Holy ending! That is what I'm taking away from this gem of a thriller. One of the best "Holy Shit" endings I have read in a long time.

Amanda and Wendy are really down on their luck and their lives have taken really dark and bitter turns. Like wounded animals their only hope for redemption is revenge. They hatch a plan to Kill each other's problems. It also stars Ruth, a survivor of a brutal attack by a serial killer with dark blue eyes.

And of course, while Amanda is having second thoughts about this plan Wendy comes back and says that her end is done. Amanda's problem is dead and it's Go Time. Lol.

And what a crazy ride this book is all the way to that incredible ending. And you're thought process while it plays out is, "Ok, what's going on?........... Wait a minute........ No way in hell?!?..... Holy Shit! I need to go back and reread to see if I may have missed some clues that were left behind.

Is it a perfect book? No, because it's such a slow burn the first 15-20% or so. You know in the synopsis (And title) what is going to happen so you're waiting for that plan to start. And this book really beats you down with how revenge is warranted. It's dark, bitter, and depressing what these women go through to finally agree to help each other out.

All in all, a outstanding thriller by Steve Cavanagh and highly recommended.

I really appreciate Atria Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free for my honest review and it has a publication date of March 19, 2024.

I am now a Steve Cavanagh fan. This book is the perfect slump buster, which I greatly needed.

Murder and tragedy struck the lives of two women who meet in a group therapy session as they try to deal with their heartbreak. There’s really not a lot I can say about the plot without giving away all the twists and turns.

Told from multiple points of view, this book flies by at a heart-racing pace. The twists are shocking. I love a book with this much mystery as I love to think and wonder if I’ve got it all figured out.

I highly recommend this to anyone who likes suspense, mystery, police procedurals, and thrills. Be sure to pick up a copy on 3/19/24!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy.

It's a while since we had a standalone from Steve Cavanagh and, as always, I'm excited about anything he releases, I love his books and have read almost all of them. I started this book in the morning and was done by dinnertime. I could not put it down!

In 'Kill For Me Kill For You', Cavanagh has taken a Patricia Highsmith classic, turned it inside out and spun it around. The result is a thriller which is gripping and impossible to put down. Read in a day and loved every minute!

It was suspenseful to the max and I was here for it!

Cavanagh has written many intriguing tales, including his terrific Eddie Flynn series, and this one does not disappoint.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Current time in New York City
Characters: Several fascinating women who have had tragedy strike their families and are trying to recover in various ways. The detective team of the dogged older pro and female Hispanic partner are terrific and deserve their own book.
Overview: Women have lost family members in terrible ways and are seeking help when they come to the conclusion that revenge on the people who have caused the tragedies is the most satisfying. In parallel paths, detectives are trying to solve the original crimes in addition to the new ones that are directly the result of revenge. There are some elegant twists – and one is particularly satisfying, the best since the reveal in “Marathon Man.”
Recommendation: I rate this book 4 stars
Extras: This is not an easy book to read a few pages or chapters and put down for 2 reasons: the story line bounces between several characters so you need to pay attention – and – you really won’t want to put it down after the midway point.
Thanx to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to provide this candid review.

"Kill for Me, Kill for You" by Steve Cavanagh is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the darkest depths of revenge and the unlikeliest alliances formed in desperation.

One of the standout features of this novel is its multiple points of view. Cavanagh effortlessly distinguishes between the characters, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in their individual stories. Each character's narrative is well-written and compelling, leaving me eager to continue reading to uncover their fates and the mysteries that surround them.

The premise of two strangers, Amanda and Wendy, forming a dangerous pact for revenge is undeniably intriguing and sets the stage for a suspenseful and thought-provoking story. The tension and suspense build steadily throughout, keeping the reader engaged and eager to unravel the secrets that lie ahead.

Furthermore, the author's writing style is sharp and evocative, creating a vivid backdrop for the unfolding drama. The portrayal of New York City's Upper West Side and the characters' emotional turmoil is masterfully done.

As the story unfolds, the threads of each character's life and their connection to the central mysteries are woven together in a satisfying manner. The resolution and conclusion of the tale are both unexpected and gratifying, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the overall reading experience.

In summary, "Kill for Me, Kill for You" offers a gripping and well-executed psychological thriller. Despite occasional moments of slower pacing, Steve Cavanagh delivers a compelling narrative that keeps readers guessing until the very end.

SYNOPSIS:
- Two women, Amanda & Naomi, have lost everything, and they’re at rock bottom. They meet in a grief support group. After sharing drinks, they make a pact to get revenge for the other. Hence, the title of the book.
- A version of Patricia Highsmith’s book “Strangers on a Train” (or Hitchock’s movie adaptation of it).

MY THOUGHTS
- Gripping + suspenseful
- Hard to put down
- Short, digestible chapters
- Good pacing
- Multiple POVS (Amanda, Detective Farrow, Ruth/victim of assault, & Scott/Ruth’s husband)
- Lots of twists
- I personally thought the ending was one twist too many, and I wasn’t a fan of it. However, it didn’t ruin the story for me. I still enjoyed the book a lot.
- Enjoyed Cavanaugh’s writing style. It flowed nicely & was easy to read. Excellent storytelling & weaving together multiple perspectives and plots.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4.5 rounded up to 5. Short chapters, multiple POVs. Hard to put down. A version of “Strangers on a Train”

Thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. It will be published on March 19, 2024.

What a book!! I am so happy I had the opportunity to read this ARC contrary of NetGalley because….what a ride! I love the movie Strangers on a Train and this book was just as good, if not better. The twists did not stop and I was on pins and needles right until the end. You HAVE to read this one! Do it!

Wow!
This was a WILD ride. I needed a few days after I finished it to process it all.

The way Steve Cavanagh took the Strangers on a Train storyline and turned it into something completely new exciting - I’m still speechless.

I saw the first twist coming but the second one rocked me. This was my first Cavanagh book but definitely won’t be my last.

Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Wow! What a thrilling ride this book was. From start to finish, SO MANY twists and turns!! Early on I figured out one twist but pretty much everything after that, I DID NOT SEE COMING!! My friend (Kim, thank you) read this first and insisted that I needed to read it ASAP. She said it had so many jaw dropping moments and she was right. Even thinking back, I’m trying to determine if maybe I could have figured some of it out if I had thought a little harder as I was reading…my conclusion is NO, I don’t think I ever could have predicted those outcomes. And the ending…it was perfect! Wow, wow, wow! This one definitely needs to be made into a movie someday!

One more little side note: there were some very unrealistic parts that were kinda eye rolling. One example (not a spoiler because I won’t give names) but after someone murdered someone, they then took a shower in that hotel room’s bathroom, then went to Target to buy cleaning supplies and went back to the crime scene to clean it…ummm I’m not really sure anyone would stick around that long AND then go back. But even though some parts were kinda over the top, it didn’t take away any excitement from the book. This is my first Steve Cavanagh book but will definitely not be my last.

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

To see other reviews I’ve left, check out my Instagram and Goodreads pages:
*Instagram - bookworm_traveler808
*Goodreads - Cherihy808

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Fabulous, entertaining story with all sorts of twists and turns. Lots of characters kept me guessing throughout, resulting in a climactic ending!

Well done!

First, Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for my ARC.

Steve Cavanaugh never disappoints. First book by him was “Thirteen” and “Kill for Me, Kill for You was no different. I rate this as 4.5 ⭐️s.

The story begins with Amanda who is grieving the loss of her daughter (murdered by Crone) and Luis (who committed suicide). She’s angry and ready to seek revenge on the man who took her family from her. Amanda meets Naomi in a support group and they strike up arrangement to kill the people responsible for killing their loved ones. Naomi will kill Crone and Amanda will kill Quinn (who murdered Naomi’s daughter). It all sounds pretty straightforward and here’s where it becomes VERY complicated.

Meanwhile, Ruth was attacked viciously by a “Blue-eyed man calling her Sweetheart” one night while her husband Scott was out with Friends. Ruth is afraid because her attacker was never caught. One night, Ruth and Scott are having dinner at the Paramount hotel when Ruth points out the man who attacked her to Scott. Things take off in this story in the most unexpected way.

The cops, Farrow and Hernandez are investigating the unsolved crimes involving Amanda and Ruth all leading to dead ends.
The author does a great job with leaving you in the dark. I could not piece this story together. I knew the characters would all come together somehow. This kept me going up until the bery last page. Mr. Cavanaugh has done it again.

This book follows 4 main characters Ruth who was a victim of an assault, her husband Scott, detective Farrow, and Amanda who lost her daughter and husband recently due to a kidnapping/killing/suicide. It tells the separate stories of these individuals as they move from what happened to them in the past and how they are dealing with it now.
This book has crazy twists, character development, easy to read, short chapters, and is very engaging. I was sucked in the first chapter. I highly recommend this new thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing to read this book early!!

I am a big fan of Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn books and really looked forward to reading this new standalone. Unfortunately, for the most part, the book was very disappointing. I felt the first three-fourths of the story tended towards mediocrity. I wanted to just mark this as DNF and go on to something I would enjoy more, but felt I had an obligation to read the entire book. The story finally did improve and have some unexpected twists which were delightful. But, does a satisfying end really justify all the time to get to it? I’m not sure it does.

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This book. Easy five stars. We get multiple POVs - women with traumatic pasts, a spouse, police, etc., stories with seemingly no connection. As the reader, I was just along for the ride. There was no time to wonder about what was going to happen because I had to keep reading as if it was happening in real time. The twists and turns were both subtle and believable. This is the definition of a page-turner!

Kill for me, kill for you was a fast paced page turner. We read about Amanda and her trauma and Wendy someone she met in group therapy.
We also got to read into the life of Ruth. what does Ruth’s story have to do with Amanda and wendy I would ask myself. But everything came falling into place page by page and I was shocked! It’s beyond any words on how this story was phenomenal, intriguing and very much compelling. the ending was a unexpected turn of events and jaw dropping. I recommend this book to every suspense lover

Thank you to net galley for this arc In exchange for a honest review

I was so excited to receive an advanced readers copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I’m a big fan of Steve Cavanagh and this book did not disappoint. The book starts following 3 women who have all had traumatic experiences in the recent past. I was dying to know how their lives were intersect. Let’s just say I was shocked when I found out. I absolutely loved the way this author propelled the suspense and action forward through multiple view points. I highly recommend this heart pounding thriller. I look forward to purchasing my own copy on publication day.

I really don't know where to begin with my review. All I know is that I am ashamed of myself for not reading any of Cavanagh's novels sooner. Now, I totally get the hype. I am mind-blown after reading Kill for Me, Kill for You. It was a twisty, edge of your seat, brilliant, engrossing, unpredictable thriller. My heart was beating fast through many chapters of this book, and the twist near the end was one that I did not see coming. I am now hopping on Cavanagh's follow train, and will be reserving his other novels to read. This is just the kind of thriller I needed to get me out of a major book slump in what has been a disappointing reading year. This book is perfect to read in the fall, curled up on a rainy dreary day. I'm actually sad its over, honestly because I don't think I will find another book to compare to it any time soon. 5 total stars!

Kill For Me, Kill For You is a superb example of retelling a classic story. While other books shamelessly steal themes from popular works, this new book from Steve Cavanagh breathed new life into the renowned tale of Strangers on a Train. He gave Patricia Highsmith her rightful kudos, and Cavanagh crafted a unique story that deserves a spot on the bestseller list. Kill For Me, Kill For You is a well-plotted novel full of unpredictable twists, making it a must-read for all suspense and thriller fiends!

Kill For Me, Kill For You plays out across two storylines. The first follows Amanda, a grieving mother and widow who lost her family at the hands of a violent child predator. Struggling to survive her grief, Amanda sets her mind on a singular mission: kill the man who killed her child.

A parallel plot tells the story of Ruth, a victim of a violent home invasion and assault. Her assailant is a serial killer, and Ruth is his only survivor. Terrified that "Mr. Blue Eyes" will return to finish the job, Ruth becomes a recluse. She knows she will never feel safe until her attacker is behind bars... or dead.

Broken up into easily digestible chapters, Steve Cavanagh expertly propels readers through his new book. Each plot twist lands at just the right moment and keeps you guessing until the very end. You don't want to miss this book!

I had one (minor) critique. There are a lot of erroneous details. Several scenes are overly explained, making the background of the narrative a bit tedious.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This book started off with a bang and ended with a OMG. Two women with tragic life circumstance decide to kill for one another and the rollercoaster begins. 5⭐️s

In the movie Strangers on a Train, two people met and agree to swap murders. After reading this book I feel like that train hit me.

The plot unfolds much like the movie (it's even referenced) but then swerves in a completely unexpected way. The narration comes from multiple POVs and a couple of them don't seem to be related at all to the main story, until they are most emphatically linked.

The ending is shocking and I'm quite torn by it. I really don't want to give away any spoilers by explaining that comment. I even went back and reread several chapters and I'm still conflicted. Cavanagh didn't give us a neat, tidy, conventional ending - it's one you need to read in a book club so it can be debated and discussed.

I'm very pleased with the book and quite thankful to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.