Peter Swanson has crafted something genuinely innovative with “Kill Your Darlings,” a psychological thriller that operates like a sophisticated literary autopsy. Rather than following the conventional forward trajectory of most mysteries, Swanson presents us with a marriage in reverse chronological order, beginning in 2023 with Wendy Graves contemplating her husband’s murder and working backward through decades to reveal the dark foundation upon which their relationship was built.
The novel opens with what appears to be a simple domestic scene—a dinner party at the Graves’ Victorian home on Massachusetts’ North Shore. Yet beneath the veneer of academic respectability lurks Wendy’s murderous intent toward her husband Thom, a university English professor whose drinking and deteriorating mental state have become unbearable. What makes this opening so compelling is Swanson’s subtle suggestion that this isn’t the first time violence has touched their lives.
The Reverse Chronology: A Bold Narrative Gambit
The decision to structure the narrative in reverse proves to be Swanson’s masterstroke. Each chapter peels back another layer of the Graves’ relationship, creating an almost archaeological excavation of their shared history. We witness their fiftieth birthday celebration, their son Jason’s childhood, their house purchase, and eventually arrive at the shocking revelation of their young adult years—a carefully orchestrated murder that bound them together in ways both profound and poisonous.
This reverse structure serves multiple purposes beyond mere novelty. It creates an extraordinary sense of inevitability while simultaneously generating suspense about the past rather than the future. We know that Wendy wants to kill Thom in 2023, but the real mystery becomes understanding how two seemingly normal people evolved into potential murderers. The technique also allows Swanson to explore how secrets metastasize over time, transforming from exciting shared conspiracies into festering wounds that threaten to destroy everything they’ve built.
Character Development in Reverse Motion
Watching Thom and Wendy age backward creates a unique emotional experience. In 2023, they appear as a tired, middle-aged couple trapped by their past choices. As we move through the decades, we see them gradually shed years and cynicism, eventually arriving at their teenage selves—innocent, passionate, and tragically naive about the consequences of their actions.
Wendy emerges as the more calculating of the pair, someone who learned early that survival sometimes requires ruthless pragmatism. Her transformation from a young woman escaping poverty through marriage to a poetry-writing professor’s wife reveals layers of complexity that Swanson unfolds with remarkable precision. Thom, meanwhile, appears increasingly fragile as we move backward, suggesting that his current deterioration stems from decades of carrying guilt he was never emotionally equipped to handle.
Their son Jason serves as an interesting counterpoint throughout the narrative. In the present, he’s a well-adjusted young man, seemingly untouched by his parents’ dark history. Yet as we move backward through his childhood, we see how their secret shaped every aspect of their parenting, creating a family dynamic built on fundamental deception.
The Academic Gothic Atmosphere
Swanson excels at creating an atmosphere of academic gothic that permeates the novel. The university setting, with its combination of intellectual pretension and petty politics, provides the perfect backdrop for moral corruption. The death of Alex Deighton, Thom’s despicable department chair, serves as both a catalyst for current events and a reminder of Wendy’s capacity for violence. Swanson’s portrayal of academic life—the dinner parties, the literary conversations, the tenure anxieties—feels authentic and lived-in, suggesting his familiarity with this world.
The New England setting also contributes significantly to the novel’s mood. The Victorian house on Goose Neck, the quarry where Wendy commits her crime, and the various academic institutions all create a sense of place that feels both beautiful and ominous. There’s something distinctly American about this story of reinvention and buried secrets, echoing themes found in everything from “An American Tragedy” to “The Secret History.”
Psychological Complexity and Moral Ambiguity
Perhaps the novel’s greatest strength lies in its refusal to offer easy moral judgments. Bryce Barrington, their first victim, is portrayed as genuinely loathsome—a wealthy, abusive drunk whose death arguably makes the world a better place. Yet Swanson doesn’t allow this to excuse Thom and Wendy’s actions entirely. Their crime stems from a mixture of love, greed, and youthful arrogance that feels disturbingly human rather than cartoonishly evil.
The psychological toll of their secret becomes increasingly apparent as we move backward through time. In the present, Thom’s drinking and mental deterioration can be traced directly to his inability to process their shared guilt, while Wendy’s cold pragmatism appears to be a defensive mechanism developed over decades of emotional compartmentalization.
Technical Craftsmanship and Pacing
Swanson demonstrates remarkable technical skill in maintaining narrative momentum despite the unconventional structure. Each chapter ends with revelations that illuminate previous events while setting up new questions about what came before. The pacing never flags, even though we’re essentially watching a story unwind rather than build toward a climax.
The author’s prose is clean and precise, with occasional flashes of genuine elegance. His ability to capture different time periods through subtle changes in dialogue, cultural references, and social attitudes shows considerable research and attention to detail. The novel spans from 1982 to 2023, and each era feels distinct and authentic.
Minor Shortcomings and Considerations
While “Kill Your Darlings” succeeds on most levels, it’s not without minor flaws. Some readers may find the reverse chronology occasionally disorienting, particularly in tracking the timeline of events. Additionally, certain supporting characters, particularly in the academic setting, occasionally feel more like types than fully realized individuals.
The novel’s central premise—that two teenagers would commit murder for money and successfully cover it up for decades—requires a significant suspension of disbelief. While Swanson makes this as plausible as possible, some readers may struggle with the logistics of their crime and subsequent cover-up.
Connections to Swanson’s Body of Work
“Kill Your Darlings” represents both a continuation and evolution of themes present in Swanson’s previous works. Like “The Kind Worth Killing” and “Eight Perfect Murders,” it explores the psychology of seemingly ordinary people capable of extraordinary violence. However, the reverse chronology and extended time frame give this novel a scope and ambition that sets it apart from his earlier books.
The academic setting recalls “Eight Perfect Murders,” while the focus on a long-term relationship echoes themes from “Before She Knew Him.” Yet “Kill Your Darlings” feels like Swanson’s most mature and accomplished work, showing a willingness to experiment with form while maintaining the psychological acuity that has defined his career.
Recommendations for Similar Reads
Readers who appreciate “Kill Your Darlings” might enjoy:
- “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt – Another academic thriller exploring the psychology of murder among seemingly privileged individuals
- “Big Little Lies” by Liane Moriarty – For its exploration of how secrets poison relationships over time
- “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides – Another psychological thriller that reveals its secrets through unconventional narrative structure
- “The Hunter” by Tana French – For its atmospheric blend of crime and psychological complexity
- “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Another novel that uses reverse chronology to reveal devastating secrets
Final Verdict
“Kill Your Darlings” stands as Peter Swanson’s most ambitious and successful novel to date. The reverse chronology could have been a gimmick, but instead it becomes an essential element that deepens our understanding of how people change—and how they don’t—over time. The novel works simultaneously as a psychological study, a moral fable, and a surprisingly moving meditation on the price of keeping secrets.
This is sophisticated psychological thriller writing that trusts its readers’ intelligence while delivering the emotional and suspenseful payoffs the genre demands. Swanson has created a work that will reward multiple readings, as the reverse structure allows for an entirely different experience when the reader knows the full story from the beginning. It’s a novel that confirms Swanson’s position among the top tier of contemporary psychological thriller writers while suggesting even greater achievements to come.
