Peter Swanson’s new novel,
Her Every Fear, much like Nick Cutter’s Little Heaven is a straight up genre
novel, and because of that, I have to judge it by certain merits it has and
some that it doesn’t. I really enjoyed this book and read through it quickly;
it is perfect for any tropical vacation and keeps the reader in a vice grip up
until the ending. But when I read mysteries, one of my favorite genres of
literature, I expect a few things. I either expect to be moved, shaken or come
away with a profound understanding I did not have before, much like I do with
the novels of Richard Price, Dennis Lehane and George Pelecanos, or I want a
narrative that is so twisted, complicated and fascinating that I have no idea
what is going to happen next and I fear for my well being as well as that of
the characters in the book I sympathize with. Sad to say, I had the book’s
ending pegged early on, and I wished I did not. You might to, but I won’t spoil
it here. Kate Priddy, the book’s main character is a wounded and scared woman
living in London. After nearly dying at the hands of her crazed ex-boyfriend,
an event that even five years passed still gives her PTSD; she reaches out to
her unknown second cousin, Corbin, and offers to swap apartments with him in
Boston. As soon as she gets there, her worries come to life after the woman
living next door to Corbin is found dead. The book weaves in and out of
different perspectives, from Kate’s to Alan, the mysterious man who lives on
the other side of the apartment complex, Corbin, who is hiding dreadful secrets
and eventually our bad guy, a truly evil and reprehensible human being. Despite
figuring it out, I was fascinated by this world, which is expertly plotted and
full of unknown dangers lurking around every corner, in every shadow of a
darkened room and every creak of old wooden floorboards. The ending might seem
to neat to some, but it holds true to the book’s theme about facing the fear of
the unknown and getting over your hurt.
Rating: 4/5
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