This fast-paced novel by Vera Kurian will hold your attention from beginning to end. Never Saw Me Coming falls clearly into the psychological thriller subcategory of the mystery genre, although it has aspects of the traditional mystery as well. Without committing any spoilers, I can tell you that it focuses on protagonist Chloe Sevre (s fictional character), who is a freshman at John Adams University (also fictional) in Washington DC (still real) and who happens to be a diagnosed psychopath (I guess that diagnosis is real) participating in a special program (this one is fictional) studying psychopaths. In return for wearing an Apple Watch that tracks her every move, filling out endless questionnaires at random times, and attending meetings, Chloe and the other six participants get full scholarships (surely fictional) at Adams.

That background, of course, doesn’t really tell you anything about the story. We get occasional glimpses of two of the four quadrants of the District (NW and NE), we meet friends and family members of various students, and we get to know Chloe. Unexpected murders occur — this is in part a whodunit, after all — and need to be solved.

I do want to quote a passage (from one Amazon review) about the program participants:

Andre…is not a psychopath. He faked his way into the study in exchange for the free tuition. Andre offers the reader the conscience and empathy we are lacking in the other perspectives, which added balance to the story. Chloe and Charles are the sort of characters who you shouldn’t like but you find yourself liking despite yourself. I guess that is the power of a psychopath, right? Manipulation!

I think I’ll stop there, in order to avoid giving anything away.

Categories: Books