🩸 Horror Fiction

The Kind Worth Killing

✍️ Peter Swanson
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$18.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A flight stranger offers to help a husband kill his cheating wife, sparking a deadly conspiracy.

Ted and Lily’s interaction begins with martinis and truth games but quickly shifts toward criminal intent. Their bond deepens as they plan Miranda’s demise, yet Lily hides crucial details about her past. The tension rises when a detective closes in on their scheme. This structure mirrors the suspense found in Strangers on a Train. The inclusion of Moonlight mile adds depth to the collection. Swanson’s background as a thriller writer informs the pacing and character development throughout these pages.

Key Themes
domestic betrayal murder conspiracy psychological suspense
Literary Context

Published by William Morrow in 2016, this novel joins the wave of psychological thrillers popularized by authors like Paula Hawkins. It references Agnieszka Holland’s film adaptation and Patricia Highsmith’s classic work, situating itself firmly within the modern domestic thriller genre that explores marital dysfunction and criminal opportunity.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Patricia Highsmith · Paula Hawkins
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 William Morrow & Company 📅 2016 📖 384 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780062267535

📝 Description: The Kind Worth Killing

Peter Swanson delivers a psychological thriller centered on Ted Severson and Lily Kintner, whose chance encounter on a transatlantic flight sparks a dark alliance. Ted confesses his suspicion that his wife Miranda is unfaithful, prompting Lily to offer her assistance in ending the marriage. The narrative follows their escalating conspiracy as they plot murder, revealing Lily’s unsettling background in the craft of killing from her youth. This dynamic creates a tense cat-and-mouse game involving both the couple and a determined detective pursuing them. The novel draws comparisons to Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train and Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train, positioning it within the tradition of domestic suspense. It includes a P. S. section featuring an interview with Swanson, a reading group guide, and the short story Moonlight mile. Readers who enjoy twisted plots and unreliable narrators will find this engaging. Those seeking lighthearted escapism may prefer other genres. The story concludes with the co-conspirators facing consequences they cannot survive.

💎 Our verdict on The Kind Worth Killing

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Peter Swanson delivers a compelling psychological thriller centered on Ted Severson and Lily Kintner. Their chance encounter on a transatlantic flight sparks a dark alliance that evolves into a deadly conspiracy. The narrative effectively mirrors the suspense found in Strangers on a Train, utilizing Swanson’s background to inform rapid pacing and intricate character development. The inclusion of the short story Moonlight mile adds further depth to the collection. While those seeking lighthearted escapism may prefer other genres, this title suits readers who enjoy complex moral dilemmas and tense atmospheres.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy twisted plots and unreliable narrators will find this engaging. The book offers a tense cat-and-mouse game involving both the co-conspirators and a determined detective, appealing to those who appreciate domestic suspense with psychological depth. It is ideal for fans of thriller writers who prioritize pacing and character development in their narratives.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Peter Swanson delivers a compelling psychological thriller centered on Ted Severson and Lily Kintner. Their chance encounter on a transatlantic flight sparks a dark alliance that evolves into a deadly conspiracy. The narrative effectively mirrors the suspense found in Strangers on a Train, utilizing Swanson’s background to inform rapid pacing and intricate character development. The inclusion of the short story Moonlight mile adds further depth to the collection. While those seeking lighthearted escapism may prefer other genres, this title suits readers who enjoy complex moral dilemmas and tense atmospheres.

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