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Kill Your Darlings

Kill Your Darlings

by Peter Swanson 2025 273 pages
3.36
5.3K ratings
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Plot Summary

Twin Flames, Dark Secrets

Two souls bound by crime

Wendy and Thom, born on the same day, are more than just spouses—they are cosmic twins, bound by a shared sense of fate and a dark secret. Their relationship, forged in adolescence and rekindled in adulthood, is marked by a sense of exclusivity and complicity. Both are haunted by a murder they committed together for love and money, a pact that has shaped their lives and marriage. Their connection is intense, sometimes loving, sometimes resentful, but always underpinned by the knowledge that they are different from others—set apart by what they have done and what they continue to hide. This secret, both a bond and a burden, defines their intimacy and their isolation from the world.

Dinner Party Tensions

Social facades, hidden resentments surface

A dinner party at Wendy and Thom's home exposes the cracks in their marriage and the undercurrents of jealousy, suspicion, and longing. Thom's flirtation with Emily, a new hire at the university, and Wendy's sharp observations of the guests reveal the couple's emotional distance. The party is a microcosm of their lives: academic pretensions, old rivalries, and the ever-present threat of secrets being exposed. Wendy's growing contempt for Thom is palpable, and the evening ends with her contemplating his death, the first real stirrings of murderous intent. The party's aftermath leaves both spouses unsettled, their mutual distrust deepening.

The First Attempt

Murderous impulse, failed execution

After the party, Wendy makes her first clumsy attempt to kill Thom by pushing him down the stairs while he's drunk. He survives with bruises, but the incident marks a turning point in Wendy's psyche. She realizes her hatred for Thom has grown into something active and dangerous. The failed attempt is both a rehearsal and a warning—she is capable of violence, and the idea of a life without Thom becomes increasingly seductive. Thom, meanwhile, is haunted by the sense that something is wrong, but he cannot remember the details, lost in a fog of alcohol and self-pity.

Marriage of Sins

A union built on murder

Wendy and Thom's marriage is rooted in a shared crime: the murder of Wendy's first husband, Bryce, for his inheritance. Their relationship is a blend of passion, guilt, and complicity. Over the years, the initial thrill of their secret has curdled into mutual suspicion and regret. They are bound together not just by love, but by the knowledge that they are each other's only alibi. The murder, once a symbol of their unity, becomes a wedge, driving them apart as they struggle with the psychological toll of their actions and the fear of discovery.

The Quarry's Cold Embrace

Wendy's own act of violence

Years after Thom's crime, Wendy commits her own murder, drowning Alex Deighton, Thom's loathsome academic rival, in a quarry. The act is both practical—removing an obstacle to Thom's career—and deeply personal, a way for Wendy to claim agency and balance the scales of guilt in their marriage. The murder is meticulously planned and executed, echoing the cold logic that once united her and Thom. Yet, it also marks a shift: Wendy is no longer just an accomplice but an active participant in the cycle of violence that defines their lives.

Academic Rivalries and Death

Ambition, envy, and fatal consequences

The academic world is a battleground of egos, ambitions, and grudges. Thom's rivalry with Alex Deighton is emblematic of the petty, poisonous atmosphere of the university. Alex's death, initially ruled an accident, is investigated by the police, casting suspicion on Thom and Wendy. The couple's ability to maintain their composure is tested as old secrets threaten to resurface. The academic setting, with its veneer of civility, is revealed as another arena for the couple's ongoing struggle with guilt, ambition, and the need to protect themselves at all costs.

The Detective's Shadow

Investigation threatens fragile stability

Detective Elo's inquiries into Alex's death unsettle Wendy and Thom, forcing them to confront the possibility of exposure. The detective's questions are probing but polite, and the couple's rehearsed answers are put to the test. The investigation is a catalyst for paranoia and recrimination, as each spouse wonders how much the other might reveal under pressure. The presence of the law is a constant reminder that their past is never truly buried, and that the line between safety and ruin is perilously thin.

The Past Never Sleeps

Old crimes, new dangers

A private investigator, hired by Wendy's late husband's family, arrives in town, threatening to unravel the couple's carefully constructed lives. Stan Benally's probing into the circumstances of Bryce's death and the unsolved murder of a young woman in Texas brings the past roaring back. Wendy and Thom are forced to confront not only the risk of legal consequences but also the emotional fallout of their actions. The past, it becomes clear, is never truly past—it is a living force, shaping their present and threatening their future.

The Georgetown Return

A pilgrimage to origins

Wendy arranges a trip to Georgetown, the site of her and Thom's first kiss and the symbolic beginning of their story. The journey is both nostalgic and ominous, a return to innocence that is now irretrievably lost. For Thom, the trip is a chance to rekindle hope; for Wendy, it is the setting for her final act. The city's landmarks, especially the Exorcist Steps, become charged with meaning, representing both the couple's shared history and the precipice on which their marriage now teeters.

Steps Toward the End

A final confrontation on sacred ground

At the top of the Exorcist Steps, Wendy and Thom confront the totality of their shared life—the love, the crimes, the betrayals. The steps, once a symbol of youthful adventure, now become the stage for the ultimate act of violence. Wendy, calm and resolved, pushes Thom, echoing her earlier failed attempt but this time succeeding. The act is both an ending and a liberation, the fulfillment of a long-held desire and the closing of a circle that began decades earlier.

The Perfect Accident

Death disguised as misfortune

Wendy's murder of Thom is staged as an accident, a drunken fall down the steps. She calls 911, her performance convincing, her emotions carefully managed. The authorities accept her story, and Thom's death is ruled accidental. Wendy is left alone, free at last from the man who was both her partner in crime and her greatest burden. Yet, the sense of finality is tinged with ambiguity—freedom comes at a cost, and the past remains a silent witness.

Inheritance and Guilt

Wealth, security, and the price of sin

The inheritance from Wendy's first husband, and later from Thom, provides material security but is inextricably linked to guilt and loss. Money, in this story, is both a motive and a curse, enabling comfort while exacting a psychological toll. Wendy's careful management of their finances is a way to exert control in a world defined by chaos and violence. The question of what has truly been gained—and what has been lost—haunts her, even as she contemplates a future unburdened by Thom.

The Private Investigator

Threats from the outside world

Stan Benally's investigation into Bryce's death and the Texas murder brings external pressure to bear on Wendy and Thom. His presence is a reminder that their secrets are never entirely safe, and that the world is full of people who might stumble upon the truth. Wendy's negotiation with Stan, including a bribe, is a testament to her resourcefulness and her willingness to do whatever it takes to protect herself. The encounter is a microcosm of the couple's entire existence: a dance of deception, risk, and survival.

Confessions and Cover-Ups

Truths half-told, lies maintained

Throughout their marriage, Wendy and Thom engage in a constant process of confession and concealment. They share some truths, hide others, and occasionally lie outright—to each other, to their son, to the world. Their relationship is a web of half-truths, shaped by the need to maintain appearances and the fear of exposure. The tension between honesty and secrecy is a source of both intimacy and alienation, binding them together even as it drives them apart.

The Child and the Abyss

Parenthood amid darkness

Jason, Wendy and Thom's son, is both a source of joy and a reminder of what is at stake. Their love for him is genuine, but it is complicated by the knowledge of what they have done. Parenthood is depicted as a fragile, precarious state, always threatened by the abyss of their past. The couple's efforts to protect Jason from the truth are both noble and futile—he is, inevitably, shaped by the shadows that haunt his parents.

Cycles of Betrayal

Infidelity, longing, and the search for meaning

Both Wendy and Thom engage in affairs and flirtations, seeking solace and excitement outside their marriage. These betrayals are less about sex than about the search for validation, escape, and a sense of possibility. The affairs are symptomatic of deeper discontent, a longing for a life untainted by guilt and routine. Yet, each betrayal only reinforces the couple's dependence on each other, their shared secret the one thing that cannot be escaped.

The Pact Fulfilled

The final act of liberation

Wendy's murder of Thom is the culmination of years of resentment, longing, and calculation. It is both an act of vengeance and a fulfillment of the pact that has defined their marriage. The act is executed with cold precision, and its aftermath is marked by a sense of relief as well as uncertainty. Wendy is free, but she is also alone, her identity forever shaped by the choices she has made.

The Door Closes

A new life, haunted by memory

In the aftermath of Thom's death, Wendy contemplates her future. She is unburdened by her husband, financially secure, and free to pursue her own desires. Yet, the past lingers, a closed room in her mind that can never be fully forgotten. The story ends not with triumph, but with a sense of ambiguity—freedom is real, but so is the cost of attaining it. Wendy's journey is both a cautionary tale and a meditation on the limits of redemption.

Characters

Wendy Eastman Graves

Haunted, calculating, fiercely independent

Wendy is the novel's central consciousness—a woman shaped by poverty, trauma, and a relentless drive for security. Her relationship with Thom is both passionate and toxic, defined by a shared crime and a sense of cosmic twindom. Wendy is resourceful, intelligent, and emotionally guarded, often compartmentalizing her feelings to survive. Her journey from accomplice to active murderer is marked by a growing sense of agency and a willingness to do whatever is necessary to protect herself and her son. She is both victim and perpetrator, her actions driven by a complex mix of love, resentment, and the desire for freedom. Wendy's psychological depth is revealed in her reflections on guilt, motherhood, and the meaning of happiness, making her a deeply human and morally ambiguous protagonist.

Thom Graves

Charming, self-loathing, burdened by guilt

Thom is Wendy's husband and partner in crime, a man whose life is defined by ambition, insecurity, and a longing for significance. He is intelligent and witty, but also self-destructive, prone to drinking and infidelity. Thom's role in the murder of Wendy's first husband is both a testament to his devotion and a source of enduring torment. He is haunted by the fear of punishment, both legal and existential, and his attempts to write a novel about their crime reflect his need to make sense of his actions. Thom's relationship with Wendy is marked by love, rivalry, and mutual suspicion, and his ultimate fate is a consequence of both his flaws and his inability to escape the past.

Jason Graves

Innocent, observant, symbol of hope

Jason is the son of Wendy and Thom, a bright and sensitive boy who represents both the best and the most vulnerable aspects of his parents. He is largely unaware of their crimes, but he senses the tension and darkness that pervade their lives. Jason's presence is a source of joy and purpose for Wendy, but also a reminder of what is at risk. His curiosity and intelligence make him a potential threat to his parents' secrets, and his coming of age is shadowed by the legacy of violence and deception that defines his family.

Alex Deighton

Arrogant, predatory, catalyst for murder

Alex is Thom's academic rival and the victim of Wendy's calculated violence. He is depicted as a loathsome figure—sexist, self-important, and oblivious to his own unpopularity. Alex's death is both a practical solution to a problem and a symbolic act of empowerment for Wendy. His presence in the story highlights the toxic dynamics of academia and the ways in which power and privilege can breed resentment and violence.

Emily/Annabel Majorino

Mysterious, idealizing, object of projection

Emily is a new administrative hire at the university, admired by both Wendy and Thom for her quiet beauty and apparent innocence. She becomes a focal point for their fantasies and insecurities, her admiration for Wendy's poetry serving as a mirror for Wendy's own longing for recognition. Emily's real name, Annabel, evokes Poe's poem and the theme of lost innocence. She is both a symbol of what the couple has lost and a reminder of the possibility of connection beyond guilt.

Stan Benally

Dogged, perceptive, outsider

Stan is the private investigator hired to look into the death of Wendy's first husband. His presence is a constant threat, forcing Wendy and Thom to confront the possibility of exposure. Stan is persistent and shrewd, but also susceptible to negotiation and bribery. He represents the world's capacity to intrude on the couple's carefully constructed reality, and his investigation is a catalyst for renewed paranoia and self-examination.

Marcia Lever

Loyal, pragmatic, academic anchor

Marcia is Thom's colleague and Wendy's old friend, a stabilizing presence in the chaotic world of the university. She is supportive but not uncritical, and her own ambitions and frustrations mirror those of the main characters. Marcia's role is to provide perspective and to highlight the ways in which ordinary life continues amid extraordinary events.

Rose Eastman

Resilient, pragmatic, survivor

Wendy's mother, Rose, is a figure of endurance and adaptability. Her own history of hardship and her ambiguous role in the death of Wendy's father suggest a legacy of survival at any cost. Rose's relationship with Wendy is complex, marked by love, disappointment, and a shared understanding of the necessity of hard choices.

Bryce Barrington

Entitled, abusive, original victim

Wendy's first husband, Bryce, is the catalyst for the novel's central crime. He is depicted as a spoiled, self-indulgent man whose death is both a liberation and a source of enduring guilt for Wendy and Thom. Bryce's legacy is the inheritance that enables Wendy's security, but also the curse that haunts her conscience.

Detective Michael Elo

Methodical, polite, persistent

Detective Elo is the investigator assigned to Alex Deighton's death. His approach is understated but effective, and his presence forces Wendy and Thom to maintain their composure and rehearse their lies. Elo represents the slow, inexorable pressure of the law, a reminder that justice, though imperfect, is always lurking at the edges of their lives.

Plot Devices

Nonlinear Chronology and Shifting Perspectives

Fragmented time, layered revelations, psychological depth

The novel employs a nonlinear structure, moving back and forth across decades to reveal the origins and consequences of Wendy and Thom's crimes. This fragmented chronology allows the reader to piece together the story gradually, mirroring the characters' own processes of memory, denial, and rationalization. The shifting perspectives—primarily between Wendy and Thom, but occasionally including other characters—provide insight into their inner lives and the ways in which their shared secret shapes their actions and relationships. The use of foreshadowing, especially in the form of recurring motifs (the Exorcist Steps, the quarry, the twin birthday), creates a sense of inevitability and doom, while also inviting the reader to question the reliability of the narrators and the morality of their choices.

Analysis

A meditation on guilt, complicity, and the cost of freedom

Kill Your Darlings is a darkly intimate exploration of marriage, crime, and the corrosive effects of shared secrets. At its core, the novel asks whether love can survive the weight of guilt, and whether freedom is possible when it is purchased at the expense of another's life. Wendy and Thom's relationship is both a grand romance and a cautionary tale, their complicity binding them together even as it destroys their capacity for trust and happiness. The story interrogates the nature of morality, the allure of transgression, and the ways in which ordinary people can become extraordinary in their capacity for both love and violence. In a modern context, the novel resonates as a critique of privilege, the emptiness of material success, and the psychological toll of living with unacknowledged trauma. Its lessons are both timeless and timely: that the past is never truly past, that the pursuit of happiness can lead to ruin, and that the doors we close behind us are never as soundproof as we hope.

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Review Summary

3.36 out of 5
Average of 5.3K ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Kill Your Darlings is a psychological thriller told in reverse chronological order, following the troubled marriage of Thom and Wendy Graves. While some readers appreciated the unique storytelling approach and character development, others found it slow-paced and lacking in shocking twists. The novel explores themes of secrets, guilt, and the decay of a relationship. Reviews were mixed, with praise for Swanson's writing style and cleverness, but criticism for the slow burn and predictability. The ending garnered both positive and negative reactions, with some finding it satisfying and others disappointed.

Your rating:
4.03
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About the Author

Peter Swanson is an acclaimed author of psychological thrillers, including The Kind Worth Killing and Eight Perfect Murders. His novels have received numerous accolades and have been translated into 30 languages. Swanson's work often explores dark themes and complex characters, earning him a reputation for crafting intricate plots and surprising twists. With a background in literature and creative writing, Swanson draws from various influences to create his suspenseful narratives. He resides in Somerville, Massachusetts, where he continues to write and contribute to literary publications. Swanson's ability to blend psychological depth with gripping storytelling has established him as a prominent figure in contemporary thriller fiction.

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