What an emotional roller-coaster of a read! Cleverly written, full of dark humour, hilarious in places and sarcastic wit! It's a well written plot with well described characters! All the sub-plots are brought together with a bow to a satisfying ending. I highly recommend this book.

4.5-5

I had a copy of Joanna's previous book - You'd Look Better as A Ghost - but for reasons unknown to me, I never got round to reading it. But I wasn't going to make that mistake twice and absolutely jumped on this book!

Joanna has such a seamless way of writing. It feels as if the very first draft would be the final draft, that she knew what she wanted when setting out and that's what we've got.

It really whizzes away! I thought I'd sit and read a little bit whilst I had the chance and suddenly I was a third of the way through.

It is really fun. Yes it has the things you expect from a thriller or murder mystery: we have an unexplained death, many suspects, difficult romantic relationships, problematic friendship groups, secrets, conversations left unsaid etc. but it is also just real good fun.

The characters are wonderful. I won't go through them all as there's too many, but Beth is our main character. She's not always a reliable narrator. She's flawed, stressed, anxious, worried, tired, and determined to find out the truth about Charlotte's death. But she's surrounded by people who just accept it as an accident, they don't pry, they shut down conversations, and look all the more guilty for it. Joanna has depicted the school mum clique perfectly.

There was a little bit of repetition with themes and conversations throughout which I was on the fence about. It could have been annoying but then again it really hammered it home how confused Beth was and how confusing the whole situation is. Overall I think Joanna has managed it well.

It's mostly set in the present but every now and again there's a flashback to around the time of Charlotte's death. It doesn't interfere with the smoothness of the reading of the present bits, but gives us a little bit extra to help push along the present actions.

Considering the amount of books in this genre I was, I feel I should be able to work out the endings by now. But I spent the whole thing going round and round in my head, like Beth was doing, trying to figure out how it would end but I failed miserably.

It's 336 pages long which isn't short but nor is it long. If I hadn't known, and I'd read it, I would have said it was half the length, the ease in which I sped through it, and yet it doesn't feel short-changed or if you're missing something.

The ending...hmm the ending? I liked it and I didn't like it. How do I put this without out-and-out spoilers? It's not quite ambiguous leave it up to the reader type of ending, but nor is it 100% wrapped up neatly with a bow. It allows the reader to come to their own conclusion but using what Beth has found out.

I am a little sad now I've finished it. And having finished it, I'm going to find that copy of You'd Look Better as a Ghost and read it!

I loved this!!! My mind was completely a mess trying to figure out with Beth what the hell was going on
I read this in 2 days as I couldn’t put it down I went to bed thinking about it and woke up and had to just pick the book up!!

My only problem was Beth’s husband living happy after what he did to her with her friend i just couldn’t get over it

But overall an amazing book super engaging easy to read completely messy with your mind. I had so many theories all wrong

For the most part it's an enjoyable read, I appreciated the dark humour and sarcasm sprinkled throughout the book and the plot held a lot of promise. But I felt the ending was rather rushed and very unsatisfying.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.

I raced through ‘The Dead Friend Project’ staying up far too late reading it. To me, that’s an instant 5/5!

It’s a year on from when Beth’s life fell apart. Her husband left her for one of her best friends, and her best friend was killed in a car accident. When she learns in a chance school-gate conversation that Charlotte left her toddler at home while she went out on a late night run it doesn’t ring true and she makes it her mission to find out what happened.

Beth’s descent into alcoholism felt real and at times difficult to read. With it came the inferiority complex with the other Mums at school. They were a bit insufferable, I’m glad we don’t have Mums like that at our school. Harry was my favourite, and made me laugh bringing some humour to the story.

The ending will stay with me, its one you will either love or hate.

I LOVED this author’s first book and so I was eagerly anticipating the next book she wrote.
Sadly, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as her last book. There is a lot of second hand embarrassment generated by the main character and I found I was cringing too hard and too often that it detracted from my enjoyment of the book.
On the flip side, the author has absolutely nailed the school run crowd. If you have ever experienced a school run or play date , you will both laugh and relate so hard to that element of book.

3⭐️ for the plot
1⭐️ for the ending.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

SPOILERS BELOW
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I found the ending really, really frustrating. Beth’s descent into alcoholism was always going to be uncomfortable to read, but I was so invested in the mystery of Charlotte’s death that a satisfactory ending and some answers would have really helped me enjoy the book more. I get that’s Beth’s obsession and alcoholism meant she was going to be an unreliable narrator but I really wanted it specified whether it was a) an accident or b) the woman with Munchausens by proxy or c) Beth herself with her big bird costume.

This is a new and fun take on a mystery/thriller. Not my usual style of mystery but I still enjoyed it. I thought the writing was very easy to fly through and the plot was nicely paced. Humor was sprinkled in throughout. However the ending was not my favorite but overall a fun read

Unreliability and low-self esteem with the Yummy Mummy playground crowd. And murder.

Audiobook that quite cleverly played with my opinions of the characters with voices. We can all empathise with Beth - feeling judged for still being overweight after a baby. For feeling like an awful mum when a child falls off equipment at school and needs to be checked out at hospital. And especially when we learn that her husband has had an affair with one of her friends and now has a nice sparkly new life with her, and the kids like it round their house more. I'm not a drinker myself but her self-medication by alcohol is understandable, though clearly excessive.

Heartstrings are also tugged as we learn about her best friend Charlotte, doctor and supermum, hit and killed by a car last year on Halloween. Beth's brain fog is pierced when she learns randomly that Charlotte left her house for a run with a small child still there alone when she was struck by the vehicle... that just doesn't make sense. And thus her shambolic detective work begins, a purpose in her grief.

I couldn't fully 'like' Beth, the portrayal of her by the narrator is overkill at times, dramatic, too comedic. I empathised with her situation but could also see her insecurities and low self-esteem putting others on pedestals and being oh so rude to everyone around her. She is also almost without empathy herself at moments of high emotion/drama/upset.

Though as the story progressed, I actually felt the forethought and design coming into play (I won't say more than this). Some things I didn't like at the start about the narration made more sense come the last pages.

A wide range of 'Mums' (dads/men are voiced fairly poorly I thought, and only feature in a handful of scenes), with a few stereotypes (not always earned or fair on the characters) and a plot that does make you wonder what's going on. I can clearly see many of them on screen.

I liked the character development of Beth by the end, though I almost wish the last few lines hadn't been written, even though I still had questions myself.

A good whodunnit/parenting story, a cut above really.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio copy.

Thank you #netgalley for allowing me to read this BRILLIANT thriller!

Couldn’t put this down and the author literally left us hanging at the end as we still don’t know if Beth will get justice for her best friend.

Is it the booze or is it pure insanity?? Or…… does Beth have it sussed as to why her best friend died??!

You will have to read this story of friendship, grief, love and loss to find out! Brilliant!

Full of hilarious dark humour and dry wit, this book is about a mother who becomes obsessed with trying to find out how her mum-friend died. I laughed a lot at the author’s sardonic portrayal of the mums at the school gates. The protagonist’s struggles with alcoholism are written really well and I found myself quickly immersed in her life.

I was somewhat disappointed by the ending of the book, however. I felt it needed more of a conclusion than it has.

All in all, a fun, immersive read though.

Brilliant! Bloody brilliant! Absolutely loved this book. Joanna Wallace really knows how to write a story of suspense, with laugh out loud moments.
I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish.
I found Beth to be the perfect main character, both relatable and at times irritating….in other words flawed, just like the rest of us.
Having had the “Mummy friend group” experience myself, I can completely understand the dynamics involved.,
Just like with her previous novel I can’t really find any fault with this book. Would I say it was a “perfect masterpiece”? Honestly? No.
But it’s also because of this that I love it so much. I mean, what exactly is perfection anyway? As long as I enjoy it, and I feel satisfied when I finish it, there’s nothing else I could ask for.,
I’m so looking forward to more from Joanna Wallace in the future.

This one unfolds at a leisurely pace, which, although slower than my usual preference, effectively builds suspense and anticipation. Each turn of the page made me more desperate to work out what was going on, eager to continue unraveling the story's layers. My predictions were way off, as the ending brought everything to a surprising close.

There is so much going on in this book: a twisty, complex plot intertwined with the dynamics of friendship groups, both new and old. The characters, full of flaws and true to life, practically jump off the page. The school playground mums are particularly relatable, and I’m confident readers will identify with these characters individually and collectively.

Woven into the narrative are explorations of tough topics like cheating, allergies, alcohol dependency, and mental health. These elements are not just there for shock value; they serve a purpose and are seamlessly integrated into the storyline. The dark humor and underlying mystery add depth and richness to the tale.

Overall, this is a compelling and worthwhile read. I anticipate it being a popular summer read.

‘The Dead Friend Project’ is a who-done-it murder mystery, following Beth as she tries to discover and investigate what happened the night her best friend Charlotte tragically died. Many sensitive subjects are woven into this storyline, but Wallace has handled these incredibly well.

The plot unravelled leisurely, a bit too slow for my preferences, but it only added to the suspense and anticipation. With each turn of the page, my desire to uncover the outcome grew stronger, making me eager to continue unravelling the layers of the story. My conclusion was amazingly wrong as the ending drew the story close.

The school playground mums are relatable, and I am confident that readers will identify with these characters individually and as a whole.

While the narration of this audiobook was too slow for my liking, increasing the playback speed on my software solved the issue. Some of the character voices were cringe-worthy, but not enough to ruin my enjoyment of this new release. I look forward to reading future releases by this author.

In conclusion, 'The Dead Friend Project' is definitely a worthwhile read, and I anticipate it being a popular summer book in 2024.

Pre-order a copy today in any format!

I really enjoyed this one, it was just as good as YOU’D LOOK BETTER AS A GHOST.

I loved Beth as the narrator, even if she was unlikeable and unreliable at times. I would’ve liked an alternative POV though to see the other side to the story!

I really liked the investigation side to the story - Beth trying to figure out what happened to Charlotte whilst trying to juggle life as a single mum.

The ending was very satisfying, everything wrapped up neatly with a bow.

Completely binge-worthy and perfectly executed! The storyline centres around the unlikeliest project. I could not put this book down, with its laidback witty writing style and jaw dropping twists!!!! I’ve already ordered Joanna’s other book ‘You look better as a ghost’ to read next.

Perfect for those who enjoy:
- Laugh out loud books
- Compulsive reading
- Jaw dropping twists
- A woman on a mission fiction

With thanks to Viper books and Netgalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

Oh this was fun!! Another book that I flew through in a day and I am not sorry about it one little bit!! While there are some very dark themes going on in this story, it was full of dark humour and laugh out loud situations. I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of the audiobook, narrated by one of my favourite narrators, Imogen Church. Something about the books she reads always have me hooked and laughing. If I see her as the narrator then I am bound to love it.

Beth is the mother to 3 young children and really having a hard time. Her husband has left her for one of her friends, and she is struggling to come to term with the death of her best friend Charlotte almost a year earlier. When she learns something about the night she died, she cannot help but think that there is more to what happened than everyone knows. She is determined to find out what really happened, and the school.mums group is the perfect place to start.

I thought that I had this one all worked out, but I could not have seen that ending coming. It was a fun mystery.

Thanks so much to Profile Books, Viper for both the kindle and audiobook. Out on July 11th,

Up on Goodreads now, live on the blog on 8 July:

I had so much fun reading this one! Was it perfect? Perhaps not. Did I care? Nope, I had no hoots to give 😂

Honestly, The Dead Friend Project was just what the doctor prescribed. I flew through it in a fashion that was highly reminiscent of my “robot days” when I was able to read a book cover to cover in a day. It grabbed and held my attention, had me coming back for more as soon as I was able, it even had me staying up past my bedtime. It had been a while since I’d last fallen into the “just one more chapter” trap and I was thrilled to be back!

The characterisation was brilliant. Admittedly, there were times I wanted to strangle Beth, but overall, I found her to be a character to root for. The entire group are well-rounded, realistic and rather relatable, going from super supportive to super annoying and I had oodles of fun with them.

The mystery at the heart of The Dead Friend Project, i.e. the project itself, intrigued me from the start. Did something nefarious really happen to Charlotte, or is Beth’s mind playing tricks on her due to paranoia-fuelled alcoholism (or alcohol-fuelled paranoia)? A few twists and red herrings later, the reveal came as quite a surprise!

I had a fantastic time with The Dead Friend Project. Part mystery, part thriller, part drama, a laugh and a tear, it was everything I needed it to be. Recommended.

The Dead Friend Project is out in digital formats, audio and hardcover on 11 July.

Massive thanks to Viper Books and NetGalley for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

An absolutely brilliant book by Joanna Wallace. A genuine triumph in story telling.
We're introduce to Beth, mother of two young boys and a toddler. Every day she's doing the school run, meeting with her friends in the playground who are quite the cast of Characters. There's Emily, the self proclaimed leader of the group,who has to organise everything and have the highest achieving children. There's Danielle, who clings to Emily's coat strings, always offering to help. Clever Fara who is always so calm and knowledgeable, using very long words to express her intelligence. Finally, Ana, who's recently moved into Beth's old best friends house, Charlotte, who died last year after getting hit by a car.
Following Beth's best friends death, her husband left her for her close friend Jade.
Beth's life should be in turmoil, but she's putting on a brave face. Chatting to her playground friends,she hears a comment regarding her friend Charlotte's final night on earth which makes her wonder if her death really was an accident.
As Beth investigates, she's trying to organise playdates which just don't compare to her friends, who she's sure are silently judging her. Nothing is quite so competitive as parents comparing children.
The story is a great blend of hilarious and tragic characters who can have us laughing out loud, feeling exasperated, angry and crying along with them.

You'll feel sorry for Beth and outrage at her behaviour in this incredibly well written, clever and beautiful story.

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback

4-4.5 stars
It was not the mystery that got me hooked, but the character studies.
Beth, her family life, the authenticity of her world and POV were engaging, thought-provoking, interesting.
The prose is 4-4.5 stars as well and is a good fit for this type of story.
I am eager to read this author’s other work.

"The Dead Friend Project" by Joanna Wallace, and I have to say that it's been a riotous read from start to finish! I was drawn in by the blurb, which promised a mystery that would keep me guessing until the very end. And boy, did it deliver!
What I loved most about this book is that it defies categorization. Is it a mystery? A cosy? Women's fiction or chick-lit? It's all of these and more, and it's expertly woven together to create a story that's engaging, suspenseful, and utterly addictive.
At the centre of the book is Beth, a woman who's having a rough time of things. Her husband has left her for Jade, one of her friends, her best friend Charlotte died in a car accident, and she's struggling to come to terms with her own identity and purpose. But as she delves deeper into the mystery of Charlotte's death, she begins to uncover secrets and lies that threaten to destroy everything she thought she knew.
The author has done an incredible job of creating a cast of characters that are both relatable and flawed. Beth is a brilliant protagonist, with her witty internal monologue and acerbic observations about the people around her. And the supporting cast is just as well-drawn, with each character adding their unique voice to the story.
The mystery itself is expertly crafted, with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. But what sets this book apart is its tone - it's equal parts humorous, dramatic, and honest. The author tackles tough topics like mental health and relationships with warmth and compassion, and the result is a story that's both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Overall, I'm thoroughly impressed with "The Dead Friend Project". It's a gripping novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. If you're looking for a book that's engaging, suspenseful, and just plain fun, then this is the one for you.