Already optioned for film, The Girl with a Clock for a Heart is Peter Swanson’s electrifying tale of romantic noir, with shades of Hitchcock and reminiscent of the classic movie Body Heat. It is the story of a man swept into a vortex of irresistible passion and murder when an old love mysteriously reappears.
On an ordinary Friday evening at his favorite Boston tavern, George Foss’s comfortable, predictable life is shattered when a beautiful woman sits down at the bar, a woman who vanished without a trace twenty years ago.
Liana Dector isn’t just an ex-girlfriend, the first love George couldn’t quite forget. She’s also a dangerous enigma and quite possibly a cold-blooded killer wanted by the police. Suddenly, she’s back—and she needs George’s help. Ruthless men believe she stole some money . . . and they will do whatever it takes to get it back.
George knows Liana is trouble. But he can’t say no—he never could—so he makes a choice that will plunge him into a terrifying whirlpool of lies, secrets, betrayal, and murder from which there is no sure escape.
Bold and masterful, full of malicious foreboding and subtle surprises, The Girl with a Clock for a Heart is an addictive, nonstop thriller—an ever-tightening coil of suspense that grips you right up to its electrifying end.
On an ordinary Friday evening at his favorite Boston tavern, George Foss’s comfortable, predictable life is shattered when a beautiful woman sits down at the bar, a woman who vanished without a trace twenty years ago.
Liana Dector isn’t just an ex-girlfriend, the first love George couldn’t quite forget. She’s also a dangerous enigma and quite possibly a cold-blooded killer wanted by the police. Suddenly, she’s back—and she needs George’s help. Ruthless men believe she stole some money . . . and they will do whatever it takes to get it back.
George knows Liana is trouble. But he can’t say no—he never could—so he makes a choice that will plunge him into a terrifying whirlpool of lies, secrets, betrayal, and murder from which there is no sure escape.
Bold and masterful, full of malicious foreboding and subtle surprises, The Girl with a Clock for a Heart is an addictive, nonstop thriller—an ever-tightening coil of suspense that grips you right up to its electrifying end.
When you first read the summary of the book, you don't really know what to expect since even though it is a psychological thriller, it doesn't sound like a lot might go on. Girl coming back to guy's life, he helping her out, some crazy stuff is involved. & that's it, right? SO, SO VERY WRONG!!!
First of all. You have one very psycho woman, Liana. You don't really see her as a crazy B(word) at first since she is a woman that every man dreams about. But with the book continuing on, you start to see that the sweet and very charming girl is actually a criminal who's main power is her innocence.
Then there's George Foss. Really sweet guy, pretty mellow. But really stupid with absolutely no back bone. I mean seriously? Don't go after the crazy chick who made your past hell to give money to her ex even after you get beat up by a thug. Oh poor sweet George. Nice guys always finish last, am I right?
Final thought? I actually really enjoyed it. And that's the thing about psychological thrillers is that you can't really prepare yourself for what happens in the book and think Swanson did an incredible job with this one.
First of all. You have one very psycho woman, Liana. You don't really see her as a crazy B(word) at first since she is a woman that every man dreams about. But with the book continuing on, you start to see that the sweet and very charming girl is actually a criminal who's main power is her innocence.
Then there's George Foss. Really sweet guy, pretty mellow. But really stupid with absolutely no back bone. I mean seriously? Don't go after the crazy chick who made your past hell to give money to her ex even after you get beat up by a thug. Oh poor sweet George. Nice guys always finish last, am I right?
Final thought? I actually really enjoyed it. And that's the thing about psychological thrillers is that you can't really prepare yourself for what happens in the book and think Swanson did an incredible job with this one.
About Peter Swanson
Peter Swanson’s stories and poems have appeared in The Atlantic, Measure, Mysterical-E, Soundings East, The Vocabula Review, and Yankee Magazine. He has degrees in Creative Writing, Education, and Literature from Trinity College, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Emerson College. He lives with his wife and cat in Somerville, Massachusetts. This is his first novel. His second novel, The Kind Worth Killing, will be available in hardcover from William Morrow on February 3, 2015.
