A Talent for Murder: A Novel BY Peter Swanson

In Peter Swanson’s riveting thriller, The Last Thing She Told Me, Martha Ratliff’s seemingly perfect life is upended by a troubling discovery. Martha, a dedicated librarian in Maine, had settled into a solitary existence until she met Alan, a charming salesman whose frequent business trips never quite convinced her of his complete honesty. Despite some lingering doubts, Martha married him, believing in their shared happiness.

A year into their marriage, Martha’s contentment is shaken by a disturbing find: a blood streak on Alan’s shirt from a recent conference. Her curiosity turns into a dark suspicion when she connects Alan’s travels to a series of unsolved murders of women in the cities he visited.

As Martha wrestles with the possibility that she might be married to a serial killer, she reaches out to Lily Kintner, a trusted friend from her graduate school days. Lily, who once helped Martha escape a dangerous relationship, agrees to investigate Alan further. However, Lily’s probing reveals a sinister and intricate web of deceit far beyond Martha’s worst fears.

In a twisty, clever narrative full of unexpected turns, The Last Thing She Told Me explores the fragile boundaries of trust and the darkness that can lurk behind a seemingly innocent facade. With mounting tension and complex character dynamics, Swanson crafts a suspenseful tale of love, betrayal, and the search for truth.