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A Talent for Murder
A Talent for Murder: A Novel | Peter Swanson
33 posts | 29 read | 21 to read
A newlywed librarian begins to suspect the man she married might be a murdererin this spectacularly twisty and deviously clever novel by Peter Swanson, New York Times bestselling author of The Kind Worth Killing and Eight Perfect Murders. Martha Ratliff conceded long ago that shed likely spend her life alone. She was fine with it, happy with her solo existence, stimulated by her job as an archival librarian, constantly surrounded by thought-provoking ideas and the books she loved. But then she met Alan, a charming and sweet-natured divorcee with a job that took him on the road for half the year. When he asked her to marry him, she said yes, even though he still felt a little bit like a stranger. A year in and the marriage was good, except for that strange blood streak on the back of one of his shirts hed worn to a conference in Denver. Her curiosity turning to suspicion, Martha investigates the cities Alan visited over the past year and uncovers a disturbing patternfive unsolved cases of murdered women. Is she married to a serial killer? Or could it merely be a coincidence? Unsure what to think, Martha contacts an old friend from graduate school for advice. Lily Kintner once helped Martha out of a jam with an abusive boyfriend and may have some insight. Intrigued, Lily offers to meet Alan to find out what kind of man he really is . . . but what Lily uncovers is more perplexing and wicked than they ever could have expected.
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Nessavamusic
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Bailedbailed

Well this is a bummer to #dnf, as I really enjoyed his previous books which are somewhat connected to this one. However, a reveal at the 50% mark made me no longer care what happened. Up til then I was quite riveted. Is the second half worth continuing? I‘m guessing no as this book has very little buzz. #hailthebail

Pruzy Personally I liked it all the way through. It gets more action-y after the reveal (if we are thinking if the same thing) which was still fun to read for me 4d
44 likes1 comment
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HeatherBookNerd
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Pickpick

An enjoyable thriller. I did not realize it was third in a series. There was clearly some history between two private detectives, but Swanson clues the reader in on bits of the past, and it holds up fine as a standalone. I liked it enough that I‘ll go read the first one, The Kind Worth Killing.

JenlovesJT47 The first one is really good! 4w
HeatherBookNerd @JenlovesJT47 look forward to it! 4w
29 likes2 comments
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ICantImReading
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️💫

I loved the first thriller in this series, bailed on the second due to a particular plot element, and personally found this third one okay, but forgettable. The twists don‘t hit as hard when familiar with this author‘s style. 🎧

Hooked_on_books I‘ve had mixed results with his books, too. 1mo
ICantImReading @Hooked_on_books which ones have you enjoyed? I remember also liking this one 🙂 (edited) 1mo
Hooked_on_books That one was a low pick for me. The one I really liked was Eight Perfect Murders. The one I thought was awful was Every Vow You Break. 1mo
ICantImReading @Hooked_on_books oh yes, I liked that one! I didn‘t bother to even try Every Vow You Break, so now I‘m extra glad 😬 1mo
37 likes4 comments
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OriginalCyn620
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Pickpick

A woman reaches out to an old friend when she starts to suspect that her husband may be a serial killer. This was so good and kept my interest throughout!

#HauntedShelf #DeadSerious #bookscavengerhunt #blood
#bookspinbingo #promptmaze #31by31 #ispybingo #spookoween #HalloweenAtoZBingo #HalloweenAgoZReadathon

TheSpineView Fantastic! 1mo
FlowerFairy Loved this one! Peter Swanson is an automatic buy for me. 1mo
OriginalCyn620 @FlowerFairy This is only my second one by him that I‘ve read, but I will be reading more! (edited) 1mo
Catsandbooks 👏🏼🐦‍⬛🧡 1mo
TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 1mo
40 likes5 comments
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Its_Amanda_Plz
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Pickpick

At first, I wasn‘t sure if I could stick with it with slow investigating but once it picks up, you‘re really intrigued to figure out whodunnit

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AVChrista
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Always excited to start a new book! 🤩

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JenlovesJT47
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Pickpick

I kept inventing chores for myself to do today so I could finish this audiobook 😆. The first 2 hours or so were mildly interesting, then it took a sharp turn into serial killer territory and I was hooked! I‘ve read the other 2 books in this series and really enjoyed them and didn‘t realize right away that they were connected. A very solid thriller and I will be grabbing more of his books soon. #audiobook #thriller #suspense

43 likes2 stack adds
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Mpcacher
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Pickpick

This is the third book featuring the character of Lily and I quite enjoyed it. The series has great plot twists. While they do not shock me quite as much as I am getting used to Swanson's writing style, they are still very good. It is a short, fast paced novel and I look forward to more adventures with Lily. Although not necessary, reading them in order will certainly add to the enjoyment. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the digital ARC. 4/5 stars

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Breanne1
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Pickpick

This was a good thriller, I just can‘t believe I didn‘t realize it was book 3 in a series. I have the prior books and haven‘t read them yet, whoopsie! It definitely reads as a stand-alone if you haven‘t read the others yet like me. #BOTM
Book 40 of 2024

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Erinreadsthebooks
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Pickpick

“He was truly evil, just a mistake of nature, I think.” A ‘good enough to keep my interest‘ mystery made for the mystery peeps. I won‘t seek out books by Swanson, but if I run across some in a LFL or thrift store, I‘ll pick them up. Solid read.

25 likes1 stack add
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Erinreadsthebooks
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Just hit the “oh, shit!!!” moment 😳

ShelleyBooksie Great chapter title! 4mo
26 likes1 comment
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FlowerFairy
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Pickpick

This one was so good i devoured it. Vlad was a bit more literal. I didn‘t realize this one was third in a series. It read as a stand alone. There is quite a plot twist in the middle of the book that I certainly didn‘t see coming. Turns out I‘ve read the first in the series so now will go back and read the second. Hope to read more of these characters in future books. #catsoflitsy

Leftcoastzen So beautiful!😻 4mo
dabbe What a face! 🖤🐾🖤 4mo
Ruthiella 😻😻😻 4mo
64 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Suelizbeth
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Pickpick

This book caught me completely off guard. It started off as one book and morphed into another book, but still the same book. Also, how was I not aware that this was the 3rd book in a series? So now I have to start with book 1. Anyway, murder, murder, who‘s done the murder(s)? And don‘t mess with Lily Kintner. Wow. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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AudiobookingWithLeah
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Pickpick

4⭐
𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐒⇩
-The narration was fantabulous
-Henry Kimball & Lily Kintner are back.
-I loved the intricacies of Peter Swanson‘s plots; this one is no exception.
𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒⇩
-This one didn‘t hit quite like the first two in this series did…but I still really liked it.
-The story stalls out in the middle but the end came through for me.

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LazyLibrary
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book took me by surprise. I didn‘t expect the way the plot took a twist right in the middle of the book. While not the most exciting characters I was def hooked. Very quick read. UPDATE: I had zero clue this was a series. It was a BOTM pick and this cleared up a little confusion I had toward the end. This IS a pet peeve of mine for sure. But, oh well.

23 likes2 stack adds
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DestinyMorna
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Pickpick

This was my June BOTM pick and was a fast paced mystery with a surprising (at least to me) mid novel plot twist. Perfect for summer beach reading. I really enjoyed it!

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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Some #reds books from the #tbr shelves ❤️

#CoverLove

Eggs Beautiful ❤️🌹📕 5mo
TheSpineView ❤️📕❤️ 5mo
65 likes2 comments
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Pruzy
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Pickpick

It‘s rare that I enjoy contemporary thrillers. However, this was a 5/5 star pick for me! Fast paced and just the right amount of creep factor for a horror fan like myself.

Bonus: This was also my BOTM club pick for June!

54 likes3 stack adds
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marleed
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Pickpick

Oh I thought this was all sorts of creepy, twisty fun. I hadn‘t read the previous two books in the series, but never felt that knowledge would have mattered to this story. That said, those first two books have now been added to my TBR!

TEArificbooks I didn‘t realize it was in a series. I‘m almost done with it and love the twists. I have read other things by the author and liked them. I am going to put the first two on my tbr as well. 5mo
marleed @TEArificbooks I haven‘t read the write-ups on the first two books, and when I finished this one wondered who the character is that appears in the other books. My guess is Henry, and I‘m curious to read more about him. 5mo
75 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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nitalibrarian
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It's a rainy Saturday, which has put me in a mystery/thriller mood. So I'm starting the #botm.

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Lsmoore43
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Happy Pub Day

@petermswanson

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LiteraryinPA
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Mehso-so

Hmm. This felt a little like a bait and switch, like the story started as one thing and then veered off course in a less interesting direction. It wasn‘t a home run for me, though I usually like this author a lot.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 5mo
Leftcoastzen Awww!😻 5mo
BarbaraBB That‘s a pity. I just read my first Swanson and enjoyed it a lot. 5mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Oh no!!! I‘m reading the second one in this series! 5mo
81 likes4 comments
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Charityann
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Relaxing with sunshine and a good book today! What are you reading today?

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I just started this one in preparation for the one you‘re reading! 5mo
40 likes1 comment
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LittlebearReads
Mehso-so

It‘s alright…I would‘ve much preferred to read something closer to the advertised plotline than what Swanson ultimately delivers.

LiteraryinPA I just read this and feel the same way! 5mo
6 likes1 comment
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jlhammar
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June #BOTM has arrived! Just went for the thrills this month.

LiteraryinPA Oooh, I‘m excited to read both of those!! 6mo
BarbaraBB I am reading a Swanson right now (another one) and am enjoying it! 6mo
68 likes2 comments
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nitalibrarian
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I just noticed my June #botm books have different designs on the back of each book and a new logo.

KadaGul Pretty 😍 🤩 😍 6mo
29 likes1 comment
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JenReadsAlot
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I got a bit excited this month! #botm

TheBookHippie 🤣 6mo
37 likes1 comment
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Traci1
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My June #botm selections. I've not read the first two books in the top book's series, but they're on KU, so I figure I can catch up before I start Talent.

What's in your #BlueBox?

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nitalibrarian
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June #botm books are live! I went with the new Peter Swanson. I can't resist a book with a librarian main character. And then added Joe Nuthin's Guide to Life and Leather & Lark.

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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

Loved this latest thriller featuring Lily Kintner and Henry Kimball. They are such compelling and conflicted characters and this was another great page turner. So happy to have a sneak peek at this #ARC that releases on June 11th. Highly recommend, though it is helpful if you‘ve read the first two in the series. #netgalleygroup @AllDebooks #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Stacked! I loved The Kind Worth Killing! Are there others with these characters? 6mo
vivastory @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I haven't read it yet, but I believe this is book 2 in the series 6mo
KathyWheeler Thanks for the heads up. My husband and I both loved the first two books. 6mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 6mo
Julsmarshall Yes, @alwaysbeeenaloverofbooks, @vivastory is right, that is the second book and this one is the third. So good!
6mo
50 likes1 stack add5 comments