Wow! Just WOW. This is my first book by this author and let me tell you it won’t be my last! I was completely blown away it was sheer brilliance. I didn’t want to put the book down but life kept getting in the way it was pure awesomeness!

I was hooked from the start and couldn’t stop turning pages long into the night. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me holding on… truly wonderful. Once you pick this book up, you won’t want to put it down!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!

This was a very clever read, I think Peter Swanson is a very talented writer and I have loved previous books I have read by him. However the story in this one didn’t grip me as much as others have. However, the idea to have the timeline backwards is great!

Kill your darlings is unfortunately quite boring. The premise is pretty interesting, but it falls quite flat. The story is told backwards, and while at times it was a little confusing with all the years,

Kill Your Darlings is the second Peter Swanson novel I've read, and once again, he delivers a gripping, twist-filled thriller that kept me guessing right up to the final page — and even the final line. Swanson has a real talent for crafting stories that unravel in unexpected ways, and this book is no exception.

Told in a refreshingly unusual style, the narrative starts at the end and gradually works its way back through the lives of the two main characters. This reverse storytelling adds a compelling layer of intrigue, allowing the reader to slowly uncover the events and motivations that led to the shocking opening. I really enjoyed this structure — it added depth to the characters and gave the suspense a unique edge.

If you're a fan of psychological thrillers that play with form and keep you thinking, Kill Your Darlings is definitely worth a read.

Very cleverly written plot with almost a unique feel making a trusted genre seem quite refreshing.
Finished in only two sittings which is always a good sign.
Many thanks for an entertaining weekend.

Kill Your Darlings is a slow-burn study of the relationship between Thom and Wendy. Neither of them are likeable characters. The book is written with a reverse timeline from 2023 to 1982 when they first met. The story is well-written and the author conveys a dark and menacing atmosphere. The book is an interesting read but lacks the suspense of a thriller. It is not the jaw-dropping, gripping read I expected.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Although they are the envy of their friends and neighbours Wendy and Thom do not have the perfect marriage.,

Thom drinks too much and loves other women so when Wendy decides she has had enough Thoms life is in danger

This is a book you just have to read as it's so so good. There are secrets to be unearthed lies to be uncovered and it is rich in dark and sinister goings on.

I loved it

I enjoyed the unlikeable protagonists and the alternative structure with the backwards storytelling. Well written and easy reading bit there were moments when the pace dropped a little for me. All in, it was an engaging and fun read.

Some people don't seem to be too enamoured with this novel based on some reviews I have read however I was completely caught up in it.

A marriage from hell disintegrating (but told in a backwards chronology) with a killer twist at the end (or is that the beginning)

Loved it!

Never fails to entertain as devilish and twisty as always, well plotted and paced with a deeply dark undertone

I love Peter Swanson novels they are always beautifully unexpected and deviously plotted.

This one is clever in the way it is presented but I won't spoil it with ins and outs, it is twisty as ever but extremely character focused.

Overall a really terrific read. Highly Recommend.

Kill your darlings is unfortunately quite boring. The premise is pretty interesting, but it falls quite flat. The story is told backwards, and while at times it was a little confusing with all the years,

I've read several reviews critiquing the narrative structure of Kill Your Darlings, so I'll start by saying that yes, the unusual backwards structure of the novel was initially a bit of a challenge. But after the first couple of chapters, it was easy to keep pace and frankly, I want the books I read to challenge me. Leaving that aside, the book was a classic Swanson noir thriller. I love his writing, and especially the characterisation, which was as strong here as in previous books. He is especially good at convincing readers to side with murderers, somehow managing to make both Wendy and Thom sympathetic in their own way. I loved it.

I’m massive fan of Peter Swanson and was really excited to read Kill Your Darlings.

The story centres on Wendy and Thom, High School sweethearts who married . Both are academics and and live a life their neighbours are envious of. But scratch the surface and their marriage isn’t the most conventional, Thom drinks too much and is a serial womaniser. There are lies, secrets and much more. Without wishing to reveal any spoilers - you’ll just have to read it!

It’s an absolute page turner - starting at the end, and ending at the beginning when Wendy and Thom first meet at Middle School.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Faber & Faber, for the providing the e-ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is the amazing story of Wendy and Thom, a married couple (now in their fifties) who are firmly committed to each other - but why? I found it intriguing and riveting and thought it an extremely clever concept how it all unfolds in episodes going back in time. How to commit the perfect murder comes to mind after reading this. Highly recommended.