Unfortunately I decided not to read this book, I mistakenly thought it was based in the UK and don't have a good grasp of US law and procedure

I began this novel feeling mildly dismayed; the opening chapters are bogged down by poorly executed description and some clunkily phrased sentences, reminiscent of 'middle of the road' student narrative. However, as the story progressed I began to believe in the relationship between affluent art gallery owner Kat and her mathematically inclined new ‘best friend’ Alice. The latter is rather worn down by the routines of domestic life, her young children and her husband’s economic profligacy, and her wealthy friend provides her with plenty of treats, economic backing and some escape from a humdrum existence through lengthy wine-fuelled lunches. However, slowly Alice begins to realise that there is a catch to all of this. Whilst Kat needs support over a loveless marriage that she refuses to end, she is also is selfish and very demanding.

When Kat’s alcoholic husband is found dead one morning whilst his wife is away in London, slowly but surely Alice becomes implicated in his death, so much so that, at one point, she is arrested and charged with his murder. Out on bail, she begins to piece together why she is a suspect and why her best friend no longer wants anything to do with her. So far, a reasonably entertaining read. However, the last few chapters in which we are given the big reveal really do let this novel down. It is not difficult to work out what has happened but it is completely impossible to believe the situation, and the linked events which have taken place years earlier, because the character at the centre of them has shown precious little moral ambiguity towards anything throughout the novel. To say more would be to give away the plot. Together with the lesser problem of cardboard cut-out ‘alternative mother’, indulgent father, ‘aggressive policewoman’ depictions, this makes ‘Best Friends Forever’ a very unsatisfactory read.

Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into this book. The first few pages really grabbed me but the back story of Kat & Alice's friendship really slowed the pace down for me. Furthermore, I just didn't really like any of the characters in this book.

This story was suspenseful and well written with a good plot twist towards the end which I had started to figure out a little ways before.
Alice is a likeable character, if not a bit sedate but I really liked Kat, at first anyway.
The plot moved at a decent pace, holding my interest for most of the time, and the suspense and betrayal kept me wondering.
Although a bit far fetched, the ending was great and I will read more from this author.

Great novel, I can't wait for more by this author! It was so thrilling!

Best Friends Forever by Margot Hunt is another thriller that I can easily say grabbed me from the opening pages and just wouldn’t let go. Dropping into Alice’s life we know she is a busy wife and mother who never expected to find the police on her doorstep but that is just what happened to her one morning as she was making breakfast before getting her children off to school.

Alice’s friend’s husband had died recently from what she thought was a tragic accident so why are the police wanting to question her?? But as Alice goes through the interview she learns that the police think that Kat’s husband may have been pushed instead of falling to his death and the police may even be looking her way. A frantic Alice wants nothing more than her best friend but Kat hasn’t been in contact so she begins to wonder just how well did she really know her friend anyway?

Starting this book I found myself loving every minute as I found out more about Alice and her relationship with Kat. The relationship is one that you can think of the old saying of being like an onion with it’s many layers for the readers to slowly peel back as the pages turn. You just know with every chapter that goes by that there is going to be twists and turns coming and can’t wait until they do.

I really really wanted to give the book a full five stars because it did keep me on the edge of my seat while I flew through reading it in only a few hours time. But when getting deeper into this story it really began to remind me of a television show from a few years back. The story is extremely similar and I definitely enjoyed that plot too so it’s no wonder I was hooked on this one. With the differences between the two though I still felt this a great read and worth at least the four stars and would definitely recommend checking it out.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this thriller. I read a lot and often I can figure out the direction that the story is taking--not this time! Highly recommended for grip lit fans.

What a stunning debut for Margot Hunt. This book engrossed me with its complex characters in such a fast paced riveting story. I found the friendship between Alice & Kat to be both toxic and engaging on so many levels, it was twisted till the end. This book captivated me with its characters despite the overall plot being typical. I appreciated the richness of the writing, it was an easy to follow fast paced read that kept me engaged. I received a free e-copy of the book via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Mira.

What a great read! I finished this in one sitting - just couldn't stop reading. Nicely paced and great characters! I absolutely didn't see the twist at the end coming and what a twist it is! I am so thrilled to have read this. A totally satisfying thriller! Well done!!!

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the advanced digital copy!!!

More of a 4.5, but I'm rounding up.

I did not see this one coming. I devoured it quickly; it's well written and flows well. It reads like a movie, I was casting the people in my head as I read the book. (Jennifer Aniston would make a perfect Kat, and Jennifer Lawrence or Emma Stone a decent Alice). The only negative is the use of flashback, and perhaps it will be a little smoother when the book is published, but occasionally I found it difficult to keep track of what was present and what was past.

If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, pick this one up, you'll be glad you did!

Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this one ahead of publication!

Amazing, Captive and mind blowing twist ! I couldn’t stop reading, I would be reading page after page until I could no longer keep my eyes open! I thought for sure I knew what happened but a truly amazing work never gives away its secrets until the very end ! Best fri nds forever is the pe fest name for this twisted novel, and I say twisted in the best way possible ! Anyone who enjoys a true murder mystery where nothing is at it seems, this is the book for you !!!

4.5 - I really enjoyed this book. The author’s detail and descriptions of the characters really made them stand out to me and kept me eager to know more. I did have a feeling what the ending was going to be, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the read. There was an extra twist or two at the end that I didn’t quite see coming. I look forward to reading another book by this author in the future.

A totally engrossing book - well written, captivating and original. This is a story of friendship, betrayal and of human nature. I loved this, especially the ending - this may be my new favorite author of 2017.

You will have a serious case of FOMO if you don't get your hands on this one!

Best Friends Forever starts off with a bang and will have you in its grips until the very end. While Alice is up early making breakfast for her family, she is surprised to discover two police officers at her front door, wanting to question her over her best friend Kat's alcoholic, abusive, womanising, disgrace of a husband's suicide, now being considered a murder.

Kat and Alice couldn't be more different as far as their backgrounds go...Kat born into a life of extreme wealth, owning her own art gallery, while Alice is a former logician and stay at home mom, struggling to make ends meet. With a chance meeting at an airport, they strike up an unlikely friendship, hitting it off from the get go.

Told from Alice's point of view, the book starts off at the present time with alternating chapters over the course of the past three years as we see their friendship grow into one in which they share more with each other than their own spouses.

But do they TRULY know each other???

Alice begins to ask this question when Kat cuts off all communication with Alice, ghosting her after being questioned by the police. Why would Kat do that when she should be in need of her best friend the most at this difficult time? Why has Alice been shunned by Kat's influential family, insisting Alice stay away from Kat? And why are the police looking directly at Alice as part of their investigation for the murder? Alice's life soon becomes a nightmare as a result of the snowballing turmoil set in motion by Howard's death. She will have to use her wit and her skills as a logician if she ever wants to get out of the rabbit hell hole she finds herself in, as with her name sake. I just couldn't put this book down, eager to discover how this one would come to an end. I wasn't disappointed!

With a sharp, clever conclusion, this talented author certainly outwitted me with an ending that, for the life of me, I didn't see coming. I just love when that happens!!! Looking back, the bread crumbs of clues were all there, strategically placed, coming together brilliantly, with all the loose ends tied into a beautiful bow, just the way I like it.

This one ticked all the boxes: intelligent, fast paced, colourful characters, thoroughly engaging with a spellbinding storyline...a guarantee for an entertaining ride!

Needless to say I was surprised and impressed to discover this was the debut novel in this genre for the author, it certainly had me well satiated and I look forward to reading more by the skilled Margot Hunt.

Many thanks to Netgalley, HQ Digital and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

What a fast paced thriller, especially for a debut novel. I literally could not put this down. Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher

I'm afraid I didn't really enjoy this book and I felt the ending, where we find out that the narrator is the killer, left me annoyed, because that was so not in keeping with the rest of the story. There were no clues that this would be the outcome, except for a throw away comment from Alice's mother right near the end. Surely if she was a sociopath, she wouldn't be susceptible to manipulation? I didn't think the author got the mindset of Alice quite right. I also felt the detective, Oliver, was totally unbelievable in the way she behaved - way over the top and I can't see why she'd be quite so angry with Alice from the get-go. The writing was quite lumpy, with great long bits of dialogue, and masses of unecessary description. Not for me I'm afraid.

Best Friends Forever is a good thriller based around Alice and Kat who meet in an airport and soon become best friends,soon they are meeting up on a regular basis to share their woes and marriage secrets like Howard,Kats husband who is a drunken bully.But when he is found face down dead having fallen from his balcony things start to take a turn for the worst for Alice when the police arrive at her door and Kat has basically cut herself off from Alice and won't return any calls or texts.The book is an excellent read told in the present and the past and it has you wondering just how much of a best friend Kat really is ! The ending when it came was a complete surprise to me and an excellent end to an good solid 4 star read.

Alice Campbell and her husband Todd have moved to the well to do section of north Palm Beach county in Florida. Todd is an architect and has found a position in the area. Alice was a professor of logic at the university level forced to give up her job in the move to Florida. Unable to connect to another teaching job Alice spends time going around the area to various functions trying to develop a social life. She meets Katherine (Kat) Grant and the two women quickly form a strong friendship meeting for lunches and get togethers. Kat is the daughter of a very wealthy family and every bit the socialite with Alice a woman involved with her husband in the suburban routine of trying to make ends meet. Kat is quick to invite Alice to lunches and even short getaways indicating that she is doing this because she enjoys the rapport she has with her and has enough money to do so.

Kat confides to Alice that her marriage to Howard, a financier is a horror. Howard is a drunk, a bully, a philanderer and proves himself a wife beater. Than while Kat is away on a trip to England Howard falls to his death from the second floor of their mansion. Looks like a freak accident, but the police, out of the blue, arrest Alice on a murder charge. Was the fall a murder? Wouldn't Kat be a more logical suspect if it were? The relationship between Alice and Kat becomes distant with doubts about what is going on.
Ms Hunt expertly takes the story to an ending that is logical but not readily forseen and gives us a novel that is memorizing as well skillfully keeping the reader guessing and glued to the book.

Wowza! That ending was amazing and not what I was expecting. I loved this book from beginning to end and never wanted to put it down. The pacing was great and the plot line was solid throughout the entire book.

This was Margot Hunt's DEBUT novel!??! Are you kidding me?! I can't want to see what other books ideas she has up her sleeve! -- I just learned that Margot Hunt is actually Whitney Gaskell, an established chick lit author that wrote this wonderful Thriller. Either way, I am in love with this book.

We follow two unlikely friendship of two women in a single narrative, dual timeline story. The transition between timelines was seamless. The past is revealed to you just enough to make you wonder.

I had theories going throughout the book but... I was wrong. That does not happen very often. I don't want to share much more about the storyline because it is always best to know very little when reading a Thriller.

I HIGHLY recommend reading this book! It gets ALL the stars!!!!!

Gripping Thriller set in Florida

A thriller with lots of twists and turns, centring on the friendship of two women.

Alice meets Kat at an airport, discovers they live close to each other and a friendship develops. Alice has financial problems, Kat has husband problems, and they become close as they confide their concerns to each other. Then Kat's husband unexpected dies, and the police arrive at Alice's door.

The novel has a somewhat slow start as the women's friendship develops, but after the death of Kat's husband this suddenly turns into a riveting read. The story is told by Alice, and moves between the present and 3 years ago when they met. I was gripped by what would happen next, surprised by the twists, and completely involved in the story.

A 4* rating from me as the first third was a slow start - though in retrospect I can see that it added to the story as a whole. Towards the end there was a part that I found somewhat unbelievable, but that's probably a personal thing. Apart from that, after I'd completed the first 1/3rd of the book I was freeing up time to get back to reading.

I read an Advanced Reader's Copy, so this review is written on the assumption that the final version will have had some editing issues resolved.