge and the extent friends will go to to right a wrong. Peter Miles is the prime suspect in the murder of Beck, his former girlfriend who he had stalked in the weeks leading up to her murder. When Peter, a cop, looks like he'll skate on her murder, Beck's three best friends decide to take justice into their hands. That's not a spoiler, that murder happens pretty early and it is obvious that it is coming. The book, then, is the suspense of whether the three will be able to avoid getting caught.

The resolution comes very late, and it is *somewhat* expected, but that doesn't make it less of a read. The pacing, the multiple POVs, and the strings that bind all of the main players together kept me transfixed.

* Thank you to Bantam and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review! *

Once I was done reading this book I know I was not the only one saying "so that's it?" This book got straight to the point. Their best friend Beck was murdered and by a cop, Peter who was her boyfriend and became a little obsessive. Well, Dylan was not having it, and while everyone close to Beck were all mourning, suspect number 1 walks into the bar where she works and she wants to kill him, SERIOUSLY kill him. Well, it went down, we got multiple POV's, corruption with the police, and the story took off and end was not what I expected. I felt like I was expecting a little more. But overall I enjoyed the journey til the end.

Peter Miles Has to Die is a solid who dun it book, revenge book. The title clearly gives the premise away.

A group of friends is out for revenge after their friend Beck was murdered and the person suspected of the murder has not been arrested.

The thrill wasnt there. You can guess certain things are going to happen. But the overall plot was good. Book is fast paced and easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.