Peter Swanson is great. Prior to picking up a copy of Before She Knew Him, I had read two other novels of Swanson’s: The Kind Worth Killing and Her Every Fear. I immensely enjoyed both books, and had a feeling I’d enjoy Before She Knew Him as well. The book did not disappoint!
Before She Knew Him
When Hen and her husband Lloyd move into a quiet suburb of Boston, they befriend their next door neighbors, Mira and Matthew, who seem like a nice and normal enough couple. One evening, Mira and Matthew host their new neighbors for dinner, which goes fine, until they begin giving Hen and Lloyd a tour of their home. That’s when Hen spots an item in Matthews study that changes everything. She thinks she spotted an item that was a key component in a murder case from her and Lloyds old neighborhood… could Matthew be connected somehow? Is Matthew a killer? That seems crazy! Though Hen, for a slew of medical reasons, isn’t the most credible source, and of course Lloyd doesn’t believe her either. However, Hen and Matthew, well… they enter into some sort of weird, convoluted friendship. Because:
They had a secret, the two of them, and there was no better way to start a friendship than with a secret.”
There were many unexpected twists and turns, and I felt invested in the story early on. The book was exceptionally well paced. If you’re looking for a wonderful thriller, this is it.