BOOK REVIEW: KILL FOR ME, KILL FOR YOU

A Hitchcock-inspired psychological thriller? Say less, I’m here for it. KILL FOR ME, KILL FOR YOU had me absolutely hooked from beginning to end! Just when I thought I knew where things were headed, a new twist kept me on my toes!

This story features multiple POVs all of which are dealing with the aftermath of crimes committed against them or their loved ones. There are themes of grief, anger towards the justice system, and revenge.

Ruth was recently violently attacked in her NYC home by a man with striking blue eyes. The culprit got away and is on the loose. Amanda and Naomi met in a grief group and connect because their daughters were both murdered. They conspire to kill each others’ daughters killers.

I absolutely LOVED this thriller! The pacing! The layers! The TWISTS!!! When I tell you I audibly grasped at the end! I highly recommend this one!

TW: some gruesome/violent scenes

I really enjoyed this twisty thriller - it kept me guessing and the short chapters kept me wanting to read just one more.

The premise is one we've heard before -- while grieving her daughter and husband, Amanda meets Wendy, and they hatch a plan of kill for me, kill for you. Amanda is sure she won't feel settled until the man responsible for the deaths is brought to justice. In a separate storyline, Ruth is dealing with the aftermath of a home-invasion, while her husband Scott is committed to helping her heal from it.

Alternating between Amanda and Ruth's point-of-view, as well as Scott and the Detective working on their cases, the short chapters make this book move very quickly. I felt like both of the main characters could have been flushed out a little more -- it was easy to understand their motivation but we didn't get much of a feel for their personalities.

Books set in New York are one of my favorite things to read, and this one had great New York scenes.

I guessed one of the main twists but that didn't detract from it for me. I was surprised by a few of them and always love a book that keeps me guessing. I will definitely check out more books by Steve Cavanagh and I can see why this one is getting so much hype! I would recommend it to anyone who likes twisty thrillers -- but do check out the content warnings first, as there are some sensitive issues.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Kill for Me, Kill for You is a fast-paced Psychological Thriller that follows a few different perspectives. I would say the stars of our show are Ruth and Amanda, two women struggling to overcome personal tragedies. We also get the perspective of Detective Farrow, familiar to both women, as well as Ruth's husband, Scott.

Ruth was attacked in her home by a man stalking New York City, the Blue-Eyed Killer. Ruth survived, but was left with lasting injuries. Will she ever be able to feel safe again? We follow Ruth and Scott as they try to navigate the aftermath of this attack. It's a lot for the couple to try to work through. It has truly shattered their lives.

Amanda lost a child, and within a week, her husband. She's been living with the pain for a while. It never gets easier. She has recently joined a support group and it's there that she meets Wendy. The two women bond over their shared feelings and end up hanging out outside of group. As they talk over drinks one night, they come up with a plan for revenge, straight out of Strangers on a Train.

I don't want to say anything more about this. You should be able to judge whether you want to read it or not. It's a tough one to talk about without revealing too much. Just know, I had fun with it. I really enjoyed getting to know all of the characters. The build-up of learning about their lives and situations that led them to where they were, I found it fascinating. I was glued to the pages.

I was actually surprised about getting the Detective's perspective. I wasn't sure where he was going to come out in the overall narrative, but I always enjoy an investigator's perspective, so it was a happy surprise. I was so curious how this was all going to come together, as any connections amongst the characters were initially blurry. I loved watching it play out.

With this being said, I will admit that, even though this was an enjoyable ride, it was slightly uneven for me. Once the biggest reveal occurred, when those pieces fell in place, I felt satisfied, but there was still quite a bit of book left. I feel like I lost a little interest after that reveal. However, it did pick back up for me again in the final moments. At the end of the day though, this was highly entertaining. Did I want to grab popcorn? Hell yes, and let it be known, this is absolutely a compliment from me. I'm excited to pick up more of Cavanagh's work.

Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me a copy to read and review. This was a definite win for me!!

Suspenseful and unputdownable psychological thriller -- don't miss this one!

Two emotionally traumatized women, Amanda and Wendy, meet in a bereavement group and devise what they think will be a foolproof plan for them to get revenge and justice. On the other side of New York City, Ruth is the target and victim of a home invasion that she barely survives.

This was fast, fun, and based in part on the premise of Patricia Highsmith book, Strangers on a Train. After the women come to an agreement, the action escalates, and the story takes off. Finely and deftly plotted, this is a book that kept me glued to the pages as I read while also listening to the audiobook. The characters were interesting and well-developed as their emotions and reactions to their past experiences are explored. I thoroughly enjoyed this and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a twisty and shocking murder mystery. I was almost holding my breath until the end.

Thank you to Atria Books for the e-book ARC to read and review and to my local library for the audiobook. This would make a great TV series or movie.

Kill for Me, Kill for You will reign supremely from the top of my Best of 2024 list! It was amazing, twisty, crazy and brilliant. I have never read a Steve Cavanagh book, but I assure you that this will not be the last book by this author that I read. What a wild ride to introduce me to this talented author! My head was spinning, and I was filled with anxiety as I read this amazing story. I have to hand it to Cavanagh- he seems to be on par with my favorites such as Peter Swanson and ...

This story takes inspiration from Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train, where two characters decide to "swap" murders so that they won't get caught. Amanda White has been through the worst possible thing imaginable. As a mother, myself, I was reeling as I read about the murder of her sweet 6-year-old. Amanda is out of her mind with grief over the deaths of not only her daughter but her husband, as well. She agrees to go to a grief support group where she meets Wendy. Wendy is a lot like Amanda, and as they become closer, they realize that they can help each other get the justice they both deserve. They decide to "swap" murders and therefore give themselves the rock-solid alibis they need to be sure nobody can connect either of them to the murders of the heinous monsters who killed the people they love.

You may think you know what is going on, but I assure you- your jaw will DROP, and you will NOT be able to put this book down! The story is told through multiple POV's, the suspense will keep you hooked until the shocking last page. I had a roller coaster of emotions as I read this and I enjoyed every single word on the pages! Highly recommend this book. 5 brilliant, shiny and dazzling stars.

In the book Kill For Me, Kill For You by Stephen Cavanaugh Amber and Wendy meet at a support group for the grieving. Amber has lost her daughter in a week after her daughters kidnapping and death her husband committed suicide windy lost her daughter as well and despite no one being made to pay for the Crime Wendy convinces Amber who the culprit is Insun behave eight Throw Momma From The Train type scenario or may be a better reference as Strangers On The Train regardless Stephen Cavanaugh has written a brilliant book with a wow type ending. Things don’t go according to plan after one of the women hold up her end of the bargain and this is what makes up most of the rest of the book with different POV‘s in the past and the present between amber in a woman name Ruth who has way more in common then they don’t this is a great book that any thriller fan will want to read in one go because it is definitely hard to put down I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. It was definitely an awesome read! I want to thank atria books and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

This was an interesting book that kept me guessing! I was anticipating something with the final twist but it wasn’t exactly what I expected so I was still surprised! Definitely add to your TBR.

This was a really great thriller. I’ve never read anything by this author, but I’ll definitely check out his other books. This story is about two women who decide to kill for each other. I loved the multiple POV‘s, the short chapters, multiple storylines, and the suspense! It took me a while to catch onto the first twist, but I definitely didn’t see the others. The ending came together nicely and then threw me for another loop! This is a very quick read that I raced through and had a good time doing so! Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the advanced copy.

Well, I didn’t like this but I’ll tell you who would: anyone who likes a lot of twists, doesn’t mind graphic violence, cheers on people who murder for revenge and likes a fast-paced story. I don’t like 3/4 of those things so it didn’t work for me. But everyone else - enjoy!

thank you, netgalley, for the free copy, i absolutely loved this book, it was so fast-paced and i didn't want to put it down. it was twist after twist with never slowing down. the way the author tied together every character was done excellently. i would read anything he has written.

4.5 stars! This was a near perfect thriller - consistently surprised throughout and no idea where it was going to end up. The ending was slightly confusing and everyone with a POV throughout was pretty unreliable (if that’s your thing, you’ll love!), but I’d recommend this to anyone who is into thrillers!

Thank you Atria Books #partner, for the advanced copy of Kill for Me, Kill for You in exchange for my honest review.

Let me tell you, the hype is real with this book! It might have been my first time reading anything by this author, but it certainly will not be the last. ⁣
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I was completely drawn into this book from the get-go & flew through it, reading it in a matter of hours. It is so brilliantly plotted & the twists completely blindsided me, especially that final one! I can’t tell you how many times I gasped out loud reading this! This is the thriller you do not want to miss. It’s entertaining, smart & oh so clever! This is a book I know I will be rereading, not only because it’s so good but also because I want to know if I can possibly pick up on any clues the author might have left along the way. ⁣

I cannot recommend this book enough! And while I am waiting to see what comes next from this author, I’ll be picking up one of his backlist books!

This is my first book by this author and maybe his writing just isn’t for me but ugh this was just so meh. It was immediately obvious that the whole thing was just a ruse and that Naomi was conning Amanda. And Amanda? Don’t even get me started in on her. What a ridiculous character. Even the detective was quite a joke. And then the ending wasn’t very satisfying either. The plot was silly-a woman who kills serial killers with blue eyes to get back at the attacker from years ago; the characters ridiculous and the whole thing was a thriller without a thrill.
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Whoa! If I had to narrow my review to just one statement it would be: Expect the unexpected with this one! Amanda and Wendy have both suffered horrific trauma due to the loss of loved ones. They both attend a trauma support group in the hopes of getting their lives back. They meet. They become friends. They begin plotting the perfect plan for revenge: if you kill for me, I’ll kill for you. Cavanagh has woven a clever, bingeable, intense, skillfully written story with a hell of a twist. A huge thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Steve Cavanagh for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was one of the best thrillers I’ve read in quite some time! It kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Think of Strangers On A Train on steroids and you still won’t have the half the picture! The twists will take your breath away (yes, I actually gasped out loud more than once). Completely ingenious, unguessable and unputdownable so be prepared to stay up way past your bedtime, get comfortable and dive right in, but don’t forget to come up for air! Brilliantly done, Mr. Cavanagh!!!👏🏼
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This book was one of the best books I’ve read all year . I kept feeling a twist coming but could never have imagined what happened. This story was so engaging and the characters were all likeable. This plot was excellent and it kept me tearing through to get to the end. I highly recommend you all check this out.

This is my very first Steve Cavanagh book! My husband is a big fan so I was excited to give it a try.

So, my husband felt this was not his favorite Cavanagh and that it felt different from his other books.

I enjoyed it. I LOVE a Strangers on a Train concept and this took that premise and made it even twistier and more complicated.

Okay, it did get a little out-there at the end, but it was just so much fun to read. The twists were amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

In Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh, the bustling streets of New York City serve as the backdrop for a gripping tale of revenge, loneliness, and unexpected connections. The story kicks off on a dark evening on the Upper West Side, where two strangers, Amanda and Wendy, bond over their shared desires for vengeance against those who have wronged them. What begins as a chance encounter over drinks quickly escalates into a pact: "If you kill for me, I'll kill for you."

Meanwhile, in another corner of the city, Ruth finds herself facing a terrifying ordeal when her home is invaded by a mysterious assailant with piercing blue eyes. As she grapples with the aftermath of the attack, she wonders if she will ever feel safe again while the perpetrator remains at large.

Cavanagh weaves a complex and compelling narrative, deftly intertwining multiple storylines that initially appear disjointed but gradually converge to reveal unexpected connections. The pacing is relentless, propelling the reader forward with each twist and turn. As the protagonists navigate through perilous situations, their resilience and resourcefulness are put to the test, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

I thoroughly enjoyed Kill for Me, Kill for You. The novel's intricate plot kept me guessing until the very end, and I was blindsided by the unexpected twists that unfolded along the way. The author's ability to seamlessly tie together seemingly disparate threads of the narrative is commendable, creating a thoroughly satisfying reading experience.

However, I must admit that there was one aspect of the ending that left me wanting more. While the resolution of the main plotlines were satisfying, there was a lingering question that remained unanswered, leaving me wanting more. For this reason, I gave the book four stars.

Overall, Kill for Me, Kill for You is a riveting thriller that delivers on its promises of suspense, intrigue, and unexpected revelations. Fans of the genre will find much to enjoy in this gripping tale of revenge and redemption set against the backdrop of the bustling streets of New York City.

Thank you NetGalley and Steve Cavanagh for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Steve Cavanagh's standalone novel, Kill for Me, Kill You, dives into the dark world of revenge. It follows two women, Amanda and Wendy, who bond over their desire for payback against the men who wronged them. Inspired by Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train," they hatch a dangerous pact: to eliminate each other's targets.

The plot kicks off quickly, grabbing your attention with the initial encounter and the shocking proposition. Cavanagh does a decent job building suspense as the women plan their actions. However, the core concept feels a bit derivative, borrowing heavily from a well-known film.

The story unfolds from multiple perspectives, offering glimpses into the minds of Amanda, Wendy, and a potential victim. This can be engaging at times, but it also slows down the pacing in certain sections. The twists Cavanagh throws in are moderately surprising, but some might feel predictable for seasoned thriller readers.

Overall, Kill for Me, Kill for You is an okay read for those looking for a quick revenge thriller.

4.5 stars


This. Was. Wild. OMG.

So in Kill for Me, Kill for You, we have our main character Amanda. She suffered 2 traumatic losses in her family recently at the hands of some gross man and she has found herself having a hard time dealing with it. So.. in comes Wendy. Wendy is someone that Amanda meets by chance and they each realize that they both have had their families ruined because of 2 different men and they desperately want revenge. Slay, right?

There’s another side story involving Ruth, who is a victim of an attack during a home invasion. Her world is turned upside down because she also is unable to deal with the trauma. I mean…that’s valid.

This novel is a super thrilling display of the lengths some people will go to so they can heal from their trauma and move past it, no matter what. Revenge is sometimes the sweetest medicine… or something like that!

I would highly recommend this if you like any thriller author because there are so many aspects to this that would appeal to SO many people that like thrillers. Just trust me, you’ll like it.

Thank you to Atria Books for my copy of this!