Kill for Me, Kill for You

You finished this book and kind of just stared into space for a hot minute going "Whaaaaaa" - ten points for all the unexpected twists and turns! But holy-lack-of-consequences Batman, what a message to embed in your novel.
"You can get away with anything if you're a straight white man - and women, even traumatised women will aid and abet you."

While no one breasted-boobily down the stairs, this was still very much a dude writing women. These women were basically men who happened to have women's bodies. They spoke, acted and reacted like men. Their anger and their grief was male. Also, their seemingly infinite wealth struck you as male.

What a very strange book.

There are certain authors who are expert hook throwers -Steve Cavanagh is one of them. First page and I knew I wasn’t putting this book down until it was finished. I had no idea that it was going to be so much more than I was anticipating. Each page and chapter morphed into another possibility keeping the final resolution out of reach. I admit to having a few twinges of “maybe this has more to do with it than I thought.” And just when I thought it was all clear - bam - left turn, upside down and I was once again left with my mouth open. Just a super great, twisted up, turn me around kind of a well thought out mystery that isn’t over until the very last page. The “fear was literally killing me” - I felt it - how did Cavanagh show more create the kind of atmosphere that had me sucking for air and unable to put this book down. I am wondering how he will top this amazing psychological thriller.

Many many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for a copy. show less

Kill for Me, Kill for You is a masterclass in psychological suspense. Centered around three women who have each been the victim of a crime, the story weaves a dark and compelling tale of revenge, resilience, and justice served on one’s own terms.

From the very first page, I was hooked—and I ended up reading the entire book in one sitting. Steve Cavanagh crafts a plot full of twists that are genuinely surprising. More than once, I found myself gasping out loud as secrets unraveled and alliances shifted. The pacing is tight, the tension relentless, and the emotional stakes feel razor-sharp.

This is a story that keeps you guessing until the very end, with characters who are both broken and bold in the face of their trauma. If you love show more psychological thrillers that explore the line between justice and vengeance—and keep you breathless while doing it—Kill for Me, Kill for You needs to be on your list.

Highly recommended for fans of sharp, twisty thrillers that don’t let up. show less

Kill for Me, Kill for You is a masterclass in psychological suspense. Centered around three women who have each been the victim of a crime, the story weaves a dark and compelling tale of revenge, resilience, and justice served on one’s own terms.

From the very first page, I was hooked—and I ended up reading the entire book in one sitting. Steve Cavanagh crafts a plot full of twists that are genuinely surprising. More than once, I found myself gasping out loud as secrets unraveled and alliances shifted. The pacing is tight, the tension relentless, and the emotional stakes feel razor-sharp.

This is a story that keeps you guessing until the very end, with characters who are both broken and bold in the face of their trauma. If you love show more psychological thrillers that explore the line between justice and vengeance—and keep you breathless while doing it—Kill for Me, Kill for You needs to be on your list.

Highly recommended for fans of sharp, twisty thrillers that don’t let up. show less

If fast-paced, dark, twisty, and completely unhinged psychological thrillers are your thing, pick this book up STAT.

“Amanda White lifted the lid from the electric baby-bottle steriliser and stared inside at the .22 caliber revolver.”

Yep, that's the opening line, and I knew that I was going to love this book!

Persevere. The story takes off at an incredible speed after the first quarter, taking you on a wild, twisty ride. Just when you think you've got it all figured out, brace yourself because you don't. The twists are twisting!

I lost track of the "NO WAY!" moments while reading this book, and it kept me up way past my bedtime because I couldn't put the book down!

Do NOT give in to the temptation to read the spoilers unless you want to show more ruin your reading experience. I just wanted to share my thoughts on certain scenes and characters. But go ahead if you've already read the book.

The opening scene at the subway. So Amanda's plan to shoot and murder Wallace Crone is thwarted, and she "dropped the gun, unnoticed, into the half-open golf umbrella of the businessman beside her." The police intervene and issue her a restraining order. But I kept wondering why the businessman didn’t report the gun when he found it in his umbrella. If the police had known about the gun and her intent to kill, they might have charged her with more than just assault.

Amanda trying to murder Quinn. I was surprised by how incredibly intense and graphic this particular scene was! “She felt like her eyeballs were going to pop right out of her skull. Even the skin on her cheeks burned – as if the tiny blood vessels in her face were rupturing under the strain. Her sight darkened.” And yet she had the strength to stick a screwdriver into Quinn's (a much bigger and stronger man) bicep and BURIED AN AXE IN QUINN'S CHEST!

Billy turned out to be the biggest surprise twist for me! I never expected him to be Mr. Blue Eyes, the man who attacked Ruth! Even though his character was introduced later in the book, his cover was so convincing and his story so believable that I never suspected him as a killer. Plus, he seemed genuinely kind to Amanda! But why did he attack Ruth in the first place?

Billy's letter to Amanda. In the letter, he hints at killing Wallace Crone as a return favor for her help in finding Ruth. His tone is polite and grateful, almost portraying him as a good guy! It's confusing—is he a serial killer with a kind heart? And he never gets caught, so he's still out there, possibly targeting the next unsuspecting woman to kill?

Overall, I had a blast with this book and would totally recommend it to anyone in the mood for a crazy, page-turning thriller with writing that hits all the right notes! show less

This is the second book using Patricia Highsmith's Strangers on a Train as a stepping stone that I have read this year, and I wondered what my reaction would be. It is a testament to Highsmith's iconic story and Cavanagh's skill that I finished Kill for Me Kill for You with a big smile on my face.

This fast-paced, plot-driven book may leave you feeling as if you're strapped in a car on a wild and woolly roller coaster ride. However, where most plot-driven books fall short in characterization, Kill for Me Kill for You doesn't. It's all too easy to put yourself in the shoes of the grief-stricken Amanda, Ruth, and Scott, and all too easy to hope that Farrow, the homicide detective, will put all the pieces together for some sort of justice show more to triumph.

Since so much hinges on the marvelous plot twists, I can't say much about this book without giving something away, but I will say this: Read it, and don't be surprised if it puts a smile on your face, too.

(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley) show less

"Oh, what a very fine monster you are. . ."

WOW! Twisty, diabolical - so good! I was hooked from the start. There are a few POV in this one but they are easy to follow and tell apart. We get Amanda, who's daughter was murdered and she lost her husband soon after. She knows who the killer is but the police can't/won't arrest him. She's angry and sad and confused. We also have the POV of the detective on her case and a woman named Ruth.

These 3 POV fully flush out the story. They keep you guessing on why you have these 3 and who they all are in this spider web of deaths and murder. At first, this may feel like Strangers on a Train but don't let it fool you. The twists are so good and will keep you wondering. I absolutely loved this one!

A show more huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. show less