Publishers Weekly
★ 08/07/2023
Sweren-Becker (The Ones) tackles America’s obsession with true crime in this searing whodunit. Written in the form of interviews with family, friends, neighbors, police, and the film crew that arrives in Frederick, Md., after 16-year-old violin prodigy Sara Parcell vanishes, the novel is presented as a straightforward work of true crime. After a viral video brings a spike of national attention to Sara’s disappearance, her parents agree to let a Hollywood production company film a reality show about the case—her dad says yes for the money, while her mom hopes that a wide audience will lead to Sara’s safe return. When Searching for Sara becomes an overnight hit, it causes a chain reaction of unintended consequences: detectives start reluctantly taking their cues from the show, an innocent man receives death threats after producers insinuate he might be a suspect, residents of Frederick have their own secrets unwittingly exposed, and two more murders occur. But nothing is as it seems in this wily mystery, and Sweren-Becker delivers a double twist that will leave readers shocked. His sharp plotting and expert understanding of true crime tropes elevate the proceedings from clever gimmick to slam-dunk. The latest in a long line of contemporary thrillers interrogating the public fascination with private tragedy, this scorching indictment stands out. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
A truly modern morality play, in a unique and compelling style, that reflects on the uncomfortable connections between greed, ambition, and violence. Kill Show takes a sleepy, suburban town and turns it into a true-crime battlefield as events careen out of control. Smart, twisty, satisfying.” — Andrew Gross, New York Times bestselling author
“Daniel Sweren-Becker’s Kill Show is both an entertaining mystery and a bracing examination of how true crime has warped real-life investigations. It’s also a provocative reminder of how people behave differently, and often disastrously, when they’re in the spotlight.” — Sarah Lyall, The New York Times Book Review
"Riveting, original, and chillingly plausible, Kill Show is both an urgent reckoning with the ethics of true crime and a tense, twisty mystery in its own right. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough." — Flynn Berry, Edgar Award-Winning Author of Northern Spy
“Sweren-Becker tackles America’s obsession with true crime in this searing whodunit . . . . Nothing is as it seems in this wily mystery, and Sweren-Becker delivers a double twist that will leave readers shocked. His sharp plotting and expert understanding of true crime tropes elevate the proceedings from clever gimmick to slam-dunk. The latest in a long line of contemporary thrillers interrogating the public fascination with private tragedy, this scorching indictment stands out.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A fun, clever twist on our obsession with true crime. I loved it." — The Observer (London)
"With a unique and compelling narrative style, Kill Show is both a mystery and a reckoning of the 'siren song of true crime' that has us hooked like junkies craving our next fix. But at what cost? Absolutely unputdownable." — Amazon Best of the Month Pick
"Sweren-Becker succeeds in telling the story entirely through interviews, slowly revealing the truth about Sara’s disappearance. This is a fun, clever twist on our obsession with true crime. I loved it." — The Guardian (UK)
“Gripping. . . . Sweren-Becker has crafted a clever, fast-paced, utterly absorbing tale that feeds into audiences' fascination with true crime even as it explores the complex ramifications.” — Booklist (starred review)
“A swift, twisty read. Sweren-Becker’s tight plot and expert tension building makes for a searing tale that raises questions about public obsession and intervention without being too on the nose.” — Seattle Times
"Sweren-Becker crafts a compelling, character-driven crime novel. This intricate story of exploitation and duplicity is both engrossing and disturbing." — Library Journal
"Kill Show's major plot mysteries are unguessable till the end and overshadowed by its conscientious characterisation. A lot of writers think they have something insightful to say about our toxic and exhilarating relationship with crime media. Sweren-Becker actually does." — Reviewing the Evidence
"Gripping . . . . So smartly written you will be sucked in . . . . There are so many twists it will leave you gasping." — The Montecito Journal
"The story of a missing girl that doubles as a critique of the burgeoning multimedia industry around true crime, Kill Show’s unexpected, genre-hopping premise is unlike any other thriller." — Paste Magazine
"In this ambitious, genre-bending little miracle of a novel, Daniel Sweren-Becker muses on the complex machinations lurking behind the rise in popularity of the true-crime genre and its exploitation from television producers—an issue raising timely moral questions and dilemmas . . . . Sweren-Becker’s take on the subject provides an explanation for the phenomenon while at the same time crafting a riveting story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. It is a rare book, combining cultural criticism and genuine entertainment." — The Big Thrill
FEBRUARY 2024 - AudioFile
An ensemble of wildly talented narrators elevates this fictional true- crime case told through first-person interviews. The narrators infuse a generous amount of personality and empathy into their portrayals of the community, media, and family involved in the tragic case of missing teenager Sara Parcell. Robert Fass's weary voice portrays Dave, Sara's downtrodden father, as he recollects the case from prison. Fass's narration is made to sound like a telephone call, a device that creates a more immersive experience for listeners. Melissa Redmond's assertive performance embodies a gusty TV producer who turns the case into a media spectacle--to the dismay of Detective Caldron, whose no-nonsense attitude is evoked by Pun Bandhu in a gruff voice. A compelling audio with a winning combination of narrators. J.E.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2023-07-13
Two dozen people reflect on a decade-old tragedy, documentary style.
A Maryland suburb’s sense of security is shattered when 16-year-old Sara Parcell takes the bus to school one morning but fails to report for class. The principal’s office calls her parents, Dave and Jeannette, who can’t reach Sara by phone or text. Her friends haven’t seen or heard from her since before the first bell, so when Sara still isn’t home come nightfall, Dave summons the police. Det. Felix Calderon starts interviewing Sara’s peers, but the investigation doesn’t gather much steam until her younger brother, Jack, surreptitiously records his mom and dad consoling each other and uploads the video to YouTube. When Jack’s post goes viral, ambitious reality TV producer Casey Hawthorne sells her boss on Searching for Sara, a show chronicling real-time efforts to find the teen. Dave and Jeannette sign on; the more folks looking for their daughter, the better, and they could use the hefty per-episode payout Casey promises. That decision has avalanching consequences, however, which in turn sets up Sweren-Becker’s premise: Ten years after the fact, 26 in-the-know individuals have given interviews that an editor transcribed and intercut to create a comprehensive oral history of what actually happened—i.e., this book. Frequent foreshadowing fosters tension and drive, while keenly rendered characters with distinct voices and unique perspectives add dimension and verisimilitude. What begins as an affecting slow burn regrettably falters thanks to a rushed, convoluted denouement, but on balance, Sweren-Becker delivers a riveting work of fiction that doubles as scathing social commentary about America’s true-crime obsession.
A far-fetched mystery with an ingenious narrative conceit.
