Eight Perfect Murders: A Novel (Malcolm Kershaw)

New York Times bestseller

“Swanson rips us from one startling plot twist to the next… A true tour de force.” —Lisa Gardner

“[A] multilayered mystery that brims with duplicity, betrayal and revenge.” —USA Today

From the hugely talented author of The Kind Worth Killing comes a chilling tale of psychological suspense and an homage to the thriller genre tailor-made for fans: the story of a bookseller who finds himself at the center of an FBI investigation because a very clever killer has started using his list of fiction’s most ingenious murders.

Years ago, bookseller and mystery aficionado Malcolm Kershaw compiled a list of the genre’s most unsolvable murders, those that are almost impossible to crack—which he titled “Eight Perfect Murders”—chosen from among the best of the best including Agatha Christie’s A. B. C. Murders, Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train, Ira Levin’s Deathtrap, A. A. Milne's The Red House Mystery, Anthony Berkeley Cox's Malice Aforethought, James M. Cain's Double Indemnity, John D. MacDonald's The Drowner, and Donna Tartt's The Secret History.

But no one is more surprised than Mal, now the owner of the Old Devils Bookstore in Boston, when an FBI agent comes knocking on his door one snowy day in February. She’s looking for information about a series of unsolved murders that look eerily similar to the killings on Mal’s old list. And the FBI agent isn’t the only one interested in this bookseller who spends almost every night at home reading. The killer is out there, watching his every move—a diabolical threat who knows way too much about Mal’s personal history, especially the secrets he’s never told anyone, even his recently deceased wife.

To protect himself, Mal begins looking into possible suspects . . . and sees a killer in everyone around him. But Mal doesn’t count on the investigation leaving a trail of death in its wake. Suddenly, a series of shocking twists leaves more victims dead—and the noose around Mal’s neck grows so tight he might never escape.

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Published Jan 26, 2021

288 pages

Average rating: 7.04

134 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Zach23Weiss
Jun 24, 2025
10/10 stars
He’s done it again!
Hbilkis
Jun 21, 2025
8/10 stars
The further I got into the book, the more my mouth kept hanging open as details and truths were revealed. Well written and enjoyable read.
Nick84
Mar 28, 2025
8/10 stars
Kept me hooked.
Shahna
Jul 18, 2024
8/10 stars
This was fun and just convoluted enough.
Patty
Jun 17, 2024
10/10 stars
I loved this book! I honestly was guessing the whole time. This! This right here is what more thriller/mystery writers should be doing! I'm honestly still second guessing whether the ending is reliable or not. Swanson does a great job as setting the stage, planting little doubts here and there, making you think the whole time. I honestly didn't see much of what happened coming. I also love the references to other books within in the book. OH! OH! AND THE LITTLE CAMEO! OMG so clever. There's so much to unpack here, I really need someone to talk to about this book. But read it first!

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