The story than details the investigation into the murders that are occurring in the present day, while also diving back into the protagonist’s past, while also featuring a number of examinations about elements of the protagonist’s world, including his opinion about certain mystery novels. The book is told in first person, from the point of view of the protagonist, Malcolm Kershaw, and it is made to represent a manuscript, recalling the events that he experienced. I rather enjoyed the way that Swanson wrote Rules for Perfect Murders, mainly because he emulated some of the classic murder mystery novels which he clearly loves throughout the story. This turned out to be an excellent read, which I was able to power through in just over a day. Rules for Perfect Murders, which was also released as Eight Perfect Murders, is an intriguing and compelling novel that presents the reader with a fantastic murder mystery while also acting as a love letter to the murder mystery genre. I have not previously had the pleasure of reading any of Swanson’s books before however, I really loved the concept behind this novel, and thought it would be a fun one to check out. This is the sixth novel from Swanson, who debuted back in 2014 with The Girl with a Clock for a Heart. However, not everything is as it seems, and Malcolm must come to terms with some of his darkest secrets if he is to find the killer stalking him from the shadows. Convinced that the killer is someone he knows, Malcolm attempts to find them before they finish off his list. Working with Agent Mulvey, Malcolm soon discovers a link between himself and the killings, as one of the victims was a former customer of his store.

Is the killer using his post as a guide for his gruesome work? Now it appears that several of the killings match the unique selection of books that Malcolm listed all those years ago. This list features some of the most devious cases ever conceived by some of the history’s greatest mystery writers, from Agatha Christie’s The ABC Murders to Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith. Years ago, Malcolm posted an article on his bookshop’s blog titled Eight Perfect Murders, detailing the eight homicides in literary fiction that he thought were the cleverest ways to kill someone and get away with it. However, there is one other tenuous link that could tie the murders together, and FBI agent Gwen Mulvey is curious enough to meet with the owner of the Old Devils mystery bookshop, Malcolm Kershaw, to test her theory. None of the deaths appear to have anything in common, except for the fact that each one bears a similarity to a famous literary murder. In a mood for a complex and rather clever murder mystery? Make sure to check out Rules for Perfect Murders, the curious latest release from bestselling crime fiction author Peter Swanson.Īcross the greater Boston area a series of unsolved murders have been committed. Publisher: Faber & Faber (Trade Paperback – 3 March 2020)

Book eight perfect murders