Wendy and Thom Graves are a seemingly normal couple who have been married for over twenty-five years. They have built a comfortable life in Massachusetts and have both had successful careers but for Wendy, anger and resentment has been brewing under the surface. The two are tied together by a secret from their youth and Thom is getting sloppy. Wendy must decide if Thom can be trusted to keep their secret or if drastic measures need to be taken to protect the life she has built.

The story is told in alternating perspectives and in a reverse timeline which was such an interesting concept. I haven’t read anything quite like this before and loved how character focused the story was. It was very interesting to relive all of the key moments from their lives and relationships. It felt like an in-depth character study, and I definitely feel like I know both Wendy and Thom very well. I really got a kick out of the ending, and I think Thom would too! I really enjoy Peter Swanson’s work, and I will continue to be a lifelong reader :)

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️

Peter Swanson tends to write character-driven, slow-burn crime fiction. And he typically has a different narrative hook in each of his books.

In this book, Swanson shows a marriage in reverse, from its murderous demise and progresses all the way backward to its origin story. I wouldn’t say it’s a truly unique concept like some of his other novels. I did enjoy it well enough though.

Wendy and Thom are unlikeable (I don’t need to like main characters). If you’re one who does like to root for your main characters, then definitely stay away from this novel.

If you read the first chapter thoroughly, there won’t be too many surprises for you within the novel. It’s told in reverse, as I said, so you know how it ends early on. There are no twists; there’s a clever detail that is in the last chapter, but it’s not a twist. The novel is really seeing how these characters got to the final moment. I was interested. I was invested. Did I want more of a thriller or at least more plot twists? Not necessarily. It just felt blander than I wanted.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

It publishes June 10, 2025.

This story is written backwards in time. Once I got used to that, I kept waiting for the fireworks, for the plot to thicken, but that never really happened.

This is a slow burn with small events happening throughout, but no real twists or revelations going on.

It’s a very interesting premise and I did enjoy the story, but I give it 3 stars as it just didn’t work for me.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow for the eARC.

Having read a few of Peter Swanson's books before, with some really standing out as amazing and others leaving me a bit underwhelmed, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Kill Your Darlings. But I’m happy to say that this one was definitely on the amazing side.

The story follows Lily, a writer who has just completed her debut novel, only to find herself tangled up in a mystery involving a famous author’s disappearance and the eerily similar plotlines in her own work. The tension in the narrative builds steadily as Lily tries to navigate the consequences of her newfound fame, along with a growing sense of dread that someone might be watching her.

What I really enjoyed about Kill Your Darlings was Swanson's ability to keep the suspense high without sacrificing character development. The plot moves quickly, and there are plenty of twists that kept me guessing. Swanson is fantastic at creating characters who feel both familiar and unsettling—his villains are always complex and multi-layered, and this book was no exception. Lily’s descent into paranoia and the complexity of her relationships were compelling, making me really root for her despite the dark turn the story takes.

The pacing was great, and while I had some minor issues with a couple of aspects of the plot (one or two parts felt a bit predictable or contrived), overall, the book kept me hooked. It had just enough of the psychological tension that I love, without going too far into unbelievable territory.

In summary, Kill Your Darlings is a definite winner in my book. While not every book by Swanson has completely resonated with me, this one definitely did. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers with plenty of twists, flawed characters, and a solid mystery, this one is definitely worth the read.

Peter Swanson tries something new in “Kill Your Darlings,” starting readers at the end before going back in time year by year. It’s the first thriller I’ve read that deploys this method of storytelling and … it’s a bit of a miss.

The story ends/begins with married couple, Wendy and Thom, who seem to be the ideal loves but it can’t be further from the truth. Cracks have begun appearing in their marriage as secrets from the past begin bubbling up to the surface. What are those secrets? Well, Swanson has decided to unfurl the story in reverse over decades with some chapters containing more to the puzzle than others. These chapters are fun, but again, because you’re receiving these details in this format, you’re sometimes wondering “yeah, didn’t I know that already?” Instead of a shock, you may think so what.

I can’t fault Swanson for trying something new but I wish the story was more interesting or that there were more twists. There’s one on the last page that hits fairly hard, but at that point, it may be too little too late. Luckily, it’s a sub 300 page thriller fans of Swanson will probably devour in a day. Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC.

Solid 3.5 rounded up!

I have loved all of Swanson’s books but unfortunately this one didn’t work for me. The backwards timeline lessened the impact of the twists that could have been great.

Thom Graves and Wendy Eastman have know each other since they were 14 years old. They have been married for twenty-five years and have a secret that no one can find out about. Kill Your Darlings tells the story of Thom and Wendy Graves from present day and continues backwards to the day that they met on the school bus and shared their first kiss together. As with all of Peter Swanson's books I was hooked by the first chapter. This book will not disapoint anyone and the format is unlike anything that I've read before. Iwould like to thank both NetGalley and William Morrow for letting me read an advanced copy of this book.

I fell in love with Peter Swanson's writing with Lily Kintner and Henry Kimball in The Kind Worth Killing, and, as obsessed with them as I am, I think Kill Your Darlings is my new favorite. The story in reverse is pure genius, and no spoilers, but Kill Your Darlings is a must read for thriller lovers. Just when I thought I had Thom and Wendy figured out, I realized that there were more reveals to come, and I loved every single page of it, and I really hope we haven't seen the last of Wendy.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. It takes place in reverse order, which is different but interesting. The characters are psychopaths and quite unlikeable. Does mental illness run in the family? Is someone immune to murder once they have experienced it? I cannot recommend this to my book club.

Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson is a unique story of murder told in reverse chronology, from 2023 back to 1982. Wendy and Thom have been married for over twenty years. She is a once published poet, he is a Professor of Literature and aspiring writer. Their marriage has its ups and downs with Thom drinking too much, flirting with young women and having the occasional bout of infidelity. Wendy and Thom also share a decades long secret, one they swore to take to their graves. Yet Wendy uncovers the start of a manuscript Thom is writing that tells that very story. Wendy loses trust in her husband and decides he has to die. No spoilers here- we learn Wendy wants to kill Thom in the very first sentence of the book.
Readers then journey backwards in time to learn the how and why of the secret they shared so many years ago, as well as numerous other secrets kept from each other as their stories are told. The last chapter is in 1982 yet a shocking revelation brings readers right back to 2023. I find if you read closely, there are other subtle “Aha moments” that are teased out along the way.
I wouldn’t call this a fast paced psychological thriller read, though I did read it cover to cover in one sitting. This is excellent, slowly drawn out storytelling, with some things left to the reader’s imagination. I do not always find reverse chronology stories to be easy to follow but Swanson did a perfect job of making it flow well. This is probably my favorite Swanson read.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for my ARC.

Thank you to Peter Swanson, William Morrow, and Netgalley for the e-arc of Kill Your Darlings! This is a domestic thriller with multiple POV. The book is written in reverse order by year which is such a cool aspect! Instead of waiting to see how the story ends you get the ending at the beginning and then continue on reading to see how the characters got there. This book publishes on 6/10/25!

I have loved every book by this author so I was really excited to get an advanced copy of his latest!

I loved how unique this book was! Starting from present day and each chapter is a different year in the past. It honestly makes me want to reread it knowing what I now know! I definitely got sucked in and didn’t want to put it down.

It’s not as twisty as his books usually are but it was completely captivating. I would recommend this one if you haven’t liked his others!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc.

Between 3 and 3.5 for this one. I loved The Kind Worth Killing and Nine Lives, but this one wasn't as jaw-dropping/surprising for me, which is what I love most about thrillers. I also had a hard time keeping up with the timeline for the first half, which it going back and forth across the years (though I think this was just because I was doing audio format). It did keep my attention, and I felt the suspense, which is the reason it was at least a solid 3 star! I enjoyed the narrator. My favorite part was how it went back to detail Wendy's childhood and the reasoning for what transpired in her adult life.

Review to come on my IG.

I typically love everything I have read from this author, but this ended up being just an okay read. I was intrigued by the story being told backward, but while it was written well, there wasn't enough to keep me fully invested. As stated many times before, I hate writing negative reviews, and this is an author I truly love, so I will end it here. Three stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for this ARC.

To begin, I love pretty much any Peter Swanson book. Kill Your Darlings is a bit of a different read based on how it is written. The story is written backwards so that you uncover the breakdown of a marriage. I enjoyed the fast paced nature, the unreliable characters, and the uniqueness of this suspenseful thriller.

Kill Your Darlings is a strangely structured book but written by an author, whose previous novels I enjoyed. Peter Swanson constructs Kill Your Darlings chronologically backwards. The novel opens with the lives of a long married couple. Talk about disfunction. They have secrets and obviously there will be more. After this opening section, the chapters in Kill Your Darlings move backward chronologically, with each subsequent chapter being earlier than the previous. This formula is sometimes tedious and irritating and too often repetitive. Swanson sticks with this backward chronology, with each chapter moving further back. Disappointingly, there is no epilogue about what happened in the beginning. The book ends without an ending. I kept hoping Swanson would get tired of the backward chapters and return to the current time, with which he opened the novel, but unfortunately that never happened, which was too bad, since what happens to Wendy would be interesting to read.

Although the structure was off-putting, the characters were interesting and well-developed, although not nice and often cruel and rather murderous. The characters are the strongest part of Kill Your Darlings. I guess it is clear I did not care for Kill Your Darlings. The chronology structure is a gimmick that did not work for me.

I enjoy a dual timeline novel or the use of flashbacks. This telling the story in reverse was cumbersome, especially for readers. Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing this ARC to read and review. The above is my honest review.
2 stars

Thom and Wendy Graves, married for over twenty years, appear to have an ideal life: a shared love for poetry and literature, a grown son named Jason, and a beautiful home. But beneath the surface, Wendy harbors a dark plan to murder Thom. The story unfolds in reverse, gradually revealing the secrets both characters keep, leading to Wendy’s present-day predicament.
While the concept of a love story told in reverse is undeniably unique and compelling, the execution seems divisive. The reader is instantly hooked by Wendy’s decision to kill Thom, but the narrative’s detailed and often monotonous moments diminish the impact of its otherwise fresh format. Despite the clear connections between chapters, the story occasionally loses momentum, frustrating expectations.
Moreover, the reverse timeline, though intriguing, lessens emotional attachment to the characters as the story moves backward. The reader feels more connected at the beginning (or rather, the end of the timeline) than at its conclusion. However, a stunning revelation on the final page offers a striking and memorable twist, leaving a mixed impression overall.

Thank you, William Morrow, and NetGalley for this ARC!

I think Peter Swanson is one of the smartest writers out there. His plotting, planning, and pacing (the three Ps?! ™️) are top tier. Kill Your Darlings is no different—the breakdown of a marriage, told in reverse.
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I found this to be super readable but I think the reverse order, by its nature, took some of the thrill away. We already know how it ends, and the rest of the book is seeing how they got there. This isn’t necessarily bad, but I think we needed some more twists along the way. And I think we needed a much bigger payout at the end. There was a small reveal, but it was not the jaw dropper I was hoping for.
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I landed on three stars for this one. Not my favorite but still enjoyable. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to read early and will read anything Swanson writes! Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the arc!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

2.5 stars
Interesting premise that didn't really work. In telling this story backwards - from present to past - you already know what happened, maybe not the how or why in all cases, but that takes all the suspense right out of the story. At least, it did for me. And the ending was disappointing - it should have been a gasp-inducing twist, but at that point, it was....oh, so that happened. I turned the last page expecting an epilogue - nope, The End. It didn't help that the characters were awful so I didn't care what happened to them. This is one of my favorite authors and I do enjoy his writing, but I just can't give this a higher rating or recommend it.

I absolutely loved this book! I’m not sure I can fully express what it is about Peter Swanson’s books except for the fact that I absolutely love literary mysteries and Swanson is a master of creating complex characters and a layered plot that make me want to sink into them forever. And this story, a murder-mystery reverse, is much more an exploration of the darkness within his characters than a full-out murder mystery. But he handles the ending and every nuanced moment of this story so beautifully!

Also, his books just feel so comforting to me. Which sounds weird since most of his books feature very morally-gray characters, but they feel like sitting in an old bookstore in New England and opening an old Agatha Christie novel, and I just absolutely love everything he writes.