Review | Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson

Hen and Lloyd move into a new neighbourhood for a fresh start. They meet Matthew and Mira, a couple who lives next door. But when Hen sees something suspicious in Matthew’s study, she believes that her good neighbour isn’t who he says he is.

They had a secret, the two of them, and there was no better way to start a friendship than with a secret.

Before She Knew Him focuses on the intriguing connection between Hen and Matthew. Hen believes she knows Matthew’s secret – that he’s a killer. Matthew suspects Hen is after him – but he’s not sure why. This ends up being a cat-and-mouse game and I got pretty invested!

Hen is an intriguing character who suffered a breakdown when she was younger. After being diagnosed with a bipolar disorder, she has found the right treatment. Due to her past, her husband, Llyod, treats her like a fragile creature. But she believes that she is right to be suspicious of her neighbour, and decides to investigate Matthew on her own. I thought her thoughts are relatable and I found myself wanting her to get to the truth. But Matthew proves to be a formidable opponent. Seemingly nice and mild-mannered, he nonetheless has a dark secret that only his brother, Richard, knows. Yet as his side of the story becomes clear, I was rooting for him too! It’s unexpected but I find myself sympathising with both characters.

The writing is easy to digest and I found it hard to put the book down. The story brings up themes of morality in an intriguing fashion and the difference between vengeance and justice. There are some surprising reveals as the book moves towards its conclusion. After all the buildup, I felt a little letdown by the finale which wraps things up too neatly. I also found the last chapter to be an overkill.

That said, I’m sure many readers will love Before She Knew Him. In the end, I still enjoyed this twisted, suspenseful drama!

CW: domestic violence, child abuse, infidelity

About the author: Peter Swanson

Photo by Andreas Strandman