A Talent for Murder

by Peter Swanson

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Martha Ratliff used to think she was cursed when it came to love – literally. So you can imagine her delight when finding a man worth marrying (even if she admittedly didn't know him that well). Unfortunately, a year into the marriage and the shine is starting to fade, making Martha realize a few concerning points.

Like the trail of bodies. Matha's husband travels for work, and there's a suspicious correlation of deaths in the cities he's visited. Martha may be imagining things, or she might be right. Either way, there's only one person she trusts to tell it to her straight.

My Review:

So, I made a mistake. When I picked A Talent for Murder as one of my BOTM choices, I didn't realize it was the third novel in a series. The good news is that you can totally read it as a standalone, understanding most bits. The bad news is I felt like I probably didn't care for the characters the way I should have, given that there should have been two books for me to grow attached. So don't make my mistake.

Moving on, there were things I did and didn't like about this book. I enjoyed the investigative elements and the lengths Lily had to go through to find the truth. That said, I feel like the handling of Martha's character was...unfair? It felt like she didn't have any real agency of her own, which is incredibly frustrating given that she's one of the main perspectives of this novel.

Actually, when you think of it, Martha isn't the only character who seems to lack agency. Basically, if you're not Lily or her counterpart...you're in trouble. Maybe the other two books set up for this, but it felt jarring to a new reader. Thoughts?

Highlights:
Thriller Series
Suspense
Multiple Perspectives
Hunting a Killer

Trigger Warnings:
Stalking
Adultery

You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy