Although it started slowly, the author weaves enough suspense into the story to keep you reading on. The characters are well developed, believable and likeable for the most part. In the search for revenge for the loss of her husband and daughter Amanda will encounter all kinds of people. None of them are whom they appear to be. The suspense is maintained until the very end where the author inserts a deliciously wicked twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

3 Stars
One Liner: Okay… not impressed (kinda outliner)

New York City
When two strangers, Amanda and Wendy, meet by chance, they discover they have a lot in common. Their lives have been ruined by men who escaped justice in the hands of law. Soon, they make a pact – one kills for the other, and neither gets caught.
In another part of the city, Ruth and her husband Scott have a routine life until that night when an intruder with startling blue eyes changes it forever. Can Ruth ever feel safe and get back to her life with the intruder still running free?
The story comes in the third-person POV of Amanda and Ruth, with a couple of chapters from Scott and Farrow.

My Thoughts:
It’s been a while since I read a thriller, and this book has great reviews. Seemed like a good idea to read it. Well, the results are mixed.
Using a popular premise requires additional twists and shocks to keep the readers hooked. While some of it works here, the rest feels a bit too unbelievable. Yeah, this is fiction, but you can’t leave those gaps open.
There’s no timeline for both tracks, which is a way to retain suspense. Of course, readers can still figure it out. But there’s a ‘reveal’ that negates the theory, which makes readers wonder what’s going on. I was fooled for a minute but decided to stick to my original theory.
Things start to come together after 70%, followed by some action and more reveals and twists. Again, some of it worked, but the rest didn’t make me go wow! I was still hopeful, only to realize that some questions would not be answered. I should accept what’s being told and move on. Not done!
The pacing is uneven due to the filler content. It gets better in the last quarter, where things need to happen fast. The filler should have helped in relating to the main characters. Yet, that doesn’t happen. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t connect with any of them. I did feel sad for Amanda and Ruth, but I wasn’t able to empathize with their situation (I blame it on the writing).
The detective pair has some character development, which is surprising in a standalone. Maybe this will become a series (what’s the point in all that back pain if it goes nowhere).
Still, the book highlights important themes like injustice, moral dilemmas, victim trauma, etc. It would offer quite a bit for book club discussions.

To summarize, Kill for Me, Kill for You is an average thriller with some moments. How you like it will depend on what kind of thrillers you prefer. This will work great for some readers, so check out other reviews before you decide.
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

***
TW: Mention of pedophilia, suicide, depression, trauma, assault, bullying (mentioned)

KILL FOR ME KILL FOR YOU - STEVE CAVANAGH

5⭐

PLOT
Amanda and Wendy are 2 strangers who meet and realise they have much in common esp the desire to take revenge against men who destroyed their families and they device a play if you kill for me I'll kill for you.
In another part of city Ruth is home alone when she is attacked by a man with piercing blue eyes. Will she ever be able to feel safe again? Will Amanda and Wendy's perfect plan work out perfectly for them?
MY THOUGHTS
Fans of twisty can't figure out the twists this one is perfect for you! I couldn't read it fast enough to know what's exactly the connection is and ofcourse couldn't figure it out till it's finally revealed only for the final twist to leave you stumped and finally coming to a perfect end for the story.
Multiple POVs and each chapter ending at a cliffhanger will compel you to continue and you won't stop till you finish ! Definitely check this one out!!

Strangers on a Train is one of my favorite classic movies. If two strangers commit murder for each other, there is no way to connect them to the murders and they can get away with it. Steve Cavanaugh takes this idea and raises the bar, providing a story that will keep you guessing to the end. In this case Amanda’s six year old daughter was kidnapped and murdered and Crone, the man responsible, walks free. She meets Wendy in a counseling session. Over drinks, Wendy tells her that her teenage daughter was murdered by her teacher, who also walked free. Wendy will take care of Crone if Amanda will agree to murder her daughter’s killer. When Amanda gets the call that Crone is dead it is her turn, but the hit goes horribly wrong. While Amanda fulfilled her part of the bargain, she discovers that Crone is still alive and Wendy has disappeared. She returns to the scene of the crime to discover just who she killed and is almost captured by the police. She is rescued by Billy, who has been watching her. Billy had lost his wife and in his grief he was almost tricked by the same woman. He just could not go through with murder. The woman’s name was Felicia, but that was one of many false identities used by the woman calling herself Wendy. Billy needs Amanda’s help to find her and stop the murders.

Cavanaugh alternates Amanda’s story with that of Ruth, who was attacked and barely survived. As Amanda and Billy race against time to prevent murder, the two stories begin to tie together. There is twist after twist up to the final confrontation and in the final pages Cavanaugh leaves you one more surprise that you will not see coming. This was a wonderful twist on the classic story and is highly recommended.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
One evening, while her husband Scott is out with friends, Ruth is brutally attacked in her New York City home. Meanwhile, Wendy and Amanda, two strangers who met in a support group, decide to take revenge on the two men who destroyed their families: Wendy will kill for Amanda, and Amanda for Wendy. It’s the perfect plan. Until it goes terribly wrong.
What a great book. Hitchcock’s “Strangers on a Train” with a twist. Told from different points of view it never let up. I could sense the different stories were all linked together in some way, and I could not turn the pages fast enough to find out how. This is the kind of book you read in one seating. Loved it!

This was such a fun thriller for me! It follows four characters. Amanda lost her husband and daughter, and is looking for justice. Farrow is the cop assigned to her case. Ruth was assaulted and lives in fear. Scott is her husband who just wants to protect her.

Truly can’t get too much more into detail without spoiling anything. However!! I’d love to read this again to see the clues I missed throughout the book. I did guess a couple of things but others were surprising to me! Loved the twists and turns this story took. The writing was really well done and the chapters were short. I flew through this one tonight because I couldn’t put it down!

That ending had me shook!! It was so so genuinely perfect for this novel.

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

This was a fabulous thriller! I have read Thirteen by this author and didn’t love it, but he knocked it out of the park with this one.

Alternating POVs between Ruth, Amanda, and Detective Farrow. I’m embarrassed to admit how long it took me to figure out how they all related. The first half was somewhat slow, a lot of build up, but it really picks up in the second half. So many twists and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

OOH! This one sucked me in and had me guessing and questioning right from the start.
Murders and revenge, do not think this is a remake of Patricia Highsmith's book Strangers on a Train because this is soo much more!
Several characters are victims of hideous crimes, and they are living in misery. When brought together in therapy groups they find solace and maybe, maybe they find justice.
A great twist on a classic this was a mystery to visit again and again!

Now, that was a thriller!

I was a little unsure going into this book, as it's advertised as being "for fans of The Silent Patient and Gone Girl." I was the unpopular opinion and did not like The Silent Patient and Gone Girl was good, but not a 5⭐ read for me.

But, I completely agree with Goodreads when it describes this book as "a razor-sharp and Hitchcock-inspired psychological thriller about two ordinary women who make a dangerous pact to take revenge for each other after being pushed to the brink."

This was a fast paced book that left me guessing until the end. The only reason this was not a 5⭐ read for me is that things ended a little too perfectly IMO and it did tend to get a little disjointed at times with the different POV's, especially towards the beginning. However, I would absolutely recommend this book to all my thriller loving friends as this one will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Available 3.19.24.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this new to me author in exchange for a honest review. I really loved the story and could not put it down. I loved how the story was told from the point of view of several different characters. It was cool to see how things happened from different perspectives and try to piece it all together. Some of the plot points I was able to predict...more due to reading too many thrillers than anything but some surprised me as well. Either way I loved trying to piece the story together before it was revealed. There is certainly a lot to unpack in this story. I will definitely look to read more from this author in the future.

What a ride! Kill for Me, Kill for You is a brilliant, twisted, tense psychological thriller; for the best experience, go in as blindly as possible.
There are two compelling parallel stories and four POVs. In the first timeline, Amanda and Wendy meet at a grief support group. Both women had children murdered by known men who got away with the crimes. They are each heartbroken and grief-stricken and have no capacity for forgiveness. Only revenge is in their hearts! Only Amanda has a POV.


Ruth is home alone while her husband Scott is away when she is brutally attacked by an intruder, barely surviving. Traumatized, she struggles to regain some sense of normalcy in her life, but with her attacker on the loose, will she ever feel safe again? All she can recall about his description is dark hair and piercing blue eyes.

The fourth POV belongs to NYC detective Farrow. We get to know the detectives in this case, Andrew Farrow and his partner Karen Hernandez, and they add a whole new aspect to an already crazy rollercoaster ride.
.

It was my first time reading Steve Cavanagh, and I enjoyed Cavanagh's writing style, quick chapters, flawed, well-developed characters that I felt empathy towards, and the ability to keep me invested for hours to find out what happens next. It was a tense, wild ride, exciting, fast-paced read that the author will have misdirected the reader deliberately and keep the reader making predictions until the last page. I highly recommend

"I want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for the ADC in exchange for an honest opinion."

This one truly gave me heart palpitations...in a good way.
So often thrillers leave me let down, but this one totally nailed it - I enjoyed this from start to finish and highly recommend if you need a good thriller fix.

This book makes me want to watch hitchcock’s strangers on a train!

This was off to a slow start but once the action picks up, you better get comfortable and prepare to stay glued to your seat as the quick chapters will pull you in, demand your attention, and refuse to let you go.

I enjoyed the plot but the twists could’ve been twistier as I ended up figuring all of them out, which I’m not a big fan of. Also, suspension of disbelief is definitely needed to fully enjoy this ride.

Would recommend as a quick fun read.

2024 is the year of the thriller! It’s just March and I’ve already read some great ones. Kill for Me, Kill for You is definitely one of those.

Fast-paced, well-plotted, red herrings, seemingly disparate storylines and twists galore including a great one at the end. I read this novel in a day and a half it was so enthralling. This is an amazing, smart, tense thriller. Highly, highly recommend. This is one not to miss!!!

Thanks to Atria Books for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Review has been shared on Goodreads and will be posted to my social media book accounts on March 12 and to Amazon on publication day.

Holy Sh*t! Such a fast paced thriller that kept me on my toes the entire time. Might be my favorite new thriller. So many twist and turns. My first Steve Cavanagh book and certainly not my last. Finished this book in about 2 days. Short chapters, Dual POV and a shocking twist. What more can you ask for in a thriller??? loved every second of this book!!

Easy five stars for this wild, twisty thrill ride!

Two women meet at a support group, and over drinks their conversation turns to revenge. Both women have lost someone precious, and the killers evaded justice. The two women decide enough is enough, and agree to kill the killers for each other.

The twists and turns come fast and furious, and I was hooked from the start. The pacing was top notch, and the short chapters and excellent storytelling make this one incredibly binge worthy. You won’t be sure who to trust, who is good, who is bad, and what will happen next.

I enjoyed having a detective’s POV in the story as well, letting us see some of the evidence and story from the other side. The characters were well written and had me rooting for each of them along the way, and the ending ties things together perfectly in a truly clever, thrilling finale.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the arc. All opinions are my own

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this twisty thriller! This was my first read by this author, but I’d read more in the future. I thought the use of the multiple POV was a clever way to tell this story.

Highly recommend this to fans of popcorn thrillers!

Boy, what a wild ride that was! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this one because I went into it blind, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised.

Amanda wants to get revenge on the man who murdered her daughter. After meeting Wendy, they agree that Amanda murder that man who molested Wendy’s daughter and Wendy will murder the man who killed Amanda’s daughter. It’s the perfect murder pact, or is it?

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
It started off a bit slow, but once we got around to the strangers on the train trope, it picked up and I became invested. There were many aspects of the story that were predictable but it didn’t take away from me enjoying the book. The way that the whole story came together at the end was pretty epic, and I didn’t see it coming. And that final little twist at the end.. 🤯

If you love Strangers on a Train (which I’ve never read or seen ) you’ll love this one.

4/5 stars

Thank you Atria Books for the advanced reading copy!

SYNOPSIS -- Though Amanda and Wendy met by chance -- in a group counseling session -- they could not be more similar. Both coping with the loss of their families and a miscarriage of justice, they're desperate to reset their lives. Realizing that they could help each other out, they decide to trade murders and "get even" with the men that ruined their lives: if you kill for me, I'll kill for you.
Elsewhere, Ruth is home alone one night when an intruder breaks in and attacks her. The only thing she knows for sure? He has piercing blue eyes that will haunt her forever. While Wendy and Amanda try to get even with their enemies, Ruth is struggling with the fallout of her traumatic experience. Will any of these women ever get revenge?

This book had me hooked from the absolute first moment. Revenge stories are SO FUN and this one was so twisted it was so fun to read. I got lost somewhere in the middle — not sure if due to a reading slump or lack of interest — but then things picked up and went WILD towards the end.

I ended up really enjoying this book overall. There were some truly shocking twists and a super fast-paced, chaotic and unexpected ending. I really didn’t know where this was going the entire time and, believe me, I was trying to figure it out. I think some parts of this could have been executed a little bit better, particularly in the middle area, but things started out and wrapped up well enough to stand out, anyway.

Let me tell you — the twists were TWISTY. On more than one occasion I found myself sitting like 😲😲😲 for minutes at a time, and couldn’t help myself from explaining random parts of this to my boyfriend (that’s how you know it’s good lol).

Definitely a fun thriller and worth all the hype!

Read if you like:
💨 Fast Paced Reads
#️⃣ Multiple POV
🗽 New York Settings
💗 Pulse Pounding Story Telling
💔 Effects of Grief
👀 Eye for an Eye Mentality

Oh my gosh!!! This book sucked me in and I had so much trouble putting it down! This was my first, but won’t be my last by this author with his smart style of writing and the deceptions and twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat.

I loved the use of character change of pov and how the author expertly set the pace with mini cliffhangers strategically placed to keep your blood pumping and the feeling that you need to keep reading this fast paced thriller going. That’s ultimately what lead me to finish it in less than a 24 hour time frame!

I love how when the book starts you get the POV of Amanda who’s daughter was taken and murdered and she knows who did it, by the justice system is broken and isn’t allowing her to get justice, who then meets Wendy at a support group who has a similar story of knowing who is to blame for her daughter’s death, but also can’t get justice- so what better way to get justice than to swap the delivery of justice so they can’t be implicated?!

Then, we also have Ruth’s pov across town who was brutally attacked in a home invasion and has no sense of safety knowing her would be killer is still out there….

The way the eye for an eye plot moves through these and the police PoV was so masterfully done and though I partially guessed a major reveal, I am not mad about it because there was so much more that went with that reveal!

Thank you so much Atria for my gifted ARC in exchange for my review!