Thank you to Liz Lawson, Random House Children’s, and Netgalley for the E-Arc of Murder Between Friends! This YA thriller was a quick read (under 400 pages) with short chapters! Grabs you from the beginning and keeps your attention throughout! Lots of secrets and drama! It will leave you guessing for the very end and rooting for this friend group to find their way back together! This book publishes on 4/22/25!

This was a really fast and easy read. The pacing is lightning quick and Lawson keeps the plot moving forward at a frantic pace. While it definitely felt like it was written for a younger audience I enjoyed it just the same. There is plenty of mystery and some great moments of suspense.

Thank you for the ARC. This book was a bit juvenile but overall it was a quick read. There was murder, suspense, drama and a touch of romance. The book kept me guessing about who done it and why. The last twist definitely got me and was unexpected.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

Murder Between Friends is the story of 3 friends who are trying to clear the name of Jake, one of the main character's brother, who has been in prison for murdering a teacher. He is released but set to be retried and the town is up in arms. Convinced of his innocence, Henry, Ally, and Grace undertake an investigation of their own to figure out who really killed the teacher. I loved this and read it in one day! The pacing was great and I thought the multiple POVs were done well. There are a lot of twists and I thought the ending was great! I will definitely be adding this to my classroom library. It's perfect for fans of GGGTM, The Agathas, etc.

I really loved the character dynamic in Murder Between Friends and how this group of friends worked together to clear a name and put the real killer behind bars. Grace was willing to question her memory and dig for the truth, Henry wanted to alleviate his guilt and clear his brother's name, and Ally stuck to her determination to help out her best friend while wanting to discover how her dad was connected to the person behind bars. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC, I look forward to reading Liz Lawson's future works.

This book was really interesting! It had a lot of twists and turns I wasn’t expecting and I really enjoyed trying to figure out what was going to happen next.

This is the first book I have read by Liz Lawson and it will not be the last. This book took me on such a roller coaster ride that I was like OMG I need to keep reading to see what was going to happen.

This is a story about three best friends Grace, Ally, and Henry. Then one night changes everything for them. Now it is Ally, and Henry who stick together and Grace is all by herself. Then something changes for the three and they find themselves needing each other. The closer they get the more information comes out as to what has happened to their friendship. As they uncover the lies they must decide if they re going to stick together or go their separate ways.

Thank you to net-galley for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this book.

Murder Between Friends von Liz Lawson hat mich von der ersten Seite an gepackt und bis zum Ende nicht mehr losgelassen. Ich bin förmlich durch die Seiten geflogen und habe jede Sekunde dieses Thrillers genossen. Es ist eines dieser Bücher, die nicht nur spannend sind, sondern auch ein richtig gutes Gefühl hinterlassen.

Die Geschichte dreht sich um Jake, der nach Jahren im Gefängnis entlassen wird – nicht etwa, weil seine Unschuld bewiesen wurde, sondern weil sich herausstellt, dass der Staatsanwalt eine Affäre mit der Richterin hatte. Während einige glauben, dass Jake zu Unrecht verurteilt wurde, sind andere immer noch überzeugt, dass er Ms. Applebaum, eine allseits geliebte Lehrerin, ermordet hat. Sie wurde in ihrer eigenen Gefriertruhe gefunden – ein Fall, der die Kleinstadt erschütterte. Nach Jakes Entlassung beginnt die Suche nach dem wahren Täter erneut. Mittendrin: Grace, die damals eine entscheidende Rolle bei Jakes Verurteilung spielte. Sie fühlt sich verantwortlich und setzt alles daran, den echten Mörder zu finden. Gemeinsam mit ihren Kindheitsfreunden Henry (Jakes Bruder) und Ally beginnt sie eine eigene Ermittlungsmission – um endlich die Wahrheit ans Licht zu bringen.

Besonders gelungen fand ich die verschiedenen Erzählperspektiven. Jeder Abschnitt wird entweder aus der Sicht von Henry, Ally oder Grace erzählt, was einen intensiven Einblick in ihre Gedanken und Gefühle gibt. Die Charaktere sind so authentisch und realistisch geschrieben, dass man sich sofort in ihre Welt hineinversetzen kann. Gerade bei YA-Büchern ist es nicht selbstverständlich, dass Jugendliche wirklich wie Jugendliche klingen – doch hier passt es perfekt!

Der Thriller ist rasant erzählt, voller Wendungen und mit genau der richtigen Mischung aus Spannung und Leichtigkeit. Ja, einige Teile des Mysteriums sind vorhersehbar, aber das hat mich überhaupt nicht gestört – denn das wahre Highlight des Buches sind die Charaktere, ihre Dynamik und die fesselnde Erzählweise. Liz Lawson schafft es meisterhaft, den Leser immer wieder an der eigenen Theorie zweifeln zu lassen. Und glaubt mir, am Ende ist es nicht die Person, die ihr vermutet!

Murder Between Friends ist ein unterhaltsamer, cleverer und unglaublich mitreißender YA-Thriller. Wer gerne Geschichten über Teenager liebt, die selbst zu Ermittlern werden, wird hier definitiv auf seine Kosten kommen. Absolute Leseempfehlung!

I finished this book in about 3 hours because I was hooked right from the beginning! Was it a perfect book? No, but it was entertaining and fun. Bonus: the teenagers had very realistic personalities and dialogue, which is not always (or usually) the case for YA books.

I appreciated getting the perspective of the family and friends impacted by Jake's arrest. Each chapter is told from 3 people's perspectives: Henry (Jake's brother), Ally (Henry's best friend), and Grace (Henry's ex gf who may have given THE evidence that got Henry's brother convicted in the first place). What happens to those friends and family members that never stop believing in their loved one's innocence? And what kind of story would we get if those exact people were able to solve the case?? That's the story in Murder Between Friends.

I do have to say that I 100% called the ending at page 25 which I know seems impossible but I just got a feeling and I was right.

Thank you for NetGalley for this ARC!

A cute fast-paced YA thriller, with teenagers solving the crimes happening in their small town. The characters very accurately reflect the teenage mind and thought processes.

An intriguing young adult thriller. I was hooked from the first page and needed to know what was going to happen. I enjoyed the different point of views in each chapter. It was nice to see everyone’s different perspectives. Overall, a great read!



Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Didn't really care for this one. Three (former) friends have to band together to exonerate the one friend's brother, who has been accused and convicted of murdering a local teacher. All of the characters blended together and I didn't really care for the plot. I did give an extra star because there was a twist at the end that I didn't see coming, so bonus points for surprising me.

A fun and enjoyable young adult thriller. I enjoyed the concept of the teenagers becoming sleuths- it reminded me of a modern day Nancy Drew. While much of the mystery was predictable, I still enjoyed the characters and the plot. This does read more young adult and would be good for those that like a lighter thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's | Delacorte Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars ☆
⤿ spoiler-free review
thank you to net galley for this arc!!

ೃ⁀➷“How do you feel, knowing they're letting a killer out of jail today? ”

characters: Grace, Henry and Ally all used to be best friends. But when Grace testifies in court against Henry's brother, ultimately putting him in jail, that friendship breaks apart. Over the course of the book, you see them work out their problems, while solving this case together. Henry and Grace are adorable, I love how soft they are with each other. Ally, I feel is misunderstood. Overall, I love them all.

plot: When Jake Hanson, a convicted murderer, is let out of jail, his brother, Henry, Henrys bestfriend, Ally, and Henrys ex bestfriend, Grace, decide to solve the case of who really killed the beloved English teacher before Jake gets put back in prison.

pacing: The first half of this book was a little slow, really setting up for the next half. Once this story picked up, I couldnt put it down! The plot twist mostly got me, and that last page was perfect.

✧.* the point is: if you are wanting that YA murder mystery vibe The Cheerleaders, Kara Thomas, and AGGGTM, Holly Jackson deliver, you will probably enjoy this book aswell!

Rating: 3.5

Murder Between Friends is a thrilling murder mystery that follows a known murderer, Jake, after he is released from prison due to the discovery that the prosecutor was sleeping with the judge. This led to many, but not all, believing that he was wrongfully convicted of Ms. Applebaum's murder. Ms. Applebaum is a beloved teacher that was found locked in the freezer of her own home. After Jake's release, the search for the real killer begins again. Grace, having played a part in Jake's possible wrongful conviction, feels it's her responsibility to find the true killer. She teams up with her childhood friends to begin their own investigation and clear Henry's brother, Jake's name, once and for all. This novel kept me enwrapped in the mystery and kept me questioning who the real killer was. Liz Lawson does an impeccable job of keeping you second guessing who actually killed Ms. Applebaum. I'll let you in on a secret... It's not who you think it is.

As an English teacher I was really excited yo read this even though it’s about a murdered English Teacher. I was so excited that there was a book about us and what the dynamic would be (we are mostly portrayed as weird and crazy). HOLY SH*T this book had me on edge the whole time. I finished it in two days and I did not want to put it down. the twists had me second guessing everything and I definitely did not guess the ending or who did it at all. I had three people in mind and Nope…I was wrong. I can’t wait for this to come out in April! 10🌸 /5🌸

In Murder Between Friends two years after a popular teacher was found murdered, her supposed killer Jake is released from prison for a retrial. Jake’s younger brother Henry and Henry’s friends Ally and Grace have taken it upon themselves to try and prove Jake’s innocence before his new trial. This is complicated by a town that is convinced Jake did it and that Grace was a key eye witness in Jake’s original trial.

The mystery in this book was great. There were enough threads and clues to follow to keep me guessing who the killer was. Also, some surprises that I didn’t see coming which I appreciated.

The beginning of the book felt a bit slow. The book jumped between the perspectives of Ally, Henry, and Grace. It took a while between all their perspectives to get the details of their relationships before the murder and Jake going to prison. Once I had the backstory and understood where all the characters were coming from so much of their current interactions made more sense. But before then it was hard to really connect with all the characters.

Overall, a decent mystery book.

Thank you Liz Lawson, Random House Children’s, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Oh. My. God!!!!! I got the absolute privilege to ARC read this book and i was NOT disappointed!! The little details, the multiple povs, THE HINTS!!!! it was all so well thought out and completely messed with my mind on who i thought did it. Grace annoyed me at first but i grew to tolerate and appreciate her at some points. I absolutely loved Ally and everything she stood for, she was my fav!!! Henry made me feel a lot of emotions but mainly sympathy. he was just a boy in love with his best friend and wanted to clear his brothers name. Although this book isn’t a five star for me, i will wholeheartedly say i thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

**Review of *Murder Between Friends* by Liz Lawson**

*Murder Between Friends* by Liz Lawson is a gripping and twisty thriller that explores the complexities of friendship, loyalty, and the weight of secrets. Lawson, known for her work on *The Agathas*, once again crafts a compelling narrative filled with tension, moral dilemmas, and unforgettable characters.

The story revolves around three former best friends—Grace, Henry, and Ally—who have been torn apart by the murder of their English teacher two years earlier. Grace’s testimony put Henry’s brother, Jake, behind bars for the crime, but with a mistrial and Jake’s release, the truth is now clouded in uncertainty. The central conflict hinges on whether Jake is guilty or innocent, and whether Grace’s recollection of the night in question is reliable or flawed. The narrative skillfully plays on the theme of doubt, keeping readers on edge as the characters wrestle with their past decisions and the consequences of their actions.

Grace is a complex character, torn between her guilt over Jake’s conviction and her doubts about what really happened. Her internal struggle drives much of the emotional core of the novel, as she reaches out to reconnect with the friends who now view her as a betrayer. Henry’s fierce loyalty to his brother and his belief in Jake’s innocence add layers to the narrative, while Ally, whose hatred for Grace is palpable, provides an intriguing dynamic that reflects the fractured nature of their friendship.

The pacing of *Murder Between Friends* is spot-on, with Lawson gradually unraveling the mystery at the heart of the story. The tension builds as the characters are forced to confront their pasts, their fractured relationships, and the terrifying possibility that they might have been wrong all along. The question of whether Grace can be trusted adds an extra layer of suspense, making it hard to predict where the story will go next.

The writing is sharp and emotionally resonant, with Lawson capturing the complexities of friendship and betrayal in a way that feels authentic. The characters’ struggles with guilt, shame, and the need for redemption are well explored, making them relatable and real. The book delves deep into the gray areas of morality, leaving readers questioning what they would do if they were in the characters' shoes.

In addition to its emotional depth, *Murder Between Friends* is a taut thriller that keeps readers guessing until the very end. The twists and turns in the plot are clever and unexpected, with each revelation adding more layers to the mystery. Lawson’s ability to weave together suspense and character-driven drama makes this a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers.

Overall, *Murder Between Friends* is a smart, captivating, and thought-provoking read. It’s a compelling exploration of friendship, loyalty, and the difficulty of facing the truth, with a mystery that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end. If you enjoy books that blend emotional complexity with a thrilling plot, this one is not to be missed.

⭐⭐⭐

Book was good, unfortunately I just wasn’t captivated by it. I felt the beginning started off slow and then it started picking up which was good. But the story itself unfolding was predictable, it started becoming obvious really quick and I found myself not entertained. I also found myself not liking the MFC, I felt like there was no character growth with her until the very end and it made it that much harder to stay involved with the novel. However, I did enjoy the mystery part of it that was entertaining! and I liked how the twists were revealed.
Murder Between Friends was your decent, average and fun little read.

As always thank you to Liz Lawson and Netgalley for this ARC stay blessed everyone 😊🙏