“They had a secret, the two of them, and there was no better way to start a friendship than with a secret.”

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Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis of before she knew him by peter swanson

Before She Knew Him is about Hen and her husband Lloyd, a seemingly normal couple who move into a quiet new house right outside of Boston. Hen works as a controversial illustrator, often crafting dark and disturbing artwork – something she’s always found calming in the midst of her bipolar disorder. Things seem to be finally falling into place until Hen and Lloyd are invited to their next door neighbor’s house for dinner.

An uneventful evening quickly turns dark when Hen recognizes a trophy

in her neighbor’s home. The trophy is almost identical to one that went missing from a young man’s home who was killed a few years back – a murder that left Hen fascinated and medically obsessed over.

Convinced that her new neighbor Matthew is the killer, Hen is left stuck in the middle of an inner battle – is she right to be afraid of the couple next door, or is she on the brink of another psychotic episode? One thing is for sure.. this new nightmare for Hen is only just beginning.

My Thoughts

Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Staying true to my love for psychological thrillers, Before She Knew Him was an obvious choice for my BOTM Club pick. I’ve read a handful of Peter Swanson books before, Her Ever Fear, The Kind Worth Killing, and The Girl with a Clock for a Heart – and enjoyed all of them.

So I was curious to see how this one would pan out.

I quickly became hooked from the very beginning, and didn’t set this one down often. It became a race to see who truly was the “bad guy” in this story, and trust me – you’ll change your opinion more than once.

This book is probably my favorite among the Peter Swanson books that I’ve read, and I love any book that keeps you guessing, even when you think you know, but really you have no idea.

I’d definitely recommend this book for those who enjoy thrillers and being able to put on their detective hat.

Read it and let me know how you liked it!