A Talent for Murder

A newlywed librarian begins to suspect the man she married might be a murderer—in 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 she’d likely spend her life alone. She was fine with it, happy with her solo existence, stimulated by her work as a librarian in Maine. But then she met Alan, a charming and sweet-natured salesman whose job 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 he’d 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 pattern—five 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.

About the Author

Peter Swanson is the author of nine novels, including The Kind Worth Killing, winner of the New England Society Book Award, and finalist for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, and Her Every Fear, an NPR book of the year. His books have been translated into 30 languages, and his stories, poetry, and features have appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction, The Atlantic Monthly, Measure, The Guardian, The Strand Magazine, and Yankee Magazine. A graduate of Trinity College, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Emerson College, he lives on the North Shore of Massachusetts with his wife and cat.

Reviews

“Peter Swanson never disappoints! A Talent for Murder is a clever, ingenious, edge-of-your-seat thriller that will flip your expectations upside down. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to reach the jaw-dropping conclusion.” —Liv Constantine, bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish

"What a killer read! A Talent for Murder is the thrilling tale of a woman who suspects her husband is a serial killer. As the bodies stack up, so does the paranoid tension until I was feverishly turning pages in the dark, desperate to know what happens next. A fast, exciting read with twist after twist." —Janice Hallett, internationally bestselling author of The Appeal

"Peter Swanson has such a knack for getting readers to root for the most complicated characters, and A Talent for Murder is no exception. This time, Lily Kintner is back with another game of cat-and-mouse as she helps her long-lost friend determine if her husband is a serial killer. The stakes are high, the body count is higher, and yet I would still follow Lily anywhere." —Stacy Willingham, New York Times bestselling author of Only If You're Lucky

A topsy-turvy story that speeds toward its grim destination. The author’s devoted fans will not be disappointed by this tale of karmic comeuppance.” —Wall Street Journal

"Brilliant ... Swanson’s gift for well-earned yet seismic reveals is on full display, and he fortifies them with unexpected heart ... This is a masterpiece of misdirection." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Dimensions:  15.2 x 2.3 x 23.3 cm