Named a Best Book of 2017 by NPRThe author of the wildly popular The Kind Worth Killing returns with an electrifying and downright Hitchcockian psychological thriller—as tantalizing as the cinema classics Rear Window and Wait Until Dark—involving a young woman caught in a vise of voyeurism, betrayal, manipulation, and murder.The danger isn’t all in your head . . . Growing up, Kate Priddy was … danger isn’t all in your head . . .
Growing up, Kate Priddy was always a bit neurotic, experiencing momentary bouts of anxiety that exploded into full blown panic attacks after an ex-boyfriend kidnapped her and nearly ended her life. When Corbin Dell, a distant cousin in Boston, suggests the two temporarily swap apartments, Kate, an art student in London, agrees, hoping that time away in a new place will help her overcome the recent wreckage of her life.
But soon after her arrival at Corbin’s grand apartment on Beacon Hill, Kate makes a shocking discovery: his next-door neighbor, a young woman named Audrey Marshall, has been murdered. When the police question her about Corbin, a shaken Kate has few answers, and many questions of her own—curiosity that intensifies when she meets Alan Cherney, a handsome, quiet tenant who lives across the courtyard, in the apartment facing Audrey’s. Alan saw Corbin surreptitiously come and go from Audrey’s place, yet he’s denied knowing her. Then, Kate runs into a tearful man claiming to be the dead woman’s old boyfriend, who insists Corbin did the deed the night that he left for London.
When she reaches out to her cousin, he proclaims his innocence and calms her nerves . . . until she comes across disturbing objects hidden in the apartment—and accidently learns that Corbin is not where he says he is. Could Corbin be a killer? And what about Alan? Kate finds herself drawn to this appealing man who seems so sincere, yet she isn’t sure. Jetlagged and emotionally unstable, her imagination full of dark images caused by the terror of her past, Kate can barely trust herself . . . So how could she take the chance on a stranger she’s just met?
Yet the danger Kate imagines isn’t nearly as twisted and deadly as what’s about to happen. When her every fear becomes very real.
And much, much closer than she thinks.
Told from multiple points of view, Her Every Fear is a scintillating, edgy novel rich with Peter Swanson’s chilling insight into the darkest corners of the human psyche and virtuosic skill for plotting that has propelled him to the highest ranks of suspense, in the tradition of such greats as Gillian Flynn, Paula Hawkins, Patricia Highsmith, and James M. Cain.
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Liked the “Rear Window” similarities of book. Good and twisty! Nicely developed characters.
Actual Rating 3.5
So there is plenty to enjoy about this book. This story is completely crazy and will definitely give you the creeps. As this story unravels and it pieces together the parts of the characters involved in the murder of Audrey will have your mind spinning.
Despite his eerie past, I really liked Corbin and he may have been my favorite character in this entire book. Corbin is the neighbor of the murdered Audrey and his connection to her is closer than is originally believed. The chapters from his perspective are the most interesting in this book. I liked getting to know Corbin and finding out about his past and how it leads to the murder of the present. I wanted things to end well for him. I also liked the perspective of Alan. He is a resident of the complex that the murder takes place. While he definitely has some issues, I liked that he was open and friendly to Kate. I have to say I really liked the way Peter Swanson wrote this book. How at vital moments when you couldn’t wait to know what would happen next or the fate of a character it jumped to another characters perspective and shows how their actions lead to moment held in suspense. I’m not a person who likes murder mysteries and thrillers I can appreciate the story and the characters.
The one thing I did not like that much about this book was Kate’s character. She is the cousin of Corbin and swaps apartments with him. Upon her arrival to the US and getting to Corbins place, she finds out his neighbor was murdered. Kate pretty much becomes obsessed with the murder and immediately suspects Corbin and does a lot of snooping. I get the way Kate is due to her own past and trauma, but I found reading from her perspective to be very annoying. I just genuinely didn’t like her.
I think Her Every Fear was an interesting book that I enjoyed in the end.
This one will keep you up at night, checking any strange noise and looking under beds and in closets. It will hold your interest, wondering what will happen next and to whom.
A good read. Keeps you guessing what’s reality and what is the imagination of the character. A fast, interestng read.
A dark story of a former mental home like the facility from “One flew over the cuckoo’s nest”.
2nd Book I have by this author. He is great couldn’t wait to sit down and read more. Had a lot of twists and kept me guessing.
I was disappointed in this book. Did not care for the characters. Guess I am just uncomfortable with dysfunctional psychotic people.
enjoyable, surprising, good characters . A good read
I can’t even describe why I liked this book so much. I just did. I liked the narrative, plot and the main character. I recommend this book
I don’t know whether I liked this or his first book better! He is an excellent writer! Has a great way of “getting into your head!”
GREAT READ, DOWN TO EARTH CHARACTERS…KEEPS YOU GUESSING UNTIL THE END
One of the best books I’ve read in a long while.
This was a pretty good read… simple but kept my interest.
a well-crafted thriller
I loved this book. Kept me wanting to read. The end was somewhat predictable but still a good murder mystery.
Could not have predicted the ending. So great. Could not put it down.