Mystery
![Peter Swanson - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B00E5TKWX2.jpg)
Nine Lives: A Novel
"[A] smartly entertaining reimagining of Agatha Christie's classic And Then There Were None… Swanson cunningly plays with readers' heads as we hope so-and-so gets it next."- Washington Post
If you're on the list, someone wants you dead.
From the New York Times bestselling author of Eight Perfect Murders comes the heart-pounding story of nine strangers who receive a cryptic list with their names on it-and then begin to die in highly unusual circumstances.
Nine strangers receive a list with their names on it in the mail. Nothing else, just a list of names on a single sheet of paper. None of the nine people know or have ever met the others on the list. They dismiss it as junk mail, a fluke-until very, very bad things begin happening to people on the list.
First, a well-liked old man is drowned on a beach in the small town of Kennewick, Maine. Then, a father is shot in the back while running through his quiet neighborhood in suburban Massachusetts. A frightening pattern is emerging, but what do these nine people have in common? Their professions range from oncology nurse to aspiring actor, and they're located all over the country. So why are they all on the list, and who sent it?
FBI agent Jessica Winslow, who is on the list herself, is determined to find out. Could there be some dark secret that binds them all together? Or is this the work of a murderous madman? As the mysterious sender stalks these nine strangers, they find themselves constantly looking over their shoulders, wondering who will be crossed off next…
If you're on the list, someone wants you dead.
From the New York Times bestselling author of Eight Perfect Murders comes the heart-pounding story of nine strangers who receive a cryptic list with their names on it-and then begin to die in highly unusual circumstances.
Nine strangers receive a list with their names on it in the mail. Nothing else, just a list of names on a single sheet of paper. None of the nine people know or have ever met the others on the list. They dismiss it as junk mail, a fluke-until very, very bad things begin happening to people on the list.
First, a well-liked old man is drowned on a beach in the small town of Kennewick, Maine. Then, a father is shot in the back while running through his quiet neighborhood in suburban Massachusetts. A frightening pattern is emerging, but what do these nine people have in common? Their professions range from oncology nurse to aspiring actor, and they're located all over the country. So why are they all on the list, and who sent it?
FBI agent Jessica Winslow, who is on the list herself, is determined to find out. Could there be some dark secret that binds them all together? Or is this the work of a murderous madman? As the mysterious sender stalks these nine strangers, they find themselves constantly looking over their shoulders, wondering who will be crossed off next…
Editorial Reviews
"[A] smartly entertaining reimagining of Agatha Christie's classic And Then There Were None… Swanson cunningly plays with readers' heads as we hope so-and-so gets it next… In addition to the suspense - who's doing this, and why? - there's lots of literary wit." -- Washington Post on Nine Lives
"I loved Nine Lives. Swanson's sharp and insightful characterization brought to life a fascinating premise. The whole resolution is beautifully worked out." -- Ann Cleeves, author of The Heron's Cry
"With economical strokes of his pen, Peter Swanson presents us with a clever homage to the Golden Age of Mystery and keeps us guessing right to the end." -- Peter May, author of The Blackhouse
"Swanson again takes the idea of fiction as homage to deliriously vertiginous new heights… While the tension mounts deliciously as we wonder if there will be any survivors, the real fascination here is the explanation itself-and what it reveals about the cancerous effects of guilt and obsession." -- Booklist (starred review)
"Swanson (Every Vow You Break) neatly riffs on Agatha Christie's classic And Then There Were None in this taut thriller… This is a well-crafted page-turner." -- Publishers Weekly
"[Swanson] has earned a reputation for ingenious plotting and a clear, precise writing style - and "Nine Lives" is no exception. And this time, he tells readers just enough about the lives of the nine people on the hit list to make readers care what happens to them." -- Associated Press
"Swanson creates a rollercoaster for readers." -- BookPage
"Peter Swanson is one of my go-to authors, and he keeps getting better with each new book he writes. His latest effort, Nine Lives, is no exception. Not only is it a terrific mystery/thriller that keeps you guessing right up until the last page, it just happens to be inspired by one of my all-time favorite novels: Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None." -- Bookreporter.com
"Swanson alternates points of view with alacrity, unleashing a varied and vibrant ensemble…Peter Swanson is the king of the high concept thriller, and Nine Lives marks yet another ambitious addition to his collected works. An ode to Agatha Christie's classic And Then There Were None, it expands on her premise by moving the killing grounds from an insular island setting to America at large." -- CriminalElement.com
"‘Deliciously ingenious… With twist upon twist, and false clue upon false clue, this is superb, elegant crime writing ...
"I loved Nine Lives. Swanson's sharp and insightful characterization brought to life a fascinating premise. The whole resolution is beautifully worked out." -- Ann Cleeves, author of The Heron's Cry
"With economical strokes of his pen, Peter Swanson presents us with a clever homage to the Golden Age of Mystery and keeps us guessing right to the end." -- Peter May, author of The Blackhouse
"Swanson again takes the idea of fiction as homage to deliriously vertiginous new heights… While the tension mounts deliciously as we wonder if there will be any survivors, the real fascination here is the explanation itself-and what it reveals about the cancerous effects of guilt and obsession." -- Booklist (starred review)
"Swanson (Every Vow You Break) neatly riffs on Agatha Christie's classic And Then There Were None in this taut thriller… This is a well-crafted page-turner." -- Publishers Weekly
"[Swanson] has earned a reputation for ingenious plotting and a clear, precise writing style - and "Nine Lives" is no exception. And this time, he tells readers just enough about the lives of the nine people on the hit list to make readers care what happens to them." -- Associated Press
"Swanson creates a rollercoaster for readers." -- BookPage
"Peter Swanson is one of my go-to authors, and he keeps getting better with each new book he writes. His latest effort, Nine Lives, is no exception. Not only is it a terrific mystery/thriller that keeps you guessing right up until the last page, it just happens to be inspired by one of my all-time favorite novels: Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None." -- Bookreporter.com
"Swanson alternates points of view with alacrity, unleashing a varied and vibrant ensemble…Peter Swanson is the king of the high concept thriller, and Nine Lives marks yet another ambitious addition to his collected works. An ode to Agatha Christie's classic And Then There Were None, it expands on her premise by moving the killing grounds from an insular island setting to America at large." -- CriminalElement.com
"‘Deliciously ingenious… With twist upon twist, and false clue upon false clue, this is superb, elegant crime writing ...
Readers Top Reviews
ER
I’ve loved a lot of Peter Swanson’s books but this one was confusing throughout. There was multiple parts that were almost word for word/pretty much the same character as the last book I read ‘before she knew him’, he wrote this a while back so no one else seems to pick up on it…wasn’t sure if it was intentional or bad editing? Again with the bad editing, when Matthew dies and the list goes down to 7, Matthew is still on the list? It seems like the book was rushed and not written and edited to the same standard and quality as previous books by Peter. The general premise of the book sounded cool but like others have said, there’s too much going on for any of it to have any depth.
Mark FerbertER
This is a pretty good thriller which, in some ways, pays homage to the Agatha Christie classic 'and then there were none' (to use it's more acceptable modern title). Nine apparently random people receive a list of 9 names, and they all start being killed off, one by one. What connects them and who is the killer? The story will keep you guessing until the end, when it is neatly tied up with a deathbed confession. For those familiar with the Agatha Christie novel, you will find certain similarities with the plot of this one, but still enough twists to keep you guessing until the end. Well worth reading anyway.
LEMV. O'ReganMark
The premise is a good one and it started promisingly enough but somehow it never really delivered. None of the characters is really developed - so you don't get to care about them - and the motive for the crimes is rather derivative and implausible. What's more, "the twist in the tail that you won't see coming" (or whatever it is being hyped as) is not credible nor does it add anything. I was looking forward to reading this book but finished up feeling cheated.
Joanna JLagoonLEM
Nine Lives is the latest stand-alone mystery by bestselling American author Peter Swanson. I had only read The Kind Worth Killing previously, and been underwhelmed after all the hype, but have read enough glowing reviews of his other books to give him another try. It’s a quick easy read and I raced through it, but was ultimately unsatisfied even though it didn’t turn out how I expected, nor did I guess the guilty party. Nine strangers with nothing in common receive an anonymous letter with nine typed names on it - including their own. When the one of them is found dead on a lonely Maine beach, the FBI swing into action to try and protect the rest - especially as one of their own is on the list, but the killer is always one step ahead… It’s not a secret or a spoiler to say that this is an homage to Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”, which is heavily referenced throughout. This is both a strength and a weakness here, as I enjoyed meeting all the nine potential victims and looking for the similarities in the plot; there was a degree of suspense wondering who would survive, and some surprises, but it meant the reveal and the ending was a disappointment. There are characters you feel sorry for, and others you can’t wait to see exterminated, but I can’t say I really cared about any of them apart from book loving detective Sam. It’s not a bad read, and most of my book friends have rated this higher, but to me this is another thriller that will appeal most to those who don’t read a lot of thrillers. Thanks to NetGalley and Faber & Faber for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily.
An Avid ReaderJ.
Nine Lives plods along with sketchy portraits of the victims-to-be. It's virtually impossible to keep up with these different people who are superficially presented by the author and about whom you couldn't care since they're basically cardboard cutouts. The conclusion of the novel is even more disappointing and utterly preposterous; it's a contrivance that's impossible to accept as having validity even within the realm of fiction. I think the author is lazily resting on his laurels in this one. Not worth the time spent to read it.
