Best of Psychological Thrillers: Nine Lives | Peter Swanson (review)

There is no way I could make a list of best psychological thrillers without including at least one Peter Swanson book (and perhaps more than one!). Though I’ve enjoyed all of Swanson’s books so far, there are a few in particular that stand out when I think of the best psychological thrillers of the last ten years.

The first of those is what I’m discussing today, his intricately plotted, tense thriller, Nine Lives (no, it has nothing to do with cats). One of the best homages to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None that I’ve read, this book is a perfect blend of classic and unique.

What is Nine Lives about?

On the same day, nine people receive a cryptic list in the mail with their name on it. There’s nothing else included with the list—just the nine names. None of them know the other eight names on the list. The people on the list don’t share the same demographics, location, or career. There seems to be no link between them at all, in fact.

Some of them dismiss it as a strange but funny story they can bring out at a dinner party if there is a lull in the conversation, but others find it more disturbing than anything else. “It is a list of death. Someone has marked us for death,” one of the nine thinks, before dismissing the thought.

One of the names on the list happens to be FBI agent Jessica Winslow. Like the others, Jessica has no idea why her name is on the list, but unlike the others, she knows something is off about it, and she reports it. As the FBI starts trying to locate the exact people who received the list, something troubling begins to happen.

A well-liked old man is drowned on a beach in the small town of Kennewick, Maine. A suburban man is shot while jogging in his neighborhood. The thing these people have in common is that their names were on the list. Jessica sees a pattern emerging, but she can’t figure out how the people are linked.

It may be too late by the time she finds out. Nine strangers’ names are on a list, and they begin dying one-by-one…

What did I think of Nine Lives?

I found Nine Lives to be gripping, twisted, tense, and well-plotted. Peter Swanson is an incredibly talented writer, and his books are so quotable, I need to hold back from sharing too many. This is not the fast-paced popcorn thriller in style. Though the pacing is perfectly timed for the reveals, the book is narratively structured in a way that it speeds up the further into the book the reader gets. I couldn’t put this book down either the first time I read it, nor on the reread. Plotted to perfection!

“But the things we worry about are not the things that eventually happen.”

The characters are interesting and range all across the board. Some are very likable, but others are not likable at all, but all of them felt authentic which is impressive since they share space with nine other POVs. With some of the characters, there are things going on in their lives that pulled me in to their story. I actually forgot at times that they are on a death list because I was so interested in their drama!

“The awful thing about loneliness, Jack thought, not for the first time, is that it isn’t always cured by other people.”

The inclusion of an FBI agent on the list added an extra layer to the story. Jessica may quickly be dismissed from any professional responsibility on the case, but she is still involved in the investigation as both a subject of it and an investigator. She is as motivated as the other eight to figure out who is responsible and why.

“It is not time or opportunity that is to determine intimacy—it is disposition alone. Seven years would be insufficient to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven days are more than enough for others.”

There is truly no escaping this executioner. A fan of Agatha Christie (and particularly And Then There Were None), the murderer seems justified in what they are doing. The reader is kept guessing along with the subjects of the list and the FBI for much of the book. Christie fans will enjoy not only the inspiration for the story, but also the historical tidbits and references to Christie throughout.

How is Nine Lives structured?

The structure of this novel is unique, suspenseful, and fun. The book starts at NINE and has several chapters within that section. At the end of the section, the first person dies. The book then moves to EIGHT and the pattern repeats. This continues until the story gets down to ONE. And what happens after ONE? Don’t forget the inspiration, And Then There Were None. Is that a hint? You’ll have to read to find out!

Once the reader gets the hang of what Swanson is doing with the sections starting at nine and counting backwards, they add fun and suspense. Each character is introduced in NINE as they receive their list. As each section goes on, the ones still alive begin to learn more about the investigation, and try to figure out why their names might be included. Each character is completely unique, so I thought they were easy to keep straight. I liked the suspense of knowing each section would end with another murder. Since we don’t know how many chapters are in the section, that also means that we don’t know who is going to die next (unless you look ahead at the chapter breakdowns).

There are several POV to keep track of in Nine Lives. Ten of them, in fact—the nine names on the list (included at the end of this review for reference) and the FBI agent working the case (Sam Harris). Swanson helpfully provides all nine names at the front of the book as well as brief descriptions. You may want to keep those handy as you are reading because though the characters are all surprisingly well-developed for how little time each of them gets in the book, it’s a lot to keep track of at the beginning. The other reason the characters are easy to keep track of is because they start dying and then swiftly make their exit. The ones who last longer you’ll get to know quite well!

Final Thoughts? TLDR

This is an engaging read from start to finish. In my opinion this tops the list of psychological thrillers everyone should read because of its inspiration from Christie’s most famous book, as well as it’s unique narrative format and structure. The characters are well-developed and range in their stories and how likable they are. The murderer is ruthless, executing each person with precision and without pause. The way the book comes together and the ending were satisfying and well-crafted. For a book with so many murders, nothing about Nine Lives is gruesome or gory. There is a wry humor at times to the book that was fun. Swanson seemed to be winking at the reader with certain turns the story would take. His writing is as always superb.

If you liked Nine Lives, what should you read next?

Who are the characters?

Swanson helpfully provides a character list at the beginning of the book with brief descriptions. In case you gave your copy back or are doing the audiobook and forgot to write them down, I’ve got you covered (feel free to skip this if you already know them). Here are the nine people on the list and the descriptions at the start of the book:

Matthew Beaumont, a suburban father stressed by the complexities of family life in Dartford, Massachusetts. Jay Coates, an aspiring actor in Los Angeles, California. Ethan Dart, a singer songwriter in Austin, Texas. Caroline Geddes, an English professor at the University of Michigan who lives in Ann Arbor with two cats. Frank Hopkins, a longtime resident of Kennewick, Maine, and owner of the Windward Resort. Alison Horne, currently living off the largesse of a married man in New York City. Arthur Kruse, an oncology nurse grieving the loss of his husband in Northampton, Massachusetts. Jack Radebaugh, a retired businessman, recently divorced, who has moved back into his childhood home in West Hartford, Connecticut. Jessica Winslow, an FBI agent in the Albany, New York, field office.

About the Author

Peter is the Sunday Times and New York Times best selling author of 11 novels, including The Kind Worth Killing, winner of the New England Society Book Award, and finalist for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, Her Every Fear, an NPR book of the year. His books have been translated into over 30 languages, and his stories, poetry, and features have appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction, The Atlantic Monthly, Measure, The Guardian, The Strand Magazine, and Yankee Magazine.

A graduate of Trinity College, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Emerson College, he lives on the North Shore of Massachusetts with his wife.