Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson @FaberBooks @PeterSwanson3

Book Description:

‘They had a secret, the two of them, and there was no better way to start a friendship than with a secret.’

When Hen and Lloyd move into their new house in West Dartford, Mass., they’re relieved to meet, at their first block party, the only other seemingly-childless couple in their neighborhood, Matthew and Mira Dolamore. Turns out they live in the Dutch Colonial immediately next door.

When they’re invited over for dinner, however, things take a sinister turn when Hen thinks she sees something suspicious in Matthew’s study. Could this charming, mild-mannered College Professor really be hiding a dark secret, one that only Hen, whose been battling her own problems with depression and medication, could know about? Lloyd certainly doesn’t seem to believe her, and so, forced together, Hen and Matthew start to form an unlikely bond. But who, if anyone, is really in danger?

From its deeply unsettling opening, Peter Swanson, the master of contemporary domestic thrillers, fashions a novel as brilliant, dark, coruscating and surprising as Patricia Highsmith and Ira Levin at their very best.

My Thoughts:

Hen is like a dog with a bone. She knows there is more to Matthew than meets the eye and she is determined to find out more. I wasn’t quite sure what to believe to start with. Hen comes across as being a bit unreliable but the more we get to know Matthew, it soon becomes obvious that Hen is right to have concerns.

Matthew was someone that I was quite drawn to. I was dying to know more about him and what makes him tick. The more I found out about him, the more fascinated with him I got. I’ve no idea if I was supposed to or not but I actually quite liked the guy.

Now I have to admit that I guessed quite early on in to the story something that I think was supposed to be a bit of a surprise for the reader, this in no way spoilt my enjoyment of the story though. The author has created a very compelling read with two main characters that grab the reader’s attention and they don’t let you go even after the last page.

Before She Knew Him really is an enthralling read that I didn’t want to put down. I enjoyed the build up of tension and intrigue and it is a guaranteed page turner. Fans of the author will certainly not be disappointed with his latest offering.

My thanks to Faber & Faber for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

Before She Knew Him is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link).