There are plenty of reflections on the present state of crime fiction and bookselling, and Swanson does a lot of name dropping of authors and events, such as the annual Bouchercon convention. There are frequent interesting discourses on crime fiction and regular readers of the genre will enjoy Kershaw’s observations, even if they do not agree with his list of perfect murders. The story moves along at a good pace, helped by Kershaw’s engaging voice and a steady succession of twists and surprises.

Rules For Perfect Murders is a clever mixture of murder mystery and serial killer thriller told through the eyes of a very unreliable narrator. He enthusiastically joins Agent Mulvey in the search for killer, especially since he has his own secrets that he wants to stop from coming out. Kershaw is a little skeptical at first, but when he realises that one of the victims is someone that he marginally knows he becomes more concerned.

It would seem that someone is using the list to commit their own perfect murders. Kershaw has not thought about the list for several years, until FBI agent Gwen Mulvey knocks on his door and starts asking about the list and its connection to some recent murders in the Boston area. Included on the list were some of the classics of the genre including Agatha Christie’s The ABC Murders, Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers On A Train and The Red House Mystery by A. Fictional murders that were so clever and foolproof, that the perpetrators deserved to get away with them. Some years ago Boston mystery bookshop owner Malcolm Kershaw posted online a list of ‘Eight Perfect Murders’. Peter Swanson’s Rules For Perfect Murders ( Eight Perfect Murders in the US) is a clever, twisty crime novel that is also a homage to crime writing. RULES FOR PERFECT MURDERS By Peter Swanson (Faber & Faber) Rules For Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson (Faber & Faber, March 2020)

Peter swanson rules for perfect murders