Witch Words

Both The Kind Worth Killing and The Kind Worth Saving were on my winter reading list, and I am now just posting reviews for both. While they offer more chills than the cold weather outside, they will also send enough chills up your spine to cool you off on a summer day.

I read TKWK a few years ago and loved it. However, I reread it before reading TKWS and loved it as much as the first time. Lindsay, who hadn’t read it yet, joined me.

The Kind Worth Killing and Saving are both gripping and kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Peter Swanson weaves a suspenseful, complex web of deceit, and manipulation with unexpected twists, making reading them back-to-back an exhilarating reading experience. He introduces us to a cast of complex unlikable characters with their own unique motivations and flaws who had me question who was worth killing and saving. He creates a fascinating game of cat and mouse, making it fun to root for who you think is worth saving.

I loved Lily, and she is one of the most fascinating characters I have seen in fiction. She is cunning and deliciously devious. She is one worthy opponent in the game of cat and mouse. It’s exciting to see her play the game and see who outsmarts who and what the characters will do next.

The Kind Worth Killing

What is going on between the covers

During a chance encounter at an airport bar, Ted Severson meets mysterious Lily Kintner. After a few too many drinks, Ted reveals his deepest secrets and desires about his unfaithful wife, Miranda. Lily proposes a shocking plan to help Ted solve his problems because some people are worth killing. As the story unfolds, secrets are exposed, alliances shift, and the lines between right and wrong blur, leaving me questioning each character’s motives and true intentions.

Brenda’s Two Cents

Ted, Lily, and Miranda are memorable characters, each with their own secrets and hidden agendas. As the layers of their personalities were peeled away, I went back and forth while thoroughly entertained, deciding who could be trusted and what secrets were worth killing for.

The pacing is fast, and the character’s POV builds suspense and gives us insight into the different motivations at play, increasing the tension with plenty of twists and turns. The well-crafted dialogue is entertaining, with wit and intelligence to keep you engaged with the character. The exciting climax makes it impossible to put the book down until you see who the last player standing is.

Lindsay’s Two Cents

This is a sneaky, snarky, twisty, suspenseful, multiple perspective thriller that will have you rooting for the manipulative, self-centred, opportunistic main characters. It was a fun, well-written escape read that kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t get enough of these immoral, selfish, audacious characters — what does that say about me? Ha!

As with most thrillers, there are unrealistic elements to the storyline, but nothing too far out there that took away from my connection or enjoyment (this says a lot about the book because I don’t have a large threshold for suspension of disbelief). The storyline was fast-paced, unique, shocking and unputdownable!

The Kind Worth Saving

The story begins with Henry Kimball, now a private investigator hired by Joan to prove her husband is cheating. He knew Joan when he was a high school English teacher when he was the center of a tragedy. But something feels wrong to Henry, and he enlists Lily to discover Joan’s real intentions.

Brenda’s Two Cents

Lily is still the star of the show for me, but we don’t see her until later in the story. She is lying low until she gets a taste of that cat-and-mouse game she is so good at playing. She is just as devious and cunning as ever, but she might have met her match this time, causing her to up her game. My heart pumped so fast as I clicked the pages to see who controlled this game.

Joan has some dark secrets she is hiding, forcing Henry to go back to one of the worst days of his life to uncover the truth, adding a darker tone to the story than TKWK. Peter Swanson expertly maintains a sense of unease throughout, and bolding adds an unsettling uncomfortable storyline line that left me feeling a sense of dread driven by some intense moments. I constantly questioned the characters’ true nature, actions, and motivations. The climax is intense and exciting, with a rewarding payoff.

Lindsay’s Two Cents

I was late to the party in reading Book 1 in this much-loved psychological thriller series, The Kind Worth Killing. I read and loved it at the beginning of this year in anticipation of Book 2 releasing in March. I’m happy to report I enjoyed this book just as much as Book 1! 🙌🏻 That doesn’t happen very often!

Told from multiple perspectives changing with each chapter, this was a sneaky, suspenseful, twisted, thrilling, fast paced story that had me fully invested from start to finish. The new characters are a brilliant addition to this series — I loved following their backstories.

Although not fully realistic, the storyline had me hooked and engrossed throughout. I was rooting for the manipulative, selfish characters and had a lot of fun following along their paths.

If you’ve read and enjoyed Book 1, then this is a must read! If you haven’t, then I strongly suggest you start with Book 1 as it would make this book much more impactful having that storyline as background.