“Following a brutal attack by her ex-boyfriend, Kate Priddy makes an uncharacteristically bold decision after her cousin, Corbin Dell, suggests a temporary apartment swap – and she moves from London to Boston.
But soon after her arrival Kate makes a shocking discovery: Corbin’s next-door neighbour, a young woman named Audrey Marshall, has been murdered. When the police begin asking questions about Corbin’s relationship with Audrey, and his neighbours come forward with their own suspicions, a shaken Kate has few answers, and many questions of her own.
Jetlagged and emotionally unstable, her imagination playing out her every fear, Kate can barely trust herself. so how can she trust any of the strangers she’s just met?”
So the first thing you need to know is that I love (and I mean LOVE) Peter Swanson’s The Kind Worth Killing. (No, really, I LOVE it!) It’s a book I will always recommend. It’s the book that I felt deserved all the hype Paula Hawkins’s The Girl on the Train received (The Kind Worth Killing is, in my opinion, far superior). So if, in the future, you read another of my reviews (no matter what the book) and I say, ‘this book had a lot to live up to’ then please think about Her Every Fear. Because of all the books in all the world, this is the one I have been anticipating the most. This is the one that has the most to live up to.
I guess the question is, how did it fare in comparison? It’s a great book and I thoroughly enjoyed it…but it didn’t move me in the way A Kind Worth Killing did. I think it’s time for me to shut up about A Kind Worth Killing (if you haven’t read it, BUY IT – here’s a helpful link) and tell you more about my Her Every Fear experience.
I immediately liked the main protagonist, Kate Priddy. Kate, because of a traumatic experience several years earlier, sees the worst situation in absolutely everything. She’s nervy, anxious and scared. As you can imagine, this stops her from living her life to the full. So when her American cousin suggests a 6 month house exchange so he can work in London, Kate is shocked to find herself accepting and on a plane to Boston. Her new apartment is a the opposite of what she has left behind and she finds herself starting to relax. That is until her new next door neighbour’s mutilated body is discovered, mere hours after Kate’s arrival. Meanwhile, Kate’s handsome cousin Corbin is settling into London life. London holds some dear memories for him; particularly his love affair with mysterious Claire. Before long the police are asking Kate questions she can’t answer and Corbin’s flat is searched, time and time again. Were Corbin and the neighbour involved? He’s denied it, but is he telling the truth? And what other secrets is Corbin hiding…?
There were moments whilst reading Her Every Fear that I had goosebumps. Peter Swanson’s ability to build the suspense in his novels is breathtaking. And for me, he is a master of his craft. As I mentioned before, I loved Kate and saw a little of myself in her. She’s such a likeable character. I know Her Every Fear is a psychological thriller, but I really didn’t want anything bad to happen to her (normally I’m desperate for the bad stuff to happen)! It was however interesting to see how this somewhat neurotic character coped with the reality of being in these awful situations.
Peter Swanson shows at times an incredible ability to make you dislike one of his characters, only to reveal their shocking backstory and make you completely change your mind. There were several occurrences where I had made my mind up about a character, only for Swanson to throw a twist into the story and for me to question my original verdict.
The story was fascinating and I enjoyed seeing how the loose ends tied together. I particularly loved the closing chapters which were intense and shocking. I want to say so much more at this point but by doing so I’d be giving spoilers away, which I try to avoid doing at all costs. So I will say that I finished reading this book last week but I can still picture that final scene as if it were real.
Would I recommend this book? Of course I would! Peter Swanson is officially one of my favourite authors and although this isn’t quite up to A Kind Worth Killing it is still a superbly written, dark tale which I enjoyed and would recommend without hesitation.
Four and a half stars out of five.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Her Every Fear. Many thanks to Faber & Faber and NetGalley for providing me with a copy. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
Her Ever Fear by Peter Swanson was published in the UK by Faber & Faber on 10th January 2017 and is available in hardcover, eBook and audio formats (with the paperback to follow later this year) | amazon.co.uk | amazon.com | Waterstones | Goodreads |
Peter Swanson’s debut novel, The Girl With a Clock for a Heart (2014), was described by Dennis Lehane as ‘a twisty, sexy, electric thrill ride’ and was nominated for the LA Times book award. His follow up The Kind Worth Killing (2015), a Richard and Judy pick, was shortlisted for the Ian Fleming Silver Dagger, was named the iBook stores Thriller of the Year and was a top ten paperback bestseller. He lives with his wife and cat in Somerville, Massachusetts. His third novel, Her Every Fear, will be published in early 2016.
Author Links: | Website | Facebook | Twitter |
Great review Emma!! this one is on my March TBR. I totally agree with you, The Kind Worth Killing was far better than Girl On the Train:)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Renee. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also loved The Kind Worth Killing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That first big twist….wow!
LikeLike
Brilliant review Emma! I absolutely LOVED this and gave it 5 stars!! I haven’t read The Kind Worth Killing Though, and the fact that you prefer that means I’ll have to get my hands on it ASAP. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much. You MUST read A Kind Worth Killing. It’s so brilliantly done and one of my all-time favourite reads *swoon*
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh okay I will definitely get it next time I go book shopping 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally agree with you on A Kind Worth Killing – soooooo good. I treated myself to Her Every Fear and I’m even more excited about reading it after you review xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahh, thank you Emma. I hope you enjoy it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have this ready to read and looking forward to it – especially after your review! Really enjoyed A Kind Worth Killing so I imagine it would be hard to quite live up to that, but still! 🙂 great review x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Laura. I had such high expectations that they may have been almost impossible to match 😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know that feeling – that’s the trouble with such amazing previous novels I guess!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never stop recommending The Kind Worth Killing either. Brilliant book. I am not sure anything can live up to it but I think this one was close?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I liked “A kind worth killing” very much – but I think this one is even better! I’m only 60% through, but I’m loving it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh you have a treat coming Lynne! Swanson is a superb writer 😍
LikeLike
Her Every Fear is the first Peter Swanson book I’ve read and I really loved it, so much so that I bought The Kind Worth Killing and The Girl With a Clock for a Heart at the weekend! Great review 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Beverley. You’ll have to let me know if you enjoy The Girl with a Clock for a Heart. I have it on my TBR.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I still haven’t read The Kind Worth Killing. It’s been in my TRB for quite a while. And now I have another one to add… Great review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, but Ann Marie! You MUST read A Kind Worth Killing. It’s SO good 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: #CaseClosed: February 2017 #amreading #amreviewing #bookblogger #damppebbles – damppebbles
Pingback: #BookReview: All The Beautiful Lies by Peter Swanson (@PeterSwanson3) @FaberBooks #AllTheBeautifulLies | damppebbles.com
Pingback: #BlogTour | #BookReview: Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson @FaberBooks #BeforeSheKnewHim | damppebbles.com