Kill For Me Kill For You
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+++++++++
Author: Steve Cavanagh

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Atria Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: One dark evening on New York City’s Upper West Side, two strangers meet by chance. Over drinks, Amanda and Wendy realize they have much in common, especially loneliness and an intense desire for revenge against the men who destroyed their families. As they talk into the night, they come up with the perfect plan: if you kill for me, I’ll kill for you.

In another part of the city, Ruth is home alone when the beautiful brownstone she shares with her husband, Scott, is invaded. She’s attacked by a man with piercing blue eyes, who disappears into the night. Will she ever be able to feel safe again while the blue-eyed stranger is out there?

My Thoughts: This was a fantastic spin on Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train, and it really elevated the plot line with a bang. From the first sentence to the last sentence, this story riveted me to my core. There are books that you read that you forget the second you put it down, then there are books that you read that stay with you forever. I have only a handful of books on this forever list and this one was added. Cavanah’s storytelling ability is ingeniously twisty and his ability to navigate new creative ways of murder is mind blowing. On the Upper West Side, two strangers strike up a conversation and realize they have a lot in common, especially wanting revenge on the men that wreaked havoc in their lives. So they come up with a plan to swap murders. What could possibly go wrong? Then in another part of the city, Ruth is home along when she is brutally attacked by a man with piercing blue eyes. Will she ever fell safe again?

The story is narrated by several characters, offering a vast array of POV. Our main narrators are Ruth and Amanda, in third person; we have sprinkled in Scott (Ruth’s husband) and Detective Farrow (working both cases). The story starts as a slow burn the first quarter, then no holds bar on the tense suspenseful moments. There were times when I felt empathy for the characters, and then other times when I was questioning their behaviors, or horrified by the choices they were making. The characters were well developed, fleshed out, had depth, were mysterious, were secretive, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, twisty, suspenseful, tense, thought-provoking, and absolutely brilliant. There are times when you have to suspend belief, but believe when I tell you, it is absolutely worth it. I would not overthink it, just read and enjoy.

At first, I was confused by the two storylines going. My mind working ahead thinking what does one have to do with the other. When the plot lines meet, my mind was blown. Then Cavanagh builds his plot into twisty layers, when you think the unpredictability has peaked, boom another twist. Then we have that ending, that explosive WOW 💥 ending that really blew my mind. The ending does leave one little thread uncovered, maybe that opens the door to a sequel? I hope so. There are lots of fantastic reviews for this book, believe A L L of them!

This thriller was captivating, compelling, gripping, and kept me wanting more and more with each word I read. There were parts that were predicable, but there were more that were unpredictable, that I did not see coming. The tension Cavanagh creates is so thick, you need a knife to cut through it. This story will take you on a reading rollercoaster. I know your TBR is probably already overwhelming, however, if you love thrillers, this is a MUST READ for you! If you love The Silent Patient or Strangers on a Train, you will LOVE this one. I highly recommend picking up today!!

I really enjoyed this book! The story drew me in right from the beginning and kept me guessing through the end. I loved the quick pacing and couldn't wait to find out what happened next. Overall, a great suspenseful, twisty read that you'll have a hard time putting down!

What a roller coaster of a ride. Multiple POV characters, at first hard to keep track of, then it makes sense, then it doesn’t then it all wraps up nicely. Just when you think you know who’s good and who’s bad you’re saying what the heck just happened. I’m looking forward to more from this author.

5 stars.

This was a very pleasant read and I loved it. Is this the most original story? No but I enjoyed this story so much. I think going into this one with little to no expectations really made me enjoy the story more. I didn't see the plot twist coming and I will defiantly be recommending this book in my YouTube videos.

Wow! What a fantastic thriller. I wasn't able to put this one down. So many twists & turns. Kill for Me, Kill for You is one thriller that I didn't have figured out which kept me flipping the pages. Highly recommend!

This was a good twisty story and the narrator did a good job. I liked the multiple POVs and how they came together in the end.

Thank you Net Galley for this arc.

I am literally crying after finishing this. Such a satisfying but heartbreaking ending. This was truly a wild ride and I was on edge for the entire book.

Easy 5 Stars.... move this up on your TBR. You won't regret it.

I had a hard time keeping every character straight in the beginning. Then everything started making sense.......and then everything got confusing again. The author did a great job at keeping me guessing.

Kill for Me, Kill for You was an emotional thriller that I really enjoyed reading. While parts seemed a little too familiar (think Strangers on a Train), there were some surprising twists that I loved. This was almost a 5-star read for me, but I couldn't engage or understand Amanda. She sometimes did things out of character, but without any true development or change. That said, it was a minor dislike, and the book as a whole was a fun read.

I had the privilege of diving into "Kill for Me, Kill for You" courtesy of NetGalley and Atria, and what a thrill it was. Steve Cavanagh masterfully weaves multiple perspectives, including those of Amanda, Ruth, Detective Farrow, and Scott, creating a tapestry of intrigue and suspense.

At its core, the novel delves into the theme of revenge, drawing readers into a web of interconnected lives where justice and peace of mind hang in the balance. As a mother, I found myself quickly identifying with Amanda's quest for vengeance and her righteous anger.

The short chapters and shifting viewpoints kept me engaged from start to finish. Cavanagh expertly blindsided me with unexpected twists, keeping me on the edge of my seat and eagerly flipping pages to uncover the next revelation. The ending left me reeling, a testament to Cavanagh's skill in crafting a truly unforgettable thriller.

With its gripping plot, compelling characters, and jaw-dropping twists, "Kill for Me, Kill for You" has undoubtedly secured a place among my top reads of the year. Fans of thrillers won't want to miss this one.

Interesting, but not sure about the ending. I felt that some of the twists existed just to be shocking and didn't really benefit the story. Are we meant to empathize for a serial killer who enjoys brutally attacking innocent women? Problematic.

This book is a fast paced psychological thriller that follows multiple different POVs. I definitely felt like the first half of the book was a little slow and at times confusing with the different POVs, but the last half was a fast read and I could not wait to see what was going to happen!

Ruth and Amanda definitely stole the show. I felt like one of the twists at the end was pretty obvious, but the other twist I did not see coming to the very end and I was very pleased with how it turned out. I would rate this book a 3.5/5 stars, but round up to 4 for netgalley.

If you like serial-killer psychological thrillers, then this book is for you!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steve Cavanagh does it again! If you are a fan of her books, you will not be disappointed in this new one. The book sucks you in from the get-go and you will find yourself thinking about the characters long after you finish it. Do yourself a favor and get this book!!

Thank you to Atria Books and Simon Audio for the copies to review!

Y’all. This book. It was WILD in the very best way. It was a little slow to build in the beginning, but my goodness, once it got going, it did not stop and the twists! Holy cow! I did not see them coming and that ending!? OMG. I don’t want to spoil this one, but it is absolutely in my top reads for the year. The audio is excellent as well, and I really enjoyed reading it this way. I’ve included the synopsis below for you, but definitely do not pass this up if you have not read it yet, it is a must read!

This was multiple perspectives which I love. Told from the points of view from Amanda, Ruth, Detective Farrow and Scott, I wanted to see how the stories would connect. This book was all about revenge, and I was here for it. I enjoyed the relationship between Amanda and Wendy, and all I wanted was justice and peace of mind for Amanda. As a mother, I identified quickly with her wanting revenge and being angry.

The chapters were very short, and I enjoyed the changing perspectives along the way. I did not see a lot of the twists that came, and I liked that this one was not easily predictable. I liked that as the book went on, I was so invested, I didn’t have time to stop my head from spinning with all the twists that were thrown my way. Steve Cavanagh definitely had me flipping the pages until the very end. The ending left me shook, and as a thriller queen, that is not easy to do. This is definitely one of my top reads of this year!

A solid 4.5 stars! A very faced paced thriller.

I went between listening and reading this and i couldn’t stop until It was finished. A twist on Strangers on a Train, two grieving women meet at a support group and agree to take justice in their own hands for each other, but It quickly goes awry for Amanda.

This book is fast paced with lots of twists. The author does a great job of writing suspense - leaving little cliff hangers at the end of each chapter. The ending!!! Left me shook, poor Ruth.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an early read of this book. My opinions are entirely my own.

4.5 stars. It took me a long time to get into this book but in the end I really enjoyed it. Amanda is grieving the tragic murder of her young daughter and suicide of her husband when she meets another grieving woman at a support group. They click and eventually make a plan to kill someone for each other but things don't go as planned. I was a bit confused with all the storylines at the beginning and how it was all going to tie together but it was all wrapped up at the end. There were twists that I didn't see coming and ultimately the book was a good psychologic thriller. Definitely recommend.

This was a bit far fetched. Like what are the odds this could happen? It was still a decent story and definitely well written. Cavanagh almost made me believe it could happen, which I guess is the point in reading fiction.

Two women, one goal- carry out justice for their children. Amanda and Wendy agree to trade murders in order to rid the world of two evil men. Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Ruth is haunted by the memory of a man with piercing blue eyes who tried to kill her. “Kill for You, Kill for Me” by Steve Cavanagh brings a unique twist to Strangers on a Train.
This thriller was one of those books that you’re instantly invested in. Each woman is dealing with the question of justice and how it should be served, which makes how everything tied together that much more interesting.
In the end, this book was 4.5 stars for me. I love trying to piece together how all the women were connected and I felt like the ending was everything I wanted it to be. Definitely a great BOTM pick! Also big thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh is marketed towards fans of The Silent Patient, Gone Girl, Verity and The It Girl - with all those boxes getting ticked and then some!

This thriller was one twisty and well executed ride, the plot beyond tight and well thought out! I had a hunch at the first main twist, but found myself more surprised as my thought played out, (pleasantly) shocked that Cavanagh's writer mind actually went there. Other twists left me additionally awestruck and gasping at their execution.

It's graphic, but not overtly so. There are characters to reluctantly side with, and those to loathe. The twists start early and continue deep into the third act.

If you're looking for a thriller to knock your socks off, this is the one that will do it! Just trust me: dive into it with as little information as possible!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the complimentary copy to read and review.