The Talented Mr Swanson

I recall when British Publisher Faber and Faber picked up author Peter Swanson’s debut novel ‘The Girl With a Clock for a Heart’, a couple of years ago. I was startled by this noir-ish crime thriller debut, as it appealed to my inner Tom Ripley. I wrote at the time –

It will be of little surprise to hear that Hollywood has snapped up a movie option, as the narrative is written in a Spartan and terse style, that resembles a detailed screenplay, but one that the readers has to provide the camera directions, and as for lighting? There is no need, as it is noir in the literal sense. An astonishing debut from a writer that even at this early stage, is one worth marking for the future

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I enjoyed Swanson’s writing and was delighted when Faber and Faber organised an interview with him; as I had a few questions that haunted me. The interview is archived here

Peter’s second work The Kind Worth Killing, was even more elegant and dark, and as many of us had predicted, Swanson was no ‘flash in the pan’ as he was recognised by The Crime Writers Association and Ian Fleming Publications; finding The Kind Worth Killing For - on the 2015 Steel Dagger Shortlist; as well as on the inaugural Dead Good Books Reader Awards [2015].

So what have we instore for Peter’s third novel?

Kate Priddy was always a bit neurotic, but after an ex-boyfriend kidnapped her and nearly ended her life, her bouts of anxiety began exploding into full-blown panic attacks. When Corbin Dell, a cousin in Boston, suggests the two temporarily swap apartments, Kate agrees, hoping that time away in a new place will help her overcome the past traumas of her life.

But at Corbin's grand apartment on Beacon Hill, Kate makes a shocking discovery: his next-door neighbor, a young woman named Audrey, has been murdered. When the police question her about Corbin, a shaken Kate has few answers, but many questions of her own--and her curiosity intensifies when she meets Alan, a handsome tenant who lives across the courtyard. Alan saw Corbin surreptitiously come and go from Audrey's place, yet Corbin's denied knowing her. Then, Kate runs into a man claiming to be the dead woman's old boyfriend, who insists Corbin did the deed.

Corbin proclaims his innocence and calms Kate's nerves . . . until she comes across disturbing objects hidden in the apartment. Could Corbin really be a killer? And what about Alan? Kate finds herself drawn to this appealing man who seems so sincere, but she isn't sure. Jet-lagged and emotionally fragile, her imagination full of dark images, Kate can barely trust herself, let alone a stranger she's just met. Yet the danger Kate imagines isn't nearly as twisted as what is about to happen. When her every fear becomes very real.

Shots have copies of HER EVERY FEAR with a generous discount from our bookstore here

Peter was in London last week and thanks to Faber & Faber’s Sophie Portis and Angus Cargill, I found myself invited to the launch, which was hosted in a Pub in West London. It was good to meet up with fellow literary commentators Nick Clee and John Williams, as well as catch up with Peter Swanson, a tremendous writer, who is often described, as a contemporary /updated version of Patricia Highsmith or James M Cain.

It wasn’t long before Angus Cargill of Faber & Faber [London] welcomed us to the gathering, as well as Peter saying a few words -

So if you are not familiar with the work of Peter Swanson, then click here for more information, and don’t forget, Shots Magazine’s bookstore has copies of HER EVERY FEAR with a very generous discount for our readers, so click here for your copy.