Oy. Listen I understand that there are only so many ideas to write about. If you are a thriller reader, you have more than likely come across this plot. I don't mind that as long as the writer puts their own spin. While the setup of the story starts in the present and ends in the past, that's the only unique thing about the book. Once I got to the end, the payoff left me with a bit of a shrug.

I didn't love the storytelling for this novel. I found the story to be a bit convoluted and hard to follow especially as an audiobook. Maybe I will have better luck physically reading this book. Looking forward to the next Peter Swanson novel!

I was slightly disappointed in this book because I normally really enjoy Peter Swanson. It fell a little flat for and was a slow read. It still had a few twists and turns that were fun.

This is the kind of thriller that sneaks up on you when you’re least expecting it—like a plot twist in the middle of a casual conversation. The suspense builds so perfectly that by the time you reach the end, you’ll wonder how you got there, but also why you’re still holding your breath.

Wendy and Thom Graves? They’re a rollercoaster, and you’re strapped in for the ride. Every decision they make is like a domino that knocks over another, and just when you think you know where it’s all going, Swanson flips the script. You’ll be flipping pages so fast you’ll miss your coffee getting cold (it’s worth it, though).

Swanson has this brilliant knack for writing characters who make you cringe and cheer at the same time—there’s a constant tug-of-war between “I can’t believe you did that!” and “Okay, I’d probably do the same thing.” The twists aren’t just clever; they’ll make you question your own choices for a minute.

If you love thrillers that keep you guessing, throw in some dark humor, and leave you with a sense of “Did that really just happen?” then Kill Your Darlings is an absolute must-read. But beware—once you start, there’s no putting it down.

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

This novel is about a long married couple who are holding onto a secret they’ve had for years. This story is told in reverse and the reader is led to what causes the couple to be in the place where they are in their lives. This is a slow burn read and if you love that type of book, then this definitely is the one for you.

🎧📖💚AUDIOBOOK REVIEW💚📖🎧

⭐⭐⭐💫

🥰Thank you @williammorrowbooks for the gifted ARC!

📖Title: Kill Your Darlings
✍️Author: Peter Swanson
📅Pub date: June 10, 2025

🏃🏼‍♀️💨Quick thoughts: this was a short and easy thriller that would be a perfect palate cleanser in between some longer/heavier reads. At 8.5 hours on audio or 288 pages in print, this book is the perfect binge-in-a-day thriller!

💚Peter Swanson books are always fun and he always pushes the envelope when it comes to his dark and crazy characters. This book definitely had some wild characters! 👀👀

👀The main story centers around one couple and starts in present day and tracks backwards throughout most of their lives and relationship. This was such a fun way for the story to be told as every step back in time helped answer so many of my questions about the current day timeline.

📖While the book was never boring, because we start at the end, there wasn't much as far as shocking reveals go, but that didn't bother me too much since I was just enjoying the story! Overall, I think this one will be hit for many!

3.5⭐️ Thom and Wendy Graves, married for over two decades, seemingly have it all. Described as the “twins,” they share the same passion for poetry and English lit, have a grown son, Jason, whom they love, and live in a beautiful home. But Wendy wants to murder Thom and develops a plan to do so. Revisiting their love story in reverse, it is clear that both Thom and Wendy hold a great many secrets, each contributing to the next, which will contribute to Wendy’s current-day predicament.

Let me start by saying that I am a huge fan of Peter Swanson; in fact, he is one of my few auto-buy authors. It therefore pains me to say that I did not love this one. And while I would like to say that I am an outlier here, I fear that I may not be.

There are certain elements to the story that are clear winners. I loved the idea of the love story told in reverse. We are pulled in immediately with Wendy’s decision to murder Thom, and then slowly taken in reverse to the beginning of their creepy and disturbing love story. This felt so original and fresh, and I was immediately taken with this format.

However, the minutiae is where this style lost me. There was clearly a link from chapter to chapter as we rewind time, but there were many scenes where the overabundance of seemingly monotonous detail lost my interest before I could get to the most important “nugget” of the chapter. I found this frustrated me greatly as I started each chapter anxiously awaiting the connection, only to be disappointed.

Another thing I have come to realize is that while this style is fun overall, by the time we get to the beginning, I feel myself less attached to the characters, not more (this has happened to me before with this style). I was more intrigued when we first meet the MCs at the end of their story, than when we ended at the beginning. That is until the final page when a tidbit of information created a truly mic drop moment, and I felt more confused than ever about my feelings towards one of my most anticipated reads.

Read if you like:
▪️psychological thriller
▪️domestic suspense
▪️slow burn
▪️unique formats
▪️reverse timelines
▪️dual pov

Thank you William Morrow for the advanced copy.

The format of this book was unique. Each chapter went backwards in time where we eventually see how the 2 main characters, Thom and Wendy, met. With that being said, it felt like there weren’t many twists per se because we already know what happens from the beginning. It really just went on to further solidify a certain MC as a totally unlikable and unfeeling psychopath. I think I would have preferred to read back and forth chapters (ex. Now vs then) to hold my attention. It was an interesting tragic story, but without real closure. This could have also been improved if we at least had a present day epilogue. Writing style was great and easy to read. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

No. I did not like this one. I usually enjoy Peter Swanson books but this one was just not it. I found it difficult to follow with all the past and present timelines. The story itself was just strange to me. I just really did not like this one.

*Kill Your Darlings* is slow moving, but fast reading.

I enjoyed this so much - I didn’t particularly like Thom or Wendy very much, but their characters and their relationship is so interesting to see unfold.

A smart, slow burn that reads backwards. I didn’t love the ending/beginning, but this kept me turning the pages throughout.

I’d only read one of the author’s previous works, after this I’ll definitely be reading more. Recommended.



Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the DRC

I love a good thriller and especially one with a great twist and no one excels at that more than Peter Swanson. I was thrilled to receive an arc of his upcoming novel from @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks and as usual it did not disappoint.

I loved the way this book was constructed. It was interesting to gradually go back in time and see how Thom and Wendy’s relationship gradually evolved and why she wants to kill him. As usual, Swanson has constructed a complex story with characters that will surprise you, and in this case not in good ways. You understand how these two deeply flawed individuals came together and how years of betrayal and manipulation might lead to murder. The big reveal, while effective, wasn’t unforeseen, but it’s fun to feel like pacdetective and figure things out. No worries however, any Peter Swanson novel is light years better than almost anyone else

Wendy and Thom, both professionals and married for over 25 years, seemed to have life all figured out. Except for one thing: Wendy wants to kill her husband. Kill Your Darlings is told masterfully in reverse - each chapter goes back further in time as Wendy and Thom’s marriage plays out, and we learn some secrets they have, and why Wendy has come to her decision. It’s an intriguing and engaging plot, and the storytelling method enhances the flavor, and the further back we go in their lives, the more eye-opening (and enjoyable) the story becomes. The plot lags a bit in places and the meandering pace may not be for everyone, but I definitely enjoyed this one, and the ending was great! I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am always excited when Peter Swanson comes out with a new book. I was extra intrigued when I saw that the premise of this book is a murder told in reverse. The opening of the book and the writing style and structure was super compelling and kept me engaged the whole time. When I got about halfway through, I had some thoughts and hopes about where the story would go and how we could get certain resolution. Though the story kept be engaged and interested, I was disappointed by how the story ended, because I did not get the resolution to several things I was hoping to get resolution on. The reverse narrative structure was fun, but I needed more answers to some storylines than we were able to get.

I'm a big fan or peter swanson, and truly think "the kind worth killing" is a masterpiece, so every other books he's written always falls a bit short for me. I felt like the secret between Thom and Wendy wasn't really a secret at all. You know what's going to happen from very early on, and I kept waiting for a big shocking twist that never came.

All in all, i liked this but it wasn't my favorite by the author.

I wasn’t sure how to feel about this one. It took me a while to get used to the reverse chronological order. It really does move in reverse; each chapter jumps back in time to a previous year and then never returns to that moment again.

I liked the idea of knowing the ending first and then seeing how the characters got to that point. The last chapter of the book (the start of the timeline) though was a little underwhelming for me.

Overall, I enjoyed it, but I think other books I’ve read from Swanson have been better. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Peter Swanson’s Kill Your Darlings is a brilliantly crafted psychological thriller that proves he’s a master of suspense. Told in reverse chronology, the novel peels back the layers of a seemingly ordinary marriage to reveal something far more sinister.

It had been a minute since I had picked up a Peter Swanson story, but now I remember why he has always been one of the top authors for me. His writing is NEXT LEVEL GENIUS.

The story opens with Wendy Graves contemplating the murder of her husband, Thom, after decades of marriage. But as Swanson takes us backward through key moments in their lives—from their present life to the fateful event that bound them together—each chapter deepens the mystery, making us question everything we thought we knew.

The reverse structure is a stroke of genius, keeping the tension high and the twists razor-sharp. Swanson’s writing is taut and precise, with every detail carefully placed for maximum impact. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, he pulls the rug out from under you—again and again.

Dark, elegant, and deeply unsettling, Kill Your Darlings is a must-read for thriller fans who love clever storytelling and morally complex characters. Swanson delivers yet another knockout—one that lingers long after the final page.

First 5 star read of the year and left me wanting more! Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow (one of my very favorite publishing houses) for the gift of allowing me to read this arc. I'll be picking up my hard copy as soon as it comes out on June 10, 2025.

Told in reverse, this is an excellent domestic murder mystery with secrets around every corner of a 25 year marriage. It is a puzzle full of misdirection and suspense that is a thrilling ride. Not to be missed!

I have been a fan of Peter Swanson since his novel “The Kind Worth Killing”. This book felt like a return to that story. I love his stories aren’t mysteries and you are introduced to the killer or sociopath as the main character. Unraveling their story from their perspective is always thought provoking. I enjoyed that this story was told backwards, but I felt it lagged at times. I wish the end was a little more unsettling. Thriller fans will enjoy.

Can’t really go wrong with a Peter Swanson book. Plenty of twists and turn to keep you engaged and wanting more.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kill Your Darlings is the latest book from Peter Swanson and much like many of his books lately, I'm feeling disappointed and unsatisfied. The concept is interesting-a story told in reverse, but the challenge becomes how do you create tension in the story when you already know the ending? This one could be defined as a slow burn of how did these two characters get to where they did when the story begins, and it was interesting to see the steps unfold. With that being said though, it didn't have the same taut story telling as his earlier books. Even the last minute twist at the end felt a little like an afterthought even though I assume you're meant to gasp and realize how it will impact the events at the start of the story. For me this was firmly okay, but it felt like work to finish it.