NewYorkTimesbestseller“Swansonripsusfromonestartlingplottwisttothenext...Atruetourdeforce.“--LisaGardner“[A]multilayeredmysterythatbrimswithduplicity,betrayalandrevenge.“--USATodayFromthehugelytalentedauthorofTheKindWorthKillingcomesachillingtaleofpsychologicalsuspenseandanhomagetothethrillergenretailor-madeforfans:thestoryofabooksellerwhofindshimselfatthecenterofanFBIinvestigationbecauseaverycleverkillerhasstartedusinghislistoffiction’smostingeniousmurders.Yearsago,booksellerandmysteryaficionadoMalcolmKershawcompiledalistofthegenre’smostunsolvablemurders,thosethatarealmostimpossibletocrack--whichhetitled“EightPerfectMurders“--chosenfromamongthebestofthebestincludingAgathaChristie’sA.B.C.Murders,PatriciaHighsmith’sStrangersonaTrain,IraLevin’sDeathtrap,A.A.Milne’sTheRedHouseMystery,AnthonyBerkeleyCox’sMaliceAforethought,JamesM.Cain’sDoubleIndemnity,JohnD.MacDonald’sTheDrowner,andDonnaTartt’sTheSecretHistory.ButnooneismoresurprisedthanMal,nowtheowneroftheOldDevilsBookstoreinBoston,whenanFBIagentcomesknockingonhisdooronesnowydayinFebruary.She’slookingforinformationaboutaseriesofunsolvedmurdersthatlookeerilysimilartothekillingsonMal’soldlist.AndtheFBIagentisn’ttheonlyoneinterestedinthisbooksellerwhospendsalmosteverynightathomereading.Thekillerisoutthere,watchinghiseverymove--adiabolicalthreatwhoknowswaytoomuchaboutMal’spersonalhistory,especiallythesecretshe’snevertoldanyone,evenhisrecentlydeceasedwife.Toprotecthimself,Malbeginslookingintopossiblesuspects...andseesakillerineveryonearoundhim.ButMaldoesn’tcountontheinvestigationleavingatrailofdeathinitswake.Suddenly,aseriesofshockingtwistsleavesmorevictimsdead--andthenoosearoundMal’sneckgrowssotighthemightneverescape.
