I received a e-proof copy of this book and the following review is not influenced by the author, the publisher or by NetGalley.

I have to admit that I requested this book on a whim. I'd heard quite a bit about Peter Swanson from friends, and had been hyped up about how much they enjoyed him. But then I talked to more friends who were heavier into the reading of thrillers, and was bluntly told that Peter Swanson is not a book for me. And, I listened to them. I shouldn't have. I kick myself for ruining the chance of reading this earlier because I kept putting it off. Two weeks ago though, I looked at my TBR pile on my kindle and realised that this book was still on the shelf. So, to contrast the soul destroying book I was listening about the Allies trying to fight their way up Italy, I decided a novel that I could lose myself in twists and turns would be right up my alley.

And oh my God, am I glad that I did. This book kept me going. I lost sleep reading it. I spent my lunch breaks reading through it, with my headphones in because I didn't want to be interrupted. I lost myself in a world where a list had been sent to nine people, with their names on it. No explanation. No further reason given. But a list that caused some people to hunker down to survive the threat, some to flee and others to refuse to listen to the implied thread. The FBI are informed. Local police forces are informed and yet...

None of them are safe.

I couldn't guess the twists and turns. Every time a new bit of information dropped, my head went 'Oh no'. Thrillers may not be my usual genre, but I loved reading this. I loved how the chapters alternated between the nine people on that list, and a few others. Every person may not be likeable; you may want to kick them up the backside, but at the same time you didn't want them to die. You wanted them to survive. For all of them to be alive and learn why they had been on that list in the first place.

And yet, one by one...

I didn't see the ending. I was completely flummoxed, and by the time I got to that last page, I went... 'How did I not figure that out?' How did I not notice that! It's made me want to re-read the entire thing, but I know I need to wait until at least next year. Otherwise I tend to start skimming and I would ruin the point of trying to see all those indicators that neatly come together at the end.

I'd highly recommend this (in case you haven't guessed that). This is a really good thriller. I want to read 'The Kind Worth Killing', because I've heard that it's an homage to 'Strangers On a Train'. This one was clearly a love letter to Agatha Christies 'And Then There Were None'.

4.5 Stars!

This book I found to be just ok. It was slow paced and it had too many POVs for my liking. The premise is interesting but it just wasn't a stand out or one I would think to recommend.

Really enjoyed this - will definitely be recommending and looking forward to the next one by this author!

Nine Lives by Peter Swanson is a mystery thriller novel vaguely inspired by "And then were none" by Agatha Christie. We follow 9 strangers with no apparent relation to each other than a strange list of nine names...
As anyone would do, they dismiss it as some kind of weird error, until the first murder happens. Are they gonna die and so everyone else on this list?

If you are new to thrillers and mysteries and you haven't read "And then were none", maybe give this one a chance? But if you come with the classic story in mind, stop it. Throw all that away. This is a own new book. A work on itself.
That, as anyone could imagine, may work well in some cases and maybe even to some people.
In my case, the reason I pick up this book was because of the exiting idea of a thriller inspired by such a great classic mystery (one of my favorites) and the appealing blurb given to it: The text suggest a fast thrilling novel filled with tension.

When I finished the book I could finally breathe, not because the plot got me holding my breath, but because I felt exhausted.
So here it is, my review before a DNF at 40% and a bitter second chance:

Peter Swanson presents an anti atmospheric set up. Which is not weird, due to the fact that this story happens all over the place. Literally. We have (at least) 9 differents settings through all the book. making the idea of this characters being totally unrelated more believable at the beginning; but also really confusing to the reader, to the continuity of the story and the dynamics.
You never get a claustrophobic atmosphere, just the "secret hunter" chasing down the protagonist "trope". And not really well executed, cause it lacks mystery, tension and, sadly, any interest.

We have 9 main characters and some secondary ones and we get them presented one by one with random facts about their lives one after each other. That's very confusing and we never get to a point when we can really establish each character on this little mental puzzle we have when we start a book.
Inevitably this leads to confusion and eventually, at least in my case, to total indifference. The names on the pages were just some random words to get through so I could finish this reading.

His chapters might be short and fast to read, but not compelling…There were no tension on them, most of the time not even plot. I read 320 pages of 9 characters inner monologue through a third person narrator about their boring life while waiting for their death. Also, all the interaction between this main characters are minimum and through phone calls or emails.

He managed to make a mystery without mystery; cause even though there were questions to answer, they were never approached on a really convenient way . Obviously everything keeps being a mystery when you don’t even try to answer those questions.
And honestly, it was easy to know what kind of connection they have, no matter how many pages Swanson decided to ignore it.

To keep it short, I didn’t like the writing, the characters were forgettable and it had a weak plot.

The overall writing wasn’t necessarily terrible. I have read worse thing for sure.
It’s an average writing style with no particular lyricisity. It’s straight to the point and uses an accessible language.
Yes, it didn’t stack out to me and that doesn't make it a “bad writing style”. But I missed that the author tried to appeal to my feelings and/or senses…I feel totally detached from what it was being narrated.And even though it was a fast reading experience, the choice of Swanson to focus the narrative into the character inner world on a surface level and their day to day life, made the experience tedious.

Other readers, though, seemed to enjoy this book.
They praise the writing style of Peter Swanson, the short fast-paced chapters, the hints of “And there were none” while keeping original…

Personally I think Peter Swanson is not for me. It was my first book by him and maybe my expectations were to high…I’m not a usual reader of thrillers, since I tend to read romance, fantasy and horror, but I still consider that I like this genre. To me thrillers are a hit or miss. What I look forward in a thriller is a compelling mystery, interesting (enough) characters, a fast-pace plot full of intrigue and TENSION.
Peter Swanson didn’t gave me that.

A variation on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. Nine people receive the same list of names. Each list contains the recipients name but there is no clear connection with the other people.

Gradually, the people on the list are murdered, usually as painlessly as possible, and a connection with the past begins to emerge.

A letter from the architect of the plan eventually reveals the full background, followed by a final unexpected twist.

I enjoyed this book. I am a big fan of this author and generally enjoy all his books, this one was no exception.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Peter Swanson for the advanced copy of this book. I agreed to give my opinion freely and without prejudice.

The blurb really had my attention but unfortunately that’s where it ended for me. I considered DNFing several times but I hoped it was a slow start and it would pick up and it’s just not in me. I just couldn’t get into it. I didn’t find it engaging and if anything a little boring. The storyline just didn’t flow. It really didn’t hold my attention. The characters could have done with more development. I didn’t find any of the characters likeable or if I even really cared for any of them. For me the storyline was lacking and not developed as much as it could be. It lacked the usual page turning suspense along with twists and turns.

Thanks to Netgalley and Faber & Faber for the opportunity to listen to and review #NineLives

Loved this book. This is a Page turner. keeps you on edge. definitely recommend. Will look into other books by this author.

sure! why not! i'm a big fan of and then there were none and thought a lot of its effectiveness came from the confined setting but i see now it can work out in the open. pretty good

Fast paced and well written, but not my favourite of his. I enjoyed this book and I will definitely be looking out for more by this author.

This is a homage to Agatha Christie’s very innovative work “And Then There Were None”. And while I see what the author did there and I recognize some fresh arcs and motives of his, I can not say I am leaving this novel as a satisfied reader. All the freshness and interesting takes can not assure the internal logic and the overall message - because Christie’s novel is valid precisely because it poses strong moral questions, but this novel offers none. There is diversity and freshness, but there are no questions of (possible) guilt present. And it is precisely this lack of moral questions which puts this novel, however fresh and innovative, firmly into the group of similar ones, not bad, but not exceptional novels.

Nine Lives by Peter Swanson has such an interesting premise, where 9 people get sent a list with their names on it and it turns out to be a bit of a hit list. It definitely gives me very "And then there were none" vibes which I quite enjoyed and the twists and turns are interesting and unpredictable enough. I had never read Peter Swanson's work before this and it took me a little while to get used to but the writing is very good and anyone who likes thrillers will like this book.

This was a wonderfully character-driven mystery - a modern riff on And Then There Were None. I would’ve liked further twists and turns.

The story:
Nine strangers. Nine names. One list.

When nine people with no apparent connection receive a letter in the post containing nothing but a list of names, including their own, some are intrigued, but no one is particularly worried. That is, until one of the names on the list turns up dead. And not just dead… murdered.

As the recipients are killed off one by one, it becomes clear that this is no coincidence. But who could be carrying out this series of unconnected crimes, and more importantly, why?

My thoughts:
The premise of this page-turner of a mystery from Peter Swanson is an intriguing one — nine people receive a list of nine names in the post, and the only name they recognise is their own. Then they start to die…

We barely have time to get to know the first victim, but as the story progresses we get to know the remaining targets better and better. Some are pretty unpleasant, some are more sympathetic, and although their deaths are inevitable, I found myself rooting for them to escape, particularly feisty FBI agent Jessica Winslow, musician Ethan Dart and English professor Caroline Geddes. I was also particularly drawn to Detective Sam Hamilton, police officer in the small town in Maine where the first murder occurs. His love of classic crime novels and an admiration for Jessica Fletcher were enough to win me over!

If you’re a lover of classic mysteries, as I am, then this will be right up your street. Of course, there are several reasons why the nine names might be on a list, and the author calls out the Queen of Crime herself, Agatha Christie, to illustrate this. Is this perhaps an “And Then There Were None” scenario, or could it be more “The ABC Murders”? Be warned, this book includes spoilers for both of you haven’t already read them!

It’s hard to say more about this book without spoilers, but suffice to say that if you love intriguing mysteries with a classic flavour and a modern twist, then it’s definitely worth checking out “Nine Lives”!

Another clever book that has all the hallmarks of what you’d expect from this talented author. I’ve read everything by him and you can guarantee a fabulous and compelling read. This is no different. Lots of shocks and the book takes you in directions you weren’t expecting!

Swanson’s books are always captivating from the first page. Along with the superb story, the author adds a lot of red herrings and elements of classic detective novels. Nine Lives is one such book. Once picked up, the reader will not able to put it down at all. Nine Lives will remind the readers of Agatha Christie’s ‘And then there were none’. FBI agent Jessica Winslow is on a list of people. Everyone in the list has received that one sheet of paper which 9 names on it. What happens next is unfathomable? Jessica Winslow has to solve the case to understand not just the purpose of the list but it might connected to random killings.

“Nine Lives” by Peter Swanson is the modern day version of Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”.


An enjoyable story and a quick read for any avid locked room murder mystery fan.


Predictable with no major twists. I would recommend this as a great way to inspire new readers to explore the older classics that new generations may not have grown up with.


3 Stars – Lovely Tribute To A Past Classic!


Publication Date: 3rd March 2022


Thank you to #NetGalley, #FaberandFaber and #PeterSwanson for an ARC of #NineLives in exchange for an honest review.

This one had a great premise, Nine people receiving a letter with a list of nine names on it, including theirs! Each person is not familiar with the other names on the list but one by one they are being murdered! Who is killing them and most importantly...why? FBI agent Jessica Winslow is one of the names on the list and she sets out to investigate the connection between the people on the list.

The pace of this one was good but the anticipation was lacking a little other than to know who wrote the list of names and why these specific people were on the list. It was hard to invest in any of the characters as and at times felt it was hard to keep track with the multiple POVs.

The ending was clever and neatly tied it all together however the motive was a little underwhelming.

Overall, an enjoyable read just lacking what I needed for it to be a great read!

Very intriguing book! Peter Swanson did it once again!

The premise: nine strangers receive a letter in the post with a list of names - including their own. Then, one by one, the names on the list start disappearing…

Loved the drama, the tension, the unlikable characters, and the book kept me guessing till the end. I’m definitely a PS fan at this point, and looking forward to the next book!

This crime thriller had such a compelling hook that I just had to check it out… nine people receive a list of names that includes their own. Then they begin to die, one by one.

I was, naturally, reminded of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None and the book refers to that classic twisty tale too (so read that first, if you haven’t already, or it will spoil one of the most unique mysteries I’ve ever read!).

This story is told in short chapters which alternate between the points of view of the characters named on the ‘death list’, along with a few others thrown in to aid/hinder reader understanding (there are, of course, some red herrings along the way).

With no overarching point of view character to pull the investigation together, the story did feel a little disjointed in places, but it was still well-paced, well-written and easily kept me hooked on turning those pages until the big reveal.

Having also enjoyed Rules for Perfect Murders by this author, I will definitely be checking out his next release. I do love a good twisty mystery, and this author knows his classics!

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog