We all know a guy like Peter Miles, don't we? I thought this was a really good thriller and enjoyed it a lot.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Peter Miles Has to Die starts with a bang. Three women, fueled by grief and rage, decide to take justice into their own hands after their best friend is murdered by a corrupt cop who walks free. The setup is undeniably compelling, and Katie Collom does a great job of exploring the emotional weight of revenge and the bonds of friendship under pressure.

The story is fast-paced and morally complex, with a strong feminist undercurrent that I appreciated. The Texas setting adds a gritty, atmospheric backdrop, and the rotating perspectives, especially the chapters from an unnamed prisoner, add intrigue.

That said, I found myself wanting more depth from the characters. While the plot kept me engaged, some emotional beats felt rushed, and the fallout from the murder didn’t hit as hard as I expected. The tension builds well, but the resolution left me with more questions than closure.

Overall, it’s a solid debut with a lot of promise, especially for fans of twisty, character-driven thrillers. I’ll be curious to see what Collom writes next.

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

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. The book is a fast read although I wouldn’t say it grabbed me right away. There were a few twists and turns that kept me going. I had a hunch I knew how it would end and my hunch was right. I find it tough to read any book about abuse in relationships and appreciate that this took a different angle.

Peter Miles has to die was witty, thrilling and had me hooked from the get go.

Three best friends set out to avenge the death of their best friend…and the hand of a crooked cop. When they succeed, their bond is tested and it’s a fight for their lives to keep their secret without cracking under pressure.

The character development was fun, and twisted. I couldn’t believe the plot turns in this book.

Highly recommend.

Tense, fast-paced, and morally murky, this revenge thriller grabs hold from page one and doesn’t let go. The trio at the heart of the story—Dylan, Priya, and Isabel—are flawed but compelling, and their decision to take justice into their own hands sets off a chain reaction of suspense and psychological unraveling. The narrative is tight and suspenseful, exploring the aftermath of violence with nuance and dread. While some twists are more telegraphed than surprising, the emotional stakes remain high throughout. A gripping, character-driven story about the price of vengeance and the weight of guilt.

Thanks, Netgalley, for the chance to read this early.

When Beck is murdered, her three friends are devastated and angry. Very, very angry. The man who brutally killed her is still walking free. He’s a cop and cops protect one another. There’s only thing to do - Peter Miles has to die.

The three friends underestimated the cost of retaliation. They forget to think about how the guilt would eat them alive. As each of them deal with their remorse and anguish, the police are getting closer to the truth. Someone needs to pay, even if Peter Miles deserved it.

This book is so well written and engaging. With topics of sexism and abuse, it’s easy to see how some of the choices are made by the women in the story. Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine for the eARC.

I received an ARC of this book from Ballantine via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. I am going with 3 stars, as there were aspects I liked as well as others I did not.

The beginning moved much too slowly for me, basically until around 40%. At that point, when an important event occurred, I was much more drawn in and interested to find out what happened.

The actual premise seemed farfetched to me. I definitely get the women being enraged about what happened to Beck, but from there to murder is just quite a stretch. There were also periods of what seemed liked filler - Priya's dog being described in detail, Dylan's regulars at the bar - they didn't add anything to the story.

I did like the setup, with chapters focusing on various characters as well as "before" and "after." And I was curious to see who it was narrating the "after" chapters. But when the reveal came, I was just kind of like "yeah, OK." It was not super exciting, and I can't quite explain why.

This was an OK read, but I would not give higher stars due to all the above.

This was an emotional, morally tangled story about friendship and revenge. I felt the weight of the characters’ grief and desperation, and the premise pulled me in right away. While I wanted more depth from the characters and tighter pacing, the book kept me thinking long after I finished. A solid, thought provoking read.

When a friend dies violently and you think the killer has gotten away with with the crime, what would you be willing to do? For Dylan and her friends, Priya and Isabel losing their friend Beck was traumatic. Making it more traumatic was it appears Beck was beaten to death, and the lead suspect is police officer Peter Miles. But without evidence the police can do nothing and as time passes the girls decide to take matters in their own hands.

Peter Miles Must Die has a great premise but tends to get bogged down in chapters that don’t seem to go anywhere. Page after page of woman feeling angry about their friend’s murder can be moving but it can also be repetitive and draining. In the end that took away too much from my reading experience.

This was about d 3 friends trying to get revenge on a guy who murdered their friend and he got away with it. They don't want that to happen. The ending still makes you question if they right person is behind bars....it was kind of slow paced in parts but I was able to power through and finish it.

Interesting take on a murder plot and it is a primarily female character driven story. The story switches to different characters viewpoints throughout and gives the reader background and context. While not action packed, there is some drama and mystery to the story.

I love the concept of this book, but I’m sorry to say it didn’t really deliver for me. I found it really slow to start and not easy to connect with. The characters were unlikeable which also caused a bit of distraction. I was able to guess the twist early on, and the big reveal just didn’t ring true for me. I will still read future books by this author because I did like the premise here.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

*Peter Miles Has to Die* is a gripping, slow-burning thriller that turns the classic revenge plot on its head, examining not just the act of murder but the psychological unraveling that follows. Katie Collom crafts a taut and emotionally charged narrative with three deeply compelling protagonists—Dylan, Priya, and Isabel—whose shared grief and righteous fury bind them together in a deadly pact. What starts as a seemingly clean act of vigilante justice quickly spirals into a nerve-racking tangle of guilt, suspicion, and paranoia. Set against the searing Texas backdrop, this novel pulses with tension and moral ambiguity, delivering a powerful meditation on justice, loyalty, and the cost of crossing the line. Chilling, timely, and thought-provoking, it’s a thriller that lingers long after the final page.

What happens when three friends take revenge into their own hands. They know that Peter killed their friend but when they see him escaping justice, they take action against him. Unfortunately, when the case gets more intense, the book becomes slower and I ended up skipping through a few chapters. The ending seems disappointing after the lead up to it and I wonder if the right person is behind bars.

three friends seek revenge on the person who murdered their friend, but will they get away with it? good story

Two and a half stars rounded up to three. Dylan, Priya and Isabel decide to kill cop Peter Miles, after he murders their friend Beck, and gets away with it. But they didn't really think about the aftermath of the crime...
The concept of this book sounded great. But the more I read, the more boring I found it to be. And when you find out who's in prison, it just doesn't ring true at all. Disappointing.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

FANTASTIC READ!!! This book was suspenseful and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I couldn’t put it down! Very well written!!

For me this was a bleak book. It was slow through much of the book.There is an interesting twist towards the end. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Dylan, Pri, Isabel and Beck are longtime friends. Then Peter Miles, a cop, allegedly stalks and kills his girlfriend Beck. Everyone knows he did it and got away with murder. Dylan orchestrates a revenge killing by the three remaining girls. With an underlying theme of sexism and discrimination in the police force, the heart of this book is about guilt and how it slowly saps each of the remaining girls’ strengths and ability to cope. I wish I had found the ending more satisfying, although I did find the characters well drawn out. This is a quick and interesting read. With thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

thanks so much for the copy of peter miles has to die! i really enjoyed it! however i didn't really like any of the 3 friends characters! i didn't like any of the characters in the book, and i cant figure out why i enjoyed the book so much, but i did.