Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Owen and Luna. It was always Owen and Luna. They were not a "couple", at least not romantically, but they were the most important person in each other's lives, ALWAYS.

When Owen first spotted Luna, he was intrigued, and made it his mission to get to know her. But Luna was not like other girls, she didn't crave attention and she had a deep, dark secret that she would tell no one. Because her brother, who she had depended on to protect her, had used her and betrayed her and she could never forgive that. So she didn't trust anyone, made it point not to depend on anyone, ever again. But Owen couldn't accept not being accepted and kept at it until he at least partially gained her trust and they became best friends.

But when Owen's girlfriend goes missing and is found dead, all bets are off. Was Owen involved? Was Luna involved? What happened? Most of the suspicion falls on Owen and he drops out of college and goes to Paris to find a new life and forget. Luna continues with school, although most of her friends also desert her. But she finishes college and gets a job and when Owen returns, they link up again, eventually living with their spouses only within a few blocks of each other.

Then Owen's wife is murdered and everything starts again.

Luna and Owen - the best friends that that are inseparable and have dead bodies showing up around them!
This was a solid read and my first time reading anything by Lisa Lutz.
I enjoyed the flashbacks to earlier times in the friendship as it really helped explain the dynamics surrounding the current events. Sometimes the hopping around made my head spin, but I caught up quickly each time.
Loved this book, great quick mystery read with lots of great character development.
Thankful for the ARC!

I am so excited for this new series by Rebecca Zanetti and this seems to be a new genre for her. It is a strong murder mystery with a hint of romance, and I just loved it. It had me guessing throughout the book as to who the murderer was, but I didn’t figure it out until right before the reveal. I always know Ms.Zanetti will write strong characters and Laurel was certainly that. She is an FBI agent temporarily assigned to her hometown in Washington State because bodies have been found and there are thoughts of a serial killer. Huck is a Fish and Wildlife agent and they are working together to solve these killings. Lots of great secondary characters and I cannot wait for the next book! Fabulous read!

Thank you to the publishers at Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for this e-ARC of The Accomplice.

The Accomplice is a story told in past and present viewpoints featuring best friends, Owen and Luna. We see how these two meet and how their lives get hopelessly tangled up in secrets, murders, familial problems, and more over the course of 17 years.

While attending Markham University, Luna and Owen meet and become friends under strange circumstances. Eventually, they become inseparable, and are often accused of being more than friends, which they always vehemently deny. Luna is holding onto a dark past, and Owen has his own secrets that he’d rather keep under wraps. But as the two become closer, their secrets will all spill out, and loyalty and trust between the two will be questioned.

I really enjoyed this fast paced thriller with a dual timeline. I found myself equally interested in both the past and the present versions of Luna and Owen, and I appreciated the 3rd party narration of all the characters. I haven’t seen that very often lately in novels. While the ending wasn’t that thrilling, I appreciated the overall wrap up. I definitely recommend this one if you enjoy character development with a murderous twist.

The Accomplice is available now wherever books are sold!

The Accomplice by Lisa Lutz is a mystery thriller about best friends Luna and Owen. People have always wondered why the two of them are such close friends and why they weren't ever a couple. Back in college, Owen was the main suspect in an unexplained death, and now Luna has found Owen's wife dead. Obviously, Owen is the main suspect once again. Sorry, but I did not enjoy this book at all; I just found Owen and Luna to be terrible, annoying people. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

I've been a long time fan of Lutz's work since the very first Spellman series book. I think The Accomplice manages to get Lutz's signature sarcastic and somewhat detached tone perfect, more so than her last couple standalone books. Ultimately, the pieces of a puzzle fit fairly well together, although there's a surprise the reader couldn't quite predict.

Good, bad or ugly this book was a picture of dysfunctional weirdness! Make no mistake, it was a compelling page-turner, but again WEIRD!

If only all of them, starting with Luna, had been honest. However, I’ll give her a break she was a kid when she lied for her brother the serial killer, but all of the other lies piled upon lies. I’m not certain any of them could be trusted from Owen, Irene, Sam et al.

Top it all off with the weirdness that was Belinda, Luna’s ferret- loving mother. If I’d showed up at her door when she had two of them clinging to her sweater as Griff did on Christmas Eve, I wouldn’t have ventured inside to be treated to a roomful of ferret weirdness.

Putting aside this red herring, I was looking for Irene’s killer in all the obvious places and persons. All the wrong places. Spoiler Alert:
Track it back to her brother.

Thank you Net Galley for an abundance of oddities. Enjoyed the trip.

This was a good puzzler, moving back and forth from Owen’s & Luna’s college years to their adult lives. I was hooked on figuring out what happened in both times, and the secrets revealed kept me hooked. The ending did fall a little flat for me though.

All. The. Stars! I loved every word on every page of this book, I cannot wait till Lutz writes something else. In fact I hope she continues with these characters because I am going to miss “whatever those two are, it’s not normal” Luna and Owen, and Casey, I hope Mason can find a hobby to replace smoking pot. Griff, you’re my favorite, don’t tell the other fictional characters!

So in this story darkness follows Luna and all those who love her. But Lutz takes the reader on a merry chase till your head is spinning and EVERYONE is guilty. But you haven’t figured anything out until the author is ready to reveal, simply genuis writing!

Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, and Lisa Lutz for this eARC. It was my great pleasure to review this book.

The Accomplice by Lisa Lutz follows a pair of friends, Luna and Owen, who met in college and have formed an inseparable friendship ever since. Now, Luna and Owen are married to their partners Irene and Sam. However, Luna finds Irene dead after she confides to Luna that she believes Owen is cheating on her. Irene's death spurs an investigation that brings back memories and secrets that have been buried since college that will come to a head. Can Luna and Owen trust each other or is one of them hiding something sinister?

Wow, when I saw this synopsis I was intrigued! Luna and Owen are compelling characters and their friendship is even more intriguing. I loved watching their dynamic and it was just as confusing to me as the other characters. It was also interesting to see how their partners also fit into their friendship, which also led to more suspicion.

The atmosphere was eerie and I was tense for so much of the book trying to make sense of the relationships between the characters and their history. The plot was a slow burn, slowly building the tension until secrets were revealed one by one. The writing was easy to read, but I appreciated how the writing had little bits that came up later.

Overall, this is a compelling book that hooked me right away that I definitely recomend!

Many thanks to the publisher Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Lisa Lutz is one of crime fiction’s most unpredictable practitioners. Opening a new Lisa Lutz novel is like taking a step into the dark unknown, aware that potential danger lurks around every turn as the storyline coils its labyrinthine path to unexpected places. This week, Lisa Lutz releases yet another spellbinding standalone – The Accomplice.

The Accomplice is the story of two friends – Owen and Luna – who meet in college and quickly become inseparable. Their bond is uniquely strong, able to survive years of evolution with nary a scratch to show for the strain. Never straying into romantic or sexual territory, Owen and Luna are nevertheless rarely apart – even once they begin to have lives of their own. This loyalty of friendship is what will first pull readers into their story. Why do they have this undeniable connection?

But this is a crime novel, so Lisa Lutz also provides not one, but two, mysterious deaths to keep readers invested. The first mysterious death occurs while Owen and Luna are in college. The narrative slowly builds to this death as readers are introduced to Owen and Luna and watch how their connection develops. It is often said that platonic male/female friendships are rare, but in this novel readers witness how circumstances and chemistry can combine to create bonds that are indestructible.

The second timeline occurs after Owen and Luna have married other people – developments that do not alter their friendship in the slightest. When Owen’s wife is found brutally murdered, the police investigation threatens to expose all the secrets of this unusual bond – some of which, Owen and Luna haven’t even shared with each other.

Readers would have reason to worry in lesser hands, but with Lisa Lutz they can proceed, confident that this is an author who is so fully in control of her craft that the risk of disappointment is minimal. The Accomplice is not an action-packed thriller, nor does it have incredible twists that readers would never expect. Everything in this novel blossoms directly from the friendship of Owen and Luna. Lisa Lutz has created two characters that could not really be more different and yet, every interaction on the page is believable and compelling. Just as Owen and Luna are forever bonded within the narrative, readers will find that they are intrigued by both of these characters equally and that thinking of them as separate entities becomes virtually impossible.

Pacing within a fictional work is challenging to nail, but in The Accomplice, Lisa Lutz makes it look like child’s play. She never rushes the developments that are so important to the story arc, but she manages to also never let the reader’s interest wane. What we end up with is two deep character studies surrounded by two captivating mystery plots that are chock full of other interesting and fully-developed side characters. The resolution is realistic and satisfying without the need for cheesy gimmicks or unnecessary twists. Lisa Lutz is an author asserting confidence in the story she has created, not allowing the literary marketplace to dictate her path, and that will surely bring a legion of new fans to this phenomenal author.

*3.5 stars rounded up.

A mystery novel which explores how well even the closest of friends can really know each other. Luna and Owen met in college and remained close friends into adulthood. Owen was suspected of murdering his 'girlfriend' in college and now he's under suspicion for the murder of his wife. Bouncing back and forth between the two timelines, we see the explosive power of secrets on lives.

Did I like any of these characters--Owen, Luna or their friends? No, not really, but I thought the story was intriguing and well written. My only quibble: what is the author's fixation on vomiting? Dare I say 'ad nauseam?' (Sorry!) That seemed to be the main reaction for people in most every situation, sometimes in gross detail. Here's one example: "John Brown reminisced about a trip to the county fair where he'd let Luna eat three voluminous clouds of cotton candy. Then he held her hair while she puked pink until her guts were empty. 'Prettiest vomit I ever saw.'" Ugh!

I received an arc of this new mystery from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.

I couldn't put this down. What secrets were they hiding? What really happened to Owen's wife? I had to know. I had to find out. Make sure you have plenty of time because it's al;most impossible to put down. Lisa Lutz writes one heck of a story. Find out for yourself.. Happy reading!

When Luna and Owen met in college a strong bond formed and they became best friends. Friends that could communicate without words, through just a look or through a nod. So different, yet so perfectly matched. When tragedy strikes and a young women is found dead, Owen instantly becomes a suspect. Years later, the pair are just as close as ever, both married and living just houses away from each other. When Owen’s wife, Irene is found murdered, once again Owen is a prime suspect. As the story progresses things that were previously unknown come to light. Luna has a secret she has kept quiet, but Owen has a few of his own. Is there a chance Owen isn’t as innocent as he claims to be? Is their bond as indestructible as everyone once thought? Lutz weaves together past and present seamlessly making this a very good read from start to finish.

When I saw this book was on the list of most anticipated reads of 2022, I had to request it. I was so excited when I was approved! Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Owen and Luna. Luna and Owen. These two best friends form an inseparable bond in college. Some would say it's not normal. And one would think they were romantically involved, but that's not the case. After college, they both get married (not to each other) and live nearby each other. Their friendship is still going strong. Luna is even friends with Owen's wife. What is keeping their friendship so strong?

I thought Owen and Luna were such unique characters. They weren't predictable at all. They're both secretive and I devoured this book trying to figure out why they were acting so strange. I had no idea how this one was going to play out. I loved it!

I highly recommend this thriller/crime fiction by Lisa Lutz. The chapters switch from different perspectives, which I really enjoyed. A definite page-turner, hard to put down, and gave me chills at certain points.

I will post my review on instagram @thrillersandcoffee

I really liked this book! It's one of the best books I've read in a while. I wasn't sure who was guilty or exactly what the story was until the very end.

I liked how the book went back and forth between their college years and current times. The characters are really interesting and I had a hard time putting this book down.

I'm a fan of Lisa Lutz and would definitely recommend this book. It is a good mystery without being gory or scary.

Everyone needs a lifelong friend like Owen or Luna, or do they? This read left me guessing, and guessing and guessing until the resolution at the end. Constantly platonic friends since college, Owen and Luna remain friends in spite of a tragedy that temporarily divides them but somehow makes their bond inseparable.
So many characters introduced with the differing timelines and points of view had me scrambling to figure this one out early on but then, once I got used to Lutz’s style, hooked me in. I found myself not really caring about any of the characters other than Griff. I did develop sympathy for Luna Brown, especially once I heard her story but still found her unlikable. So many secrets that if shared would have made such a difference in each other’s lives.
I will never understand having ferrets as pets but most enjoyed reading about the Christmas visit. They both had very different families and I found myself cringing as I was reading the sections sharing their home visits.
Many thanks to Lisa Lutz, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of this 3 1/2 star book to be published on January 25th

This mystery/suspense novel is about Luna and Owen, who have always been super close friends but never a couple. It alternates between when they were in college, and nearly 20 years later when Owen’s wife/Lina’s close friend is murdered, with mystery and secrets in both time lines. This book is part mystery, part psychological suspense, part character study, and totally original and engrossing. There’s an interesting third person narration going on where most of it is told giving you Luna and Owen’s perspectives but also other people they know and the detectives investigating the murder, and where it can sort of jump around from person to person even in the same chapter. Sometimes that bugs me, but here it really worked.

I have been a fan of Lisa Lutz for many years, from her light and funny Spellman Files mystery series to her more recent darker books, and this one is another good one. Not a fast-paced thriller but some good twists and turns and a suspenseful atmosphere throughout, and with revelations that were surprising but worked and really terrific character work. Luna particularly was such an original character and not one I’ll soon forget.

Secrets, lies and suspense! This was really good. Luna and Owen met in college. The struck up a fast friendship, although it was a bit strange, and seemed to be always together. They were not lovers, though. Years later they are still best friends, each married to other people. When Owen's wife is murdered and Luna finds the body, Owen is accused of the murder. Luna will do anything to prove that Owen is innocent!

The book has a bunch of different narrators, which threw me a bit, but most added to the enjoyment of the book. There are two timelines, and two murders over the course of the book. The story revolves around Luna and Owen's friendship, and is totally engrossing.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on January 25, 2022.

Owen Mann is charming, privileged, and chronically dissatisfied. Luna Grey is secretive, cautious, and pragmatic Best friends since the moment they met in college, despite their differences, that friendship has lasted throughout their adult lives. You can't have one without the other. When Luna discovers Owen's wife brutally murdered, and Owen is the prime suspect, Luna comes to Owen's defense. However, the police investigation sheds light on some long-hidden secrets. To get to the heart of what happened and why, Luna has to dig up the one secret she’s spent her whole life burying.
I am a big fan of this author's books and this one may be my new favorite. It started a little slow for me, but once it started picking up steam, I couldn't put it down. I loved the Owen/Luna dynamic. Luna was so quirky. I did have one complaint and that was with the way the seizure was portrayed at the beginning of the book. As the mother of a daughter who has seizures, I have yet to see her "jump up and run off" after having a seizure. Every seizure I have witnessed ended with her being lethargic and confused, not full of energy but other than that complaint, I loved the book and I highly recommend it. It is a highly entertaining whodunit, that will keep you guessing untl the very end.