Mr Swanson has done it again and written a fantastically clever thriller. As per usual there are several threads running throughout the story and half the fun is trying to figure out where it's going and who dunnit.

The only thing I would say is the book was too short! I always want to carry on reading his plots as they are so well thought out and presented to us.

Honestly one of his best books yet

For me it was actually too clever a concept- the perfect murder in literature are brought to life by a serial killer craving attention

Well enough written however there was a lot of explaining to do for readers who were unfamiliar with the original 8 books - that’s where it all fell flat.

Some will love it though

Malcolm Kershaw is a bookshop owner, that specialises in crime and mystery books. An FBI agent enlists his help with a number of unsolved murders that appear to link in with a blog post he wrote several years ago about perfect fictional murders. Slowly details are revealed that indicate that Malcolm is not all that he appears to be.
This story is full of twists and surprises. Just what you would expect from a Peter Swanson novel.
Ironically, Malcolm states at the beginning of the novel that he no longer enjoys reading crime novels, but this book is actually a homage to the classic murder mystery novels of Agatha Christie et al.
It was a quick read and I found the shortness of the book disappointing. For me the story fizzled out towards the end which was a shame. Nevertheless, it was still very entertaining to read.

I am a huge fan of Peter Swanson having read and enjoyed all books. The Kind Worth Killing being my favourite but "Rules For Perfect murders" The title I read it as but also known as Eight Perfect Murders ran a staggeringly close second place to that book.

Crime book shop Owner Malcolm Kershaw had written a blog identifying what he believed to be 8 perfect murders from crime literature. An FBI agent contacts him when bodies are found that follow the pattern of some of the murders mentioned in his list and he is drawn into the investigation.

The character Malcom lets the reader know the books and the authors and I found myself googling them, some of which I knew of and others that I had seen as movies.

The book is a real page turner, has you guessing, and guessing again as to who the perpetrator or perpetrators might be.

Has a real twist to the book, which is always a selling point for me and had me enthralled from start to finish.

Thanks got Netgalley UK and publishers Faber And Faber for allowing me to review this book before it's release date of 3rd March (kindle) and 5th March (Hardback) for a fair and honest review

What a fun book! The premise lends homage to classic murder mysteries, from Strangers on a Train to the more recent TheSecret History (sadly, as I find that novel highly overrated). Mal is a bookstore owner who once published a list of eight perfect murders in literature. Now, someone has taken this list to inspire some murders. Mal is recruited by the FBIto help find the killer and the reader is brought along for the ride as secrets are revealed and red herrings keep the reader guessing as to the identity of the murderer and Mal’s possible link to the murders.

It’s a gripping thriller and with its plot recalling classic murders novels, it may just add a few more books to one’s reading list!

Thank you to Faber & Faber, as well as NetGalley, for the ARC.

just wow!
peter swanson always delivers perfectly constructed stories that one could not put aside!
though i usually prefer books from female pov i could instantly connect with mal the main character!
the end totally matches up with the whole book;
a huge recommendation for everybody who loves good thrillers, books and cats
thank you #netgalley

Mal wrote a blog years ago about 8 perfect murders from classic mystery novels and now someone is actually committing those murders. If you are a fan of of classic mystery novels that are mentioned in this book then I think you’ll love it. I wasn’t familiar with the books mentioned so it wasn’t as enjoyable for me. It was a clever concept but the pace was slow and repetitive at times. This is probably my least favourite Peter Swanson book (The Kind Worth Killing For is my one of my all time favourite books) but I’m sure many people will love this book.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for granting my wish! Book is out March 3rd, 2020.

This was a really interesting and clever thriller. Not like anything I have read previously.

This book is told in a memoir format. You follow Malcom as he is visited by a detective one day, who is concerned that someone is copying a list that he wrote of eight perfect murders in crime and mystery books, someone is bringing those murders to life and Malcom needs to find out who.

I've not read a book like this before. It is essentially a crime book about crime books. It is very clever and definitely a unique thriller.

However, I would add that this book has major spoilers for lots of famous crime books. Some of the more popular books that are spoiled in this book include the secret history by Donna Tart, ABC murders and the murder of roger Ackroyd.

I loved the writing style. It was really engaging and easy to read.

Yet another fantastic read from Peter Swanson. Rules for Perfect Murders (also known as Eight Perfect Murders) is a smart book that was really enjoyable.

Malcom Kershaw is a book store owner who lost his wife 5 years ago. His life consists of the store, the store cat, his 2 employees, his business partner and his customers. Things are quiet and peaceful until the FBI shows up wanting to discuss a blog post he wrote several years earlier. The post was called "Eight Perfect Murders" and listed the most "perfect" murders in crime novels. It seems someone is using Malcom's list to copycat these murders and the FBI need his help to find the culprit. Dun-Dun-DUN!

As the story unfolds Malcom finds himself becoming obsessed with the list and figuring out who is committing the crimes as it is obviously someone who knows him.

This book is really well written, clever and had an old time, "whodunit" feeling to it. Pick it up and you will be incredibly happy you did.

A big thank you to @Netgalley and @FaberBooks for granting my "wish" for Rules for Perfect Murders!!

The first book I've read in 2020--and actually, I devoured the whole thing January 1st--is Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson. I'd previously read and had varying levels of enjoyment from several of Swanson's previous books: The Girl with a Clock for a Heart, All the Beautiful Lies, and Before She Knew Him. Eight Perfect Murders, which will be published in March, is by far my favourite of the four books. It follows a narrator, Malcolm, who co-owns and manages a mystery-themed book shop in Boston. Years ago, he wrote a blog post detailing eight perfect literary murders. Now, an FBI agent shows up, wanting his help, when it looks like somebody is recreating the murders from those books--and that person just might know Malcolm.⁣
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I always love a somewhat unreliable narrator, and Malcom is the perfect balance of smart and secretive. He's not a narrator I had a strong emotional connection to, but he's written that way, as somebody who always holds people at a distance. I really enjoyed the conversational way the book was written, and Swanson certainly knows how to weave an intriguing story together. The actual twists were enjoyable, but not the best part of the book. I wish there was a bit more tension in the book, which sometimes gets bogged down due to resharing the details of the eight books (which are all older, but are definitely spoiled, so be warned) included. Overall, Eight Perfect Murders is a well-crafted plot and narrative, with a slow burn and an atmospheric wintery Boston setting, and while it's not my new favourite mystery it's certainly left me wanting to pick up more from Swanson in the future.⁣

Fabulous concept ,loved the clear passion for all classic mystery’s .i like this author a lot .
I should therefore love this ...however though a great concept it was a bit of a stretch sometimes linking some of the murders in way of the novels
Also guessed the villian and wasn’t overly clear an ending .....things were alluded to ,then denied then eluded to again ,
Not sure ,liked a lot the idea ,just didn’t quite work for me and sooo shd have as right up my street .book shop where ,mystery lover ,awesome cat there is still a lot to like
Thanks though for granting my wish netgalley and publishers as always gratefull and keen for more that come my way :)

This is the first book I have finished in 2020 and if they continue in this vein it is going to be a promising year! This used classic crime as it’s base and twists it into a modern chiller of a novel.
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As an avid crime fiction reader, I have actually thought that I have learnt enough about forensics, motives, police procedures to commit a murder and get away with it! Come on my fellow bloggers you have all thought the same! Therefore, I found the premise of the story ring true. I am going to state here though that I am a Buddhist and a pacifist so I would never commit murder 😂😂😂.
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Malcolm is the narrator of the story and because of this the story runs at his pace and the revelations come as he discovers plot points rather than the frantic race to uncover ’Charlie’. I will admit that I didn't figure out who ’Charlie’ was - I thought it was going to be a woman. Kinda bummed I didn't figure it out.
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This book is an homage to the classic crime era of Christie and her peers. For true lovers of crime fiction this book celebrates this era and tries to put those tricks and literary narratives into this novel. Swanson does this with success and it was a pleasure to read this book.
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I kept wanting to rush this book as I was desperate to read to the end but I stopped myself as I didn't want to miss all the clues that were hidden throughout the story. I loved this book. I can't talk about it any more though as then I will end up giving away spoilers and I don't want to do that!

Rules for Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson is the perfect novel with which to close out an epic year of reading. Many thanks to the publisher, Faber and Faber Ltd, who graciously granted my wish for this one, making the enjoyment derived twice as sweet. Having read Mr Swanson's previous novel, Before She Knew Him, I could not wait to get my hands on this one, and it did not disappoint.

Malcolm Kershaw is at his Boston bookshop, Old Devils Books, when he is contacted by FBI agent Gwen Mulvey, who is tasked with investigating a spate of murders in the area. Back in 2004, Mal had written a blog titled 'Eight Perfect Murders' which, essentially, paid homage to past classics of the murder mystery genre. Fast forward to the present, and it appears that each 'perfect' murder is being replicated by a potential serial killer. I will not give too much away here, but suffice to say that Mal Kershaw is as complex and unreliable a narrator as you will ever meet, and the plot twists will have both your skin crawling and your head spinning in equal measure. If you are looking for the perfect thriller with which to usher in a brand new decade, make this one it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for granting my wish with this ARC.

Having loved Swanson's The Kind Worth Killing but finding myself massively underwhelmed by the follow-ups, it was such a pleasant surprise to enjoy Rules For Perfect Murders as much as I did. Following Malcolm, who co-owns a Boston bookstore specialising in mystery and crime, as he is drawn into an FBI investigation into a series of murders that seem to echo the plots of famous mystery novels (novels, moreover, that he wrote a blogpost about entitled Eight Perfect Murders a few years previous) this is a quick, absorbing, intelligent read that fans of classic crime fiction will especially appreciate. Reminding me in tone somewhat of Laura Lippman's Tess Monoghan novels (the highest praise from me, FYI) mixed with the recent murder mystery film Knives Out, there was something of a sense of camp to the proceedings, especially in the nods to Agatha Christie's The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Very much recommended for connoisseurs of crime fiction.

This was an ok thriller but it didn't stand out for me. I'm a rather picky reader so I'm convinced many readers will love this new book!

Finally a true homage to crime thrillers. Riveting and totally enthralling. Devilishly clever that on that elusive allusion of the perfect from recent fiction.
Told in the first person by a young bookseller in Boston. The world of books; the stories and fictional accounts becomes uncomfortably real when someone starts to draw attention to bookshop.
Malcolm Kershaw the part owner of the store is approached one day by a FBI agent who has seemingly uncovered a bizarre connection between a blog Kershaw wrote some years earlier detailing a list of books where Eight Perfect Murders are enacted.
When presented with the evidence Mal quickly discerns that his blog has inspired someone to kill others, seemingly deserving of the sanction, along similar lines, following the plots of the books.
This is a tour de force. A clever and crime fiction orientated mystery that has many layers to be peeled back before any semblance of truth is seen.
I loved the characters. The joy of reading, blogging, attending author seminars and promoting books.
It is the world for a fan of crime and the special relationship with authors, characters and plotting.
The novel remains true to its theme throughout and calls out a number of classic examples of this art. The titles many will have read and are familiar with and authors we all adore and admire in this field.
There are also many references to books and poetry that bring depth and shade to the story.
It appears initially a collaboration between the FBI agent and Mal’s experience and greater knowledge of the books in the pursuit of a deranged reader out to undermine and subvert this Boston bookseller.
It quickly becomes darker and more personal as we become aware of Kershaw’s own past and grief while the FBI agent, Gwen Mulvey, is not fully open towards Malcolm about the extent of her investigation.
A book you will want to read; that will seems both familiar but fresh and creatively stimulating.

Firstly thanks to @netgalley for giving me access to this e-book. This was my first time reading Peter Swanson and I am planning to read more after this one.
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The book is about a man named Malcom, who owns a book store in Boston and has an obsession with murder mystery books (I think I can relate) One day he is costed by an FBI agent who wants to question him about a blog he wrote which discussed Eight Perfect Murders in books.
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The FBI agent has a theory that someone is committing copycat murders following the format of the Eight Perfect Murders describes in Malcoms blog.
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As soon as I read the description of the book I immediately was hooked and was praying I would get to read this as the premise sounded sooo interesting. First off I would say for all us bookies this story talks about a ton of classic books some of which I will probably add to my TBR. Second, the story is really well written and the format is somewhat different from what I’m use to but actually enjoyed a lot. I was really never sure of the suspect and kept guessing at who it could be but never quite figured it out. Anyways If you into murder mysteries then you will love the book. It will be coming out in March 2020.

Rules for Perfect Murders is an interesting read. It’s got an unreliable narrator, interesting plot and some twists and turns. It sounds like the kind of book I love, but I just couldn’t get fully into it. Which is odd, because I’ve loved this authors books in the past. Rules for Perfect Murders will appeal to thriller and mystery fans alike, definitely one to watch out for if that’s your cup of tea!

I thought this was a clever book and unlike other crime fiction novels. Someone starts committing murders based on a list of 8 crime fiction novels with the perfect murders. The ending let me down a bit, but otherwise I really enjoyed it!

“Books are time travel. True readers all know this. But books don’t just take you back to the time in which they were written, they take you back to different versions of yourself”

This was a fabulous murder mystery! Mal becomes involved with trying to solve murders that seemed to be based on famous literary murders. We couldn’t put this one down; very well-written, and we loved the references to some of our other favourite reads! This is definitely a “must-read” for any fans of mystery novels.