Review: Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson

Hen and Lloyd have moved to a new home in a new suburb – a fresh start. With a shaky history behind her as a result of bipolar disorder, this move is just what Hen needs to focus on her career as an artist. After meeting their new neighbours at a local street party, the two couples decide to have a dinner party and get to know each other. However, when Hen is given a tour of Matthew and Mira’s home, she sees something that brings her back to her past, and a murder which took place. Convinced that her neighbor Matthew has something to do with the now aged crime, Hen decided to contact the police. Unluckily for her, the very past which allowed her to identify the evidence is also what causes her to be an unreliable witness. Without the support of the police, she has no option but to investigate Matthew on her own.

Before She Knew Him is a thriller of the best kind – a journey through madness, obsession and darkness, interspersed with tricks, doubts and mystery. The tone is deceptively bright for the twisted events which occur, lending the reader a comfortable reading experience. As Peter Swanson carefully unravels the story, feeding us enticing tidbits and insights, you can’t help but want more, flipping through the pages in a reading frenzy that leads your family to blame you for being antisocial (or, that might just be me).

This book is filled with a heart-gripping tension which is slowly fueled throughout the book, culminating in an unexpected but undeniably pleasing conclusion, with unexpected twists and an eye full of red herrings. If you are a fan of tense, unpredictable whodunnits, this is the book for you.

Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson is published by Faber and Faber and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.