Book Review: Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson
Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson
Published: March 5, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Genres: Fiction, Psychological Thriller
Quick Thoughts: Before She Knew Him is a gripping, twisty, psychological thriller that grabs you early and never lets go. Peter Swanson masterfully plays with your expectations, delivering a chilling and compulsively readable story that’s impossible to put down.
I purchased this book myself. There was no obligation to post/give this book a certain rating. All views are my own. I remain entirely impartial.
READER INFORMATION:
This novel is best suited for adult readers who enjoy dark psychological thrillers. It includes mature themes such as mental illness, violence, and murder, with a strong emphasis on suspense and mind games. Recommended for fans of Gillian Flynn, Ruth Ware, and anyone who loves a thriller that doesn’t wait until the last chapter to blow your mind.
ABOUT THIS BOOK:
Henrietta (Hen) and her husband, Lloyd, have just moved into a charming house outside Boston. Hen, an illustrator living with bipolar disorder, is finally finding balance thanks to the right medication and a fresh start. But when they’re invited to dinner by their neighbors, Matthew and Mira, Hen notices something strange—a fencing trophy in Matthew’s study that looks exactly like one linked to a local unsolved murder.
From that moment, the line between Hen’s instincts and paranoia begins to blur. Could her neighbor really be a killer? And if he is, what happens when he realizes she suspects him?
Unlike typical thrillers that build up to a final reveal, Before She Knew Him puts the truth on the table early—then lets the real tension unfold as the characters navigate consequences, suspicion, and shifting morality.
FIRST THOUGHTS
Peter Swanson never fails to hook me, and this book was no exception. From the very beginning, I was pulled into Hen’s fragile world—a woman constantly questioning what’s real and what might be a symptom of her disorder. I loved how the story refuses to rely on a single twist; instead, it layers tension scene by scene. The pacing is razor-sharp, and Swanson’s control of the narrative is unmatched.
What really stood out was how quickly the book confirms Hen’s suspicions—then challenges us to ask why it happened, and what happens next. It felt fresh, unsettling, and addictive.
MY BOOK REVIEW
I finally picked up Before She Knew Him months after it came out, and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long. I finished it at 3 AM because I literally could not stop turning the pages.
Swanson’s writing is so sharp, his plotting so tight, that you think you know where the story is going—until suddenly, you don’t. There’s no slow burn here. The suspense hits early, and then you’re trapped in this cat-and-mouse dance between Hen and Matthew, each with their own secrets and struggles. It’s tense, it’s eerie, and at times, surprisingly emotional.
Hen’s mental illness is portrayed with nuance, and I appreciated that her bipolar disorder wasn’t used as a gimmick or red herring. It added depth to her perspective and made me root for her even more. And the way Swanson builds Matthew’s character? Terrifyingly good.
Honestly, the only downside of reviewing Swanson’s work is trying not to spoil the brilliance of his plots. Just trust me—if you love psychological thrillers that keep you guessing (and second-guessing), Before She Knew Him is an absolute must-read.
