Do You See What I See? by Peter Swanson

Nicholas, our first person narrator, had some success with his first novel, a dip after his second, and was not renewed by his publishing company for a third. Marco Tavares, on the other hand, his third book hit the New York Times best seller list and stayed for eighteen months. There's even going to be a major motion picture. 

The problem is with his follow up book. Linda, the agent for both men, summon Nicholas to New York, he's not sure what to expect. It certainly isn't that Linda wants him to go to the Cape for Christmas. It seems like Marco has the idea for his next book. And the book is mostly written. He just needs some help sorting it all out. And that's where Nicholas comes in. He's a bona fide orphan so it's not like he's going elsewhere for Christmas. Of course, he ends up taking the commission or there wouldn't be a story. 

So. Nicholas is going to the Cape for Christmas. Along with Marco, his wife, Maeve, Marco's sister, Cat, and the grandmother who raised them, Louisa. Also there are a best friend that Marco makes fun of, his ex-girlfriend and her husband, and a man who claims Marco stole his idea for the bestselling novel. It is a scene ripe for a murder. Even the characters comment on in it.
In three stories, Nicholas slowly unfolds more and more of the true story. We don't ever really learn what happened, but Swanson gives a satisfying conclusion to a book that says 128 pages in Netgalley but showed 87 in my ereader. It is truly impressive what our author unfolds in this tight of a story and I enjoyed it completely. 

Four and a half stars

This book came out October 6, 2026

ARC kindly provided by William Morrow and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson

I had not read other books in this series and didn't really even feel like I needed to. It might have provided some more background but most of the story is about Martha, a librarian who believes that her husband, Alan, might be a serial killer. She reaches out to the person who helped her out of a bad relationship once before, Lily Kintner. 

There were a LOT of twists and turns. Too many? Meh. It was close. 

Four stars

Henry Kimball/Lily Kintner #3

Follows The Kind Worth Saving

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson

I requested this book from the library based on the title and the cover. It is a short story and fast read about a young woman from America who is studying in England. She has been invited to the home of a friend... a friend-ish type and she is writing about it in her diary. Through her eyes, we get to know Emma's family, especially her twin brother Adam. But, even though Emma's family is wealthy, it is not all sunshine and roses. And our diary writer may or may not make it out of the book alive.

Three and a half stars

This book came out September 28, 2023

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson

If you're a classic mystery fan, you'll probably figure out a couple of the twists in this book. The author very fairly clues most of the mystery but the twists do feel more modern.
Malcolm Kershaw (Goodreads has this at book #1 in a series which is odd given the end; but that could be worked around) is a bookstore owner. Many years ago, he published a blog about eight fictional mysteries that contained what could be argued were perfect murders. They weren't that perfect since detectives usually solved the case but there were often extenuating circumstances. In the present day, there is an FBI agent who thinks that someone is using Malcolm's list as a checklist for murder. Malcolm, as the co-owner of a store that specializes in mysteries, is intrigued and decides to help out where he can. But getting involved in this mystery only pulls to the present the demons of his past.
It was nice to know the stories (I had read or watched almost all of them) but I don't think you need to have in order to enjoy this book.

Three stars
This book came out March 3rd, 2020
Borrowed this as an ebook from the library
Opinions are my own