Oh my gosh I couldn't put this down for even a second! The story is the fourth in this series apparently, but the first I've read. It can definitely be read as a stand alone and I want to say the whole book was intriguing and intense. I love crime dramas and this one takes the cake for sure. I am going to have to look into reading more by this author.

Enjoyable story with a great plot. Really enjoyed this page turning novel. Would highly recommend to others.

Another Becky Masterman thriller featuring her heroine Brigid Quinn with this fascinating alternative look at one of America's most famous crimes.

I really like the idea behind this novel. Truman Capote‘s In Cold Blood is the OG true crime classic, but it’s well-known that parts of the book were fictionalized.

We Were Killers Once expands the fiction into a new story surrounding the Clutter family murders. The story introduces the notion of a new, third killer (15 then, 70ish now) for author Becky Masterman’s Brigid Quinn to bring to justice before he kills again.

I loved that Masterman tied in the Florida murders that crime buffs are (mostly) convinced were perpetrated by the same Clutter family killers a month later. Again, she takes a factual crime story and brings it into her novel.

This one is highly recommended for true crime fans and fans of In Cold Blood. Masterman’s creative nonfiction skills are on point as she presents a compelling puzzle for her protagonist to solve.

This is a "what if" on the events surrounding and possibly related to the famous murder of the Clutter family, as described, with a lot of editorial license, by Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood.

The book overall was an interesting premise and I liked the way the story was told from two perspectives. I loved the background of the story and the weaving together of the characters - because the real story had so many possibilities and the author made them very plausible.

I found myself very curious to know how it all played out but frustrated by some of the writing style and set ups. It was the first of the Brigid Quinn's series that I have read and maybe that's why I didn't really relate or like Brigid! I am known for only reading series in chronological order!

Thank you to Net Galley for the copy in exchange for my review!

I wasn't impressed with this book at all, I thought it was somewhat boring of a read. I'm glad I didn't have to buy this book,

My first book by Becky Masterman, but not my last. I really liked the fact that this book was unique and original in its story line. The main character ex-FBI agent Brigid was likable and her husband Carlo was extremely likable-especially when compared to the featured criminal in the book, newly released ex-con Jerry. Brigid's niece, Gemma-Kate, was quite a character. The writing flows fast and you want to find out just what the heck is happening. The author leads you to believe certain things about Jerry- but, in my case, boy did I read things incorrectly. Some parts were hard to follow but not enough that it would deter me from reading this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and give an honest review.

This was an intense thriller, full of mystery and intrigue. I was literally on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it! I loved it!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

The best Brigid Quinn yet. Bringing the history of In Cold Blood, with a wonderful twist, leads to mystery and murder in Florida, Arizona and elsewhere decades after the original crimes. Carlos' background as a priest before leaving the calling is also a key factor. It's a book that's hard to put down.The best Brigid Quinn yet. Bringing the history of In Cold Blood, with a wonderful twist, leads to mystery and murder in Florida, Arizona and elsewhere decades after the original crimes. Carlos' background as a priest before leaving the calling is also a key factor. It's a book that's hard to put down.

I wasn’t able to put this down! It is the first that I have read in this series but I believe it can be a stand alone novel. I loved that the story tied in with a 1959 murder. The characters of Carlo and Brigid were very realistic and I would love to read more about them. This was an intense and deep thriller. . Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Having read In Cold Blood years ago, I was anxious to read this story! The book is quite well-written and the characters are so realistic that I felt that this quite easily could have happened just as written! I was so glad to read this book!



This was written in Goodreads under my name, Jeannie Huie.

We Were Killer Once is my first book by this author but it won't be my last. Brigid Quinn is a retired FBI agent and private detective, trying to enjoy the rest of her life with her former priest/ husband, Carlo. Tough as nails and a little snarky, Brigid has enough insecurities to go around involving her marriage but she is very good at her job. With a twist on Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, Ms. Masterman introduces Jerry, ex-con with severe paranoia and a bigtime secret. After having a life sentence commuted, Jerry is out of prison and looking to hide his secrets and Carlo just happens to be in the way. Jerry will give you chills with his cold, calculated evilness and you will cheer Brigid on in solving the captivating mystery while serving up a cold dish of justice. I find the older protagonist in this story a breath of fresh air and the suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat with a well researched and thought out plot that exist in the realms of possibility. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

I have to preface this review by saying that I have not read the author's prior novels with this character, and while I am familiar with the Truman Capote novel I have not read that either Before reading this novel I did not know that his novel was based on the real-life murders of a family in Kansas in the 1950's.

That being said, I (mostly) enjoyed the novel and it stands well enough alone that I felt a connection to the lead character without being completely confused by references to prior events/novels. I also felt intrigued enough by the story line that I will search out a copy of Capote's novel so I have a better understanding of where the author was inspired and diverged from his work. I usually feel I have a greater connection and comprehension of an author's work if I have at least read what they are referencing, although I think this story works well enough without having read Capote's depiction of the murders.

Overall I found the novel to be very slow to start , and I was initially confused trying to follow the characters and their motivations. After the first third of the book or so, I felt like the pacing picked up and by the end it was tumbling almost out of control (but in a good way). The characters were believable, although I found Carlos to be irritating, smug, and a bit of a dolt for some reason. I liked the inclusion of the psychopathic niece and I would have liked to see a greater role played by her in the story line. In the end I decided I enjoyed the novel, and would certainly recommend it to readers of thrillers, mysteries, and true crime aficionados.

I enjoyed this version of the Clutter murders that happened in Kansas in the late 50's and that Truman Capote wrote about "In Cold Blood". In this version there is a third person involved who also commits a high profile murder in Florida around the time of the Clutter murders. This person becomes obsessed that someone is on his trail and this is where the story begins. I stayed up late to finish so I can highly recommend this version of the events that happened in Kansas and even more added to the story to add interest. I will highly recommend this book to my book club and murder mystery lovers.

I enjoyed the characters in this book. I really didn't understand a few of the details that we're repeated though out the story. Skip if you don't want anything revealed. But what does a short man with a limp and a large butt like a woman. How is a butt like a man or a woman's?? The story moved at a decent pace and kept me interested

I read IN COLD BLOOD by Truman Capote many years ago. When I saw this book WE WERE KILLERS ONCE and the description of how this was a spin on the Capote book, I just had to check it out. This is an excellent book. Even if you had not read the Capote book, there is enough explaining to make it readable without knowing all of the details from the first book. The writing is terrific, the narrative is plausible and very enjoyable. I love all of the characters.
Highly recommend this book.

Gritty. Dark. Dangerous. The story is a dark and twisty read. Stayed up late a couple of nights to finish it, some of the aspects of the book were too much at one and I had to take a break. I will be looking for more books by this author .
Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

I am a working mother of two and find my sleep very important. So you know it was a good book when I chose the book over sleep.

Masterman’s writing took me a bit to get used to and with the different perspectives per chapter without naming who it was I found it sometimes difficult to follow along as whose perspective it was. But in the end it all made sense.

I was captivated by the mystery of the cold case from decades ago and the way the main character was effected by a crime she only heard about.

This is a perfect mystery, crime drama .

I couldn’t put it down! I read as constantly as I could, and was completely engrossed in the story that was based on the true crime legend, “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote. I loved the characters, and would love to read more from this author! Master level storytelling, highly recommend! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this advanced reader copy for free!

This was the first book of Becky Masterman's I've had the opportunity to read and I will definitely be back for more. We Were Killers Once is the story of a former FBI Agent, Brigid Quinn, who finds herself drawn back into a case from her childhood that happens to be one of the most famous cases of all time thanks to Truman Capote's In Cold Blood.

While it was the connection to In Cold Blood that initially drew me to the book, as I am a huge fan, it was Masterman's depiction of the characters that made me fall in love with the book. Brigid Quinn is a former FBI agent who is retired from the FBI under less than ideal circumstances, but Masterman doesn't let Quinn fall into the tried-and-true FBI stereotypes. Quinn is a living, breathing human being with insecurities and strengths that balance out her weaknesses. Other characters are just as fleshed out, including what are often minor characters, like Quinn's niece Gemma-Kate.