Read with Fern

No one is supposed to know harmless office worker Gwen Tanner is the vanished daughter of serial killer Abel Haggerty. But a low profile and a new name aren’t going to cut it when an obsessive new killer starts targeting her…

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

If you find yourself reading A LOT of fictional books about fictional serial killers, this is the book for you! As someone who reads a lot of books in the genre, I had started to feel underwhelmed by the plot twists and characters decisions I’d been presented with. But Haven’t Killed in Years was a wholly unique book focusing on the daughter of a serial killer. We met her in the present, with one parent recently released and one still serving a prison sentence. 

Gwen Tanner is a phenomenally-written main character, with nuance and depth that is drawn out over the course of the book. Her inner monologue is what made the book for me, full of sardonic wit and self-distancing observations that had me laughing out loud. And as Gwen is forced to confront the past she’s purposefully left behind, the plot escalates in an addicting pace.

Gwen intentionally has a very small social circle, and as each new character was introduced, I was immediately suspicious. As her acquaintances turned into something closer to a social circle, the tension and unanswered questions had me in such a tight grip that I was practically inhaling the book. As the pacing pushed forward, I was fully invested, and was thrilled to get a satisfying ending with several unanticipated twists.

I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who reads a lot of fictional serial killer books because I guarantee this one will have enough unique twists to keep you entertained. I’d also recommend this book as a book club book because there is absolutely SO MUCH to discuss!

Thanks to Berkley for the free book in exchange for an honest review!