Short-changed by its gimmick, told in reverse, Kill Your Darlings counts down by year events of a secret-filled marriage from its end to beginning. While the atypical structure immediately stands out among other titles in the genre, in execution, I don't think presenting a mystery thriller in such a restrictive manner actually enhance the experience, and wish it has gone for an already proven method (such as a dual-timeline or flashback) — because its plot and characters are very solid.

Due to its narrative choice, we are constantly learning the 'effect' before the 'cause'; not only is it unnecessarily taxing mentally (my brain has difficulty reverse-engineer what I read to make it right way around), it also inadvertently lessens many of the potential shocks and stakes (we are made aware of character deaths and their ripple effect — is the 'how' all that intriguing to learn at this point?). I think Peter Swanson also realized the obstacle of this storytelling choice, so he introduced small, self-contained twists and turns within each 'year' section (chapters within these sections are still in chronological order), but this only further demonstrates the absence of meaningful impact these filler moments have towards the story at large.

I actually thoroughly enjoyed the theme explored (how lasting guilt transforms an individual) in Kill Your Darlings, and there are some punchy character moments throughout that are signature Peter Swanson, but the unusual storytelling choice is an unavoidable obstacle, all in the name of hiding the punchline in its last chapter (I've seen some readers finding the reveal shocking, I thought it was pretty ho-hum). Probably a fun writing experiment for the author, but as a reading experience I expect more.

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**