- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Faber & Faber; Main edition (5 Mar. 2020)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0571342353
- ISBN-13: 978-0571342358
Synopsis
A series of unsolved murders with one thing in common: each of the deaths bears an eerie resemblance to the crimes depicted in classic mystery novels.
The deaths lead FBI Agent Gwen Mulvey to mystery bookshop Old Devils. Owner Malcolm Kershaw had once posted online an article titled ‘My Eight Favourite Murders,’ and there seems to be a deadly link between the deaths and his list – which includes Agatha Christie’s The ABC Murders, Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train and Donna Tartt’s The Secret History.
Can the killer be stopped before all eight of these perfect murders have been re-enacted?
Review
Reading Rules For Perfect Murders is like reading a love letter to some of the best crime thrillers ever written, and Peter Swanson has used these books as the premise for a killing spree. Malcolm Kershaw is the owner of Old Devils bookshop, selling crime and mystery books. He is taken by surprise when FBI agent Gwen Mulvey visits him about a series of murders that she thinks is linked to a blog post he wrote ‘My Eight Favourite Murders’. As Malcolm revisits his posts and the books, he finds himself helping Gwen find an intelligent but twisted killer. What starts as a slow burner soon picks up pace with multiple twists and turns, that make this such a fantastic and thrilling read.
Peter Swanson has created an intelligent and cleverly plotted crime book, that pays homage to some of the best crime thrillers ever written, including The A B C Murders by Agatha Christie, Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith and one of my favourites The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Each murder takes its modus operandi from one of these books, so if you haven’t read them beware for spoilers. The plot is complex, with many layers to it and nothing is what it seems so you are kept on the edge of your seat throughout. I have to say I was totally gripped and did read it in one afternoon; I loved the idea of the classic crime thrillers and have since ordered a few to read.
As a narrator, and in the way of many of the great narrators of books, Malcolm Kershaw is unreliable; Peter Swanson does mention unreliable narrators as part of the plot. He is a loner, not one for making friends easily, and only has a couple of friends he sees occasionally and those are all people who he met through his bookshop. The only person he let in was his wife Claire, whom he really loved but sadly she died in a car accident a few years ago so now he puts all his attention into his bookshop, and the shops cat Nero. The investigation with FBI Agent Gwen gives him an opportunity to be part of something, and share his love and knowledge of books, and help solve a crime in real life; it brings some excitement into his life.
Rules For Perfect Murders is complex, intelligent and engaging read. The plot is just brilliant in my opinion, the homage to some of the great crime writers, the skilful changes of direction and the clever and surprising conclusion. The many layers work well together resulting in a well rounded and compelling read. An ode to classic crime, this is a real for the discerning crime lover, a skilful and engaging read.
I would Like to thank Josh at Faber & Faber for my copy of this book in return for my honest review,
