The Kind Worth Saving: 'Nobody writes psychopaths like Swanson.' Mark Edwards

The Kind Worth Saving is the second book in the Henry Kimball/Lily Kintner series by award-winning American author, Peter Swanson. When a former student hires Henry Kimball to confirm her husband's infidelity, he is reminded of the fateful end to his only year as a high school English teacher. Joan Grieve, now Whalen was in the room when a tragic event ended the class, and his career as a teacher, early.

Joan tells Henry she is fairly certain that her husband Richard is having an affair with Pam O'Neil, the office manager at his real estate office. After he follows each of them without result, then gets quite a bit closer to Pam than is wise, Joan tells him where and when he is most likely to find them together. Just after he gets to that particular house for sale, he hears gunshots and inside finds Pam with Richard Whalen, both shot dead.

While the local police rule it a murder-suicide, a few things about it, and about Joan, just don't sit right with Henry. He decides to run the whole thing by the woman who almost killed him two years earlier, Lily Kintner. Back then, he was in the Boston PD, but his approach, and an obsession with a certain suspect, saw him suspended. Now, he's a PI, but he values Lily's opinion, even though, or perhaps because, he believes she may have murdered twice.

Lily agrees with him about Joan. They decide to separately investigate, having no real idea of who they're going to encounter, and the inherent danger involved...

Swanson gives the reader a tightly plotted tale with some excellent twists and a fine red herring. He fascinates the reader with characters who love the thrill of the kill, the feeling of power. Lily's rationale for her actions is thought-provoking, and Henry is an interesting protagonist, an English teacher turned cop turned PI whose love of literature infuses his life. He's still writing dirty little limericks about those involved in the cases he's investigating, adding to the dark humour Swanson peppers throughout.

While it works as a stand-alone, first reading The Kind Worth Killing gives the reader a good background of the main characters, avoids spoilers in this one, and why would you deprive yourself of such a brilliant page-turner? The resolution is comprehensive but more of this duo would be most welcome. This is another superb dose of Peter Swanson crime fiction.

This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Faber & Faber.