Kill Show - Daniel Sweren-Becker

Daniel Sweren-Becker's new book is Kill Show: A True Crime Novel.

Now, here's the thing...Kill Show is a work of fiction. But, what do the title and cover remind you of? Crime podcasts, crime books? How about true crime shows on your favorite streaming service? Uh huh, me too.

Sweren-Becker has employed one of my favorite styles of storytelling in Kill Show - a modern epistolary form. Television episodes, diary entries, texts, message boards, conversations, interviews and more. 

"This is the testimony of twenty-six people who played a role in the events surrounding Sara's disappearance." 

I was absolutely hooked by this sentence and couldn't wait to see for myself! My only worry was if I could keep track of twenty six players. No worries, as the character speaking is identified every time. Having so many players opens up many avenues, views, actions, interactions, truths and lies. As readers, it's so much fun to try and ferret out the truth and find Sara. Sweren-Becker does not make it easy for us - there are some crazy twists and turns! Foreshadowing is dropped at the end of more than one chapter to great effect.

So - fantastic story telling, a wide panorama of characters, an addicting format, and a crime to be solved. But, Sweren-Beckers also asks the reader another question. What is our fascination with true crime? Are shows such as this helpful? Or hurtful? Can you believe what you see? "Is this entertainment or exploitation"?

Kill Show is an easy five star read for me. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Kill Show.