Peter Swanson continues to impress me with his inventive plots that manage to avoid veering into clichés or unbelievable resolutions. Nine Lives was well-written but still a page turner, and Swanson definitely managed to surprise me several times. Highly recommend!

Nine strangers receive a letter which is just a list of nine names including their own. They cannot connect the other names on the list to themselves. None of the people who receive the letter are particularly concerned and just dismiss it. One of the names on the list is FBI agent Jessica Wilmslow. When people from the list start dying in mysterious circumstances she decides that it can’t be a coincidence.

I would say that this leans more to the mystery genre than thriller. It was a very enjoyable plot. We meet each character that received a letter, they are all very different which adds to the mystery of how they all are connected. At one point I was sure that I had worked out the connection but I was wrong. I would have to say I was a little bit disappointed by the ending but really enjoyed the book overall.

Having read and enjoyed Eight Perfect Murders I was looking forward to reading this new book. You do have to get used to several POV's but these are written in a distinct enough way. The author continues to be influenced by Agatha Christie which does lead to a certain predictability at times, however I love Agatha Christie so I can live with this!

~ Quick Summary ~

9 strangers receive a letter containing 9 names including their own. Then, when those very people start to die, there is a clear target on that list. But why?

~ Pick this up if you enjoy/don’t mind the following ~

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 MANY characters and POVs (I’m talking several).

🐢 Slow pace.

~ What I didn’t enjoy ~

There were 7 too many POVs for me (2-3 is a sweet spot for me). My biggest fear was that we would go through all 9 characters…and it did, plus a few extras. At least when a character gets wiped out there are less POVs. We get a very high level overview of each one so it's not enough for me to connect, I don’t remember their significance and therefore I couldn’t care less about all of them.

The plot progression was dull and disjointed. There was barely any active investigation, we were teased briefly but it was so insubstantial it did not pique my interest whatsoever. Instead we jump all over the place to different POVs and meander through their mundane lives. In between the deaths it felt like absolutely nothing was progressing.

The reason behind the letter and the killings was so anticlimactic. Unless I missed some details that flew by my head due to struggling to concentrate, you can’t figure out who or why because the information is simply withheld (so I’d be interested to know if anyone actually figured it out! If so, you are a wizard!). Also, the reason wasn't explored or fleshed out whatsoever, I was simply told why rather than shown and slowly build up to it.

Slow burning crime mystery which works through a list of nine people targeted for murder, with shades of Agatha Christie.
What is the link between these people and who is the killer.
Enjoyable ,Well written and moderately paced plot keeps the pages turning on a winter evening,
This book is mostly about the journey rather than the unsurprising denouement.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and review honestly.

This was my first book of 2022 and my first by Peter Swanson.

With more than a nod to a Christie classic, Nine Lives sees nine strangers with nothing in common save for receipt of a list of nine names, including their own, in the post. One by one they are being murdered. Can the authorities work out what is going on? Can the recipients of the list? Whodunnit or thriller?

I found Peter Swanson's writing to be incredibly readable. His characterisation was detailed and compelling - for a book with such a huge cast from the get-go, I didn't find myself wondering who was who which is a great credit to the writing. The read was an easy one but not lacking in depth which was good. Whilst, at times, scenarios were a little (or very) far-fetched they were well constructed and allowed the reader space to paint their own picture.

Inevitably, not least due to the partial reworking of the Christie classic, there was a predictability about the text, but there was still enough fresh material and a fresh voice to keep me interested.

Recommended.

With thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advance read.

My first read for 2022 and it was an absolute winner 😀 I am a big fan of a Peter Swanson so I knew that I was in for a treat. His books are always super addictive and fast paced, making you want to finish them in one sitting. Nine Lives was no different. As a crime and thriller fan, I loved the nod to Agatha Christie throughout the story. A must read for lovers of a good thriller.

If You’re on the list you’re marked for death. How can you not be intrigued by the tagline? It made me want to devour it. 9 strangers receive a letter, containing only a list of names, including their own. All from different parts of the country, different ages and occupations. There is no apparent connection. Until one by one they start to die in different ways.

That is all you need for the plot. It is a old from multiple points of view and it is a great way to learn about the characters and their demise. Some are likeable, some not so much. It really kept me on my toes, trying to work out who wants these people dead and why. The ending is clever and will shock you.

Published March 3rd, get Nine Lives on your TBR.

Massiv thanks to NetGalley and Faber and Faber for my advanced copy to read.

My first book by Peter Swanson and it blew me away! I've heard amazing things about this author and noticed this book on a lot of anticipated release lists for 2022 so when I had the opportunity to read this as an ARC I jumped at it.

I finished the book in a day and could not put it down. I'm now wondering if anything else can beat this one in 2022 and it's still the first of January.

The pace of this story was perfect and the reveals dripped through so cleverly I just didn't see it coming at all.

This is definitely a firm favourite thriller ever and I will be diving into the author's backlist this year for sure.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Peter Swanson has done it again and delivered an amazing thriller. I was hooked on this one from the start.

Nine complete strangers receive a list with their name on it and eight others. Slowly.. one by one, the people on the list begin to die in unexplainable ways. No one knows how they will die or even when.. but who is the murderer?

The different POVs in this book make it so much more interesting. There are a lot of characters however you quickly get used to each of them. The different POV's give the book much more depth and it will have you dying to know who the person is behind this,

I loved the ending.. and with thrillers, I don't usually say that.. Cannot wait for this to be released so I can purchase a physical copy!

Nine Lives; Peter Swanson
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars

Nine Lives is the latest thriller by bestselling author, Peter Swanson. Peter Swanson has done it yet again and delivered an excellent thriller perfect for fans of the mystery genre. Nine strangers receive a list with their name on it and eight others. One by one people on the list begin to die in unique circumstances. What’s their connection and who is behind the murders?

I was excited to read this one being a long-time fan of Peter Swanson and was not disappointed. I think this is now my second favorite book of his after, Eight Perfect Murders. The book alternates in perspective with different chapters told by different people on the list. At first it felt confusing to have so many characters to get to know, but stay with it, I promise it will become easier and will all make sense in the end.

You don’t want to miss this thriller of a novel. There are twists and a whopper of an ending that will leave you gasping out loud or maybe throwing your book (you have been warned!).
Peter Swanson is now officially an auto-buy author for me.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fun crime/mystery caper with clear nods to Agatha Christie. A mysterious list of 9 seemingly unlinked names provides a rich narrative from which Swanson explores the lives of diverse characters that will keep you guessing to the end.
This is a great, quick read that leads the reader along on a diverting journey along the Maine coastline of America and beyond as the truth of the nine strangers slowly becomes apparent. Brimming with a sense of place and distinct characters.

What a read! I read this in two hits. Thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Well written, the characters lives detailed and engaging, with an underlying plot you could half guess but not quite. Recommend.

I always enjoy receiving a letter - it is a sign of correspondence with my older family members, and a opportunity for laughter. However, for our mine strangers, the odd arrival of a letter in their lives heralds a major change ahead - their murder!
One by one, we are introduced to the individuals on this list, only for them to meet their demise in a variety of ingenious methods. We also meet the killer behind the list and learn unravel the reasons behind these murders.
There are frequent references to Agatha Christie throughout the novel and as a fan of the crime writer, I relished in these references and explanations of several of her (best!) storylines.
A fun and inventive twist. Worth reading

Nine strangers receive a list of names in the post. Nothing else, just their names on a list. The nine people have never met and come from different places and backgrounds. FBI agent Jessica Winslow is one of the names on the list and sets it to discover the mystery behind the list.

This is a very quick read, fast paced, twisty and entertaining for the most part. I liked the nod to Agatha Christie's, And Then There Were None. I would have liked a little more depth to the story and felt the ending was slightly rushed. Overall an entertaining read.

My thanks to Netgalley and Faber and Faber for an advanced copy.

Full disclosure: I read Peter Swanson’s books without checking out the blurb and I am yet to be disappointed. Although as all his other books, Nine Lives is well written, fast-paced, twisty and tightly plotted, it’s probably my least favourite one. Perhaps because it didn’t stand out for me like some of his others or maybe I just read too many psychological thrillers these days and getting harder to please. Nevertheless, it’s a gripping and satisfying story, which I would happily recommend to all the fans of the genre.

Peter Swanson is back!! Nine Lives has that awesome vibe of an old whodunnit, and for the most part it was brilliant: it has a good selection of interesting characters, a gripping mystery, a fast pace and a very satisfying conclusion. I'm giving it four stars instead of five because, although I understand that with a cast of more than nine characters it's nearly impossible to nail all of them, a couple of the main protagonists and a particular secondary character (I won't name names to avoid spoilers) felt way too cliched and even cartoonish to me. The other thing that bothered me was the epilogue, and it really bothers me because before that I was going to give the book 5 stars, but I'm just baffled about why it was included... in my opinion it is just too random and downplays the impact of an otherwise perfect ending. Still, I absolutely recommend this book to all mystery lovers and really just to everyone who loves a good book 👍🏼

A one-sitting read for me. Set in New England in the autumn, nine strangers, nine names on a list received anonymously through the post. Nine people who start to be found dead, one by one, with no clues or apparent links. Jessica Wilmslow, one of the 9, is an FBI agent. One of the names on the list rings a bell as someone he Father used to know, although he now struggles to access his memories due to dementia. It's a fast paced mystery, with diverse, relatable characters who you really get to know in a short space of time. I couldn't put it down and NEVER saw the final twist coming!A fantastic book!

Nine people each receive a list of nine names, including their own. It soon becomes apparent that the nine are gradually being murdered one by one, and it become a race to discover who is responsible and why. A thrilling and dark novel, totally engrossing and more than a little scary. Peter Swanson never disappoints and this book is a winner.

Peter Swanson never disappoints. I just love his writing style! This book was no exception. All the different perspectives combined with the short punchy chapters really built the suspense. I didn't read this book particularly fast, but I found myself thinking about the story, and coming up with theories, even when I wasn't reading it. I also got really attached to characters in such a short space of time, which, given the plot, probably isn't the smartest idea...
The only negative is how the ending dragged a little after the reveal. I wasn't sure how much some of the ending added to the overall story, but I appreciated how it wrapped it up well.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having recently read “Rules for Perfect Murders”, I was looking forward to reading another Swanson novel. However, there was much repetition of themes and frequent mentions of identical books and comments on them that were described in Rules… This really diminished my enjoyment of the book and I found the constant similarities annoying and laboured.

Nine Lives is in itself fairly interesting. It sets up a cast of characters that the reader can keep track of by virtue of the list that’s included at the start of the chapters. It took me a while to work out who everyone was but I got there. There wasn’t a huge amount of character development, but the book is more plot-driven.

There were clues as to what was happening and why, but still plenty for the reader to think about. I didn’t find the denouement particularly satisfying, as it felt a bit forced. I also don’t enjoy clunky exposition and “here’s a letter telling you why this happened” is one of my least favourite tropes.

Overall just a three star read for me. Didn’t love it but I enjoyed it enough to read through to the end.