Nine strangers, each receive a list of names, including their own, in the mail. No explanation or other information comes with it. While they all think it’s strange, they don’t think anything of it, until people on the list start dying. I really wanted to like this book, and I did for most of it, but the ending just ruined it for me. It’s a quick read and entertaining but, for me, that just wasn’t enough to make up for that ending.

Thank you William Morrow and Scene of the Crime for my advance copy.

An ode to the classic Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None, I found this suspense book both frustrating and jaw dropping. A random letter in the mail with a list of nine names is sent to each of the people on the list. Soon the deaths start and the detectives have to figure out how these people who seem to have nothing in common are on this list and why their murderer wants their lives snuffed out. A fan of Agatha Christie, I had to read this book. I dove in and was hooked at first. However, the faults of some of the characters were sexually cringy which made my skin crawl and almost decided to DNF the book. I also really needed the cast of characters list in the beginning to keep track of the storylines of the nine. To not put spoilers in here all I can say is that I appreciated the author's attempt at not copying the setting of the classic Christie but it ended up causing confusion for this reader. This book redeemed itself at the end and I enjoyed the nicely tied up conclusion with a nice twist. I’m neither hot or cold about this one. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced ebook for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I've been disappointed with Peter Swanson's books lately and had high expectations for this one. Unfortunately it did not work for me.

Nine strangers receive a list in the mail with their names on it. None of the strangers on the list know what it means, or why it was sent. One of the names on the list belongs to FBI Agent Jessica Winslow, who is immediately suspicious. Jessica works with her team to try to figure out who sent the letters, and what the connection could be between the people on the list. As Jessica races to figure out who the murderer is, she also has to watch her back since her name is on the list, she could be next.
This was a suspenseful, thrill ride. I could not put it down. At times I read thrillers and can figure out the culprit pretty quickly. This one threw me for a loop. Great story.

Thank you William Morrow Books, Scene of the Crime and NetGalley for this ARC

Perhaps I read too many mystery/thrillers/suspense books in a row but this book didn't quite captivate me like I thought it would. There were too many characters with their POV and the information on each of these characters was very superficial and the ending lacked a punch.

More of a 2.5

Listen, this book was a totally standard thriller. It's super fast paced, you can figured out what's happening before the reveal if you're paying close enough attention - and that was satisfying, but it fell kind of flat for me.

I really enjoyed the first two Peter Swanson books I read, but the second two have been lackluster for sure. This book, like his last, had a few things that left a bad taste in my mouth. There were several scenes with slurs that didn't further the story at all and just felt like Swanson wanted a pass to use those words. The preoccupation with a specific book didn't really come back around either - and felt like it was trying to play off the success of "8 Perfect Murders".

Additionally, the characters all kind of sucked. Like the reasoning behind the list is just so ridiculous and like truly men would rather kill nine people than go to therapy.

Nine Lives by Peter Swanson was so much fun to read! Nine people all over the country receive an envelope in mail. Inside there is a piece of paper with nine names on it. One of them is theirs, the other eight names are people they’ve never heard of. There’s no explanation, no return address, nothing. One of the people who receives this envelope is Jessica, an FBI agent. This is what gets the attention of law-enforcement. Soon people on that list are being killed. Why? Are they connected? Who is doing this?
We get to know each of the nine people on the list. As the book goes on, clues are given and secrets come out. This book is classic Peter Swanson. I love his depictions of New England and Maine especially. I don’t know any other way to describe it other than his books just have a certain feel to them that other books don’t. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

A fun book of suspense and who done it. I adored Peter Swanson's previous book, The Kind Worth Killing, and although this was not as good as that one, in my opinion, I would still recommend it. I did not guess the killer ahead of time, and it was obviously based on my favorite Agatha Christie novel: And Then There Were None. Peter Swanson is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, and I will gladly read anything he writes. Give me all the Swanson novels. He is such a talented writer.

Nine Lives is a twisty murder mystery that introduces you to nine people who are on a list. None of them know each other and have no idea why they are on the list--are they in danger? Yes, they are! The murderer was inventive with each individual murder and left no traces behind, with a satisfying resolution at the end of the how, why and who, I am looking forward to reading more from this author as I couldn't put this book down!

I enjoyed the suspense in this novel. I had an idea of what was going to happen toward the end of the book, but I wasn't definitely sure. It was a stumper. With several characters, it's usually hard to do too much character development without losing the audience. Swanson does well with giving us just enough information about the characters. I didn't connect with any of them, but there were several who I didn't care much for. I think that was what Swanson was trying to accomplish though.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a free and unbiased review.

I was very excited for the reading of this book. I love mysteries and the idea of having 9, seemingly, random strangers being sent a list is a great direction for a mystery! However upon reading the book I found myself being more and more let down. The ways in which the antagonist takes out the people on the list was a little lackluster and the characters you thought would play a larger role in finding the person responsible for the list end up not. The ending ,while not seen coming, did have something to do with what I had assumed after the first couple of chapters. Not a terrible read but I feel the book as a whole could have had a lot better direction and storyline.

What would you do if you received a piece of paper with a list with nine names (including your own)? Probably nothing. What if you found out people on that list were being killed one by one? That might get you a bit more panicked. That's exactly the premise of Peter Swanson's latest thriller, Nine Lives.

I had never read a Peter Swanson book before, but this one definitely won't be my last. I loved that there was no real set up, you're just dropped right into the story as the characters receive the letter and watch as it plays out - some go on with their lives as if nothing happened, some try to hide from the killer, some try to live out their last days in the best way they can. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more from Swanson :)

A story that is a great tribute to Agatha Christie And then there were none. I loved the multiple points of view, the slowly unfolding story, and the great ending that had me saying WHAT?! I loved this suspenseful read. A fun summer read that would be devoured in just a day. Highly recommend.

Another thriller that I could not put down by Peter Swanson! He remains one of my absolute favourite thriller authors and Nine Lives is in my top 3 of his books.

When nine complete strangers receive a mysterious list of names in the mail (theirs included on it) they don’t know what to think. But when those people on the list start dying under unusual circumstances, both the receivers of the list and the police become concerned.

With short chapters and a long list of characters, this one was a very quick page turner for me! Swanson makes it feel like a countdown with the pressure on to find the killer so needless to say it had me hooked after each chapter. The books vibe was very reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s classic “And then there were None”.

A solid twist along side a few surprises that shocked me, the book leaves little room for fluff and is a straight to the point thriller. Highly recommend!

Loved the story it was very suspenseful Did remind me of an Agatha Christy novel. Would recommend this book to friends.

Nine Lives is Peter Swanson at his best 🙌

I was immediately intrigued with the storyline as everyone began receiving their letters. I was a little worried I would keep the characters straight or forget their descriptors given at the beginning. Thankfully that didn't end up being an issue at all.

The story moved at such a fast pace with so many interesting characters that I didn't have time to consider who could be behind it all. I loved the old-school mystery feeling of it all. There's something so comforting about a cozy mystery unravelling in New England.

There were quite a few characters I didn't really care about but others, let me tell you I was sad to see some of them go. But the ending 👌 My jaw was on the floor. This definitely is my new favorite.

This is my first mystery/thriller by icon Peter Swanson and It was definitely interesting!

You guys know I love a good murder mystery! Sooo when nine seemly unconnected strangers receive a list in the mail with their names on it and start dying one by one I AM TAPPED IN…

When I tell you every single person had a POV in this novel, I literally mean that there were 10 different POVs…… The fact that I wasn’t as confused as I should have been with all of these people was actually pleasantly surprising.

While I enjoyed getting the POVs of all of the very flawed characters (some more flawed than others), my introduction to them felt very brief and surface level making it hard to connect with any of them.

There are a few clues that we’re given throughout the novel but enough confusion to keep me guessing about the ending

I’m honestly awful at checking my mail (I honestly only check my mail when I know a package is coming) soooooo If I was a character in this story I would probably be dead long before I even had a chance to open this letter

A fast-paced and modern spin on the Agatha Christie classic, Swanson’s latest book does not disappoint! Crazy plot twists and the suspenseful buildup to each murder kept me turning the pages late into the night. I thoroughly enjoyed the way in which the author developed each character, and how the perceptions of each character evolved as more details emerged. This book stands apart from other recent thrillers with its unique premise and intriguing plot. I’m excited to see what Peter Swanson comes up with next!

4 1/2 stars

I forget when there’s been a while between book just how much I enjoy Peter Swanson’s writing. This book quickly reminded me what a skillful author he truly is. This book is a riff on Agatha Christie’s classic tale, And Then There Were None. Nine names appear on a list. Those nine people receive that list, but the only name they recognize is their own. Most discount the list as junk and seek to ignore it. But when they’re tracked down by the police and FBI, it’s a different a matter.

The plot of this book is intricate and does justice to Ms. Christie’s original. It slowly works it’s way through the nine people, allowing you to learn about their backgrounds as you try to figure out if there are any connections. The end comes with a major surprise. Of all the characters in this book, I especially loved the dogged Sam Hamilton.

This book is a page turner. It will keep you wondering why these nine people. In the end, you will understand all of the reasons. I will say that at times I wanted the story to hurry a bit more, but it didn't deter my interest.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

Really enjoyed this book for about 75% of it but the ending didn't really live up to the mystery throughout the book. The murderer was made obvious soon enough and then after that the drama and tension decreased and you could already guess why the murders occurred. The cast of characters were interesting but ultimately didn't get enough development. If you have not read And Then There Were None, I'd recommend reading that first before this as it does spoil the ending of the book although indirectly.